“Oh, of course. Well, next time, please feel free to consult with me. I’m so tired of Uriel saying I’m worthless on the Council because I won’t side with him in his position that it’s time for a change in Hell. The leadership vote is coming, and it’s been said that Uriel’s position is in jeopardy because he isn’t handling this dust-up with the fallen properly. I’m perfectly approachable.”
“Yes, I’ll begin telling people the good news as soon I get inside.”
“Sure. Thank you, Scott.” Gabriel stepped aside, and I hurried through the gate.
I meandered through the crowd, trying to blend in until I ran into one of the cherubs I knew with a penchant for spreading gossip. I mean, where there’s smoke... “Hey Chasan. How’s it going up here? Anything new on the grapevine?”
“I heard something about you just the other day. Is it true your demon got himself elevated to a prince of Hell to get away from you?” The cherub seemed to delight in saying something so vile to me. I could see he was baiting me, so I took a deep breath to calm my nerves.
“It is true that Jay invoked the powers of Hell to interrogate a warlock. It had nothing to do with getting away from me.”There, you brat!
“Is it true you killed Nakir for being in Limbo with a lesser demon? Uriel has been on a rampage since his assistant disappeared. There were insinuations that Nakir was physically involved with the demon, and you killed both.”
That was interesting. When Jay and I left little Nakir, he was heading back up to the Celestial Realm. Had something happened to them?
“When was the last time you saw Nakir?”
Chasan studied me for a moment. “The appearance of the full moon on Earth. I was running an errand for Remiel. He likes these cookies from a shop in Brooklyn. I go get them for him on the eve of the full moon.”
Remiel was one of the Archs who sat on the Council with Uriel. It wasn’t a problem for them to have a cherub run an errand, but it happened three days after we had our talk with Nakir in Limbo, which could support our claim that we didn’t kill him.
“When did Uriel say Nakir was dead? How did he find out?” This was becoming more intriguing by the minute.
“A few cycles later, Uriel announced Nakir was missing and presumed dead. Why?” Chasan was glaring behind me, so I turned to see Uriel coming our way with two Celestial guards.
“That’s him. Arrest him.”
I glanced at Chasan and nudged my head for him to get away, my plan being to stall them enough for the cherub to get to Remiel. He would protect Chasen until we could figure out what was going on.
What I didn’t expect was for the bindings to be put onmywrists.
Chapter Nine
Jay
“What kind of a deal?” I would gladly make any deal necessary to get me back to Scotty.
Lucifer chuckled. “You’re very full of yourself, aren’t you? Be very careful when you make your choice.”
I bowed my head again. “I apologize. I’m interested in what kind of deal you’d want to make. I already made one deal to be your valet in a hundred years. I can’t imagine what other joy you want toripfrom my life.”
“What’s wrong with him?” Lucifer asked Beelz.
“Lost his white lighter. They were a bonded and balanced pair, remember?”
Lucifer stepped closer and touched my chin, bringing my eyes to meet his. “Your mate left you?”
I sighed. “Not willingly. With my becoming a prince of Hell, we’re no longer balanced. I have more powers than him.”
“And that bothers you why? Most would be appreciative to have the opportunity to join my family, but you don’t seem happy about it at all. Tell me, Jay, what were you doing that caused you to call upon the powers of Hell?” Lucifer’s attitude was challenging, but I wasn’t intimidated. I had absolutely nothing to lose.
“I was trying to question a warlock. His powers were bound by a holy man in the Human Realm but have since been returned to him.”
Then something occurred to me. “De Vil claims you fathered a demon with Apate. He said you didn’t mean to impregnate her and refused to claim Vagar as a son. He said it was why, when I called on the powers, I became a prince. Was I able to take Vagar’s place as your son?”
“Ah, I see. Well, your warlock was a liar. I don’t accidentally impregnate anyone. Where did he hear this defamatory allegation?”
“You’d have to ask him. He’s with Lycus and Cerberus.” My gaze met the fiery flames in Lucifer’s eyes, not flinching or looking away. Hopefully, he’d get to the bottom of it since I’d failed.
