Page 23 of Redeeming the Angel

Lucian shook his head, making that breathtaking golden mane of his glint in the sunlight.“No, why?”

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“Nik is determined to learn, so we will be taking lessons with her.”

For a moment, his brow furrowed in trepidation, then his features shifted to the same bright, enthusiastic smile he had when I’d shown him the baby lizards.“That sounds fun!”

The sword master frowned at the arrival of an unexpected third pupil, but relaxed as I told her that Lucian would only be watching today and that they’d have him equipped with the proper protective clothing tomorrow.

I never had much aptitude for swordcraft, but that day I was even more hopeless.I couldn’t stop glancing over at Lucian who sat as straight and regal from his seat on the sidelines that he could be attending a royal meeting.Except for his bright smile and wondrous wide eyes that melted my heart.I wondered when he’d kiss me again.

Eventually, the sword master sighed in exasperation and sent me off to the side while she instructed Nik.

Lucian sat so close to me that I could feel the heat of his body against my bare hands clutching the sides of my chair.Nik was thrusting and parrying her blade with practiced ease and no longer needed my watching with pride, so Lucian and I spoke quietly throughout the lesson.He told me about his wolf pack and their bafflement at Lucian cooking the pieces of elk and deer they brought him over a fire.

Afterward, he accompanied us to the castle, where my parents greeted him with reserved smiles.They didn’t know we had a fight, but knew something had happened to keep him from visiting for over two decades.All I’d told them was that I’d asked Lucian to depart so I could focus on Nikkita.

All Mother had said was, “I’m glad you’re listening to my advice and taking things slowly.”

But over the next six months, Lucian seemed to be embodying that advice.He diligently stuck with our sword and magic lessons, cheerfully agreed to whatever madcap thing Nik felt like doing between our studies, had in fact, made a genuine friendship with her and was, all in all, very good company.

Andthat’swhen I figured out what he was doing.

After a long day of pyromancy lessons, I knocked on the door to his guest suite.He answered, only garbed in his trousers and shoes.

“Care to fly with me?”I asked, trying to hide the quiver in my voice.

His chest was as muscular as one of those Greek athletes on Earth.And his stomach…something about that sculpted row of muscles made my mouth dry.

“Of course,” Lucian said cheerfully.

He didn’t put on a shirt before we went out on his balcony and released our wings.The late spring night air was slightly chilly.When we got to the high cliff overlooking the ocean, I withdrew my wings and pulled a shawl from my bottomless pouch—my favorite thing that came with the mage lessons I was taking with Nik.

Lucian remained as he was, his bare chest, shoulders, and stomach, framed by his dark gilt wings tormenting me with the temptation to caress him like he was a marble sculpture.And his hair, usually immaculately combed and tied back, hung wild and free.

“Impeccable view,” he said conversationally, that cheerful smile still on his face.“It’s been a long time since you brought me here.”

I sucked in a breath, suddenly nervous.“I think I owe you an apology.”

“For what?”he asked with that same opaque cheer, his blue eyes a hard shield that I couldn’t see through.

I wondered when he’d learned how to do that.My words stumbled out, stilted and awkward.“I’m sorry that the way I referred to you as ‘good company,’ implying that I didn’t care about you in a…romantic sense.”

He inclined his head regally, every inch a luminite prince.Then he fixed those gorgeous eyes on me.The shield cracked a little, giving me hot glimpses of passion.“Are you admitting you do care about me romantically?”

I swallowed and nodded.

“Then you wouldn’t mind proving it, would you?”

“What do you mean?”I fidgeted with my skirts.“I brought you here, didn’t I?”

“And what did you bring me here to do?”

The husky, teasing tone of his voice made my heart tilt.“Kissing.”

He nodded sagely.“Yes, that is indeed a romantic activity.”

When he remained sitting straight and formal, I took a deep breath and spoke more bluntly.“So, would you like to…”

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