That was why he’d shown her his research—because he’d known she would go straight to the demons to warn them.How could I have been so stupid?
“When I heard Adriel had sent you on an important assignment, I was understandably concerned, given your past. It’s not my place to question Adriel, though I can’t imagine what motivations he had in selecting you. I would’ve been honored to undertake any task on his behalf.” Raphael shook his head. “Hopefully this will help him to realize his mistake.”
The sinking feeling in Sunshine’s stomach deepened. Raphael was actuallyjealousof her relationship with Adriel. He evidently thought she didn’t deserve such a privilege, and he, as a decorated archangel, should have it instead.
He was a prick, just as Raum had said. A narcissistic prick with a flaming sword and the power of Heaven on his side.
Still, Sunshine had known him most of her long life, and he’d always been kind enough. Surely there was a part of him that could be merciful. If he was truly indifferent, Eva would already be dead.
“I’m sure it’s a mistake that you haven’t been assigned a mentor yet,” she said, deciding her best hope lay in appealing to his ego. “Why don’t you and I return to the Realm now? We can pay a visit to Adriel together, and I’ll ask him on your behalf to—”
“Still, you try to hide your misdeeds from me,” Raphael interrupted, shaking his head. “I wasn’t surprised before when I showed you my research, but I expected you to come clean when I confronted you. Maybe you are too far gone.”
“I’m not sure what you think I’ve done, but—”
“I know everything, Shamsiel.” His eyes were cold again. Cold and bitter. “I’ve known it from the beginning. Who do you think the Tribunal assigned to wipe Raum’s memories? I’ve been watching you for centuries, waiting for you to break again. I knew it was only a matter of time.”
Sunshine’s entire body froze as his words sank in. Her heart forgot to beat. Her lungs forgot to expand with breath.
Raphael knew about her past.He already knew.Not only that, buthewas the one who had erased Raum’s memories. Because of her.
He had called her out for lying, but how could he have looked her in the eye for the last four centuries and not felt the need to confess?
“I already knew the pages were torn from Raum’s record in the library,” he continued. “They were removed on purpose—soyouwouldn’t find them. I thought you should be banished altogether. I told the Tribunal an angel corrupted to that degree could never truly redeem herself, but they wouldn’t listen, too quick to bend under Adriel’s will. My only choice now is to show them all the mistake they made in trusting you.”
This was so much worse than she’d expected. Her world was crashing and burning around her, her faith in the heavenly hierarchy and justice system shattering like frail glass. But she put all her strength into projecting calm. She would not fall apart. She would not give him the satisfaction.
“I see now that I have been misled.” She kept her voice level, without a single tremor. “You speak of lying, but it seems to me you and the Tribunal have just as much to confess.” Her hopes of reasoning with him were dying with every passing second, but for Eva’s sake, she had to keep trying. “Whatever it is you seek to achieve here, surely we can find a way to avoid cruelty.”
“It’s not cruelty, Shamsiel. It’s practicality. All I’ve done is arranged a circumstance where I can address the problem of you, the rogues, and this hybrid simultaneously. I borrowed a scry glass and those manacles from the Court of Ceremonies in preparation. Everything has been arranged.”
Items of power and extra abilities were only bestowed upon archangels when they’d been charged with dispensations of justice. It had to mean the Tribunal had sanctioned this entire terrible plan. The thought made her nauseous.
“We should not follow the rules so blindly,” she said. “We should have mercy forallcreatures. This innocent woman doesn’t deserve to die simply because she was born. And demons can evolve. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Have you checked on Asmodeus since you cursed him all those years ago? He is not a mindless servant of darkness. He cares. He has passions.” Her gaze flicked to Eva. “He loves.”
“A convenient creature for him to fall inlovewith. A Nephilim’s blood grants him the ability to hide from tracking spells. Because of her blood, I couldn’t use the scrying glass until I had found him with my own eyes. A naive little girl would fall easily for a lust demon’s charm.”
“He didn’t havecharmwhen we met, fuckwad,” Eva spat, “because you cursed him to be invisible, remember? And he passed out cold the first time he told me he loved me. Pretty sure I’d know if he was faking it!”
“Be quiet,” Raphael’s voice was low. “Or I’ll silence you myself.”
“Raphael, please!” Sunshine lurched forward when he lifted his sword toward Eva again. “Let’s remain calm and resolve this without violence. What is it you want from me? Why have you arranged all this?”
His blue eyes fixed on her again. Cold and lifeless. “I want to bring the demon here and finish what I started.”
* * *
Raum finally forcedhimself to leave Luna behind in the kennel, though he felt like the world’s biggest bastard. The only way he’d been able to do it was to promise her—as if she could understand fucking English—that he’d come back as soon as possible and take her home again. Even being around Belial seemed better for her than the cage, which said a lot about how much she hated the kennel.
Still feeling like shit, he headed outside, past a gaping Chloé. He didn’t blame her for staring this time. He’d left his torn shirt with Luna—it wasn’t wearable, and he figured his scent might comfort her—and it wasn’t exactly summer yet. The night was cold and the air bit at his bare skin.
As he jogged down the steps, his phone rang. He whipped it out with lightning speed, rolling his eyes at himself once again when he saw it wasn’t Sunshine.
Meph was right. He had it bad.
It was Ash, but Raum answered anyway because he hadn’t forgotten what Meph said about Sunshine’s warning. He barely got a ‘hello’ out before Ash demanded, “When was the last time you saw Eva?”
“She dropped me at the shelter. Why?”
