“You have been an Agent for many years, Madeline. Have you ever taken the soul of a demon?”
“Well, no,” I admitted. “But I never knew that demons existed until a couple of days ago. I have taken the souls of other supernatural beings, though—vampires and werewolves and faeries.”
“All of those creatures are part human, even if the humanity is very far back in the bloodline, as with faeries. Only humans have souls.”
“And why is that?” I asked, and for the second time in the last day I felt that I skated very close to the origin of the Universe, to the secret behind the Door.
“That is not for humans to know,” Azazel chided. “Do not think me a foolish child that can be cozened by an innocent face.”
I felt the blood rising in my cheeks. “Right, well, on to that other thing. This heir business.”
“On the day that you were born, you were named my heir. This means that in the event of my death you are to take over the duties of this court.”
“And those duties are . . . ?” I asked, rotating my wrist to indicate that he should explain.
“To swear fealty to Lord Lucifer and protect the sanctity of his kingdom.”
“And that’s it? No tempting humans to the dark side?”
Azazel smiled mysteriously. “That is all you need to know for now.”
I felt the acid sloshing in my stomach. I didn’t want to be the heiress to a piece of Lucifer’s kingdom. I wanted to get married, and have a baby or two, and grow old and die like an ordinary human. I didn’t want to be a part of this.
“I thought you said that Katherine couldn’t be with you because she had her own master to serve—because she was an Agent,” I said. “How could I inherit your place in court if I have the same responsibilities?”
“Those responsibilities could be passed to your child,” Azazel said. “Death is not the only circumstance under which that could happen. You could voluntarily relinquish your soul-collecting powers to your offspring.”
I could not disguise a shudder. I would never do that to my child. Voluntarily condemn them to a life of loneliness, like mine? I would only pass my inheritance when I had no other choice—when another Agent was taking me to the Door. And since as far as I knew there were no long-lost cousins hiding in the closet, it was very likely that the bloodline would die with me and no one would get my suck job.
But I did not say any of this to Azazel. “Well, I probably won’t have to worry about it. You look like you’ve been around for a while. And besides, marriage and babies are not in my future right now.”
Azazel’s eyes twinkled as he turned and beckoned to someone behind me. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
My heart sank. What now?
Nathaniel appeared beside Azazel. The smug expression on his face made me want to punch him. “Yes, my lord?”
“Madeline, meet your betrothed. Nathaniel, you may take her hand,” Azazel said.
I stepped back and bumped into the windowsill, keeping my hands at my sides so that Nathaniel couldn’t touch me. My eyes searched frantically until I found Gabriel. He stood ten feet away, watching the proceedings with a stony face. I felt heartsick. Had he known about this? Why hadn’t he warned me?
“What is the matter, Madeline?” Azazel asked. “Nathaniel is my chief advisor and a very powerful angel in his own right. This is a good match for you.”
“Him?” I asked, pointing at Nathaniel. “Captain Condescension? I don’t think so.”
“Be careful, Madeline,” Azazel said, and there was an undercurrent of warning in his voice. “In this court, my word is law. And it is my word and my wish that you marry Nathaniel today.”
“Today?” I thought that I would faint. I also felt a powerful surge of regret. I could have made love to Gabriel. I could have at least been tied to this angel with the knowledge that I had sown some wild oats. But instead I was going to be handed off to this unknown for the sake of political expediency, and a creature that I had hated on sight would take my carefully preserved virginity. “Today? I don’t even know him, and you want me to marry him today? You have no right to marry me to someone I don’t love. I just met you!”
“I have every right. I am your father, and I am the right hand of Lord Lucifer. If you disobey me in this, Madeline, you will be punished.”
Azazel’s voice had gone icy cold, and the room had gone still. We spoke so softly that I doubted anyone could hear us, but all were attuned to the vibrations of power in our little corner.
I felt a surge of fear, and caught Gabriel’s eye again. His eyes implored me to take care. I didn’t need the warning. I could sense that I walked a very fine line. I backpedaled quickly.
“May I speak with my father alone, Nathaniel?” I asked, taking care to modulate my voice.
Azazel nodded, and Nathaniel moved away. His confident grin had slipped a little.
“Father,” I said urgently. I took his hand, although it repulsed me to touch him, and to grovel to him. I didn’t think very much of a man who would hand me off to a stranger without a word of assent from me. “Forgive me. I am still new to this world. A couple days ago, I didn’t know that you were my father, or that the Grigori existed. I am still learning about my own magical gifts. And now you’ve told me that I am to marry a creature that I have never seen before, and to give up responsibilities that I have carried my whole life. Forgive me if I am overwhelmed and unsure. This is so new to me.”