Slowly, Eva began regaining her strength. Her muscles no longer strained when she moved for simple tasks and she was allowed to eat solid foods soon after. Raphael would visit her via projections, having sworn off entering the Institute after sinking as low as hiding under Eva's bed to avoid Hodge Starkweather's wrath. When he wanted to see her in person, he would call ahead and would stand in the courtyard of the Institute in the evenings and Eva would walk out to see him. Hodge would stand just inside the building, watching their exchange from the open doors.

"I assure you I take no pleasure in having bitten Eva," Raphael blurted out one day, annoyed that Hodge was glaring down at him from the foyer of the Institute. Eva was shocked he did so. "I've never desired to feed from her, and I certainly don't now."

That wasn't exactly true; just thinking about the taste of her blood drove him insane. But the thought of sinking his fangs into her flawless skin for such a selfish desire revolted him, even if she was willing.

"I know," Hodge nodded, pushing up his glasses for emphasis. "If it wasn't for you, she might've bled out and for that I'm grateful."

Raphael approached the doorframe of the Institute. It no longer hurt him to step through, but he couldn't allow Hodge to know his secret. Raphael lowered his head in silent respect. "Know that I would do anything to protect her."

"He's right! I'm the Downworld's version of Helen of Troy," Eva grinned proudly as she hugged Raphael's arm. "Touch me and it's war with the New York vampire clan."

"You mean there's vampires in the Downworld that want to hurt you?" Hodge looked furious. Eva immediately regretted her words and Raphael glared at her for it. Hodge continued frantically, "What if a rival clan wants to kidnap you and hold you for ransom?"

"Don't insult the Night Children, Starkweather," Raphael frowned. "We aren't so juvenile; that's something werewolves would do."

"And who would have more motive to blackmail the Night Children than them?"

"Rapha, I think you should go," Eva smoothed down the exchange, a playful smile on her face. She tiptoed and pecked his lips sweetly before pushing him back with gentle hands. "Unless you want a chakram slicing off your head."

"Dios mio," he rolled his eyes. "En qué me he metido?"

After a week, Eva was finally feeling like her usual self and had even begun training in the early mornings with Jace, Alec, and Izzy like she always did. When she texted Raphael the news, his response was immediate.

Grand Central Station. 10 A.M. Friday. Bring a towel.

Izzy was more excited for this beach date than she was—she insisted they go shopping for swimsuits in boutiques downtown. Eva was just thrilled to see Raphael walking in the sun.

"This will be your chance to give him a little taste," Izzy shuffled through endless rows of bikini sets in the rack. "You need something that'll flatter your body and get his imagination going."

"Why can't I just have a normal date without going that route?" Eva laughed. "Isn't it more interesting that I'm going to the beach with a vampire?"

The mundanes that stood nearby eyed her like she was crazy but averted their gaze quickly. Izzy and Eva paid them no mind and continued to search through the swimsuits.

"Ah! Perfect!" Izzy pulled a two-piece string bikini set from one of the racks. "Halter top and the yellow and orange goes great with your skin. Get this one!"

That Friday morning after training, she showered and twisted her curly hair into a flattering messy bun. She put on her new bikini—which she had to admit really did flatter her body and skin tone—and over it wore an orange flower-print sundress. After putting on a pair of brown strap sandals, she stuffed a towel into her tote bag along with a bottle of sunscreen and her wallet and phone. She glamoured her chakrams to wear as two silver anklets and Izzy even insisted she buy a wide-brimmed sun hat and Audrey Hepburn sunglasses.

To avoid prying questions from Hodge and the boys, Izzy tagged along under the guise of going to that new indoor pool in Midtown that you let you swim with mermaids. Izzy was actually going to said pool to scout the handsome Seelie knights that gathered there sometimes. She wished her luck and let Eva walk into the bustling Grand Central Station. She stood near the iconic information booth with the glowing clock on top telling her it was almost ten A.M.

"Eva."

She hadn't given much thought to what Raphael would be wearing on this date to Rockaway Beach. She's always seen him in sharp tailored suits or in expensive jeans and leather jackets that she never considered how ridiculous he would look with what he was wearing now. Eva burst into hysterical laughter and he was not at all amused, but not surprised either.

"Let it all out," he spat. He was wearing a New York Mets ball cap, Top Gun aviator sunglasses, a white Hawaiian shirt, bright red swim trunks, and flip flops. He carried a simple black backpack over his shoulders. "I'll wait."

