Page 15 of Redeeming the Angel

We unleashed our wings and flew back to the palace.He kissed me once more at the door to my chambers, then departed to his.

The next morning, he was already gone.Father helped me carry Lucian’s body to the forest.I buried the corpse in the Jagwolfe custom and planted a lilac tree above it.

Chapter Six

Lucian

Present

When I returned to King Zareth’s tower with the others after the meeting with Shalafi’s mayor and the officials of the mage school and university, it took every bit of my will to search for Kerainne.She’d left the field so abruptly that I was worried.Especially after the King announced the astounding news that Nik and Delgarias had found their long lost daughter.Tiana had been found by one of the mage school instructors twenty-four years ago, still in the time-stasis container that kept her an infant until it was opened.She’d been raised in the school and was a student at the university when King Zareth’s former apprentice and nemesis, Rayven Niltsiar, had chosen her to be his apprentice.She’d then become his mate as well, to Zareth’s consternation.I wondered how Nik and Delgarias felt about the matter.They were still with their daughter and may not even come back tonight.

Food and drinks were summoned for us.I looked at Kerainne’s empty seat and was debating as to whether or not I should seek her out when Xochitl caught my gaze and shook her head.

“She’s upstairs, asleep.Isis already checked on her.”The Siamese cat, now back to normal cat-size, looked at me, appearing somehow smug.

I nodded in sympathy.“She expended a lot of energy both in combat and in healing.She was magnificent.And then to have to seehim…” My fists clenched at my sides in fury.“I wish I was capable of killing him.He’s taken so much from us and—”

“Don’t you dare make this all aboutyou,” Xochitl hissed.

I held up my hands defensively.“I wasn’t intending to.”

Although that had been my first reaction after the attack on Medicia.And some of that sentiment remained, much as I was working on quashing it out.

Before Xochitl could reply, Nik and Delgarias appeared, accompanied by their daughter.Tiana really was a perfect blend of her parents’ features.She had her mother’s metallic copper hair and petite form, her father’s pointed ears, and strange faelin eyes, ice blue shot with jagged lines of darker blue like lightning.Power radiated from her almost as strong and unnerving as Xochitl’s.

Delgarias spoke first.“Tiana will be staying here with us for now.”

Even though this was Zareth’s tower and he was the king, he didn’t seem to mind the Keeper of the Prophecy’s declaration.“Does this mean her…affiliation with Rayven Niltsiar is over?”

Tiana glared at him in fury, but Nik made a hushing gesture at her and answered.“No.They’re true-bonded mates.However, Del wants him to court her like a gentleman and we both want to spend some time with her before we have our own wedding next month.”

Zareth made a disgusted sound.“So I’ll be seeing him nearly every day?”

The vampires who hadn’t gone back to Earth laughed quietly with their human brides.

Delgarias gave him an oddly paternal look.“It’s about time you two settle your differences.”

They retired to their guest rooms and I prepared to follow suit.My armor was heavy and uncomfortable.

“Prince Lucian,” Zareth said softly, “May we speak a moment?”

“Of course.”Though the king was courteous, he was somehow awkward.

He reached out and took my hand.His fingers, long like Delgarias’s, curled around my fingers, making me remember that, like Tiana, Zareth Amotken was also half-faelin.He whispered an incantation.The room blurred and the floor beneath me vanished a moment, then was solid again as he transported us to his laboratory at the top of the tower.

He gestured to a chair in front of his massive desk full of arcane objects and rare crystals.When he sat, resplendent in the black velvet robes of a high sorcerer and his long black and silver faelin hair framing his face, those lightning-struck dark eyes staring at me, he suddenly looked every inch a ruler.Even then, I was relieved his queen hadn’t joined him.

He summoned two glasses of wine.I sipped it out of politeness, then delight at its sweetness.Far too many wines were sour to me.

“First, I wish to thank you for your help in tonight’s battle.There will be many more, I’m afraid, and I’d be grateful for your aid in those, if you so choose.”He steepled those long faelin fingers and coughed awkwardly before sipping his wine and meeting my gaze again.“However, there is the matter of your…ah accommodations as a diplomatic guest.With Tiana, Xochitl’s band, and other allies taking up all my guest chambers, I find I’m running out of room.”He took another deep drink before continuing.“And there’s the matter of Queen Kerainne.”

“And that is?”I pressed, somewhat reckless.

“Your presence causes her discomfort.”His voice was stern.“I own other properties in the village.I can provide a house for you.”

My stomach sank.The last thing I wanted to do was be further away from Kerainne.My mind darted frantically to find an excuse to remain.“But I do wish to aid you in this war.I need to be close so I may attend your meetings and councils.”

Zareth’s stern expression softened.For a moment, something like pity or sympathy flashed in his faelin eyes.“I am aware of that.You will be able to visit frequently.Just be aware that if Queen Kerainne doesn’t want you here, you’ll have to return to your house.I will not see her hurt even more.She is like a mother to me.”

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