Page 108 of Princess of Bael

My wings spread from my back, the action a result of my need to remind this minion from Hell of my status in this world. His gaze returned to me as I hoisted myself up in the air to go have a better look at the map.

“Show-off,” Kayla muttered in my wake.

“If you want to join me, all you have to do is ask,” I called back to her.

“And now he reminds me of you,” Trudy interjected.

“Ah, but my feathers are softer and brighter,” Ashmedai returned in that perpetually amused voice of his.

“That’s not at all what I meant, and you know it.” The Nephilim’s tone lacked complete fear, something that caused me to glance down at her in wonder. She stood facing off with the Archdemon as though he were a minion, not a being of incredible power.

The female was either suicidal or dangerously stupid. Perhaps a mixture of both.

I ignored the pair in favor of the map, reviewing the highlighted areas through the realms. Ashmedai had said these were potential targets, but he hadn’t stated exactly what or who he thought might attack them.

I voiced the question, and he responded by joining me toward the top where someone had drawn a rather accurate depiction of Heaven’s lands.

“Do you think it’s the being who took Kristina’s power?” I asked him, my voice softer since he floated beside me now.

“Not a being, but a movement.” His striking violet gaze met mine. “Whoever is doing this has several players on the board. We know of a few because of what happened to Evangeline, but there are more. It’s also become quite clear that there are numerous Nephilim in the Earth realm that have not been accounted for over the decades.”

I frowned. “Isn’t that the purpose of the Genesis, or Dark Provenance, or whatever they call themselves now?”

“Dark Provenance.” Some of the amusement left his tone, but he didn’t elaborate on why. “And yes, that’s their primary purpose. But our research over the last few years indicates that many Nephilim have gone unnoticed.” He gestured to the brunette below. “Trudy is a prime example. Evangeline found her as a child in a demon trafficking scheme run by Kalida.”

I’d heard something about that. It was what had led to the last disruption in the balance and a tear in the veil. Xai and Evangeline had handled it with several others, Ashmedai included.

Actually, Ashmedai had been involved in a lot of events as of late.

Which had me taking another deep look at him and that unnatural blue glow shimmering against his feathers. “You’ve grown even more powerful.” Something that made Zebulon’s recent growth not as big a deal as he’d suggested when speaking with Kayla before transporting us here.

“As have you,” he returned, his arms folding. “I’m not the one you need to be examining.”

“Then who should I be examining?”

“Telling you that would only lead to more questions.”

I cocked a brow. “So you have an inkling of who is involved.”

“A very strong suspicion.” His expression and voice suggested it was more than a strong suspicion—it was a very real conclusion.

“And you’re not willing to share this information?” I pressed.

“I will once I prove it.”

“Or you could tell me and we could prove it together,” I suggested.

His gaze turned solemn. “I wish it were that simple, Ezra.”

“Don’t bother,” Trudy called up to us. “He won’t play his cards yet no matter how hard you try.”

Ashmedai glanced down at her in amusement. “Eavesdropping again, little warrior?”

She batted her hazel eyes up at him. “Always, Prince Hellspawn.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Careful, sweetling. You know what happens when you provoke me.”

Thelittle warriorappeared entirely unbothered by the lingering threat in his statement and merely yawned in response.