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I only felt a glimmer of Véa’s essence from the moment he landed, and it was all I felt. Not Mirobhail, Vanna, Friel or Aein. Not my sisters, Elira and Hana. Not the men they’d married.

Only the slightesthintof Véa.

He didn’t seem to notice that I was also carrying a crystal that held a projection of the souls, not the souls themselves. If I hadn’t raised the boy, I’d think there was remorse in his face as we cleared the distance between one another.

But there was just the slightest tilt at the corner of his lip. Mischief. He thought he was about to trick me. That he’d get what he wanted, and I’d leave empty handed.

In my peripheral, I scanned the others who came with him. All six of them. Gabriel, Michael, Selaphiel, Uriel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel. They stayed the same distance away from the two of us as my small army did.

Now, only a few feet apart, I said, “Did you get what you wanted, lad? Did it all work out as you hoped it would?”

“Just about.” He spun his palm around, showing me the crystal, dancing with golden and violet energy. “I hope this makes you feel as complete as I do.”

I contemplated arguing over the fact that the rest of my children, that the rest of my friends, weren’t inside that crystal. But for a moment, he could think I was a fool. If I argued now, I’d lose my opportunity.

And I was so close.

“Hm.” I clenched the crystal tighter around my palm until blood puddled around the rock. Flipping my hand over, allowing him to see it, I held his gaze but focused intently on the others behind him. We were toe to toe now, so close I could reach out and grab him. “I hope so too.”

“Well, it is what you’ve been looking for, isn’t it?” He wiggled his fingers. “Go on. Take it.”

It was a trap. If I touched that crystal, something awful would follow. I didn’t know what, but he was taunting me for nothing.

So I didn’t grab the crystal.

I grabbed his wrist.

And I lapsed.

His eyes narrowed upon the landing. “That wasn’t very nice.”

“Neither was lying.” I held his gaze, still clamping my fingers around his wrist. “What happens when I touch it?”

He gave a half laugh. Then he yanked away from my grasp.

He tried to lapse.

I knew because I saw his body vibrate for half a second. Now it was me who laughed.

He glared. “They’ll get me out of here.”

“No. They won’t.” Crossing my arms, I walked to the corner of the room and sat on the bed. It wasn’t a bed, really. Just a sheet of Elvan ore. As was the rest of this room, and every other in this building. Wall to ceiling purplish black, indestructible stone. Stone that dulled the abilities of an Angel, stones that killed them. I said all of that, laughing as I propped my elbows on my knees, ending with, “You’re fucked.”

“I won’t be in here for long.”

“You’ll be here until you tell me where they are.”

Another laugh.

Still so cocky.

“Go on.” I gestured to the door with no knob. “Hit it with all you’ve got, laddie. Get it down.”

He didn’t. He only glared at me for a moment. “You’ve gotta get out of here at some point.”

“Oh, I will. But you’re not getting out with me.” I smiled, leaning back on the bed. “Please, try. I wanna see it. I wanna see you fight with all you’ve got to get these wards down.”

Silence. Still, he glared.