His Angelic Keeper Tempted: His Angelic Keeper, #4

By Melinda Kucsera

Sovvan thought she'd left the Adversary behind when the angels dragged her away, but she was wrong.

He's inside her mind now, twisting her thoughts and making her doubt everything, even her own family. She can't help them while the devil's in her head. Can they survive without her?
The battle continues, but this time, it's for her mind and body. And it's the worst time for it.

The seals are breaking.

And the devil strengthens with each one gone, making him even harder to defeat until there's only one left.

When it falls, Armageddon begins.

Find out what happens in the stunning conclusion to the 11-book crossover event that will change everything forever.

 

Other Books in This Series/Crossover

 

His Angelic Keeper
His Angelic Keeper Hidden
His Angelic Keeper Fallen
His Angelic Keeper Tempted

Other Books in This Crossover

Curse Breaker Enchanted
Curse Breaker Darkens
Curse Breaker Faceted
Curse Breaker Falls
Curse Breaker Sundered
Curse Breaker Hidden
Curse Breaker Fallout

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melinda Kucsera
• Release date: Dec 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201821388

Melinda Kucsera

I write fantasy and science fiction novels and short stories usually at sword point. Everyone should have such eager characters......Hello readers!Yes, this is a fictional character speaking to you. My fellow characters just locked our scribe (Melinda) in a tower. She needs to finish our latest adventure.Want to meet us? Hop on over to get our first adventure for FREE: http://www.mkucsera.com/enchantedWe’re eager to entertain you with our magical mayhem. So go download our book! We're waiting for you.

Book preview

Copyright

His Angelic Keeper Tempted © 2021 by Melinda Kucsera

Cover © 2021 by Melinda Kucsera

All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Table of Contents

Copyright

Table of Contents

His Angelic Keeper Series

The Curse Breaker Series

Want Free Stuff?

Would You Leave A Review?

About His Angelic Keeper Tempted

This is Fantasy

The Gray Between

Kidnapped by Angels

Crossroads of the Future

Where's Mom?

Summoned

Temptation of a Queen

Not What I Expected

Run And Fight

Where Are My Claws?

I'm Not Saving You

Temptation of Sovvan

Trouble in the Nexus

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Talking to Shadows

Kill Two Problems

Strange Doings

You Don’t Have Wings?

Find the Queen

Going to the Gray Between

Two Queens, One Giant Tree

Catching Guards

Stubborn Dragon

Angels to the Rescue

Dragons and Seals

The Watcher of the Moon

Seven Flames

Demon Fall

Save Her

Whose Mind Is This?

Problems in Between

Summoned and Questioned

Not My Baby

You Cannot Pass

Welcome To Hell

Summoned by the Queens

A Deadly Visitor

We Failed

Making Time

Angelic Antics

The Shape of Things to Come

No Way Back Now

Hail the Heralds

An Angelic Escape

An Unexpected Visitor

Would You Leave a Review?

Want Free Stuff?

Memoriam

About the Author

I’d Love to Hear from You!

The Curse Breaker Series

Curse Breaker’s Companion

Robin of Larkspur

Divergent Heroes

His Angelic Keeper Series

A high-fantasy action/adventure series full of magic and mayhem with a Christian bent that takes place in the same world as the Curse Breaker Series.

Other books in the His Angelic Keeper Series:

(Suggested Reading Order)

HIS ANGELIC KEEPER

HIS ANGELIC KEEPER: HIDDEN

HIS ANGELIC KEEPER: FALLEN

HIS ANGELIC KEEPER: TEMPTED

CHAOS RISES*

*Forthcoming

The Curse Breaker Series

A high-fantasy action/adventure series full of magic and mayhem with a Christian bent.

Other books in the Curse Breaker Series:

(Suggested Reading Order)

Prequels

RELIC HUNTER

Main Series

CURSE BREAKER ENCHANTED

HIS ANGELIC KEEPER

CURSE BREAKER DARKENS

CURSE BREAKER FALLS

CURSE BREAKER BOOKS 1-4

(Includes Curse Breaker Enchanted, Curse Breaker Darkens, Curse Breaker Faceted, and Curse Breaker Falls)

CURSE BREAKER SUNDERED

HIS ANGELIC KEEPER HIDDEN

CURSE BREAKER HIDDEN

SPELL OF SHADOW & LIGHT

HIS ANGELIC KEEPER FALLEN

HIS ANGELIC KEEPER: TEMPTED

CURSE BREAKER FALLOUT*

CURSE BREAKER TRAPPED*

CHAOS RISES*

*Forthcoming

Want Free Stuff?

