Page 26 of Redeeming the Angel

One night, after a long treatise on different styles of blood magic, Rayven paused with his teacup halfway to his mouth.“That said, I’ve since learned that there are more important things than the pursuit of power.Funny how my fixation on it led me to select Tiana as my apprentice.Though I did gain more power from her, I treasure the love we found even more.”

I concealed my pang of longing behind my tea mug.“Now that Nikkita and Delgarias are wed, you’ll probably be having your own wedding soon.”

And without Rayven’s visits to the tower to court Tiana, what would be my excuse to visit?King Zareth had implied that was my way in.Then again, I’d been invited to Nik and Delgarias’s wedding, so perhaps I had made in-roads to win over Kerainne’s inner circle.

Rayven seemed to read my mind.Or perhaps I was that obvious.“It will take time to plan a ceremony of a scale worthy of my bride.Zareth and his queen had five weddings and I intend to put them all to shame.However, with Delgarias and Nikkita spending more time away from the tower, Tiana will be spending more time in mine.”

As my shoulders slumped, he gave me a wry smile.“You’re a luminite so you don’t even have to use the gate stone.You can come and go through Zareth’s nightmare forest as you please.Furthermore, Razvan and most of the blood drinkers seem fond of you and even though the other inhabitants of the tower have yet to warm to you, theyneedyou.If Luminista doesn’t join the war, the Evil One could destroy us all.”

Guilty heat flushed my face and I hoped he didn’t notice.I’d only gone back to Luminista once since I’d first settled in this guesthouse.And all I’d done was tell my mother and Aunt Lucretia that I couldn’t marry Nikkita Leonine.They’d tried to argue until I pointed out that she and Delgarias had been wed by both mage and luminite standards, though they’d frowned at Kerainne claiming her title as Queen of Medicia when Medicia was no more.However, legally they had no argument.Oddly enough, the fact that Nik was one of the vampire Brides the Prophecy referred to seemed to have the most impact on them giving up on trying to force me to marry her, while the existence of her hybrid daughter, Tiana didn’t matter at all.

I remembered how hostile they’d been at the prospect of Kerainne giving birth to Xochitl and wondered if they’d softened their stance on hybrids, or if they’d been projecting my own hostility when I’d found out the love of my life was not only carrying another man’s child, but also that child would have the blood of the greatest evil in all the known worlds.However, the unknown could be a factor as well.While everyone knew Delgarias was pure faelin back when Tiana had been conceived, no one knew precisely what Mephistopheles was.

The red eyes and horns indicated that he could be a demon as there were a few species with one or both features.But the Evil One didn’t match any known demon.I knew this because shortly after seeing Kerainne heavy with child, I’d gone to Eshkar of the Sagar clan, the reigning expert on demons in Luminista and possibly the universe.

“Though Mephistopheles makes deals and alliances with many demon clans in Irkalla, none recognize him as being of their world,” Eshkar had said.“A few claim that he created himself, but that’s unlikely given that he’s incapable of creation, only of stealing and piecing together those ill-gotten gains.But I’ll assure you as I do everyone else who comes to me with this question that the Sagar clanwillfind the Evil One’s origins.”

As always, that unknown made me uncomfortable and I’d forced my thoughts to more positive matters, such as the possibility of my kin warming to Xochitl’s existence.For surely if I could see her in a friendlier light over time, perhaps they could too.

The visit was soured when first my mother expressed disapproval of my decision to remain in Aisthanesthai for an extended period of time, and then Lucretia telling me she had a message from Silvara demanding that I bring Gabriel Leonine home as he’d been under house arrest for the crime of freeing Kerainne from her own imprisonment.

I’d refused, declaring that I wasn’t Gabe’s keeper.“Furthermore, it was unjust to keep Kerainne locked up for five years.And fates know how longer Silvara would have kept here imprisoned.”

I neglected to add that I had a hand in freeing Kerainne so she could finally reunite with her daughter.I hadn’t wanted anyone, especially Kerainne, to know.

“I’m sure Gabe will come back on his own soon enough.His infatuation with my newfound cousin is going to get him in trouble.”

“Cousin?”Lucretia asked sharply.“What cousin?”

“Sylvis Jagwolfe.She’s descended from the Earthside Jagwolfes and is Xochitl Leonine’s best friend.”A thought occurred to me.“What ever became of the Earthside Jagwolfes?”

My mother answered, “Most returned to the elements in despair when Earth lost its magic.I’d assumed they all did, but some must have persevered to keep the family name going so long.”

“And you say Gabriel Leonine is infatuated with her?”Aunt Lucretia sounded speculative.“You must find out how much luminite blood she has.”

“Did you happen to miss where I said she’s best friends with Kerainne’s daughter?”I’d thrown my hands up in frustration.“The girl will barely speak to me.And I’m still not certain if Gabe’s adoration is of her personally or just her music.”

I also wasn’t sure how long Gabe would be able to remain near Sylvis once she discovered that he wasn’t a pet wolf.

Before my family could press me further, I returned to Aisthanesthai.

“I didn’t have time to plead our case,” I told Rayven.“They were too interested in my cousin from Earth.”

“You should be too,” Rayven said, rising from his seat to rinse out his teacup.

The sun was setting and it was close to time to return to Zareth’s tower.Rayven and Tiana had plans to go to his tower as their courtship had reached the point where Nik and Del saw less and less reason to forbid overnight visits when the two were already a mated pair.While I was genuinely happy for my new friend and ally, I couldn’t help but worry about what excuse I would have to visit this night.

Then I found one.

When we reached the gate stone, a strange and haunting melody reached my ears.Sylvis Jagwolfe was practicing her guitar out in the garden again.

“I’ll take a shortcut through the forest this time,” I told Rayven.

He gave me a knowing smile.“I wish you luck with that.”

I wove through the trees and undergrowth of Zareth’s nightmare forest, immune to the fear that kept all other beings out, but not to the grasping branches and phantom hands that made me grumble in annoyance.

When I made it through, I froze in awe at my newfound cousin’s playing.The speed in which her fingers danced over the strings of the strange instrument created distilled chaos that compelled me despite my being unaccustomed to heavy metal music.

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