He swallowed roughly, smoothed the lapels of his impeccable suit, and bowed to me. “I'll just step aside for the Angels.” Under his breath, he added, “As I always seem to do.” And walked away.
I watched Astaroth leave the dais and join his Demons over to the left. The woman who'd been glaring at me made a beeline for him, her long nails digging into his arm like a bird of prey when she finally reached him. Despite her death grip, she smiled serenely up at him.
Star looked at me.
Fuck.
“Your Majesties,” Gabriel tore my attention away from the King of Hell.
“What the fuck do you think you're doing, Gabriel?” Sever demanded.
My father's eyes went wide.
The rest of us weren't surprised. Killian even chuckled.
“We are here by invitation of the Twilight King to rejoice in the birth of our Queen,” Gabriel said firmly, ushering the other representatives up onto the dais. “Anu has spoken. You have renounced the throne, and he has chosen your daughter to replace you. His choice was felt across the face of Heaven. Do you deny it?”
Sever stood.
Gabriel held his ground.
Sever unfolded his wings.
The other Angels stepped back, but Gabe lifted his chin.
“I don't deny the fact that Anu chose my daughter to rule,” Sever's voice took on the deep, authoritative tones of the Metatron. “But hear me, Host of Heaven! It will beherchoice!Not mine, not yours, and certainly not Anu's! My daughter will be raised here, with her family, surrounded by love, but given the knowledge she will need, if she so chooses to accept what Anu has offered.”
“And what if she doesn't?” Gabriel demanded.
“Then you will go on as you are.”
“As her father, it is your duty to assign a representative for her until she comes of age.”
“No, it is not.”
“I'm sorry, but it is. Since you were the last king, leaving the throne without an heir, and Anu has not chosen a representative, it is up to you.” Gabriel's shoulders fell. “Please, Severriel. You once said you wouldn't allow your daughter to go through training to be queen only to be rejected by Anu. But that is not the case anymore. Anu has already accepted her. He has blessed her and crowned her Queen of Heaven. In all our history, that has never been done. She is special.”
Sever stared at Gabriel long enough to make the Archangel nervous. Gabriel shifted from one golden-booted foot to another.
Then Henry, who was hiding among my children, came forward. “You must choose, Metatron. If not for Heaven, then for Queen Mirielle.”
Sever sighed and looked down at our daughter, cradled in my arms. As if she knew the importance of the moment, Mirielle lifted an arm and gurgled at her daddy.
“Well, fudge,” Sever whispered.
I snorted a laugh. “Well done in using an acceptable F word, my love. I know how hard that is to do with Gabriel around.”
Gabriel grimaced at me. But Sever laughed, and that was what I'd been going for. Even Gabe seemed grateful when that happened. He looked at Sever hopefully.
“I will choose an interim ruler,” Sever said.
The Angels breathed a sigh of relief, the motion flowing down the line of them that extended off the dais.
“Afterthe feast,” Sever added. “Now, you may greet your Queen, but do not ruin this night for me with talk of Anu, Gabriel.” He lifted his voice to say, “You are guests in this realm. Danu's realm. You will respect the Goddess and her children while you are here, or I will boot you out myself.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the Angels said as one.
“I am not the King of Heaven!” Sever's voice echoed through the hall.
