Page 230 of The Spider Queen
“Oh, I can cook. I just choose not to.”
The wind shifted, and an unpleasant aroma hit my nose. I looked around, wondering where it was coming from.
“Demon ash,” Thane said quietly. “Smells rank.”
I attempted to breathe through my mouth, but even then, I tasted death at the back of my throat. I quickly set the bowl of stew aside, my appetite lost.
White puffy clouds rolled across the sky, and I saw a speck in the distance. I thought it might’ve been a large bird or maybe another dragon. It flew closer, and I immediately recognized the armored wings of Gabriel.
The fallen angel landed, and he looked pissed.
Chapter 49
Anger flashed across Gabriel’s face, and when he walked, the land trembled. I watched with curious eyes to see how the fallen angel was going to handle his temper. Because clearly someone—or something—had set him off.
I chanced a glance at Auri who looked excited by Gabriel’s rage.
Whatever. I so didn’t want to know.
But come to think of it, I’d heard no sounds from the night before. No noises of bloodlust passion, no forest animals.
“Was our tent soundproof?” I whispered to Thane.
He nodded, though he was distracted, his gaze on Gabriel. “What’s wrong?”
“Wrong?” Gabriel thundered. “I’ll tell you what’s wrong! Heaven is a fucking mess! Lux won’t let me help. He sent me back to you.”
“To me?” Thane raised his brows. “What makes him think I can use you?”
“He wants me to transport the souls to the bridge. To let them be weighed.”
“Slow down,” I said. “Explain—”
“Souls that never should’ve made it into Heaven are there now. Still causing trouble, even as Lux and his army of angels ferret them out. When they find the souls, they cage them. Lux wants me to take the souls and bring them to Thane.”
“Who is the rightful Guardian of the Bridge, whose spiders can judge accordingly, and send them to their rightful afterlife.” I nodded. “Got it. Why are you mad?”
Gabriel growled. “Because Lux is using me as his errand boy.”
“They have their first wave ready, don’t they?” Thane asked. He stood and set his bowl and spoon on the log next to me where he’d been sitting.
“No rest for the wicked,” I muttered, standing too. “How do we get back to your domain? Can we teleport?”
Thane glanced down at me. “Teleport?” Amusement stamped across his mouth. “This isn’tStar Trek.”
My eyes widened. “Oh my God. You’re a Trekkie.”
“Am not.”
“Are too.”
“Look,” Gabriel snapped. “As much as I hate to break up your weird idea of foreplay, time is of the essence. We can’t rebuild Heaven until we clean house.”
“Heaven’s foyer is a wee bit crowded, then?” I snorted out a laugh even though Gabriel’s glare could split tree bark.
“It will take us a week to get home,” Thane announced.
“A week!” Gabriel yelled. “We don’t have a week.”
