Anger flushed my system, but I knew better than to cave to it. I learned that the hard way. “He’s a gift,” I said, keeping my voice level. “But not for you.”

Zayne’s right wing brushed over my back as he came to stand by my side. “You’re not looking very well, Gabriel,” Zayne said, disgust creeping into his voice. He was right. The archangel was close enough for me to see that there was more of an oily sheen to his wings and skin than a luminous glow. “And is it you that smells like decay?”

“You smell that, too?” I asked. “Because I was wondering if Gabriel crapped himself or something.”

“My brother didn’t crap himself,” Lucifer said, and my hands balled into fists. Of course he didn’t listen to me. He came to stand to my left. “Yet.”

“That’s your surprise,” I said, feeling like this was so anticlimactic now. “Surprise,” I exclaimed, throwing in jazz hands in the process.

“I do not accept this gift,” Gabriel snarled.

“Too bad,” I said. “No returns or exchanges.”

Gabriel focused in on his brother. “I knew I felt the taint of your presence.”

“The taint of my presence? Have you smelled yourself recently?” Lucifer looked up at Gabriel. “Your essence—your Glory is rotting.”

“My Glory is not rotting,” the archangel snapped.

“Um.” I drew the word out. “Something on you is definitely rotting.”

“Even mine never smelled that bad.” A twinge of awe filled Lucifer’s tone as he continued to stare up at Gabriel. “You know what that means.”

“You have no idea what you speak of,” Gabriel bit back.

“What does that mean?” I asked, glancing at Lucifer.

The devil smiled. “I have a feeling we’re going to find out.”

Gabriel drew farther back. “You know what I plan, brother. You of all people should be celebrating what needs to be done. I will end this—end this corruption that has become this realm. I will do what needs to be done. And yet you stand before me instead of behind me?”

“Yeah, well, what you plan is my kind of party,” Lucifer said. “But it ain’t my party. You feel me?”

“He probably doesn’t get your analogy,” I told him.

“I understand it fine,” snapped Gabriel. “I give you this one chance, Lucifer. More than our Father ever gave you. Join me, and together, we will end this.”

Lucifer cocked his head to the side. “Now, you know damn well Father gave me so many chances it was absurd. Even I can admit that, but you? Oh, Gabe, what have you done to yourself?”

The twinge of genuine sadness in Lucifer’s voice caught my attention.

He was shaking his head. “You were only ever supposed to be the voice of God. No more. No less. And yet that wasn’t enough. You became bitter. Jealous. So full of pride.”