Archangel's Heart

Caliane stopped singing when the group in the center had grown to twenty-seven and no other Luminata crawled forward. “These are the ones who abused and murdered mortals, and who killed the vampires and angels who would not look the other way.” She flicked out a hand and twenty-six bodies, including Gervais’s yet-twitching form, turned to ash under the searing white of her power.

Gian stared unblinking at where his brethren had knelt.

“You may not care about mortal concerns outside your lands, Alex,” Caliane murmured, “but I have always believed that we rule only if we prove ourselves rulers.”

Heart thunder in her ears, Elena swallowed to wet a dry throat. Jesus, Raphael. Your mother doesn’t play games.

She is too old for it. Pure ruthlessness in his tone. And her song does not lie.

Oh, I’m not sorry the bastards are dead.

“There is a second layer of rot,” Elijah said into the stunned silence.

“Yes. The ones that knew and did nothing, though they did not participate.” The Archangel of India looked around at the Cadre. “We must make certain decisions.”

Whatever happened next, it wasn’t vocalized, but Elena could feel the violent energy in the air as the Cadre spoke mind to mind. It was Caliane who pronounced the judgment. “The Cadre is agreed. Lumia will continue to exist, as will the Luminata.”

No one shuddered in relief, well aware the hammer was yet to fall.

“Only Luminata who have joined the sect in the past fifty years are permitted to remain—we judge that these novices are apt to be untainted by corruption and offer the best hope for Lumia’s future. The rest are exiled forever from Lumia.”

Donael fell to his knees, his face crumpling into near-tears. “Mercy, my lady.”

Caliane’s eyes held no pity. “If you are a true seeker, you do not need Lumia. You will find luminescence on a rocky mountaintop or on sandy soil or in a ragged hut in the forest. You do not need the comforts of this place.”

It was a harsh judgment.

“There is no appeal,” Charisemnon added, his tone unbending.

“And,” Alexander said, “Lumia will now be under direct Cadre oversight, watched over by a group formed of angels and vampires from each of our territories. The private guard will be disbanded.”

“As for the charge given to the Luminata to call the Cadre to meet,” Neha said, “you still hold this charge for it is unlikely the issue will come up again in the near future. By the time it does, it is the Cadre’s hope that the Luminata will be back on the right path.”

Raphael, the townspeople. We made a promise.

Trust me, Elena-mine.

Always. With not just her life, but the lives of all those she loved.

There were a number of other comments by the Cadre. It was as things appeared to be winding down that Raphael spoke. “We cannot leave the situation with the town as it is.”

“Not all of us have a soft spot for mortals,” Michaela said with silken venomousness.

Thank God, Elena thought to herself. Michaela had been acting a little too likable. Good to know she was still a bitch.

“It is a town only of mortals.”

That fact caused several frowns.

“An imbalance that could spread.” Alexander looked at Caliane.

His fellow Ancient nodded. “Such an imbalance has led to mass bloodshed in the past. When you isolate a group of prey, it is an invitation to a certain class of vampires.”

“You are the one who saw the problem,” Astaad said to Raphael. “Do you see a solution?”

“That the vampires and angels who are to guard and oversee Lumia make their homes in town. There is no need for them to stay in the barracks—whatever rules the Luminata created of late, it was never custom that the guards also take vows of celibacy.”

Alexander laughed, the sound echoing inside the Atrium. “I know for a fact none of my warriors would’ve ever volunteered for guard duty had that been a requirement.”

“Charisemnon,” Raphael said, “do you particularly desire to rule the town? It will mean extra work for you in comparison to the rest of us.”

Clever, Raphael. He’d just made it so if Charisemnon took over the town, he’d have his attention divided when Titus was massing on his border.

“No.” Charisemnon waved a hand. “The oversight committee can handle the town.”

“You must cede your rights to it,” Elijah said, picking up the baton with a smoothness that said he’d guessed exactly what Raphael was doing. “Else, we will be accused of stealing your lands.”

“Since when did you become such a stickler, Eli?” Charisemnon’s tone made Elena blink—because it was clear the two men had been friends once upon a time. “Very well, I cede any ruling rights to the township, as per the borders marked on the map kept in the Refuge.”

“It will not be a part of Lumia,” Raphael said. “That must be clear. There must never be a repeat of an effective fiefdom.”

“Agreed.” Every single archangelic voice seemed to say that at the same time, their combined power so violent it made Elena’s lungs hurt as her body struggled to take in enough oxygen for a couple of seconds.

“Our people will live in and rule the township,” Favashi completed. “We will have to come up with a group that we trust.” A frown. “It would be better if someone with wisdom and age was at the center.”

“Sire.” Aodhan’s quiet voice. “If I may suggest the Hummingbird.”