Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy, #3)(81)

“You can all see her badge,” Rahab said. “We had hoped it was a by-product of being ignorant of her legacy for so long, but even after working these past two years, her badge still holds the white of innocence.” He spat the word. “First the angels intervened to keep her alive, and then her father goes missing when we attempt to question him. But once we take care of his offspring we will find Belial, and he will be dealt with. He will burn for his traitorous ways.”

I expected the Dukes to cheer at this, but they were quiet, watching with shocked faces as they digested the way they’d all been deceived by one of their own and his offspring.

“How can this be, Brother Rahab?” Blake’s dad, Melchom asked. “The prophecy was a myth! It called for a Nephilim of both light and darkness. We all know that is not possible.”

“Really?” Rahab asked smoothly. “We have reason to believe that eighteen years ago a guardian angel broke ranks and possessed a human to be with a Duke. Some of you might recall the angel Mariantha and her touching bond with Belial?”

“The traitor!” bellowed Sonellion, Duke of Hatred. He slammed a fist against his table, making it rock. Sonellion’s eyes lit up like glowing blood, along with several other sets of eyes among the Dukes. My breathing shallowed as their voices rose in anger toward my father. This was unscrupulous anger. There’d be no reasoning with these demons.

Breathe, I told myself. Just breathe. I looked above me where Azael hovered, watching me closely.

“Wait,” called a smooth voice. Everyone turned to Alocer, Kope’s father. “I am not sold on this so-called prophecy. How do we know it’s true? What proof do we have?”

Rahab frowned. “As you know, I have always been in the confidence of our Prince of Darkness. He called to me himself to tell me of the prophecy spoken through the apostle Paul. Do you dare to doubt him?”

“Of course not,” Alocer responded, narrowing his eyes at Rahab. “But I dare to doubt his source for this information. Who was witness to this prophecy? Besides the guardian angel of the apostle?”

“A trusted whisperer.” The Dukes broke out into groans, and Rahab had to raise his voice. “Our Lord took the prophecy with the utmost seriousness, and you should as well!”

“Tell us, Brother,” Jezebet said. “Remind us once again of the words of the prophecy.” She leaned on the table and tapped a French-manicured fingernail against her bottom lip.

“The prophecy stated,” began Rahab, “that a Nephilim born of both an angel and a demon would be the instrument used for a treacherous end to our kind. It foretold that this child would send every dark angel into the chains of hell for the rest of eternity.” His eyes were savage, and my head began to spin. “This . . . infant is the prophetic Nephilim sent by God to rid the earth of us! This”—he dramatically ran a hand up and down my profile—“is the best that God could do in His moment of desperation!”

A loud racket of shouting and laughter rose. I waited for Rahab to tell the rest of the prophecy, but he didn’t. He only stood there looking smug. And then I wondered . . . did he even know the whole prophecy? The part about their possible redemption?

I glanced toward my allies, who were all sitting up straight on the edges of their seats. Kaidan looked ready. Kopano gave me the slightest nod, almost imperceptible. The intensity of their eyes on me was a push. It was time. A boldness took me by the vocal cords.

“There’s more!” I loudly interrupted the Dukes. “You’re all being given a second chance at heaven!”

I stumbled sideways to the floor at the force of Rahab’s backhand to my face. My cheekbone throbbed with pain. I’d forgotten how much he loved to hit.

My allies were on their feet now, and sudden fear shot through me for Kaidan. He was poised to fight.

Rahab stood over me, staring down with pure malice.

“You. Will not. Speak!”

“What are we waiting for?” cried Thamuz. “Let’s kill her! No angels to stop us this time.”

Shouts of assent filled the air. I stayed on the floor, watching to see how it would play out.

“Wait!” hollered Melchom. “What is she talking about?”

“Lies against our Lord!” Rahab said.

“Let Jezebet decide if she’s telling truths or not,” Alocer suggested.

Grumbles sounded, but nobody stopped Jezebet as she stepped gracefully onto the circular floor in front of me. I stood, and she grasped my jaw in the thin fingers of one of her hands.

“Speak,” she said, and watched my eyes.

I talked as loudly as I could with her nails digging into my skin, but I kept my eyes locked on her crystal blue ones so that she could sense my full honesty.

“There is more to the prophecy. God is willing to forgive you and take you back to heaven. But those who still choose to stand against him will be damned to hell forever, just as Rahab said.”

The room was silent as Jezebet’s eyes narrowed at me, but the whisperers above us shifted like storm clouds. She watched me as she spoke, loosening her hold and then letting go.

“She speaks the truth.”

The Dukes rose to their feet now, yelling over one another about this new possibility. I looked over at Kaidan, who watched the scene unfold with a keen-eyed steadiness. I then thought about Patti and Mariantha, and all the love I’d been given in my life. I’d been saved once from death at a summit. Who was I to doubt the same sort of miracle wouldn’t happen again? And if it didn’t? Then it was my time. Fear of death had no place in my heart anymore. I shed it, let it go, and allowed the confidence that stemmed from that freedom to pour through me.