Page 118 of Saints & Sinners

Archangel Meriel

Council overseer of all Celestia Academies

Archangel Cael

Advisor of Celestial Doctrine

Dated 6th of October

My grip on the letter tightened, the edges crumbling beneathmy fingers.

Inevitable failure.

They didn’t choose her because they saw potential.

They chose her to watch herbreak. To prove that humans could never stand beside Ascendants.

“Is this why she made the list instead of Matias?” My voice was low and fucking dangerous, but my heart split, just remembering how Grace’s face lit up one time as she told me how great it felt to finally be in the top five of something.

Azrael nodded. “The Council directly sent it to me. They knew Nadael and Joe would oppose.”

“Why are you showing me this?” I snapped.

Azrael’s gaze sharpened as he sat down. “Because I know you didn’t want her here to begin with.”

I clenched my teeth. “Grace has done more without powers than half the people here. Sheearnedher place to stay here.”

His expression didn’t change. “She shouldn’t be here at all, Cain. She’s useless to us.”

The words triggered a memory. One where Nadael didn’t allow my brother to come here with me.

Because Hunter... humans are useless to us in this place. You’ll learn to realize that in time.

My fists clenched, anger swarming my vision.

“Nadael has become too soft over the years. She excuses everything regarding Joe because she sees him as a son. She doesn’t realize how much danger she is putting us in by having Grace here.”

I stared at Azrael. “What do you mean?”

Azrael’s silence stretched just long enough to twist something in my gut.

“Grace didn’t just appear on Joe’s doorstep by chance,” he said finally. “She was brought here for a reason.”

My gaze narrowed on his.

“Her mother was a Riftkeeper. A powerful one. Until she betrayed their kind.”

Her mother was a Riftkeeper.

My pulse pounded in my ears over Azrael’s revelation.

How—

“Supposedly, instead of killing Joe, she fell in love with him. But when Grace’s father—another Riftkeeper—found out, he killed her.”

The room tilted.

“But not before her mother gave Grace to Joe for protection.”

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