“Why is that?” I asked.
“Haven’t you ever wondered why Focalor looks like a demon even though he’s fallen?”
“Well, yeah,” I admitted. “I have wondered.”
“That was his punishment for defying Lucifer the last time.”
“What were they arguing about?”
“Focalor wanted to go home,” Beezle said, pointing a claw skyward. “He was gathering a contingent of fallen to ask for forgiveness.”
“Why didn’t Lucifer just let them go?”
Beezle snorted. “And take half his base of power with them? Lucifer had just established his own kingdom. No one was allowed to have second thoughts.”
“So Focalor has a lot of reasons to resent Lucifer,” I said thoughtfully. “And not only are the wolves friends to me, but they were negotiating with Lucifer again.”
I glanced at Jude, who was silently leading us through the woods. Maybe he was right. Maybe all the wolves’ troubles were Lucifer’s fault. And mine.
We entered the clearing that was the site of the kidnapping that had started this whole mess. Jude called a halt, and I repeated the order to the cubs. They stopped in their tracks wherever they were, frozen in a long, ragged line.
“I’ll take the cubs myself from here,” Jude said.
“How?” I asked. “They won’t listen to you.”
“I am not going to take three of Lucifer’s grandchildren into the place where I have hidden the pack,” Jude growled.
“Well, you’re going to have to take me, or you’ll never get them home.”
It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Jude would have happily ditched me, but even a stubborn wolf must acknowledge the inevitable.
“Fine, but just you. No gargoyle, no entourage.”
“No,” Gabriel said in that I-am-an-immovable-object way that he has. “How do we know you will not harm Madeline once she is outnumbered by your pack?”
“And what worth is your word when you have taken every opportunity to show just how much you despise Madeline?” Nathaniel challenged.
“Are you questioning my honor?” Jude asked, visibly bristling.
“Enough!” I shouted, rubbing my eyes. “Gods above and below. I know too many men. I need to get some girlfriends.”
Beezle snorted. “Yeah. I can totally see you drinking cosmos and talking shoes with a bunch of chicks.”
Okay. So maybe that was absurd. But the fact remained that there was far too much testosterone in my life.
“I am going to go with Jude and bring back the cubs. You,” I said, pointing to Nathaniel, “are going to go back to Azazel’s court.”
Nathaniel looked mutinous. “I would be remiss in my duties as your fiancé if I let you go alone.”
“You are no longer my fiancé,” I reminded him.
“Azazel has not publicly revoked the engagement,” he said stubbornly.
My anger broke. I was tired and pushed to the limit and in no mood to deal with Nathaniel.
“I have told you that I will not marry you, and you know the reason why. Don’t make me go into details in front of everyone here, because it will hardly present you in a good light.
“I am not a toy to be manipulated by Azazel. It is not his word that matters in this case, but mine.”
As I spoke I became aware that the clearing had filled with light, and that it was coming from me. But I was too angry to care.
“Now, you may not be my fiancé, but you are a member of my father’s court. As such, it would be politic for you to go the hell home when I say so,” I said.
I could feel a headache building behind my eyes, the pressure of the unreleased magical energy that was burning through me in concert with my temper.
Nathaniel pressed his lips together. “Yes, my lady.”
He turned stiffly away, opened a portal and stepped into it without another word. We all watched silently as it closed behind him.
A very small part of me knew that I had behaved badly, that Nathaniel had helped us rescue the cubs, and that he deserved better than to be berated by me in front of everyone. The larger part of me was just mad, and tired of being crossed at every turn by some fractious male who thought he knew better than me.
I turned on Gabriel and Samiel. Samiel’s eyes were the size of saucers. He’d never seen me in 100 percent full-on Morningstar mode before. Even when I’d opened the portal with Lucifer’s power it had been tempered by my own powers and inclinations.
My eyes didn’t always blaze with light, as I’m certain they were doing just then. Ever since I’d been marked by Lucifer’s sword this happened occasionally. “Lucifer” does mean “shining one,” after all.
“As for you two,” I said, pointing at the half brothers. “I want you to go home as well.”
“I will not allow you to go into harm alone,” Gabriel said.
“Yes, you will. Jude gave his word, and I trust him. He doesn’t want all of us there, and I don’t trust you not to follow me. So you and Samiel and Beezle are portaling it home before Jude and I take another step.”
“Why do I have to miss all the fun?” Beezle complained.
“Because I need you to make sure these two go home and stay home,” I said.
“If my lady orders it, then it shall be done,” Gabriel said angrily. There were meteors shooting across his black eyes, a sure sign that his own temper was rising.