Page 92 of Redeeming the Angel

“Why are you telling me this now?”I didn’t know if I was asking about being born in Medicia or my grandmother and Kerainne’s great-grandmother being mates.

Mother answered both.“Your father loved Medicia.And so did I.But when a messenger told us about my mother being prepared to say her goodbyes, and unwillingness to wait, Silvara let me in on a family secret.With their magic, her mother and mine created a portal to Luminista.”

“Fates,” I whispered.“Does that portal still exist?”

“No.Silvara had it closed the first time Mephistopheles attacked Aisthanesthai.Lucretia disagreed with having it closed in the first place, because only a luminite can open it.She wants another one.”Mother gave me an intent look.“And it takes combined magic from a true-bonded Leonine and Jagwolfe couple to create that portal.”

“Like Gabriel and Sylvis created from Qua’ al-fán to Earth.”I shivered, though not from the cold.“Del—I mean, the Keeper of the Prophecy says that the Evil One will capture another Luminite.If it’s one of us or a Leonine…”

“Yes.”Mother nodded gravely.“You and Kerainne must never create such a portal.No matter what Lucretia says or does.”

“Do you think she’ll do something drastic?”

“Not with the lack of support she has from those of us who currently know this secret.And probably not even then with the war going on.However, with the way she was insisting on a match between our families that could produce biological offspring…We’re not certain if she’s still after a portal or something else.”

“Why were you and Silvara also in a rush for such a match?”I demanded.

“Originally to keep control of such power here where it belongs.”Mother frowned and corrected such imperious, rehearsed wording.“Where it would be safer.The ultimate goal was to bring all unmated Leonines back home so they wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet an Earthside Jagwolfe,” she smiled, doubtless thinking of Sylvis and Gabriel, “and there wouldn’t be as many visits to Aisthanesthai and thus less desire to create a portal to avoid having to die.The temptation would be too great.Even more recently, there’s the Prophecy and the war.”

I raised an eyebrow.“The war you and everyone else here wants to avoid being involved with?”

“That’s the official stance, yes,” Mother admitted with a touch of shame.“However, Silvara’s daughter is in Qua’ al-fán and I know that if she believed there was any way to save her, she would.As for our clan, there has been talk over recent years of founding another luminite stronghold in Aisthanesthai.Only this time…”

“You want to rule it.”I wasn’t sure how I felt about having my parents also relocating to my new home.

Mother nodded.“Your father misses Aisthanesthai.And I miss being out from under Lucretia’s thumb.”

“And what if we manage to bring back Medicia and its people?Or if King Zareth is unwilling to upset any of the rulers of Aisthanesthai’s remaining lands by giving them to you?”

“There are always places that no one cares about.”Mother’s blue eyes, identical to my own, locked intently on mine.“And if there aren’t, we can build our own space.That’s what we do.”

“Then will you help me with this betrothal contract?”My mind spun with all this new information about my grandmother, portals, and my own parents’ hidden ambitions.But the first priority was getting what we needed to win the war and to return to Kerainne.“You know what I want.What we need.”

“Yes.”Mother took my hand and squeezed it.“It will take a few days, but I’m certain we can arrange it.”

Chapter Thirty

Kerainne

Two days after Lucian left for Luminista, the castle living quarters were dead silent for the first time since we relocated here.Xochitl and Zareth were in the great hall, holding court.The Lord vampires and their Brides were back on Earth attending to any last-minute business and enjoying a few last hours in their own beds.

Beau and Artavian were in Wurrakia, getting a report on the knights’ readiness for battle and feeling out whether or not Lord Aylmer, his heirs, or his bannermen were harboring any plans that would make them a liability instead of an asset in war.Though vampires were still forbidden from the country, the Wurraks’ penchant for battle and glory made our request for them to join us in the war impossible to refuse.However, they wouldn’t be informed about the portal toQua’ al-fán until we were marching through it.

Their previous alliance with Zareth’s evil half-brother proved that they could be swayed to the wrong side.

The new luminite recruits were out in the village exploring Aisthanesthai.Some of them were here for the first time.I smiled when thinking of all the new and interesting delights they’d find.Maybe I should meet some of them there and get to know them.I didn’t know their culture as well as Lucian, but I was still one of them.Though I hated going out into the cold, this idea was better than another day of moping around in the castle like a lovestruck helpless princess rather than the powerful queen I was.

So I bundled up in my best winter clothes, including my wolfskin cloak, and went outside.Everything was damp and chilly, but the February air didn’t hurt my face.In fact, the sun was peeking out from between the clouds.Soon my daughter and I would watch the skies for returning geese, heralding the coming of spring.

Instead of transporting myself straight to the village, I decided to walk and enjoy this long-missed touch of sunlight.The black and white fluffy cat, which I’d nicknamed “Phantom” continued to follow me, as he had since he’d first appeared at the foot of Lucian’s bed.

Fates, I missed him so much.I knew I was being silly, as he’d promised he’d only allow his mother and great aunt to keep him there for five days, maximum, and we’d been apart for much longer periods throughout our courtship, but I couldn’t help it.The dark memories of what had happened just before we were supposed to get married before haunted me.I had an irrational worry that something horrible would happen to stop this one as well.

Before turning to the road that led to the village, I took a detour to the path leading to the King’s Forest.A luminite always returned to the place where they last died.I knew my impatience would be ridiculously obvious if he did happen to return and find me waiting for him there.But I was over withholding my feelings.I was absolutely, head-over-heels in love with Lucian Jagwolfe and completely shameless about it.

Lucian had also taken the death-by-vampire option, only instead of the courtyard, we’d gone to the forest so he could be buried beneath a new sapling in Jagwolfe tradition.Watching him die wasn’t much easier than all the previous times, aside from the fact that he had more friends with him while I held his hand.And, much as I hated to admit it, the sight of his nearly nude form sprawled out in the grasp of five handsome vampires with their mouths closed over most of his important pulse points had me feeling a raw, primal sensuality.I even had a moment of wishing I was a vampire so I could taste him like that.

When I reached the place where we’d buried him, I froze at the mess before me.The muddy, partially thawing ground was torn up, the dormant spruce sapling completely uprooted and lying on its side.A thin layer of last night’s snow drifted across the ground.

---