Raya stared at them. “When was this, exactly?”
“The French Revolution,” said Phoenix.
Her eyes widened. “You started the French Revolution?”
“I didn’t start it, okay? And they had a lot to be mad about, let me tell you!”
Justinian growled. “They stormed my cathedral, thinking the statues were of French kings, and then they dragged the statues to the guillotine and beheaded them.”
Phoenix rolled his eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry—I was a little more concerned about people who didn’t have enough bread to eat than propping up the status quo and a bunch of old statues of saints!”
“You weren’t concerned about the people—you just wanted to cause trouble!”
“You just wanted to keep things as they were!”
Demon and angel glared at each other.
Raya delicately and fearlessly stepped between them, facing Justinian. “We all make mistakes,” she said soothingly, patting his muscular shoulder until he slowly lowered the sword to his side.
Phoenix peeked around Raya. “By the way, what happened to your hair?”
Justinian’s eyes narrowed. “You see? He is nothing but a troublemaker!”
“Yes, yes—I know.” Raya spoke like someone calming a child. “Your sister said as much.”
“My sister? You talked to Justine?”
“She’s doing really well for herself, you know. Cutest little bakery I ever saw.”
Phoenix stood in awe of Raya’s skill at transitioning from dire peril to family-oriented small talk.
Justinian looked troubled. “She leaves me things, sometimes.”
Raya playfully smacked his sword arm. “You should pop up for a visit. Don’t you get bored down here?”
“Well—I do have a library in my cave.”
“A library? Down here?”
Justinian scuffed his toe in the sand. “It’s nothing, really.”
“Listen, Phoenix is very sorry for what he did.” Raya caught Phoenix’s eye and winked.
“Oh—yes! Terribly sorry, mate.”
The angel raised a skeptical eyebrow.
Phoenix smiled in what he hoped was a charming manner. “Did you know they finally found the heads?”
Justinian’s face turned thunderous again.
Raya’s lips pressed together as she caught Phoenix’s gaze again and shook her head almost imperceptibly. “And Phoenix would like to do whatever it takes to make it up to you.”
Phoenix did a double take. “I would?”
Raya nodded serenely. “Of course you would. Just like you said.”
“He said that?” Justinian regarded Phoenix with surprise.
