Page 57

Kerainne

Three months later

Lucian and I flew back to the castle, the warm late spring air felt wonderful against my wings.

Even though we wanted to help train our new recruits for the war, Xochitl and Zareth insisted that we have a honeymoon.

We spent two weeks traveling the world, as originally planned before our original wedding was thwarted, with a few changes.

I showed Lucian parts of Earth and we even used our new fake identification there to go to Vegas and have that Elvis ceremony I’d joked about.

Lucian didn’t understand, but he was happy at my giddy enthusiasm for the fun spectacle of it all. And that’s what I loved about him. He loved me without needing to fully understand me.

Between all the exploring, eating, and shopping, we achieved my other primary goal. Getting as much sun as possible. Because when we returned, we’d go back to a mostly nocturnal schedule for the vampires.

Our wedding ended up being bigger and more elaborate than I’d intended.

The ceremony had to be held in the great hall to accommodate all the luminites who came.

Tiana planned the menu and directed the cooks.

Razvan hired himself as the deejay, playing all my favorite songs.

Jeanette, the duchess of Kinsen, had, of course, planned the reception and been in seventh heaven the whole time.

I’d made another lilac dress, but with different patterns.

Lucian wore a dark navy suit with the Jagwolve crest embroidered on one side, and the Leonine’s on the other.

But his dress shirt was made from the same lilac fabric.

I wondered if his original suit had matched mine as well.

In Earth western tradition, I had Xochitl, Tiana, Sylvis, Aurora, and Beau serve as bridesmaids and bride’s-groom. For groomsmen, Lucian had Gabriel, Razvan, Radu, Rayven, and Del. Kiara was the flower girl. Zareth officiated and we exchanged a blood kiss in mage tradition.

In luminite tradition, we had to show the guests something we’d created. Since we had so much fun building the guitar Gabriel designed for Sylvis, we created a similar one for Xochitl. The joy and wonder in her eyes surpassed all her birthdays and Christmases put together.

When she was able to tear her gaze from the guitar, she looked up at us solemnly. “Nik and Del presented Tiana as their creation. Does this mean that you guys didn’t, ummm… I mean, I know you wanted a child.”

Before I could tell her that most Yearnings didn’t result in pregnancy, Lucian dropped down to one knee so he was eye to eye with Xochitl. “I did, yes. And today I gained a daughter.”

Xochitl and I both got teary-eyed over that. So much that Lucian had to guide me to the dining hall to cut the cake.

We were spoiled rotten with wedding gifts.

I didn’t have time to go through them all when the majority of the luminites who came revealed that they were not just guests; they were going to stay to fight in the war.

And the gifts they brought were literal tons of food, healing supplies, and other war provisions.

“My granddaughter would be unhappy if your people here do not go hungry when you go on the march,” Silvara told Zareth. “As your allies in this war, we will do what we can.”

Lucian had whispered in my ear, “I negotiated this as part of the betrothal contract. The Jagwolfes also pledge themselves to our cause.”

“I love you!” I whispered back.

With this alliance, we would triumph. The Evil One would be gone and all the worlds would be safe. Still, looking at all the happy wedding guests, our army, it was impossible not to think of the costs.

I thought of those costs again as we landed on the parapet.

Tanis was one of the castle guards, along with two of his cousins from Delcine clan.

He hadn’t had a catatonic episode in the last two months, but he still had nightmares.

Sometimes I was tempted to tell Zareth to stop the regular meetings where he’d ask Tanis about what he’d learned in his quarter century imprisonment in Qua’ al-fán, but I knew the information was too important.

Maeve had been tasked with raising every known luminite corpse so none of the Evil One’s necromancers could get hold of them.

They’d been used as practice ‘enemies’ for the luminite army.

I only watched those practice fights a few times before the wedding and hoped that they were done now that we’d returned. They weren’t a pleasant sight.

I wondered which vampire was her destined mate.

I had a good guess, and maybe soon I’d find out.

Xochitl and Zareth ran out and greeted us with warm embraces.

Zareth started to talk to Lucian about plans for training the army, but my husband silenced our son-in-law.

“We’ve only just returned. Kerainne needs a hot bath and we both need a quick rest. But I promise I’ll be down by the time the vampires are up and ready.” He smiled at me. “I won’t presume to tell my wife what she’ll be doing by then.”

I laughed before assuring Zareth that I’d be back too. I wouldn’t be able to sleep without knowing if Mephistopheles had launched another attack or did anything else horrible.

All thoughts of doom vanished as Lucian swept me up in his arms and carried me to his—our suite. Phantom waited by the door, meowing in his oddly deep voice. He wove around Lucian’s legs as I was carried to the bedroom.

Lucian stroked the cat and talked to him with the same enthusiasm that Xochitl did with her cat as he went to run my bath.

I wasn’t that sore from our flight, but I’d gladly accept him spoiling me any time. I kicked off my shoes and met him in the doorway.

“You know…the tub is big enough for both of us.”

He pulled me into his arms and bent down to whisper against my lips, “I know.”

I threaded my arms around his neck bursting with happiness. “I’m glad to be back with our family.”

His face flushed with pleasure at the word “our.”

He kissed me and smiled. “I can’t believe I have everything I ever wanted.”

And then I felt it. A bright, warm spark below my belly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing!” I quickly assured him and released my grip on him to place my palm over my womb.

There it was again. I grabbed Lucian’s hand and placed it where mine had been. “Open your senses.”

This time, Lucian felt the spark. His eyes widened with awe, then he turned to face me with such joy that a lump formed in my throat.

“A seedling?” he asked in a broken whisper.

I nodded. “A girl.”

Because, unlike the seedling that didn’t make it, I could feel what this one would grow to be. I had hopes that this one would go perfectly right.

Lucian picked me up and we cried in each other’s arms. Mostly tears of joy, but I’d be lying if there wasn’t worry as well. With the war ramping up, this was the worst timing for this miracle.

But I didn’t have any more time to process this revelation. Someone pounded on the door. My heart plummeted in my stomach. A knock this urgent had to mean something catastrophic had happened. Probably another attack, but maybe something worse.

Lucian put me down and ran to the door.

A few seconds later, Xochitl barreled into the bedroom, her hand on her lower belly and her eyes wide with shock.

“Mom I—”

“Oh fates,” I whispered. “You too?”

Thank you so much for reading Redeeming the Angel. A review would be greatly appreciated.

The next book is Romancing the Necromancer!