My mouth is agape and so is Blake’s.

“She found me so she could tell me a prophecy. The prophecy foretells that the demons will be wiped from earth forever, led by a Neph of both light and dark.”

My heart is a bass drum in my chest. A Neph of light and dark . . .

“You,” I whisper. Her eyes catch mine and hold them as she nods.

All I can do is stare as my mind reels. Anna is the center of a prophecy dating back to biblical times. I shouldn’t be surprised—I knew she was different, but this is huge. Dangerous.

“Tell us the entire prophecy,” I say.

Anna swallows, and rattles it off. “‘In the days when demons roam the earth and humanity despairs, will come a great test. A Nephilim pure of heart shall rise above and cast all demons from earth, sending home to heaven those righteous lost angels with whom forgiveness is shown, and sending those lost forever to the depths of hell where they shall remain with their dark master until the end of days.’”

“Damn,” Blake whispers. “You memorized all that?”

“I had to.” She rushes on, telling us about traveling she did to gain Neph allies after learning about the prophecy last year. She met Zania, daughter of Sonellion, in Syria. Anna says that Z was a hard sell, having led a brutal life with the Duke of Hatred. Her job has been to stir hatred and distrust of women in the Middle East. Apparently she’s gained an addiction for alcohol along the way. Anna thinks she’ll come around to our cause when the time comes.

Next she met Flynn, son of Mammon, in Australia. He’s a redheaded MMA prizefighter whose lifelong match has been fighting his nature of greed. He was more than willing to go against the Dukes.

I feel a pinch of jealousy that I wasn’t chosen to go with her on these missions, but I understand the safety of having Kopano. As much as I don’t want to admit it, I’m glad she didn’t go alone, and I know there’s no way I could’ve gone without Father somehow finding out.

Bits and pieces of the puzzle of the past year begin to fall into place, painting an important picture as we ask questions and piece it all together.

“We’re just building the list of allies right now,” Anna says. “We can’t rush it. I think when it’s time to act, there’ll be some sort of catalyst to let us know.”

She sounds wise and unafraid, and I marvel at how she’s carried this burden for the past year, growing stronger instead of bowing under the weight. Of course Anna would be given some monumental task. This is more amazing and terrifying than I could have ever expected. This . . .

Anna abruptly stands.

“Where are you going?” Blake asks her.

She pretends to brush something off her shorts. “Home. I said what I came to say. It was . . . good to see you guys.”

That’s it? After dropping that bomb on us, she’s going to run off? I stare at her from where I sit, but she won’t look at me.

She and Blake hug.

“Don’t go,” he says.

“I really should,” she mumbles.

So, she doesn’t have to go.

“I told you she can be stubborn when she wants, didn’t I?” I say to Blake. I try to appear relaxed, as if I don’t care one way or another.

“I’m not being stubborn!” She puts her hands on her hips and I raise a brow, trying not to smile at how riled she’s getting. She points at me. “And you have no room to talk. You’re a mule.”

Blake finds this far too amusing, laughing like a hyena. “She just called you an ass, man.”

“I am an ass-man.”

Anna purses her lips, annoyed, and I’m quite enjoying it. I’ll banter all day if it’ll keep her here.

“Aw, c’mon, just stay,” Blake whines.

“I don’t think so,” she says, and I want to spank the stubbornness out of her. She marches over to my chair and says, “Just get up and say bye to me, Kai.” Again I raise my brow and she adds, “Please.”

I get to my feet and look down at this girl, a mix of sexy, sassy, and sweet.

“Bossy, aren’t you?” I ask. I’m not ready to let her go. She stares up at me, and I know she’s not ready to leave either, but she won’t admit it. “Right, then,” I say. “You’d best cool off before you go.”

She screams in surprise as I scoop her easily over my shoulder and run for the pool, jumping in.

When we come up for air, Anna is livid. I can see it in the wideness of her eyes and set of her mouth. She pushes me, but I grab her, and we start to wrestle. I can’t help but laugh, just as Blake is in hysterics at the side of the pool.

“Let me go!” she yells at me.

“Not until you agree to stay.” I look at her, feeling her body skimming mine as she treads water. She is still angry, and for once I want to calm her. I whisper, “Stay.” Please.

“Fine,” she says.

I let her go and she swims away from me. I’m right behind her. She climbs the ladder and her bum’s right in my face. Blake yells something I can’t hear because lust has caused the blood to rush through my body in a rapid whoosh.

Feeling lust for Anna is not like lusting for other girls. This lust is stronger, braided and twined with love, admiration, and all the pain she’s capable of causing me. It’s too strong, and I can’t resist following her, desperate to know if she feels any of this or if I’m alone in my madness.

She bends over to dig in her bag and I swear I whimper. Her wet clothing clings to her and I can see the bikini lines underneath. Her body calls to me like a flashing beacon, luring me closer. She stands quickly and turns, colliding with me. Every place she accidentally touches me alights.