“Temperance, Charity, Chastity, Diligence, Humility, Kindness, and Patience.”

Erelah was rattling off the Virtues again because Eden couldn’t seem to quite remember them all.

“So angels and angelings practice all of those?” Eden asked. The sun was sinking, and the babies were playing—the three moms were gathered in the great room of Eden and Ren’s new apartment, all sitting on a U-shaped collection of couches while Aurora played on the carpet, dangling toys in front of the smaller babies. Eva was propped up on a seat, and Ralphie was on his back on a blanket. Aurora would play then take flight and hover over them, then land on her diaper-bottom with very un-angel-like grace.

It charmed and mesmerized Eden—but she was also soaking up Erelah’s tutorial on angels and angelkind.

“Only the angelkind in the Light strictly adhere to the Virtues,” Erelah said. “Those in shadow…” She frowned, and Eden could see why. She was talking about her own father now.

“Does it really matter?” Eden pressed. “It seems like being in shadow just means you have black wings. After all, it was a shadow angeling who broke us out of Elyon’s prison in the first place.” She refused to call it a “nursery” anymore. Elyon’s was a prison. Razael’s was a refuge. And now they had their own nursery right here in the apartment—a real one.

“It is Truth that one can be in shadow and still be Virtuous,” Erelah said carefully. “But the Fallen still are beguiled by the Sins more than those in the Light.” But she was frowning.

“Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Sloth, Envy, Wrath, Pride,” Ren listed off the Sins. At Eden’s surprised look, she added, “What? I’ve been paying attention.”

Eden chuckled, but Erelah was nodding like this was of the utmost seriousness.

“What I want to know,” Ren said to Erelah, “is about Lust.”

“You would,” Eden teased. She leaned forward as if whispering a secret to Erelah. “She and Micah had a lot of sex. And by a lot, I mean so much sex. Really loud sex.” It was a wonder she could even tease about that now—such was the healing she felt happening in her heart, even without Razael actively pumping angel blessing power into her. It was as if he just had to get her started—and bring her to this heavenly place with a built-in family and safety for her and Ren and the babies—and everything just fell into place. Except that she had an aching need to see him and tell him that. Razael was the only piece missing in this delightful new puzzle her life had suddenly become.

“We did not have that much sex!” Ren protested, but Eden just laughed, and Erelah seemed confused. Ren’s shoulders dropped. “Okay, maybe we did. But not anymore. Don’t remind me.”

Eden would feel bad about teasing her if there weren’t so much joy in her heart for being able to.

“It’s not surprising that an angeling would enjoy sex,” Erelah said with complete seriousness. “Especially in shadow. The stamina of an angeling comes from their angel power.” She gave a small smile. “The sexual appetites of dragons are legendary, but Leksander can hardly keep up with me.”

Ren’s eyes bugged out, and she gave Eden a look like, Can you even believe this? And it was amazing—all of it—as if the nightmare they’d be having suddenly flipped, and now they were in the heavenly version. Where angels and angelings and other powerful, immortal creatures were cute babies, or sexy men, or sweet angeling-sisters-in-arms. But Erelah’s revelations about stamina didn’t surprise her—she already knew that sexual stamina applied to angels and angelings.

Elyon had used it to torment her.

But now she saw it in a different light.

She knew making love with Razael would be vastly different—if only he would let her in. “Wait…” she said, just realizing something. “If Chastity is a Virtue, and you need to practice the Virtues to be in the Light, then how can you be in the Light and wear out your dragon husband in bed?” This suddenly seemed a hyper-relevant piece of information.

“Right!” Ren chimed in. “I mean, Molly and Asa are totally banging each other, and he’s in the Light. How exactly does that work?”

“That is the question of the moment.” Erelah frowned at Eden. “Did my father not explain all this to you?”

Eden shook her head.

Erelah bit her lip but went on. “I suppose you have need to know, and he has his hands full with Elyon. But in short, a few angelings have returned to the Light after being in shadow. When I was able to mate with Leksander and remain in the Light—and bear an angeling—it sent shock waves through the immortal world. I feared that all angelings would rush out and try to mate with humans—even though Leksander is not human. I feared that the Light forces would try to build an army of angelings through mating—if they could do so without falling into shadow, it might escalate tensions between the realms and bring war.”

