Maalik's expression shifts.
“Simone,” he repeats, his eyes narrowed.
“Yes.” I spread my hands in surrender to whatever mercy he has. “Please.”
I sense the archangel's arrival before I see Saraqael's golden armor glinting with a radiance that seems to come from within rather than without.
“Asmodai.” The way he says my name might have been mistaken for a greeting… by anyone who doesn't attend Council meetings. No, it's a threat. The Fallen and half-bloods here are currently under his protection.
“I came for Daniel,” I say again, trying hard to find a remaining scrap of patience but failing.
A smaller figure ducks around the archangel's tall frame with absolutely no reverence whatsoever.
“Holy shit,is that an archdemon?” The Nephalem, short and blonde and visibly thrumming with nervous energy, stops himself, gazing at me with enormous eyes. “You'reliterallyAsmodeus.”
“Mike,” Saraqael says, the single word a warning.
“Right, yes,focusing,” Mike says, grinning irreverently. “Can I just say that you are smoking?—”
“No,” Saraqael and Maalik say together.
I would find this funny on any other night of my existence.
Daniel appears at the far end of the corridor, walking toward uswith soft but hurried steps. His gray robes are plain, his pale eyes worried.
“Asmodai,” he says simply. “What's wrong?”
“Daniel—” My voice cracks, the desperation I've been holding back rendering me mute.
Daniel gives me a pitying glance that would normally infuriate me.
“Simone,” he says simply, guessing what the only thing that could bring me to my knees is—Simone and our baby.
“She's bleeding. She's frightened. She asked for you by name.” I pause for a breath. “Will you come?”
Daniel doesn't hesitate. “Of course.”
Maalik steps forward, one large hand coming down on Daniel's shoulder. “You're not going into an archdemon's abode alone.”
“He won't be alone,” Saraqael says.
We all turn to look at him.
The archangel's golden gaze is unreadable. “I will accompany him.”
Maalik lets out a sound that isn't quite a word. Several of the soldiers take a step back like they've heard it before and know it's not followed by anything pleasant.
“An archdemon's child is a rare thing,” Saraqael continues, his voice carrying the unarguable quality of someone who has never once had to raise it. “Rarer still when the mother is mortal. We will likely need every form of aid available if this pregnancy is compromised.” His eyes don't leave mine. “I presume you have no objection.”
I would object to a great many things about Saraqael's presence in my home on any other night. Tonight, I'm grateful enough to choke on it.
“None,” I say.
Mike raises his hand.
“No,Michael,” Saraqael says, exasperated.
“But I want to help,” the young man whines. “There has to be something I can do? Lana really cares about Simone.”
