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as captain, Jedrick was sort of like a father, making Marcus an older brother. It made sense to her, like how Jedrick teased Baird, and the way everyone in the Flight came together to support Tamaes.
    “Prissie Pomeroy,” the big Protector said slowly.
    With a start, she wondered if he’d said her name more than once, for his eyes held a spark of amusement. Feeling foolish, she mumbled, “Pardon?”
    “You are welcome to join us,” Jedrick invited.
    At first, Prissie wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but she should have known. Somehow with angels, everything always ended up in song. She thanked him awkwardly. “You go on without me. I like to listen.”
    With a nod, Jedrick began to hum, and his two young teammates tuned their voices to his. The melody was simple, and the harmony was sublime. Marcus threw back his head and sang with unabashed enthusiasm, adolescence adding huskiness to his tones. Koji’s voice was as clear and sweet as ever, and Prissie’s heart swelled with an odd mix of pride and joy.
    Now that the battle had ended, the yahavim flitted out from hiding. Prissie played with the little manna-makers while the trio of angels offered thanks and praise, andshe was thrilled when the tiny angels added a melodious thrum to the chorus. Prissie found herself humming a few snatches every now and then, even though she didn’t know the melody. She wasn’t as talented as her companions, but she was glad. And the gladness just sort of spilled over. No one seemed to mind.

6
THE GIVING
SEASON
    M ilo stretched his long legs and took in the view from atop the Pomeroys’ barn while he waited for his teammate to rouse. The sun was just beginning to lighten the eastern horizon, but his shift at the post office didn’t start for another hour or so. There was time enough for patience. Finally, Tamaes stirred, and the Messenger greeted him. “Good morning, sleepyhead. Pleasant dreams?”
    The Guardian rolled to a sitting position and accepted the box of manna Milo proffered. “Ephron is the one who waits to be found, but I am the one who feels lost.”
    “Couldn’t find him?”
    Tamaes shook his head and gazed toward the rising sun. “Perhaps today will be the day.”
    “Amen,” Milo agreed.
    The mall parking lot was packed since there were only sixteen shopping days left until Christmas. Grandma Nell circled the lots while Grammie Esme sat tall, eyes alert for any sign of an opening. The latter whooped in triumph when they found a spot, then peered over her glasses at the young Observer in the back seat. “This is your first Christmas in the States, isn’t it, Koji?”
    “Indeed.”
    “Then you’re in for a treat,” she promised. “This is sure to put you in the holiday spirit! Isn’t that right, Prissie?”
    “Yes,” she cheerfully confirmed. Grammie Esme had begged for a girls’ day out, and Prissie had leapt at the chance … and successfully pleaded for them to include Koji in the shopping adventure. “It’s so much fun!”
    They hurried to the big mall entrance, where the automatic doors opened with a
whoosh
of warm, peppermint-and-pine-scented air. Inside, they were met by the hubbub of voices, and a subdued jingle of seasonal music played somewhere overhead. Koji drifted to a stop, his eyes darting in every direction, for there was a lot to see. Grandma Nell checked her watch. “Do you want to meet up in the food court in a couple hours? You can show him around, and then we’ll take a break to grab a bite.”
    Prissie glanced at her friend, but the young Observer was too busy studying an oversized set of silver bells to offer an opinion. “Two hours, food court,” she briskly confirmed. As her grandmothers bustled in the direction of one of the large department stores, Koji wandered closer to the glass wall that rimmed the second level’s walkway. She followed, but only partway. He might be willing to lean out over the edge to admire the view of the skylights up above, but she