Page 31 of Redeeming the Angel

Her fixation on helping people still puzzled me at the time.But my experience with the tribe had started awakening my understanding on how good that felt.Before I could turn this farewell into another argument, I pulled out the biggest garnet from my bottomless pouch.

“Very well.Then soon you’ll need a staff.Keep this safe for me so I may craft one for you.”

Kerainne’s eyes widened.Crafting a staff for a mage was tantamount to a marriage proposal.“Does this mean you wish to court me?”

“I will court you in every culture but the luminite way,” I admitted.“Until you learn more about Luminista’s culture, I don’t think it wise to pursue you formally.”

I held my breath, wondering if she’d be hurt or upset.

Instead, she smiled and nodded.“That is fair.In mage courting, you are permitted to kiss me…and more.”

I groaned at the thought of more and swept her into my arms, claiming her luscious lips in a deep kiss.She melted against me and it took every atom of will in my body not to scoop her up and carry her off to our private cliff.

Like the first time, she promised to dispose of my body in the Jagwolfe tradition.

When I returned home, I received the full list of my duties, thwarted another interrogation about the status of my courtship with Kerainne, and then tried to make my way to the Leonine clan’s welcoming hall.But my mother had already found out about Nikkita’s death ceremony through the scrying spheres and told everyone.Therefore, most of my immediate family followed me there.

The Leonine clan already filled the chamber and Lucian groaned.“Nik will hate this.”

My mother made a sympathetic sound.“Well, maybe we can whisk her away to our palace where she won’t be so overwhelmed.”

I raised a brow.“You want to try that again after it went so poorly with Kerainne?”

She shrugged and whispered, “Well, the courtship doesn’t seem to be going well.Perhaps this one will be more suitable.”

Disgust filled me.“I literally watched Nikkita be born.”

Before I could recover from my mother’s constant machinations, I watched the Leonine Clan mob around Nik, increasing her discomfort.

“I’m a little overwhelmed,” Nik told them.“I’d like to go home.”

Eager to end everyone’s selfish machinations for her, I rushed to her side.She gave me a grateful look, happy to see a friend.

“We understand,” I assured her loudly, not caring if anyone was upset at me speaking for us all.“The first time can overwhelm many.Also, many luminites choose to leave as soon as they arrive here as they were busy with something, so we’re accustomed to these sudden arrivals and departures.We were planning on paying a visit to Medicia soon anyway, so we may reacquaint ourselves then.Please give your sister my deepest regards.”

I gave her instructions on how to return, wishing I could go with her.

Only a few days later, I received two big surprises.

The first was Kerainne’s arrival in my family’s palace.“I’ve come to visit for a few days, if you don’t mind.”

My heart leapt with elation and I pulled her into my arms, not caring if anyone was watching.

And then she delivered the second surprise.“The new Keeper of the Prophecy came to visit us.It’s Delgarias.”

Chapter Twelve

Kerainne

Present

Winter was coming.I hated winter, hated the cold.So when my daughter and her band, who I’d come to see as my children by extent, went back to Earth to work with Silas and Akasha McNaught to deal with Mephistopheles’s growing vampire cult and a few witch covens they’d been monitoring as magic was returning to the world, I declined their offer to take me with them.It was much colder there.Visits to Coeur d’Alene after I was supposed to have been dead for the last six years was risky anyway, but I did miss the place.

Plus, Silas and Akasha’s daughter, Kiara, stole my heart and fed my bond with little ones.There was a sad lack of children in my world these days.So whenever I had the opportunity to babysit the little half-vampire, half mutant girl, I was delighted.The irony was also not lost on me that Silas and Akasha had mostly been the ones to take care ofmychild when I’d been unable to be with her.

Zareth had gone with them.On the rare occasions when he accompanied Xochitl to Earth,Iwas technically the ruler of all Aisthanesthai, though thankfully this was never put to the test.Del and my sister had also gone, while Tiana returned to Rayven Niltsiar’s tower in Shalafi.

Leaving me all alone.

---