Lailah was in tears. Elijah was livid.

  Gabrielle glanced at Raz, pursing her lips, then looked to me and shook her head.

  “What is it? Something more we don’t already know?”

  “They have Rainah and Micah as you know,” Gabrielle said.

  “Yes, Julian and the other Firstborns are off to find them.”

  Gabrielle closed her eyes for a moment then opened them. “This security breach. Micah’s abduction. It’s is a sign,” she said. “The war is coming.”

  “This is not over,” I said. “Chayah won’t give up.”

  “And neither will we. But there’s much going on in the shadows we cannot stop. Things we cannot fight alone. Genesis needs its leader at full power,” Gabrielle said. “We need Chayah to return. Zoe’s of little use to the family in this state.”

  “What can I do?”

  “Reach out to her.” Gabrielle reached for my shoulder. “Try to breach her Origin. If anyone can break through, brother, it’s you.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” I bowed.

  “Good.” Raz started. “I’ll stay with Sophie at Phoebe’s. For now though, you stay here and wait for the Firstborns to return. At least until we know what’s happening with Rainah and Micah.”

  Raz jumped a bridge out.

  Lailah and Elijah sat on the terrace with me for too long, waiting for word from Raz and the Firstborns when a portal finally opened, and Rainah, Remie, Matteo and Nate came through.

  “Julian,” Rainah cried, gasping for air. “He’s gone.”

  Lailah and Elijah glanced at each other, fear filling us all. Lailah nearly broke down.

  Two of her children were gone, trapped in the dark realm.

  Julian was tough, he could hold his own and possibly find a way to get himself out, but not Micah.

  “What happened?”

  “They had Micah,” Rainah explained. “Julian lunged for him, fighting with Azriel. Then Julian kicked me out. Opened a portal and shoved me through. Remie, Matteo and Nate came after me. Now they can’t get back in.”

  “What do you mean, can’t get back in?” I glared.

  “We’ve been trying to create a portal, but it’s not working. For any of us.” Nate shrugged. “We’ve tried everything.”

  “How is that possible?” I glanced at Elijah.

  “We don’t know either,” Nate said. “But we thought maybe Eli and Chayah could do it. They can project, like they did to save you.”

  “I’ll get Chayah, see if she can infiltrate the borders.”

  Elijah kissed Lailah and moved to me. ‘Those are my sons, that makes this my fight. I’ll rescue them.”

  “Chayah would want to go.” I set my hand on Elijah’s shoulder. “Let’s make a stop and get her.”

  We created a bridge wind, then passed through to Phoebe’s.

  It had been a while since we’d been there.

  Two human days, though time moved differently in the earthly realm.

  Phoebe was sitting on the couch, hands on her forehead.

  “Is everything all right?” Elijah asked.

  Phoebe shook her head, eyes damp with tears. “It’s Zoe.”

  “What is it?” I moved toward her bedroom.

  “She won’t wake up.”

  “Where are Sophie and Raz?”

  “They left, I don’t know why.”

  I entered Zoe’s room, and she was resting quietly. Just as I’d left her, days ago. Same clothes. Eyes twitching beneath her lids, as if dreaming.

  I rested my hand on her forehead and closed my eyes, trying to breach her mind, but unsuccessful.

  Raz entered the room and sat beside Zoe.

  “Where have you been?”

  “Zoe wouldn’t wake, so Sophie and I left to speak with Gabrielle. We just returned.”

  Raz set his hands on Zoe’s forehead, closed his eyes and said an incantation beneath his breath. A moment later, he opened his eyes and pursed his lips.

  “What is it?” I asked. “What did you get from her?”

  “Nothing.” He sighed. “She’s in the astral plane. And she’s shutting me out.”

  ~

  After nearly a week, Zoe still would not wake.

  She’d been projecting. Gone, somewhere she could not be reached. Neither Raz nor I could breach her thoughts.

  Zoe had never been gone so long since her rebirth, and I feared for her safety.

  Elijah volunteered to follow her trail into the astral plane, but Gabrielle forbade it, assuring us Zoe would return when she was ready. No further explanation.

