His words made far too much sense given what they knew of the Luminata. “Taking and abusing and killing people to keep the town in line? Or just because they can? Yes, that fits with how the Luminata seem to operate.”

“There is also the fact that a particular mortal who catches an angel’s eye may not wish to play the game,” Raphael said, a chill in his tone. “We both know a once-mortal who was coveted by an angel who would not take no for an answer.”

Dmitri.

Elena sucked in a breath. She didn’t know all the details, but she knew that Dmitri had been made a vampire by force by that same angel. “Yes.” The word came out gritty, hard. “That means—”

“The woman with moonlight hair may well have been someone who said no,” Raphael completed.

Red across her vision, Elena said, “Has enough time passed?” She wanted proof, wanted whoever was involved in terrorizing the town—likely the same people who’d made her mother an orphan—brought down.

“No. A little longer.”

* * *

It was an hour later that Elena and Raphael exited their suite, the hallways of Lumia lit more softly than usual during this time of contemplation. They left Aodhan watching over Laric and Ibrahim, not trusting the Luminata to keep their distance should Laric be alone with the injured angel. From the careful way Laric had continued to monitor Ibrahim, Elena had the feeling the healer would fight to protect him—but he was small and weak, would only end up brutalized.

Aodhan had protested their going out alone, but he’d clearly been torn—he understood that Laric and Ibrahim were far more vulnerable than Elena and Raphael as a unit. In the end it hadn’t been a long disagreement and he’d taken up a guard position outside the room, making it clear the two angels within were under Raphael’s protection.

As for anyone—even several anyones—who tried to take on Aodhan, good luck to them. Elena had seen him in battle. Not only was he a beautiful demon with a sword, but he had that violent power in his veins that he could use to decimate parts of Lumia itself if he so wanted.

“You are smiling your lethal hunter angel smile.”

Snorting out a laugh in surprise as they headed toward their ultimate destination, she punched Raphael lightly on the arm. “That was a good one.” It made her grin when he continued to look icily archangelic on the surface. “I was thinking about how dangerous Aodhan is.”

Raphael broke out his own scary smile. “Yes. No one but an archangel will get through him—and the majority of the Cadre is uninterested in this ‘domestic drama.’”

“Neha?” They turned into a part of Lumia that faced outward.

A nod. “She returned to her suite when we got nowhere with our questions.”

Lightning flashed in searing bursts beyond the windows and thunder reverberated through the air, but the hallways of Lumia were once more eerily empty. “When the Luminata retreat for contemplation, they really retreat.”

“This way, Elena.” He tugged her right when she would’ve gone left.

“Sorry, woolgathering.”

“Your thoughts are on what lies beyond that hidden door.”

Her skin pebbled, chilled. “Bodies,” she forced herself to say. “I think we’ll find bodies there. Men and women who said no and who were never seen again. Plus their spouses, lovers, fathers, or anyone else who dared get in the way of the angels.” Exactly what had happened to Majda’s husband.

Raphael’s response was arctic. “If that is so, know that the punishment will be a final one.”

“Not all immortals think us mortals matter in any way, you said that yourself.” Because she was still mortal in her heart, would always be a mortal in her heart.

Raphael’s hand closed over her chilled one. “Enough do,” he told her. “Elijah, Titus, even Neha, will agree with my judgment should we prove abuse. Astaad has a more old-world view of mortals and may abstain from a vote, but I do not think he will speak against any measure I propose. Michaela is apt to speak for it.”

She jerked up her head in disbelief.

“She may be many things, Elena,” Raphael murmured, “but she is also a woman. Sexual violence against a woman or child in her territory is punishable by death—that is the only possible punishment. It is said her territory is the safest place to be a woman or child alone even in the very darkest corners of a city.”

“Jesus, Raphael, I can’t believe you’re telling me something that makes me want to like Michaela.”

“Do not worry, hbeebti, the urge will pass.”

“I sure hope so.” Feeling better now she knew Raphael wouldn’t have to take a stand against the rest of the Cadre to bury these bastards, she realized they could no longer see the lightning, the thunder muted to an ominous rumble.

Not a surprise since they were heading deeper into Lumia, toward the Gallery. But as per Laric’s information, they would take a hallway that split away from the main one to the Gallery. Before that, however, they passed the wall which had borne the painting of Nadiel. Whatever Tasha had said to the Luminata, the painting hadn’t simply been covered over; it was gone, literally cut out of the wall.

In its place sat a hastily constructed mosaic.

“Was it there?”

She nodded at Raphael’s flat question. “Don’t try to track it down,” she said, shooting him a glare as his wings began to glow. “You don’t need to see it.”