Black City

I felt sorry for Nathaniel, but it didn’t mean that I had to stand there and take shit from him or his jackass dad.

“Listen, pal,” I said angrily. “You need to redirect your animosity here. I’m not the one who showed up to your mother in the guise of Zerachiel and then kept your identity hidden from you for thousands of years.”

“You could have prepared me for this possibility,” Nathaniel said. “I am not stupid. I knew that something had changed after that spell.”

“I will not be blamed for this,” I said. “How was I to know that you weren’t Zerachiel’s son? Oh, and just to be clear, there was never any guarantee that you were going to wind up in my bed, so don’t talk like it was a fait accompli.”

“If I wanted to, I could have had you flat on your back and begging at any time,” Nathaniel said.

I wanted to punch him. I really did. But he seemed kind of unstable at the moment, and I wasn’t sure what would happen. I didn’t want the whole building to blow up because I took offense at his attitude. But I would hit him later. I made a note of it.

“Off topic,” I said through gritted teeth. “But we will continue this discussion later. In the meantime, why don’t you ask your father why he never told you who you were?”

Nathaniel visibly made an effort to calm himself, to focus on Puck.

“If what you say is true, then why did you hide yourself from me?” Nathaniel said. “Why did you let me live so long believing I was someone else’s son?”

I was vaguely aware of Samiel and Jude, Beezle and Chloe shouting outside. Whatever Puck had done, he’d effectively sealed us off from the rest of the building.

“I do not have to answer to you,” Puck said, and he was so like Lucifer in that moment that I had no trouble believing they were siblings.

“Goddamned right you do,” I said. “He knows he’s your child now.”

“Which is only due to your actions. I had no intention of revealing his origins yet.”

I was angry. Really angry. I was tired of being pushed around, blamed and generally treated like I was responsible for every wrong ever perpetuated in the universe. And it’s possible I was, as Nathaniel said, in the grip of my hormones.

Which is why I kind of lost my mind for a second, and stomped over to Puck, and clocked him.

I’m sure Puck could have stopped me from hitting him if he’d suspected that was what I was going to do. But he probably thought I had more self-preservation than that.

The sound of my fist hitting his flesh seemed to echo through the house.

There was a second where he was shocked, and staring, and then I was up against the wall with his forearm under my neck, and I was choking.

“How dare you,” Puck said.

I kicked him in the balls and he dropped me. I haven’t met a male of any species that could tolerate that. I landed more or less on my feet after a momentary stumble, and rubbed my throat.

“You didn’t spend enough time researching me,” I said hoarsely. “I dare whatever the hell I want. You will tell Nathaniel why you did what you did, and then you will take us to Titania’s court.”

“What makes you think I must comply with your demands? You are the one in debt to me,” Puck said. We were only inches apart from each other. I wondered what kind of effect nightfire would have on him.

As it happened, I didn’t have to find out. Nathaniel’s sword came around his father’s throat.

“You can do what Madeline says, or you can have your throat slit,” Nathaniel said.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Puck said. “Did not Lucifer warn you about destroying ancient creatures?”

“I killed Azazel,” I said. “I diminished Oberon. Maybe you’ve noticed that I tend to do things without regard for the consequences.”

“Oh, yes, you are Lucifer’s child,” Puck said bitterly. “Queen of all you survey. You have even taken my son in your thrall.”

“Nathaniel is nobody’s thrall,” I said. “And I’m nobody’s queen.”

“You will be if Lucifer has his way,” Puck said, then sighed tiredly. “Stand down, Nathaniel. I will tell you all.”

Nathaniel looked at me for confirmation, and I nodded. He pulled the sword away from Puck’s throat.

Puck looked at me speculatively. “Would you have let him kill me?”

I looked at him steadily, so he could see the truth in my eyes. “Maybe not over this. But if there ever comes a time when you are a threat to me and mine, I will eliminate you.”

He shook his head in wonderment. “No wonder Lucifer has chosen you. Most creatures have more sense than to threaten me.”

“Madeline fears nothing,” Nathaniel said with a touch of pride.

That wasn’t true. I was afraid of lots of things—more things than I could count, actually. But I didn’t see any value in admitting that fear when everyone I encountered was a lot more strong and powerful than I was.

Puck wandered over to my bookshelf, scanning the titles. “You should know that Lucifer and I do not get along.”

“I noticed that,” I said. “Care to tell us why?”

“Lucifer believes that as the firstborn, he has the right to rule all. Our siblings and I disagree.”

“There are more of you?” I asked, alarmed. That was all I needed—more frighteningly powerful relatives running around.