“Don’t look at him like he’s in charge of me,” I said. “I’ll be fine.”
“What about him?” Jude asked, jerking his head at Zaniel.
“I won’t break anything,” I said.
Samiel and Jude seemed fine with that, and they turned away to choose rooms. Nathaniel, however, stubbornly stood his ground. I gave him my best death glare, but he ignored it. He wouldn’t argue with me in front of Zaniel, but he wasn’t going to leave me alone, either.
“In case you’re wondering, this kid is not the shifter,” Beezle said loudly, breaking the tension.
“Thanks, but I wasn’t worried about that,” I said.
“Then what did you wish to speak to me about?” Zaniel asked. He looked polite and attentive, and there was no hint of the hatred I’d seen earlier.
“Why did you go see Sokolov when you were in Chicago?”
He wasn’t expecting that, and because he was caught off guard I saw the surprise in his face before he schooled his expression again.
Zaniel frowned slightly. “I am sorry, Ms. Black. I do not know this individual of whom you speak.”
But it didn’t matter what he said. I’d seen the truth in his face. He had gone to the Agency and spoken with Sokolov. Now I just had to find out why—and at whose behest.
“I must have been mistaken, then,” I said lightly. “I’ll be right back as soon as I drop off my case in the room.”
“You do not wish to change for cocktails?” Zaniel said, looking at my scuffed combat boots, threadbare jeans and the T-shirt that didn’t quite cover my belly.
“No,” I said firmly.
Nathaniel followed me down the hall, carrying the luggage like a bellhop. I picked the first room on the left and he followed me in. Beezle flew to the dresser so he could stretch his claws without hurting me.
I closed the door firmly behind me and gestured for Nathaniel to come closer. I was sure the room was bugged, and if by some strange chance it wasn’t, then I didn’t want Zaniel to overhear what I was going to say.
“We’re going to have a lot of problems if you keep undermining my authority in front of everyone here,” I said to Nathaniel. “There was no reason why you couldn’t leave me alone with Zaniel for a minute.”
“Madeline, you have no authority over me,” Nathaniel said. “And the sooner we resolve that misunderstanding, the better. I will not leave you alone in this place, not even with a seemingly harmless errand boy. He is Lucifer’s son and we know he bears you ill will.”
“He wasn’t going to try to attack me in the hallway with everyone watching,” I hissed.
“How do you know?” Nathaniel said. “If he killed you under Lucifer’s roof, then his father might be angry with him but the damage would still be done. And do not believe that he would play fair. You have too long faced enemies that want to stand and fight you. Zaniel knows he is not as powerful as you. He would not engage you in a battle. He would surprise you and you would be dead before you could blink. And so would your child.”
I stared at Nathaniel. “I thought I would be safer with Lucifer than with anyone else.”
“Safer does not mean perfectly safe,” Nathaniel said. “There is still much danger here.”
I sighed. “Fine, be my bodyguard if it makes you feel better.”
“It does,” Nathaniel said.
“Let’s go down and get this farce over with,” I said. “I can’t imagine I’m going to enjoy mingling with a bunch of people who might slit my throat when Lucifer isn’t looking.”
“Are you truly not going to change?” Nathaniel said. He wore his usual black suit and white dress shirt, open at the collar. He looked perfectly respectable even if I did not.
“I have nothing to change into anyway, according to Beezle,” I said.
“You weren’t there when she was packing,” Beezle said.
Nathaniel nodded toward the bed. “I believe Lucifer left that for you.”
The bed was covered with a red silk comforter, and on the silk there was a perfectly lovely wine-colored dress with a fitted bodice and an A-line skirt. There was also a shawl that looked like it might be cashmere. A string of white pearls lay across the shawl, and on the floor was a pair of dangerous-looking heels.
I pointed at the shoes. “First of all, I’d kill myself in those things. Second, my belly is too big for the cut of that dress. It’s made for someone with a small waist. I can’t even find my waist. Third, if Lucifer wants me to wear that getup, then I am definitely not putting it on.”
“Madeline, why be contrary for no reason? Pick your battles. It would please Lucifer to see you wear this. I think you would find it would accommodate your new figure,” Nathaniel said.
“I am not interested in Lucifer’s pleasure,” I said. “If I wear the clothes, then I’m giving in. He doesn’t get an inch from me. Not an inch. I won’t be his caged bird. And maybe if he sees that, he’ll give up this stupid quest to make me his heir.”
“He will never give that up,” Nathaniel said. “I saw his face when he kissed you. He knows the darkness is rising inside you. You become more powerful every day, and your child may be even more so. Lucifer will not risk you falling under another’s influence.”
“Too bad Lucifer still doesn’t realize Maddy hasn’t been influenced by anyone since she could talk. Her first word was ‘no,’” Beezle said.