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The Ancients would make sure of it.
“We each need to pass on our plans to those in our service, ensuring they all know in advance exactly where they need to be and what they need to be doing when the Aeons finally make their move,” said Cain.
He planned to convince Wynter to stay in the city and guard the lowest level of the elevator. How, he wasn’t yet sure. His witch was a warrior right down to the bone.
Seth nodded. “We should not delay in that. The Aeons could strike at any time.”
Ishtar sniffed. “I hope they do it soon. I tire of waiting.”
Dantalion leaned back in his seat. “I predict that a great many of their troops will be mercenaries. After all, the Aeons will need to feel sure that they have large enough numbers to take on our population, but they’re hardly likely to risk a large number of theirownpopulation even if they are certain of success.”
“I agree.” Azazel folded his arms. “More and more people in our service are arriving. They’re prepared to fight alongside us, even if they don’t much like it.”
That was the thing about selling your soul. If the Ancient who owned it called on you for anything, you had no choice but to obey. But that wasn’t something that the Ancients advertised, and any in their service were ordered to keep it quiet. As such, the Aeons wouldn’t be prepared for outsiders to come and join the battle.
The Ancients hadn’t called onalltheir people. Why? When they won the war—and they would—some invaders would scuttle back to Aeon with tales of what happened. The Ancients didn’t want their enemies to know just how large a force they could build, or the Aeons who came to avenge the dead would bring an army big enough to overwhelm them.
“The healers need to be placed sporadically around the town during the battle,” said Inanna. “They will not be asked to be fight, they can remain hidden, but they will need to be of help to any injured residents.”
“Where will your new pet witch be?” Ishtar asked Cain. “Tucked up somewhere safe, I suppose.” She tittered.
Unwilling to grant her the angry reaction she hoped for, Cain merely gave her a blank look and said, “You don’t need to know my plans for Wynter. She’s not your concern.”
Ishtar stiffened. “On the contrary, she is the concern of every person in this room.”
Inanna sighed at her sister. “Let us not do this.”
“Do what?” Ishtar shrugged one shoulder, all innocence. “I asked a simple question.”
Cain fired her a bored glance. “You asked a question you knew I wouldn’t answer, and you did it so you’d have an excuse to whine and moan and complain.”
Seth offered him a look of commiseration. “I suspect she’s still sulking over what you said to her at my Keep.”
“I amnotsulking or whining or anything else,” Ishtar upheld.
Lilith lifted her hands. “Can we please stop arguing amongst ourselves? It’s not unusual at meetings, no, but any conflict between us right now is a weakness we can’t afford.”
Ishtar sniffed. “I am merely curious as to where Cain intends to place the witch.”
“There’s no reason for you to know where Wynter will be,” he said.
“Oh, I see. You think I will send someone to kill her.” Ishtar lifted her chin. “I prefer to do my own dirty work, as you well know. But I can understand why you would nonetheless take precautions. As I pointed out the other day, mortals are so very fragile. You will need to constantly take measures to ensure she is safe from the dangers of the world. I would personally find it both boring and tiring. It would be like supervising a child.”
Cain only stared at her, keeping his expression blank.
Her mouth tightened in annoyance. “I wonder … has it occurred to you that she might have wangled her way into your bed so that you would protect her this way? In your position, I would have to ask myself if she was in fact using me. Even someone like you can be played. Just ask Azazel. Not even he was exempt from that.”
Azazel’s eyes flared. “Don’t go there, Ishtar,” he warned, his tone dark. “Not unless you want me to strike back.”
“So sensitive,” she mocked. “And there is nothing for you to strike back with in this matter. No man has ever played me.”
“Sure they have,” said Azazel, a cruel smirk touching his mouth. “They do it all the time. You think menreallywant to shower you with the unreasonable amount of attention they give you? You think it’s pure adoration that makes them go that far? No, it’s that they know you need that from them. They’re doing what they have to do to worm their way into your bed. They simply want to get laid. That’s why the attention eases off over time, Ishtar. Once they’ve had their fun, they cease making an effort.”
Predictably, she lashed out with a small blast of pure power. Azazel sidestepped it easily with a snicker, the door behind him unexpectedly opened … and the power wacked the person in the doorway.
Cain watched as Wynter sucked in a pained breath when the power punched into her body, roughly arching her spine until it cracked, and causing fine fractures to spiderweb across her flesh. Her mouth opened in a silent scream, every muscle tensing, every vein cording … and then she collapsed to the floor. She lay there, her eyes open, unseeing. Vacant. Lifeless.
Behind her, Maxim leaned over her and touched her pulse. Swallowing, he looked up at Cain and shook his head.
