Page 12 of Princess of Bael

His lips merely curled in response.

Only for a sigh to escape him instead of words as the air around us rippled with heavenly authority.

Azrael and Mietek appeared on either side of Alastor.

Followed by Raziel and Dariel.

And anchored by Zebulon.

The latter wasn’t an Archangel but a Demonic Lord. Specifically, the Demonic Lord of North America. He’d likely felt the influx of power in this region, thus drawing him out of his Chicago headquarters to our very location.

He took a glance at the crowd, his dark irises swirling with knowledge, and bowed his head slightly in the respect due to his superiors. Demonic Lords were powerful, sitting at the top of the hierarchy—just under Archdemons. Making Alastor his leader in this situation.

And what a leader Alastor made with his tricks and games.

“Stand down, Ezra,” Mietek said, sounding tired.

My blade still touched Alastor’s neck, my intent clear and deadly.

Technically, I didn’t have to bow to Mietek. He was the Archangel of Chaos, but his powers appeared to be waning of late. Perhaps because his son, Xai, was absorbing them.

Which shouldn’t be possible at all.

Archangels didn’t lose power; theygainedpower.

Unless, of course, they bonded a Halfling heiress demon and spent four decades away from her.

But Mietek was bonded to the Archangel of Destiny, something that should make him stronger, not weaker.

Is that the imbalance I sense?I wondered, taking in the crowd of Archangels, my lips turning down as I slowly lowered my sword.No. Not that’s not it at all. Something else is very wrong.

I focused on Azrael and Mietek, deciding to jump straight to the point. “Did you all feel the rift?” I asked, gesturing to the now sealed sky. “Is that what drew you here?”

“Oh, no, they’re just following me,” Alastor replied, his body far too close to Lucía for my liking. She could handle herself and put up one hell of a fight, but it was my responsibility to protect her. And it didn’t feel like she was all that protected at the moment.

“Alastor decided to enjoy himself in Fargo, of all places, then teleported in the middle of our conversation,” Mietek explained, his tone indicating how much he did not appreciate Alastor’s antics.

The Archdemon merely smiled, saying, “I was bored.”

“And what drew you here?” I asked, frowning.

“Me,” Kayla replied. “I sent him a text.”

I blinked. “A text?”

“Via a phone.” She glanced at Alastor. “Felt appropriate.”

The Archdemon’s devilish grin turned adoring as he studied her. “I’ve always enjoyed your wit, darling. And I do feel I owe you an apology for underestimating you.”

“I’ll accept payment as an apology.” She held out her hand, but Mietek cleared his throat, drawing Alastor’s attention to him before he could respond.

“This is a very serious breach,” Mietek informed us, stating the obvious. “The Divinity maintains the balance, which we all know is shifting. Where’s Kristina?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “A Tracker and a Portal Dweller took her after bespelling us with some sort of paralyzing agent.”

“A venom bomb,” Kayla muttered. “Fucking Slithers.”

“That wouldn’t have impacted you,” Alastor said, focusing on the cuff glowing against her wrist. “Right?”