33 A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN #3
Then again, he liked sassy Sunshine, even if it was pissing him off right now.
Adriel spoke. “I plan to continue my research into demon souls, but I need angels to help implement the new rules. I was able to override the Principalities by going straight to the Dominations with the changes I wanted to make, but Earth is not my jurisdiction, and beyond that I have no say in what goes on here. I would like to offer you a position uniquely suited to your situation. I need a Principality willing to live on Earth with demons who want to transition from living on the Hell plane to this one.”
Sunshine’s eyes were wide. “S-sir?”
“Your duties will be screening applicants to determine their suitability and working with the Tribunal to enforce the new rules. Once a demon passes assessment and is granted approval to live on Earth, there will be a mentorship program in place. Each demon will be assigned a guide to oversee their transition, measure their progress, and ensure they continue abiding by the rules.”
“You want me to do this?” Sunshine asked. “And … I could live on Earth?”
“Yes. The closer you’re willing to be to your first group of transitioning demons, the better.”
“If you expect me to take counseling from an angel,” Bel said, “you’re mistaken.”
Adriel looked at him. “These are the conditions set forth for your continued freedom.”
“Well, you can take those conditions and shove—”
“Shut up, Bel,” Ash hissed. “We’ll do it.”
“You don’t speak for me—”
“I do when you’re being an ass. He’s telling us we’re fucking free. No one can force us back to Hell. No archangels can try to kill us. All we have to do is let Sunshine counsel us or whatever. I’d sit through way worse than that, and I know you would too, so shut up.”
Sunshine beamed like Ash had just paid her a great compliment. Bel’s lip curled, and his clenched jaw indicated there was more he wanted to say, but surprisingly, he held his tongue.
“But I want protection for Eva,” Ash said, looking back at Adriel. “If you want me to stop being evil and cooperate with Heaven, then you’d better find a way to make sure nothing happens to her.”
Adriel transferred his serene smile to Sunshine. “As the Principality heading this important operation, I believe Sunshine will have the authority to arrange that.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to keep her safe,” Sunshine assured him, but her gaze was on Eva. Then she turned back to Adriel. “I can really stay with Raum? And regain my rank?”
“Yes. Unless, of course, you’d still prefer to become a Grigori?” Adriel’s brow quirked.
“No! No, thank you. I accept the position.”
Raum wasn’t jumping on board so quickly. “I thought relationships were forbidden to angels, no matter what rank they hold.”
“The Dominations have ordered an exception to be made in your case.” Adriel’s eerie eyes fixed on him.
“Apparently, you have friends in high places. You were the primary case I presented of how a demon can evolve. Your history with Sunshine was a perfect example of how love, when freely given and received, can transform the hardest hearts, forming a soul in a body that previously had none.”
Well, fuck. The heavenly hosts were making a special exception just for him and Sunshine. Raum still kinda wanted to punch Adriel in his flawless angelic face, but … this helped a bit.
“Can you return our memories?” he asked.
Adriel shook his head. “I’m sorry. To maintain the balance, the exception must come at a price. The Dominations declared that your past is the sacrifice you have to make to secure your future.”
Raum looked at Sunshine, and she smiled apologetically at him. He felt her disappointment as much as his own, but … suddenly, it didn’t seem so important anymore.
He knew enough about what had happened, and while he wished like hell he could’ve remembered his lost time with Sunshine, if forgetting forever meant he could have her now, the choice was easy.
He took a breath, blew it out, and finally let go of the past.
“I have, however,” Adriel added just when he was making his peace, “been given leave to return one particular memory of relevance to you, one that may be helpful in the days to come.”
Raum and Sunshine exchanged glances. Yeah, he was releasing the past and all that, but he couldn’t deny the burst of excitement he felt at the prospect of having a memory returned. Especially one that was supposed to help them now. He couldn’t fathom what it could be or how it would help them.
But more than anything, he wanted to know—what had he been like during those lost years?
He knew who he’d been before and who he’d become after, but those versions of himself were stark opposites, and he had no understanding of how he had changed.
It had been stretched out over three hundred years, but then, three hundred years wasn’t that long for an immortal being.
“You will likely experience the memory in a dream, when your conscious minds are at rest,” Adriel continued. “And as I said before, Sunshine, when I altered your memories, I relived them through you. So if you have any other questions, I may have the answers. You need only ask.”
“Do you know why Raum is resistant to angel blood?” Sunshine asked.
“In your … intimate moments, he was unable to quell his urge to bite.” For a moment, a flicker of what looked like embarrassment crossed Adriel’s face. He blinked, and the expression was neutralized. “The first few times it happened were unfortunate, as he quickly lost consciousness.”
Meph barked a laugh, and Iris elbowed him.
“Eventually, you realized that the more he bit you, the more his tolerance built, and you began giving him infusions of blood as often as possible to increase his resistance. After many years of this, he was able to overcome the effects almost immediately. He also developed certain angel-typical abilities, such as communication with animals.”
“That must be how you broke through Raphael’s sigil!” Eva said with a gasp.
