Tenn hurried over to sit next to her, then pulled her into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her back against his chest. “I don’t like the sound of that any more than you all do.”

Everest nodded. “But this is not news to you two.”

They shook their heads and held on to each other tighter.

I squeezed his hand to get his attention. “So, Sam . . . speed bump?”

He shrugged. “I was going for a modern metaphor.”

Saber snorted. “Wasn’t your best work.”

He grinned and chuckled a little. I hated the jealousy that exploded inside of me.

But then he sobered. “I need you all, specifically Tegan and Tenn—-and Bettina once she wakes—-to understand that Sam and I . . . One of you must kill us.”

I flinched and sat up straight. A cold chill slid down my spine. “Excuse me?”

“If Lilith gets her hands on me or Sam, she will drag us into her realm where she will torture us for eternity.” He paused while we all gagged and shuddered. “And to clarify, that means dead or alive. If we are killed, she will grab our souls before they ever reach the Strait of the Dead, before Lucifer can grab ahold of us.”

“What . . . what . . . what . . .” I closed my eyes and shivered. “What are you saying?”

“Obviously, I’m only speaking on if Lilith is alive. But if she is, and we are killed, there will be no end to our torture. The only way to prevent this is if we are killed by a weapon of Heaven.”

“Wait, I don’t⁠—-”

His gaze locked on mine. He squeezed my hand. “If there comes a time where survival is impossible and death is our last prayer for mercy, we must be killed by a weapon of Heaven.”

I clenched my teeth as bile shot up my throat.

Tim moved closer and held his sword out. “Does this count?”

Everest frowned and looked over at it. His eyes widened. “That is quite an honor, Timothy. I hope you know that. And yes, that would work.”

My stomach was rolling. I wrapped both arms around myself. “Didn’t Tegan make Tenn’s black sword a holy weapon?”

Tegan shook her head. “I just sent Heavenly power in her direction. Bettina performed the spell to transform it.”

Tenn grinned and held his hand out. The air pulsed, then his long black sword flew through the air and smacked into his palm. “Is that what she did?”

Everest held his hand out. “May I see?”

“Sure.” Tenn held it over for him.

Everest took the sword in his hands and ran his fingers along the blade, then the hilt. A slow smile spread across his face. “Yes, she did indeed. Impressive gift your sister has. Ruth would be proud.”

Tenn straightened. “Did you know my mother?”