Raphael just shook his head sadly, “I am afraid it doesn’t work like that.”

I looked him dead in the eye, “I was once like you. I was a shell of a person, and I thought I was worthless,” Lucifer tensed as I spoke, “but physical health matters, Raphael. If you are physically unhealthy, you prevent your mind from healing.”

“Rika,” Lucifer murmured, instantly gaining my full attention, “I would heal my brother if I could. But I can’t.”

“Why?” I cried, throwing my hands up, “you healed me, and Raphael healed Marcus! Obviously, you can heal.”

“Lucifer and I have different levels of ability,” Raphael explained patiently, “my name literally means ‘God Heals’. Because of this, I can heal at no cost to myself. Lucifer, however, like the other archangels, takes on the injuries of those he mends. I won’t ask him to take my bodily pain, just as he is unwilling to take that pain.”

“Oh,” I said quietly. I could hardly blame Lucifer, despite what I believed.

My angel seemed almost to read my mind.

“I won’t take it, Rika, because I need to be able to protect you. I cannot do that if I am weakened,” his voice grew in conviction, “and I refuse to leave you the slightest bit vulnerable.”

“Then heal yourself!” I ordered, looking at Raphael sternly. His eyes shuttered, a wall coming between us. He transformed from a devil-may-care smartass into a creature full of anger and unimaginable pain. This is what he hid underneath all his teasing and false bravado. It broke my heart to see that amount of suffering.

“I cannot.”

“You mean you will not, little brother. Lying is a sin, and I know when you commit one.” Lucifer growled. I sensed an old argument bubbling to the surface, and my angel was not pleased.

“It is my fault. I should have been stronger for her,” Raphael whispered brokenly, “so I will take all the agony I can.”

White-hot anger came off Luce in waves. I understood how he felt. It was incredibly hard to watch someone you loved hurting, and it was even harder to watch them do it to themselves.

“You’re still punishing yourself?” I asked, emotion building inside of my belly, “after how many years?”

“I lost count, ardentis. Time matter little to immortals, and even less to me.”

“Heal yourself.” I ordered, not about to coddle him while he wallowed in his self-pity.

“No.”

I shook my head angrily at his denial, “heal your physical body…or we are done talking.”

His head popped up, mouth hanging open in surprise. I was unsure of myself until I met Luce’s eyes. They shone with pride and gratitude, and I knew I’d made the right call.

“What?” The other angel sputtered in shock.

“You heard me. You have ten seconds before I ask my mate to throw your ass out,” I growled, “I gather that angels aren’t keen on the tough love approach, but we humans are.”

He was speechless, mouth agape.

“Ten.” I threatened.

“You’re being ridiculous-”

“Nine.”

“Lucifer, tell her to stop!” Raphael implored. Lucifer wisely didn’t respond.

“Eight.”

“We have more important things to discuss-”

“Seven.”

“Fine! Have it your own damned way!” He snarled, standing up so violently that his chair crashed backwards. I was uncowed by his anger. He’d thank me later; this was for his own damned good, after all.

“She usually does,” Lucifer muttered. I kicked him under the table, though I knew it would hurt me more than it did him.

“Close your eyes, human.” Raphael hissed, obviously still not pleased with me. I ignored the insult and did as he said.

There was a brief pause, and then the room flooded with heat. Even behind my closed eyes the light was blinding. I cried out in pain, and Lucifer cursed violently before pressing my face into his shoulder. The pain ceased immediately, and I inhaled deep lungfuls of his scent to calm my rapid heartbeat. The heat singed my bare arms and neck, but it wasn’t painful like the light. Instead, it felt soothing and sweet. I melted into Luce, allowing him to pull me onto his lap.

A few moments passed, and then the heat withdrew. After a beat, Lucifer released my head and allowed me to look. I blinked a couple times to adjust to the dim lighting of the room. After the blinding light of before, it seemed darker than a cave.

Then, I stared.

Surely, the man in front of me wasn’t the same as before?

