“Come on, Maddy, get up,” Beezle said, pulling ineffectually at my collar.
I waved him away. “Leave me alone. I’ll get up and go inside when I’m ready.”
“I want to find out what Nathaniel’s doing to J.B.,” Beezle said, tugging at me again.
“So go,” I said, leaning my head against the wall and closing my eyes. I heard Beezle flap uncertainly for a moment, and then the sound of his wings receding as he went inside the apartment.
I want Gabriel, I thought. I couldn’t help it. When he was away from me, I was like a planet without a sun. I wasn’t supposed to love him, and maybe if I could have had a normal relationship with him, I could have gotten him out of my system. But the longing . . . the longing . . .
“Madeline, wake up.”
Gabriel?
“Madeline, please. Madeline.”
I’m dreaming you. I need you.
“Madeline.”
Hands on my shoulders, on my face. Warmth like the light of the sun.
I opened my eyes. His face was so close to mine that I could see the stars deep in his black eyes, and as I watched I saw one of them burst and flare and fall away, and I knew that my eyes looked the same.
His breath was on my lips, a whisper away.
“Madeline, what has happened? Why are you sleeping on the stairs?”
His words reminded me of J.B. and Nathaniel only a few feet away inside the apartment. If I gave in to the impulse to kiss Gabriel and Nathaniel found us, Gabriel would be dead before you could say “Jack Robinson.”
I shook my head to clear away the cobwebs, and shifted away from the wall. Slowly I realized that Baraqiel stood a few feet behind Gabriel, watching us with an avid gaze. There was a knowledge in his eyes that I did not like, and I wondered how much of my need for Gabriel had been revealed to the messenger.
“What happened to you guys?” I asked. “You were gone forever.”
“Baraqiel suggested we observe the human investigation for a time to see if they discovered anything. I sensed the death of the wolf was important to you and thought you would be safe enough with Bennett for a short time. Apparently, I was mistaken. What happened?” he repeated.
I told him that Antares had attacked us as I shuffled into the kitchen and filled the teakettle with water. The muscles in Gabriel’s face froze one by one.
“I should not have left you,” he said, and his voice was filled with heat.
I shrugged, not wanting to get into this in front of a witness. Something about Baraqiel told me he was collecting everything he saw and filing it away for later use. I wondered what he would report to Lucifer.
I could hear a murmur of voices from the living room. I couldn’t understand what was being said but Nathaniel’s tone was absurdly deferential, almost as if he were talking to my father. I wondered again what it was about J.B. that made Nathaniel act this way.
“Madeline,” Gabriel said, frowning. “What did Antares do?”
“Oh, the usual,” I said lightly. “Threatened to pull my entrails through my nose. Clawed me up some. J.B. got set on fire.”
“How did you escape? You were completely powerless,” Baraqiel said. He still had a speculative look on his face, like he was trying to decide whether or not it would be worth it to blackmail me over Gabriel.
I shrugged. “My powers came back. For a little while, at least.”
“And now?” Baraqiel persisted.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why are you so interested, anyway?” My tone of voice indicated that I was Azazel’s daughter and he was just a messenger. Sometimes it is an advantage to be royalty in a highly hierarchical society.
His manner immediately became deferential. “I apologize, my lady. I am only concerned for your welfare.”
I wasn’t so certain about that. “Baraqiel, you never did tell us what you were doing when you were waylaid by Samiel.”
He bowed so deeply I thought that he was going to fall over. “Again, my apologies, granddaughter of Lucifer. I was sent by the Lightbringer to deliver a message. I have been astonishingly remiss in that capacity.”
I rolled my hand in his direction, indicating that he should continue.
Baraqiel reached underneath his right arm and pulled out a small piece of parchment that had been rolled and tied to his wing. He presented it to me on his outstretched hand in such a way that I could avoid touching him if I so chose. I wondered if most of Baraqiel’s recipients disdained the touch of a lowly messenger, and my face burned when I thought of how I had spoken to him a moment earlier. I realize it’s the lifetime goal of many little girls, but I don’t really enjoy being a princess.
“Thank you,” I said, taking the parchment from him and unrolling it. I could feel my face growing thunderous as I read Lucifer’s message.
My grandfather is a totally manipulative bastard—big surprise—and it was obvious that he had been holding this task for me in his fist until he felt the time was right.
Trouble was, if I refused Lucifer, he would likely kill Gabriel—or rather, have the Grigori do it for him. And after that, he would probably kill Beezle. And then J.B. And so on, until he had taken everything from me and broken me to his will. That was why he was the first of the fallen, and the lord high devil himself. He knew that emotional pain is a far more powerful motivator than physical pain, and he also knew that I would do anything to keep those I loved safe.
“What is it?” Gabriel asked.
I thrust the parchment at him wordlessly and waited while he read it. His mouth was grim when he finished and handed it back to me.
“Lord Lucifer requires me to wait and bring a response,” Baraqiel said. He inched away from me a little when I looked up at him.
“Don’t,” Gabriel said, his voice full of warning.
I swallowed the “tell Lord Lucifer he can stick this parchment up his ass” that was on my tongue and attempted to modulate my voice. “Tell Lord Lucifer that his granddaughter would be pleased to fulfill this duty for him.”
