Page 19 of Absolved In Death

“The team researched these blatant attacks, and they’re all plants by Red to out the paranormal world,” Judas continued. “Since the council can’t track him down, they may be coming to us so we can do their dirty work…”

Ares, Desmond, and Mal locked eyes, most likely having a silent conversation. Oisín leaned back in his chair, a frown onhis face. My fathers looked murderous, as if they were going to strangle someone. By outing the existence of paranormal beings, Red put a giant target on all of our backs. The world was no longer safe for any of us.

How could we fight him if we were too busy protecting ourselves from what was sure to be a mob of angry citizens who thought we were dangerous killers?

“I take it this isn’t going to be a partnership, but an ultimatum?” I asked, despite already knowing the answer.

“Yes. Even though we didn’t actually break the law, we’ll most likely get tasked with finding Red and taking him out. Or else we’ll meet that fate. They’re not fair, and they have no qualm about punishing those they see as a threat. I think it’s safe to assume they see us—our rebellion—as a threat because they think it disrupts the status quo.” Desmond explained. “The Princeps Council is not a joke, Diana.”

“Do you hear me laughing?” I deadpanned. Michael and my mom snickered. “How long do we have until they get here?”

“Probably tonight. They do most of their business in darkness,” Bain rasped from the other side of the room, his expression as stark as his white blond hair. He stood behind Angie, his hands on the back of her chair as if he was guarding her. I didn’t notice him come in, and from the surprised look on Apollo and Judas’ face, neither had they.

We had no clue where Red was, and failed our invasion of Pandemonium City. We had what was sure to be an international crisis on our hands. Unless someone made a plan while we were gone, we didn’t even know what our next steps were.

The need to take action coursed through me. No longer able to sit, I stood and walked over to my fathers’ chairs. “Okay. So we have time to figure out our next move. Let’s make a plan.”

“Wewon’t be doing anything. You have training,” Desmond said in a clear dismissal. His attitude hurt, but I didn’t have time to rip him a new asshole.

Before I could verbally shred him, Quelier said, “Her training has been postponed.” He swiped at his tablet, then smiled at me. “Your morning and afternoon are clear. I also set up a mobile lunch for you, Angie, Nonna, Charlie, and Marilyn, so that wherever you end up, you can spend some time with family and destress.”

“What a sweetheart. Thank you, Quelier.” My mom’s smile cut through the tension in the room.

“I can’t wait,” Angie said. Quelier winked at her, and I thought she was going to melt on the spot.

“As lovely a sentiment as that is, Diana doesn’t have time for strategy meetings, society lunches, and gossip. She needs to train. War isn’t a far off eventuality—it’s already here. We were attacked on the compoundagain. The world is free-falling into chaos.” Desmond swung his glowing golden eyes to me. “You needed to hone your magic yesterday.”

Was he for fucking real? How dare he try to micromanage my life and speak for me.

“Diana withstood her own trauma and torture. She freed us from an inescapable pit of Hell that holds the worst beings to walk the Earth. She fought a T-rex and lived. Then she timehopped us thousands of years in time—backward and forward—and has more than proven she can practice magic at a high level. Don’t tell my sister what she needs to improve on, when you can’t even begin to do the kind of magic she can,” Oisín growled.

I could always depend on O to defend me. My brother’s face was a darker shade of red than his ginger hair. Steam bellowed out of his ears as he white knuckled the table. Desmond baredhis teeth, his horns springing free from his head as he leaned forward in his seat.

“We don’t have time for another installment of Paranormal Ginger Fight Time. The Princeps Council will most likely be here when the sun sets. We have to be ready for them,” Ares growled, aiming a disappointed frown at Desmond.

“Well said, General. Diana stays. Anyone who wants to help us make a plan can stay. Anyone who will get in the way, please see yourself out,” Lucifer ordered.

Some of the vampires in the room gathered around Judas to take orders before fading out. Mom kissed my Dads on the cheek, then joined my family on their way back to their suite on the other side of the compound. That left my fathers, brother, boyfriends, Quelier, Judas, Bain, and Apollo.

“For those of you who haven’t been harassed by the Council before, this is what you can expect: three out of eight of their representatives will arrive, they’ll formally charge us, then they will usually convict, even if they have proof of no wrongdoing. It’s a fucking joke,” Lucifer flippantly groused.

If they didn’t play fair, then maybe we shouldn’t either…

“Does anyone know who serves on the Council?” I asked.

Desmond sighed. Not one of tiredness or stress. It was heavy with annoyance and condescension that tore through me. “No. They make it a point to remain secret. You wouldn’t know until after someone’s term was over.”

“That was a good question though,” Zaz added. “Knowing the enemy helps when trying to bring them down.”

“Have we thought about calling in some backup from our friend upstairs?” Oisín pointedly asked Michael as he gestured to the ceiling.

“Absolutely not. God doesn’t get involved in the happenings of Earth, even in Council matters.” He answered as if itwas a finality. Something that never changed, despite the circumstances.

“I think they would want to get involved if the world was ending!” Oisín exclaimed.

“We are not calling God for backup,” Lucifer snapped, giving the final word and closing the book on that plot.

The room fell silent. No one was keen to get on my father’s bad side when he was in this type of mood. He felt defeated—we all did. Our grand plan to sneak into Hell like a Trojan Horse and decimate Red’s forces was a complete failure. We had no clue where he was, or how he’d attack us next. But we had to regroup. We had no choice but to come back stronger, and better than before. The world’s fate rested on our shoulders.

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