I slide down the wall to sit beside him on the hallway floor. We sit with our arms almost touching, letting the quiet settle around us.

After a while, I say, ‘I think sleep would do you some good. You can take the bed. I’ll keep watch for a bit.’

‘Not a chance. It’s you who’s at risk, not me.’

‘What is it that you think is going to get me?’ My arm rubs against his when I shift to look at him.

‘The list is endless.’

‘Since when did you become so protective?’

‘Since my enemies have determined that you’re my Daughter of Man.’

I swallow. My throat is dry.

‘They have?’

‘Beliel saw us together at the masquerade. Even with my mask on, Uriel knew it was me on the beach with you.’

‘So am I?’ I whisper. ‘Your Daughter of Man?’ I can almost hear my heart pounding. It beats even harder when I realize that he can probably hear it.

He looks away from me. ‘Some things just can’t be. But neither Uri nor Beliel understand that.’

I let my breath out – slowly, controlled. He might as well have said that I don’t understand it either.

‘So who exactly would be coming after me?’ I ask.

‘Aside from the usual suspects, the entire host of angels saw you with me when I cut the wings off Beliel. They think you’re traveling in the company of a mask-wearing “demon” who cuts wings off “angels.” That’s enough to come after you, if only to find me. Besides, you’re an angel killer now, for which the penalty is an automatic death sentence. You’re quite the popular girl.’

I think about that for a minute. Is there really anything I can do about it? ‘But we all look alike to them, right? How can they even tell us apart? They all look the same to me. They’re all so darned perfect in every way – perfect Olympian bodies, perfectly beautiful faces, even perfect hair. If it wasn’t for you, I’d think that angels were all totally interchangeable.’

‘You mean because I’m beyond perfect?’

‘No. Because you’re so humble.’

‘Humility’s overrated.’

‘So is clear self-assessment, apparently.’

‘Real warriors don’t stand for psychobabble.’

‘Or for rational thinking.’

He glances at my naked legs.

‘No, not that rational, I admit.’ Raffe stands up and puts out a hand to me. ‘Come on. Get some sleep.’

‘Only if you do too.’ I grab his hand, and he pulls me up.

‘Fine. If that will quiet you down.’

We walk into my room, and I crawl onto the bed. I lie down on top of the covers, thinking he’s making sure that I get some sleep. But instead of leaving, he climbs onto the bed beside me.

‘What are you doing?’ I ask.