“How did you miss that one, witch?” Lucifer asked.
I flipped him off, but also, how did I miss it? I was slipping.
“So we go to this battlefield, find where the ley lines converge, tap into them, and attune the weapon?” Chaos asked.
I nodded.
“You’re coming, witch.” The horseman wasn’t someone I was going to argue with. “You too,” he said, pointing to Asher.
“I’m going too,” Kingston said, throwing his arm around me. “I got your back, Elphie.”
On reflex, I rolled my eyes, but inside, my heart warmed because I loved the big idiot like a brother.
Chaos grunted. “Great. Let’s fucking go.”
Chapter
Twenty-Five
MALICE
After Moira’s vision made clear what needed to happen to attune War’s weapon, the group returned without incident. We had two weapons down, and now it was my turn. I could only hope it was as easy.
“So I’ve been thinking,” I started without preamble. We were gathered in the strategy room once more, all eyes focused on me. “When it comes to plagues, there are a handful of popular ones, but if we’re talking notoriety, there’s really only one contender.”
“The Black Death,” Pan said, picking up the thread and nodding along.
“Notoriety isn’t everything,” Lilith cautioned.
“Perhaps not, but if we’re looking at the most significant single event, the bubonic plague wiped out over fifty percent of Europe in its prime and is on the list of most fatal pandemics multiple times. It’s absolutely unmatched in that regard.”
“It’s been quite the nasty little bugger,” Pan added, pride in his voice. “Until they discovered antibiotics and spoiled all my fun.”
“Wait,youwere responsible for that?” Kingston blurted.
Pan smirked. “I am.”
The wolf shifter’s eyes darted to me. “I thought that was supposed to be your wheelhouse.”
“It is.”
“So what have you done?”
I rolled my eyes. “The bubonic plague first appeared in the Bronze Age.”
“I just so happened to be the one to make it relevant in the 1300s,” Pan stated.
“Like father, like son, I guess,” Dahlia murmured, making Hades chuckle.
“Genetics are a funny thing, baby doll. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
Dahlia placed a hand on her belly, her smile soft. “I can’t wait to find out.”
“I’ll never get used to the god of the dead having a tender side,” Grim muttered. “It’s unnerving.”
Hades shot him a glare. “Pot, meet kettle.”
Merri blushed when Grimsby’s eyes found hers. “I suppose you’re right.”