Page 59 of Redeeming the Angel

Oh, hell.

Delgarias sipped his tea and nodded as if pleased by the flavor.“We need luminista’s aid in this war.Maybe not all the luminites, but as many as we can get.”

“Why didn’t you tell me all of this before?”

“Because I didn’t know if you could be trusted,” Delgarias said crisply.“When you first arrived, you told us you were here because the Leonine and Jagwolfe matriarchs sent you for the betrothal.And even after we were assured that wasn’t your intention, you’ve made it abundantly clear since the day I met you that you believe Luminista is superior and above any concerns for the other worlds.Besides, when Gabriel revealed himself, he swore he would do what he could to recruit the luminites.”

I couldn’t hold back a laugh.“Gabriel can’t do anything of the sort.For one thing, he’s already tried for several decades.For another, he’s not even supposed to be here.He was forbidden from leaving Luminista because he freed Kerainne from her imprisonment.”

“I know.That’s why I knew we could trust him,” Del said cheerfully.“I’d planned on giving the Leonine matriarch some time to cool her temper before sending Gabriel there.But now that we know you can be trusted, perhaps you can go and try to win over some of your kin and friends.”

I very much doubted that I could, but I had to try.If I even brought one more to the cause, surely that would put me a few steps forward in making amends.Besides, Kerainne deserved some space after last night’s argument.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips.She’d actually thought she could get rid of me with that confession.Before I left on this mission, I’d send her a message that would make it very clear that I wasn’t going anywhere.

Chapter Twenty-One

Kerainne

Present

I spent the next two days hiding in my room like a coward.After finally telling Lucian about the miscarriage, I felt both emotionally drained and somehow lighter for unloading that deep hurt that I’d held secretly for so long.All those centuries, I’d been afraid Lucian would be angry with me and break up with meforeverinstead of the on and off dance we’d been doing before.In the cruelest irony, my successful pregnancy did that job.

And now that I’d confessed that hidden shame, not only did he react completely opposite from what I’d expected, he also admitted to his wrongness and still wanted to get back together.Fates help me, I was tempted.

So I hid.And when being cooped up became unbearable, I made a vow to myself to avoid Lucian until I figured out what I was going to do about his refusal to give up.

At first, my mission was easy, because Del sent him back to Luminista for a few days, on a mission to try to recruit more luminites to join us in the war.Remembering all the times he spoke against getting involved with other worlds, I was stunned that he’d not only involve himself, but that he’d make an effort to convince more people from our elite home realm to dirty their hands.

And then there was the note he’d sent me, attached to a bouquet of lilacs:

I’m going to Luminista, but this time it’s to help you, not to spite you.This is part of my atonement and I am not going anywhere.

I was starting to believe hehadactually changed.And that kind of thinking could lead me to having my heart broken again.

Thankfully, Harvest Feast was tomorrow, so I was able to put the lilacs in a time stasis container—I still wanted to be able to smell them later—and leave for Kinsen to help the duchess prepare her celebration.And on the big day, I was able to enjoy being surrounded by friends, family, and delicious food.I only missed Lucian when it was time for dancing.

The next day, as if sensing my need for space, Zareth sent me on a diplomatic visit to Wurrakia to find out more about the lord who Aylmer had executed for treason and to find out if the lord’s imprisoned daughter was indeed also guilty.If she was, I was to take her into my custody so Zareth could question her.

“I’m sorry to send you to there in such a cold time of year,” my son in law said, “but after Aylmer allied with my brother and invaded Laran, I don’t completely trust him.Especially given that he never notified me that anyone in his lands had committed alleged treason.I’m the King, not him, and I should be the one who decides what is and isn’t treason.”

Though part of me regretted telling him about that bit of gossip, I agreed that this situation bore investigating.I’d just hoped that Zareth would have sent anyone but me.In retrospect, it was a foolish assumption.I truly was the best choice of ambassador, not only for Wurrakia, who’d always revered luminites, but for this particular mission, which involved asserting the monarch’s authority and looking into the wellbeing of a young woman.

But Wurrakia held my third-most painful memories.The secret trauma that only Nik, and now Lucian, knew about.There was no way I’d tell Zareth about that, so I packed my things and teleported over to the strange kingdom that was backward in all things except for healing magic.In that respect, they were the best in Aisthanesthai…yet even they couldn’t help me that awful day.

I shook off the thought as I released my wings and flew toward the city walls of the capitol.The guards bowed to me reverently before opening the gates and summoned four knights to escort me to the castle.

Lord Aylmer was welcoming to the point of obsequious, though a bit of his mask slipped when I stated my purpose.

“It has come to our attention that you’ve executed someone for treason,” I stressed the plural.“The crown wonders why we were not notified by you personally.We’d also like to know precisely what treason was committed.”

Aymer’s eyes widened with a flash of fear before narrowing to the usual craftiness I’d seen at Conclave meetings…of which he hadn’t bothered attending the last two.“I beg your forgiveness, Queen Mother.The oversight was not intentional.The previous king, Taranis, had granted Wurrakia a writ of sovereignty stating that what happens within Wurrakia’s borders would remain Wurrakia’s business.”

“Excluding war crimes, living rights violations, and treason,” I countered.“Every territory in Aisthanesthai received the same document.Including Medicia.”I softened my tone.“However, perhaps you were accustomed to Taranis’s lack of care for the world in the last years of his rule.And then those times without a ruler before the new king was crowned.”

“Yes!”Aylmer latched onto my justification eagerly.“That’s precisely it.”

I smiled sweetly.He was right where I wanted him.“Therefore, I am inclined to urge the King to forgive your oversight if you cooperate with my investigation.”

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