Page 13 of Redeeming the Angel

I nodded, remembering my studies about Earth.“That world used to have even more magic than Aisthanesthai.Until the Evil One came.Learning about what he’s done was the first time I’ve wished that luminites were capable of killing.”

The tips of his fingers slid over mine, and the contact sent frissons of heat through my body.It took all my effort to focus on his words.

“Sometimes, I do too.”Lucian’s voice was lullaby-soft, yet heavy with sadness.“It’s unfair and an affront to all goodness in the universe that he uses his immortality to destroy so many lives.”

“How is he immortal anyway?”My voice came out breathy as his fingers remained over mine.“We’re the only species with eternal life, but he’s clearly not one of us.Some say he’s a demon because of those horns and red eyes, but he’s too powerful to be a mere demon.”

“There are some extremely powerful, long-lived demons,” Lucian argued.Then his eyes shifted down to our lightly connected fingers and a slight smile curved his lips, weakening my knees.“However, I think you’re right.From what I’ve observed in the observatory spheres and read of Mephistopheles, he doesn’t behave like any demon I’ve learned about.Of course I haven’t formally studied demons.”

Since neither Mephistopheles nor demons were a topic that matched the heat coursing though my being at Lucian’s touch, I changed the subject.“Tell me more about how you go about world-building in Luminista.”

We ended up talking all night, to the disapproval of our mothers.

After we bade each other goodnight hours after the party ended, Mother beckoned me into her relaxing room.Worry coursed through my being that something had gone wrong with the seedling in her womb.

“I spoke with Lucretia and Lucinda,” she said crisply after sipping a berry-flavored ice drink.

My relief was short-lived, replaced by a new worry.What if Lucian wasn’t as good and sincere as he’d seemed?“Did you find out what they want out of a betrothal between our clans?”

Mother nodded.“They were very evasive and tried to bury the subject in meaningless platitudes, but I eventually got the basic premise from them.”

I settled on the settee beside her.“And that is?”

Mom shook her head and her lips curved in a smile that was both smug and mysterious.“You aren’t ready to know, Daughter Dearest.All I’ll say now is that I approve of the Jagwolfe prince courting you, but I hope it’s a long courtship.The results of a union between you two will have much larger consequences than the usual marriages of our kind.Consequences that could benefit all luminites.Or possibly harm them.”

Frustration coursed through my body in a furious boil.“If you know, but won’t tell me, why bother summoning me here to tell me that you won’t tell me anything?”

“Because I wanted you to know that your relationship with Lucian Jagwolfe is a good thing for now, and likely forevermore.”

My heart and gut warred with each other in response to such advice.Part of me was tempted to rebel against the Jagwolfe matriarchs and end my friendship with Lucian unless they were open with me on what exactly they wanted.The other part of me wanted to rebel against my mother and rush things.My lower body stirred as I imagined Lucian’s lips on mine, his hands caressing my bare skin…and then…

I rose from the settee before my flushed face betrayed my thoughts and bowed to Mother.“I will think hard on your advice in this matter.”

But when I reached my chambers, my imagination refused to quell the heat of my body.I couldn’t stop thinking of Lucian’s easy smile, his beautiful hair, and the feel of his strong arms around me when we’d danced together.

With all that, it took an eternity to fall asleep.

In the following days, I showed Lucian more of my family’s kingdom.Often his mother accompanied us.I didn’t dislike Lucinda, but there was an intensity about her that I wasn’t used to and couldn’t figure out.At least the even more intense Lucretia had departed three days into the feasting and celebrating alongside my grandmother Silvara.I was intrigued by Silvara ever since our first meeting in Luminista.I had so many questions for this matriarch who’d ruled Medicia before my mother.Yet my grandmother was very vague and tight-lipped about her experiences.

I complained to Lucian about it when we were finally alone.“I wish my grandmother was more like the human ones I’ve seen.Cheerful, affectionate, and eager to share their knowledge.”

Lucian’s blue eyes widened in a way that made his face look adorably boyish.“They do that?”

Once more I marveled at how much younger he seemed for knowing less about the worlds and peoples outside of Luminista.

I told him about what I’d observed of human grandparents and their relationships with their families, but before I could finish, it was time to dispose of the bodies of my grandmother and Lucian’s mother and great aunt.

I always despised this part of being a luminite.Seeing those dead bodies, empty and beginning to rot, made my stomach churn.Silvara had chosen poison as her vehicle to return to Aisthanesthai, leaving behind a pretty corpse, but a corpse all the same.Everyone in the palace gathered in the rear courtyard to burn Silvara’s body on a pyre and scatter the ashes in the garden.The Jagwolfe corpses were buried in the forest with trees planted above them as was tradition for that clan.Mother always insisted on honoring a visiting clan’s body disposal traditions.

Lucian was more uncomfortable than I was, which gave me more courage than usual and distracted me with curiosity.

“How many times have you died?”

“I haven’t yet.”

I gaped at him.“You haven’t?In Medicia, if a luminite doesn’t have a natural death by the time they reach their first century, they must kill themselves so they can visit Luminista.”

Lucian hugged himself and shivered.“I would not like taking part in such a custom.What happens with the body when they go to the mother realm and then return?”

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