“Not sure this is any better.”
Jacqui’s heart pounded. That didn’t sound good.
Belial closed the book suddenly, studying its cover.
“That ain’t no regular grimoire.” Raum shook his head, and they regarded it warily, as if at any moment, it might leap out and grab them.
Belial’s head snapped up and he focused on Jacqui. She flinched at the flames flickering in his eyes. “Where did you find this?”
“Here.”
“You’ve never seen it before?”
“No. I rarely enter Dan’s office, but the few times I have, I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“You have no idea what your husband is?”
“Whathe is?” She frowned. “You make it sound like— What is he?”
The demons exchanged glances.
“He can’t be.” Raum rubbed the back of his neck. “If he was, then you know what that would make Eva. They were banned from making more ages ago.”
“Unless she’s not his daughter by blood,” Belial suggested.
“He might have found the grimoire by accident. It doesn’t prove—”
“There’s no way they would have let this fall into human hands.”
“Yeah, but don’t you think it’s a bit of a stretch—”
“Is Eva adopted?” Belial asked Jacqui all of a sudden.
“What? No, of course not.”
“Were you ever unfaithful to your husband?”
Her mouth dropped open. “No! Why would you— That’s not—”
“He can’t be,” Raum interjected. “We would have sensed by now if Eva was Nephilim.”
“If Eva was what?” Jacqui asked, starting to really freak out now.
“But it would explain how she could see through Asmodeus’s curse from the beginning,” Belial said. “Her angel blood would give her that ability.”
“Herwhat?” Jacqui nearly shouted. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“This grimoire...” Bel pointed at the book. “Was made by angels.”
24
Fade to Black
Eva caught a glimpse of white wings as the attacker struck again before Ash had time to recover.
Time froze in a tableau of horror as the blade swept across his chest, and white light cascaded over his body like lightning. He roared as it swung again, Eva screaming all the while.
When he moved to dodge the strike, she caught sight of his attacker, and the scream dried right up in her throat.
