35 SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT
SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT
One month later …
S UNSHINE STEPPED OUT OF THE brIGHT SUNLIGHT AND pushed open the door to Ange Gardien, causing the little bells overhead to tinkle.
Summer had come early this year in Montreal, which made everyone happy.
Even Sunshine, who’d just spent the day in Heaven where the weather was always temperate, felt a little spring in her step.
The secretary looked up when Sunshine entered and froze like a deer in headlights.
“Bonjour, Chloé.” Sunshine lifted a hand in greeting. “?a va?”
Chloé’s mouth dropped open, and she made no reply.
Oh well. Hopefully she’d get used to Sunshine eventually. According to Raum, she’d only just worked up the nerve to say hello to him when he came in every morning.
So as not to distress her further, Sunshine hurried through the door into the hall. She was just about to head into the kennels when another door opened behind her. She turned to find Caro leaving her office.
“Greetings, Caro,” Sunshine said before inwardly wincing. Humans didn’t often greet each other that way, but she’d been spending a lot of time with Adriel lately, and his formal speech was wearing off on her.
She’d also spent the last week in session with the Tribunal, working to change the rules around Nephilim, vampires, and other supernatural creatures. They didn’t deserve to die just for existing.
As Adriel had predicted, no one had lifted a finger to look for Raphael. She couldn’t quite find it in herself to feel sorry for him.
“Hi, Sunshine,” Caro said, smiling as she pushed her glasses up her nose. “She’s almost ready for you. All her shots are up to date, and the vet said she’s in perfect health. I’m just finishing up her paperwork, and then she’s all yours.”
“Thank you. You’ve made this whole process so easy.”
“That’s my job. Just want to see the dogs going to good homes, and I know you two are going to be great for her. I’m happy to take care of the little details.”
“Your kindness is greatly appreciated.”
“You’re too sweet, honey. I can see why Raum is so smitten. He’d better appreciate what he has and treat you right.”
“He does,” Sunshine assured her. “He is hard on the outside but soft on the inside.”
“He is, isn’t he?” Caro laughed. “He’s in the dog run out back if you want to get him. Tiny’s new family came by for a visit earlier, and now he’s working his magic with a new rescue we got in. Come find me when you’re ready to go.”
Thanking Caro once more, Sunshine pushed through the door into the kennels. The dogs were quiet and relaxed, and as she passed, many came to sniff her fingers and wag their tails. She assured each of them they were in good hands and would surely find homes soon.
Passing through the door at the end, she stepped back into the bright sunshine, squinting as her eyes adjusted. She spotted Raum immediately, and her heart melted a little. He was sitting on the ground with his back against the chain-link fence, one arm draped over his bent knee.
The position looked casual, but she knew he’d done it so the dog with him could sniff his fingers. The animal was doing just that and seemed to have warmed up to him a little, because its tail was wagging.
Raum’s head turned when she approached, and his lips curved in one corner. A smile just for her. Precious.
“Hello,” she greeted, gripping the tall fence and leaning in. “Who’s your friend?”
“Her name’s Abby. She’s a border collie. A little skittish but getting better.” He climbed to his feet, causing Abby to shy away momentarily before following after him as he approached Sunshine.
He gripped the fence on either side of her hands, and their eyes met.
“Hi,” he said.
Her stomach flip-flopped. “Hi.”
“Did you have a good day?”
“Yes. Did you?”
“Better now.”
“Why?”
“You’re here.”
“Oh.” Her cheeks felt hot.
His lips spread into a full smile at her reaction. “You’re cute.”
She released the fence and pressed her palms to her face, hiding the edges of her smile. “I hear Tiny’s new family came by for a visit.”
“Yeah, you just missed them. He looked happy. I’m … glad I got to say goodbye.”
“I never thought I’d be grateful for being knocked over by a giant dog, but I suppose I am.”
“We would have met anyway, since you were stalking me.”
She shot him a look. “Yes, but that was the first time I got to watch you work your magic , as Caro calls it. You’re very impressive.”
It was his turn to look embarrassed, but he tried to hide it with a shrug. “You wanna get out of here? We’re gonna be late for our own party.”
“Will Abby be okay?” She glanced down at the border collie now seated at Raum’s feet.
