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"Why won't you tell me?" She couldn't help herself She didn't knohy it felt so i to trust Daniel when he said he had to abandon her after longing all her life for this reunion--well, ins of that trust To knohen and how it had all begun

"Do you knohather

Luce bit her lip, trying to think back to the research she and Penn had done "I re about Watchers But I don't knohat it ers went to her neck, to the place where Miss Sophia's knife had lain

"She was right The Grigoris are a clan They're a clan named after me, actually Because they watch and learn from what happened whenback when I was still welcome in Heaven And back when you werewell, this all happened a very long tio, Luce It's hard for me to remember most of it"

"Where? Where was I?" she pressed "I reoris consorting with mortal women Is that what happened? Did you ?"

He looked over at her Soht, Luce couldn't tell what it uessed it, so he didn't have to be the one to spell it out

"The very rst time I saw you," Daniel continued, "it wasn't any di erent than any other time I've seen you since The world was newer, but you were just the saht" That part she knew

He nodded "Just like always The only di erence was, in the beginning, you were o -li punished, and I'd fallen for you at the worst possible tis were very violent in Heaven Because of whoI amI was expected to stay away from you You were a distraction The focus was supposed to be on winning the war It's the sahed "And if you haven't noticed, I'h angel," Luce el," Luceand then seeain, to bite out the words: "It was a fall frohest perches"

Of course Daniel would have to be i rift In order for his love of a ave it all up? For me?"

He touched his forehead to hers "I wouldn't change a thing"

"But I was nothing," Luce said She felt heavy, like she was dragging Dragging hiive up so much!" She felt sick to her sto o the car, Daniel gave her a sad sht not be forever"

"What do youout of the car and co around to open her door "Let's take a walk"

They ambled to the end of the street, which didn't dead-end after all, but led to a steep, rocky staircase going down to the water The air was cool and moist with sea spray Just to the left of the steps, a trail led away Daniel took her hand and ?" Luce asked

Daniel s his shoulders, and unfurled his wings

Slowly, they extended up and out fro with an almost inaudible series of soft snaps and creaks Fully exed, theyover a bed

For the rst time, Luce noticed the back of Daniel's t-shirt There were two tiny, otherwise invisible slits, which parted now to let his wings slip through Did all of Daniel's clothes have these angelic alterations? Or did he have certain, special things he hen he knew he planned on

ying?

Either way, his wings never failed to leave Luce speechless

They were enor three times taller than Daniel, and curved up into the sky and to either side like broad white sails Their broad expanse caught the light of the stars and re ected it loith an iridescent shi into a rich earthy crea their tapered edges, they grew thin and glowed, beco almost translucent at the tips

Luce stared at thelorious feather, to hold all of it inside her for when he went away He shone so bright, the sun could have borrowed light froood it felt for hiood as Luce felt when she rapped up in them

"Fly with oing to see you for a little while I have to give you so to remember me by"

Luce kissed hiers around his neck, holding hi to remember her by, too

With her back pressed to his chest, and his head over her shoulder, Daniel traced a line of kisses down her neck She held her breath, waiting Then he bent his legs and gracefully pushed o the edge of the cli

They were ying

Away fro silver waves below, arcing across the sky as if they were soaring for the ust of wind, every brush of ocean chill The night was absolutely quiet As if they were the only two people left in the world

"This is Heaven, isn't it?" she asked