Page 6 of Redeeming the Angel

Pain slashed across her face and I immediately regretted bringing up what must be her worst memory.Quickly, I brought the subject back to the present.“When Nikkita ran away from Medicia all those centuries ago, you said you couldn’t tell me why because she made you swear a blood oath.Was the child the reason?”

Kerainne nodded, but the pain in her eyes remained.“You said we wouldn’t talk about the past.”

“I’m sorry.I only brought it up because I learned of this child only mere hours ago.”I bowed in sincere apology.“I understand that your daughter is to lead a war of vampires and mages and other allies into battle against the Evil One.Do you think she can win?”

“Iknowshe can.”Kerainne said with a fierceness I’d never heard before.

“And what is your role in this war?”I prayed to the fates that she’d be safe on the sidelines.

“Wherever the fates need it to be.”She lifted her chin and glared at me with defiance that dared me to argue.

I don’t know what I was going to say next, because then the sharp chords of an electric guitar rank out, coming from the courtyard.

Kerainne’s fire lowered and her voice warmed with maternal love.“Sylvis is practicing again.The stress of tonight’s battle must have been a lot for her, poor dear.She seeks solace with solitude and her guitar.Let’s be quiet so she doesn’t know we’re out here.”

The rest of our time together was spent in silence, listening to the intricate melodies my long-lost cousin played on her instrument.Gabriel had been crowing over the band, Rage of Angels for the past three years, but the only thing that I’d paid attention to was the fact that Kerainne’s daughter was the lead singer.Something Gabriel didn’t even know until two years ago.Even then, I’d only occasionally watched a few concerts with Gabe on a scrying sphere and couldn’t look very long at Xochitl Leonine.I don’t know which hurt the most, seeing Kerainne’s features in her, or those of Mephistopheles.

Now, listening to Sylvis Jagwolfe’s instrument sing, I couldn’t help thinking about the early days of knowing Kerainne.How much simpler it had been back then, with no wars and no danger.Though I’d botched things the first time I’d met her, it wasn’t difficult for me to rectify the situation.

Unlike now.

Chapter Three

Lucian

Past

How naïve I’d been then, not having a clue as to my mother’s motives in ordering me to keep an eye on the Leonine clan’s welcome hall for when Princess Kerainne had her first death.That naivety almost prevented me from seeing her again.

It was embarrassing standing at the gates to the Leonine matriarch’s palace every day, flowers in hand, and turned away like I was a commoner rather than a prince.I blamed my scheming relatives for that, but I came to realize the fault was mine.I should have said something at that awkward tea.Convinced her that I had no intention of pushing a betrothal on her when we’d only just met.Istilldon’t understand why my clan leaders wanted a marriage pact with the Leonines so much.It’s not like they’re wealthier or more powerful.Both clans are equal in that regard.Nor do I understand why they wanted to rush the matter.Luminite courtships usually take centuries.

And for this one, it was clear that I needed to come to her.

The day after I learned Kerainne returned to Medicia, I transported myself down to Aisthanesthai.

The world of Aisthanesthai was not what I’d expected.As I was an infant the last time my family visited Medicia, all I’d had to go on were the scrying spheres, books, and my mother and father’s derisive words about how inferior the realm was to Luminista.The air was different, more biting, though not from temperature, more like it had more substance.And the smells.From the grass and dirt at my feet to the various trees, bushes, and nearby stream, the variety of so many different scents nearly overwhelmed me.

The sounds were equally overpowering, with the chirping of birds, droning of insects, rustling of leaves, and whispers from the pine boughs.

Hadmy parents truly brought me to this world?Doubt filled my mind.If they had, that meant they’d have had to kill me for our return to Luminista.And that wasn’t something that was usually done with infants.Generally, a luminite was encouraged to try not to have their first death before they stopped growing.

A glimpse of a road brought my mind back to the mission at hand.We didn’t have many roads in Luminista.There was no need when everyone could fly or open a portal.The road must be for human, faelin, and leprechaun traders.

Although I could have released my wings and flown to Medicia, I decided to walk on the road.It gave me time to adjust to the sensory bombardment of this world and recite what I’d say to Kerainne if she let me see her.

I wouldn’t exactly lie about my romantic interest in her.But I wouldn’t bring it up because I feared she’d feel pressured.There’d been a rebellious glint in her eye, both when she’d chosen to accompany me to Jagwolfe territory rather than greet her own clan, and then it returned when my mother and Lucretia brought up a prospective betrothal.

During my walk, I saw many different varieties of wildflower.I’d originally intended on creating a bouquet with my magic, but decided gathering these, using physical work rather than metaphysical, might mean more to her.

Yet, just as I bent down to pick some bluebells, I paused.Kerainne had access to all these flowers as this was her family’s lands.What if she found the gesture to be lazy?I remained frozen with indecision for an embarrassingly long time.

Finally, I decided to proceed with the wildflower bouquet, and if there was a second of derision in her eyes, I’d conjure a second bouquet of lilacs.The way her eyes had lit up at the sight of the lilac trees around the Leonine welcoming hall showed me she loved them.

The walls of the kingdom of Medicia sparkled in the sunlight.I could make out the golden spires of a tower above them and near the center.My steps halted as my gaze returned to the wall.It was beautiful, made of smooth, gold-veined marble melded seamlessly with magic, yet I couldn’t discern the purpose of such a barrier between this beautiful forest around the road and the village.

Then, like with the road, it dawned on me.Luminites weren’t the only bipedal beings here.Just like on the rapidly declining Earth, invasions and war could happen.A stone of worry sank in my belly at the thought of Kerainne being attacked by savage humans or the even more formidable faelin.I breathed my thanks to the fates that at least the latter were considered allies.

I’d expected to find guards at the gates, but not only were there none, the gates were wide open.The Leonine rulers must be unconcerned about invaders as of now.My shoulders relaxed.Perhaps the walls were a precaution, or simply mimicking the style of other holdfasts to blend in.

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