Skulduggery's sudden forcefulness made Gabe blink and look up in surprise from where he was steadying himself against the bedknob. "I'm not trying to take shortcuts," he said, and his tone was genuinely puzzled. "You were right when you said this is my problem, Skul. This is my brother, and he might find his way here because of me. It's my duty to do something about it."

It really was quite that simple as far as he was concerned, and he suspected it would have been the same for Skul if their situations were reversed. This was Gabe's duty, and it was a duty he wanted.

He really didn't mean to imply they couldn't handle things. They could. But now that Gabe knew he didn't have to wait for orders, there were certain things he didn't want to stand aside for. "I know you can handle yourselves, Skul," he said gently, "but there's no reason to do so alone, against Lucifer."