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That there was one of the things Haziel liked about humans. They didn’t back down, and they didn’t give up, especially when it came to people they loved.
She’d give anything to have Ramiel speak to the others in this room about her like Dee had about Edme. Of course, she’d never done anything to warrant a spirited defense of herself, but the idea was enthralling.
“Your guardian status has been revoked.” Chris—and she really should remember his surname. She’d wager Raguel, Gabriel’s second, knew it well—curled up his lip in distaste. “You are no longer under our protection.”
“She doesn’t need your puny protection.” Wrath pounded one gigantic fist against his chest. “She has mine.”
Well, judging by the breadth and depth of that chest on Wrath, Haziel had no trouble believing that would be more than adequate protection for any being. Another tiny shiver snaked down her spine. So inappropriate.
Shade looked up with death in his gray eyes at Chris. “And mine.”
“And mine.” Sophia raised her hand. “I like Eddie, and I like Dee, and if you guardians hadn’t come charging in here like your asses were on fire, we might have had a chance to deal with this before it became critical.”
Chris yelled, “What?”
“Sophia does not stutter.” Michael broke his silence and yelled back. “And she speaks for me as well.”
And the entire room disintegrated into chaos for about the four hundredth time. Dee was right. They did a lot of talking and not a lot of doing.
“Haziel?” Ramiel’s soothing voice reached her through the hubbub. His warm breath caressed her ear and made her skin prickle. “I need you.”
But not in the way I want you to. Still, she leaned closer and caught his unique citrus and bergamot scent. “I am here, Ramiel.” In any way you need.
“Wrath is unpredictable.” He scoffed. “More unpredictable than usual.”
“He certainly does seem overly upset.” Haziel let her gaze linger on Wrath. It was like looking at an unrefined version of her archangel. Ramiel had the same power and physical presence, but his didn’t pound against you like a gigantic wave against a rock. No, Ramiel was polished, and sophisticated. Elegant.
“I believe he is going to try to find his get,” Ramiel murmured. “I would follow him myself, but I am needed here to deal with the seal crisis.”
Haziel was so lost in the way Ramiel’s lips caressed the syllables of his words that it took a moment for their meaning to catch up with her. “You want me to follow him?”
Please, please, please let that not be what Ramiel wanted.
“Dear Haziel.” He turned his gaze to her and smiled, and it was like the dawn breaking over the sea. “You always know exactly what I need. What would I do without you?”
Follow Wrath himself? Haziel’s stomach twisted as she eyed the big hell prince. And she had to admit Ramiel was not far off in his assessment of the situation.
Wrath’s blue eyes had gone flint hard, rivaled only by the impregnable set of his jaw. His huge hands were fisted by his sides, veins popping along his forearm.
“His power was bound by that demon of Lucifer’s,” Ramiel murmured. “He shouldn’t give you any trouble.”
Ashe must have bound Wrath when he took Eddie, and Haziel had not known that. She studied Wrath more carefully. For a being with his power bound, Wrath didn’t look one iota less intimidating. It was probably the tremendous scowl creasing his rugged features. He might be quite handsome if he didn’t always look so irritable. Not that Haziel would take her existence into her hands and tell him so. Then something more important occurred to her. “How will he get his daughter back if he has no power?”
“Now you comprehend why it’s doubly important that one of us keep an eye on him.” Ramiel flashed her another of his rare smiles, and Haziel wanted to bask in its glory.
“We believe you should reconsider your stance on Deandra.” Gabriel nodded to Raguel, and he passed a tablet to her. “According to the treaty,” Gabriel read, although Haziel was certain Gabriel had no need to read the treaty, she probably had the entire thing memorized chapter and verse. A little angelic humor never went amiss. Someone should tell Wrath that, and perhaps he wouldn’t scowl quite so much. “The hell gate must have an active guardian at all times.” Gabriel handed the tablet back to Raguel.
Haziel liked Raguel. They’d spent many hours keeping each other company whilst their respective archangels did whatever they did. Raguel had a great sense of humor and a near godlike ability not to get irritated by Gabriel. He also did a wickedly accurate imitation of Michael.
“The hell gate will have an active guardian,” Chris snapped. “One is expected here imminently.”
There was another one that needed to grow a sense of humor.
“What?” Dee gaped at him. “You can’t just send someone into my home.”
“This is a hell gate.” Chris glared at her.
“But first it was my home,” Dee scowled right back. “This theatre has been in my family for generations. Long before the hell gate was established here, and you can’t march some stranger in here and expect me to house him.”
