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nken kiss on the cheek before leading theSyne” in his rich baritone

Schuyler exchanged a droll ssley’s antics For the last few months the two of them had effectively acted as the Venator’s jailors, parents, and confidants; and while Schuyler was glad to see hisley could be reckless and she worried about him

“Happy New Year, Ollie,” she said, kissing hi past New Year’s Eves spent with hi the televised Times Square ball drop, perennially uninvited to any of the raucous celebrations that their fellow Duchesne students were fa Once upon a tireat party—a date for the evening, soht, the opportunity to wear a beautiful dress, to look forward to the coave Oliver’s arm an affectionate squeeze even as her heart ached for her true love

It had been several ood-bye to Jack Force in the deserts of Egypt Another climate, another life, it felt like She had promised him she would et about love in favor of duty She reether, the way he had held her close, the way they had burrowed into each other, skin against skin, breath against breath, not wanting to separate, not for a moment What had happened to Jack? Was he even still alive? Had Mimi killed him? Schuyler didn’t know There was no way to know There had been no sign of either of the Force twins for months, and with the Covens broken and the vampires in virtual retreat—there was no news anywhere

“I’hts as always

She didn’t answer, just took another sip frolass

“Mimi, too—somehow, I don’t think either would be able to destroy the other I just can’t see it,” he said

If Jack was dead, she would know it, Schuyler thought Somehow she would knoouldn’t she? She would feel it But all she felt was numb As if a li and grieving that it had given up hoping It was too difficult to think of Jack and what they’d had together A proes, for the history books…But as love but pain? It hurt to think of Jack; it distracted her froet so she could concentrate on the task at hand Lucifer was ame was upon theht for Heaven and Earth would begin and end with her

“I know Jack would never lay a hand on her, and I hope you’re right about Mimi,” she said

“I know I am,” Oliver said staunchly

He had been defending Mimi for e of heart Mi revenge, but Oliver was convinced her affections ran elsewhere now Schuyler wasn’t sure how sley had supplanted Jack in Misley never talked about Mi to Oliver, Miet hi, because if Mimi had lost what little soul she’d had—then what did it mean for Jack?

Kingsley was certainly a lotaway day after day, buried under Repository books There had been rumors in the underworld that the demons had discovered a weapon more powerful than the White Fire of Heaven—but if there was such a thing, the Venator had not yet figured it out, and it troubled him that the Blue Bloods rens But he certainly wasn’t acting as if he were heartbroken—the sly dog was out every night with a different girl on his arhtclub, bar, and pub in the city