“You’re my little angel,” he murmured. “Your mom is my sunset, and you’re my dawn.”

Gem propped her head on his shoulder. “You always surprise me with how wonderful you are. You know, when you aren’t being a jerk.” At his chuckle, she smiled, and then her eyes flew open. “Dawn. That’s it! It’s perfect.”

“Dawn.” He looked down at the little bundle of calm, of sunshine, and yes, that was perfect. “Dawn it is.”

His phone chirped, and as much as he didn’t want to answer it right now… shit. He wasn’t going to get it. Wasn’t.

“Answer,” Gem said.

“I can’t.”

“Ky, you’re dealing with the potential end of the world. If you have to answer the phone to keep our daughter safe, do it.”

“Man, I love you,” he murmured.

“I know.”

He grinned. They had gone through a lot to be together, and sometimes it still floored him to remember their journey.

An almost physical ache throbbed through him when he left Gem to step out into the hall. He’d make this quick. Regan’s number popped up on the Caller ID, and he dialed. She answered on the first ring.

“Ky. We found it.”

His breath caught in his throat. “The dagger?”

“Yep. The weird thing is that it wasn’t in our chambers.”

“We knew that. Every item at HQ has been numbered and catalogued, and there was no mystical Horseman killer.”

She sighed. “I still figured we had to have it somewhere, maybe mislabeled or intentionally vague in its description.”

Regan was an obsessive-compulsive control freak in an almost clinical sense, and he had a feeling she’d gone through every single item in their inventory. A couple of times. “Okay, so where is it?”

“A monastery in Spain. We need you to pick it up.”

He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Why me?”

“Because our sneaky past colleagues hid it in a box that can only be opened by someone with angel blood.”

And Kynan had an angel perched in his family tree. “This doesn’t make sense, Regan. Why would The Aegis make the dagger inaccessible to most of its own people?”

“No idea. I’m lucky enough to have found it, let alone get an explanation for it.”

Fuck. “Okay, but it’s going to have to wait. Gem just had our baby.”

“Boy or girl?”

“Girl. Her name is Dawn.”

“Very pretty. The sooner you pick up the dagger, the sooner you can get back to her.” Yeah, Regan was all heart.

“I’ll get to it. Anything else going on?”

“We’ve intercepted more chatter that Arik has translated. It’s not good. They’re talking about how the human is dying, but then in the same breath, they’re talking about Satan’s bride.”

“Do you think they’re talking about Cara?”

“Maybe. I know if she dies, War’s Seal will break, but I wonder if being handed over to Satan will do the same thing?”

“Dammit. I don’t know. Just give me some time to be with my family, and I’ll get on it.”

“Okay. But Kynan, don’t take too much. We’re not looking at weeks or even days until War’s Seal breaks. The way the underworld is buzzing, we might be talking hours.”

Cara and Ares showered quickly. Well, it might have been quicker if Ares hadn’t insisted on washing her, which led to another couple of orgasms for both of them. There had been a desperate, intense quality to what they’d done, as if Ares had been starving and was trying to fill up.

Or as if he’d been gorging because he didn’t know if they’d ever do it again.

The thought niggled at her as she tugged on the jeans and blouse Ares had brought from her place. This transfer couldn’t be anything but good, right? She would no longer be dying, so she and Ares could… could what? He wouldn’t need to protect her, and they’d both admitted they didn’t do “close,” so why would she be around?

Despite the depressing thoughts, she watched Ares dress, admiring his body, the way his muscles rippled under tan, taut skin. Her own muscles ached, but in that lovely, well-used way that would remind her with every step that she’d had the best sex of her life.

He turned to her, his black tee stretching over shoulders so wide that with his armor on he had a hard time getting through doorways. He walked over to her, his gait purposeful but unhurried, and she felt her own body loosen in response, as if anticipating his touch. Sensuality oozed from him even when he wasn’t trying—he was living, breathing, sex.

His smile was tense as he reached for her blouse and began to button it. “I’ll help.”

“I think I can manage,” she said, but she let him.

He worked his way up, his nimble fingers brushing her skin—intentionally, she was sure, and despite all the sex they’d had, the thrum of desire began to buzz through her veins. He paused about halfway to trace the tip of his finger over the agimortus, which had faded again. They’d both noticed in the shower, and although she didn’t feel any different, the mirror had told another story.

