“Henry? That's why you opened a door to Heaven?” I bounced her to try to lighten her mood.
She nodded. “I was mad at you and Daddy. I wanted Henry.”
“You haven't seen Henry in a while. Do you miss him?”
“I dream about him.”
“Oh.” I glanced at Sever, who scowled back at me. “I can ask Henry to visit more often. I'm sure he'll like that.”
“Okay.”
“But you can't throw your magic around like that anymore. It's dangerous.”
Miri just shrugged.
“Your Majesty, please.” Gabriel motioned at her. “This isn't just about your daughter. It concerns the safety of all our worlds.”
“My daughter isn't going to hurt any of the worlds!” Sever snarled.
The Angels muttered.
Gabriel waved them down. “She may, without meaning to. Look at what she did to me. She thought it was funny.”
“Because she's a child,” I said. “She didn't mean any harm.”
“That's exactly what I'm saying, Queen Seren. She won't mean any harm, but she is capable of causing it. She's very capable. Please, I have brought eleven Virtues with me. They can gently contain her resonance, with me guiding the seal so that I alone will hold the key to releasing it. You can trust me with this.”
I looked at Sever.
“Damn it all,” Sever muttered.
I stepped into the center of the Angels. “Do it.”
“Mama?” Miri asked.
“This is just to protect you, baby girl. Don't worry. You're not in trouble, and it's not going to hurt. Then we can go home.”
“Okay.”
The Angels reformed their circle. They lifted their hands.
“Wait!” Sever shouted and grabbed Gabriel to pull him out of the circle. “If we're doing this,Iwill lead the spell. Not you. I will hold her leash.”
Gabriel inclined his head. “Of course, Your Highness. I wasn't trying to gain power over your daughter.”
I lifted an eyebrow at Sever.
“This way, I can release the hold when we feel that she's ready,” Sever explained.
I let out a relieved breath. “I like that better.”
“All right. You follow me.” Sever looked around the ring of Angels.
When they all inclined their heads to their old king, Sever met my gaze, nodded, and then lifted his hands. His stare shifted to Miri, and he smiled at her. “This will be very quick, Miri. Don't be scared. I'm in charge now, and I won't let anything bad happen to you.”
Miri nodded, her expression calm and trusting. “Okay, Daddy.”
A soft glow emanated from twenty-four Angel palms. The light magnified and condensed into streams that arched over my head. When the streams met, they merged into one that shot down, straight into Miri. I tensed.
