Gates of Paradise (a Blue Bloods Novel)

Neither one answered.

“They’ve been saying that about us for centuries. No matter what we do, no matter what we did—and it was Abbadon, after all, who turned the battle—and you forget that it was my sword that pierced Lucifer’s armor,” Mimi said. “And yet, what do we get for our efforts—nothing but suspicion and lies.…”

“So if you’re not working with the Morningstar, then have you returned to the Coven to assume your Regency?” asked Ted.

“I might be. I’m looking for Kingsley.”

“Then why did you come here?” Deming wanted to know.

“Isn’t it obvious? I find it hard to believe that he could just disappear completely and not tell you where he was going. You’re his closest friends. And maybe he’s the one who told you some of the crazy stories about me, but I have to say, I’m really worried about him.”

“Worried?” Ted asked.

Deming gave him a look. Good. Mimi was getting to him.

“You must be aware that the Knights Templar have alerted us to the loss of their most sacred treasures. The holy grails. One in Spain and another in Scotland. I have confirmed reports that it was Kingsley who stole the chalice from its hiding place. Rumor has it he stole the seed of the godsfire as well.”

The Venators were shocked. “The godsfire and the holy grails—but that would mean…”

“That he would be able to create a weapon to defeat the White Fire of Heaven. And whom do we know who would desire such a thing?” Mimi asked in a silky tone. There was only one angel who would need such a magnificent armament. Lucifer, of the Fallen. The Dark Prince of the underworld.

“Kingsley Martin is not a traitor!” Ted shouted. “You have no proof!”

“I have to agree: that’s quite a story you’re telling us. Where did you get this information? How do you know?” Deming asked.

“I have my sources.”

“He’s not here,” Ted said. Deming looked at him with disgust. Hope that marriage lasts, Mimi thought. “I mean, he’s not here anymore,” Ted added.

“But he was,” Mimi said.

Ted nodded. He turned to Deming. “We have to tell her—I don’t believe that Kingsley has betrayed us, but we have to tell her what we know.”

Mimi smiled like a cat. “Please do.”

“He first came here for a visit after you freed him from Hell. He seemed really upset—wouldn’t talk about it much. Just kept saying that he was worried about you, that something was wrong. Then he went back to London and went on a bender, from what we heard. It was only recently that he came back here, and that was to tell us he was getting an army together, to prepare to defeat Lucifer.”

So there was a plan, then. “And you believed him?”

“There didn’t seem to be any reason not to,” Ted said.

“Where is he now?”

“Enough, Ted,” Deming said sharply.

“She said she’s worried about him,” Ted said. “We don’t know where he is right now.”

“Really? And you don’t know anything about the Venator conclave in London in a few days?” asked Mimi.

“You know about that?” Ted blurted out, and then quickly regretted it.

“Seriously, that’s enough, Ted,” Deming said. “Mimi, I appreciate that you’re trying to help, but the best way to do it is to let us do what we do best. If you want to help, leave Kingsley alone.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Mimi said. “I’m really sorry.”

Before Deming or Ted had a chance to react, Mimi pulled the needle out of her blouse, restored it to its full size, and trained it at Deming’s throat. “Take me to that conclave,” she said. “Or your blood will be on my sword.”

She turned to the Venator’s husband. “And you’re right, Ted: Kingsley Martin is no traitor. I am.”





THIRTYFIVE


Bliss


don did not return. Bliss had taken Malcolm and Rafe with her to the catacombs as well as the ancient sites of the city, to see if they could find the portal, but returned to the hostel at the end of the day as frustrated as ever. She hoped that leaving Lawson and Ahramin to themselves would allow them to sort out whatever was between them, but she was still struggling to understand it herself. Lawson and Ahri? Now it was her turn to feel jealous, but mostly what she felt was angry. They had bigger problems than the consequences of a random hookup right now.

Bliss knew they were close to solving the mystery of the passages and that Arthur had pointed them in the right direction by sending them to Rome, but this thing that had happened between Lawson and Ahramin was distracting them from their real task. She found Ahramin in the lounge, flirting with some backpackers who were trying to decide whether to stay.

“Where’s Lawson?” Bliss asked.