Page 2 of Redeeming the Angel

“Oh, but we do.”Nik’s burning copper eyes suddenly belied her cool facade.“Because the answer could help us get out of this betrothal.”

Lucian’s insolence vanished just as quickly.For a moment, I saw a flash of the man I used to know.“I think it could very well be both.The half and quarter luminites aren’t always well-regarded by the heads of the older families.But the official stance is that Kerainne is an unworthy match because she willfully birthed the offspring of Mephistopheles.”

He couldn’t even look at me as he said those words.But beneath that blaze of anger came another.He’d had twenty-five years to break the betrothal if he’d wanted to.Hell, he could have refused to become engaged to my sister in the first place.So if he wasn’t here to try to force Nikkita to marry him, what the fuck was he doing here?

Oblivious to my agony and suspicions, my sister continued speaking to Lucian.“I have something important to tell you that could makemeunworthy as well.But I need to shower and clean up all this blood and dirt.Then we all need drinks.Let Zareth show you to your room.We’ll meet in the kitchen in an hour.Xochitl, you come too.And Sylvis, I think you also should join us.”

I thanked the fates for a reprieve from this painful, awkward situation and fled to my rooms.Instead of going to shower immediately, Nik intercepted me in our now shared suite.

“I’m sorry no one had time to warn you,” she told me.“I know seeing him has to be difficult.And I made it worse.”

“Difficult?”I chuckled bitterly.“It’s impossible!”I took a deep breath and tried to focus on the positives.“At least you telling him about yours and Del’s daughter will definitely end the betrothal.I understand why you brought up the end of mine.It was a clever setup.”

Nik shrugged and continued to look at me with pitying eyes.“I know, but I didn’t like hurting you with reminders of what he and his snobby family did to you.What our own family did.”

I couldn’t take anymore.Not her pity, not my ex-fiancé being under the same roof as me, not any of it.“If you don’t mind, I’d like to skip the meeting.I need some time alone.I need to think.To…I don’t know.”

“Of course.”Nik moved to embrace me, then stepped back, looking down at her hard leather armor, encrusted with dirt and dried blood.“And I’m sure we can get rid of him quickly.”

Unfortunately, I had a feeling that she was wrong.

After Nik left to shower, I was tempted to collapse on the lush bed King Zareth had provided me as befitting my rank as not only Queen of Medicia, but also Queen Mother of all of Aisthanesthai.But I knew sleep would be impossible.So I went down to the library and grabbed a gothic novel I’d been reading,Midnight Roomsby Donyae Coles.

Unfortunately, I was unable to concentrate on the words on the pages as memories of the past pelted me.

Kerainne

Past

My mother had gone into her second Yearning.A rare thing, especially merely a hundred years after birthing a child.Thankfully, I’d gotten sufficient forewarning and was able to escape the castle and the surrounding village before Mother’s yearning could trigger one in me.I’d already had my first one twenty-seven years ago.It was agonizing.Not ready to be that intimate with anyone, I flew to a cave and spent the next eight hours writhing in agony.There was only so much I could do to ease myself.

The Yearning is a frenzy that overcomes female luminites, making them desperate to mate, not too dissimilar to that of many species of mammal.It’s usually the only time when they’re fertile, though even that has exceptions.

This time, I’d thought the best idea to cool off the residual heat from Mother’s Yearning was to take a swim in the sea.Unfortunately, I swam out too far and was dragged out by the undertow.

Many books romanticize drowning, claiming it’s a peaceful way to go.It wasn’t for me.Even after twenty-five hundred years, I won’t forget it.The sting of saltwater in my eyes, the crushing weight of the waves, the suction of the current, the burning lungs.Most of all, I hated the way my vision went black.Ialwayshate that part.When all color is drained from the world.

And sure, the peaceful warm-feeling came as I lost consciousness and my soul left my body, but it’s not worth the cost, no matter what the poets say.

After I died and awoke in Luminista the first time, I was at first blinded by the bright white light of the welcome chamber where luminites transcend back home and reform their bodies.Until now, I’d only seen paintings of these rooms and didn’t expect them to be so bright.They really should tone down the lighting and use a darker marble.Maybe set down some soft carpeting too.

When my vision returned to focus, I saw the face of the most beautiful man leaning over me.I don’t know how long I lay there on the cool marble, studying the sharp planes and angles of his cheeks and jawline, the sensuous curvature of his lips.And his eyes…Fates,I could drown in those cerulean depths.

“Welcome, Kerainne Leonine, Princess of Medicia.”His voice was warm and musical as he offered his hand.

When my palm slipped into his and he pulled me to my feet, I was again enthralled by his muscled form, those toned forearms, that golden chest partly revealed by the cut of his silvery silk robes.As heat spiraled through my lower body, I worried that the Yearning had caught me after all and that I would leap on this gorgeous stranger with wanton abandon.

And then I became aware of my nakedness and the heat coursing through my body morphed into burning embarrassment.

The unfairly handsome luminite man chuckled and handed me a green silk robe.“I’d forgotten how you Medici luminites are so sensitive about nudity.”

Part of me was relieved at his blasé reaction to my naked body.Another part hoped he’d liked what he saw.Once dressed, I recovered my voice.“And you are?”

“Lucian, Prince of the Jagwolfe clan.”He bowed.“My mother, Lucinda Jagwolfe, has been eager to meet you, Princess.So has your grandmother, Silvara Leonine, but I got here first.”

I bowed as trained by my parents and tried not to gape dumbfounded at his beauty.“It is an honor to finally make your acquaintance, Prince Jagwolfe.Your clan is among Medicia’s most valued allies, though it has been some time since any Jagwolfe has visited our lands.”

Lucian chuckled.“Yes, I believe the last time we went down to Medicia was over a century and a half ago.I was just a baby, so I don’t remember anything about the visit.Perhaps I may be the one to accompany you on your return?”

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