  This in itself made me more suspicious.

  What were they hiding?

  Finally, we brought Zoe’s body home to Aravot.

  Gabrielle argued at first, said Zoe should stay where she was to ensure her Origin could return to her body, but after so long in the astral plane, Gabrielle finally agreed to allow me to bring Zoe back to her own bed.

  Home, where she belonged.

  Remie and Sophie stayed with Phoebe in Connecticut.

  We had a mission planned to save Julian and Micah, though we’d been waiting for Zoe to return because simple bridge winds were still unable to break through to whichever plane held the Eternals.

  It had been long enough, and we could wait no longer. We had to at least attempt to rescue the boys.

  But I didn’t want to leave Zoe. She’d been projecting too long, and I truly feared for her. A soul could only be apart from its body for so long before it would begin to deteriorate. Zoe’s body was becoming weaker each day she projected, and I had no idea where she was, who she was with, or what she was doing.

  Once again, I was at a loss, unsure how to protect my Gemini’s life.

  “Cade.” Raz walked up the stairs of my home.

  I didn’t move from my spot beside Chayah, just continued running my hand through her ebony curls, trying to pull her back.

  Her body remained still and lifeless.

  “Where in the world could she be?”

  “Perhaps she’s in the dark realm with Julian and Micah. I’m unsure, brother.”

  “You’re supposed to know things. Why is it that ever since this incarnation began, you seem to know nothing?” I scoffed. “What kind of Angel of Wisdom have you become?”

  Raz sighed, though he remained quiet.

  “I apologize.” I exhaled. “I don’t know where that came from.”

  “I do,” he said.

  I turned my head toward him.

  “It’s the prophecy. Genesis will fall from within. We’re all at each other’s throats. Our family is decaying, Cade. The Eternal Mother is gone, projecting to who knows were, doing who knows what. The Firstborns are being torn apart from within their own circles. The Elders are scattered about. Singular. No cohesive unit. My best friend is calling me incompetent.”

  “I’m sorry.” I sat up. “That was uncalled for.”

  “It’s the prophecy,” Raz said. “It’s being realized before our eyes.”

  “What exactly does it say?”

  “That Genesis will collapse from within. A fissure in the foundation. Zoe is the Eternal Mother. Our leader, and she has no memory of who she was. Of her ruling. Her children are scattered about, fighting amongst themselves. The only Newborns not being torn apart are Remie and Phoebe. And they’re barely hanging on.”

  “What is our recourse?” I set my head back. “I sure as hell don’t know what to do.”

  I returned my attention to Zoe, her hair strung over her shoulder, sticking to her forehead.

  “Where are you, love?” I moved her hair from her face. “Why won’t you come home?”

  Journey, Chayah’s phoenix, sat beside the bed on her perch, sound asleep. Just like Chayah, the bird had hardly moved since we brought Zoe home. She’d opened her eyes on brief occasions, but refused to leave Zoe’s side.

  “Alright. We need to rescue Julian and Micah. We can’t wait any longer.”

  “You’ll have to send Elijah and Lailah in alone,” I said. “They can pull in the others if necessary.”

  “No. They need you, brother.” Raz set his hand on my shoulder. “Especially in Zoe’s absence. You’re her second in command.”

  “I won’t leave her.” I stared at Zoe, trying to will her to wake. A knot hung in my chest, my heart steady, like hers. “I can’t. Her body is weak without me.”

  “It shouldn’t be long. And Gabrielle can sit with her. If Zoe wakes before you return, your Gemini will not wake alone.”

  “Fine.”

  Raz left after Gabrielle while I remained with Zoe.

  Once again, I was without my Gemini. Only this time, she wasn’t trapped by a demon, she was trapped within her own mind. Her Origin, and the only one who could rescue Zoe was herself.

  She was supposed to see Sam Gaits in Manhattan today, too. When she didn’t wake, Phoebe called Sam and rescheduled.

  We could not afford to get that wrong either, but we needed to rescue the Firstborns before anything else.

  “Hello, brother.” Gabrielle stepped beside me.

  I kissed Zoe’s forehead, then got up from the bed.

