Page 381 of Castings & Curses

"Really?" I asked, glancing Raphael's way.

I already knew what a Nephilim was. Usually, they were the offspring of angels and humans. Their nature was said to reflect that of their angel parent most of all, and a Nephilim sired by a fallen angel could cause others to fall in the mortal sphere.

They could grow to be powerful and dangerous, and it was said they were difficult to control. Could someone have removed the threat of any children he might've borne by destroying his soul?

'Why would Misha have tried for a child, knowing he was angelic?' I asked Raphael, speaking from my mind to his. I didn't utter my question aloud.

I wondered whether Misha even remembered his heritage. Could they have removed his memories too? If others like Riga knew he was a fallen angel, then perhaps not. It was possible he knew what he was but not the implications of his life choice.

Raphael took a moment in thought before he replied. 'People don't always think rationally when they fall in love. It can be a selfish state of mind where duty is overwhelmed by personal desires.'

I remembered from my time as a human that love could be more than that. It could be beautiful and meaningful, and change life from mundane to magical. Misha was lucky to have found that kind of love. It made his fate so much worse though.

Raphael sighed. "If Lucia is pregnant with a Nephilim, its existence could pose a danger to humanity and the intentions of heaven."

"Lucia has already lost the love of her life. Would you really take her child too?" the elderly woman asked.

"If I had to," Raphael said simply, his voice emotionless. "I could remove her pain."

He didn't think and feel as mortals did. I knew he had his mind on the larger picture. Unfortunately, that probably wouldn't involve Lucia's best interests.

"Then I hope she isn't carrying his child," I replied, rubbing my eyes.

I wasn't sure if it was tiredness or the edge of tears, but this case was wearing on me. So was Raphael, though I didn't want to say it. His actions had been heroic tonight, and yet I was finding it hard to be in his presence. The more time I spent with him, the more I began to suspect that our core values didn't align.

"Can I get you anything?" I asked Riga.

She was still sitting on the grass, trembling. She looked so frail and vulnerable, I was afraid she'd have a heart attack.

"You could help me up and bring me a pot of tea," she replied.

I helped her into one of the chairs. I was surprised when Raphael went to make the tea himself. As soon as Riga and I were alone, she turned to me.

"If there is a child, you mustn't let the archangel kill it," she said.

"I don't know what I could do, but I can try. If there’s a child, I will speak for them," I said. "Even if the child is a Nephilim, he or she is Misha's legacy."

Riga appeared exhausted and sad, and I could feel her guilt at possibly having put another being at risk.

"Melinda wanted you to know this information. She didn't see the crime, but she sensed it. Her connection to Misha was strong, as she was his muse. And she doesn't want to keep running. She just doesn't want to be blamed for something she didn't do. Is there any way we can set this right?"

As eye-opening as this conversation was, it wasn't lost on me that Riga's desire for a cup of tea and the information she was sharing delayed us in the next step of our investigation. I suspected I knew where Melinda was right now, and it would be lax of me if I didn't act on it.

"I'm sure we'll find a way," I said simply to Riga. Turning toward the kitchen, I spoke to Raphael's mind. 'I will be back in a few minutes.'

I took my angel form and surged up into the sky, returning to a place I'd already been. I was going to check on Lucia, both to find out if she was pregnant and to see if Melinda was there. Somehow, my heart told me she would be.

Should I have gone alone? Probably not, but I knew I needed to.

MELINDA

Lucia's homewas a semi-detached house with a concrete driveway along the side. A lamp post stood outside, casting a golden light over the property, but there were an abundance of shadows where I could further mask my presence.

If any mortal had seen me, their gaze would've slid over and off me. Nothing to see here. There was no one visible outside, and it gave me confidence that I shouldn't be disturbed.

I knew I wouldn't be hidden from angelic eyes, so I didn't delay. I placed my hand on the door's lock, urging it to open for me. A small glow of magic radiated from the lock as it clicked open. Once inside, I walked straight to the bedroom as I expected to find Lucia asleep.

She wasn't. Lucia was awake and huddled in a fetal position, tears rolling down her cheeks. The room was dark, but the sound of her sobbing broke my heart. I could feel the depth of her sadness — her emotions were torturous, and it felt profoundly wrong that she should be alone at a time like this.

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