Page 135 of Princess of Bael

“The initial trigger caused it to fall from her wrist. When she fastened it once more, the negative pull began.” Raphaela’s irises were still thin as she reopened her eyes, her pupils black pools of vacant energy. “Who gave her that cuff?”

My jaw clenched. “The Head of her Royal Guard.”

Mietek’s dark brow met his hairline. “I think you should have a word with him.”

“I will.” But I also wasn’t discounting the possibility that someone here altered that cuff.

While the portal might have been open on Earth, it had reached both realms, suggesting there could have been someone on either side of it functioning as a proxy to anchor the magic.

In theory, that should have been required.

However, nothing was working as expected.

“You saw Johanna and Bael through the portal?” I asked, uncertain of all the events that had occurred here.

Mietek nodded, then quickly brought me up to speed about the influx of demons from Bael’s realm that had spilled into the heavens. Apparently, Xai had handled the majority of the Vultures—a fact that didn’t surprise me—and he’d ordered everyone to take sentry shifts in three-hour intervals to keep watch while the ancients recovered.

Pride colored Mietek’s tones, and it was an emotion brightening Fate’s features as well. Her opal feathers seemed to shimmer in response, but that was probably just the lighting.

“How’s Evangeline?” I asked.

“Awake,” Raphaela confirmed softly. “She’s going to be fine.”

“Good.”

“Did you handle the shadow creature on Earth?” Mietek asked.

Normally, I would give him a look and the retort that kind of inquiry deserved. But given what I’d told him about the cuff and the impact on Kayla’s powers, it seemed a fair question to voice. “Yes.”

He dipped his chin. “And the four with the cuffs?”

“Disappeared without a trace. I was only able to track them because they used Kristina’s gifts,” I explained. “Which means I’ll be able to do it again when they make their next move.” Zerak’s warning seemed to suggest that would be within the next twenty-four Heaven hours or so.

I ran my palm over my face.

There was only one move for us to make.

“We’ll talk to Yaz.” If he wasn’t the one who’d tainted the cuff, then he would have no problem telling Kayla and me who’d made it so we could question that individual.

Or perhaps we would play it from a different angle, monitor his movements, and see whom he spoke to.

He’d been on his way to warn Bael about the Dark Provenance being otherwise engaged.

Interesting timing, considering the portal had opened mere minutes after he’d left.

It also seemed rather beneficial on his part to be privy to all the discussions between Zebulon and Ashmedai, under the guise of reporting to Bael.

Perhaps I would check the accuracy of that account with Bael first and go from there.

Regardless, it gave us a lead to—

A jolt sliced through my heart, nearly buckling my knees as it stole the air from my lungs.

“Ezra?” Raphaela said, her voice sounding distant in my ears as the world began to spin around me.

Something was wrong.

An imbalance.