The days were passing, and not much was happening.

After we had come back from Russia with Ronen, it took her a while to realize staying with us and fighting was the best option. She seemed ready to bolt at any moment. And God knows what would happen then. Imha might capture her and squeeze the location of our hideout from her. However, Micah thought it was just nerves mixed with withdraw from her parties and booze.

After a long meeting with Victor, Ceris, Maho, Sol, Ronen, Izaera, Zelen, Keisha, and Alice—anyone seen Micah? Nope—I retreated to my room just as the pain became unbearable. I couldn’t keep from shaking. I didn’t want them to see me in pain again.

I fought through the pain as it increased and increased. An hour—or two?—later, I was biting my pillow to hide my screams. My body shook and my mind felt like mush.

This was the second time in three days.

I was dying. That must be it. I couldn’t think of any other explanation.

After another hour, the pain lessened enough for me to take a long breath without crying out.

A knock came from my closed door. “Nadine?” It was Alice.

“Yes?” I said, my voice raw.

“Lady Ceris said the scouts are coming, and she thought you would like to talk to them.”

Groaning, I sat up. “I’ll be right there.”

I stood from my bed, made sure I didn’t look like I was in any pain, and headed for the living room. I gritted my teeth with every step, but it was better than feeling like my body was exploding in a million pieces.

Careful with my movements, I sat in an armchair. Around me, I saw Alice, Keisha, Ceris, and Victor. “Where are the others?” And by that I meant, where was Micah? Izaera and Zelen never stayed long, and I didn’t care that much about Maho, Sol, and Ronen—as long as they were behaving and helping us.

“They left right after the meeting,” Victor said.

“Still looking for allies?” I asked.

“What else?” replied Ceris, her voice cold. Ugh. Someone was in a bad mood.

To answer her question, I could think of other things to do, like plan a war with the resources we had instead of looking for allies for months. I agreed we needed numbers, but we didn’t have forever to put together an army.

“They are here,” Ceris said, opening the door.

Two of our scouts walked into the apartment.

“Any news?” Victor asked after the scouts took their usual stoic position in the middle of the living room.

“It seems Imha and Omi have been holed up in a current villa in England,” the blond scout said. “But the demons are still destroying everything in their path.”

“Is there a pattern to their destruction?” Ceris asked.

The blond scout shook his head. “No, my lady.”

“I did have some progress with the Death Lords, though,” the tall scout said.

Ceris brows shot up. “What did you say, Rihan?”

“I trailed the Death Lords for two days, and then they disappeared near one of the underworld’s main entrances.”

“Wait.” Victor raised a finger, as if asking for a minute. “You were following the Death Lords?”

“Y-yes,” Rihan replied, and for the first time, I saw his usual soldier-like expression falter. “Just as Lord Mitrus asked me.”

Ceris and Victor exchanged a long, meaningful look. Uh-oh.

“Rihan, I need you to stop trailing the Death Lords,” Victor said. “You and the others are to focus on Imha and Omi only.”

Rihan bowed his head. “Yes, my lord.”

“Thank you for the update,” Victor said, his voice strained. “If anything changes, please let us know.”

“You can go now,” Ceris said, waving her hand to the front door.

After bowing, the scouts hurried out the door. Ceris paced the living room, as if counting her steps. After an entire minute, she exploded.

“I can’t believe it!” she yelled and the walls shook. “I’m gonna kill him.”

Victor sighed. “Let’s not be too hasty. Mitrus might have a good reason for changing our orders.”

“He better,” Ceris hissed.

Afraid to disrupt Ceris’s latest breakdown, Alice, Keisha, and I went to the gym and left Victor alone to deal with his soulmate.

Alice closed the door. “What was all that about?”

I shrugged. I didn’t know, but something told me the reason Micah changed the scouts’ orders wasn’t good enough. If I was right, he was in big trouble with Ceris and Victor.