O-72 dutifully rises to his feet and follows Armageddon from the room. He couldn’t be more under the demon’s control if marionette strings trailed from his robes. Mom watches the pair leave, her face still as stone.

I bite my lower lip anxiously. Not a good look from Mom. She’s about ready to lose her freaking mind on someone. At least, it’s not me.

Mom rounds on Xavier. “Why didn’t you back me up? Armageddon should never have been able to leave the meeting early.” She pushes her manila folder away from her, and it flies halfway down the table. “We can’t let him collude with ghouls and override the authority of this office.”

Xavier laughs. “Please. I’ve watched ghouls and demons fight each other for thousands of years. They’ll plot for a time, and then they’ll fight over some nonsense and go home. Demons are chaos and destruction. Ghouls are rules and regulations. Oil and water don’t mix.”

“I’ve told you a hundred times, Armageddon is different.” Her eyes flare red. “We can’t let him go unchallenged.”

Every cell in my body screams that she is right. I want to jump into the dreamscape and start shaking Xavier by the shoulders, telling him to listen to Mom or I’ll kick him in the shins. But I can’t do anything.

But Xavier doesn’t seem to hear my mother, let alone me. He leans back in his chair, his head gently shaking from side to side. Standing behind them both, Tim looks so mousy and frightened, I’m surprised that he doesn’t duck under the table to hide.

Xavier drums his fingers on the tabletop. “I’ve seen Armageddon’s type before. He doesn’t have the staying power to really change the system.”

Ha! Armageddon tears down the whole freaking system single-handedly. Please, listen. Please, please, please!

Mom rubs her neck with her hand. “Have you heard him go on about his son? It’s strange. He wants access to Maxon and will do anything to get it.”

Xavier laughs. “Do you hear yourself? A demon loves his son. It’s insane, Camilla.”

“I didn’t say he loves his son.” Mom sets her palms on her eyes. “He’s plotting something, something big, and he needs Maxon for it.” She lowers her hands until her gaze meets Xavier’s straight on. “Armageddon is dangerous. We’re all at risk.”

Her look of worry sets my stomach churning. I so want to jump to her side, wrap my arm around her shoulder, and tell her that I’ll be with her soon.

Xavier has the same general idea. He leans forward, his blue eyes searching Mom’s face. “I’d never let anything happen to you, Camilla. You have nothing to worry about.”