“I want my own living space,” Raum suddenly announced. Apparently, he could dream bigger after all. “I’m sick of listening to Meph and Iris fuck through the walls.”
Iris’s face went beet red. Meph grinned. Mist nodded understandingly, and Bel groaned. “Can’t tell you how many times I’ve considered cutting my own ears off and shoving them down both your throats.”
“Ew,” Lily said.
Everyone teased them more as Iris shrank further into the oversized hoodie she wore—likely Meph’s—and Meph just looked smug. He could embarrass anyone endlessly, but no one could ever get him back because he laughed at himself the same way he laughed at others.
Finally, the conversation died down again, and they went back to sitting in stunned silence. Raum suspected it would be a while before they actually believed they were free.
“What about you, Belial?” Sunshine asked suddenly. “What’s the first thing you want to do?”
Bel stroked his chin and thought briefly. And then he smiled. “Buy a big fuck-off mansion.”
34
Something To Crow About
One month later…
Sunshine stepped out of the bright sunlight and pushed open the door toAnge Gardien, causing the little bells overhead to tinkle. Summer had come early this year in Montreal, which made everyone happy. Even Sunshine, who’d just spent the day in Heaven where the weather was always temperate, felt a little spring in her step.
The secretary looked up when Sunshine entered and froze like a deer in headlights.
“Bonjour, Chloé.”Sunshine lifted a hand in greeting.“Ça va?”
Chloé’s mouth dropped open, and she made no reply.
Oh well. Hopefully she’d get used to Sunshine eventually. According to Raum, she’d only just worked up the nerve to say hello to him when he came in every morning.
So as not to distress her further, Sunshine hurried through the door into the hall. She was just about to head into the kennels when another door opened behind her. She turned to find Caro leaving her office.
“Greetings, Caro,” Sunshine said before inwardly wincing. Humans didn’t often greet each other that way, but she’d been spending a lot of time with Adriel lately, and his formal speech was wearing off on her.
She’d also spent the last week in session with the Tribunal, working to change the rules around Nephilim, vampires, and other supernatural creatures. They didn’t deserve to die just for existing.
As Adriel had predicted, no one had lifted a finger to look for Raphael. She couldn’t quite find it in herself to feel sorry for him.
“Hi, Sunshine,” Caro said, smiling as she pushed her glasses up her nose. “She’s almost ready for you. All her shots are up to date, and the vet said she’s in perfect health. I’m just finishing up her paperwork, and then she’s all yours.”
“Thank you. You’ve made this whole process so easy.”
“That’s my job. Just want to see the dogs going to good homes, and I know you two are going to be great for her. I’m happy to take care of the little details.”
“Your kindness is greatly appreciated.”
“You’re too sweet, honey. I can see why Raum is so smitten. He’d better appreciate what he has and treat you right.”
“He does,” Sunshine assured her. “He is hard on the outside but soft on the inside.”
“He is, isn’t he?” Caro laughed. “He’s in the dog run out back if you want to get him. Tiny’s new family came by for a visit earlier, and now he’s working his magic with a new rescue we got in. Come find me when you’re ready to go.”
Thanking Caro once more, Sunshine pushed through the door into the kennels. The dogs were quiet and relaxed, and as she passed, many came to sniff her fingers and wag their tails. She assured each of them they were in good hands and would surely find homes soon.
Passing through the outside door at the end, she stepped back into the bright sunshine, squinting as her eyes adjusted. She spotted Raum immediately, and her heart melted a little. He was sitting on the ground with his back against the chain-link fence, one arm draped over his bent knee.
The position looked casual, but she knew he’d done it so the dog with him could sniff his fingers. The animal was doing just that and seemed to have warmed up to him a little, because its tail was wagging.
Raum’s head turned when she approached, and his lips curved in one corner. A smile just for her.Precious.
