‘‘Cecile?’’ I asked somewhat woozily as my vision returned.

Everyone stood in the same positions as the last time I had seen them, Aisling leaning on Drake, Jim sitting at her feet (with a digital camera), Nora the Guardian, and behind me . . .

‘‘Magoth has given me five minutes, which I think should just about be enough time to kiss the living fire right out of you,’’ I told Gabriel.

His dimples flashed as he held his arms open. I didn’t hesitate, just threw myself on him, my soul singing as his warmth and scent and presence sank into me. ‘‘It’ll take a lifetime for that to happen, little bird. But before you have your wanton way with me, there is something I must first tell you.’’

‘‘Perhaps we should give them a little privacy,’’ Nora murmured behind me.

‘‘We’ll be in the sitting room if you need us,’’ Aisling said.

‘‘I want to stay. Look, Gabriel’s got his hands on her butt, and it looks like May is going to—ow! I’m calling the demon-abuse hotline!’’

Jim’s voice faded as Aisling hauled the demon out with her.

Gabriel’s bright eyes flickered away from me for a moment. ‘‘This won’t take long,’’ he told Drake, who had paused after ushering Aisling and her demon out.

One of Drake’s eyebrows quirked upward, but he said nothing, just bowed to me and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

‘‘Much as I would love to argue with you that it will, in fact, take a long, long time, I suspect you aren’t talking about lovemaking. Not to mention the fact that Magoth would end up summoning me back before we could do much of anything.’’ I slid my hands over the soft black linen shirt Gabriel wore. Although most dragons wore clothing that reflected the color of their septs, Gabriel dressed just as often in black as he did in silver and gray, something I took as a nod to the origins of the silver dragon sept.

A speculative glint lightened Gabriel’s eyes. He cast a quick glance to the side, where a long chaise held sway in the corner of the room, but sanity quickly returned to him. His chest rose beneath my hands as he gave a heavy sigh. ‘‘I’m quick, but not that quick. A mutual seduction will have to wait until we have more time, Mayling.’’

‘‘Agreed, although you know how fast you can make me . . . No, you’re right, we’ll wait. It’ll be better if we aren’t rushed. What was that little look to Drake all about? And how did you get Nora to summon me? I’m not a demon.’’

‘‘No, but you are a minion, and as such can be summoned just as easily as a demon. Mayling, I have missed you.’’

His lips were warm against mine as he spoke. My entire body answered the unspoken desire in his eyes. ‘‘I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve missed you, although I don’t have time to. Magoth will be sure to recall me in’’—I consulted my watch—‘‘four and a half minutes. Oh, to hell with it. It’s been a long, long six weeks . . .’’

His fingers dug into my hips as he hoisted me up so he could kiss me without bending down. I wrapped my legs around him, twining my tongue around his as he swept into my mouth.

‘‘Fire, please,’’ I whispered, giving his lower lip a quick nip to remind him just how much I loved the feeling of sharing his dragon fire.

‘‘Such a demanding little bird,’’ he chuckled, then groaned when I swept my hands under his shirt, around his ribs, stroking the lovely long lines of muscle in his back. He gave me what I wanted, his fire spilling from him to me as he kissed me with a yearning that echoed deep within me.

I gave in to the passion that swept me up in its fiery grip, emotion that was joined by joy, sorrow, and the fear that despite the fact that we were fated to be together, there might not be a way to overcome that which separated us.

‘‘I told you when you left me that I do not give up what is mine, and you, my raven-haired mate, are most definitely mine.’’ Gabriel’s words were as soft as the whisper of his beard against my jaw as he kissed a burning line over to my ear.

‘‘I didn’t leave you,’’ I pointed out, moaning just a little when he hit a spot that made me shiver in his arms. I turned my attention to nibbling his neck, pushing aside the soft dreadlocks to suck his earlobe, something I knew drove him wild. ‘‘I sacrificed myself for your happiness.’’

Gabriel stopped kissing the shivery spot and pulled back just enough to give me a chastising look.

‘‘Oh, all right,’’ I told the look, kissing the one eyebrow that had risen in question. ‘‘I didn’t sacrifice myself per se, I simply did what I had to do in order to buy us a little time. I take it that since you had Aisling’s friend summon me, it means that you found a way to get me out of Abaddon?’’

‘‘In a manner of speaking.’’ He kissed me again, then reluctantly let me slide down his body until I was on my feet again. ‘‘I’ve had everyone working on the situation with you and Magoth. Through Aisling’s auspices, I’ve consulted the Guardians’ Guild, a number of oracles, and even a seer. All of them told me the same thing—there is no way to force a demon lord into giving up a minion bound to him.’’

I said nothing but watched him closely, sure that he wouldn’t let the matter end there.

His dimples emerged. ‘‘So then I went back to Aisling and asked her what she would do if she was in my position.’’

A little pang of jealousy gave me a moment of irritation. Before I had met Gabriel, he had been what I assume was moderately smitten with Aisling, evidently considering stealing her from Drake. That he gave up the idea when he found out Aisling was pregnant said much, but I wouldn’t be female if it didn’t annoy me just a smidgen that he turned to her for help.

‘‘Jealousy becomes you,’’ he said, his dimples flashing even deeper.

‘‘I sure wish I knew why you can read my mind at times, and I can’t read yours at all,’’ I answered, giving him a hearty pinch on his attractive behind. ‘‘I’m not jealous. I’m just . . . Oh, move on. We don’t have time for me to explain my emotions.’’

‘‘I look forward to the time when you can explain,’’ he answered with a wicked glint in his quicksilver eyes. The amusement in them faded as he continued. ‘‘Aisling thought about the situation for several weeks but in the end had only one suggestion: that you barter for your freedom.’’