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Back Seven Devils
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1.
  4. 2.
  5. 3.
  6. 4.
  7. 5.
  8. 6.
  9. 7.
  10. 8.
  11. 9.
  12. 10.
  13. 11.
  14. 12.
  15. 13.
  16. 14.
  17. 15.
  18. 16.
  19. 17.
  20. 18.
  21. 19.
  22. 20.
  23. 21.
  24. 22.
  25. 23.
  26. 24.
  27. 25.
  28. 26.
  29. 27.
  30. 28.
  31. 29.
  32. 30.
  33. 31.
  34. 32.
  35. 33.
  36. 34.
  37. 35.
  38. 36.
  39. 37.
  40. 38.
  41. 39.
  42. 40.
  43. 41.
  44. 42.
  45. 43.
  46. 44.
  47. 45.
  48. 46.
  49. 47.
  50. 48.
  51. 49.
  52. 50.
  53. 51.
  54. 52.
  55. 53.
  56. 54.
  57. 55.
  58. 56.
  59. 57.
  60. EPILOGUE
  61. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  62. ABOUT THE AUTHORS

“We’re walking into the main seat of our enemy,” Clo said. “We’re completely unarmed, hoping a thin mask obscuring our features, some phony papers, Ariadne’s weapons plans, and Eris’s role as some scantily clad arms dealer will see us through the day. Even if we do all this, we might not even find out where the cargo came from or why Kyla’s spies are all dead.”

Ariadne tilted her nose up. “The files will hold up. Your DNA will match your identities.” She fiddled with some small square object in her hands. “We’re going to be fine. I make great stuff and my specs are amazing because I’m amazing.”

Kyla’s unmanned craft had come in shortly before Zelus crossed into the Three Sisters. Aside from the weapon components Ariadne had asked for, Kyla included a few small gadgets to help with their mission. Among them was a device to aid Ariadne in hacking into the Oracle’s DNA storage database to change Zoe’s identity.

Fear spiked through Eris. Did Ariadne know Eris was Discordia? Or had Kyla somehow encrypted the information? She looked askance at the little girl, but she was still fiddling with the component. Eris had to hope Ariadne hadn’t discovered her secret.

“Look, I don’t doubt your skills—” Clo started.

“Great, because I really am excellent!” Ariadne grinned. “I only hope you are as good as you claim.”

Nyx snorted.

“Focus,” Eris said, holding her breath as the ramp hit the ground. “Just so we’re clear: Nyx, you’re going to remain with me while I convince Damocles to buy our weapon. Ari and Clo: steal a security badge and find out about the rock.” Eris cut Ariadne off before she could interrupt. “I’m not calling it Josephine again; get over it. Here we go.”

Because the Tholosians had no God of Life, Eris only had one option: Salutem, the God of Survival.

Eris prayed they all made it out of this alive.

23.

PRINCESS DISCORDIA

Five years ago

Discordia should have known that training under her father would be worse than with Mistress Heraia. Despite the sleepless nights, the battle simulations, and the combat training, life at the academy had been easier. Decisions had been simple. Even in field training, where Discordia had killed her first Evoli soldier at the age of ten, death was always in the heat of a fight. A split-second decision. A sacrifice made.

Easy.

The Archon demanded cold rationality. Not mercy, no. Never that. He wanted whoever survived as his Heir to be feared, to be adored, to be a successor proven worthy of his throne. When Discordia killed for him, it was hardly ever in battle, though she did fight. Often. She had impressed her father enough to be taken under his personal tutelage.