Chapter 65

** Whispers in the Shadows**

Athena Pov.

I hadn't seen Lirael or Taye since that day at the diner when they tried to convince me that siding with Lucifer was a dangerous mistake. Now, just as I was finishing my shift, the air thickened, an almost imperceptible shimmer in the dim corner of the diner catching my eye.

When I turned, there they were, cloaked in mortal guises, their expressions unreadable. Lirael's eyes met mine with a severity that made my pulse jump.

"We need to talk, Athena," Lirael said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I glanced around the diner. Joe was in the back, closing up for the night, and the place was empty, save for us. The Watchers stood close together, looking more human than angelic in jeans and jackets, but there was no mistaking the energy around them—a silent, tense hum that I knew meant trouble.

"Can it wait? I'm technically on the clock," I said, my tone more flippant than I felt.