My heart warms. Walker’s always so awesome and I never thank him enough. Stepping up to his side, I arch my feet onto my tippy-toes and kiss him gently on the cheek. “I can’t believe it, this could be our last Arena match together.” I look up at the ceiling, trying to calculate. “The first time you snuck me in here was, what, eight years ago?” I smile, remembering how Walker portaled me in on the sly, saying in that low voice of his: ‘you may be called to serve one day.’ Together, we watched a Viperon demon fight. I was instantly hooked.

Stepping backwards, I rock on my heels, smiling at the memory. Then I realize that it’s quiet in the hallway. Waaaaaaay too quiet.

Walker and Lincoln face one another, their expressions unreadable. There’s a long pause accentuated by gentle pit-pat of condensation off the uneven stone.

Huh. What’s going on here?

I thunk my palm onto my forehead. “I forgot, you know each other too. How did that happen?” I smile. Story-telling time! Nice distraction.

Lincoln keeps staring at Walker and not saying anything. The temperature in the hallway becomes decidedly chilly. Something’s up.

Walker turns to me. “You remember how my great-grandmother was an archangel?”

I nod. “Mom told me about it ages ago.”

“She’s the archangel Aquila,” says Walker. “She also founded the House of Rixa. Lincoln and I are both members of the Aquilinea, a society for the descendants of Aquila.”

I chuckle. “I should start a society for the descendants of Xavier. It’ll give me something to do when I’m alone.” I look between Lincoln and Walker, waiting for a response. That wasn’t my best joke, but how about a courtesy laugh for the girl heading into an Arena death match? Speaking of that, my insides squirm with anxiety. The fight should start in a few minutes.

Walker’s face is still as stone. “Your mother forbade me to mention my personal history, so I’ve respected her wishes. Now, however, it’s time you knew about the Aquilinea.”

“Thanks.” My head bobs from side to side. “That explains why Octavia and Lincoln trusted you with their messages.” I picture the ghouls who sometimes accompany Verus to matches; I always thought some of them looked like Walker. Must be Aquilinea as well. I glance out to the Arena floor. Maybe I’ll see one of them out there today? The thought should be comforting, but it isn’t. Thinking about the stadium only ratchets up my nerves.

Lincoln barely moves as he speaks. “That explains you and me. How about you and Myla?”

I eye him closely. Oooooooh, I get it. The Prince is never an easy guy to read, but I get the definite feeling he’s ticked off about something or someone. The short list of options are Walker, Walker, and Walker. “You didn’t know that Walker knew me?”