So do we! Who are we? We’re the stars of the Curse Breaker series. Subscribe to our newsletter to get advanced previews, and our weekly adventure series delivered safely to your inbox by our digital dragon. Go to  www.mkucsera.com/welcomecharacters now to sign up.

We’re also on Patreon, and we offer a lot of goodies to thank you for supporting us. Join our community of fantasy fans now on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=6244689 to get copies of our books before anyone else and exclusive content. 

--The cast of the Curse Breaker Series

Would You Leave A Review?

As fictional characters, we appreciate the feedback we receive. Reviews also help readers choose our book. Since we exist only when someone’s reading our stories, reviews are very important to us. So, if you’re enjoying the magical mayhem in this book, please consider letting everyone know by leaving a review. And tell everyone you meet about us.

Thank you for reading His Angelic Keeper Tempted!

About His Angelic Keeper Tempted

Sovvan thought she’d left the Adversary behind when the angels dragged her away, but she was wrong.

He’s inside her mind now, twisting her thoughts and making her doubt everything, even her own family. She can't help them while the devil's in her head. Can they survive without her?

The battle continues, but this time, it’s for her mind and body. And it's the worst time for it.

The seals are breaking.

And the devil strengthens with each one gone, making him even harder to defeat until there's only one left.

When it falls, Armageddon begins.

Find out what happens in the stunning conclusion to the eleven-book crossover event that will change everything forever.

(The events in this book take place simultaneously with Curse Breaker Hidden.)

This is Fantasy

This is just a gentle reminder that this book is a work of fiction. It’s not doctrinal in any sense, nor is it in line with any religious teaching.

This book speculates about how Christianity might express itself in our fantasy world. Our scribe has always been fascinated by that, and she's spent long hours pondering how a traditional epic fantasy world with its own pantheons of pagan gods and magic might shift from polytheism to monotheism.

Characters within this work do not share their author’s beliefs or opinions. Again, this is a work of pure fantasy. Melinda just followed the logic train until the characters in this book hijacked it. (We're not sorry about that.)

The Gray Between

There exists a gray area between

life and death, a place where all crossroads lead.

Darkness hangs there, and shadows set the scene.

No light goes there unless kindled by need.

Hope, love, and faith ignite a soul with fire,

brightening the Gray Between. As you walk,

the darkness stalks; it feeds on emotions.

Hold your hope tight; it’s your torch, and don't balk.

Cling to your love; sing hymns while in motion.

Don't pause or that gray place will suck you dry,

leaving darkening husks trapped in its woods

with no path to follow. Cold, you will die,

never to return to the living woods.

The Gray Between takes the light you give; go

with hope, love, faith, and never let them go.

(Not a prayer, just some things Sovvan wished she’d known.)

Kidnapped by Angels

So, what are your names? I’m tired of mentally referring to you as the tall one and the wiry one. Sovvan glanced at her two captors as they slowed, but neither one responded. She couldn't see anything about them except the glow of their halos, and it was really annoying.

They’d been quiet since the Angel of Mount Eredren had left. Okay, we’re doing the ignore Sovvan thing again. Why can’t just one angel answer my questions? Sovvan considered escaping, but the ground was a long way down. That hadn’t changed. At least tell me what you’re looking for. Maybe I can help. And if she did, maybe they’d realize they were on the same side. But that might be asking too much of these angels, though.

We’re looking for our mortals. We need to make sure they’re okay before we continue on our way, said the wiry angel with more body glow, and the other angel glared at him. What’s the harm in telling her? She already knows we’re guardian angels.

Tall-and-glowing glared at her. How could he find his mortal when he kept staring at her? Okay, she’d get nothing from him. Maybe his friend would answer her.

What do your mortals look like? Sovvan waited, but neither angel said anything. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.

That should be obvious, but maybe they thought she could divine the information herself. Sovvan fought the urge to roll her eyes. I don’t want to go where you’re taking me, but I don’t want your mortals to fall into the Adversary’s hands either. We’re on the same side, so help me out here. Tell me what I’m looking for, and I’ll help you.

They could still take her to the archangels afterward, but she’d fight that. I hope you’re okay. Sovvan sent that wish to both her brothers and her nephew. They were all in peril under the mountain below them.

We don’t need your help. Our mortals are down there. Tall-and-glowing pointed at two silhouettes hiking down the mountain.

