Page 9 of Redeeming the Angel

I ended up devouring the whole portion and having seconds, despite Kerainne’s warning.After the meal, I did indeed get a stomachache, which made Kerainne laugh, but we ended up having an interesting conversation about the differences between our worlds.

Then I ruined it.“But you didn’t get the chance to fully explore Luminista.Come back with me in a few days and I’ll show you—”

“No,” she cut me off firmly.“My mother is pregnant.I refuse to leave her for the duration.”

Selfishly,stupidly, I argued.“But a luminite pregnancy lasts for two years.”

“Do you have any idea how dangerous a luminite pregnancy is?”she asked sharply.All signs of warmth left her as she continued.“The only time a luminite can fully die is before they take their first breath because that’s when the soul enters the body.Because of this, if the embryo or—fates forbid—a fully formed infant dies, the mother—and often the father too, can experience horrific internal pain, as it is the only time they’re so connected to death.”

“Oh.”I hadn’t known that.In my two hundred years, only two luminites had been born in all of luminista and to my shame, I hadn’t paid attention to anything but the pregnancy announcements and celebration balls from first announcement to celebrating a successful birth.

I dipped my head in a humility.“I apologize for my ignorance.”

I expected her to ask me to return to Luminista, but instead, her gaze softened.“I apologize for being overharsh.There’s going to be a ball soon.If you care to remain longer as my guest, I’m certain you’ll be invited.”

I nodded, trying to conceal my relief.“I told you that I wish to remain in your company on any terms.”

But I never could have imagined what those terms would be.

Chapter Four

Kerainne

Present

I was awakened by the sound of Zareth’s emergency chime, followed by rapid voices and footsteps pounding all over the place.Immediately alarmed, I dressed quickly and ran out of my apartments to the solar, where all the voices concentrated.

When my daughter saw me, she exclaimed, “Mephistopheles is attacking a mage school in Shalafi!”

“Oh, fuck,” My heart constricted with dread.“All those children.When do we depart?”

Zareth answered, “As soon as we can dress for battle and gather weapons.It’s a shame that it’s still daytime, or Xochitl’s vampires could join us.”

“But that meanshewon’t have vampires either.”I countered, unable to say the Evil One’s name.

We all dispersed to our rooms and I dressed myself in the mail and leather armor Delgarias had gifted me shortly after I’d escaped my imprisonment in Luminista.He also gifted me with a Shellandrian steel sword, though I was nowhere near as proficient as my sister with blades.

We all returned to the solar.Xochitl had woken up Nik and was writing a note to Delgarias while Beau had already taken a portal to Earth to get the vampires once the sun went down.

My sister eyed me with concern.“Are you sure it’s a good idea for you to come?Del and Jayden saw a vision of a luminite getting captured by Mephistopheles.Not to mention facing him again after what he did to you.”

“I’m going to help Artavian and the other healers,” I assured her.Still, I patted the pommel of my sword just in case.

Then, Lucian Jagwolfe strode in, also dressed for battle.

My jaw dropped as I beheld the sight of him in gilded metal armor with a Wurrakian longsword sheathed at his hip.

He met my gaze briefly, then addressed Xochitl.“While I understand that I am an unwelcome guest, we share a common enemy.I will fight at your side.”

I gaped at him in shock.Lucian Jagwolfe, who was always concerned about safety and staying out of violent conflicts, was willing to go fight a battle for my daughter, who he’d once professed to hate?

How had he changed so much in the past quarter-century?And what other changes would become known?I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out.

But as we went out in the courtyard to form a portal to Shalafi, all thoughts of Lucian vanished as my heart cried out for the plight of the mage school students.

When we arrived, all was chaotic violence and screaming.I didn’t seehim, but I saw his army of evil mages, necromancers with troops of corpse-walkers, and even a few demons.

The mage university students and their instructors had formed a protective line in front of the primary and intermediate schools.I saw the duchess of Kinsen and her small army marching out of a portal near the university building.

---