His eyes lingered on Will’s tattoos. “I know who you are. And I know who he is. Your last Guardian was not so tall.”

I was taken back with surprise. “We’ve met?”

“A long time ago. I’ve sensed your presence since your arrival in this city. I never expected to see you again, and especially not in the company of Hellspawn.”

“He’s my friend,” I said firmly. “His presence will not be challenged. Berengar, I ask that you surrender your relic to me.”

He made a brusque sound in reply. “I won’t be able to help you.”

“Do you have the Pentalpha?” Will asked.

Berengar shook his head. “No. I possess Raziel’s book. It contains all of the secrets of God.”

I closed my eyes and exhaled as the disappointment of yet another dead end pulled me beneath a crushing wave. I knew we still had a chance to find the relic, but our goal seemed to drift further and further away each day.

“Don’t worry,” Will said softly. “It’s out there somewhere.”

“Do you know of the Pentalpha?” Cadan asked Berengar.

The relic guardian turned his gaze to Cadan. “I do not speak to the demonic.”

Anger rushed through me. “Then speak to me,” I growled.

“Yes,” Berengar said. “I hear few rumors about it and its guardian. The Pentalpha never stays in one location very long, a few years at most. I spoke to an angelic reaper some time ago who told me that she knew the Pentalpha guardian and believed that it had been moved to Belgium. Whether it is still here, I do not know.”

“Did the reaper happen to mention where in Belgium?”

“No,” Berengar replied. “But you can ask her. Evolet lives across the river in Bressoux. If it please you, I will ask her to come to Liege.”

“Thank you,” I said, though it would take more than this to make me like him. The way he scowled at Cadan even when he spoke to me made me mad, but I had to remind myself that Berengar didn’t know Cadan.

Berengar arranged for us to meet this Evolet at a small café a couple blocks away. We found a table on the patio outside and it wasn’t long before two reapers approached us and sat down. The girl I assumed was Evolet had blond hair pulled into a braid over her shoulder and blue eyes like burning stars. Her companion was a male reaper with curly dark hair and his expression wasn’t very friendly. The girl studied my face intently and Will stiffened beside me. I put a hand on his arm to let him know he could relax, but whatever made him feel defensive affected me too.

“Are you really the Preliator?” the girl asked in a light French accent.

“Yeah,” I said. “You’re Evolet, right?”

She nodded. “I’m sorry for my imposing backup. Calix doesn’t like to be out around so many humans. Neither do I, for that matter, but what Berengar had to say interested me. I don’t trust him often, hence Calix’s presence.”

“That’s shocking,” I mumbled, dripping with sarcasm. “Berengar was so pleasant.”

When her gaze rested on Cadan, a curious smile spread across her rosy pink lips. “How interesting. Cadan, son of Bastian. You’re really rolling in the trash these days, aren’t you, Preliator?”

“Hey!” I snapped.

“You’d better watch your words,” Will said in a cold, dark tone. “He’s not the only son of Bastian.”

Evolet looked at Will now. “Even more interesting.”

“Now that we’ve established your bigotry,” Cadan grumbled, “can you help us?”

“I don’t think anyone can help you,” she replied.

Will shot up from the table, one hand tight in a fist, the other ready to draw his sword. Cadan stared at him with an expression of uncertainty.

“Relax,” Evolet said with ease, sinking deeper into her chair. “It wasn’t a threat.”

“I don’t understand,” I said in disbelief. “You can’t tell me that you’ve already given up.”

Her blue fire eyes fixed on mine. “We’re preparing for war against an enemy beyond any of us. Sammael will turn this world to ashes.”

I stared harder into her eyes. “I will not let that happen.”

She huffed, amused. “The Pentalpha is real.”

“I know it is,” I said, my patience waning. “I made it.”

She was quiet for several moments and then she lifted one hand. Energy sparked from her fingertips and the black wisps of power danced in her palm. “There are two people on this Earth who know where the Ring of Solomon is hidden. I am one of them.”

“I am the archangel Gabriel and you will tell me what you know,” I ordered.

Cadan stood to join Will, and Calix crossed his arms over his chest, puffing himself out. The intimidation game wasn’t going to get us anywhere. I needed Evolet to cooperate.

Suddenly Evolet smiled and relinquished her power. “I like you,” she said. “You’ve got spunk.”

“My life is complete. Really.”

“You’ll want to go to Aalst,” Evolet said at last. “West of Brussels. The relic guardian is there.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and mentally crossed my fingers in the hope that we wouldn’t hit yet another dead end with this lead. “It looks like we’re backtracking,” I said to the boys.

“You’re welcome to collect and attempt to use the Pentalpha,” Evolet continued. “I wish you the best of luck. If you were wise, you’d find a quiet place to lie low like the rest of us.”