Raccoon circles framed her eyes, and her cheeks were gaunt, her skin pale. Even her ribs were showing, as if she were slowly starving to death.

“It’ll be gone in a few minutes,” Ares murmured.

“I can’t wait. I know it’s only been a few days, but it feels like I’ve been under a death watch for a year.” She hadn’t really admitted, even to herself, that she’d been terrified she’d never be rid of the mark, but now she could feel that pressure draining like a lanced blister. “It’s weird though, because I’m only realizing how afraid I was right now.”

“You’ve been in survival mode,” Ares said, his expression taking on a serious cast. “I’m sorry, Cara. You should never have been dragged into this.” He finished buttoning her up. “But it’s almost over. If we can keep the fallen angel contained and safe, we can keep my Seal from breaking. And you’re bonded to an immortal hellhound, so you should have several hundred years of life in you.” A flush worked its way up his throat from his collar to his forehead. “I’ll make sure you’re taken care of and safe from Pestilence.”

“Wait.” Her fingers automatically went to the agimortus, which throbbed through the fabric of her shirt. “If I’m no longer branded with your mark, why would Pestilence be a danger?” And what did he mean by making sure she was taken care of?

“He might try to hurt me through you.”

“Oh, great. So I still won’t be safe.”

He hauled her roughly against him, knocking the breath from her lungs. “You will be safe, Cara. If I have to hide you on the other side of the world, I swear you’ll be safe.” He kissed her, a hot pledge to back up his words.

Before she could even catch her breath, he took her hand and led her out of the bedroom.

They entered the great room, and Cara’s optimistic mood faltered. The fallen angel sat on the floor, shoulders slumped, bloodied, his perfect skin bruised. Dark, stringy hair hung in his face. For all intents and purposes, he looked like a beaten dog. Except that his pewter eyes were molten with defiance.

On the television, explosions rocked the room through the stereo system. Every time someone screamed, the fallen angel jerked and bared his fangs.

Thanatos went down on his heels next to the angel. “Say hi to the nice lady, Zhreziel.”

“Fuck you, Death.”

Thanatos’s smile was grim. “That could very well happen if I turn evil, so take the agimortus like a good servant of Heaven.”

Cara put her hand to her belly, but that didn’t stop the churning. “Why doesn’t he want it?”

Zhreziel snarled. “Do you want it?”

“No, but—”

“But what? Are you completely stupid?”

In a flash, Ares had the fallen angel by the throat and was squeezing. “You do not speak to her that way.” Loathing burned in Zhreziel’s eyes, but he gave a reluctant nod, and Ares dropped him. “Cara, come here.”

“No!” Zhreziel scrambled backward, but Thanatos caught him. The angel began to pant, his skin paling. “I don’t want it. Don’t… want… it.”

Ares eyed the fallen angel with disgust. “You haven’t entered Sheoul, which means you’re redeemable. Taking the agimortus will be in service to humans. Don’t you think that will be a good thing?”

“Good? Pestilence and his demons will be after me!”

“We’ll protect you.”

“The way you protected Batarel and Sestiel? Forgive me if I’m dubious about the quality of your protection.”

“Idiot angel.” Limos, who had been licking a blue lollipop, wagged it at him. “Those two thought they’d be better off on their own. That won’t happen with you. We’ll keep you nice and safe. And busy. Ares has a great video collection. Ooh, and a wet bar.”

“What are you people not getting? I don’t want the damned thing! If I have it and Pestilence kills me, my soul will belong to Satan. If he doesn’t, and one of your other Seals breaks, then I will turn evil because I bear the agimortus. It’s a lose-lose for me.” He nodded to Cara. “She’s human. Not meant to bear the agimortus, so she won’t turn evil.”

“You selfish shit.” Ares’s voice pulsed with mounting anger. “She’s going to die if she doesn’t transfer it. Do you want the Final Battle to begin?”

“Of course not,” Zhreziel snapped. “But if I’m not carrying the agimortus, I can fight on the side of good and win my soul and wings back.”

Oh, God. He was in a fight for his very soul. The nausea became a crashing wave that threatened to spill right out of Cara’s stomach.

“Say it with me.” Thanatos’s voice was wintry as he spoke into the angel’s ear. “Apocalypse. Armageddon. It will break in a matter of hours if Cara keeps the agimortus, because it’s killing her.”