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ss jobs for the seraphim.”
“Does your mom work here?” I asked.
“No. But it’s okay, she’s got many things to do at home, in the Second Sphere. She keeps busy with parties, clubs, meetings for the souls still struggling with their egos. It’s voluntary work, but she enjoys it.”
I nodded. Meeting the Gracewings was going to be quite the experience. We gathered around Professor Maat, who wrapped up the field trip with a short speech, then a weird flying shuttle came for me and the guys. I’d seen the things parked here and there, but I’d had no idea they flew. Our ride was a white, oval machine that reflected the bright light of the skies off its shiny surface. Inside, the seats were in a circle, and I squeezed in between GC and Paz after GC gave me his hand to help me up. Francis and Sariel sat opposite from us.
“Nervous?” Paz whispered in my ear.
I bit the inside of my lip and thought for a second. Was I nervous? Probably. Was my nervousness justifiable? Fuck knew. I’d find out soon enough.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Compared to the higher Spheres, the second one was well populated. The shuttle landed in the main courtyard, behind the imposing gates of the mansion, and my guys helped me out. Mr. and Mrs. Gracewing were waiting for us at the top of the stairs. A young, beautiful woman stood beside them, and I immediately guessed she was Sariel’s sister. The introductions were made, and two minutes later, Sariel’s parents and I were on a first-name basis. They insisted. GC and Paz weren’t given the same privilege, though.
The mansion was truly impressive. White, silver, and gold were the main colors – walls, floors, furniture, – while the ceiling was painted in light blue. The dining room had already been prepared for us, and we sat down to eat. For such a small family, it gave me the impression they had more servants than it was necessary. Must have been then whole “not enough jobs” story, and since the Gracewings could, apparently, afford to pay a few dozen lower-ranked angels, why not?
Both Raguel Gracewing and Ariela Gracewing were tall, lean, blond, and silver eyed. If I didn’t know better, I could swear they were brother and sister. Their daughter, Cassia, was just a younger copy of her mother. Sariel was the spitting image of his father. The four of them looked so damn perfect and serene, that they made me feel uncomfortable. I tucked a strand of blue hair behind my ear and shot Corri an agitated look. She was talking to Cassia like she didn’t have a care in the world. Sariel’s sister wanted a pixie, so she had a bunch of questions.
Ariela had insisted I sat between herself and her son. Francis sat between Raguel and Cassia, which left GC and Pazuzu kind of isolated across from me, at the far end of the table. As the main course was served, the first thing I noticed was that Ariela Gracewing didn’t even acknowledge GC and Paz. She was doing her best to pretend they weren’t there, and even though I’d introduced them as my friends, hinting that they were more than that, she pretended like that wasn’t a thing, either. It was as if she’d made it her mission to hog me completely, and when she wasn’t talking to me, the only person I was allowed to talk to was Sariel. If I tried to make conversation with GC, Paz, or even Francis, she’d interrupt me in the cutest, most oblivious way, and redirect my attention back to Sariel.
This woman is up to something. She was.
“I didn’t see you last year at the Yule Ball,” she said in her chirpy voice. She smiled all the time now. I remembered clearly she hadn’t smiled back then.
“I was there.”
“But I didn’t see you up on the stage!”
“My parents couldn’t come…”
“Oh, yes. Valentine is so busy these days.” She nodded knowingly.
I cocked an eyebrow. I wasn’t thinking of him. Back then, I had no idea the man and woman who’d raised me weren’t my real parents. I didn’t feel like explaining any of that to her, though. She wasn’t interested.
“I heard he took a short vacation to spend time with you. When you see him, please do tell him our doors are open. He should join us for lunch, or dinner, or just tea anytime he likes.”
“Vacation…” I took a sip of white wine to mask my sarcasm. “It was more like a day. Yes, I’ll tell him, of course. I don’t know when I’ll see him next…”
“Oh, I’m sure he’ll make time for you. You’re his only daughter!” She giggled like a schoolgirl, and for the life of me, I couldn’t understand where all this giddiness came from. I smiled and took a bite of my vegan lasagna. “How do you like the food?”
“It’s delicious.”
“Sariel, tell her what your favorite food is.”
I looked at Sariel, and he looked at me. We were both confused. Of all the topics she could have suggested, she went for favorite food?! He cleared his throat and gave it a shot.
“Yes, I… mmm… it’s stuffed sweet potato.”
“What do you stuff it with?”
“Avocado and black beans.”
I stared at him for a second, then laughed. “No, it’s not.” His cheeks turned slightly red, and I wasn’t sure why. “Can’t be your favorite food. You always go for the duck à l’orange at the Academy.” Roast duck with orange sauce was his guilty pleasure. That much I knew about Sariel from Patty.
He pursed his lips and furrowed his brows. His face was now full-blown red.
“What?” I asked, confused.