At least they were heading away from the Adversary. That was good, but her captors’ inattention was even better. The wiry angel hadn’t noticed his grip had loosened on her arm. Sovvan yanked her arm free and punched tall-and-glowing in the gut. He doubled over and released her.

Bye-bye. It was nice to meet you, but I’ve got people to save. You’ are guardian angels, so you understand. They should unless they were the hide-bound type of angel that didn’t get involved. Regardless, she was free and falling for the umpteenth time toward the sloping ground below, and it didn’t look any softer than any of her previous landings. This might hurt a bit.

The shadow on the side of the mountain split into two distinct figures, and one was child-sized. Oh dear, they were right beneath her. Look out below.

But when neither person looked up at her call. Sovvan cursed. Why couldn’t they hear her? Maybe it was the distance. She was still quite far above them, or maybe she’d become a ghost again. That would be helpful because her ghost form was even more indestructible than her hybrid angel body.

Despite all her attempts to alter her trajectory, those two hikers remained under her. Hopefully, they’d notice a growing shadow on the ground before she landed on them. Finally, the woman looked up and stared at Sovvan. She was maybe thirty with long black hair pulled back into a braid. Next to her, a boy stared up at Sovvan. He was taller and probably older than her nephew, but she wasn’t good at guessing the ages of children.

The duo stepped away from her shadow finally, and Sovvan breathed a sigh of relief. She wouldn’t flatten them when she landed. Since the two could see her, she wasn’t a ghost, so this landing might hurt.

Who is she and why is she falling? The boy waved at Sovvan.

The woman with him (his mother, maybe?) shook her head. Her divided skirt flared as she strode down the mountain. I don’t know.

You can’t escape us. We have our orders, and we’ll carry them out. Tall and glowing seized her arm. But he and his companion were both invisible, which made fighting them harder than it needed to be.

But Sovvan tried to deck him, anyway. Her fist stopped halfway between her body and what she hoped was his face when his angel friend grabbed her other wrist. The two angels flew upward, taking her with them. The fight probably looked ridiculous from the ground since her two captors were still invisible.

Thanks for the save, but could you put me down? You don’t need to fly me. I can walk quite fine on my own. Thank you very much. Sovvan struggled, but her attempt was half-hearted. She didn’t want to crash land.

One angel put his arm around her waist instead of dragging her around by her arm, but the other angel had no such qualms. Maybe he regularly manhandled allies. Who knew? They needed something to do since they considered everything interference.

Don’t hurt her. It wouldn’t hurt you to carry her properly, Ziah, said a female angel.

Who are you? the boy asked at the same time.

Who said that? Sovvan glanced around for another angel because the boy who’d just spoken must have a guardian angel nearby. But that angel must be invisible too.

I did. The boy waved as another angel appeared behind him, but she just looked on from the trail. She must be the child’s guardian angel. She wasn’t a warrior angel, but Sovvan’s captors weren't either.

The female angel wore white robes like Isaiah and Illuriel. Sovvan wondered if the angel was a mage like Miren’s guardian angel. Her stance indicated she was. Or maybe it was her spiky blonde hair and the staff strapped to her back. The angel shook her head when Sovvan opened her mouth to ask if she had any clout with the two fools dragging her away.

She probably didn't since they'd had no reaction to her comment. They might not care what that angel thought of them. Well, there was a woman down there that Sovvan could talk to, so she might as well take advantage of that. Maybe she could find out why there were three angels and only two mortals.

Well, hello there. I’m Sovvan. These must be your guardian angels who came to my aid. Could you ask them to put me down? My legs work fine. Sovvan flexed her slippered feet. Thankfully, her long white dress had defied gravity and covered her from neck to ankle despite the wind that tried to pull it away from her. Hopefully, no one could see anything under it.

Sovvan couldn’t remember whether the angel who’d loaned her this dress had provided any undergarments, or if she’d bothered to put them on. Many things had happened since then that were more important. That was something she should sort out after she saved her family and sent the Adversary packing. She needed a new dress, anyway. This one was more gray than white now.

What are you talking about? the boy’s mother shoved something into her pocket.

Well, I’ve got good news and bad news. Which do you want first? A woman in Rangers’ greens rounded a huge boulder and stopped. She held a rope in her hands, and two ponies followed her. Oh, it’s you again.

Have we met? Sovvan studied her, but the Ranger wasn’t familiar. Because I don’t remember you, but my memory has some holes in it.

