Oh, the things you contemplate when you wield the magic wand of a god.
Anu's Light split into two beams and hit Star and Sever simultaneously. The glow became blinding, but it was just for a second. And then it winked out.
With the loss of the light, I returned fully to myself. I would have tossed the Scepter aside and ran to my husband, but it was the power source of Heaven. So I hurried to the Throne of God and set it back on its seat. As soon as Anu's Scepter was returned to the throne, it began to glow again.
Phew, I hadn't broken it.
I raced down the steps. “Sever! Star!”
The men closed in on me, Star having to beat at the human holding him to get down. Even then, the guy followed, trying to obey my order.
“Stand down,” I said to the robed man. “Go over there.” I waved him off.
The man left the Sanctuary, passing kneeling Angels without a glance.
And then I was enveloped in wings.
“You could have killed yourself,” Sever whispered as he buried his face in my hair. “Damn it, Seren.”
“It was the only thing I could think of to save you.” I paused and pulled back. “Actually, it wasn't. I didn't think at all. I was drawn here.”
“There is an antidote to Angel blood,” Star drawled from beyond Sever's wings. “And to Demon blood.”
Sever dropped his wings. “One lies in Heaven and the other in Hell. She never would have reached them in time to save us both.”
Star nodded. “Yes, quite right.” His stare shifted to the Scepter. “And then I would not have stood in the Sanctuary.”
“Out!” Sever suddenly thundered. “Everyone, get out!” His wings went wide, and he ushered us before him, kneeling Angels rushing to stand and get out of our way. “We cannot stay here. Especially not you, King Astaroth.”
“All right, I'm going,” Star said with one last look back.
And then the doors were closing, and the Seraphim stepped into place before them. Their sleeping comrades were propped against a wall. I went over to them and touched each one. A violet glow seeped from my fingers into them, uncrossing them—yet another of my Fey abilities. Released from my magic, they awoke and looked around themselves in confusion.
“Your friends will explain it to you,” I said and hurried back to my group. “Let's get out of here.”
“Hold on!” someone shouted.
I turned toward the doorway to find Gabriel striding in, wings lifted and eyes alight.
“Gabriel,” I said with a sigh.
“Your Majesty.” He bowed deeply to me.
“That feels significant.”
“It is.” He came to stand before me. “I felt it. All of Heaven felt you use Anu's Scepter.”
“Look, Gabriel, it was my only option to save Sever and Star. I—”
“I'm not condemning you for it,” Gabe cut me off.
“Then why are you staring at me like that?”
“No child of Anu,” he said. “No child of Anu can wield that scepter and only Angels can resist its pull. And yet you just used it like Anu himself.”
“Because I'm part Fey.” I shrugged. “It's a loophole.”
“Oh, no, Your Majesty. It is not.” Gabriel made an amazed sound. “To think that I played a part in bringing you here.” He shook his head. “It gives me great satisfaction and joy.”
