Nathanials Pov

I sat in the council chamber, my gaze fixed on the pristine marble floor as the weight of their words pressed down on me. The Angel Triad Council stood before me, their commanding presence filling the room. Seraphiel's golden aura burned like the sun, his wings stretched high, while Uriel remained stoic and watchful, his sharp eyes taking in every nuance of my posture.

Elyon, the youngest, wore her usual veil of serene authority, though her gaze was sharp with suspicion.

Solar leaned against the wall near me, uncharacteristically quiet, though I could feel his tension radiating through the room.

"We need to be ready," Seraphiel declared, his voice like rolling thunder. "If Athena sides with Satan, the supernatural war will be unavoidable. Preparations are already underway."

"She's not going to side with him," I snapped, my frustration bubbling over. "She doesn't trust Satan, and she certainly doesn't want to see the world burn."

Elyon stepped forward, her calm demeanor almost condescending. "Your faith in her is admirable, Nathanial, but misplaced.

Athena is still an enigma, and her choices remain unpredictable. She may not want the world to burn, but that doesn't mean she won't be manipulated into aiding him."

"She's not a puppet," I said firmly. "She's stronger than you think."

"Stronger, yes," Uriel interjected, his voice cold as ice. "But strength isn't the same as loyalty. And it is loyalty we question."

I clenched my fists at my sides, struggling to keep my temper in check. "She has hellfire, yes, but she's human. That power doesn't mean she's destined to help him."

Elyon exchanged a glance with Seraphiel and Uriel before speaking. "You're wrong, Nathanial. She's not human. Not entirely."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice low, dangerous.

"She was adopted," Elyon said, her tone measured. "The family she grew up with was not her blood."

The revelation made my mind spin. Athena's powers, her connection to hellfire—things that had puzzled me for weeks now—suddenly seemed to make more sense. But it only led to more questions. "Who are her real parents?" I demanded.

"That is not your concern," Seraphiel said sharply, his tone brooking no argument.

"Not my concern?" I echoed, incredulous. "You've sent me to guide her, to watch her, to make sure she doesn't fall into Satan's grasp. How am I supposed to do that without knowing everything about her?"

Seraphiel's glowing gaze bore into me. "Your mission is not to know everything, Nathanial. It is to do what is necessary. You were sent to eliminate Marax and Zarach, and if Athena shows any inclination to join the demons, you are to eliminate her as well."

My stomach turned at the cold finality of his words. "You think I would kill her?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"If she sides with Satan, you will have no choice," Uriel said. "Your personal feelings do not matter. The balance of all realms is at stake."

Elyon stepped closer, her voice soft but firm. "And that is why we will not tell you who her mother is. We do not fully trust that your growing...attachment to Athena will not compromise you."

The accusation stung, but I couldn't deny the truth of it. My feelings for Athena had grown far beyond what they should have been. But that didn't mean I'd betray the mission. Or her.

"She deserves to know," I argued, though my voice lacked its usual fire. "If she's not human, if there's more to her past, she has a right to it."

"She deserves nothing until she proves where her loyalties lie," Seraphiel said coldly. "You are to guide her, Nathanial. Nothing more."

A heavy silence fell over the room. I could feel Solar's gaze on me, but I refused to meet it. My hands curled into fists at my sides as I fought the urge to lash out at the council.

They didn't know her like I did. They didn't understand her strength, her determination. She wasn't going to fall for Satan's lies. I believed that with everything in me.

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But their mistrust hung over me like a dark cloud, casting doubt where there had been none before. As much as I hated to admit it, they were right about one thing: I was compromised. My feelings for Athena were complicating everything.

Seraphiel dismissed me with a wave of his hand, his eyes burning with warning. "Remember your duty, Nathanial. If the time comes, you must be ready to make the hard choice."

I turned and left without another word, Solar falling into step beside me. Once we were out of earshot, he let out a low whistle. "Well, that was intense. They really don't trust you, do they?"

"Shut up, Solar," I muttered, my thoughts too tangled to deal with his usual banter.

"You know," he said, his tone uncharacteristically serious, "if they don't trust you, that's their problem. But you'd better figure out where you stand, Nathanial. Because when the time comes, you'll have to choose, and it won't be easy."

I didn't respond. I didn't need to. Because deep down, I already knew where I stood. I just hoped it wouldn't come to that.

As Solar and I left the council chamber, the tension in the air hung heavier than usual. The celestial corridor stretched before us, its golden engravings glowing faintly under the ethereal light. It was supposed to be a place of clarity, but my head felt anything but clear.

"So..." Solar began, casually adjusting his wings as he strolled beside me. "You mad, or are you in that brooding angel phase again? Because I can't tell if you're about to punch someone or write bad poetry."

I shot him a glare. "This isn't a joke, Solar."

"Of course it isn't," he replied, completely unbothered. "The council just told you that the girl you're hopelessly smitten with might be adopted by humans and has enough power to level a small city. Oh, and if she sneezes in the wrong direction, they might send someone to kill her. Super casual."

"Do you ever stop talking?" I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose.

Solar grinned. "Not when you're spiraling like this. Somebody's gotta keep you grounded. Besides," he added, spreading his arms dramatically, "I have questions. Like, why didn't the council tell you who her real mother is? Suspicious, don't you think?"

"They don't trust me," I said, my jaw tightening. "They think I'm too close to her."

