"That's all it had to say? It doesn't get involved in situations like ours?" I asked, alternately wanting to cry and to yell at the head of heaven that it had to help us because we were the good guys.
"No, that's not all that was said. It made mention of a few other things, one in particular which I think you might find pertinent." Terrin's eyes twinkled with amusement.
"What's that?" I asked.
"It was in the form of a personal addition to Alec."
"And that would be?" Alec asked.
Terrin smiled. "Bring it on."
Alec snorted in derision.
"Bring it on?" I asked, astonished.
"That's what it said, yes."
"Bring it on!" Fury roared through me at the words. "What the hell sort of thing is that to say? Bring it on? I don't think I like this Sovereign at all. Just wait until we get Diamond out. We'll see who's got the attitude then!"
"Cora, I don't think - " Pia started to say, but I interrupted her.
"Your precious Sovereign wants us to bring it on? Well, we'll just do that!"
Terrin looked shocked as Alec pulled me tighter against him, saying in a weary voice, "Mi corazon - "
"I will not stand here and let some jerkwad flip us that kind of crap, Alec!"
"Jerkwad?" Terrin asked on a gasp.
"Oooh," Pia said, her eyes big.
Alec's eyebrows rose as he considered me. "I had no idea you were so aggressive."
"I'm not aggressive, not overly so," I said, pushing up my sleeves, just as if I were going to battle that moment. "But I don't tolerate being pushed around by anyone, not you, not Bael, and not some half-assed leader of a group of pansy angels and cherubs and . . . and . . . and whatever else they have in this lame version of heaven!"
Terrin blinked.
"Why don't you tell us what you really think, Cora?" Kristoff suggested with a hint of a smile.
Before I could do just that, we arrived at the floor where Terrin had taken a suite. I marched into the room feeling as if I were a dog with my hackles up, annoyed beyond anything that our sole hope for help had dismissed us without so much as batting a heavenly eyelash.
"Bring it on," I growled to myself, and added a few more thoughts as Terrin arranged Ulfur and me on either side of him.
Beloved, muttering curses to yourself is not going to help our cause.
Perhaps not, but it sure makes me feel a whole lot better. Besides, our cause is lost at this point. At least it is until we show the Sovereign that we mean business.
Not lost, no. We have yet to hear what the Sovereign will do to help us, although if you continue invoking curses upon its head, you risk losing that help.
I stared at Alec as Terrin put one hand on my shoulder, and one on Ulfur's, closing his eyes to chant softly to himself. Didn't you hear Terrin? He said the Sovereign refused to help.
He stated the Sovereign's policy toward mortal involvement, yes. He also mentioned that wasn't all that was said. I imagine Terrin is waiting until your friend is safe before revealing what form the aid we seek will take.
I really hate it when you are smarter than me, I groused, giving him a quick glare that melted instantly at the burning heat shimmering in his forest green eyes.
I'm not smarter, love. I simply have more experience with Otherworld officials like this one. And if you keep looking at me like that, I will take you off to the nearest bed and ravish you exactly as you are imagining at this moment.
Oh, that would be lovely.... My attention, unfortunately, was demanded by Terrin at that moment, so it was with reluctance that I gave up imagining licking every inch of Alec's body, and focused on the task at hand.