“Okay. Maybe not rolled the dice, but you get what I’m saying.” I swallowed hard as I sat back against the cushion. I really was created to be a weapon. That wasn’t breaking news or anything, but I guessed there had been this tiny, childish part of me that had hoped my father had seen my mother and fallen for her. That there had been some emotion behind my creation. But there really wasn’t. “I was a loophole. With my father’s grace, I could fight Gabriel. And Gabriel knew about me, and he tried to do the same with Sulien.”

“That didn’t end well for him.” Zayne smirked.

No, it hadn’t. “While I was waiting in the Potomac Highlands to be summoned, I always thought it was for the battle that ended all battles, but my father was just waiting for Gabriel to make his move.” Thoughts whirling, I rubbed my hands over my thighs. “It makes you wonder if there were more... Trueborns? I mean, after they all died off. If my father had...made one each generation or if others—”

“I don’t think there were more,” Zayne interrupted. “At least not from Michael. He strikes me as the type that would bring up other Trueborns as a way to either compliment or insult you.”

Pursing my lips, I nodded. “You have a point there.”

“Look at you all, putting two and two together,” Cayman said.

“Like you knew any of that,” I scoffed.

“I didn’t,” he replied. “But what I do know is that Gabriel can most likely rip the head off a Fallen.”

I slowly turned to the demon.

“What?” He lifted his hands. “I’m just being honest.”

“Yeah, they told me that I’d probably still die,” Zayne answered. “They’re real motivators. That’s why some of them want to close Heaven now, but we stand a better chance together in defeating Gabriel. Even Michael believes so.”

“You all stand a better chance if Roth’s mission is a success,” Cayman tossed out. “That’s about the only chance you stand.”

“What?” Zayne glanced between us. “What mission?”

My eyes widened. “Uh...”

“He doesn’t know yet?” The demon’s yellow eyes grew as big as saucers.

“Know what?” Zayne demanded.

“I haven’t had a chance to tell him,” I said. “We’ve all been a little busy.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been more happy in my life to be the bearer of news.” Cayman scooted across the couch, stopping once he was mere inches from us. A slow, wicked grin spread across his face, and he did look beyond thrilled. “Roth and Layla are trying to recruit reinforcements. Well, one reinforcement in particular.”

Zayne’s brows furrowed even further. “Why do I have a feeling this is something that’s going to disturb me?”

“Weeelll.” I drew the word out.