‘‘Demon Valac, I command you to take May and Gabriel to Bael without harming either of them, after which, you will be released,’’ Noelle said, giving the demon a piercing look.

It made a face. ‘‘A courier; that’s all you wanted me for? Do you have any idea of all the work I have to do, of how late I’m going to be, just because you want a couple of dragons to go to Abaddon? I’m an important demon, you know! I’m third class!’’

‘‘I’m not actually a dragon,’’ I told it, feeling it important to point out that fact.

‘‘You’re not?’’ it asked, looking surprised for a moment. It eyed me for a second. ‘‘You look like one. You smell like one. You sure you’re not?’’

‘‘Quite sure. I’m a doppelganger!’’ I said, shaken more than I wanted to admit. A tiny little wisp of smoke escaped my lips, wafting in lazy curlicues in front of my astonished eyes.

I clamped my lips shut tight, panic rising inside me.

Gabriel’s arm tightened around me. ‘‘This is not important, little bird. Let us be on our way. The sooner we have Chuan Ren, the sooner we can be done with Abaddon.’’

I wanted to argue with Gabriel that it was, in fact, very important to me, but he was right about getting the worst over with quickly. I allowed myself to give a mental grumble about Magoth going back on his word to help us after we had him released, but cut that short as Noelle ordered the demon to obey her command.

‘‘Fine,’’ Valac snapped, grabbing my wrist. ‘‘But the next time you need a courier, get one of the minor minions. I don’t have time for this!’’

The trip to Abaddon via demon often left me retching after being deposited there, since the act of being yanked through the fabric of being was such an abomination, it was literally sickening. But this time, rather than leaving us collapsing in a gasping, gagging heap, Valac deposited us both on our feet, feeling nothing more than a slight queasiness.

‘‘I’ll tell the master’s secretary you’re here, but don’t expect much. He doesn’t see people without appointments,’’ Valac said as it marched out the door.

‘‘Are you all right?’’ I asked Gabriel. He looked remarkably well, considering what had just happened to us.

His eyebrows rose slightly. ‘‘Of course. Shouldn’t I be?’’

‘‘Well . . .’’ I frowned, moving around him. My arms and legs felt fine, too, not at all resembling the normal trembling, weak appendages they usually were after being called to Abaddon. ‘‘It’s just that normally the trip here is a bit hairy.’’

He shrugged. ‘‘Dragonkin don’t suffer the way humans do. Should we seek an audience with Bael, or rely upon the demon to let someone know we’re here? I’m inclined to do it myself. I don’t think we can trust that demon.’’

I followed him as he left the room, wordlessly stomping out the little fires that broke out around me.

‘‘Good evening,’’ Gabriel said to a young man who stood in an elegant hallway, a notepad in hand as he checked off items on a list. ‘‘I am wyvern of the silver dragon sept, and this is my mate. We seek an audience with Bael.’’

The demon gave us a look that said it wasn’t too impressed with us. ‘‘I don’t remember any business with the silver dragons on our calendar. May I inquire if you made an appointment through proper channels?’’

Gabriel was about to answer when I stepped in front of him. ‘‘You may not,’’ I said, simultaneously appalled at my rudeness and annoyed at an underling who thought he could push us around. ‘‘Tell Bael we’re here, and we wish to see him.’’

The demon narrowed its pale blue eyes at me. ‘‘You are Lady Magoth, are you not? Very well, I will inform his lordship that you are here, but I feel obliged to point out that you are not very high in our favor at the moment.’’

‘‘You can take that royal we and shove it up next to your head,’’ I told the demon as it strode off down the hallway. The instant the words were spoken, I clamped a hand over my mouth, turning to look at Gabriel with horror-struck eyes.

He looked a bit surprised in return. ‘‘Are you feeling all right?’’

I spread my fingers. ‘‘I don’t know. I’m almost afraid to talk. Did I just say what I think I said?’’

‘‘Yes.’’ His eyes were concerned as they examined me. ‘‘Perhaps it was the journey here that has discommoded you.’’

I shook my head. ‘‘I feel fine,’’ I said through my fingers, too worried about what my mouth might say next to remove my hand. ‘‘Not sick at all, as I normally am when summoned, just kind of . . . feisty.’’

‘‘Hmm.’’ He watched me for another moment, then turned when the demon appeared at the end of the hallway.

‘‘We will see you now,’’ the demon said with condescension.

‘‘I will speak for you if you wish,’’ Gabriel said, his hand reassuring and warm on my back as we walked toward the double doors the demon had opened. ‘‘I do not wish to hurt your feelings, but if you are not feeling up to it, perhaps it would be better if I were to take the lead.’’

‘‘Works for me,’’ I said, dropping my hand and struggling to regain my usual composure as we entered Bael’s study. He stood in a casual pose next to the fireplace, a sheaf of papers in his hand, his head bent as he read from them. An expression of mild interest was on his face as he glanced up. He looked different from when I’d seen him before, now he was sandy haired and freckled, with a long English face and washed-out green eyes.

The aura of power was the same, however, making the air feel thick with static.

Gabriel bowed politely. ‘‘I am Gabriel, wyvern of the silver dragons. This is my mate, May.’’

‘‘What business do you have with me?’’ Bael asked, addressing me. I gritted my teeth to keep from saying anything untoward.

‘‘We believe that you have an associate of mine, a wyvern by the name of Chuan Ren. We would like to negotiate for her release—’’

‘‘I was not speaking to you, dragon.’’ Bael interrupted, his eyes cold. ‘‘What business does Magoth’s consort have with me?’’