Page 7 of Redeeming the Angel

I entered the city and gasped at the variety of structures and luminites as far as I can see.In luminista, each clan’s territories followed a consistent theme of architecture and dress.Not so in Medicia.There were adobe buildings next to wooden cabins, adjacent to glass and steel structures.Luminite merchants wore everything from silk Kimono to cotton togas, to leather breeches and beaded leather shirts.The last was more startling.Luminites couldn’t kill.So that meant they’d acquired such garments from beings who could.

When I recovered from this culture shock, I approached a vendor selling cold beverages.I pulled some coins from my bottomless pouch at my belt and asked for directions to the Leonine palace.

“Turn left on Lilac Road, then keep following Lion Road.”He ignored my coins and handed me a delightfully cold bottle.

I sipped the drink on my walk to the palace.It tasted like a berry I could almost identify and soothed my parched throat.My legs were a little sore from all the walking, but I didn’t see many luminites here letting their wings out and flying, and I was determined to follow the region’s customs.

The palace came into view, a marvelous quartz and gold structure with multiple towers and large balconies that formed a pleasing cohesion to the eye.

But when I reached the steps to the Leonine stronghold, my sore muscles cried out at the prospect of climbing them.So I cheated and carefully released my wings through the slits cut in the back of my tunic.Doing it that way hurts more than letting them burst out, but I preferred to keep my clothes.

As I flew over the mass of stone steps, guards assembled in front of the palace doors.I spread my hands, one clenching the bouquet of flowers tightly, to show I was unarmed as I slowly landed ten paces in front of them.

“I’m Lucian, Prince of the Luminita Jagwolfe clan.I’m here to call on Princess Kerainne.”

The guards sheathed their swords and two split off from the group of twelve and escorted me inside.The anteroom was high-ceilinged and lined with sculptures of great cats before opening to an even more cavernous throne room.Rich royal purple carpet with gold tassels made a wide path to the steps and dais where two carved and cushioned thrones sat for the Queen Natalya and King Consort Kiernan.At the moment, both were empty.Marble pillars rose to a dizzying high ceiling with a colored-glass roof in the shape of a cat curled in a ball.More lion and lioness statues posed between the pillars, each taller than Lucian.Three balconies leading to upper floors overlooked the throne room.

Kerainne Leonine appeared on the highest balcony.Before I could call out a greeting, she leaped off it and instead of letting out her wings, stirred the molecules in the air around her, bringing them closer, so she drifted down as if sinking in water.

She landed softly in front of me, and once more, I was struck mute by her beauty.Now, dressed in her royal finery, a peridot gown of green velvet with gold rope trim that matched her eyes and hair, the latter of which was piled high in an intricate braid pattern that resembled roses.Threaded through her golden braids was a darker gold tiara studded with emeralds.

I dropped to one knee and held out the bouquet of flowers.After an embarrassing long pause, I recovered my words.“Princess Kerainne, please accept my apology for my family’s rude behavior as well as this token of my admiration.I swear, on my honor, that I had no idea my matriarch was trying to arrange a betrothal.I don’t know you well enough to move that fast.”

Kerainne’s eyes danced with what suspiciously looked like amusement.However, she accepted the flowers and gestured for me to rise.“How can I resist such a sweet apology?And such a grand gesture, coming down to my heathen world with the extra inconvenience of your having to die to return home.”She paused and suddenly frowned.“Unless you’ve come to persuade me to return to Luminista with you.”

I shook my head.“I merely wish to be in your company and get to know you on any terms.Also, I’m very interested in exploring your people’s kingdom amidst this strange world and so many other beings.”

Her smile returned.“Then I’ll be glad to give you a tour.And what do you mean, so many other beings?All you lack are humans, faelin, leprechauns, and demons.That’s not so many.Do you not have not have animals in Luminista?When I saw the forests and rivers and lakes, I’d thought your world wasn’t much different.”

“We have animals, just not nearly as many as here.”I told her about my walk to Medicia and all the creatures I’d seen and heard.

Kerainne clapped her hands together in endearing glee.“Oh, it will be so much fun to show you so many living things.Especially the babies and young ones.They come to me easily.I can show you some kittens now, if you’d like.Unless you have cats in Luminista.”

“Of course we have cats.”I couldn’t help bristling at the notion that we wouldn’t.“They’re the guardians of doorways and all places in-between.There is no realm that could possibly keep cats out.Not to mention the lions in your clan’s lands in Luminista and the wolves of mine.”

“What about dogs?”

“Yes, dogs too.”

“Dragons?”

“No.”I gasped as the realization set in.“I’d completely forgotten that Aisthanesthai has dragons.”

“We didn’t always.They came from Earth.My mother told me they were among the first of the magical creatures to migrate here.My father even helped some.Let me introduce you to a dragon family nearby!”Kerainne tugged my arm, then suddenly stopped, her shoulders drooping.“I forgot, they just went into hibernation.So we won’t be able to see them for another two hundred years.I’ll be that’s when their eggs hatch.”

“They sleep that long?”

Kerainne nodded.“Most long-lived beings do.Dragons can live three to five thousand years.It’s interesting that they hibernate longer than us, since we live forever.Maybe we can study that together.What about lizards?”

“Lizards?”I asked blankly, trying to keep up with her rapid thoughts.

“Are there lizards in Luminista?Some look like miniature, wingless dragons, though they’re cold-blooded.”

I shook my head.“I don’t think so.”

She grinned and once more tugged on my hand.“Then come, I’ll show you some!”

I tried to keep up with her as we dashed out of the throne room, down a hall beside the grand staircase, then turned a corner and went out a door behind the palace.Kerainne released her wings and I followed suit.We flew past the gardens and over a forest before landing in a meadow.She put a finger to her lips and gestured for me to follow her over to some boulders near a clear stream.

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