“He wasn’t late,” I cut in. “The Nix took off as soon as I summoned him.”

As soon as I said this I wished I hadn’t. Shekinah shook her head as if to say, “What’s the universe coming to, a ghost defending an angel?” When her gaze met Trsiel’s, I’m sure that’s pretty much what she did say to him, telepathically.

“We should be going,” I said. “We have a lot to do—”

“Of course you do,” Balthial said. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Eve, and I am looking forward to renewing the acquaintance when you ascend.”

“Yes,” Shekinah said. “It was indeed a pleasure. And if you require any assistance with this quest, any assistance you might not be currently receiving, you may contact either Balthial or myself through the Fates.”

At that, Trsiel’s jaw set so hard I feared he’d start snapping teeth. The other angels nodded a farewell, as serene and composed as ever, and faded away.

“What the hell is her problem?” I muttered when they were gone.

Trsiel’s jaw relaxed into a crooked smile. “Shekinah and I have some…philosophical differences. Balthial and I do, too, but he’s better at hiding it.”

“Seems like there’s more than philosophical differences between you and them.”

Trsiel tensed. His gaze studied mine, as if trying to interpret my meaning. Then he relaxed again and reached for my hand.

“Let’s go see Amanda Sullivan,” he said. “I’ll explain on the way.”

“So the Nix has resurfaced in the living world?”

He nodded. I laid my hand in his, and he teleported us there.

Chapter 26

26

WE EMERGED IN A DARK, DANK ROOM THAT STANK OF something indescribably awful.

“Guano,” Trsiel said in response to my gagging. When I gave him a “huh?” look, he translated. “Bat shit.”

“There’s a special name for it? Can’t imagine why that never entered my vocabulary before. What’s guano doing in—”

I stopped as my brain made an abrupt logical click. Where there’s bat shit, there must be…I looked up, way up, and saw rows of little bodies suspended from the ceiling. I shuddered and wrapped my arms around my chest.

Trsiel smiled. “You’ll wrest a burning sword from an angel, but you’re afraid of bats?”

“I’m not afraid of them. I just don’t like them. They’re…furry. Flying things shouldn’t be furry. It’s not right. And if I ever meet the Creator, I’m taking that one up with him.”

Trsiel laughed. “That I’d like to see. Your one and possibly only chance to get the answer to every question in the universe, and you’ll ask, ‘Why are bats furry?’”

“I will. You just wait.”