‘‘I speak with my mate’s consent,’’ Gabriel said, moving to stand in front of me, effectively blocking Bael’s view.

The air thickened as Bael set down the papers, turning to face us head-on. The sane part of my mind demanded that I instantly shadow, or better yet, retreat to the shadow world, but that part of me that was being taken over by the dragon-heart shard had me stepping around Gabriel, my head held high as I met Bael’s intimidating gaze with one that might not be so potent, but was totally at odds with the normally humble attitude I adopted when around demon lords. ‘‘Gabriel and I are of one thought, so you may consider his words mine. We want to talk to you about releasing Chuan Ren.’’

Bael was silent for a moment.

‘‘Do you deny having her?’’ I asked. Evidently he’d been rather secretive about her, and I wondered whether he was going to make us work just to get him to admit he had her in his possession.

Bael strolled over to a large walnut desk and pressed a button on a phone. ‘‘Dillard, fetch the wyvern.’’

I relaxed a smidgen, exchanging a relieved glance with Gabriel.

‘‘What price do you demand for her release?’’ Gabriel asked Bael.

‘‘She is not for sale.’’

‘‘Everything has a price,’’ Gabriel countered.

‘‘True. However, in this case, the price is beyond even the capacity of a dragon,’’ Bael said. ‘‘And since I know you will ask, I will say simply that it would involve the sacrifice of your mate.’’

‘‘That is not an option,’’ Gabriel said quickly, before I could protest.

Bael smiled, and I thanked every deity I could think of that we were immortal. ‘‘As I said, the price is beyond you. Still, I will allow you to see my newest acquisition, since I am certain you will ask for that, and I am, as ever, obliging. Ah. Here she is.’’

Chuan Ren entered the room. At least, I assumed it was her—she was of Chinese descent, tall, with straight black hair and eyes that burned with fury. She spat out something in Chinese that I assumed wasn’t a wish for Bael’s continued good health, but then she noticed us, and her ire focused on Gabriel.

‘‘You!’’ she shrieked, lunging at him. ‘‘I should have known it was you behind this. You’re always drooling over that simpleton Aisling, pretending to listen to Fiat, but lying, always lying.’’

‘‘Hey!’’ I said, irritated on Gabriel’s behalf. Rage was swift to fire within me, forcing me to fist my hands to keep the dragon claws from popping out. ‘‘Gabriel is not drooling over Aisling, and he does not lie.’’

She gave me a scathing once-over. ‘‘I do not know you. What sept do you belong to?’’

‘‘May is my mate,’’ Gabriel said in a smooth voice, his face impassive. I gave him full points for maintaining such control in the face of the irritating Chuan Ren. I badly wanted to adopt my usual sense of calm, but it kept eluding me.

‘‘A mate? This is not possible. You lie.’’ She turned to Bael, who was leaning against the desk watching us with mild interest. ‘‘This is some new form of torment you have devised? I will not forget it. You will be repaid in kind.’’

‘‘Tch. Such is the gratitude for my magnanimity in allowing you to see your friends,’’ Bael said.

‘‘They are not my friends. Either kill me now, or leave me alone. I will not be abused in this manner! You shall be the first to feel the full weight of my revenge!’’ she shouted, her hair whipping around as she marched to the door.

Bael looked at us. ‘‘Are you sure it is this one you wish to have released? It was not, perhaps, a wrath demon or behemoth you were thinking of? Someone with a bit more charm and less lethality?’’

Chuan Ren spun around at the door, and I think she would have made a rush for Bael, but his words sank in first. ‘‘You are here to see to my release?’’ she asked Gabriel in a slightly less hostile tone.

‘‘Your son has petitioned us to that purpose,’’ he said, glancing at Bael. ‘‘But it seems negotiations are at a standstill.’’

‘‘You ask much gold for me?’’ she asked, marching back into the center of the room, eyeing Bael much as a cat would a comatose mouse. ‘‘You seek treasure of an unimaginable amount? Very well. He will pay it.’’

She pointed to Gabriel with the last of her words.

‘‘Like hell he will,’’ I muttered, stamping out the fire that broke out around me.

Bael said nothing but watched with raised eyebrows.

‘‘Your mate is unlearned,’’ she told Gabriel, a sneer on her lips. ‘‘Just like that fool Drake and his equally stupid mate.’’

‘‘I’m not so unlearned as you think,’’ I said, focusing long enough to light the ends of her hair on fire.

Gabriel nudged me. Sighing, I extinguished the flames, pain pricking my palms as the dragon claws tried to emerge.

‘‘The price Bael has demanded is not payable in treasure and is not acceptable. I have hopes that we will be able to negotiate another one, however.’’

‘‘Not treasure?’’ Chuan Ren looked scornfully at Bael. ‘‘What price have you put as my value, if not that of treasure?’’

Bael toyed with a bone letter opener that had been lying on the desk. ‘‘My standard price for everything is always what would cost the person the most. In this case, it would be the sacrifice of the silver mate.’’

‘‘Bah,’’ Chuan Ren said. ‘‘We agree to the price. Take the female and let me go.’’

She started to walk to the door just like it was a done deal.

‘‘I do not agree to the price,’’ Gabriel said swiftly.

Chuan Ren tossed him a crass word.

‘‘You dare call my mate that?’’ I yelled, suddenly too angry to care if I was being politic or not.

She spun around. ‘‘You dare speak to one who is your superior? Begone, before I teach you how to properly address a wyvern.’’

‘‘Newsflash—you’re no longer wyvern. Someone else is leading the red dragons.’’

‘‘May, that is enough,’’ Gabriel said, taking my arm and tugging me toward him. He had an odd look on his face, a mishmash of amusement, caution, and wariness.