Page 17 of Redeeming the Angel

“I have an idea,” Razvan said.

Then both he and his brother spoke at once.“Rayven.”

I blinked as my sodden mind tried to recall who that was.Then I remembered.“The high sorcerer who’s mated to Nik’s and Delgarias’s daughter?”

“Yes.”The twins said together before Razvan picked up the thread.“He will be coming here to court often.Befriend him and accompany him and then perhaps you’ll be doing your own courting.”

Radu chuckled.“It will be challenging.Zareth is ill-tempered, but Rayven is even more so.”

“Wonderful,” I said in a despondent tone that made all three vampires laugh.

“You must also gain Xochitl’s approval.But do not try to do so directly at first.Start with her friends.That cousin of yours would be a good place to start.”Razvan took another draw of his pipe and blew out a cloud of smoke that smelled like cherry and tobacco.“And to do that, you need to get well-versed in their music.I can bring you all of their albums, along with those of the bands who influenced them.”

He then went off on a cheerful accounting of musicians he loved.I recognized a few names from when Gabriel talked about the musicheloved.The last thing I remembered was thinking about how only I knew that Gabe was here and maybe he could help me.Then being envious that he’d be able to stay at the tower, but I couldn’t.

I awoke the next afternoon in my bed with no recollection of how I got there.My head ached and mouth was dry and tasted sour.When I emerged from my soon to be former guest room, Zareth arched a brow and summoned a hangover cure tea.

Once I had it down, I nibbled on a dry biscuit and guzzled a large cup of spring water.Then it was time for Zareth to show me to my new home.

The house in the village was bigger and better than I’d expected.A large manor house with an even larger garden.Built with gray brick with a slate roof, it had covered porches in the front and rear.There were even four fireplaces.

“I hope this will be sufficient,” Zareth said in an apologetic tone.“And I did mean it when I said you may visit often.Especially if you meant what you said about us sharing a common enemy and your wish to fight by our side.”

“I meant every word.”I’d originally meant my words for that battle alone.Gabriel was the one who had the foolish idea that we could bring all the people of Luminista into the war.But an image of Mephistopheles’s insolent red eyes raking over Kerainne in that disgusting territorial manner flashed through my mind and brought forth a fresh wave of nausea.“Even more than before.”

Zareth nodded with such intense understanding in his lightning-struck eyes that my throat tightened.“Good.Then we shall have much to discuss during your visits.”

I took that as tacit permission to come to the tower the very next evening.My new vampire allies would be awake then.

I spent the rest of the day exploring my new home and planning the changes I’d make and the décor I’d add.I found myself excited at the prospect.All my life, I’d lived in my mother’s palace, and though I could arrange my apartments to my liking, it wasn’t the same as having an entire property to do with as I wished.I had plenty of funds deposited in a secret bank account on this world.A trick I’d learned from Nikkita and Kerainne, who’d both wanted their own finances that their parents couldn’t oversee.I imagined much interest had accrued in mine.

I worked well into the evening, hoping to sleep as much of the next day away as possible so nighttime would come sooner.Alas, I awoke too early, so I went to the bank, then made rounds through the village shops for food and supplies.I made sure to get myself every type of music player there was so I could follow Razvan’s advice and listen to Kerainne’s daughter’s band.

The errands burned off some of my excess energy, but even after I’d showered and dressed in navy suede pants, a blue silk button-up shirt, and a long navy frock coat.I was more nervous and keyed up than I had been the first night I came to Zareth’s tower.

That nervousness spiked when I saw a tall figure in the black hooded robes of a high sorcerer standing by the gate stone.This must be Rayven.The man I’d been advised to befriend.

He whirled around to face me, looking even more hostile and formidable than I’d been warned.The crystal on his staff lit up in a warning blaze, promising he could blast me away where I stood.

I held up my hands to indicate I was harmless.“Lord Niltsiar, I presume?We never had the opportunity to meet.I’m Lucian Jagwolfe, and I believe you and I are here for similar purposes.”

Rayven’s scowl turned into a furious glower.“You’d better not be.Tiana is mine.”

Heat flooded my face as I shook my head.“No.I’m courting—well,tryingto court Queen Kerainne.And they’re going to make it even more difficult for me than they are for you.”

“Don’t be so certain of that.Had you not heard of the animosity between the King and me?”Rayven’s voice was rife with frustration.“And her father is the Keeper of the Prophecy, though I suspect her mother is more to fear.”

“Oh, she is.”I nodded agreeably.“I’m going to have to work almost as hard at winning Nikkita over as I will for Kerainne’s daughter.Either way, I’m glad I’m not the only one having to come here with my hat in hand.”I conjured a bouquet of lilacs and offered to do the same for him.“What is your lady’s favorite flower?”

Rayven’s features softened and he smiled with genuine love in his eyes.“Garlic.”

“Garlic has flowers?”I was embarrassed at my ignorance.While I did like to garden, I usually focused on ornamental plants rather than herbs and spices.

The sorcerer’s brusqueness returned.“I take it you didn’t train to be a mage.Or a cook.”He snapped his fingers, and a bouquet of what looked like purple balls made of tiny flowers appeared in his grasp.I guess he didn’t need my help there.

I tried not to sound defensive.“I did, many centuries ago, but Kerainne far outranks me, being a Queen and a high sorceress of the black robes, as her daughter informed me.”

Finally, I cracked Rayven’s composure.His eyes widened in shock.“Kerainne wears the black robes?”

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