We didn’t meet, not officially anyway, but I saw you before when that insect guy held you captive.

That’s the girl you were telling me about? The other woman pointed at Sovvan.

Yes, unless there’s more than one of you? The Ranger fiddled with the ropes in her hands.

Sovvan shook her head. No, there’s only one of me, but I have two brothers. Have you seen either of them? One is tall with glowing green eyes, and the other is… Well, Miren is just adorable, not a brooder like my twin.

You’re Sarn’s sister? The boy’s mother leaned against the boulder in shock.

Yes! Have you seen either one of my brothers? I’ve been trying to help them, but everybody keeps sending me away, and it’s really annoying. Sovvan glanced at her invisible captors as they rose higher into the sky. Let go of me! She struggled but to no avail.

Should we help her? The boy’s mother pushed off the boulder she leaned against, but there was nothing she could do.

Still, the offer touched Sovvan. Why couldn’t the angels she met be this helpful?

The Ranger laid a hand on her arm to stop the other woman. No, I have it on good authority that she doesn’t need any help.

And whose authority might that be? the woman asked.

Just an entity who has some insight into this sort of thing. He spied on the Adversary for us. That was the only way we could see what that creep was doing. The Ranger shifted her weight from foot to foot. Behind her, two mountain ponies chomped on the grass, oblivious to their conversation.

You mean the Marksman, don’t you? The boy’s mother nodded. I already know about the whole Chooser of the Slain/ Death’s Marksman thing. My husband isn’t as good at hiding things from me as he thinks he is. She folded her arms.

He talks in his sleep, huh? The Ranger tossed her braid over her shoulder.

The two women dwindled from sight. Damn. I wanted to hear the rest of that conversation. Who was this Marksman, and what did he have to do with the Angel of Death? Why did he think she didn’t need any protection? Sovvan sighed. She kept missing all the interesting things.

The sky blackened, and the stars disappeared as they passed through an invisible shield. Was it the rainbow one she’d seen twice when she used the Drop of Eternity? Probably.

Are you taking me to the Gray Between? But that couldn’t be their destination because the archangels weren’t there. Sovvan would have seen them if they were.

Yes, how did you guess? Ziah asked.

So he was talking to her now. Too bad she couldn’t see his face. It wasn’t hard to guess since everyone sends me there, anyway. But that’s not what the Angel of Mount Eredren said. He told you to take me to the archangels, not to the Gray Between. Hadn’t they paid attention to his instructions?

Well, he’s not here. We can’t leave our mortals long enough to take you where he wanted you to go. Ziah flew faster.

But we can give you to someone who can take you the rest of the way. The wiry angel tightened his grip on her waist.

Uh-oh. Sovvan had a bad feeling about who that someone else was. It was probably a Memory-Eater. But they’d just throw her at the Agents of Chaos again, which wouldn’t help anyone. Those creatures weren’t the ones trying to destroy the world right now. The Adversary was. She could deal with those clockwork insects later. They couldn’t leave the Gray Between, anyway.

Sovvan punched and kicked anything and everything within reach. She had to stop these two angels from taking her to the Gray Between. She’d lose valuable time to get back to the Mortal World from there. Let go of me! I’ll go back to the Gray Between when I’m ready. I have people to save, things to do, and the Adversary to stop. He’s as much your enemy as he is mine. You should help me, not take me somewhere I don’t want to go. Sovvan struggled against the two angels holding her captive.

Need some help? Ragnes flew toward them. His black bat wings were a blur behind him, and she must have imagined the smile creasing his face because he didn’t have features anymore, not since the Adversary had remade him into a creature that was more liquid than solid. But he was a welcome sight.

Yes, I could, if you’re so minded. These two aren’t listening. I’m trying to warn them about the Adversary. They should kick his butt and leave me alone. I’m not harming anyone. I’m helping. Sovvan wriggled, but they didn’t let go of her. Not even when her elbow collided with one of their invisible chins.

You’re not supposed to be here. Ziah wrenched her arm behind her back.

How is that my fault? I didn’t make the rules. Sovvan yanked her arm this way and that, but she froze when she heard her nephew call her name.

Auntie Sovvan!

White light devoured Sovvan, and the sky disappeared behind a cloud of glittering motes. I’m coming, honey. You just hold on. Your auntie is on the way.

Crossroads of the Future

Now that he was in the Nexus, Fedre couldn't remember why he'd fought it for so long. Power coursed through him as he stood at the crossroads of the future, where all things were possible.

