‘‘What is the problem, Mayling?’’ Gabriel asked, his lovely brows pulled together.

‘‘I can’t take it,’’ I told him, unwilling to say any more.

‘‘Why not?’’

‘‘I just can’t. You take it.’’

Gabriel looked at the box. ‘‘Does it contain something dangerous?’’

‘‘No, I just can’t—’’

‘‘For the love of the sun and moon! I do not have time for this!’’ Misha shoved the box into my hands. The second it hit my flesh, the world shimmied for a few seconds. My fingers tightened around the box holding the phylactery as I gazed in absolute horror at Gabriel.

Before anyone could say anything, a demon opened up the fabric of being behind me, wrapped its hand around my upper arm, and yanked me with it through the gaping hole.

Chapter Twenty-five

Chapter Twenty-five

Being summoned to Magoth is never a pleasant experience, but when he used a demon to do the summoning, it was downright sickening. The demon dropped me on the floor, where I lay fighting the urge to retch, unaware for a moment of everything but the horrible sickness caused by being yanked through a hole in reality.

The second I heard Magoth drawl, ‘‘Greetings, dragon. I assume I have the pleasure of addressing the wyvern of the silver sept,’’ I realized two things: first, the tight feeling around my arm when the demon jerked me was due to Gabriel grabbing ahold of me (and thus being pulled along with me to Magoth’s presence), and second, life as I knew it was about to cease.

‘‘I am Gabriel Tauhou, yes. What business do you have with my mate that you must abuse her in this fashion?’’

I used a chair next to me to drag myself to my feet. Gabriel looked even more battered than he had moments before, his nose bleeding again. ‘‘Don’t talk to him,’’ I begged, throwing myself toward Gabriel.

‘‘Stop!’’ Magoth flicked his fingers toward me, capturing me in an invisible web that bound me where I stood. ‘‘I believe you have something of mine, sweet May. You will hand that over now.’’

Gabriel’s eyes glittered with a burning light as he turned his gaze on the demon lord. ‘‘Release my mate.’’

‘‘Don’t talk to him. For the love of the gods, Gabriel, don’t converse with him.’’

A slight frown appeared between his brows. ‘‘Are you well, mate? You seem overly distressed about a trivial matter.’’

‘‘It’s not trivial,’’ I said, all but sobbing. ‘‘You have to leave, Gabriel. You have to leave now.’’

‘‘I am not going to leave you by yourself,’’ he said, a flash of disbelief in his eyes.