Mictain held Raphael close, still petting the coppery hair. "You have to decide," he said quietly. "You can decide to trust me and have me stay beside you, or to find me unreliable and be alone again.

"I cannot give you any proof that my only intention isn't to hurt you and betray you in the worst ways imaginable. "I cannot give you back Michael, either -- I may look like him, but I'm not him. You said so yourself. However, what little remains of the angel is inside me, is a part of me despite the fact that yes, I am indeed a demon, the demon that was betrayed and only wants to hurt you. That part I can give to you if you accept it. To have it, however, you have to accept the rest of me as well -- to believe that the demon isn't the only thing in me.

"Demons are known to have loved angels before. Just because I'm a demon doesn't mean I can't love you. However, I cannot prove it any more than I could prove my love when I was an angel -- or any more than I demanded proofs of your supposed love. I trusted you. Now, you decide whether you trust me in turn."