  “They’re ready for you. I’ll stay with Zoe. Keep her safe until you return.”

  I pursed my lips and sighed, not wanting to leave her alone.

  “She’s far from alone, Cade. I’ll be here if she wakes.”

  I leaned down, leaving a kiss to Zoe’s forehead, running my hands over her hair. “Come back to me, love,” I whispered. “I need you.”

  “Cade?”

  I turned to Gabrielle before leaving.

  “Keep your eyes and Gemini Origin open in the dark realm.” Gabrielle tilted her head toward Zoe and placed her finger over her lips. “Shh.”

  I bowed.

  Message received.

  Downstairs, all the Elders and Firstborns waited to rescue Micah and Julian.

  “Thank you for taking time away from Zoe to rescue my sons,” Elijah said.

  “You would do it for me.”

  “I’ll project in and open a portal once I’ve reached them. Nate and Remie will come in with Cade and me, and we’ll get the boys out. Everyone else, you’re on standby.”

  “Wait, what about me?” Rainah stepped up.

  “You wait here until we get them back,” Eli said.

  “No way.” Rainah stood tall, hands on her hips, red hair sweeping over her shoulders.

  “We need you here in case…”

  “No.” She growled. “Julian’s my responsibility.” She cleared her throat. “He’s my—Gemini. I want to be there. To show him I—I mean.” She ran her hands through her hair. “I love him.”

  We all smiled.

  “There. I said it, okay?” She rolled her eyes. “Can we just go get him already?” Her cheeks turned crimson.

  I set my hand on her shoulder. “You’re perfect for that boy. He needs someone to straighten him out.”

  “Sheesh.” She shook her head. “Tell me about it.”

  Finally. Something good.

  “Okay, so we’ll wait here while Elijah projects in. Once he finds them, he’ll materialize and a bridge wind will open. We’ll go in, grab the boys then take a portal back.” I scanned the group. “Understood?”

  Everyone nodded.

  We stood around Elijah, who sat in a chair beside his Gemini.

  “Bring back our boys,” she whispered.

  Elijah nodded and kissed Lailah’s cheek.

  Hands gripping his thighs, he closed his eyes and began chanting beneath his breath.

  Elijah and Zoe created astral planes differently.

  Zoe began with her mind then materialized her body into a physical manifestation. Chayah’s strength lay within her intellect. Residual gifts from the Tree of Wisdom. It ensured her many abilities no other Eternal had.

  I closed my eyes, visualizing Julian and Micah. A moment later, Elijah’s body slumped to the side, and he was gone, working in the astral plane.

  Lailah set her hand on Elijah’s forehead, as she was able to see his visions within the plane. As an Angel, her abilities were stronger than mine.

  Of course, her Gemini was not blocking her out either.

  “Elijah has located Julian.” Lailah let out a sigh of relief.

  Thankfully. That was quick.

  A moment later, a bridge wind opened, and Elijah’s eyes opened.

  “They’re in between the Fifth and the Sixth, which is why we couldn’t breach them. We won’t be there long, let’s go.” He got to his feet. “We’ll be back.” He leaned in, kissing his Gemini, then gestured for us to follow.

  We all three followed Elijah into the bridge wind, daggers in hand, ready to fight.

  Within moments, we’d found Julian. Alone.

  His eyes went wide when he saw Rainah.

  She ran over, bounding into his arms, kissing him hungrily.

  It became slightly uncomfortable watching the scene unfold.

  “I’m so sorry, Julian.” She kissed all over his face. “Oh, thank the gods you’re okay. I can’t believe I was such a bitch to you. Don’t ever do that to me again, do you hear me? I’ll kick your ass.”

  Julian laughed. “Yes ma’am.” He set her down, then pulled her back and kissed her once more.

  “Not to interrupt your moment,” I said. “But we need to find Micah. Where is he?”

  Julian shook his head.

  “What?” Eli asked.

  “You’re not going to like this.”

  “Explain.” I narrowed my gaze.

  “He wasn’t kidnapped.” Julian sighed. “How’d you get in here anyway? I’ve been fighting for days, couldn’t bridge out.”

