Page 52 of Semi-Fallen

That was not the answer the archangel was expecting. Michael barked out a sharp laugh, and Raphael sputtered for a moment before finally composing himself and saying, “Well…fine. What do you have to say?”

She cleared her throat. “Rion didn’t put a hit out on Nephilim because he thought they were dangerous. He did it because he was jealous that Cassiel chose a human over him. He was totally in love with her.”

Rion’s outraged gasp just about sucked all the air out of the room. “She lies!”

Raphael side-eyed him hard. “Did you forget, brother, that we can read her mind? I can clearly see she believes what she told us.”

“Which doesn’t make it true,” Rion argued. “It’s just the musings of a chaotic human mind. Clearly, she’s wrong.”

Lane sucked in a sharp breath. Haven was incredibly easy going. Her temper had only one trigger—and that was being told she was wrong. This could get ugly fast.

Haven narrowed her eyes on Rion. “I can prove I’m right.”

Michael leaned forward in his seat. “How can you prove it?”

“My powers. If I touch you and touch him while he’s looking at Lane, I can let you see what I see—and that’s how it hurts him to look at her because she reminds him so much of Cassiel.”

Now Raphael looked as interested as Michael, and a little impressed. “Truly?” He shifted his gaze to Harper. “She can do that?”

Harper snorted. “Only since she was three. It’s second nature to her.”

“You can’t actually be considering this,” Rion scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “The child could project any lies she wanted using that power.”

“That’s not how it works,” Haven told him.

Evangelyn cocked her head to one side as she studied her. “I’ve seen this power before,” she murmured. “Ancient Greece. A priestess in one of Athena’s temples could do what you say you can do.” She turned back to the archangels. “If it’s the same thing, she’s telling the truth. She can’t alter reality. She can only show it to you.”

“I won’t allow it,” Rion muttered mulishly. “It’s irrelevant nonsense.”

Michael shot him a look sharp enough to disembowel him. “The allegation is that you sentenced all Nephilim to death because you were jealous of Cassiel’s love for a human. And you think that’s irrelevant?”

Rion had no answer to that.

Go, Michael!

Raphael gestured to Haven. “Come, child. Let us see this power of yours.”

She started to move forward, but Riddick grabbed her hand. “How do we know he won’t hurt her?” he asked Lucien, giving Rion a pointed look.

Michael interrupted Lucien’s answer to say in the coldest tone Lane had ever heard, “He’ll do nothing to the girl, or Raphael and I will cast him into the pit with Lucifer.”

A muscle in Riddick’s jaw jumped. Clearly, he was not OK with his daughter being anywhere near Rion. But given the circumstances, he seemed to realize he didn’t have a choice. He gave them a quick nod of agreement before letting Haven approach the archangels.

“Look at Lane,” she said quietly to Rion as she reached for his hand.

His glare promised hellfire and retribution, but he complied. She looked over at Michael and Raphael. “If you both want to see, put both your hands on mine.”

When everyone was ready, Haven closed her eyes and started transmitting whatever Rion was feeling as he glared holes into Lane’s flesh.

That glare was beyond disconcerting.

Lucien wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. And just like that, she felt better. Who knew that a one-armed hug from her fated mate could act like an instant shot of oxytocin?

A few moments later, Haven let go of the archangels’ hands and took a big step back. Raising her palms, she asked, “Good enough?”

Raphael looked at Rion in disgust. “Indeed.”

Michael shook his head. “Truly, brother, I never thought you’d stoop so low.”

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