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"Pressure or not, that doesn't give anyone the right to be cruel. Or to enslave an entire race of angels." Lily's tone was sharp as a blade. “But you seem pretty ok with that. Slavery I mean. You made that clear in the tent this morning.”
“I was wrong this morning,” I admitted, and she blinked.
"But I’m not wrong about this. We are blessed to be called to serve. And Gabriel, he’s… he's perfect. He’s intelligent and strategic, and he holds everything together, and he-”
"It sure sounds like you've got a thing for this archangel."
"That's... ridiculous. I respect him, that's all."
"Uh-huh." She propped her chin on her hand, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Respect with a little extra, maybe? Respect that lets you look past what he does? Heard some nasty rumours about what he gets his soldiers to do."
"Rumours are just that—rumours," I countered, struggling to keep my voice even. "You can't believe everything you hear."
"True," Lily conceded with a shrug. "But where there's smoke, there's usually fire. And from what I heard, Gabriel's been starting quite the inferno."
"Enough," I cut her off. The notion of discussing Gabriel any further twisted my insides into a knot. "Gabriel has... his hands full. The hellions are no minor nuisance; they've invaded earth, breeding chaos as fast as their vile offspring. Gabriel wants to protect humans, he’s determined, you know?" I continued, the image of Gabriel's resolute face flashing in my mind. "To exterminate them all. The weight of it, it's..." I trailed off, trying to articulate the burden that I imagined pressing down on his celestial shoulders.
“Stressful, I get it,” Lily said, though it was clear from her tone that she didn’t believe a word of it. “So, is that what he’s done to you? Sent you down here as an example?”
I nodded. "Probation. To teach me humility." I sighed. “And to break me.”
Lily frowned. “Why?”
“I still haven’t given him their location,” I confessed.
Lily raised her eyebrows, and she grinned. “You haven’t? Good for you, Sari! And I love how his plan’s backfiring already.”
“What do you mean?”
She gestured at me with a flourish, grinning broadly. "A few days rubbing elbows with us 'lesser beings,' and you're already showing more heart than most. And a conscience."
"Excuse me?" I blinked, surprised by her words. I had never considered my actions in such a way.
"You're caring for a wolf shifter, standing up to an archangel, and have shown compassion for deserters. You've got more humanity than many humans I know," she said and folded her arms, looking pleased with herself.
I frowned at her, feeling suddenly uncomfortable under her scrutiny. "That's not..."
She cut me off with a wave of her hand. "Save it, Sari. I'm just glad you're here with us and not up there." She pointed to the heavens above our heads. "Seems like you're doing more good down here."
"Lily, that's..." I didn't know how to respond. I sank down onto the bed and closed my eyes. “I’m so confused. And Theo kissing me hasn’t helped. You said he was upset, and I can’t… I can't go there, Lily. It’s not me. But I don’t want to lead him on either.”
"Well, I think you're insane. Theo's a catch. Funny as hell, a really decent guy, and let's not even start on how he looks with his shirt off..."
"Agreed, he's...nice. And aesthetically pleasing." I acknowledged, feeling a traitorous warmth at the thought of his smile, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when amused. "But rules are rules, and as an angel, I—"
"Have to stick to them or no Heaven, right?" Lily finished for me again, though this time her tone had softened, tinged with empathy rather than jest.
"Exactly," I said. "I cannot just abandon my post, my purpose."
"Even if it means giving up on someone who could be special?" She tilted her head. “You could take the risk, you know. Try and find some happiness, like those deserters you saved. Why don’t you deserve happiness?”
“I couldn’t do that,” I muttered. “What would I do? Where would I go?”
“I bet Alastor wouldn't mind keeping you on the team," Lily said, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Something tells me Theo’s not the only one who wouldn’t mind a bit of one-on-one time with you. Besides, it'd be nice to have another girl around."
A smile found its way onto my face, unbidden and genuine. The idea of staying, of being part of a team, sparked a warmth within me that felt dangerously like hope. "You think so?"
"Definitely," she replied.
