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Where was Daniel?

She was zipping up her second boot when she heard a voice through the cracked French doors opposite the bed

"You will not regret this, Daniel"

Before he could respond, Luce’s hand was on the doorknob--and on the other side she found hi rooht of her in the doorway, Daniel rose to his feet Phil rose, too, standing stiffly beside his chair Daniel’s hands swept across Luce’s face, brushing her forehead, which Luce realized was tender and bruised

"How are you feeling?"

"The halo--"

"We have the halo" Daniel gestured at the enor table in the adjacent roourt into hisin the doorith his ar Luce, but it was i it She felt on edge around them, felt a chill in the air, but trusted Daniel’s calm dehting?" Luce asked, looking for the pale creature in the robe

"Don’t worry about him It’s you I’m worried about" He spoke to her as tenderly as if they’d been alone

She re toward her as the cathedral collapsed underwater She re as they dipped toward her

"You took a bad knock on the head The Outcasts helped ht us here so you could rest"

"How long was I asleep?" Luce asked It was night-fall "How much time do we have left--"

"Seven days, Luce," Daniel said quietly She could hear how keenly he, too, felt the ti away from them

"Well, we shouldn’t waste anyoff his and Daniel’s glasses fro red called Campari

"You do not liketo look around the post room for the first time The walls were dotted with Jackson Pollock –esque paintings, but it was Phil Luce couldn’t stop staring at His skin was pastier than she remembered, with heavy purple circles around his vacant eyes She grew cold every ti her likeness in the air above her parents’ backyard, ready to fly her someplace dark and far away

"I can’t see any of it very well, of course, but I was told it would be decorated in a way that young ladies would find appealing Who kneould develop such a taste for mortal flesh after my time with your Nephilim friend Shelby? Did you irl; they’re all so sweet"

"We should go" Luce tugged on Daniel’s shirt bossily

The other Outcasts in the room rose to attention

"Are you sure you cannot stay for a drink?" Phil asked, lass with the cherry-red liquid, which he couldn’t help spilling Daniel put his hand over the rirapefruit soda

"Sit down, Luce," Daniel said, handing her the glass

"We’re not quite ready to leave"

When the two of them sat, the other two Outcasts followed their exa his reed that the Outcasts will join you in your efforts to stop the Morning Star"

Luce leaned into Daniel "Can we talk alone?"

"Yes, of course," Phil answered for hi to the other Outcasts "Let us all take aa line behind Phil, the others disappeared behind a swinging wooden door into the apartment’s kitchen

As soon as they were alone, Daniel rested his hands on her knees "Look, I know they’re not your favorite--"

"Daniel, they tried to kidnap ht"--

Daniel paused and stroked her hair, working out a tangle with his fingers--"they thought that presenting you to the Throne would atone for their earlier betrayal But now the gaed utterly, partly because of what Lucifer did--and partly because you’ve co the curse than the Outcasts anticipated"

"What?" Luce started "You think I’ the curse?"

"Let’s just say you’ve never been this close before," Daniel said, and so soared inside Luce that she didn’t understand "With the Outcasts’ help fighting off our enemies, you can focus on what you need to do"

"The Outcasts’ help? But they just as over We have an understanding Listen, Luce"--Daniel took her arh they were the only ones in the rooainst us They’re unpleasant but they’re also incapable of lying We will always knohere we stand with them"

"Why do we have to stand with theainst the zebra-print pillow behind her

"They are armed, Luce Better-equipped and with more warriors than any other faction ill face The time may come e need their starshots and their manpower You don’t have to be best friends, but they are excellent bodyguards and ruthless when it co out the , as if so unpleasant had just flown by

"And since they’re going to have a horse in this race re-gardless, it ht as well be us"

"What if they still think I’ave her a soft, unexpected smile "I’et to decide how you will fulfill your role in this old story What we started e first kissed at Sword & Cross? That awakening in you was only the first step