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they do that if they can’t make a portal on their own?”
    “Most demons carry portal charms from their masters so that they can do the fallen’s bidding,” Beezle said.
    “But they weren’t on my lawn at the behest of any of the fallen. They were there because of Antares,” I said. “Do they carry around extra charms? That seems like it would give the demons a lot more freedom than the fallen had intended for them.”
    “What does this have to do with finding Wade and the cubs?” Jude said. “The demons are probably slaughtering them as we speak.”
    “No,” I said. “They’re not. If the demons just wanted to kill them, then they wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of taking the wolves with them. They want them for some other purpose. The question is whether they’re doing it by someone’s command or if they have enough wherewithal to pull something like this off without any of the Grigori noticing.”
    Samiel tapped his fingers so I would look at him.
Focalor was trying to start an uprising. Maybe his demons have orders
to continue without him.
    Gabriel shook his head. “I am sure that Focalor’s minions are being watched closely.”
    “Could a large group of demons do such a thing and go unnoticed by their masters?”
    “In some courts, yes.” Gabriel frowned. “Which may help narrow things down. Not every court is as large as your father’s.”
    “That’s assuming that the demons are acting without a master,” Jude said. He stood from the table and paced restlessly.“We’re not going to get anywhere by sitting around talking. We need to leave now.”
    “And where do you suggest we go?” I asked. “You said yourself that you tried to follow the demons and your lead disappeared.”
    “I have to do something!” Jude shouted, and something happened that had occurred the first time I met him. His bones shifted under his skin, and for a second I saw the wolf looking at me. Then he visibly shuddered, pulled himself back under control, and when he looked up again his face was Jude’s.
    Everyone stared at me expectantly. Apparently, I was supposed to take charge.
    “Okay,” I said, trying not to think about the cubs. If I thought about them, I would get emotional, and then I would be unable to think clearly. “First things first. We have to see if we can find out who’s doing this. Gabriel, do you think you could trace a power signature from the site where the wolves were attacked?”
    “Possibly, if there is any residue from the demons’ magic.”
    “Where is the rest of the pack, Jude?” I asked.
    “They’re in hiding. We have a contingency plan in the event of an attack.”
    “Are they safe where they are?”
    His eyes flickered with some indefinable emotion. “Safe enough. I wouldn’t have left them otherwise.”
    “Okay. Gabriel and Samiel, will you come with me and Jude?” I had to make sure to present the request as such. I refused to have Gabriel throwing it back in my face that I’d “ordered” him to do anything.
    Gabriel nodded, his face grave. “Of course. I would not leave cubs in the hands of demons.”
    I’ll do whatever I can to help,
Samiel signed.
    “I’ll come along, too,” Beezle said. “You’ll probably need me.”
    “I’ll need somebody to complain about how hungry they are and to fall asleep in my pocket just when something horrible is about to happen?”
    “You know, I’m starting to feel like my services are underappreciated in this house,” Beezle said, landing heavily on my shoulder.
    “Don’t think I’ve forgotten about the mess in the kitchen,” I said.
    “Yeah, yeah. The dishes will still be there when we get back.”
    “If we get back,” I muttered, wondering just what I was getting myself into this time.
    We took a portal from the back yard to the place where the wolves had last been seen. It was some woody location in northern Wisconsin. I was a little unnerved by the complete and total lack of man-made noises, and tried not