Page 82 of Redeeming the Angel

“How silly,” Lucretia had said with a lofty chuckle.“Earth has always produced the vastest quantity of species and hybrids.Not even Aisthanesthai can match that.Which is why we have to source biological designs from your worlds while building our own.”

I noticed that both sides kept some secrets from each other.Though some on our side knew that even though our kind couldn’t bring things back to luminista, wecouldtransport things from luminista.That useful fact had not come up in our negotiations even though even a willingness to send supplies would be helpful in the war.Our side also never mentioned luminite blood making vampires more powerful, though they freely offered their services in helping our visitors return home.

Silvara’s change in tune about Xochitl both amused and delighted me.It seemed everything Xochitl did, from having four cats walking with her as an honor guard to her voice to her advanced magic ability was a “Leonine trait.”However, Xochitl’s most obvious luminite trait: her wings, gave Silvara and the other visitors pause.Black feathers, and to a lesser extent, black hair, weren’t completely unheard of, just very rare if one’s clan wasn’t among those with dark skin to match.Xochitl’s wings also had some strange, but subtle nubs on their arches, but before the Leonine or Jagwolfe delegations could criticize them, Nik showed that her wings had similar nubs.

And given that the matriarchs had considered Nik worthy enough for a royal marriage, then they couldn’t find fault with a slight anomaly in her wings.However, Silvara was puzzled that Tiana’s wings were normal.

Though Delgarias was pleased that his daughter was accepted by the luminite side of her family, on the second night, he did grumble privately to me that he was surprised since Silvara’s daughter seemed to be against the idea of Nik birthing a half-faelin child.

Aurora overhead and explained, “It’s the ‘I’ve become a grandparent’ syndrome.So many people who were shitty parents randomly turn into complete softies to their grandkids.Well, I guess it would be ‘great-grandparent’ in this case, but I bet it’s the same.”

“Oh shit,” Kerainne said with wide eyes.“I wonder what kind of parent Silvara was.”

I raised a brow.“You never used to use profanity much before.”

“My time on Earth corrupted me.”She laughed, then lowered her voice.“And I like yanking Grandmother’s chain.What’s your grandmother like?”

“I don’t know.She went back to the elements shortly after I was born, so I never got the chance to meet her.”

I wanted to talk with her longer, but my mother pulled Kerainne away for a private chat.My fists clenched at my sides.I’d warned them not to interfere.If she or Lucretia sabotaged this reconciliation before it got started, I would—

“Lucian?”Silvara’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.“May we speak a moment?”

Gritting my teeth in frustration, I nodded and allowed her to lead me to the massive library.

“I can’t help but notice that you and Kerainne seem to be mending fences.”The Queen of Leonine clan’s casual tone did nothing to fool me.

“I hope so.”Telling her the truth wouldn’t hurt.

“What changed your heart?”

“My heart could only lie to itself for so long.”

Silvara regarded me with a smug grin as if she’d known all along.“If you do succeed in convincing Kerainne to accept you again, you’ll have to accept the child you once rebuked.”

“I already have.”

She blinked in surprise then recovered her regal composure.“And you’ll probably have to spend the majority of your time here instead of Luminista.I don’t see the original fifty-year bargain working anymore.”

I smiled broadly.“I’m perfectly amenable to that.”

“You’ve changed much in a short time.”

“Yes,” I agreed cheerfully.

While I loved my family and kin, something had shifted within me in the months that I’d spent in Aisthanesthai.The expected relief I usually felt being back with my own kind didn’t come.Instead,theyfelt like interlopers and the mages and vampires felt likemypeople.

Silvara patted my hand.“I believe things may work out this time.Come see me when you’re ready to negotiate another betrothal contract.”

With that, she returned to her courtiers.

After our guests finally retired for the night and Del and Zareth helped the vampires travel to the blood houses so all sixty-five of them could feed, I finally found Kerainne alone on one of the balconies equipped with a small, cylindrical fireplace.

When I stepped out there, she held up a familiar-looking bottle and gestured for me to sit by her on one of the comfortable wicker chairs.

“It’s about time.”

I raised an eyebrow.“I hadn’t realized you were waiting for me.”

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