The surprise written so clearly on Gabriel's face was gratifying, to an extent. It didn't make up for his little brother's role in locking him up in the Cage to bicker with Michael for the rest of eternity, but it's the little things in life that matter.

"Really, Gabriel." There was cool condescension and a hint of disappointment on his face, the nonverbal equivalent of saying 'what do you take me for?' He'd walked through enough dreams before to know when he was in one. And, anyway, if he'd really wanted to try, Gabriel would already have a hole in him.

"This is hardly any way to greet your brother. If I didn't know better," Lucifer said, stepping down from the prow and into the boat, "I'd think you weren't happy to see me."