Baraqiel raised his eyebrow slightly, but he nodded and said, “I must return to my lord immediately with your response.”
“Don’t you want to wash your face first?” I asked. Baraqiel was still covered in the blood that he had shed during his altercation with Samiel.
“I have already been gone too long,” he said, and swept out of the kitchen and down the stairs. It was still full dark outside, which was a good thing, because I don’t know what my neighbors would have made of an angel taking off from my backyard.
I looked at Gabriel, sighed, and then kicked one of the cabinet doors. It made a very satisfying thump.
“That was very childish,” Gabriel said.
“Absolutely,” I replied. “But it feels good.”
I took another deep breath and inspected the damage. There was a crack in the cabinet door. Sometimes I forget that I am stronger now than I used to be.
“Let’s find out what’s going on with J.B.,” I said, and led the way into the living room.
J.B. was propped on a pile of cushions on the sofa, and covered in a blanket. His face was bloodless, his eyes were tired and his hair stuck up in every direction. The ends even looked a little singed. Other than that, he appeared surprisingly hale for someone who had been knocked out.
Nathaniel had pulled a chair from the dining room and sat at his side. His fawning expression gave me the willies.
“How are you feeling?” I asked J.B.
“Like I got shot with magical lightning and crash-landed on hard ground,” he said.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” Nathaniel asked.
“No, thank you. You can finish your business with Maddy now,” J.B. said. He looked a little disconcerted by Nathaniel’s solicitous manner.
I gave J.B. what-the-hell-is-up-with-him eyes and J.B. shrugged in response.
“Of course. And if there is anything else that I or the court of Azazel can do for you . . .” he said, standing.
“He’ll let you know,” I said, taking Nathaniel by the arm and tugging him away into the kitchen. I wanted Nathaniel to say whatever it was he had to say and leave so I could talk to J.B. and find out why my fiancé was tripping over himself in J.B.’s presence.
Gabriel stayed in the living room and I heard him talking quietly to J.B. Nathaniel reluctantly allowed himself to be led into the kitchen. Once we were there, I released him immediately. I really don’t like to touch him more than I absolutely must. I leaned against the kitchen counter and crossed my arms.
“So what did you come for?” I said.
His lips compressed in a tight line at the belligerent tone of my voice. “You might show a small amount of gratitude, Madeline. Not only did I save your life; I saved the life of Amarantha’s son.”
Which is a lot more meaningful to you than to me, I thought, since I have no freaking idea why Amarantha is so damn important to you.
But I wasn’t ungrateful to him for helping me, or for saving the life of my friend, no matter what the identity of J.B.’s mother.
“Thank you,” I said, and tried not to sound surly. “You certainly arrived in a timely manner. Now, was there something that you wanted to speak with me about?”
He looked like he was considering further taking me to task for my lack of graciousness, but then apparently decided against it.
“Lord Azazel has asked me to accompany you to the faerie court,” Nathaniel said.
I stared at him. “How do you know about that? I just received the message from Lucifer a few minutes ago.”
Nathaniel shrugged. “Lucifer himself asked your father to allow me to escort you on your diplomatic mission.”
Diplomatic mission. That was a nice way to put it. I was supposed to go to the faerie court and negotiate a new land and power treaty on behalf of the fallen. I knew nothing about the faeries or what Lucifer was after—I had been promised further details upon acceptance of my mission. What I did know was that the faerie court had as arcane and complex a caste system as the fallen, and that since I had a terrible habit of shoving my boot in my mouth, I was just as likely to fail as to succeed.
I didn’t know why Lucifer was sticking my neck out like this. He was sure to have some ulterior motive beyond a simple treaty. If he was only interested in what he stated, then he would have sent a more adept negotiator.
And it was beyond annoying that he had specifically ordered Nathaniel to come with me. Well, maybe it was time to try out my diplomatic skills.
“Listen, Nathaniel—I don’t think it’s necessary for you to join me. It will probably be boring, negotiating a treaty.”
Nathaniel’s pale blue eyes sparkled. “You have never experienced the wonders of the faerie court, Madeline. I assure you, the negotiations will be anything but boring.”
Oookay. Time for a different tack.
“I’m sure my father has more important things for you to attend to in his court.”
“What could be more important that accompanying my betrothed on a vital mission for our highest lord?”
I blew out a breath in frustration and decided diplomacy was overrated. “What will it take to get you to stay home?”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “There is nothing you can say or do to compel me to remain in Lord Azazel’s court. I have suspected for some time, Madeline, that you are not taking our betrothal seriously. You must. You are bound to me by Azazel’s word before the court.”
“I do not and will not consider myself betrothed to you unless it is by my word, not Azazel’s,” I shot back.
Nathaniel loomed closer, crowding me, and I glared up at him. “Don’t try to physically intimidate me. I’m not afraid of you.”
He sneered. “Because your loyal dog is in the next room?”
“Because I know that I can blast you down those stairs and out of this building if I want to.” And just as if I had called it, I felt my magic alight within me again, feral and hungry, fed by my anger and frustration.
