Page 31 (1/2)

"No," Kim said, matter-of-factly

"And why's that?" Claire snapped back

Quiet overcaroup, until Jared closed the book with a clap "Because there is no loophole"

I smiled hopeful y "Stop it, Jared You haven't even read the whole thing, yet"

"I just did," he said, his eyes focused on the black seal that branded the cover "They aren't going to stop until they prevent the birth of our child"

Ki her chin "This entire cat-and-ame to Shax The fact that Ryan is stil alive should tel youhe's just toying with al of us"

I shook my head "If that were true, why the dreaet the book?"

Jared stood "Because they knew that is exactly what I would do, and the drea us complete a fool's errand alive"

"No," I said, standing next to him "I don't believe that If that were true, they would tel et it Gabe wouldn't have helped ht," Jared said "Maybe we need a little more time with it"

"Jared?" Bex said

Kim held up her hand in frustration "Shax is a Duke of Hel , Jared You pretty much walked into his house and slapped him, and he let you just walk out? Do you real y think that's hoorks?"

Ryan pul ed the fabric froash "We didn't just walk out, Ki like that in ain"

"Jared," Bex said again

Jared frowned at Bex, and then returned his attention to Ki to wait for us to figure this out before we take it soet it back?"

"She isabout We've been dealing with this for lifetimes It's time to end it It's time the Pol ocks are free of it"

Jared looked down at the book in his hands, and then back to Kiht, but you're not getting this back until I' in it that can help Nina," Jared said, shoving it under his arm

Kim took a step forward "We had a deal"

"I haven't forgotten that," Jared answered

Father Francis ca quick steps "I'ht it would be" he said, trailing off

"Jared!" Bex yel ed "They're co!"

"Oh

A deafening boo the ground with shards of colored glass Jared tookme with his body

Even after the explosion, it sounded as if a tornado was hovering above the church

"Not in the House of the Lord!" Father Francis yel ed over the noise, his arh in the air by an invisible assailant, his legs kicking until he was blown back, se Pieces of the painting came doith him when he fel to the floor

Bex rol ed into the aisle, and then took off toward the priest, so fast his body was a blur He took Father Francis, li through the broken s blew Bex's platinum hair wildly as he felt for a pulse on the priest's neck

"He's alive!" Bex call ed

Another explosion shook the building, and pieces of the ceiling fel in large chunks onto the pews, sending sheet rock and plaster into the air

"We have toe wooden door blew open, forcing another strong pulse of wind across the room Had Jared not kept his arms around me, I would have fal en over

I held my hand to my face to shield it fro in the doorway

He wore an al -black suit, shirt and tie,his cold, obsidian eyes A sht

Jared stood his ground, positioned in front ofher Taleh

Shax looked to each side of the church in dramatic fashion "Where is your Samuel now, Jared?"

"He's around," Jared said, his body rigid

"I'm afraid you've made yet another mistake, and Heaven won't intervene this ti behind Shax caht of the church Isaac and Donovan stood on each side of their demonic master, their expressions anxious and ready They had come to murder us al

Jared shifted "Isaac, listen to me You don't have to do this"

"Shut up," Donovan said

"I don't want you to die," Jared continued, "but if he comes near her, I'l kil him"

Isaac smiled "Not if I kil her, first And I wil "

"You're outnu voice sorinned, and the long, clawed hands and feet of the night filtered into the roorotesquelyrafters

The s, and I could feel bile rise inthis ti noises, waiting for the order to attack

"Give me the book," Shax hissed

"No," Jared said, tossing the leather bound pages to Kih," Kim smiled

Shax slowly turned his head to Isaac, and then Isaac's srin He pushed the far peith both hands, sla a domino effect As the heavy benches toppled over and bleith the speed of a freight train, Jared and Claire reacted, ju to the other side with Ryan and I in tow

Ki calm as thousands of pounds of wood narrowlyto have to do better than that," Kim said

Isaac leaped the hundred yards to Kim's position, and then wrapped on hand around her throat, lifting her off the ground "I'runt, Isaac threw Ki her before she col ided with the podium The demons concentrated in the area closest to Ki too close

Bex looked Kied that she was okay, he scra into Isaac

When they col ided, a loud crack echoed throughout the cathedral