But Raum wasn’t thinking about that. He was too busy staring at Adriel. “I have a connection with animals because of Sunshine?”
Adriel nodded. “But your own inclinations increased your aptitude. On another, it might have simply diminished the aversion animals have to demons. But because of your affection for Earth creatures, it developed into a powerful magnetism. Your care for them was one of the points I used when presenting my case to the Dominations.”
Raum transferred his stunned gaze to Sunshine, who beamed back at him. He almost couldn’t believe she was real. His connection with animals had been one of the only things to bring him peace in the last centuries.
Even when they’d forgotten each other, she’d been watching out for him.
“I’ve reached the extent of time I can remain on this mundane plane without ill effect,” Adriel said, interrupting their moment. “Sunshine, please give me the scrying glass and cuffs so I may return them to the Court of Ceremonies.”
“Of course.” Sunshine went to the kitchen where the items had been left on the counter and then carried them back to Adriel. “What about Raphael’s sword?”
He blinked. “I don’t think he’ll miss it presently.”
Meph choked on a laugh.
Sunshine’s eyes bugged. “But shouldn’t I give it to the Tribunal or—”
“You should hold on to it. A powerful heaven-forged weapon could prove useful. Just make sure you keep a close eye on it. You wouldn’t want it falling into the wrong hands.
” He smiled, dismissing the matter. “Please visit in the next few days so we can discuss your new program. You will also need to attend a ceremony for your rise in rank.”
“Of course, I—Thank you, sir. For everything. Words can’t express my gratitude.”
Raum said nothing and neither did anyone else. Yeah, yeah, he was grateful, but he wasn’t going to admit it. And it was going to take more than a verbal promise to earn his trust.
Adriel didn’t seem to care. He was still smiling that creepy smile at Sunshine.
“Our friendship has been a source of joy to me. I regret that it took me this long to correct my mistake, but you have taught me much since then. I thank you for showing me how to view this world in a more hopeful light. Do you wish to be called Shamsiel again now that you will be reinstated as a Principality?”
“No,” she said, smiling at Raum. “I chose my new name for a reason, and I have no desire to return to the past.”
She looked at him like he was the sunshine of her life and not the grumpy one in their partnership, and that made his lips curve into a smile.
Almost. For only a second.
But judging by the way she beamed at him in return, it was enough for her. And that was all he fucking cared about.
An hour or so later, Adriel was gone, Dan had also said his farewells and departed, and the rest of them were crammed onto the sofas and sitting in stunned silence. Except Belial, who loomed over by the windows, shoulder propped against the glass.
Eva and Ash sat beside Mist and Lily on one couch. On the other, Iris sat on Meph’s lap, and Raum—who’d finally taken a shower and was back in human form—had his arm around Sunshine, who rested her head against his shoulder. Faust lay on the floor in front of them.
“So … now what?” Meph ventured into the silence, idly tracing a tattoo on Iris’s forearm.
No one had an answer.
“What do you guys want to do now that you’re not fugitives anymore?” Eva asked.
“You can do anything you want,” Lily said.
“You’re all filthy rich with your dirty Hell money,” Iris added. “The world is your oyster.”
“I’m gonna buy a car,” Raum decided. “So I can drive to the shelter.”
Iris laughed. “Come on, you can dream bigger than that.”
He shrugged. “I already have everything I want.”
Sunshine lifted her head to smile at him.
Eva suddenly straightened and turned to Ash beside her. “Let’s go on tour!”
He blinked. “What?”
“Let’s get a band together and take our show on the road. People will love it!”
He shrugged. “All right.” He tried to look nonchalant, but Raum recognized that impassioned look in his eyes that he got whenever anyone mentioned music.
“I would like to see more of Earth,” Mist said. “I’ve only seen it when I was hunting. There are many places I’d like to explore in more detail.”
“Let’s do it!” Lily said, eyes lighting up, and Mist smiled affectionately at her. “I’ve always wanted to travel more.”
“You hate being in human form,” Iris said to him, cocking a brow.
He seemed unconcerned. “I can manage. I’ll look for deserted places when I need a break.”
“I want my own living space,” Raum suddenly announced. Apparently, he could dream bigger after all. “I’m sick of listening to Meph and Iris fuck through the walls.”
Iris’s face went beet red. Meph grinned. Mist nodded understandingly, and Bel groaned. “Can’t tell you how many times I’ve considered cutting my own ears off and shoving them down both your throats.”
“Ew,” Lily said.
Everyone teased them more as Iris shrank farther into the oversized hoodie she wore—likely Meph’s—and Meph just looked smug. He could embarrass anyone endlessly, but no one could ever get him back because he laughed at himself the same way he laughed at others.
Finally, the conversation died down again, and they went back to sitting in stunned silence. Raum suspected it would be a while before they actually believed they were free.
“What about you, Belial?” Sunshine asked suddenly. “What’s the first thing you want to do?”
Bel stroked his chin and thought briefly. And then he smiled. “Buy a big fuck-off mansion.”