It went utterly silent.
Then Shazy said, “Sheesh, Uncle Sever. We get it. You don't have to shout.”
Astaroth started laughing first, then Sever joined him, and with that, the rest of the assemblage felt confident enough to enjoy a little levity as well. Soon, we were all laughing, even Miri.
“You're right, Shazy,” Sever said. “I shouldn't have to shout. Especially not tonight. I'm sorry.”
“It's all right, Uncle Sever,” Shazy said loftily. “Uncle Gabe was being impertinent.”
Impertinent was one of Shahzy's favorite words. Guess how she had learned it.
It cheered Sever further. He smirked at Gabe as he said, “Yes, he was being impertinent.”
Gabriel held his hands up in surrender. “I'm sorry I was so insistent. It was only an entire planet in jeopardy.”
“Stop being so melodramatic,” Sever huffed and sat back down. “Heaven is at peace for the first time and it's thanks to my wife. It's doing better without me than it ever has under my rule.”
Gabriel softened instantly. “That's not true, Your Highness. You've done great things for Heaven. You've been a kind and powerful ruler.”
“And I've done it for far too long, Gabriel.” Sever waved at our daughter. “Greet your Queen and move on.”
Gabe sighed, then bowed to Mirielle. “I vow fealty to Queen Mirielle of Heaven, the Metatron.” He took her little hand and kissed it.
Before he could let go, my daughter gripped him back and set her amethyst stare on him. Gabe blinked, then his jaw fell open.
“What's happening?” I whispered.
“She . . .” Gabe took a shaky breath, then stood. “She blessed me.” He turned to look at the other Angels and said it again, with joy, “Our Queen has blessed me!”
The Angels cheered.
I looked at Sever.
“God damn it,” Sever muttered.
Chapter Five
“She's a baby,” I whispered to Sever an hour or so later when we were seated at the high table in the dining hall, eating at last. “How can she bless anyone? Don't you have to be—I don't know—more aware?”
Sever looked as if he'd swallowed a bug. “All things are possible with God.”
I rolled my eyes. “So, Danu was kind enough to let her brother through, and Anu exploited her kindness to not only bless our daughter but also give her the ability to bless othersandcrown her Queen of Heaven.”
“It would seem so.” He looked down at Miri, who he was now holding, and kissed her forehead. “I have failed you, little girl. I'm so sorry.”
“Hey!” I laid a hand on his forearm. “You haven't failed her. This is her destiny. She can't avoid that. But you have given her a choice. You've ensured that she has the option to walk away. That's more than a lot of people get. And together, we will raise her to be strong enough to do whatever she chooses.”
Sever's expression went tender. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Then I grimaced and added, “It's Anu who I'm not too happy with.”
Sever snorted a laugh. “It's about time you see him as I do.”
“And it's about time that fucker has moved on,” Daxon muttered.
“Huh?” I looked over at Dax. “Who are you . . .” I trailed off as I followed his stare to Star, who was seated at a table of honor on our right.
He had that woman sitting beside him, onhisright. And he was leaning in to hear what she was saying, a soft smile on his lips. Something lanced through my chest to see it. I was self-aware enough to recognize it as jealousy. I was also wise enough to know how stupid it was for me to feel that way.
