Ash grimaced at the reminder. "Stop feeding her anxiety."
Simi perked up at his comment. "Anxiety. The Simi's never eaten that before." She looked at Danger. "Is that tasty?"
"Not really."
"Oh. Maybe we should put barbecue sauce on it. Everything's better with barbecue."
Ash shook his head. "And on that note, we're going to plan our strategy."
Tory moved to his side. "That I can do."
Yes, she could. Taking her hand, Ash led her and the others to Savitar's office where they could outline their attack and share what each knew about War and his weaknesses.
KER TSKED AS SHE WATCHED THE MEN AND ONE woman adjourn to a paneled room where they sat plotting War's demise. "How quaint. The mice are herding together in an effort to take us down."
War laughed at Ker. "I expected no less. But they underestimate us. By morning, they'll all be dead, and with the blood of the Malachai, we'll be able to revive our brethren. While mankind prepares for their Christmas Day, we're going to celebrate with a feast of their souls. At midnight, the veil between the worlds is thin and Nick is going to open up a new era. Let the bloodbath begin."
Ker smiled brightly. "I can't wait."
ASH CHECKED THE BLADES IN HIS BOOTS TO make sure they were working. He turned his head as he felt someone enter the room to his left. It was Urian.
"You're helping my father?" It was more an accusation than a question. Ash made sure to keep all emotion out of his voice. "We have to stop War."
"Stryker murdered my wife," Urian snarled.
"I know."
Urian shook his head as his eyes flared with anger. "How could you help something like him?"
Ash had had enough with both the accusations and the self-pity. There was a lot more at stake here that just hurt feelings and past betrayals. "You helped him for centuries. Need I remind you of how many lives you took under his command? Lives who were related to you—you killed Phoebe's mother and her sister."
He flinched at the truth. "I loved my wife. I never meant to hurt her."
No, but it didn't change the fact that he had. Repeatedly. Urian had taken from his wife the very people she loved more than anything. It was hypocritical of him to hold that same action against his father. For too many centuries, Urian and his brothers had been a tool that Stryker had used more than effectively.
But times changed. And it was time the man learned about Medea. "By the way, you have a sister." Urian tensed. "What?"
Ash met his gaze levelly and kept his expression completely stoic. "It's the life of your sister we're going to protect. Not your father's."
He shook his head in denial. "My sister died eleven thousand years ago."
"Medea is a half-sister."
That wiped the disbelief from his face and returned anger to his cold eyes. "And I should care, why?"
Ash held his hands up in surrender. "You're right. You shouldn't care at all. She's nothing to you which is why I haven't invited you to join us." Ash started past him. Urian pulled him to a stop. His eyes were harsh and biting. They accused him even more than Urian's words had. "How would you feel if my father had killed Tory?"
Ash answered honestly and without hesitation, "I would feel soulless. Lost and hurt beyond repair."
Urian looked away. "Then you understand me. And why I want him dead."
Ash pulled Urian's hand off his arm. "He knows that too. But have you ever considered that he might regret what he did to you?"
"My father? Get real. The bastard has never regretted a single thing in his entire life."
Even as corrupt as Stryker was, Ash had a hard time believing that. "We all have regrets, Urian. Nothing that lives is immune from that nasty emotion."
"So what? You want me to go kiss and make up?"
"Hardly. But I want you to set aside your own hurt and anger to see clearly for a minute. This isn't about you and your father anymore than it's about me and Nick hating each other over something we can't change. This is about saving the lives of a million innocent people. People like Phoebe who don't deserve to be hunted and killed. If I can stand at the side of my enemies for the greater good, so can you."
Urian scoffed. "Well, I guess I'm just not as special as you are."
"No one knows their true mettle until it's been tested. This is yours. Whether you pass or fail is entirely up to you. I can't tell you what to do, but I know where I'll be tonight . . ."
He hesitated before he asked the most important question: "So what do you choose?"
"Gory death."
Ash shook his head. "You stubborn bastards. Take it from someone who knows firsthand, there's a lot to be said for forgiveness. Grudges seldom hurt anyone except the one bearing them."