“But that didn’t happen?” Ren asked.

Erelah waved a hand at Aurora who was hovering over Ralphie and smiling at him. “It’s only been a few months since Aurora was born, but since then, two more angelings of Light—Tajael and Oriel—both have mated and remained, or in Oriel’s case returned, to the Light.”

“And now Asa has done it,” Ren said, nodding. Her brow was furrowed. Did she think this was something Micah might accomplish?

“So it can be done,” Eden said, her mind also turning with the possibilities. “But I don’t understand—if Chastity is a Virtue, how does that work?” She knew that wasn’t what was stopping Razael—he was in shadow, so it didn’t matter. But it was hard for him to be with her because she reminded him of his previous Love. She was convinced of that, as if she were a temptation and a torment all wrapped in one for him. But maybe she could help him ease out of that. Help him with his own healing. Maybe that would mean sex at some point—she was becoming more fond of that idea the more she thought about it. If they had sex, that wouldn’t be a problem, at least as far as Virtues and Sins went—he was already in shadow.

“It’s complicated,” Erelah said with a sigh. “And no one rightly can claim to know why the transformation occurs. But for myself, I can say without question—Leksander’s True Love redeemed me. He had faith. He had Patience. He shines with Virtues, and his willingness to wait for me, fight for me, never give up on the possibility of our love…” Erelah was tearing up, and Eden couldn’t help but be moved. Ren was smiling with shining eyes. “He knew the Truth long before I did—that Love is not a Sin. And the lovemaking we make—the beautiful act that created our Aurora, our new dawn—is not Lust.” She shrugged. “I returned to the Light when my Love for him was True. I cannot explain it other than that.”

Ren’s eyes were glassing even more. “That sounds beautiful.” But she seemed about to cry. “I think I’ll just… take a little rest.” She got up abruptly and headed down the hall to her room.

Erelah looked stricken. “I do not understand. Why would my words upset her?”

Eden frowned and thought for a moment, but then it became clear. “Oh dear.” She cast a look down the hall and debated going after Ren.

“What is it?” Erelah asked, even more concerned.

“It’s all right.” Eden waved it off. “She’s in love with Micah.”

“Yes, I know. Elyon’s son.” Erelah wasn’t putting it together.

“If it’s as you say,” Eden said gently, “and True Love is what brings a shadow angeling back into the Light…”

“Oh.” Erelah’s eyes went wide. “Then he must not have True Love of her.”

Eden shrugged. “I don’t know. He certainly seems to love her. Then again, he was there when Elyon came for us. He would have brought her back to Elyon’s Regiment if your father hadn’t stopped him.”

Erelah’s astonishment fell into a frown. “That is unfortunate.”

“Yeah. It is.” Eden sighed. At least, Elyon didn’t pretend to love her. She knew he was a monster, even if knowing that almost broke her. But it didn’t. And now, she had a real chance at a life that could be wholesome and whole.

Before Eden could decide whether she should go after Ren, the front door to the apartment swung open. Eden startled, but Erelah was immediately on her feet, somehow pulling a blade from somewhere and leaping in front of the babies.

“It’s all right,” Laylah said, waving from the door. “I guess we should have a special knock or something.”

“Or perhaps simply lock the door.” Razael edged past Laylah, through the threshold.

“Yes, my lord.” Laylah looked chagrined as she closed the door behind Razael.

Eden’s heart was lurching around in her chest like it couldn’t decide whether to speed up or just leap.

Erelah had sheathed her blade somewhere and stepped around the babies. “Father! That didn’t take long.”

“Seemed like a small eternity to me.” He pressed his lips together, but his gaze had already found Eden’s face. Her heart decided leaping was the right response.

“I see,” Erelah said in a way that was pregnant with meaning.

“I came to check on you,” Razael said to Eden, and suddenly it felt like they were the only two in the room. Erelah, the babies, Aurora, all disappeared in the blazing attention Razael was lavishing on her.

“I’m fine,” she said. What she wanted to say was, I’m in desperate need of another blessing. But that was probably obvious and unseemly. Yet still true.

His gaze was penetrating—he was searching her soul. Would he like what he found there? The heat in his eyes didn’t temper. Was that good? She second-guessed every tiny nuance.

