Page 51 of Semi-Fallen

“I saw no need to bother you with minutia, brother,” Rion said smoothly.

Lane’s hands itched with their desire to wring Rion’s scrawny neck. Minutia? The death sentence hanging over her head, the lives of hundreds of Nephilim like her, was minutia?

Michael looked skeptical, but eventually nodded. “I do hate minutia.” Then he turned to Lucien with a bored look. “And what say you in response, soldier?”

Lucien gestured to Evangelyn. “I say Evangelyn can attest that Nephilim were not forbidden before Lane was born. They were merely assigned guardian angels and monitored. We must assume that was God’s directive. So, if God wasn’t afraid of them, why was Rion?”

The ground shook again and Rion looked ready to tear him limb from limb. Lucien had just insulted him on a very deep level by saying he was afraid.

And he didn’t look even a little bit sorry.

“I fear nothing,” Rion hissed. “I was protecting your precious earth and Heaven.”

Raphael crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t remember ever hearing about any dangerous Nephilim before you ordered their deaths,” he said, gesturing to Lane. “Brother, what made you decide that all who came after her were a threat?”

Rion sputtered for a moment, but eventually said, “It was a difficult judgement call, but clearly, you can tell by looking at her that Nephilim are dangerous. She’s turned a soldier of Heaven against me.”

Michael glanced at Raphael with a lifted brow. “He makes a valid point.”

Lane shot a nervous glance at Lucien only to find him grinning. “If you think she’s dangerous,” he said, “then don’t listen to anything she has to say. If you think I’ve been unduly influenced, don’t listen to me, either. Speak with the angels who have seen her, through the eyes of their charges, for years. Speak with Seraphina and Carl.”

Rion sneered. “I see no reason to debase ourselves by speaking with a muse and a guardian angel.”

Carl sat up straight in his seat for the first time since the trial began. “Are we not all God’s children, brother?” he asked with a very pointed emphasis on the word brother.

“You are not on our level, brother,” Rion said, enunciating every syllable as if he was speaking to a child. “Your observations aren’t of value here.”

Evangelyn snorted. “No matter what you’d like to believe, we all know the angels—even the archangels—aren’t God’s favored. That’d be the humans. If He was here, you know He’d ask them what they thought of the Nephilim. If you really want a fair trial, you’ll talk to everyone here.”

Michael frowned at her so long and hard Lane thought he was getting ready to turn her into a smoldering black spot on the floor. But eventually, he shrugged. “I see no harm in listening to what the muse and the guardian have to say.” He gestured to Seraphina. “You first. You’ve seen the Nephilim through the eyes of your charge for years. Do you think she’s dangerous?”

Seraphina gave Lane a fond smile. “Oh, she’s definitely dangerous. But not to humans or angels. She’s only a danger to those who would seek to hurt innocents. I’ve never witnessed her being anything but kind, fair, and compassionate when it comes to her people.”

“I would agree,” Carl added quietly. “The only thing she’s ruthless about is protecting her family, and shielding them from her power. I’ve personally witnessed her saving at least fifty humans from demons, and she’s never put any of her team in jeopardy while she did it. She’s selfless to a fault, I’d say.”

Her mother reached over and squeezed her hand, but Lane didn’t dare look at her. She’d cry if she did, and then there’d be no stopping the outpouring of emotion. There was no time for any of that today.

Haven glanced over at her and furiously signed, Why isn’t anyone asking Rion about Cassiel?

Lane frowned at her. Probably because no one thought Cassiel was relevant to the conversation yet. Should they?

Yes! I know why Rion killed her. It’s written all over his face every time he looks at you!

She was about to ask another question when Lucien elbowed her, drawing her attention back to the archangels, who were glaring at her.

Gulp.

Raphael frowned at Haven. “Do you have something to add, child?”

She bit her bottom lip and glanced over at Lucien, who told her, “Go ahead. You can answer when asked a direct question.”

Michael rolled his eyes. “Speak up, little one.”

Haven still looked to her mother before uttering a word. Harper gave her a sharp nod. “Just tell the truth, baby.”

Raphael scowled at her. “Did you really just ask your mother for permission to speak after we all told you it was fine? Do you fear her more than us?”

Haven’s eyes were round and solemn as she said without hesitation, “Yes, sir.”

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