Rix was in the kitchen.

  My heart started pounding as Ether ran over and gave the golden woman a hug. Justia, Aelin, and Zel were the only other ones in the kitchen, but as happy as everyone looked at having Rix back, my attention went straight to Kara. The Tier Five bodyguard looked like she was on edge, but it was hard to read her while she was covered in her red armor. I knew that Rix had been staying away to stay off of the Goddesses radar, so something big had to have happened in order for her to come out.

  “What’s wrong?” I swallowed as I turned back to our teammate.

  The redhead nodded at Kara. “How long until you have to contact your Goddess?”

  “It depends on what you say.” Kara looked over at her sister and shook her head. I felt like there was a little bit of remorse for knowing that she was going to have to report to Klix.

  “It’s okay.” Ether took her sister’s hand. “Maybe you should step out?”

  “It won’t matter, so I’ll be quick.” Rix looked at me. “I found where the Demons, the Cult, and the Gifted have all holed up.”

  “The Gifted?” I hadn’t heard that term before.

  “Mundane who can use magic.” Rix was looking at Kara. “They’re the ones that the demons originally used to create the binding spell that is holding Mive.”

  “If they created it, can they..?” My heart started beating faster.

  “I don’t think they’re going to be staying here much longer. They don’t want the Goddesses to find out about them, so they were packing up before the door-to-door cleaning sweeps started.” The golden Shooter crossed her arms. “That isn’t why I came to get you.”

  I picked up a biscuit from a bowl that was lined with a towel, so that the biscuits could be covered later. “I assumed it was important.” I bit into the apple flavored fluffy bread.

  “The Cult is planning something soon, but before we get into that…” Rix was looking at Kara, not me. “The Demons want to talk…” She glanced at me. “To you.”

  I could see Ether tighten her grip on her sister’s arm. I wasn’t sure how Kara would contact Klix, but given that the Goddess had just left, I didn’t see how she wouldn’t be here fast once Ether’s sister did.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “ONLY Atlas?” Aelin rolled her eyes. “I mean, I thought he’d add a demihuman eventually, but a demon..?” She clicked her tongue. “Kinky.”

  “Aelin…” I shook my head as I turned to the blonde that was hanging onto Justia’s arm. “Is that all you think about?”

  “No…” The brown woman pecked my priestess on the cheek. “But you do have a wandering eye…” Her gaze swept over all the other women in the room.

  “Ether is the only..!” I shook my head as Zel moved closer to me. Of the four other women in the room, not counting Justia, Ether was the only one who was part of my harem and I hadn’t really considered trying to add any of the others. Rix wasn’t interested in a physical relationship, Zel only wanted one to bundle with her ticket out of the city and Kara… Kara belonged to Klix. “Go ahead, have your fun.” I looked at Rix, who was smirking. “Only me? And how did you figure this out?”

  “They don’t want to draw the attention of the Goddesses or the teachers, but they have a proposition for you, but I don’t know who else they’d want tagging along.” The golden woman shrugged. “And he told me this after I interrogated him.”

  Of course Rix would have interrogated the demon once she found them. “When?”

  “The sooner the better.” Rix was watching Kara. “They’re willing to tell you what the Cult is about to do, but they want something in return.”

  “What do they want?” I kept my focus on Ether’s sister as well. I don’t know why, but it felt like she might attack us at any moment.

  “He wants to trade how to wake up Trent for a blind eye while they leave the city. The tree blocks them from getting through the gate, and they’re too weak to try to go through the sewers, with the Adventurers patrolling down there.” Rix folded her arms. “Now the question becomes. Are you going to try to stop us?”

  The Scarlet pulled out of Ether’s grasp. “You know I have to report this…” She paused, then grabbed her sister. “You’d only say this in front of me if you wanted to separate us so that she could go with you. And you’d only want her…” Her helmet slowly turned to Justia. “You’re going into the Mantle!”

  “What’s going on?” Zel hurried over and wrapped herself around my arm.

  I hated how scared she seemed. And I really hated the confused look on Aelin’s face. “Look.” I peeled the blonde off of me. “There’s a lot that needs to be explained, but this isn’t the time or the place. But I promise that I’ll tell you later.” I looked at Kara. “Are you going to try to stop us?”

  Rix had already grabbed Justia by the shoulder and was guiding the green priestess towards the door. She reached me and held out her hand for me to take. I knew that if I took her hand, she could make me invisible and then there would be no way that Kara could stop us.

  “You can’t stop us.” I decided to try to make the decision for her. “But you can observe us.” I nodded towards where Mive was lying. “Come with us. Wouldn’t Klix rather know what went on, then that it was happening?”

  I saw her shoulders sag. “Fine.”

  That was all the confirmation that I needed. Rix didn’t look happy, but I knew she’d be glad for the backup. I turned to Aelin. “Stay here with Zel. We’ll be right back.”

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