I smiled at him. “I appreciate this—everything you’ve done for me. Thank you.”

The corner of his mouth pulled back for an instant before he shrugged. “All right. Get out of here so you can get back. I’ll find us plane tickets into Denver.”

On my way out, I glanced back at him. He leaned over the counter heavily on his hands and he wore an expression hard with determination and worry. I had to force myself to keep going.

“I’m beginning to dislike seeing you come home covered in blood,” Nana said as I dragged myself through the front door. She didn’t seem pleased in the slightest. “We have a visitor as well.”

Marcus stepped into the foyer, his expression a mixture of relief and irritation. “Where in the—”

“Save it,” I hissed.

“My car had better be in one piece,” he growled back, and I shoved past his shoulder. Then he grabbed my arm. “Hey—”

I jerked away from him and gave him a scathing glare. “Don’t you dare touch me, or I’ll torch your stupid car.”

He wasn’t amused. “Where have you been? For the love of God, please tell me you weren’t with that demonic vir.”

“That is none of your business.”

“It sure as hell is!”

I laughed bitterly. “How is it your business? You are not my Guardian and I am doing whatever is necessary to save the one who is. I’m not sitting around on my ass like you are while he wastes away!”

“You’re going to get your ass killed, that’s what you’re doing!”

I crunched my teeth together so hard they squeaked. “Get out of my face, reaper.”

“You’re an idiot,” he said exhaustedly. “Running off with Cadan? What’s the matter with you?”

“Don’t you dare say a word against him,” I warned Marcus. “All he has ever done is help me. He told me that Bastian found the sarcophagus, about the necklace they used to give Lilith corporeal form—not to mention he killed Ivar and Bastian to protect me. He’s even the one who warned me that Bastian feared we’d find something called the hallowed glaive, a weapon that can destroy the Fallen. Once Will is better, we’re going to find it.”

“I can’t believe that you’d trust a demonic reaper, that you’d risk everything by doing so.”

“I’m not an idiot to risk everything for Will,” I snapped back. “He’s done the same for me for hundreds of years. I’m going to save him and I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“He would hate you risking your life for him—”

“Too bad!” I shrieked. “Cadan knows where Antares is and he’s going to take me there.”

His eyes bugged. “Antares? That’s who you’re after? You’re mad for going after a Grigori, let alone a Cardinal Lord. She’ll eat you alive.”

I lifted my chin in defiance. “If she tries, then I’ll at least make sure I get what I need from her first.”

“Listen to me,” he rasped hurriedly, leaning over me. “The Grigori are powerful and beyond dangerous. You don’t know—”

“I do, actually,” I shot back. “Cadan has already warned me. You all seem to forget who I am. I am the archangel Gabriel. I commanded the legion of Heaven that defeated and banished the Grigori to Earth eons before the first reapers were created. I know better than anyone what they’re capable of. Antares may be too much for a reaper, but she knows who I am just as well as I know her.”

He seemed to deflate. “Fine. Then go. You’re making a huge mistake.”

I bit back a snarl. “I wish everyone would stop telling me how stupid I am and at least offer to help me.”

He was silent. After the longest moment, I shook my head and marched up to my room to change my clothes and pack a bag. I threw in jeans, warm- and cold-weather tops, toiletries, and then raced down the stairs to find Marcus and his car gone. Nana stood on the porch, her arms folded over her chest. I eased around her carefully, peering at the sad look on her face.

“Come back, okay?” she asked.

I fought a sob in my throat and dropped my duffle bag to the ground before hugging her tightly. “I promise, Nana. I love you.”

“I love you too,” she replied. “And I trust your judgment. No one’s perfect, but I believe that you believe you’re on the right track. Do what you need to do, and I’ll be here waiting. Go save your Guardian.”

It was so hard to pull away, but I had to hurry. I threw my things into my car and peeled out of the driveway, forcing myself not to look in the rearview mirror.

Cadan and I caught a direct flight to Denver and I slept almost the entire way. He rented us an SUV that was blacked out all over to offer himself protection from the sun and we headed northwest toward the Rocky Mountains. After a few hours of driving, I had him take the wheel so I could rest. When I woke again, it was after dark and my ears were popping from the altitude. Somewhere in the mountains, we would meet another of Cadan’s “friends,” but he assured me that this one was friendly through and through. Antares’s location was too remote for access by car, so we would travel the last few miles by horse and foot.

“You’re going to need to sleep here pretty soon,” he said, glancing over at me. “In a real bed where you can get some rest instead of in a plane or car.”

I watched the headlights paint the winding road ahead a dull yellow. The higher we climbed into the mountains, the more upset my stomach got. “I’m fine. Just keep driving.”