I awoke to the deep scent of oak moss and the gentle touch of the sun on my face. Auriel was gone, but the bed still smelled like him, the sheets still creased from his body.

I wanted to never move again.

Instead I forced myself up. I had slept in my clothes- Well, they were actually Michael's, I remembered with disgust. I peeled them off me. In a small bureau across from the bed I found Auriel's clothes, neutral white shirts and pants. I put on a loose seashell white silk top and baggy black shorts. I still had my binder on, but I didn't want to press my luck.

The weather in Heaven was sunny as always, a few perfect clouds marking the always blue sky. The sun did not shine too bright or too hot, but as always, it shone. I went down to the training hall, scanning the crowd until I spotted Auriel's fluffy red-gold hair. I ran up to him and hugged him.

"Hey." I said softly.

"Hey." He whispered. "It's time for morning training. For real this time." He smiled broadly, and my heartbeat echoed through my ears.

"I'm not sure I can summon my magic unless I'm emotionally hurt. That's how it worked the last two times."

Auriel nodded. "Magic's often hard. That's why you ought to learn with a dagger. Here, let's head over to the armory."

We left the busy training hall and traversed the steely marble corridors of the barracks, alone together. I took the opportunity to kiss him gently on the lips, and he responded by kissing me harder.

He held back though, smiling as always. "We should wait until after training."

"Yeah..." I said, trailing off, thinking of the future.

He was gazing right at me the whole time we walked, until finally I turned and met his eyes. "I think I love you, you know."

My heart beat quickened, pounding through my veins.

"You don't have to answer that." He continued.

My heart stopped for a moment as I pondered his remarks. Did I love him?

More than Michael, I knew that now. And... maybe that was enough. He was so kind, so honest, so smiling- how could I not love him in return?

But I didn't reply.

Before we arrived at the armory, two angels in guard uniforms stepped in front of our path. One of them pointed towards me. "Michael wishes to speak with you."

"I'm not interested." I said.

"You can't defy Michael's authority." The guard said.

"I can." I crossed my arms. "I don't want to talk to him right now, so I'm not going to. Tell him to wait. Maybe one day I'll be in the mood. And then I'll be the one to find him."

Auriel's face was of mixed expression, half triumphant half frightened. He spoke carefully. "You'd be best doing what they say."

"What?" I said, shocked. "I thought you-"

"I know what powers Michael holds. Go speak with him."

I gazed into his eyes. His dark pupils showed resentment. But I trusted Auriel. I nodded at the guards.

They took me away.

At the far end of Michael's throne room was a great table of some pale wood. Swirls patterned the table and its legs, occasionally revealing a pattern like clusters of eyes. I thought it was dramatic for Michael to force me dine with him, and the only thing that prevented it from being flat out crazy was the fear I had seen in Auriel's gold-flecked eyes.

And that Michael wasn't sitting ten feet from me, at the other head. Instead, we were both sitting on the side, a mere foot apart. It did mean I didn't have to meet his gaze. But it did make him very close by. I watched out of the corner of my eye as I ate.

Eventually, after a meal of silence, Michael asks his guards to leave. I then feel his penetrating stare on my neck.

"Eden..." He murmurs like we're in bed, still lovers.

"I still can't believe you."

To my surprise, he blinks. "What I did was wrong. In Heaven we... our cultural understanding of sexuality is different than yours. I forgot you could get hurt."

"Well, I am."

"And I'm sorry about it." I briefly match his burning gaze. I still hate him, but I'm tempted to let that change when I let myself admire his body again. That night had been so-

No. I have Auriel now.

"I have Auriel now."

"I've heard." He grimaced. How did he know? Who told him? I suppose as the ruler, he had eyes everywhere. "But I want you back."

"I'm good." I shook my head. "I don't care about cultural matters- you hurt me, and I'm not about to forgive you. I have someone else now. I'm satisfied."

"But I'm the only one who knows the truth about you- knows that you're a girl. And only I know what that means for you."

"It means you get to creep on me." I snarled. "But you'd do that if I was a boy too, huh?"

"It means you're special. Look Eden, I- Heaven needs you. I won't stray again. I won't look at anyone other than you. But you are needed."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Let me marry you. Because... it's what it best for everyone."

"How." I said plainly, freezing up as Michael slid his hand over my thigh.

"Angels are only born when another one dies... But with you, we could, oh there is no other thing to call it but 'breed'. New souls. More angels. Demons keep multiplying. We are so few. And we need to keep up."

"I don't want to be reduced to a mother, a creature for children."

"It is a shame. But it might be fate. Humanity will remember you for protecting them. And what is more noble than motherhood? We all came from mothers..." Michael is trying very hard to convince me.

"You didn't." I say coldly.

"Eden, please.. you're so... You know you're beautiful? That's why I want you. The children thing is something else, something other- I really only desire you."

"Yeah?" I am still cold.

"We don't have to ever have babies, if you'd really like. I mean it. I only want you to forgive me."

"Well, I can't." I say. "And it's pointless to try."

He slides his up my leg, gently reminding me why I wanted him so much back in the beginning. I look up, expecting a pleading, gentle gaze- and instead I am surprised to see cold fire in his eyes.

"I can only ever love you or hate you. But I can't let you be without decision." His words cut into my skin. "I can't let you be if you won't be mine."

I bat his hand off my leg. "Then I guess I won't be yours."

His smile hurts. "So be it." He stood up. "I'd suggest you run."

"What are you going to..." I trail off, standing up. I don't doubt the maliciousness in his tone.

"Stay if you want to find out."

He looks cruel.

I get going.