A small part of me knew that I should rein it in, not reveal myself to Nathaniel in this manner. I had been very careful over the last month whenever we met, and had pretended not to shudder when he touched my arm or placed his lips on my cheek. I knew that any coldness on my part would be interpreted as nerves or shyness by my father and that he would explain my behavior to Nathaniel as such. I shouldn’t be showing him now that I despised him.
“Don’t push me,” I said raggedly, trying to keep my magic and my temper under control. “I did not choose this.”
“Nor did I,” he replied angrily. “Do you think it is my wish to be engaged to a woman who clearly hates me?”
I looked up at him in surprise. There had been something in his voice, some hurt that I hadn’t suspected. It flickered in his eyes for an instant before he covered it with anger.
“I don’t hate you,” I said, and the lie tasted bitter on my tongue. Anything less than the truth would encourage him. But I had to walk the line that Azazel had laid out for me until I could figure out a way to break free of the binding.
Nathaniel looked uncertain for a moment. Then he surprised me, leaned forward as if he intended to kiss my mouth. For a second I felt a strange, unwanted flare of desire. The thought was so foreign that I couldn’t help my unconscious reaction, and stepped back until I felt my butt hit the counter. Irritation flared in his eyes.
“If you do not hate me, you are doing an excellent approximation of it.”
“What does it matter to you?” I said, feeling slightly embarrassed. “You get to marry Lord Azazel’s daughter, don’t you?”
“Yes,” he said tightly. “I do. I will arrive in three days to escort you to the court.”
He swept into a mocking bow and then exited out the open back door. And that reminded me.
I followed him to the top of the stairs and shouted down. “You’re going to pay for those doors you broke, buddy!”
“Yeah, good luck with that,” Beezle snorted from behind me, and I turned around. He had flown in while my back was turned and was in the process of pulling a clawful of cookies from the cookie jar. I wondered how much of my conversation with Nathaniel he had listened to. “You could just use the money that Azazel gave you to fix them. Nathaniel was here on Azazel’s business.”
“I don’t want to touch that money,” I said.
Beezle shrugged and shoved chocolate mint cookies in his beak. “I don’t see why not.”
“You know why not. It’s just a rope by any other name, and I will not be bound to Azazel’s plans any more than I already am.”
“You won’t be bound to his plans by using that money to fix your doors.”
“No, but I’ll feel indebted to him. And he wants that. He wants me to accept what he offers so that he can manipulate me into place like a chess piece. Lucifer does, too.”
“Yeah, well. REALLY good luck trying to extricate yourself from those two. They’ve been tying mortals in knots for ages untold.”
“Yes,” I said, rubbing my head. I felt a headache coming on. This day, like so many others of late, had exhausted me. I remembered with fondness a time when the most difficult part of my day was filling out forms in triplicate.
I wandered listlessly into the living room, thinking I could convince J.B. or Gabriel to spring for a pizza for all of us.
“So,” J.B. said as soon as I entered the room. “I hear you’ve got a big mission coming up.”
I glared at Gabriel. “What did you blab about that for?”
Gabriel looked surprised. “Because he is Amarantha’s son.”
“The court that I’m supposed to be going to.”
“Yup,” J.B. said.
“That’s your mom.”
“Yup.”
“Do you think you might have mentioned sooner that you were a faerie prince?” I said, annoyed.
“Do you think you might have mentioned sooner that you were the daughter of one of the fallen?” he retorted.
“I didn’t f
ind out until . . . Never mind,” I said, not wanting to get into a childish argument. “Whatever. So, you’ve got an in with the court. You can help me negotiate with your mom, then.”
J.B. shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. I’m her heir, but she doesn’t really like me.”
“Wonderful,” I said. “Is there any useful information you can give me?”
“Yeah. Don’t go. The last emissary from the fallen was beheaded in front of the entire court.”
I stared at J.B., who looked completely serious. “You’re not fucking with me, are you?”
He shook his head. “The negotiator sent by Lucifer so offended the queen—”
“Your mom,” I interjected.
“—that she had him summarily executed in front of the assembled court. Upon review of the diplomat’s actions, Lucifer agreed that offense had been given and that the queen’s actions were correct. However, it’s taken almost a year for the queen to accept the possibility of a new negotiation. My mother tends to hold grudges.”
“I see. I’m so looking forward to this trip. Hey, wait a second,” I said. “When I told you that I was Azazel’s daughter, you acted like you knew nothing of the fallen.”
“Which is exactly what I was supposed to do until I had discussed the matter with the queen.”
“Why?”
Gabriel glanced at J.B. “Faerie courts are very tightly protected, even among supernatural beings. Faeries tend to be quite . . .”
“. . . rigid and unreasonable,” J.B. finished. “There is a certain order, a certain procedure, for everything.”
“So that’s why you’re such an anal stick in the mud when you’re at work,” I said.
He ignored my jibe and continued. “Contact with other species is strictly limited by clearance from the queen. I came into contact with you at work, but that did not mean that I could reveal to you what I knew about the fallen without telling you my own identity.”
“If your identity is such a big secret, then how come Nathaniel knew who you were?”
Black Night bw-2 Page 4