Before the Fall by L.G. Castillo

black lashes fanned the tops of her cheeks. She was so lovely. He hated to see her like this, but he had to know. She hadn’t spoken a word throughout the entire dinner. It was so unlike her.
    “Did Lucifer tell you something?”
    It was possible that Lucifer had tried to get information out of her about Jeremiel. They had both agreed long ago to keep Jeremiel’s gifts and his origins a secret. They wanted him to be treated the same as others in their community.
    “No. He has not spoken to me. It is just . . . he...” her cheeks grew pink.
    “What is it?” Raphael placed a hand on her chin, lifting it. Her eyes gazed into his, and for a moment he thought she was going to say something when she let out a breath.
    “It is nothing really. It’s just . . . as Jeremiel grows older, I see so much of you in him and the nature of his true self, the son of an archangel. Seeing Lucifer reminds me of the power that you have and gave up to be with me, and I wonder.”
    “Wonder?”
    “I wonder if you have any regrets.”
    Raphael studied her face. He felt like there was something more that she wasn’t telling him. It wasn’t like her to hold anything back from him.
    “None at all. You?”
    His breath caught when she glanced down for a moment, hesitating.
    “Only one.”
    His heart stopped.
    “You . . . you regret marrying me?” He could barely get the words out.
    Her eyes flashed up at him. “No. Oh, no. That is not what I regret. Not at all.”
    His heart restarted. “What is it then?”
    “It is Baka.”
    “Baka?”
    “It’s more about Jael than Baka. No woman should have to suffer the way she has at his hands. There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t thank the Heavens for sending you and for you loving me. Without you, it would be me in her stead, rather than Jael.”
    On occasion, he saw the dark-haired woman whom Baka had taken as his wife after Raphael married Rebecca. Jael and Rebecca had the same features and one would have thought they were sisters, except that Jael was taller and her eyes were black rather than hazel. It did not come as a surprise that Baka chose Jael. What did surprise him was that he married her within days after Raphael wedded Rebecca.
    “He doesn’t hurt her, does he? He seemed proud, showing off his son.” Baka’s son was born days before Jeremiel, and Baka made sure that everyone in the city knew about his newborn son, Saleos.
    “No, but that does not mean she does not suffer. There is no love in that house, at least not for her. He only loves what she can bring to him and his stature in the city. I was told that she is with child again. I pray that she brings him more sons. It is the only time that he at least pretends to love her.”
    “So that is your regret. You have no regret marrying a fallen angel? Or being shunned by your own family?”
    She looked deep into his eyes. “You have saved me in more ways than one, Raphael. My father...” She swallowed thickly. “My father was angry and he had a right to be because I embarrassed him in front of the entire city for backing out of the deal he had made for me to marry Baka. My father has his duties. I . . . I understand that.”
    He brushed aside a lone tear that rolled down her cheek. Dathan, Rebecca’s father, was the governor of Ai and well known for his love of the gold coin. How someone like him could have a daughter as pure and sweet as Rebecca was beyond him. Nonetheless, she loved her father. “I could go to Dathan and beg his forgiveness.”
    “No, please don’t. My father has made his choice, and I have made mine.”
    She reached out to cup his cheek. “You are my family now. You have brought me a son that is as beautiful in spirit and goodness as you are. If I had to do it all over again, I would. There is only one thing that I would ask of you.”
    “Anything. Whatever you ask, I shall give you.”
    “Promise me you will watch over Jeremiel when I am . . . gone.”
    His breath hitched at her words.