“The witches know something,” he snarled before she could speak.
“Gavriel—”
“If our father won’t intervene, we’ll do it ourselves. Summon your seraphim guards. Put them under my command?—”
“Calm down,” Suriel said with exasperation. “I have found her.”
The world stopped. He drew a ragged breath, fear and hope warring within him. “Alive?”
“Yes.”
His wings trembled. “Where is she?”
Suriel’s brown eyes were grave. “You will not like what I’ve discovered, brother.”
“Just tell me,” he pleaded.
“She’s with her birth family. The Lenormands.”
Gavriel’s brow furrowed. “The Lenormands? I just spoke to Nestania. She denied any knowledge!”
That cunning old witch.
“Cathrynne is Hysto Lenormand’s daughter.” Suriel watched him carefully. “Her father was an angel named Alluin Westwind.”
The memory surfaced with agonizing clarity. A disgraced seraphim kneeling before him, convicted of breaking his oath with a witch lover. Gavriel himself had wielded the Rod of Penance, had spoken the words of exile.
“Oh, gods,” he whispered.
Suriel nodded grimly. “I didn’t make the connection myself until one of my birds saw her at the Lenormands’ home. Then I dug a bit deeper.” Her voice gentled. “You couldn’t have known, Gavriel.”
But he should have remembered. “Does she know?” he asked.
“That you sentenced her father? Of course not, how could she? No one outside Mount Meru is privy to the details of angelic trials. As you’re well aware.” Suriel laid a hand on his shoulder. “I fell in love with a mortal once. It only led to heartbreak.”
“I never said I loved her.”
“You don’t need to.”
He drew a ragged breath. “She’s with her family now? Safe?”
“Yes.”
Gavriel studied his sister’s face. “You’re withholding something.”
“Promise to remain calm.”
“Just tell me.”
She sighed. “Someone mistreated her.”
Blind rage returned, swift and hot. “Who?”
“I don’t know.”
Gavriel moved to the archway, wings unfurling.
“Brother!” Suriel called after him. “Think before you act. The Lenormands are powerful. And whatever is between you and this cypher?—”
