The silence that followed Dante's words was almost palpable, as if the very light of Heaven hesitated. Raphael clenched his fists, and the peaceful expression on his face shifted to something darker—a carefully restrained fury. Uriel remained still, but her golden eyes burned with intensity, scrutinizing every word from Dante as if they were daggers aimed directly at him.
"You dare accuse the Heavenly Mother of something so vile?" Raphael asked, his voice low but laced with a contained anger that could make mountains tremble.