Finally, he broke the stare and faced Erelah. “I’ve briefed Leksander and the rest of the dragons and a contingent of angelings I’ve stationed inside the keep. I’m here to tell you as well our plans for Elyon.”

“So you’ve met with the other shadow angels?” Erelah asked as she plucked Aurora out of the air. She had been heading straight for Razael.

“All four of us are in the keep.”

Erelah’s eyebrows lifted, and Eden’s fluttering heart settled. That sounded serious. And like they were ready for battle.

Erelah glanced at Eden then back to Razael. “You’re going to lure him here.”

“Yes.” He gave a soft look to Eden then turned back to his daughter. “Your dragons are working on constructing secondary wards around all the apartments. You should remain behind those wards for the duration—until Elyon shows his face, and we’ve been successful in banishing him.”

“And if you are not?” Erelah’s face showed more concern than Eden felt—she had a great faith that whatever Razael had planned would succeed. And not just because she wished for it—because she had faith in the angel making the plans.

“Then please take your child and flee.” To Eden, he added, “Laylah has instructions to do the same with you and Ren and the babies. Under no circumstance should you hesitate.”

“I won’t.” And she wouldn’t—there was no way she would risk being caught by Elyon again. But if Razael failed to banish him, what would that mean? Could an angel die? She saw Zuriel struck down and yet, the angel had resurrected again in another human-like form. Angels were immortal… weren’t they?

This suddenly seemed an important detail.

Razael’s gaze was still on her, but he seemed frozen—like he was torn between staying and going. “Your soul is… it has made progress in healing since I saw you last.”

And that would be as good an excuse as any. “I might need another blessing. For the baby.”

His gaze heated again—and that look on his face was warming every inch of her skin.

Erelah held a squirming Aurora in her arms. “And… I believe I will take the babies to the nursery.” Then she quickly released Aurora and swept Ralphie in one arm and Eva in the other. Once she had the babies in hand, Aurora fluttered around her, curious, and followed her out of the great room and down the hall to the nursery.

Razael’s gaze never left Eden’s face. As soon as Erelah was out of the room, he crossed the great room to reach her, where she was still standing by the couch. “Are you all right?” he asked.

Was it her imagination that his voice was husky? “I… I wanted to thank you.” Now that he was here and gorgeous and standing in front of her with all his overwhelming masculine beauty, the words were thick in her throat. “For saving me. For healing me. For giving my baby back to me.” She was babbling, but it loosened her tongue a little. “I really do feel like I’m healing inside. Like that darkness Elyon carved into my soul is somehow fading.”

Emotions flitted across Razael’s face. He reached a hand for her cheek. “You have no idea how glad I am to hear that.” His fingers were hot on her skin.

Her breath quickened. “But as long as you’re here, perhaps another blessing will help even more.” She just wanted him to keep touching her like that. Keep looking at her like the sun and the moon rose at her bidding.

He let out a long exhale and eased closer. His hand on her cheek slid to holding it with his palm. His other hand cupped her belly. He wasn’t infusing her with angel power… he was simply holding her and looking like he might kiss her.

She was absolutely in favor of that.

He bent closer. “Shall I give you a life kiss this time?”

“Yes.” She said it fast and breathless. Please. She was ready to make that begging out loud.

“Oh, Eden,” he breathed on her, but not the magical kind, just the heat of his air mixing with hers as his lips neared. She tipped her head up to meet him but couldn’t quite reach. “How you tempt me.” Then he grasped her harder, holding her head still so she couldn’t reach for him anymore, and he breathed on her… only this time, it was filled with magic and energy and life. His lips didn’t touch her, frustratingly, achingly out of reach, but his hand on her belly infused her with a warmth that filled her head to toe. His touch on her cheek grew warmer, and his breath shuddered against her—light puffs that spoke of some internal struggle he was having. For her, the blessing was all the love and safety and warmth she remembered from her dream, the erotic one where he was touching her all over, igniting her body with desire.

The flow of magic—in his touch and his breath—came to an end, but he still held her.

