BooksBarbecue
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

<No. The less people we have in that room, the better. Because if I see an opening to take out Damocles, I’m doing it.>

Like Nyx, Clo seemed at ease with the people around them, the crush of the throng. Ariadne still held Nyx’s hand, so overly focused on her breathing that Nyx wondered if she heard them speaking at all.

<Just letting you know,> Clo said to Nyx, <if I sense a mire, I’m going in that ballroom after you. Understood?>

Nyx nodded and turned to Ariadne. “Okay, kid. Time to go.”

Ariadne’s hand tightened in hers and she swallowed. “All right.” Her voice was faint.

“Hey.” Nyx reluctantly released Ariadne’s hand. “Rhea’s got you. Stop shaking. Be brave.” She wished she had better words than that, things that didn’t sound like commands.

Rhea smiled down at Ariadne, as serene as ever. Nyx envied that, how even when Rhea was worried, she managed to comfort those around her so easily. Nyx was all thorns and instinct.

<You both be careful,> Nyx told Kyla and Clo. <I don’t want to mourn any one of you.>

Goodbyes were too much for her. Without waiting for a response, Nyx turned on her heel and merged with the rest of the crowd. She didn’t bother pausing to see if Sher or that annoying pilot were following.

Cato caught up with her. “That was almost maternal for you.”

She didn’t look at him. “Shut up.”

Sher hesitated before he separated from them. “Finish the spharia perimeter. I’m going to see if I can grab Eris and stop Damocles from getting anywhere near that dais. If I can’t, wait for my signal in the ballroom.”

Nyx nodded and let out a breath. “Let’s do this.”

50.

ARIADNE

Present day

Ariadne felt like she was crawling out of her skin. In contrast, Rhea was as cool and composed as a statue. Sensing her agitation, Rhea reached out and took her hand, squeezing once before she released it. The touch soothed the itching beneath Ariadne’s skin like a balm. The fear was still there, but she could choose to ignore it.

“I wish I could do this myself,” Ariadne whispered. “It must be nice not to feel afraid all the time.”

“The rest of us put up a good performance,” Rhea said, with a new tension lurking in her eyes, “but we’re afraid too. There’s no shame in asking for help.”

They were quiet as Ariadne turned Rhea’s words over in her mind, trying to block out the roar of the crowd around them. Then she squeezed Rhea’s hand. “Thank you,” she said quietly.

Rhea nodded once with a small smile. “Come on, now. Chin up. Pretend you belong.”