"You all right, man?" his friend asked, clapping him on the shoulder. "You’ve been quiet today."

"Yeah, just a headache. Keeps getting worse."

"Maybe you ought to see a doctor."

He scoffed. "With our insurance?"

"I hear you," the guy said. "Well, do you want a ride?"

"Yeah, sure." The two men strolled right toward them, so close Serah reached out and touched Nicki’s father as he passed. She swiped her fingertips lightly across his forehead, instantly easing his agony. His footsteps paused as he blinked rapidly. "Actually, I’m feeling better, so I think I’ll just walk. Thanks, though."

"Brain aneurysm," Michael mused, watching the men as they went their separate ways. "Is there a reason you just saved that particular human’s life?"

"He’s one of the good ones. We can use all we can get on our side."

Michael kissed the top of Serah’s head as he pulled her tightly against him, her body melting into his. They remained quiet, her gaze shifting to the fading clouds of smoke once the people were gone for the day.

"What are you thinking?" he asked after a moment. "Your mind is blocked to me down here."

"I'm thinking about Samuel," she said. "Wondering what happened to him."

"It doesn't matter."

Her brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I mean he fell, Serah," he said. "Where he ended up doesn't make a bit of difference. He lost his Grace. He's gone to us for good."

"But he's my brother."

"Not anymore."

Her smile died at his words.

"Come on," he said. "Let’s get away and forget about things for a while. We've both certainly earned it this week."

His words promptly reminded her of others: I'm cursed to remember, when everyone else gets to forget.

"I'd like that," she said. "Forgetting would be nice."

The two apparated to the field of wildflowers and lost themselves in carnal embrace. Subtle passion simmered as Michael slowly slid in and out of her, giving her every bit of himself that he could. He continuously held back, the full strength of his power something she'd never witnessed, much less experienced. He restrained himself, making the two of them equals, a far cry from the commanding Archangel she knew he truly could be.

The commanding Archangel he was intended to be.

She explored his sculpted back, only faintly feeling the knots from his hidden wings on his shoulder blades. Her hands ran through his light locks and twirled the hair around his neck as their lips met in sweet, sensual kisses.

Serah moaned when he whispered her name, grounding her, gripping tightly to her, as a current hummed across her exposed skin. Being with him always added an extra spark to her Grace, the light and vigor inside of her at full blast as it stirred, replenishing, feeding off of his. It was like being plugged into an electrical socket, recharging her batteries as he gave himself to her.

Michael came to a stop eventually and rolled them over in the grass, pulling her body gently on top of his. He held her, stroking the soft skin of her side, as she snuggled against his chest.

The two were quiet for a while before Serah spoke. "Michael, what do you see in me?"

His hand stilled on her hip. "You're full of beauty and grace."

"Yes, but so are all the other angels. Out of all of them, why me?"

"Why are you filled with so much insecurity?" he asked. "We found love together a long time ago. Why question things now?"

"I'm not. It's just. . ."

She trailed off. She didn't know what to say, how to explain it.

"It's him, isn't it?" Michael asked. "It's this ludicrous assignment you're on."

"No." She paused. "Well, maybe . . . I don’t really know."

Michael rose up, his clothes back on in the blink of an eye, his wings expanding defensively as he towered above her. "Don't listen to him, Serah, no matter what he says. You can't let him under your skin. He'll manipulate you if you do. Not a word he speaks can ever be trusted. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, and I know Satan’s a venomous serpent that wishes to poison us all." The words fell from her lips as if she were reading a propaganda brochure. "It's just—"

She didn't have a chance to finish her thought before Michael yanked her to her feet and pulled her into his arms, his enormous wings folding around them protectively. "I can't bear the thought of losing you, Serah."

"You won't," she said. "I love you."

"I know you do," he replied, "but I know him, too. Better than anybody."

Two days later, when the remnants of Michael had faded from her body, Serah made the journey through the gates again. She'd spent the morning venturing around Chorizon, watching the children play kickball at the school while the groundskeeper mowed the grass for the last time that year. The seasons were changing, autumn deep upon them with winter just right around the corner. It was business as usual, on Earth and down below.

Lucifer was already waiting when she approached. Like every other time, she paused a few feet away as he took a deep, calculated breath, inhaling her presence.

"Ah, the smell of lingering innocence and fresh cut grass," he said. "I'm not sure which is more of an aphrodisiac. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to turn me on—in which case, I'd say it's working."