  “It’s because we’re between realms. Hidden well.” I motioned to Elijah. “He projected.”

  “Right. I forgot about that. Well let’s get out of here. Please, before you get caught, and we’re all trapped here.”

  “We can’t leave Micah.” Elijah pursed his lips. “I won’t. He’s my son.”

  “I know where they are,” Julian said, narrowing his expression.

  “Then let’s go.”

  “Wait, send Rainah home first, I don’t want her here.”

  Julian nodded to his Gemini, to which she immediately opened her mouth, eyes narrowed, hands springing to her hips.

  “I don’t think so, dude.” She glared. “First of all, I’m your Gemini. Yeah, I said it. Shut up. And I just got you back, I’m not going anywhere without you.” She raised her eyebrows and folded her arms across her chest.

  “Well then.” Julian laughed. “I like this new you.”

  “It seems your partner has gotten her shit together.” Nate nudged him.

  “So it seems.” Elijah admitted. “All right then. Let’s go.”

  We followed Julian and Elijah down a corridor to another room where Micah sat with the Fallen, talking in a corner. Next thing we know, he leaned in, trying to kiss her.

  “I think you’re right.” I folded my arms across my chest. “Micah’s not going anywhere.”

  “Micah?” Elijah called to him.

  Micah pushed the Fallen behind him and stood between them. “What are you doing here?”

  “We’re here to take you home,” Elijah announced.

  Micah shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “What?” Elijah stepped up to him, his expression fell, his voice weak. “Micah.”

  “No way.” Micah glanced at his Fallen Gemini then stood tall, pushing out his chest and chin, folding his arms together. “I am home.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Zoe

  “What do you mean, you’re home? Eli asks. “Your home is with me, with your family. You’re Genesis, Micah.”

  “If you really felt that way, you should’ve acted like it. I fit here, Eli. They respect me. Appreciate me. Treat me like I’m not just some errand boy, but someone to be reckoned with.” Micah’s voice echoes down the corridor as I get closer. “I’m not going back.”

  I’d been wandering around the dark realm for days, maybe weeks, I wasn’t sure, trying to find some way to breach this hold on my memory.

  Gabrielle said if I spent time within my Origin, away from my body, I could find a way to break through. So far, I’d seen a lot of things but nothing woke me up.

  Until Cade.

  “Mio bel ragazzo dagli occhi blu,” I whisper beneath my breath as I walk in the door.

  My beautiful blue-eyed boy.

  Cade glances toward me. Stares through me, like he knows I’m here.

  He can’t.

  Can he?

  Cade narrows his eyes then slowly moves toward me.

  Everything around us fades away.

  I see nothing.

  Hear nothing.

  Nothing but Cade.

  Cade stops before me, his gaze roams up and down my shadowed form.

  He sees me. Reaches into the air, trying to touch me.

  I reach back.

  I need my Gemini. So freaking bad. Need to feel his soul within mine. Need to Converge.

  We’d tried for days. When I finally admitted it wouldn’t happen, I took desperate measures and accepted this was my own battle to fight.

  The war within myself.

  So I left.

  Gabrielle says I won’t be able to defeat Lilith or the darkness without retrieving my memories, without finding my own light. Accepting it.

  Accepting my soul. Me. Who I am.

  Sure, I’d Eternalized, but I hadn’t woken up, as Lailah put it. My memories were just reels from Zoe 1.0’s life.

  Not mine.

  Until I remembered the memories as if they were my own—until I accepted them. Every good deed. Every epic mistake. Until they made me laugh. Made me cry. Gave me goose bumps, like they were mine and not some strangers, I would never be able to save my family.

  Or myself.

  Until I fell, I would not rise.

  Cade closes his eyes for a brief moment.

  My body and soul are drawn to him. I need to touch him. To feel him. I run my hand along his cheek and whisper his name.

  “Cade.”

  His eyes pop open.

  I throw my hand over my mouth. Shit.

  He heard me. But how?

  “Zoe,” Cade whispers. “Please, love. Your family needs you. I need you.”

  He reaches out, but I stumble back from his grasp.