Page 14 of Princess of Bael

Kayla’s little sky trick.

“Youdid this?” I took a step toward her, and she boldly held her ground.

“Technically, Ashmedai did,” she replied. “He gave me the phone and said to use it when I was ready to talk to you. I didn’t know it was going to explode into a firework.”

“A firework?” I repeated, incredulous. “That wasn’t a bloody firework,Princess. That was a rift in the veil.”

“Yes, I know, but it looked like a firework.”

“You two can argue semantics later,” Mietek interjected before I could respond to Kayla’s ridiculous commentary.

A firework.

Un-fucking-believable.

“We need to focus on Johanna and Lucía,” Mietek continued. “They need to be guarded while Ezra and Kayla search for Kristina.”

“Still not agreeing to that plan,” Kayla reminded him, but Mietek wasn’t even paying attention to her. His focus had moved to Alastor.

And I really didn’t like the way he was looking at the Archdemon.

“Mietek,” I started.

He held up a hand. “No. I want to consider this. Alastor has an entire army of Royal Guards, not to mention a hefty front line of defense.”

“A compliment?” Alastor pressed his palm to his heart. “Do you hear that, sweetheart? The Archangel likes me.”

Lucía curled her lip in response—not in a friendly way, but in a display of disgust.

It didn’t seem to register to Alastor, though. His ego would require several lethal blows for it to begin to deflate. And even then, it’d probably only shrink an inch.

“Shall I take them both?” the Archdemon suggested.

“No,” I said at the same time as Azrael and Mietek.

“Why not?” Alastor asked. “Ezra had three.”

“As the Archangel of Justice,” I replied before focusing on Mietek. “How can you even consider trusting him?”

His ebony gaze met mine. “Fate trusts him.”

I started at that. “What?”

But he wasn’t looking at me anymore, his gaze having moved to Kayla before traveling back to Azrael. “Johanna will be returned to Bael. It’ll satisfy the broken vow between him and Ezra.”

I folded my arms, irritated. “I haven’t broken the vow.”

“No, but you will,” Mietek replied without looking at me. “And placing Johanna under Bael’s protection will ensure he doesn’t react.”

“I agree,” Azrael said with a decisive nod.

“Absolutely—”

Johanna stepped forward, her palm meeting my chest. “He’s right,” she murmured, her fingers curling into my shirt. “You’re going to need your strength to find Kristina, Ez. And for that, you need to be able to touch your mate.”

“Oh?” Kayla laughed a little without humor. “No. I’ve already said no. And no means no. Fuck no, actually. Because I amnotletting that asshole use me again. Now give me the damn blade, Alastor. A deal is a deal.”

“What blade?” I asked, distracted by that comment again. But as I caught the smirk dancing along Alastor’s lips, I realized I already knew. “No.” I couldn’t help the dismay and shock in my voice. “You promised a knife made of angel bone?”