Before Lizzy could answer, the trees around the clearing bent in a sudden wind that sent leaves swirling through the air.
Phoenix turned in a slow circle, looking for the source of the disturbance.
He looked straight up and found it.
Justinian, who had apparently decided to revert to his gleaming white robes and leather gladiator sandals—but not his formerly flowing tresses—dropped out of the sky in a blinding corona of white light, brandishing his flaming sword like a maniac. The displaced air of his landing generated a localized thunderclap to accompany his bellow of “Fear not!” as his sandals hit the grass.
Lizzy dropped sideways in a faint.
“What the hell are you doing here? You were supposed to be waiting with Justine! Now look what you’ve done.” Phoenix gestured to Lizzy, who lay sprawled on the grass.
Justinian’s taut posture collapsed into a chagrined slouch, and his blazing light disappeared. “I did not mean to.”
“Hollering ‘Fear not!’ like an idiot.” Phoenix rolled his eyes in disgust. “What did you think would happen?” He looked Justinian up and down. “And what possessed you to dress up like that—and then leave out the hair?”
Justinian rubbed his head. “I like the bald look.”
Raya chafed Lizzy’s hands, to no avail. “She’s out.”
“Let me. It was my fault.” Justinian set his sword aside and knelt beside Lizzy. He placed a large hand with surprising gentleness on her forehead. “Wake,ma chérie. You are safe.”
Lizzy’s eyelids fluttered. Her gaze landed on Justinian. “Raya? Who—”
“He’s an angel. He’s all right.”
“Mostly,” Phoenix muttered.
“An angel,” Lizzy breathed. She reached out to him.
Justinian took her hand, then wrapped his substantial arm around her and helped her sit up. “My apologies, madame. I did not mean to frighten you.”
“Oh, that’s okay.” Lizzy’s hands fluttered like drunk birds, then landed on his arm. Her eyes widened. “My, you’re very strong, aren’t you?”
Phoenix made eye contact with Raya and stifled a laugh.
Raya was clearly struggling to contain a laugh as she introduced them. “Lizzy—the angel Justinian. Justinian—Lizzy the witch.”
“Enchantée, I’m sure.” Lizzy held her hand out and wiggled her fingers.
Justinian took her hand and kissed it gravely. “The pleasure is mine.”
Phoenix snapped his fingers to break them out of their trance. “Are you two finished with—whatever that was?”
Justinian shot him a look that could have melted iron.
A distant peacock made a series of hooting, squawking noises.
“Why are you here, anyway?” Raya looked at Justinian with undisguised curiosity.
“I followed you. I wanted to know what was going on, so I dropped in.”
Lizzy smiled. “Literally.”
“Great. Now that we’re all here and we all know each other—do you think it’s possible we might bloody well get something done?”
The three of them stared at him like he was ruining their lovely outing in the park.
Raya shifted to face Lizzy. “Lizzy, Nathan threatened Phoenix—”
