‘You should go,’ Raffe says to me. ‘This is no place for a human.’

‘What about me being your second for the contest?’

‘Nobody will remember that once they see the Watchers.’

‘Are you sure you’re not just trying to avoid getting back into the truck with me and my mom?’

He almost smiles.

He walks me back to the truck. ‘Where will you go?’ he asks.

‘I don’t know.’ Every step feels like a goodbye. ‘There are no safe places. The only place that might come close to that is the Resistance camp.’

A small frown mars his expression. ‘From what Obi showed me, those people are full of fear and anger. That’s an ugly combination, Penryn. They’d kill every one of us if they could.’ By us, it’s clear he means angels. ‘They wouldn’t care if they killed us by plague or on the dissection tables.’

‘They’re as good as it gets right now,’ I say. ‘And you know where it is so you can find me there and let me know how things went. If you want.’

His eyes look over my face and hair. Then he nods.

‘You’re going to win this trial by contest, right?’

‘Absolutely.’ He squeezes my hand. His grip is firm and warm.

Then he lets go.

‘You better. And remember your promise. Get the angels out of our world when you win.’

I reluctantly lift the sword strap over my head. I hold the scabbard for a moment and feel the weight of it.

Of course, he should have it now that he has his wings back. I’m surprised he hasn’t taken it already. They missed each other so much. Besides, he can’t be part of a trial by contest without his sword.

But Pooky Bear made me special. I was more than just a girl with it. I was an angel killer.

‘She missed you,’ I say.

He hesitates, just looking at the sword. He hasn’t touched her since he got his wings back.

When he takes her, his hands are gentle. He holds her out in his palms for a heartbeat. We both wait to see if the sword will accept him back.

When she doesn’t drop to the ground, he closes his eyes in relief. His unguarded expression makes me understand that he hadn’t made a move to take her back because he wasn’t sure if she would accept him.

All those years when he was alone, he had nothing but his sword for company. I hadn’t fully understood how hard it must have been for him to lose her.

It’s good to see him happy, but it’s bittersweet. ‘Goodbye, Pooky Bear.’ I stroke my fingers along the sheath.

Raffe pulls off the stuffed bear with its wedding-veil dress. ‘I’m sure she wants you to have this.’ He smiles.