Page 46 of Saints & Sinners

Since I hadn’t gone back to the library after that day, the only other thing on my mind was what the cherub said.

Marnie let out a resigned breath. “I just know that it happened way before our time.”

“Yeah, but after it ended,” I prodded. “There was a treaty formed, right? Angels and demons could remain on earth as long as they didn’t kill one another.”

She looked at me, confused. “Okay?”

“A demon killed Lucas,” I stated. “He was an Ascendant; wouldn’t that mean the treaty is broken?”

At that, her expression fell into a pitiful look. “Grace, that treaty was forged a long time ago. Demons have still been killing other Celestials for a while now, as have angels in return, making thattreaty null.”

Oh.

I glanced down at the ground in disappointment. “I just thought—”

“Thought, what? That another war could start just because of Lucas? We’re not the first this has happened to.”

Right. Things had changed over the centuries, and even Joe hadn’t mentioned anything about the Grand War. It was likely just that. The past.

I nodded, then looked at my hands and nibbled on my bottom lip. Marnie watched me carefully as I expelled a breath and glanced her way. “I think I saw him.”

“Who?”

“The one who killed Lucas.”

Her lips parted in confusion, but I spoke before she could.

“He was there when I was in the library.” I retraced my steps from that day and shook my head. “I thought I could get to him with a bloody book. Can you believe that? A book.”

“Anyone would have done the same—”

“No. A Warrior would have fought him, and maybe that’s what Lucas did before he…” I didn’t finish what I was about to say and heaved out another heavy sigh instead. “I just don’t want to be weak anymore, Marnie.”

She placed a hand on my upper back. “But Grace, you’re not weak.”

“I feel like I am.” And I wanted it to stop. “We haven’t got much left until the competition. I have until then to change the Council’s mind on why I should be given the chance that every Ascendant has.”

Marnie jumped up from my bed. “You’re kidding, right? Grace, not even a week ago did you want to participate in something like that. I mean, I would still support you if you wanted to do itbut—”

“I don’t want to do the competition,” I was quick to add. “I just want...”

Marnie sat back down. “To prove yourself?” She suggested softly, and I shook my head.

“No,” I said. “I want... others to see me as a threat. I want angels and demons to know my name and realize that a human can do both.”

“But Grace—”

“I don’t want to be protected all my life. So far, that’s all it’s ever been for me. I want to be able to do it for myself... for others.”

Marnie pursed her lips and nodded. “Okay,” she whispered. “Then if that is what you want, maybe you should learn from the best.” Her eyes drifted towards the closed door.

The boys.

“Would they even want to help me?”

She shrugged. “I think the one who would go above and beyond to physically improve someone’s skills would be Hunter. He’s the best of the class. Azrael’s prodigy, if you will. If he doesn’t get chosen for the competition or win it, then I bet he’ll still be Ascended sooner or later. He’s been here for years now.”

I mulled that over, but I doubted he would willingly help me. Things were still off between us. Lucas’s death hadn’t changed that. Him asking the boys to protect me was likely to save face. “Maybe”, I said, giving her a tight-lipped smile and resting my head on her shoulder again.

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