"Well, they're not wrong," Solar teased, his tone light but pointed. "You've got that big ol' protective streak going. Very knight-in-shining-armor of you. Doesn't really scream objective observer."

"I'm doing my job," I snapped.

"Oh, sure," Solar replied with a mock-serious nod. "The 'I'm just doing my job' line. Classic. Meanwhile, you're practically vibrating with the need to go check on her. Face it, Nate—you're in deep."

I stopped in my tracks, rounding on him. "Do you even understand what's at stake here? If Athena chooses the wrong side—if Satan gets to her—the war we've been trying to avoid will tear everything apart."

"And you think she's gonna flip like a coin?" Solar raised an eyebrow. "You've spent more time with her than anyone. Is she really the type to jump into Satan's arms and start twirling a villain mustache?"

"No," I admitted reluctantly. "But the council isn't leaving anything to chance. And if they think she's a threat..."

"They'll send someone to deal with her," Solar finished, his humor fading slightly. "Yeah, I caught that part. And here you are, stuck between them and her. Must suck to be you right now."

I didn't respond. Instead, I kept walking, the golden corridor giving way to a shimmering portal at the end. Solar followed, his usual grin slipping back into place as he adjusted his posture.

"You know," he said as we approached the portal, "I don't get why you're so worked up. She's got you, Marax, Zarach—and from what I hear, a seriously overprotective set of brothers. You're practically her personal army. What's the council gonna do? Throw paperwork at her?"

"She deserves to know the truth," I said quietly, stepping into the portal's light. "About her parents. About why this is all happening to her."

"And maybe one day she will," Solar replied, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "But right now, she's got bigger problems. Like, I don't know, not getting recruited by Satan. Maybe start there?"

I stepped out onto the rain-soaked streets of Earth, the cold drizzle immediately soaking through my clothes. Solar emerged behind me, his wings shaking off water like a disgruntled bird.

"Ugh, rain," he muttered, squinting up at the stormy sky. "How do humans live like this? Honestly, it's depressing. No wonder they invented coffee."

I ignored him, focusing instead on the familiar path to Athena's house. The streetlights flickered in the distance, and the sound of water dripping from gutters filled the silence.

"Do you even know where she is?" Solar asked, jogging to keep up with my determined pace.

"She'll be at home," I said firmly. "I need to check on her."

"Oh, sure. No ulterior motive there," Solar said, smirking. "You just want to 'check on her.' Not because you're worried or anything. Definitely not because you've got it bad for her."

"Solar."

"Right, shutting up," he said, though his grin didn't fade. "But if you're planning to dramatically confess your feelings, give me a heads-up so I can leave. Or, you know, record it."

I shot him a look, but he just laughed, twirling a stray feather between his fingers. Despite his endless stream of jokes, I knew Solar understood the stakes just as much as I did.

-------------------------------------

I arrived at Athena's place, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. As soon as I pushed open the door, I barely dodged the table that was hurled straight at me, narrowly avoiding the impact. Solar yelped in surprise, his wings fluttering as he darted out of the way.

Zarach was in the living room, towering in his demon form, his rage palpable. His growls echoed through the room as his claws tore through the air, flames licking up from his arms. Every inch of him was burning with anger, and it felt like the walls themselves were shaking with the intensity of his emotions.

In the kitchen, I spotted Athena's brothers, Austin and Aiden, frozen, wide-eyed and completely out of their depth. They had no idea what to do with an angry, fully transformed demon on the warpath.

"Zarach!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the chaos. "What the hell are you doing?!"

He whipped his head around, his eyes glowing with an inky blackness that reflected his fury. His chest heaved with every breath as he clenched his fists, fighting to keep himself in check.

"I fucked up!" he growled, his voice thick with frustration. "Athena's up there, passed out because she took down Beleth and his demons. She won't wake up, and I feel like my chest is going to cave in from the guilt. I—I should've been there, should've done more!"

His words hit me hard, but I couldn't focus on my own growing concern for Athena just yet. Zarach was a ticking time bomb, and I needed to calm him down before he tore the place apart.

"Athena will wake up," I said firmly, my tone sharp. "But you need to get a grip. You can't help her like this."

Zarach turned away, punching a hole in the wall as if he could punch through his guilt and frustration. The fire around him flickered, lighting up the darkened room in waves.

"She was so damn strong, Nathanial," Zarach continued, his voice quieter now, but the pain still evident. "I've never seen her like that before. It was... like she was unstoppable. But now she's spent, and I couldn't protect her from it. I failed her."

I moved toward him, placing a hand on his shoulder to steady him, though I knew it wouldn't be enough to calm him completely. Zarach wasn't one to admit weakness, but his anger—his frustration with himself—was raw, and I could feel it too.

"You didn't fail her," I said, my voice softer now, but still firm. "You're still here. And she's going to need you when she wakes up. But you need to cool it, or you'll burn everything to the ground before she has a chance to recover."

Zarach's breath was coming in sharp, uneven gasps as his flames died down. The tension in the room was thick, and I could feel the urgency rising. Athena needed us, and we couldn't afford to lose control.

"Where is she?" I asked, trying to focus on the next step.

"Upstairs," Zarach growled, turning to face me again. His voice was low, tinged with sorrow. "Marax is with her. He's been watching over her since she passed out, but I don't know how long she'll stay unconscious. I—I don't know how much more she can take."

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words sink in. Athena had always been strong, but even someone as powerful as her could only withstand so much.