Her hands, which had been lying limp at her sides, suddenly came alive with the panicky thought he might pull away. They fluttered up to his chest, half bare with his black toga only over one shoulder, and when she touched his skin with her fingertips, the shudder that ran through him before seemed to ripple through the firm muscles there.

But he didn’t move away.

She lay her palms flat on his broad chest, reveling in the strength of his muscles under the silky softness of his skin… and the soft thumping of his heart underneath. She knew he was angel, but in that moment, he was fully flesh in her hands. And this was so very Razael—gentle sweetness on the outside, rock-solid strength on the inside, and a tender heart beneath it all.

His breath was becoming ragged as she slid her hands along his chest, exploring. It was deeply satisfying to hear his breath catch, feel his pulse pound, know that she had this effect on him. Her hands traveled up to his cheeks and held him there. She peered up into his eyes, his lips still held tantalizingly out of reach.

“I know I’m not her,” she whispered, “but can you kiss me as if I were?”

Air released from his chest as it caved forward. Then he closed that final gap and pressed his lips to hers.

She didn’t know what to expect in a true kiss from an angel.

The toe-curling pulse of pleasure certainly wasn’t it.

He knees buckled under it, her sex flaming with sudden heat. He caught her—held her firm with his hands already on her—and devoured her mouth, lifting her from the floor, so her feet were no longer touching and bending her backward. She was fully at his mercy—he’d taken full command of her mouth with his tongue, her body was suspended in the air, held against his—but she’d never felt more safe or more loved. The heat of the blessing surged back and mixed with the ache between her legs and the furious pounding of her heart. She clawed at him to get closer, but he was already holding her tight against him. His mouth worked against hers, his tongue hungry for her, and just when she thought she might run out of air… he broke the kiss.

“Eden… angels of heaven,” he breathed against her, not letting her go.

There was nothing she wouldn’t say yes to at that point. “Don’t stop,” she whispered.

A groan and a shudder went through him at the same time. She felt them against her skin.

“Magic and Light, I want you.” But instead of pulling her close again, he set her down.

The disappointment was a physical ache carving out her chest.

He held her cheeks, gazed into her eyes, touched her lips with the softest brush of his fingertips… but no more.

She wanted to cry, but she held it in.

“I cannot…” He was almost talking to himself, his eyes fixed on her lips like he was thinking about kissing her again regardless of whatever was holding him back. Then he wrenched his gaze up to meet hers, and she could see the pain in his eyes. “I can’t take the risk.” There was more he was leaving unspoken, but that was enough for her.

He wanted her. But something inside him was broken, and so he simply couldn’t. Not yet.

She nodded and touched his lips with her fingertips in return. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “But when you can…” She peered up into his eyes—they had gone wide, almost wild, with her words. “I need you to show me what love is supposed to feel like.”

He shuddered again and pulled away. Let go of her entirely. And with that space between them, his expression grew more dark. “I told you before. I’m not the kind who’s worthy of someone like you.”

She frowned, a bite of anger eating at her. Or was it just frustration? But this “not worthy” business rubbed her entirely the wrong way. “Who’s saying that? The Light angels?”

His eyebrows lifted, and then a wry smile tugged at his lips. “I don’t need Light angels to tell me the Truth.”

She scowled. “I think it’s up to me to decide who’s worthy of kissing me. Or more.”

His eyes fell to half mast, and that look of want was back. It surged heat through her, prickling her skin, but he simply took another step back. And another.

“I must join the others,” he said, voice rough. “They’re waiting for me.” And then without another word, he turned and strode to the door. He flung it open, startling Laylah, who was standing directly outside. “Lock the door,” he growled to her and just kept going.

No goodbye. No “maybe later.” Just storming out to banish the one threat that still hung over her and her child. Whether she was just a stand-in for his long-lost love, she couldn’t tell. Maybe, after they consummated this burning passion between them, he would see the truth that she was just a half-broken woman carrying her rapist’s child. And then he wouldn’t want her. But she was certain that he wanted her now. And if he returned—if Elyon was defeated, and somehow Razael didn’t perish in the fight—she would take that angel to bed and revel in whatever minutes, or hours, or days he would give her.

She needed him. He was the final balm for her soul in a way that had nothing to do with blessings or breathy life kisses. And even more—he needed her.

She would heal this broken thing inside him if he gave her half a chance.