“Don’t worry, that’s not what I mean.” What’s strange is that it isn’t until just now that I realize I’ve never even seriously considered it, despite how obvious it is. I shudder a little, wondering just how much of my subconscious is actually occupied. “If the Ascension can’t be stopped, then I’ll go down fighting. I’ll take on the entire Order of the Northern Wolf at once, if I have to, and I’ll kill as many of them as I can until my body gives out.”

“Auggie, you…” Gunnar stops and shakes his head with an agitated frown. “Even if it drains you like it did the other night, you might only lose consciousness again—and then they’d just grab you, and the Ascension would happen anyway. There’s nothing in the ancient writings that says you have to be awake or responsive for the Dark Star to surface.”

“I know.” I cross my arms and look at the floor. “Using Azazel’s power out in the open probably won’t kill me … but the Knights of Perseus will.”

Saying it out loud doesn’t feel any better than thinking it. I don’t want to die, but I still don’t know if the coven really wants to cast Azazel out of me—or if they even can. But whatever else happens on Friday, I’m going to stop the Corrupter, even if I have to use my enemies to do it.

“About a half-dozen Knights staked out your house yesterday,” Gunnar acknowledges. “And that’s in addition to all the vampires that were already in place. Given the personalities involved, it’s a miracle that war didn’t break out.”

“Those men were just the tip of the iceberg.” Jude leans forward, clasping his hands together. “Ever since the death of Jesse Strauss, the Syndicate has been ramping up its intelligence operations against the Persean Knights. We’ve intercepted a flurry of messages over the past forty-eight hours that make it clear the Brotherhood is mustering all its forces for this. They essentially are preparing for a war.”

“Good.” Discreetly, I wipe the sweat off my palms. “I’m arranging one for them.”

“Is that where we come in?” Jude cocks a brow. “You want us to convince Viviane and the Syndics to unite against Rasputin and the Brotherhood? Because honestly, August, you’d have better luck getting blood from a stone.”

“Can you imagine?” Gunnar shares a glance with Jude, and for one unguarded moment they both giggle. “They’d be like cats in a bag.”