“She’s great. She’s not a fan of the kennel, but she won’t be here long. She just needs a bit of training first. Let’s get Luna and go.”
Twenty minutes later, Sunshine, Raum, and Luna had said their farewells and were walking out the front door of the shelter.
“There,” Sunshine told Luna, who smiled up at her with that silly pit bull grin. “Now you’re mine. I hope you like your new home.”
Luna’s tongue lolled. She just looked happy to be outside again.
Strangely, Sunshine felt her eyes sting. She stopped mid stride and touched a tear that formed at one corner, the droplet beading on the tip of her finger.
“What is it?” Raum asked, turning back.
She held out her finger for him to see. “A tear.”
He frowned. “Why?”
“I’m happy.”
Their eyes met. He didn’t speak, but she didn’t expect him to. She could see his emotions reflected in his eyes. We’re here , she thought. We made it.
He snatched her hand out of the air and licked her fingertip. With a squawk, she yanked it back. “Mm, angel tears. Do I have more special powers now?”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hold back a laugh.
They loaded Luna into the back seat of Raum’s shiny new SUV.
All five of the demons had made changes since Adriel’s visit.
Now that they knew no one was coming to oust them from their home, they were free to put down roots.
For Raum, that meant buying a Land Rover.
He’d had to get the biggest, fanciest one, despite Sunshine’s suggestion that he get something practical.
And of course, they had adopted Luna.
They’d been taking her from the kennel as much as they could until Sunshine suddenly realized there was no way she was giving her away. It had taken a bit of time to arrange a living situation that would work, but things had fallen into place.
As they drove, Raum rolled down the windows and cranked up the stereo.
Leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes, Sunshine felt the wind blow her hair and the music vibrate the seat at her back.
She could have flashed them where they needed to go, but Raum liked driving his fancy car, and this was more fun anyway.
She glanced over at him sprawled in the leather seat, strong arm draped over the steering wheel, golden eyes hidden behind a pair of dark sunglasses, and she sighed appreciatively. He felt her gaze and glanced over, reaching out to stroke a finger along her cheekbone.
She squirmed in delight and then twisted around and patted Luna on her adorable flat head, and she was certain it was one of the most perfect moments she’d ever lived.
When they reached the new house, Raum hit the button on the visor and the wrought-iron gate swung open. Tall trees and a high stone wall hid the interior of the property from view of the street.
The Land Rover crawled up a cobblestone driveway lined by more trees until they pulled up to a big garage. It was a sunny day, so Raum parked outside, and they climbed out, keeping Luna on the leash as this was her first visit to the new house.
They climbed the stone steps. Stone gargoyles were poised atop short pillars outside the front door—fitting, considering who the house’s new owner was.
Built in the early 1900s, the outside was stone with dark-stained wood doors and window frames, and the inside had been modernized, including a state-of-the-art kitchen—the main reason Belial had chosen it.
“I still can’t believe Bel was able to move in so quickly,” she said, taking in the spectacular setting.
“Money talks,” was Raum’s reply.
She held his hand as they followed the path around the side of the house, passing through the gate into the backyard. The throb of music got louder the farther they went, and all of the sudden, Sunshine’s stomach clenched with nerves.
It seemed a silly reaction since nothing about today was unexpected. She’d known exactly where they were going after they left the shelter. She knew the surprise she’d been planning for days was finally ready.
But she was nervous because … this was a new beginning. This moment marked the start of a future she had never envisioned for herself, because she couldn’t have imagined anything this wonderful.
Raum gave her hand a squeeze before they rounded the corner. “Ready?”
“I’ve never been more ready for anything.”
Everyone was gathered on the back patio, sprawled in the deck furniture around a table covered with food. The turquoise pool glittered in the sun, and Eva’s house music thumped from speakers. Across the patio on the other side of the yard was a secondary, smaller house.
Sunshine and Raum’s new home.
The realtor had called it a guest house, but Sunshine had seen the inside and loved it immediately. The two-bedroom cottage had the perfect amount of space, and Bel had (begrudgingly) agreed Luna could have free run of the backyard.
He hadn’t been impressed when he’d learned they were adopting a dog, but as long as Luna was kept out of the main house, he accepted it. Since Luna was still very timid, keeping her away from a towering demon with anger issues seemed wise anyway.