Page 3

Lucian

Present

For twenty-five years, all I could think about was seeing Kerainne again. This wasn’t anything new, it was how I’d felt any time we were apart in over two thousand years of knowing each other. This also wasn’t the first time facing each other after having hurt each other.

The difference was that this time, I had no hope of getting her back. I’d done something that no sane creature could ever forgive me for. Which was probably why I’d clung to such righteous rage for the past two and a half decades before gaining the nerve to approach her.

And then there was the question: Did I want her back?

Because that would mean my life—stable, peaceful, safe—would change drastically.

Because of her daughter, Xochitl Leonine, sired by Mephistopheles, Kerainne was at the epicenter of a multi-world war.

A war that I’d become a permanent part of.

The part I was already here for was horrible enough.

The battlefield I’d landed on when returning with Xochitl to Aisthanesthai has repulsed me on levels I’d never thought possible.

The stench of blood and offal stung my nostrils.

The sight of the dozens of dead, mortal bodies brought back memories of the dead luminites I’d seen in Medicia after Mephistopheles’s attack.

The only dead I’d seen who didn’t ascend to Luminista.

I couldn’t help looking back at the horizon in expectation to see the Evil One rip the land from its roots and steal it away through one of his unnatural portals, leaving only a barren crater behind.

And the anguish of thinking Kerainne was dead. The heart-rending pain and anxiety when neither she nor any of the Medicia luminites returned to Luminista after the massacre.

Only Nikkita, Delgarias, and King Zareth threatening to kill me and send me back to Luminista tore me from the memories.

Even then, it was nearly impossible to pretend to be nonchalant and only wanting to be in Aisthanesthai to break my unfortunate betrothal with Nikkita and alleviate my fictitious boredom of the perfection of Luminista.

Pretending that same indifference to Kerainne was even harder. I was almost grateful that after that first encounter she hid for the rest of the night. It was awkward enough speaking with Xochitl, the Queen of Aisthanesthai and the inadvertent cause of my rift with her mother.

I barely had time to revel in the knowledge that my betrothal to Nikkita would definitely be called off and recover from the shock that the King of Aisthanesthai was now friends with several vampires when things became even more awkward.

I learned that Xochitl’s best friend was a descendant of the Earth Jagwolfes.

Which made her my kin. I was now thankful that my best friend, Gabriel Leonine, had defied his confinement orders and came along with me in the guise of a wolf. Only, he seemed to be most interested in Sylvis.

Still, I’d gaped at the blue-haired guitarist. “The Earth-side Jagwolfes kept their bloodline going this long?”

Sylvis shrugged, eyeing me with not only a lack of hostility, but a complete lack of interest. “I guess so. All of us in the band have luminite blood, we were told.”

Her blasé tone upset me on some level I couldn’t explain. Every human I’d met before was in awe of me even when I used an obscuring spell to blend in. Maybe she had more luminite blood than I’d guessed? “Have you gotten your wings?”

She took sipped her water and shrugged again. “No. I didn’t think that was possible.”

“And it may not be. I’ll need to learn more about your family and some other things.

We’ll talk about that soon. You and the other two.

” I studied her a little longer, my curiosity admittedly piqued.

Then I turned to Nikkita and asked the question that had been on my mind since everyone else had come back down after their showers. “Where is your sister?”

Nik’s eyes sparked with fresh hostility. “I don’t think she wants to see you.”

“I know.” My bravado cracked and I spoke from my heart. “I’d like to speak to her all the same. I’ve been a coward since our families decided to try to force me to marry you. Please, Nikkita, I am not the enemy you think I am.”

Delgarias’s hand closed around Nik’s upper arm in a possessive gesture, as if to remind me who would be marrying Nikkita. Took them long enough. This reunion would save me from the trap I’d allowed myself to fall into.

“She was in the library last time I saw her,” Nik admitted reluctantly. “If you hurt her, I will hurt you.”

Even though she was right to be wary, I bristled. “Strong words for someone who hurt her first. When you abandoned Kerainne, you broke her heart and I was there to pick up the pieces.”

Nikkita’s teeth bared in a snarl. “You—”

Delgarias restrained her before she could lunge at me. “Let them talk. Your sister is capable of defending herself. We have our own serious matters to discuss.”

I bit back a snort of laughter. With Nikkita having hidden from Delgarias for nearly two thousand years, he likely only recently discovered she’d had his child.

I bet he had much to discuss with her. Still, a pang of envy pierced my chest. Kerainne and I were supposed to be the ones who had a child.

Instead, someone else had sired a child on the woman I loved.

I forced the usual barrage of hateful thoughts away and found the library.

For a moment, I froze, captivated with the sight of the firelight reflecting off her light gold hair like the nimbus of the angels we were mistaken for.

She looked so serene at first, tucked into an overstuffed chair that dwarfed her petite form, reading a book.

But then I saw the fine tremor of her hands and the tightness around her eyes and knew her calm was a charade even before her peridot green eyes looked up from the book she hadn’t really been reading.

“What do you want?” she asked brusquely.

You, I wanted to say. Instead, I cautioned myself to move slowly. I knew very well how willful Kerainne could be. And now, there was a new darkness within her from all she’d suffered. I knew in my gut that darkness would make her volatile if I pressed her too soon.

“I merely thought I’d inform you that my engagement with your sister is guaranteed to be called off.”

“And what’s that to do with me?”

“Your sister is important to you and I know you’ll be pleased to hear that she’ll no longer have to hide from us and won’t be forced to do anything she doesn’t want.

” I took a deep breath and pressed forward.

“Could we take a walk? There are a few things I’d like to know about my stay here, and you’re the best person to ask. ”

Kerainne’s eyes widened and a startled laugh escaped her soft pink lips. “Me? Your ex-fiancé? Why?”

“Because the King and Queen are occupied with their other guests discussing the battle and your sister is busy explaining why she kept Delgarias’s daughter secret from him.

You, on the other hand, are not occupied, and furthermore, are the only other luminite here.

” Aside from Gabriel, but I wasn’t ready to expose his deception.

“I promise we won’t speak of the past. I know my presence is difficult for you, and the last thing I wish to do is make it worse. ”

“Very well.” She slammed her book shut with more force than was needed and rose from the chaise. “Let’s take a walk in the garden.”

I followed her out of a set of glass doors and out onto a large balcony that was set up with comfortable chairs for anyone who wished to read outside.

I didn’t have time to admire the reading nook before Kerainne vaulted off the balcony, not even bothering to release her wings.

Instead, she used magic to glide down slowly.

I followed suit, enjoying the frivolous use of magic we’d learned together centuries ago.

After landing, I kept a respectful distance as she led me down a path to the gardens.

Silence thickened the air between us as I struggled with what to say first. When Kerainne lifted one golden eyebrow in impatience, I began.

“I invoked the inter-realm Diplomacy Act of ’forty-two with King Zareth, but I confess that I don’t know all of what that entails, as it’s been some time since I’ve read the document. ”

“Ah. So that’s why you were given a room.

” Kerainne’s green eyes seemed to spit sparks of hostility before her lips curved in a smug smile.

“However, the act only requires that the King of Aisthanesthai provides you with guest quarters near the royal residence, not that you are entitled to a suite in the residence. I’ll be sure to speak with Zareth about that.

We’ll find a house in the village for you if you plan on staying long. Do you plan on staying long?”

After recovering from the crushing disappointment that I wouldn’t be sharing the same roof with her for much longer, I nodded.

“I need to be here. Our people have spent too much time watching when they should have been participating, taking action. If we’d done so, perhaps Medicia would still be standing. ”

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?”

“I know she 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.