Page 93 of The Fate of Black Hearts

The angel nodded.

“That’s bad.”

“What don’t we know and who the hell is Mary?” Ky demanded.

“I’m not sure it’s for me to tell.” Dom paced away. He hoped the angels would rally to protect the Madonna. What if that was a part of the plan? Get Mary and four angels in one location. Could this demon destroy them, or perhaps hurt them? What would hurt them more than anything would be destroying Mary. The only way to possibly hurt that entity would be to get her to appear.

How did a demon get Mary to appear? She protected children. Maybe if he threatened Evie’s children? Made no sense. They weren’t kids anymore. How would it know she was protected by Mary?

Dom searched the crowd around him until landing on the one in the back. “Efrem, did Evie visit Ian recently?”

“Yes.”

“Did she surprise him in some way?”

“Aside from telling him to fuck off, he grabbed her and then he acted as if she’d burned him or something.”

She must’ve shown her power, or he had touched the tattoo. If he destroyed the Madonna, then that would throw the angels into chaos. It would hurt the god that spurned that demon more than anything too. What Dom didn’t get was why the demon had wanted him to see Evie get captured. That implied the demon wanted him to follow. Perhaps to punish him for something? Or to try to kill him, again?

Shit, he didn’t understand any of this.

“Roman, have you researched the angels attached to the four of you? Do you know if Lucifer or one of his top minions, say Leviathan, could destroy or mortally injure an angel?”

“Lucifer is an archangel. That means he could destroy an angel. He’s a pretty powerful dark entity. He could destroy Gabriel…” Roman looked to Flynn apologetically since that was his guardian. “Probably Zadkiel, who watches over me, but not Micheal. You’re in luck, Ky.”

Ky shook his head. “But Lucifer isn’t Leviathan, right? They’re different. Explain the princes and Lucifer thing to me.”

“This is why all of us should read the lore, not just me.” Roman opened his mouth to say more and then shut it. “Fine. Lucifer’s seven princes are fallen celestial beings that believed more in Lucifer than God. They all fell to hell and changed from angelic beings to demons. Each prince came to represent or embody one deadly sin. These seven prince demons are significantly more powerful than any lesser demon we’ve destroyed. They can terminate a lower demon like that.” He snapped his fingers for effect. “However, for one of the princes to come forth from hell, it must be summoned. They’re not allowed out of hell without someone bringing them out. Dangerous business, that type of summoning. Expensive too. It usually requires a huge sacrifice of life. Five deaths, to be exact. Must be done in a strange ritual. Maybe your brother attempted it?” He looked to Dom.

He shrugged. “I’d like to think Marik was smarter than that. Our kind isn’t great at summoning.That’s witch business.” His mind whirled with a plan. “Here’s how this is going to happen. I need all four of you to come with me.” He pointed at the brothers. Then he faced Nova. “You need to stay here.”

Nova bristled. “I am fully able to take care of myself in battle.”

Dom gentled. “You carry with you the next generation. You are more precious than all of us. Unless you have an angel attached to you as well, I need you to stay far away from strong demons.”

“Roman?” Nova asked.

“He’s right.” Roman pulled her into a hug. “I’d be distracted if you came.”

“What?” Shane sputtered. “She’s…wow.” He clapped Roman on the back. “Congrats. I get to be an uncle, finally?”

“Where’s Madeline?” Dom glimpsed behind Shane to see her having an argument with Baku. He called out. “Madeline, can you call Cora and ask her to come protect you and Nova?”

“I’m already here.”

All of them startled and turned.

“Such a freaky witch,” Dom muttered. Louder, he said, “Can you get them somewhere safe where they won’t be found?”

“I’ll keepallthe girls safe.” To Dom, Cora said, “I see you finally figured out what it means to be in a family.”

“Shut up,” he snapped.

“I think Madeline should come,” Shane said. “There’s no more powerful witch other than Cora. That okay, Cora?”

Cora frowned. “Is that wise? First, didn’t that Ianthreaten he has another part of the curse?”

“How the hell would you know that?” Dom asked.