Page 197 of The Demon's Pet

Os took a step back, looking shaken. “I didn’t agree to any of this. You told me to draw out the Morningstar and get her to fight Bran, to prove what she was. You didn’t tell me anything about kidnapping. No one is supposed to get hurt!”

Gabe straightened. “That’s your fault for staying to comfort your fae half brother instead of coming to the mission briefing with me and the higher celestials. I simply chose to give you whatever information would make you help me.”

“No,” Os said. “I won’t let you do this. You can’t take Cleo or Griffin either. This is wrong.”

“She’s the Morningstar,” Gabe said. “The demon you have feared all your life. And he is just a stupid animal who was made to be used.”

Os shook his head, resolute. “No. Something is wrong about this. It isn’t by the rules.”

“This mission is straight from the ninth celestial realm,” Gabe said. “You think they care about rules? They make the rules.” He raised his head haughtily. “And when this is over, they’ll make me more powerful than I could have ever hoped.”

“That’s what this is to you, isn’t it?” Os asked. “It’s not about saving the world or helping anyone. Just your stupid ego.”

Gabe just stared at him. “I can’t believe you’d go against me after all I’ve done.” He let out an aggrieved sigh and walked over to where Bran was lying.

Before any of us could do anything, Gabe raised his sword and sliced it down, cutting off Bran’s wolf head in one smooth stroke.

As it rolled to the side, blood spurting, something emanated from Bran’s body, a golden mist rising into the air.

Gabe stood over him, breathing in deeply, putting his arms out to the side as he did, still holding his sword in one hand.

He appeared to glow for a moment, then turned to face us, breathing heavily.

“The celestials gave Bran a fourth realm dispensation, which I have now absorbed,” Gabe said. “I naturally have a fifth realm dispensation. That puts me at a ninth celestial realm level of power. So you can’t stop me, Os.”

Os lifted his chin. “I’m going to try.”

Gabe strutted over to stand in front of Os confidently. “I’ll put you back in your place after this. I’ll claim that pet in front of your face, since it means that much to you.”

Os let out an angry shriek and threw his hand forward, letting out a blast of ice that hit Gabe and split into millions of icy shards that flew in every direction.

Gabe stood there, unaffected. “Was that it?”

Os threw another icy blast at him, but Gabe seemed immune to it, no matter how many Os threw.

As Os attacked, Gabe simply walked toward him. Then, as Os stepped back, looking down at his hands in shock, Gabe shot his fist forward, punching Os right in the face.

“No!” Griffin yelled, grabbing the bars of his cage and shaking them. “Cleo, what is going on?”

I looked at Gabe, wondering how to answer. Then I glanced at Os, who was lying on the cement, still.

“Why would you do that?” I asked. “He trusted you.”

“Until he didn’t,” Gabe said. “Unlike him, I see the higher purpose in all of this.” He brandished his sword again. “Fight me, Morningstar, if you can.”

Then his wings withdrew, and before my eyes, he multiplied into eight versions of himself, curving around me in an intimidating semicircle.

An illusion, but one I couldn’t see through at all.

Each version brandished a sword, and I had no idea which one I should strike. Panic was making my heart pound like a tarantella.

All eight angels pointed their swords at me, armor gleaming, white tunics whipping in the cool wind.

All eight versions of Gabe grinned. “Your move, demon.”

47

I had no idea what to do, what version of Gabe to fight.

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