“Someone stole the Ark?”
“No,” I hurriedly said. “They moved it into the desert. A bad prank.”
“A prank against Jesus?” A dark-haired woman asked, her wings pulling in tightly to her back. “Why would anyone do that?”
“We're all overjoyed to have him on the throne,” a man said. “Araboth is brighter. It's . . . home now. Finally, it's our home. We don't have to be afraid of what Jehovah might ask of us or if his deeds will bring down the fury of Lucifer or other gods. And Jesus has power over all the Heavens now. Heaven and Hell are united.”
“Are you sure everyone feels like that?” Torr asked around a mouthful of cream puff. Then he groaned. “Where did you get these? Is there an Angel bakery around here?”
“I made them,” a female Angel said proudly.
“Well done, you!” Torrent said and took another. “You're a master of your craft! You should sell these.”
“I've been thinking about opening a shop.”
“You absolutely should.”
“To answer your first question,” the man said with a frown at Torr, “I can't imagine that there would be anyone who . . .” he trailed off.
“There!” Re pointed at him. “Who did you just think of?”
The man's face went slack as he experienced the full force of Re's attention.
I snapped my fingers in front of his face. “Focus! Who did you just think of?”
He blinked and looked at me. Or, more importantly, away from Re. “Well, Jehovah had his supporters.”
“Aren't they dead?” I asked.
The man shrugged. “Who knows what lies in the hearts of Angels?”
“I was hoping you did,” I said dryly. “That's why I asked.”
He grimaced at me.
“Come now.” Re put his arm around the man, sliding it between his wings and under his long, ebony hair. He gave me a quelling glance as he steered the guy away from me. “You must have some inkling, some teensy tiny thought about who may be harboring ill will toward your new king. Don't you want to help Jesus? I do. He's a very good friend of mine and my brother-in-law. I know he would appreciate anything you might have to offer.”
I hadn't thought of Jesus being brother-in-law to my other husbands. The idea made me grin. Family can be funny, especially when you have one like mine.
“Well, uh, there's, uh.” The man stared at Re, then swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing.
I shook my head and ate a cream puff. Then I flinched and looked at the Angel who made them. “Thesearegood! Better than that. They're amazing! Open your bakery, and I don't care where it is, I'll be a regular customer.”
“Thank you.” She grinned and held the tray out to me.
“Don't mind if I do,” I murmured as I took another cream puff. “What is that? Cardamon?”
“Yes. And rosewater.”
“Rosewater! Wow. You've got the mixture just right so that it's floral but not soapy.”
Re cleared his throat.
I turned to look at him. “Yes?”
“We've got a name.” He looked at the cream puffs. “If you're done eating, La-la.”
I made a face at him, stuck the entire cream puff in my mouth, then grabbed another.