It was a vast, dark plain, dotted with fires. Some were roaring blazes, while others were just tongues of flame. All the fires represented a possible future. Some fires connected into webs, and elsewhere, sparks extinguished before ever catching fire. The future was fickle, and so was its ever-changing Nexus.

Behind him lay the present, but it wouldn't be when or where he'd parted ways with it because time moved ever onward, and the present moved with it. Hopefully, he could still find a way back to the Gray Between, close to when he'd left it. I'll worry about that later when it's time to leave the Nexus.

Right now, Fedre needed to find the future that contained his mother. There were many fires, but only one represented her future. He didn't know if he could even find it. She might have closed off her future, so none of her children would see when she'd pass away or how. She was thoughtful like that.

Where are you, Mom? Fedre checked the fires closest to where he'd arrived, but none held any images of his mother or his family. He moved out from there to the next semicircle of fires and almost stumbled upon a thin spot in the fabric of reality where the future and the present touched.

Fedre backed away from that thin spot slowly and carefully while checking to make sure there wasn't another one behind him or on either side. He didn't want to fall into the present somewhere other than where he'd left it, which was a possibility.

Where are you, Mom? I know you're still alive. I feel it here. Fedre pounded a fist against his chest. Nor could he linger here for long. He didn't trust his sister, Faylon, to stay out of trouble. Two fires raced toward each other, and he jumped out of the way. Somehow, he'd ended up in between them.

You need to pay more attention. The future is a dangerous place for the unwary, a woman said from somewhere behind him.

Who said that? Fedre glanced around. Two fires slammed into each other just a few feet away from him, and an explosion rocked the ground, staggering him.

You know who I am. Every place has its guardian, even the Nexus of the Future.

Well, that guardian wasn't his mother. This woman didn't sound like her, and Mom couldn't make herself invisible. Are you an angel or a god from one of the fallen pantheons?

One fire nearby swelled up to his height and divided into a head, a torso, and limbs. The fire creature glared at him with red glowing eyes. They'd have been more impressive if he hadn't spent his entire life looking at those same eyes in the mirror.

Fedre folded his arms. Well? Are you an angel or something else?

Something else, said another woman, and she sounded a lot like Rachielle. She was probably an angel, but she didn't reveal herself, so he couldn't tell for sure.

That was okay. Fedre had met enough angels on this adventure so far. He could skip meeting another one. Do either of you know where my mother is? He'd accept help from anyone at this point.

The fire creature shrugged, then disappeared. I'm sure you'll find her. Part of her is always here. She's annoying like that.

Okay. If they wouldn't help, then he'd better get back to his search. Fedre turned and chose a new direction. Before he'd gone clockwise, but now he tried moving counterclockwise through the fires radiating out from the present. He couldn't check them all, not in the time he could spend here. At a certain point, his powers would pull him back to the present, even if he wasn't ready to go. So he'd better make the most of it while he was here.

Someone ought to see this, so they can do something about it. Since you're here, you're elected. The angel grabbed his arm and dragged him over to a small cluster of fires that had just sprung up behind several larger ones he'd already checked.

What am I looking at? Fedre stared into the flames. Shapes moved in them, and images blossomed in his head as his gift took over.

A cavern so large Fedre couldn't see its other end appeared in his mind's eye. Two bat-winged, man-shaped creatures made of liquid darkness wrestled with another creature above that deep chasm. Somehow, they could fight and fly at the same time. They must be the Adversary's minions.

One minion slammed his head back and tried to break the other minion's nose, but it just bounced back after each blow.

Going somewhere? the Adversary said as he appeared. Unlike his minions, he didn't have any wings, but he didn't need them because his torso ended at a cloud as black as his robes, like a djinn from a bard's tale. A cloak covered his head and shaded his face if he had one. His violet glowing eyes seemed to float in the darkness under his hood.

Creepy. Fedre rubbed the gooseflesh on his arms at the sight. The Adversary conjured a harpoon out of the darkness wreathing his hands. He launched one at each of his minions, catching one in the chest, another in the shoulder, and a third in the gut.

Only two minions screamed in pain. The other minion gazed at the Adversary the way a dog looked at his master after receiving a treat. Or he did until his face dissolved into a smooth black oval that had no expression at all, nor any features. Minion number three was clay in his master's hands again, and that suited that creature just fine.

Fedre shuddered. He couldn't understand that kind of mindless devotion to a villain, of all things.

