Page 104 of The Monsters We Are

All in good time.

The other Ancients were grinning, their eyes glowing with elation.

“It’s a little strange to know I can now go anywhere I want whenever I want,” said Inanna, looking up at the sky.

Ishtar tipped her head back and stretched her arms out wide. “Is it just me, or is the air so much fresher here?”

“It’s just you,” Rima deadpanned, making Wynter snort in amusement.

Ishtar threw the Aeon a dirty look but then went back to reveling in the moment.

Noah elbowed his sister. “Maybe you could stop annoying Ancients. I like youalive.”

His sister only rolled her eyes.

Turning to Cain, Wynter smiled up at him. “I’ll bet you can breathe easier just knowing you’re not trapped anymore.”

He felt his mouth curve. “That’s exactly how it feels.”

Eve bit her lip. “There’s no way the hole will mend itself, is there?”

“No,” replied Seth. “Just as a tear in a sweater wouldn’t fix itself. The damage is done.”

“And if itdidby some miracle close up, we’d just undo it again,” said Lilith.

“I think I’ll sleep out here tonight.” Ishtar let out a wave of power that formed a translucent, plump rectangle. She flopped back onto it, chuckling when it jiggled like a waterbed. “Come, Inanna, we can sleep together like old times.”

Rima folded her arms. “Okay, so you’re all officially free. Now what?”

It was Azazel who answered, “Now we refine our plans to invade Aeon, because we’redefinitelyfucking invading it.”

“I long to head there right now.” Abaddon held up his hand to halt any objections. “I won’t. It would be foolish to act alone, I know. Still, it’s tempting.”

“Very,” agreed Dantalion. “But I’m not about to ruin everything now by moving too soon. We should do as Azazel said and refine our plans. We can do that here and now, in fact.”

“I want to be part of the battle,” Rima blurted out.

Cain blinked, taken off-guard. “You wish to not only see your childhood home destroyed, but partake in its destruction?”

“You were initially very much against the idea of another war,” added Seth, his eyes narrowed.

Rima flexed her fingers. “I do notlikethe idea, but the place will soon be a wasteland anyway. I want Adam to pay for what he did to my mother.”

Noah reached out and squeezed her hand, his expression grim. “We both want some part in making it happen. And we agreed that there is only one thing that will truly hurt Adam—seeing Aeon, a place he thinks of as his kingdom, fall.”

“If we have to join you in order to ensure that, so be it,” Rima added.

Noah nodded hard in agreement.

“I, too, would like to come along,” announced Eve, twiddling her fingers. “I am no fighter, but I am still an Aeon. I am not weak. And Ineedto see Adam be brought down. He must suffer for all he put me and my children through.”

Cain exchanged a look with each of the other Ancients, seeing the same suspiciousness in their gazes that he felt. They’d planned to somehow coax the Aeons into being part of the force of troops, because to leave them behind would also, essentially, leave Devil’s Cradle in their hands. Sure, the Aeons could be confined to a dungeon. But Saul had once been imprisoned in such a way, and he’d been freed.

Cain and the other Ancients would rather have the Aeons where they could see them, but they hadn’t thought that the trio would actually volunteer to take part in the war. Particularlyall threeAeons. It was a little too suspicious, but it also suited the Ancients, so Cain said, “If you’re very sure that this is what you want, you may come.”

Rima’s brows dipped. “You’re not going to argue?”

Cain gave a fluid shrug. “Why would I? You have as much right to seek revenge as anyone else. Now I say we do as Azazel said and refine our plans.” The Ancients as a whole would merely be careful not to saytoomuch in front of the Aeons. It would be foolish to trust them with every little detail.

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