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seem to remember things differently. I recall some
spectacular—”
    “I wasn’t your lover.” His denial cut off the words before
she could utter them, but the damage was done. His mind flooded with memories
of Meela’s skin pressed against his, her flesh against Dom’s. The cherub’s body
had once been the only thing between him and the reason he’d left Heaven.
    “Ah, yes. We had sex, there is a difference. You shared me
with another, but I wasn’t the one you wanted, was I?”
    Her smug expression told him she knew his weakness and was
poised to exploit it.
    Ren’s stomach trembled and he waited.
    Meela narrowed her eyes, a speculative look on her face,
before casting a sideways glance at the café window.
    “I think another is stealing your heart. The mighty Ren,
favored among messengers and the authority on the Law. First he desired a
seraphim and now he’s lowered himself even more to lust after a human male.”
    He twisted his head to look at Adam before he could stop
himself, only to curse his foolishness when the demon gave a low and knowing
laugh.
    “Yes. Look at your human. Enjoy him before you lead him
merrily into Hell. He’ll lead you to Fall, and you’ll lead him to Damnation.
Isn’t it wonderful when relationships have such a balanced give and take to
them?”
    No. The Law didn’t work that way. A man’s actions were his
own, as were an angel’s. Adam could not break angelic law, only Ren could.
Still, the implication stung.
    Renatus forced himself to look into her eyes, to meet the
evil in her gaze without flinching.
    “What do you want, Meela?”
    “From you? Nothing. Is that reassuring, Ren? I don’t want
anything but to watch you while you defile the Law. I want to see you when you
are cast out, watch the ghouls and imps as they swarm over you and devour your
power. I want to hear you screaming for mercy in the Realm where it does not
exist.”
    “Why? I was nothing to you. Why would you wish such things
for me now?”
    “Because you did this to me!” Her fury pounded at him,
whipping up the breeze and lashing them with an icy blast of air. “When the
Realms were rent in two, you were the one holding up the Law and damning me to
Hell. You made me this. Now I will watch as you suffer the same fate.”
    Ren’s fear gave way to pity as he tasted the pain behind her
hatred.
    “It was your decision to side with Lucifer. I read the Law,
but you made the choice.”
    Her mouth twisted in a humorless smile. “There is a first
for me. Throughout time, I have never before heard an angel lie.”
    “You still haven’t.”
    The bell over the café door tinkled, a happy sound against
the tension at the table. Adam exited the shop with a steaming paper cup in
each hand. He gave Ren a smile but showed no signs of seeing Meela.
    “Here is your lover. Enjoy him while you can, Renatus. Once
the scroll is found, the Law will once more be read in judgment, and this time
you will be the one cast out.”
    “What do you mean?” His heart went cold, all sympathy
shattered at the mention of the scroll.
    “Don’t play coy with me, Ren. I know about your divine
mission. In fact, I think I’ll help you along a little. I know just the push
you need.”
    With that cryptic taunt she was gone.
    Adam set a cup in front of him. “Here you go. Hot chocolate,
and I got you extra whipped cream.” He started to move toward the now empty
chair across from Ren. Pausing, he picked up a sheet of paper from the seat.
“What’s this?”
    Ren froze inside, his soul as cold and still as a statue,
while Adam tipped the page toward the scant light. What had Meela left? May the
Heavens help him, he had to keep her away from Adam.
    “A sale flier. A book vendor at an antique shop is going out
of business.” He squinted at the print, holding the page close to his face.
“Tomorrow is the last day. It’s Saturday, I’m off work. Would you like to go?”
    No! If Meela was responsible for that advertisement,
they