Eva couldn't look at him for too long without laughing. If this wasn't New York City, everyone would've stopped to stare at her incredulously. "No one would respect you if they saw you in flip flops!"

"Which is exactly the point," he scoffed bitterly. "I went to Target and bought everything I'd hate to wear, which just so happens to serve as a disguise too."

"Yeah, no one in their right mind would think the guy in the Mets cap and shorts is you," her laughter was finally dying down. She was breathless. "Other than that, you look great!"

It took around fifty minutes to get to Rockaway and by the time they walked over the hot sand and found a spot to lay down their towels and open their small umbrella, the sun was blazing. Autumn was around the corner, but only nights were breezy. Days were still scorching hot.

"It's good to know being undead is useful for something," he joked dryly as Eva clung to his arm. Despite the heat, his skin was cold, and it was cooling her down significantly as Raphael eyed the bottle of sunscreen. "Do you think this is necessary?"

"It might be," she shrugged. "I normally don't burn, but the sun is looking pretty vicious today."

Eva had never seen him shirtless before. He was naturally lean and his skin flawless and pale with a bit of dark hair scattered over his chest. She helped him spread sunscreen over his broad shoulders and back, and he did the same for her. She giggled when she felt his fingers tracing the runes on her back that still had yet to disappear from this morning.

"For today, Rapha," she teased. "I want to get in the water."

He merely grumbled under his breath, probably annoyed he got caught gawking. Izzy was right: this bikini was making his imagination run wild. Eva smiled, gesturing towards the crashing waves with a tilt of her head, "Was it like you remembered it?"

His demeanor changed immediately; his expression relaxed and a genuine smile spread over his face. His voice, usually stern and sarcastic, was soft and cheerful. "Yes, it is."

"All thanks to me," she jumped off her towel and dashed for the crashing waves. As a Shadowhunter, she was fast on her own right, but nothing could outrun his vampire speed. She laughed in surprise when he swept her off her feet like a feather and threw her over his shoulder. She pounded against his back playfully. "Let me go!"

"If you say so," he chuckled. Knee-deep in the water, he tossed her and she submerged like a rock against the rolling ocean. The water was warm with the summer sun and salty as she rose up and ran her hands over her face. He looked immensely proud of himself—that is, until she used her grappling skills to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him down into the water with her. She grinned widely, finding his dark hair splattered over his eyes endearing. When he slicked it back with his hands, she couldn't help but embrace him and bring him in for a kiss.

He's held her close before when they lose themselves in heated kisses, but they've always been fully clothed. Feeling his bare skin against hers was making her heart knock against her ribcage, especially when his fingertips began tracing the dip of her spine and waist. She shivered under his touch, and feeling her do so made him pull away from her. He asked softly, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she giggled. "I just realized something."

"Do I want to know?"

"It pertains to you."

"Oh really?" he looked genuinely curious with a quirk of his thin brows. Under moonlight, his eyes were like smooth dark chocolate, but in broad daylight, they looked like glowing honeycombs. His fingers were laced together against the small of her back, holding her against him so closely, she couldn't resist wrapping her legs around his waist under the water. She could tell it made him feel some sort of way; his eyebrows knitted together, and his Adam's apple bobbed in his throat with a thick gulp. "What is it?"

"I love you." It just fell from her lips like the most natural thing one could say. It felt right to tell him so boldly. "I love you so much, Rapha."

"That's it?" he chuckled. "I thought it was something important."

Perhaps it was because she was so close to him and touching him; the emotion that burst from him drew the air right out of her lungs. It burrowed into her skin, embracing every inch of her soul like a warm blanket. It was so genuine, so strong, so loving, it made her eyes sting with tears. Her vision blurred and she couldn't suppress the sob that left her throat.

The beautiful feeling radiating from him was replaced with an alarming sense of panic. He looked horrified he drew tears from her; tears he was interpreting as hurt rather than utter happiness. "Mi ángelito, I was joking. I didn't mean that—"

"I know!" she cut him off, laughing through her tears. He wasn't convinced and stared at her incredulously with wide eyes. "I felt...it's hard to explain..."

"It's that weird thing you do," he let out a soft sigh of relief. "When you just feel what others are feeling."

"Yes," she nodded and kissed him. "I didn't know you felt that way about me."

"I have a reputation to maintain," he smiled. She could see the glimpse of his fangs when he did so. "I can't go around professing my love for you; who will take me serious?"

"If you do it in flip flops, you won't be able to show your face in New York ever again!"