CAPTAIN NULAN DROPPED into a crouch and spun her back to Eleni. Her wings turned from iridescent to metal the moment before Eleni slammed into her. The impact sent Eleni flying backward, where she landed in a pile of shredded paper and gray sludge. Eleni shrieked as she sank deeper into the muck, and a rank smell that made my belly flip-flop filled the air.

Zeran tried to get up from the ground, but Nulan jammed her boot back into his ribs. “Be still, little traitor,” she hissed at him. “You best be thankful that your father begged our lord to spare your life. Don’t ever say he’s not merciful.”

“He can keep his so-called mercy.” Zeran slung the word back at her. “I don’t want it.”

Eleni swiped hard at the tears streaking down her cheeks and accidentally spread bits of wet newspaper over her face. “I trusted you. Mama trusted you . . . You . . .” she stuttered. “You knew what the Lord of Shadows would do.”

“I warned my sister about the celestials, but she wouldn’t listen.” Captain Nulan squared her shoulders, and her wings turned back to iridescent feathers. “She was doomed the moment she laid eyes on Elegguá. He was marked for death even then.”

Eleni climbed to her feet. She was shaking from head to toe. “I won’t let you get away with it.”

Nulan had to be the worst auntie ever and generally an awful person. If she was in the human world, she was up to no good. I stepped beside my sister, my hand tightening on the staff. We would stop her together.

Nulan blinked. She had a bemused look, like she wasn’t taking either of us seriously, which got on my last nerve. I wouldn’t let her hurt my family and friends again. She’d already done so much damage. As I eased closer to her, two slender knives appeared in her hands. Magic tingled down my arms and vibrated in the staff. I wasn’t going to back down.

“Don’t do anything you’re going to regret, little spawn.” Nulan positioned her knives to strike. “Our lord still needs the both of you alive.”

“He’s already stolen our powers,” I spat, my anger flaring. I couldn’t forget the moment I touched the amplifier and fell into Eleni’s dream. While there, the Lord of Shadows used our combined magic to set the veil on fire. “What does he want now—our lunch money?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Nulan said as she flapped her wings and took flight. Finally free, Zeran curled on his side and coughed. “As much as I’d love to rip off your little fingers one by one, I’ve got business to take care of in the human world.”