Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 139178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
A boy who was ready to take flight into his future.
“I’ll do you proud,” he promised as he stepped backward off the roof…to drop precipitously before rising with a shout of excitement and zeroing out toward the water—though he did turn back twice and wave at them.
“Our chick is flying the nest.” Elena exhaled on an intermingled wave of pride, worry, and excitement as she watched their son leave New York.
“I was a courier at that age, too,” Raphael murmured. “Yet I look at him and wonder what anyone was thinking to have me gallivanting off to parts unknown.”
Laughing, she took his hand. “You certainly didn’t let that show.”
His cheeks creased. “A father must encourage his son. And…he’s ready.”
Elena nodded. “Yes.” It was Aodhan who’d told them that Nix’s determination reminded him of Illium’s—neither had to be pushed; they pushed themselves. “Martial and organized as it is, I think Alexander’s court will suit him.”
Because that was to be their boy’s new home for the foreseeable future. Nix had earned the spot with his skill and determination. He’d also deliberately applied to a court that wasn’t “family” in any sense.
“Archangel Alexander won’t cut me any slack,” he’d said. “Not even by accident. Just like Archangel Suyin won’t for Anise.”
Raphael had agreed with their son’s decision. “Too many people would say he’d had an easy road of it otherwise.”
That would’ve been a deeply unfair accusation—even Nix’s own friends considered him the best of their group when it came to aerial combat, though Aanisa had him beat on strategy.
Now, he flew alone into the adventures to come.
The Legion, who’d risen up into the air to watch him leave, having already spent time with him in their forest earlier today, spoke into their minds: Aeclari?
Yes, we are sure. Do not follow. Raphael spoke for both of them. It’s time for him to find his own wings.
The Legion didn’t argue, but none of them moved until he was long out of sight.
“My heart’s tight and happy at the same time.” Elena rubbed a fist over the organ. “I’m so proud of him—”
“—and terrified at the same time,” Raphael completed.
She sighed, her eyes still on the horizon. “Yeah.” Leaning her head against his biceps, their fingers yet entwined, she said, “He’s a strong, happy, talented man.” Not a boy any longer, except in her heart.
“We must trust him to find his way.” Raphael squeezed her hand. “Already, he is beloved of his cohort. Should all the whispers turn to truth, should our son one day ascend, he will do so surrounded by friends who are blood loyal.”
Elena exhaled slowly, and the knot in her chest eased up a fraction. But she also understood at that moment that a piece of that ache would live forever inside her, a testament to her love for their boy.
“I can’t wait to see what he does with his life,” she said with a smile.
“In that we are—as always—one, hbeebti.” It was his turn to exhale. “We raised him without the shadow of blood and madness. He did not come of age in the crucible of pain and fear.”
Elena swallowed hard. “Yes.” She turned to face eyes of Prussian blue—of the archangel who had walked with her through time. “We did good, Raphael. We gave our son the childhood every child should have. He’s never known a day without love.
“He’s resilient and adaptable and he has an internal discipline that’ll take him far.” At the start, they’d worried that he wouldn’t understand evil and treachery when he was surrounded by honor and heart, but it turned out that when you raised a child with a deep understanding of history—both his familial history and the world’s—and encouraged him to ask questions, he grew into a man who was no one’s fool.
Phoenix Zakriel had learned from scholars and warriors. He’d spent two years in India, another two in China, and on his return, he’d hugged Elena tight. “I saw the memorials,” he’d said, his voice a rasp. “All those children tortured and murdered, Mama. All because an archangel thought herself a goddess.”
His expression had been grim as he drew back. “I spoke to angels and vampires who fought on the front lines, who had to do what no one should ever have to do.” His blue eyes wet, his anger a storm, their son who was a protector. “I’ll do all in my power to be a force for good, to watch for such darkness in the shadows.”
Later, he’d also spent six months with Gavriel in Australia, and come back even more thoughtful. “I didn’t think I’d have much contact with Archangel Michaela, but she spoke to me several times.
“She’s…interesting, isn’t she, Papa?” he’d said to Raphael. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone so different from what the stories say about her. She’s direct about it, too, told me to never allow myself to be ruled by cruelty and vanity, no matter how such vices whisper to me.”