Page 106 of Mage Massacres

“We needed to create the most powerful monster we had ever encountered.

“That’s why we told your mother how to mix her magic to conceive you.

“Why we told Lucifer to bestow upon you his most prized gift.

“Why we told Lilith to give you wrath.

“Why you’ve been training your whole life.

“And why you had to wait until the right time to meet your mates.

“We’ve given you all the things you would need to succeed.

“Shown you all the proper people to have in your life.

“Predicted chances for you to meet more of those people in the near future.

“Made sure your mates would be as powerful as you when all your bonds are sealed.

“Created you every opportunity that we could without messing up the future we saw.

“To build your own army, Monster.”

Dad rubbed his beard, twisting the coarse hair around his finger. “And what did you ask them?”

I shrugged. “What am I supposed to do?”

Raguel tipped his chin. “What did they tell you?”

“The angel is an abomination. Kill him and live happily ever after. Don’t and die.”

When they remained silent, I added, “That was two weeks ago, before I met Raguel. Until yesterday, I was under the assumption that they wanted me to kill him, but now I’m wondering. I killed you yesterday. We broke the spell that made you… not you. They might have been talking about Alric, though.

“Reading between the lines is difficult when there’s more than one way to interpret the meaning. I still don’t understand the army part, though. Or why they needed to create a powerful monster. Alric can’t be that strong.”

“Why didn’t you tell us this sooner?” Papi demanded.

I rolled my eyes. “Stone and I went to see them before we left the Underworld. We weren’t home a full day before going to North Fork to solve the pack problems. I haven’t seen you since Hell, and Dad has been busy.”

“She looked so much like you as a baby, Charlie.” Raguel chuckled. “But I see she’s all Amelia now.”

Dad snorted. “Yeah, but her temper is worse, like all of us combined.”

“I don’t know,” Papi disagreed. “I think she gets her attitude from Nate, though she does look like Amelia.”

“Can you three focus, please?” I questioned, rubbing my forehead.

“Oh, that’s Nate alright,” Raguel murmured. “How many times have we heard that?”

“Devil, help me,” I pleaded with myself.

They cackled, and I realized why my father looked so exhausted in all the pictures. Nate corralled them, the intense order to their chaos.

Papi cleared his throat, snorting as he tried to stop his laughter. “Sorry, Lo. That’s not my job anymore.”

Vaughn smirked, his voice low and even as he commanded my parents’ attention. “The Fates' wisdom and the seer’s prophecy are coming true.”

Raguel sat up straight, all signs of his playful attitude dissipating as he climbed to his feet and began pacing. “The Winter Prince is right. Everything is lining up, but it’s so soon. I thought there would be more time.”