Wade shook his head. “This I do not know. There is a third party in this game. Whoever that is presented the technology to Amarantha.”

“Awesome,” I said. “There’s an unknown factor running around.”

“Madeline,” Gabriel murmured. “I know that it is important to find the source of these problems, but do you not think we should return Wade to his pack? They have been grieving for their alpha.”

I rubbed my face, tired beyond comprehension. “Right. Return Wade to pack.”

“Jude is going to grind his teeth to dust when you bring Wade back,” Beezle predicted. “He didn’t believe you.”

“Believe what?” Wade asked.

“Maddy promised to bring you back,” Beezle said, landing on my shoulder as I got to my feet.

Wade grinned. “That is why I told Jude to go to her if I went missing. Madeline’s loyalty is her finest quality.”

My cheeks reddened as everyone looked at me. “Don’t we have somewhere to be?”

Gabriel touched my cheek. “You should not be embarrassed. Everyone here knows that you would fight to the death for them. It is why we put our own lives in peril when you ask. It is why the Grigori fear you, why Lucifer wants so badly to collect you.”

“Because she’s stubborn?” Beezle said. “I never really considered that a positive quality.”

That’s because when you want a doughnut and she says no, you know you’ll never get it, Samiel signed.

“I’m more stubborn that she is,” Beezle said. “If it’s one thing gargoyles know how to do, it’s outlast.”

“Ooookay,” I said, very uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. I didn’t want any more discussions of my qualities while I could hear them. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

I turned away in the direction of the portal, but not before I saw them all smile at one another, like they knew something I did not.

I crashed into bed when we finally got home. It was midday, but the sky looked like it was threatening snow so my bedroom was pleasantly dark. Gabriel kissed my cheek and then I conked out.

When I woke up I was painfully aware of the fact that I had slept unwashed and in my clothes. I rolled to my feet and wandered over to the window. Snow had fallen while I slept—a great deal of it. The rain barrel in my backyard was covered to about half its height, and the snow was still coming down. It looked like we were having a genuine Chicago blizzard.

I stripped out of my clothes and went for the bathroom, wondering vaguely where everyone was. The bathroom door opened just as I finished shampooing all the gunk out of my hair.

“Gabriel?” I called.

“Yes,” he said, and pulled aside the shower curtain.

He stepped inside, and I looked up at him. His eyes were burning.

“I’ve never taken a shower with anyone before,” I said, smoothing my hands over his shoulders.

“Neither have I,” he replied, and he kissed me. “But I think we can figure out what to do.”

“I think we need to burn those sheets,” I said as we got dressed in the bedroom a little while later. “We’ll never be able to get the spider goop out of them.”

Gabriel gave the sheets a critical look. “You may be correct. The spider ichor seems to be very…persistent.”

“And very smelly,” Beezle said as he flew into the bedroom and landed on the dresser.

I pulled my sweater over my head and glared at him. “Haven’t you ever heard of privacy?”

“That is a concept with which I am unfamiliar,” Beezle said.

“Newlyweds usually enjoy being alone,” I said pointedly.

“Gargoyles usually enjoy being fed in a timely manner,” he replied.

“Go bother Samiel,” I said.

“I’ve been bothering him all morning. It’s your turn,” Beezle said.

“Your cell phone is ringing,” Gabriel said, cutting in.

I kicked around in the pile of filthy clothes on the floor until I found my peacoat. The phone was in the inside pocket, and I had to very carefully unfold the jacket to get at it without getting dirty again.

I glanced at the caller ID. “What’s up, J.B.?”

“You need to get downtown as soon as you can,” he said, and there was suppressed excitement in his voice. “I think Chloe’s figured out a way to cure the victims, but I need your help first.”

“We’ll be there soon,” I promised, and clicked off.

I told the other two what J.B. said.

“We can go as soon as I get fed,” Beezle said.

“Why are you coming?”

“Because I was there when you found the cubs, and I want to see them fixed,” Beezle said.

Sometimes I don’t think I give Beezle enough credit.

A couple of hours later the four of us—me, Samiel, Gabriel and Beezle—had passed through security and were on our way to the basement room where Chloe worked on the machines. When we arrived we found Wade and Jude were already there with J.B.

“En Taro Adun, Madeline Black!” Wade said.

Jude grunted at me. He had been thrilled to see that Wade was alive, but he had been less pleased that I had been the author of Wade’s escape from Amarantha. Jude still had trouble comprehending that I was not Lucifer.

We all crowded into the small room. Chloe looked less than pleased to have so many people in her space—that was, until she saw Samiel.