Page 125 of Burn of Obsidian

Cassiel stilled, waiting until two other winged males landed behind him. “Is there a reason you didn’t call a meeting with the Council?”

“More dramatic,” Lucifer said before Riley could answer. “Plus, they’re fucking useless.”

“It’s more efficient to meet with you directly.” Riley raised a brow towards Lucy before turning back to the Councilman. “The Council made it clear they had little interest in Gideon unless threatened directly.”

“So, you’ve broken into my personal gardens to inform me of the Guardians’ incompetence? Daemons are Councilman Edwards’ jurisdiction, not mine.”

Prick. Jax eyed the other celestrials, their swords unnecessarily big and useless against a real blade. They were all for show. Even their postures were overly hostile, and they didn’t take kindly to finding Jax scrutinising them.

“He was summoned, which means he’s likely working with someone else,” Lucy explained. “It was out of our control.”

“We’re telling you this as a courtesy,” Xander added, Jax hearing his brother’s beast in the tone. “Gideon’s everyone’s problem, including yours.”

“A courtesy? How amusing.” Cassiel finally turned to Jax, cold calculation in his gaze. “How far has Gideon succeeded in understanding the pages? Or is that something else you’ve failed with?”

Jax grit his teeth, deciding to remain silent. The truth was, he’d read a lot of the pages, but not enough to complete the ceremony. Gideon knew how to reveal the text, but he still needed a Sage capable of interpreting. They had time.

Cassiel quickly masked his expression into a lethal calm. “So, you’ve given a man more powerful than all of us access to magic none of us can control.”

Lucifer pursed his lips. “You’re making it sound worse than it is.”

Cassiel eyed Lucy as if he were a bug. “As of now, all Daemons are enemies of the Council.”

“Bit harsh,” Lucy muttered. “I’m not the one trying to become a god.”

“They will be destroyed on sight,” he continued. “Yourself included.”

Both Xander and Jax immediately flanked Lucifer, drawing their own weapons.

“We protect the people because it’s the right thing to do, and we’re trained for it,” Riley said, his anger a sharp whip. “But it’s in everyone’s best interest to take Gideon down. We can’t allow him to gain too much power.”

“In your own words, you’re trained for it. Yet, you’re clearly too weak to deal with him without assistance.”

Riley smiled, breaking his carefully controlled façade. “We’re anything but weak. We’ve taken down more powerful beings than Gideon, and yourself.”

Cassiel cocked his head. “Is that a threat?”

“An observation.” Riley looked over at the other celestrials. “I assume you’ll inform the Council.”

“Trust me, the Council will hear of this, Mr Storm.” Cassiel glared at Riley. “Your presence has been noted as a direct threat to a councilman. Come into my home again without an invitation, and you’ll be met with violence.”

Jax gripped his gun, thumb brushing along the carvings he’d made.

“Gideon has already managed to create more capable soldiers.” Riley stepped back, displaying themselves as a unit. “The Council can’t keep this quiet for much longer. It’s only a matter of time before he makes another move. He won’t stop until he gets what he wants, and he’ll destroy anyone in his way.”

Cassiel pursed his lips. “Then I guess we’re at war.” The wind ruffled his feathers when he launched into the sky, his men following behind.

“Well,” Lucifer said once the celestrials had disappeared into the clouds. “I think that went quite well.”

Chapter 48

Thea

TWO WEEKS LATER

Ayden Hart passed in his sleep, surrounded by his family.

Thea knew it was coming, and still his last moment had been hard. She’d cried for several days straight, and even a week later, it was still hard to think her father was gone, that she’d never speak to him again.

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