Two Seekers came in behind me — Apollo and Ares. We’d never been great friends. All of us had our jobs, and it had been clear to all Seekers I was above them in every way. The angels still had a hierarchy, and though I reported to them, technically Seekers reported to my kind.
Apollo was still young for a Seeker; he grinned like a fool and began whistling. Ares, however, had seen his fair share of war. His clothing was still tattered from whatever battle he had just fought. He shook his head and looked at me.
“I am sorry she has disappeared. We will find her, brother.”
Emotion welled in my chest. I hadn’t been accepted for a very long time. I nodded and braced my arm with his. The doors opened to Headquarters. Janus looked us over and gave each of us a piece of paper. We moved toward the main entrance, where everyone should be waiting.
Because Athena knew my secret, I was able to be in my normal form, the one that looked a lot like the archangels. I licked my lips and entered, knowing full well this was the moment everything would change.
Some of the Seekers gasped, and the older ones nodded knowingly. In the corner I saw Atlas and Seth, shifting on uneasy feet as they took in the view.
“Seth.” I grasped his hand. He seemed irritated. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m not. Why are we sitting around waiting, when we could be out there grabbing Thena?”
Jealousy poured through me. I hated that part of my emotions, but I kept myself in check. I knew Seth liked Athena, possibly loved her. How could he not? But she was mine. Mine to protect, mine to love. I gripped his hand hard and nodded. “We will find her.”
Atlas jerked his head to the center of the room. The heavenly horns sounded, and again, the three archangels appeared.
Righteous pride surged through me as the three beings took their stance in front of the Seekers.
Michael spoke first. “Athena has been taken by Thanatus. We know not if she is with Azazeel, or if Thanatus works alone. We believe this to be his signal for war.”
Grumbling was heard among the Seekers.
“Quiet,” Gabriel shouted.
Everyone froze. When Gabriel spoke, we listened. He was, after all, a mouthpiece of El. “We will fight to the death in the service of El and in the service of an innocent.”
“We will fight with El,” the Seekers said in unison, hitting their arms against their armor.
Gabriel cleared his throat and paced in front of Michael. “I need the scouts sent out immediately. Our sources say…”
“Pardon,” a low voice interrupted Gabriel’s speech. “I believe I’ve been invited to a meeting of sorts.”
I could have sworn I heard people hiss. I jerked my head in the direction of the speaker, and my mouth dropped open in disbelief.
“Alexander King.” Michael stepped forward and shook his hand. “Good of you to come.”
The vampire shook his head. “Like I had a choice.”
“Are your people assembled?”
Alexander nodded. “Every last one.”
“Vampires?” Atlas said loudly. “They fight with us?”
Alexander rolled his eyes. “Listen, half-breedˉ”
I choked on my laugh.
Alexander noticed, and his eyes crinkled. “We are just as much a race of people as you are. We are not Phantoms, nor do we align ourselves with such. We are very much alive, very useful, and if you knew anything of the world, you would also know not everything is as it seems.”
Alexander’s blue eyes flashed twice before returning to mine. “A Zar? Impressive.”
“Not as impressive as seeing a living, breathing Twelve, I assure you,” I answered appreciatively.
The Kings and their people, the Twelve, were a known hybrid race, much like my own people. When they’d given into their darkest desires, they’d turned into Phantoms, for they had angel blood running through their veins as well. They had dominion over the humans and lived in peace with them, only interfering when a new medicine or technological breakthrough was needed. Any sort of invention that humans boasted about was simply the Twelve, throwing them a bone.
Because of their blood-reading abilities, they were given a bad rap, but we all knew they were like us. The perfect mixture of good and bad. Any one of us could fall, and the Seekers knew that. They feared what they could become, so they feared what they could not understand. The truth of it was we needed all the help we could get.
As if reading my thoughts, Alexander stepped back and joined by my side.
Michael nodded to Gabriel. Clearing his throat for the second time, Gabriel continued talking. “As I was saying, we have combined forces with a few…” Gabriel looked like he was searching for words. “… unique breeds.”
“I think he almost choked on that word,” Alexander said next to me.
I stifled a laugh.
“And these unique breeds,” Gabriel continued, “are not used to working with Seekers, so please be patient. We will meet at the destination point in the next three hours. Please take your assigned transportation seriously. Everything must be in place. You are dismissed.”
I looked down at my paper and fought the urge to swear as writing appeared across it in golden letters. Fly.