If she couldn't control it, then the thrum against him wouldn't have receded. But it did, and Gabriel's eyes narrowed. Not only a thief, but a liar. Still, now that it had receded, Gabriel could tell it wasn't wholly a falsehood--she really couldn't turn it off entirely. But she could control it, and did, and deliberately used it against others, that was something the Archangel couldn't countenance.

And yet, worse than that, was that Skulduggery had brought him here. Especially saying that. Sharply Gabriel turned toward the detective, hissing under his breath at the pangs, and repeated with an indignation bordering on anger, "Harmless? She steals others' right to choose what they think of her! How, pray tell, is that harmless, Skulduggery?"

His voice was sharper than he meant it to be, because of his surprise, but mostly his expression was just ... hurt. Skul knew what free will meant to him, knew what Gabe had gone through just to learn it was a gift he was allowed to have--and it was a gift. And here the detective, his friend, was making light of it. Taking it for granted.

Taking it for granted because Skul had never known anything else, didn't know how precious that gift was.

Gabriel looked away from Skul and took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself. These storms of emotion--he still wasn't used to them. But he took that breath, managed not to mentally beg forgiveness from his Master, and when he exhaled he let the anger run through him. The hurt was less easy to expunge.

"I'm sorry," he said, and his voice was tight, "but if you don't mind, I would rather go elsewhere for aid, if there is an alternative."

If there wasn't ... if there wasn't he wasn't entirely sure what he was going to do.