This Raphael had close cropped hair, curly and long on top before fading on the sides. His face was shaven, and it exposed a sharp jawline, more angular than my mate’s square jaw. His bare chest was still slimmer than Lucifer’s, but it was by no means scrawny. Muscles rippled beneath his golden skin, his body toned and whip-like. Now filled out, his pants that had once hung on his hips were molded to him like a second skin, emphasizing the definition of his legs. His wings were glossy and full, though again slimmer than Luce’s. He positively glowed, and I felt an indescribable happiness flood my body.

Then, my vision was abruptly cut off.

“Stop ogling my little brother.” Lucifer ordered possessively. I rolled my eyes behind his hand.

“She can’t help it brother. Dad had much more practice when he made me.” Raphael’s laughing mocked, and Lucifer growled.

“Excubias, frater. Even in your current state, I could still kick your skinny ass.”

“Mm, back to that, huh? You’re secretly jealous of me. You’re so bulky and slow it’s laughable. Like an elephant.” I giggled behind Lucifer’s hand, before pushing it off good-naturedly. Seeing his sullen expression, I decided I’d better do some ego-stroking.

I leaned up, whispering in his ear, “don’t worry, Luce. I like the bulk.” He gripped my waist tightly and shivered as my lips touched his ear.

“As much as I’d love a free show…I do believe that we have more to talk about.” Raphael drawled from behind me. I blushed and went to sit in my chair. My angel was having none of it and kept me firmly in his lap. Resigned, I settled down to listen.

“You came to be sure I had found my mate,” Lucifer began, his suspicion bleeding through in his tone, “why do you care about her? And don’t you dare skirt around the issue, little brother. That bullshit hasn’t worked since you were two hundred years old.”

Raphael smiled rakishly, flashing a set of perfectly white teeth. That, combined with the sweep of curly bark brown hair and his tan complexion; what a heartthrob. Nothing compared to Luce, of course, but damn…

“You assume that I came for your ardentis, but you would be incorrect,” he held up a hand when Lucifer opened his mouth to argue, “don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for you. You have no idea how lucky you are. Take care of her, or big brother be damned, I’ll-”

“You’ll do what?” Luce asked smugly, obviously thinking he’d called a bluff. I had to agree with him; as cool as Raphe was, I had little doubt Luce could handle him.

Raphael grinned evilly, “I’ll tell dad.”

Lucifer froze, but I just scoffed at the obviously empty threat. Two pairs of identical icy eyes swung my way, and I blushed uncertainly. Embarrassed, I finally wiggled my way out of Lucifer’s lap. He groaned as I did so, and I blushed even harder when I saw the obvious tent in his pants.

Note to self: do NOT wiggle your ass like that.

“Have something to say, ardentis?” Raphael challenged, leaning his elbows on the table. I met him head on, not one to back down.

“No, I’m just calling your bullshit. Obviously even you don’t have God on speed-dial, and even if you did, I doubt he’d care about something as trivial as me.”

“He’s not bullshitting, Rika,” Lucifer warned, “you know of Raphael’s role in Heaven, do you not?”

I tugged on a stray red curl nervously, “erm, no. Until I met you, I was an Atheist. I know jack.”

Raphael coughed, trying unsuccessfully to hide his mirth. I narrowed my eyes at him dangerously.

“Don’t you laugh at me! You expect me to believe a bunch of naked men with wings fly around in the clouds with harps without solid proof?” I grumped, crossing my arms across my chest petulantly. Both angels looked infuriatingly amused; and their expressions were near identical. It was unsettling, to say the least.

“Well-” Lucifer silenced his brother with a sharp look, and Raphael obliged, leaning back in his chair and stretching his arms casually. The man needed to find a goddamned shirt, pronto.

“Rika,” Luce said, turning to look at me, his face serious, “Raphael is not only a healer, he is the angel that announces God’s will to the Earth. As such, he is undoubtedly the most connected to him, even among my fellow archangels.”

“That actually brings us nicely in full circle: back to my purpose in your realm.” Raphael sobered, his face dark and stormy. “I came here because we are on the brink of a Holy War, and your plan to charge your ignorant self into Heaven, accusing Michael of molesting your mate, will most definitely set it into motion.”