Daniel looked more than shocked.
“So you’re saying that Sirhan is Daniel’s grandfather?” I asked, unable to hide the incredulity in my voice. “You mean, Sirhan turned away his own grandson when Daniel came to him seeking a home last year? That just … Grrr…”
“Think about it, Grace,” Daniel said slowly, like he was processing his thoughts as he spoke them. “If I’m Sirhan’s grandson, then that means Caleb is his son.
Or was, before he was disowned. Before Caleb caused the death of Rachel … his own mother. Imagine the betrayal Sirhan felt? His disdain for me makes all the more sense now.”
“But you’re nothing like Caleb.”
“Sirhan doesn’t see me that way.”
“Then we have to make—”
The din of the conversations going on around us faded, and I realized I was the only one speaking. All the robed Urbat had turned their attention toward the doorway as three blue-robed men entered the room. One of them carried Sirhan in his arms, the second followed closely with an oxygen tank, while a third man dragged a chair from the parish’s foyer behind him.
He placed the chair in the center of the room, and the two other men placed Sirhan in it. They stood behind him with one hand on each of his shoulders. All the other people in robes fell to one knee, bowing their heads toward Sirhan, with one fist shoved against the floor. At first glance, Sirhan, clad in a burgundy velvet robe, looked as regal as a king holding court. But looking closer, I realized that the two men who stood behind him with their hands on his shoulders weren’t doing it just as a sign of respect—they were holding Sirhan upright in his chair.
At the same time, I didn’t see this as a sign of weakness. No, Sirhan may not be physically powerful, but the respect and devotion he garnered from the rest of his able-bodied pack still made him the most dangerous person in this building. A single nod of his head could turn them all against us.
One more blue-robed man entered the room with Gabriel in his custody. The two fell to one knee like the others—Gabriel doing so without any prodding from his guard. Part of me was surprised Gabriel still respected his alpha, despite the way he’d been treated. Then again, Gabriel and Sirhan’s history ran much deeper than these last few days. They had been as close as brothers for hundreds of years. Gabriel had told me once that it was the rapid aging process—and the proximity of death—that had changed Sirhan’s behavior as of late.
“Very well,” Sirhan said. He waved his withered hand, telling his bowing subjects to rise. “I do not have much energy left.”
Sirhan’s spokesperson knocked the hilt of his spear against the hardwood floor three times. “The Elders of both packs will convene in the center of the room for negotiations. Step forward.”
The men in green robes moved quickly to form a half circle behind Sirhan’s chair.
“That’s me,” Lisa said as she stood. “I better go.”
“You’re an Elder now?” Daniel asked.
“Duh,” she said, swishing the fabric of her green robes. “Methuselah passed away from old age a few months ago. Sirhan wanted some young blood on the council—so I got the nod. Marrock”—she pointed at a large man in a blue robe with blond dreadlocks and a beard—“was super pissed off, as you can imagine.”
Daniel nodded.
Lisa hurried off to join the half circle of Elders. One of them, a man with skin as rich and dark as espresso handed her the spear he must have been holding for her.
Daniel looked at me. “Um, does our pack have Elders?”
I shrugged.
Daniel motioned to my dad, Jude, and Talbot to follow us. I would have vetoed his last choice, but I figured he had his reasons. We made our own semicircle facing Sirhan.
“Let us get to the heart of the matter.” Sirhan pointed one of his long, clawed fingers at me and beckoned me closer. “The Child Divine claims she can cure me. But what exactly does she want in return?”
I took a few steps in his direction. “Sanctuary. For Gabriel, Daniel, my family, and the rest of my pack. For this town, too. No one in Rose Crest is to be hurt by you or your people. Is that clear?”
“Lofty demands from one so young and small.”
“I pack a pretty big punch.” I waved my hand around the room. “Tell me, do you know anyone else who’s ever cured an Urbat before? Do you know any other Divine Ones? I cured Daniel, and now I can provide the same for you. But only if you grant us sanctuary.”
Sirhan narrowed his eyes. “Bring the Kalbi boy here,” Sirhan demanded. “If he’s been cured as you and Gabriel claim, then why does he still possess the true alpha nature?”
Two spearmen took Daniel by the arms, even though he didn’t protest being brought only inches from Sirhan’s monstrous face. Sirhan pulled the oxygen tube from his nostrils and scrunched up his snoutlike nose. After several wheezing breaths, taking in Daniel’s scent, he curled his lips in a growl. “You are not Urbat,” he said to Daniel. “What are you?”
“I wish I knew,” Daniel said.
“But you do,” I said. “You’re a Hound of Heaven. A true one. With all the powers of the Urbat, but without the curse that’s been passed from one generation to the next. From one infection to another. He’s what God intended all of you to be.”
It made so much sense when I said it, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought to explain it in those exact terms before now. Gabriel nodded at my words like he agreed with my conclusion—and for half a second, I thought I caught a look of recognition in Daniel’s eyes when he glanced back at me. Like he finally understood—and accepted—it, too.
The Elders murmured among themselves. One of them leaned over and whispered something in Sirhan’s pointed ear. The alpha nodded.
“All the power without the curse?” he asked. Something gleamed in his yellow eyes. He waved at the guards, and they took Daniel to the side of the room next to Gabriel.
“So tell me Child Divine,” Sirhan said. “How does this wondrous cure work?”
“It’s simple really.” I took another step closer to him. “You die.”
ONE SECOND FLAT
Every razor-sharp spear in the room pointed in my direction.
“Whoa.” I raised my hands. “What I mean is, the cure is death. Gabriel himself can tell you. It was his theory that I put to the test when I cured Daniel.”