"Keep watching,'' the angel said, but her voice came from far away. Was she walking away from him? If so, her feet didn't make a sound.

Yes, keep watching. The fire creature stood right behind him now, and her light brightened the scene. He couldn't believe it had taken this long to figure out who she was.

One of Mom's oldest titles was the Illuminator of the Future, and that's what this creature was: the light that revealed the future. But she could be nicer about it. She must get lonely here. He didn't know how many Fates there were in the world anymore, or how many were in his family.

Not all of his sibs came here. Some weren't powerful enough to walk this deep into the future. Some could only see visions, and some of his sibs avoided their gifts. But Mom loved them all, no matter what they chose. She didn't care whether they accepted their gifts or rejected them. That was their decision, and it had nothing to do with the love she bore them.

What am I looking at? Because all Fedre saw were shadows in the flames now, and none were recognizable.

Look there. The fire creature turned his head until Fedre nodded, but she didn't let go.

The Adversary laughed as he tugged the dark cords attached to the harpoons impaling his minions. Come along, boys. It’s time you moved on. You’ve got work to do.

Where’s Gore? one of his minions asked.

Don’t worry. You’ll see him soon. Where’s your other friend, what’s his name? The Adversary snapped his fingers. But none of them supplied a name. Weren’t there five of you?

No, there’s just three of us.

The Adversary gestured to his sycophant. How many friends do you have? But the third minion had sunk deep into his influence.

Just you, Master.

I don’t believe you. I think you have more friends out there. They can’t help you where you’re going. Malachiah! The Adversary gestured, and an insectoid man with flaming wings appeared. The gold collar around his neck glowed, so did his violet eyes.

You called? Malachiah studied them as he floated there. His prehensile tail slashed angrily at the air behind him and sent dark droplets of ichor flying from its bleeding end. It looked like someone had chopped off the end of his tail. Blood spattered his horns and ripped white robes too.

So the gateway hadn't destroyed him when it had collapsed. Damn it. At least that meant that Sovvan was probably still alive and kicking too, or whatever passed for that in her state. But Fedre hadn't seen any hint of her in the fires of the future. Then again, she wasn't alive, so she might not have a future anymore to see. That last time he'd seen her here might have been a fluke.

Fedre pushed down the worry that bubbled up for her. Sovvan could take care of herself. She'd more than proved that when they were in Hell.

Yes. How go things in the Gray Between? Are the seals breaking? The Adversary merged the black ropes attached to the three harpoons into one rope and thrust it into Malachiah’s hands.

Not yet. There have been some complications. Malachiah squeezed the rope until his knuckles cracked.

Sounds like you could use some help. Take them. They’ll do as you say, won’t you, my wraiths? The Adversary peeled back his darkness to reveal his true face.

Look away. The angel of this place shoved Fedre aside, knocking the fire creature's hand away from his neck. But the angel didn't appear.

Fedre shook his head to clear it, but the vision wouldn't go away. I can't look away. It's in my mind. She gave me a vision. Fedre tapped the side of his head until the angel grabbed his arm and spun him to face her.

The vision dissolved in the violet light of her eyes. Then they vanished too, and she released him. Never look upon his true face. She brushed past him, but he didn't feel any armor on her arms.

Is he that hideous? Fedre rubbed the back of his neck.

No. He was once the greatest of angels. To look upon him is to look upon the greatest disappointment in the universe. So much potential wasted. Even God couldn't look upon his Adversary, so he banished him to Hell when he turned on Him.

It's not as bad as she says. You can look now. You should see what happens next. The fire creature pointed at the flames behind Fedre, and he turned.

But the angel turned him away again. You've seen enough.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the fire divide, and the images change. But the angel pulled him away from it.

No more. There's a limit to how much you can see, and you're fast approaching it. You should go back. Time's marching on without you. You can't stay here much longer, or you'll break your tether and become unmoored.

That could happen, but Fedre didn't think he was losing his connection to the present. He'd marked his place before leaving it, and that mark was just as vibrant as when he'd left. Why was she trying to convince him to leave? What did she know?

Fedre replayed the vision and found the answer. The Adversary had mentioned some seals in the Gray Between—where he'd left his sister. Malachiah and those captured wraiths would head back there in the future. But there was no way to tell how soon that would happen or when the events in the vision he'd just seen would take place.

I need to warn Faylon. But there was one question Fedre needed answered first. What are those seals they were talking about?

"They