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“My dear, I was dead” Her hand left my back and she lifted her arms out to her sides Her sleeves billowed out like formless clouds “I was lifeless under the rules of my tyrannical mother The laws of that du at that ht I didn’t know it until they captured ht me to life”

Nothing she said ht you back to life?”

Luke had told me the story about her capture by feral de to toith another Nephilim for supplies Their car broke down and they’d been ambushed by ferals on the side of the road The other Nephilim didn’t survive

Luke was sure she’d been hway No one could’ve survived those kinds of wounds

“My faht me back to life My true friends The very people I want you to ht “Oh, Lizzy, we’ve waited so long for you”

My mother had family? I’d never known anyone besides Granny And she’d never mentioned anyone else

“Lies” Pain echoed in Luke’s hollow voice His hand shifted to the ax at his side “You’re not Elizabeth You’re not my wife”

She laughed, a light and airy noise that tickledan extra spirit than e married, but I’s”

Panic clouded my eyes I took a step backwards and tripped over a stone jutting fro stars shooting intoaway the pain, I crawled backwards onas much distance as I could between myself and that demon Gabe jumped in front of me He had drawn his sword and raised it defensively

She laughed again and dropped her hands “My dear, do not be afraid I have not cohter”

It wasn’t too long ago I’d faced off with someone like her Evil of the worst kind A deceiver—vastly smarter than the ferals and more devious They were the masterh the Hell Gate Hell’s war generals They were the ones trying to gain a foothold on Earth

And another one was standing right in front ofthe body of my mother

I pushed round and ducked behind Gabe’s shoulder This was all happening so fast Suddenly, I have a ain And now, she’s controlled by a demon

I wanted to run away, to throw up, to pinch o away

“You’re nothing but pure evil,” I spat Margaret Thatcher had wantedfor the rest of y out of me “You’re one of them”