World After

67

I BRACE for Raffe to be sarcastic about Clara’s little reunion. He’s leaning against a shop wall that is mostly intact—a dark, menacing figure against the night. If I didn’t know him, I would walk a long way around to avoid him.

When I get close enough to see his face, there’s no sarcasm in it. He watches Clara’s reunion with her family with far more sympathy than I could have ever predicted for an angel, even Raffe.

But then I remember Beliel’s comment about how angels weren’t meant to be alone. So maybe he understands better than I give him credit for.

“I’m revoking your warrior status,” he says as he watches Clara and her family.

“I had warrior status?”

“For about thirty seconds.”

“What heinous crime did I commit to lose my exalted status?”

“A true warrior would have retrieved her sword first before doing personal business.”

“I’m all about personal business. Every battle I have is personal.” I lead Raffe toward the pile of broken wood and shingles where I hid the sword.

“Hmm. Good answer. Maybe you’ll eventually regain your status.”

“I won’t hold my breath.” I shove the wooden debris out of the way until I see the smudged face of the teddy bear. “There she is.” I carefully pull out the bear and sword. I proudly flip the bridal veil skirt to show him the scabbard.

Raffe stares at the disguised sword for a second before commenting. “Do you know how many kills this sword has?”

“It’s a perfect disguise, Raffe.”

“This sword is not just an angel sword. She’s an archangel sword. Better than an angel sword, in case that’s not clear. She intimidates the other angel swords.”

“What, the other swords quake in their scabbards when they see her?” I walk over to the pile of scattered junk by Captain Jake’s boat.

“Yes, if you must know,” he says following me. “She was made for ultimate respect. How is she supposed to get that disguised as a teddy bear in a bridal gown?”

“It’s not a bridal gown, it’s a skirt for her scabbard. And it’s cute.”

“She hates cute. She wants to maim and scar cute.”

“Nobody hates cute.”

“Angel swords do.” He arches his brow and stares down at me.

I guess I won’t tell him how many cutesy angel figurines and pictures we used to have in the World Before.

Mom’s tracker should be here but I don’t see it in the scattered debris. I do spot a detachable strap hanging out of a purse with keys tethered to it, though. I’ve been meaning to tether the bear to the scabbard and this looks perfect. I clip one end around the ribbon sewn to the bear’s neck and the other end to the scabbard’s strap.

“Have you named her yet?” he asks. “She likes powerful names so maybe you could appease her by giving her a good one.”

I bite my lip as I remember telling Dee-Dum what I named my sword. “Um, I could rename her anything she likes.” I give him a cheesy smile.

He looks like he’s bracing himself for the worst. “She gets named once by each carrier. If you’ve named her, she’s stuck with it for as long as she’s with you.”

Damn.

He glares at me as if he already hates it. “What is it?”

I consider lying but what’s the point? I clear my throat. “Pooky Bear.”

He’s silent for so long I’m beginning to think he didn’t hear me when he finally says, “Pooky. Bear.”

“It was just a little joke. I didn’t know.”

“I’ve mentioned that names have power, right? Do you realize that when she fights battles, she’s going to have to announce herself to the opposing sword? She’ll be forced to say something ridiculous like, ‘I am Pooky Bear, from an ancient line of archangel swords.’ Or, ‘Bow down to me, Pooky Bear, who has only two other equals in all the worlds.’ ” He shakes his head. “How is she going to get any respect?”

“Oh, come on, seriously? No one’s going to respect that kind of pompous announcement anyway, regardless of the name.” I sling the sword strap around my shoulder, and the bear sword settles on my hip where it belongs.

I spot Mom’s tracker sitting by a purse. I rush to it and turn it on.

“You’d be surprised at how many would-be opponents I’ve dispatched just by announcing that I am Raphael, the Great Archangel, the Wrath of God.” He gives me an intimidating look.

It occurs to me that because of the demon wings, he’s lost the power of using his name and title too. I see by the sadness in his eyes that he’s thinking the same thing.

On the tracker, a yellow arrow pops up at Half Moon Bay near the aerie. I sigh heavily. Just for once, couldn’t I find my sister somewhere safe and easy?

“Paige is at the aerie.”

Raffe gives me a don’t-you-dare look. “You mean the place where I barely got you out alive because they were killing every human they could get their hands on?”

“Thank you, by the way.”

He rakes his fingers through his hair, looking agitated. “Look, I’m sure I could find you a nice little bomb shelter somewhere with two years worth of supplies.”

“I’m guessing those are all taken.”

“And I’m guessing someone would happily give one up for you, especially if I asked nicely.” He gives me a dry smile. “You could take a little vacation from all this and come out after things settle down. Hole up, wait it out, be safe.”

“You’d better be careful. You might be mistaken for someone who’s worried about me.”

He shakes his head. “I’m just worried someone might recognize my sword in your hands. If I squirrel you away for a couple of years, then maybe I can save myself the embarrassment.”

I bite my lip to keep from asking but it comes out anyway. “And what would you do while I was hidden away?”

“Get my wings back. Find out what’s happening with my people and set things right.” He takes a deep breath. “And once I get my business settled, I’d return home with them.”

I nod, digging my nails into my palm to help me focus. “I can’t say I’m not tempted, Raffe. Being safe sounds wonderful.” I give him a sad smile. “Maybe I can take you up on your offer just as soon as I get my family back together. I mean, if you’re still around and are willing to help.”

He sighs. “I miss the days when females could be ordered around and they’d have no choice.”

“Sure that wasn’t just a myth? I’m pretty sure nobody ever ordered my mom around—ever.”

“You’re probably right. The unruliness of the women in your family must go back for generations. You’re like a plague upon the land.”

“So long as we’re also a plague upon angels, I’m sure everyone else will forgive us.”

“Oh, you’re definitely a plague upon at least one angel. Is there anything I can say that will stop you from going to the aerie?”

I pause to think about that. “I wish there was. My life would be a whole lot easier.”

“What if I refuse to help you get there?”

“Then I’ll walk or drive.”

“What if I drag you into a prison and lock you up?”

“Then I’ll use my nifty little sword to cut my way out.”

“What if I leave my sword outside the prison?”

“You won’t. If you can’t have it, you want me to have it, right? We’re better off together than apart.”

Our eyes meet.

“Besides, who’d let me out if something happens to you?”

He throws me a sideways glance, like the thought of something happening to him is ridiculous.

“Beliel is probably still at the aerie,” I say.

“And why would you think that?”

“The doctor who operated on Paige thinks that she’s drawn to Beliel. Who knows what strange animal sense they put into her? She might have a sense of where he is.” I lift Mom’s tracker. “I’m tracking Paige. She’s tracking Beliel. You can’t stop me from following Paige so why not take advantage of the situation and just fly me there?”

He glares at me. “I’ve had to watch you die once, isn’t that enough?”

“All you have to do is make sure it doesn’t happen again.” I give him a sunny smile. “Simple.”

“The only thing simple is you. Stubborn little…” His grumbles fade to the point where I can’t hear them, but I suspect they’re not compliments.

Eventually, he puts out his arms.

It’s unnerving to be so close to him that I feel his heart beat against my breasts. I hold him tightly as he opens his wings and we take off into the night.