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Finally, he hung up.
“What is it?” she asked.
He put his phone in his pocket. “Blood Moon.” He caught Max’s eye and waved him over. Dallas followed, her hand in Max’s. Soon Logan and Sabrine were hurrying over as well.
As soon as they were in earshot, Darien spoke.
“Lace just called,” he said, keeping his voice quiet. “There’s a Blood Moon tonight.” Although a Blood Moon wasn’t anything new to the people of Terra, everyone understood from the tone of Darien’s voice that something made tonight—made this Blood Moon—different from all the rest. “Demons are being drawn out of Spirit Terra.”
“The Blood Moon is calling them out?” Max’s words were hushed.
“We can’t wait any longer. I need to try to shut the gate now,” Darien said. “If those things get through, the city won’t stand a chance.”
“We,” Max corrected. “You’re not going alone.”
“How can we help?” Logan asked.
“Get your packs together. Hunt down any of the demons that come through.” He faced Max. “I need you to watch this school.”
Loren understood that Max’s instructions didn’t involve protecting the school so much as they involved protecting her.
“Darien.” Loren grabbed him by the wrist, his pulse thumping out a determined beat under her fingers.
“I need you to stay in this school.”
“But—”
He stepped closer. Took her face into his warm hands. “When this is over, I’m taking you to see the stars. We’ll go for dinner at the Lakehouse.” His thumbs brushed her cheeks, leaving trails of that same blazing heat on her skin, the wildly addicting sensation never lasting long enough. “And then I’m taking you to see the stars.”
Loren swallowed, her throat tight. “Promise.”
He bent to press his lips against hers. “I promise,” he said. He kissed her again—one more time. Briefly. Softly. “Stay in this school.”
And then he was gone. She stood there in the pulsing lights and thumping music as she watched him go.
65
The others met Darien at Hell’s Gate. Now that the dance was nearly over, Max and Conrad were stationed near Angelthene Academy, standing guard in case the girls encountered any trouble. As for the others, they were all here. Arthur too.
Darien had called the Angels as well. After sending Conrad to join Max, Dominic and Hanli had shown up, Blue with them. Aside from Max, the only Devil not present was Tanner, who was still upstairs somewhere, doing the-gods-knew-what. The house was bustling as everyone prepared their weapons, Fleet bodysuits on. The light of the chandelier in the entrance hall reflected brightly in the glossy black material.
“This friend of yours,” Darien said to Arthur, who’d just finished doling out the rings to everyone gathered in the entrance hall. “He used to work in the Fleet weaponry too?”
Arthur nodded. “He did indeed.” He gestured to the onyx bands on everyone’s fingers, the seams nearly undetectable once the suits were fully on. “Do try not to lose those. They’re expensive.” Too bad the magic of the suits only went so far when you were up against the disgustingly powerful demons of Spirit Terra.
“Good thing you’re not the one paying,” Darien said with a smirk.
Arthur frowned. “Your wallet isn’t bottomless, Darien.”
“Really?” Darien crooned. “I didn’t know.”
Arthur snickered, but he was soon changing his tune, every trace of humor vanishing from his face. When he spoke next, he addressed everyone in the room. “I finished translating Calanthe’s half of the scroll,” he said proudly, “and fixing her mistranslations, which I will fill you in on another time.”
“And?” Darien prompted. Whatever information Arthur uncovered, they would surely need tonight.
“The Veils in Spirit can be held open for ease of crossing by pillars made of adamant.”
“What’s adamant?” Lace asked.
