There was something wrong. Gabriel didn't even need to look at Skulduggery to know that, and so he didn't. There were details he would no doubt be able to divine if he had, but right now, Valkyrie was his focus.

"Not all evil people know they are, Valkyrie," he said with infinite gentleness. "Usually, they think the very opposite. But however good your necromantic friends might be otherwise, they are on a path of darkness, and walking it will lead nowhere but darkness for them and anyone who follows. Believe me--" and here there was a weight to his voice which was almost physical-- "believe me, little sister, I've seen far too many of my siblings' descendants seduced by the power, intending nothing but good, only to lose themselves to my brother."

He dropped his hands to wrap them around hers and squeezed them gently, still avoiding the touch of the ring. "But, Valkyrie, it's not as simple as using it now and choosing not to later. The fact you already find it difficult not to use only proves how deep its hold on you already is--and it will only get worse. Particularly," he added this with a glance at Skulduggery, "particularly if Wreath is encouraging you to use necromancy because of an assumed destiny."