“I’m sorry,” I repeat, scrubbing moisture from my hairline. “Even if things go perfectly, Friday night is going to be overwhelming, and Rasputin…” It takes a moment for me to work the kinks out of my voice. “He’ll use my parents against me. I won’t be able to focus unless I’m sure they’re covered—and if the shit really hits the fan, I need to know that someone will push the reset button before I pop out the final boss.” For the umpteenth time in the past few days, I reach up to adjust the glasses I’m no longer wearing. “Please do this. Please. I can’t … I don’t have a better argument than that. If the Ascension is stopped, we save the world; but these are two things I can’t do by myself, and I need you. Please.”

“August,” Jude says again, but he can’t seem to find any more words after that.

“You said the Syndicate doesn’t even believe in the Corrupter—not officially.” I’m pleading at this point, all but on bended knee. “So anything you might do to keep him from taking over isn’t technically against their interests, right?”

Squirming, fidgeting, his expression miserable, Gunnar interrupts. “I’ll do it.”

“You will?” It’s my turn for the double take.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said the other night—about all my chances, and how you only get this one? You were right: It’s not fair. And Viviane … she’s so close to something she’s dreamed of for centuries that she’s lost sight of her own principles.” He looks around the room, like maybe it’s the last time he’ll ever see freedom. “She thinks we need the Dark Star to save the world, but maybe we don’t. She’s the one I’ve always believed in, not Azazel, and her dreams can come true without him.” He gives me a melancholy smile. “I hope she understands, but … I promised you I’d help, and I meant it.”

I turn to Jude, who has his clasped hands now pressed tightly to his mouth, but when he meets my eyes, he gives a minute nod. “Okay. I … okay.”

“Really?” If anything, Gunnar is even more surprised than I am.

“You have no idea what kind of ground game Rasputin has, or how many lackeys he might have Turned by now, just to protect his objectives,” Jude answers irritably. “If you try this alone, you’ll get killed, and I … I won’t let that happen.”

Gunnar stiffens. “I know how to watch my own back.”