Page 18 of Redeeming the Angel

“Both she and her sister do.But given their royal ranks, they can wear whatever they want.”I fixed Rayven with a measuring look.“We could make good allies.I have lots of information and a house in the village if you want to remain closer to your love.”

Rayven’s strange gold eyes continued to narrow with distrust.“And what do you want from me?”

I regarded him with a sly smile and willed him to hear the truth in my words.“If we come here together to do our courting, the hostility will be split between us instead of it bombarding me full force.”

Rayven laughed, and his eyes warmed further.“I suppose that would be mutually beneficial.”

But when we rang the gate stone, Zareth appeared, regarding us both with suspicion and Rayven with outright dislike.“Lucian, you may go ahead, though I can’t promise you that Kerainne will speak to you.I need to speak with Rayven alone.”

I shrugged and gave Rayven a sympathetic look before I went into the forest that I could have passed through all along.Being incapable of fear was sometimes an asset.As I walked under the pine and firs, my skin tickling at the magic that emanated a sense of pure terror for all except my kind, I remembered the more foibles from my early days of courting Kerainne.

Chapter Seven

Lucian

Past

Going back to Luminista was agony.I barely noticed the novelty of reforming my body and being transported, naked, to a welcoming hall.Two Jagwolfe clan servants awaited me, their arms full of blue velvet garments trimmed with silver.

Once dressed, I flew back to the palace, though every cell of my being cried out to return to Kerainne’s side.She’d opened my mind and consciousness to so many new customs, creatures, and possibilities.And as superior as Luminista was, there was something about Aisthanesthai that I wanted more of.Though that was secondary to the sound of Kerainne Leonine’s laugh, the sight of her peridot eyes sparkling, and the feel of her full, soft lips.

Great Aunt Lucretia waited in the great hall with my mother.Both attempted to interrogate me on every detail of my time with the Leonine princess.Out of spite, I told them very little and as soon as I could free myself of their needling questions, resumed my duties.

The new creature I decided to introduce to our lands were the lizards Kerainne showed me on my first day visiting Medicia.They were more of a challenge than usual, as they needed a warmer climate, which we did have, but it didn’t have the right plants and insects present at the moment.And those would have their own environmental requirements.

The project took me eight months.It would have been the most delightful challenge if not for the doubts and naysayers of my mother and the other world builders working alongside me.And, of course, missing Kerainne.How I wished she could be here beside me, letting me show her the complexities of summoning the lizards and creating each one molecule by molecule, giving enough genetic variance so they wouldn’t be inbred in the next decade, and bringing forth the necessary grasses, streams, and creatures they would feed on.

Yet as I went about the expansive mission, some aspects of my being were changed forever.Cravings for meat, fish, and shellfish struck me at the oddest times, making my mouth water and my stomach growl in frustration that none of these were to be had.

I scandalized the Master of Sustenance when I inquired about the possibility of finding out if our halflings could hunt for meat.

“I-I’ll bring it up at the next agricultural meeting, my prince,” he finally said.

With my lizard project completed and looking to be a success, I returned to the palace and submitted a request to return to Medicia.

“That is so soon it’s unseemly.”Mother’s eyes narrowed.“Does this mean that your courtship with Princess Kerainne is going well?”

I sighed.“I’ve informed you many times that I will not share any details as to my acquaintanceship with the Medician Princess until you tell me why you are so eager for a Leonine-Jagwolfe marriage that you and Lucretia have been unseemly in your haste.”

Lucinda signed and looked away from me.

“That’s what I thought.Then in three months’ time, I shall depart for Medicia.Princess Kerainne requested my company for the final stages of Queen Natalya’s pregnancy and the birthing.”

That last morsel of information didn’t cheer my mother as much as I’d hoped.Instead, her mouth turned down in a bitter frown.“Some luminites have all the luck.Would that I could be blessed with another child so soon.”

I didn’t dare ask her if she wanted another child because she was disappointed in me, or if she merely wanted the attention and prestige of one who bore more than one child in a millennium.

I had the sneaking suspicion the answer would involve a little of both.

I spent the next three months preparing for my return to Medicia.First, I knitted a shawl for Kerainne in a light purple thread that was identical to her beloved lilacs.Then I made a matching blanket for the baby.Lastly, I prepared some of my favorite dishes and packed them into time-stasis containers so they’d be fresh and hot when I served them to Kerainne.

When I finally returned to Medicia, Kerainne threw her arms around me and squeezed me tight.The feel of her warmth against me filled me with a sense of rightness that momentarily stole my breath.And the moment I recovered from that profound feeling, my body stirred with arousal, giving me no choice but to release her before I embarrassed myself in front of the butler and other people in the palace.

“Lucian!”Kerainne beamed up at me.“I’m so glad you finally came.I’ve been so worried about my mother!”

I felt the slightest pang of guilt for not caring much about the Medician Queen’s pregnancy aside from how it affected Kerainne’s wellbeing, but it faded quickly.

Every moment with Kerainne was like an intoxicant, making me as addicted as those who chewed and smoked serentiva leaves.Queen Natalya and King Consort Kiernan didn’t seem to mind.In fact, the Queen pulled me aside one evening to thank me for providing Kerainne a diversion as the pregnancy advanced.And though there was no similar conversation with the King Consort, Kiernan’s copper eyes shone with gratitude when I accompanied his daughter on an adventure.

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