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 young man’s shrug. “Anise says Archangel Michaela made it a point to talk to her, too, when she was stationed there. Gave her similar advice, but extra.” A mischievous grin. “Told her not to use her beauty to manipulate.”
Elena had known why he found that hilarious: Aanisa was strikingly lovely—she was also more apt to be found in combat leathers practicing battle strategy, or in battered safety gear suitable for her work with metal sculpture, than in anything designed to beguile.
Still, Elena and Raphael appreciated what Michaela was doing, how she was trying to pass on her own hard-won knowledge of life and maturity. Especially when she’d maintained it all these years—there was a reason Gavriel had requested a permanent transfer to her territory, and that he was now open about their relationship.
Their Nix had also spent countless seasons at Illium’s Spire, and had formed a most unexpected friendship: that with Laric, Illium’s chief healer. “He is so young,” Laric had said to Elena, “but even so, I see in him a lion’s heart. For now, I will be his wise elder of a friend, but in time, as he ages, I do believe we will equalize, until he’ll be the one giving me advice.”
A fading of his smile. “He asked me if I knew anything about the Luminata, on whom he read a historical paper as part of his studies. Nix knows only that I once had some vague connection to Lumia. Shall I tell him the truth? I’m not averse to talking about it.”
“Yes—if you’re certain you don’t mind,” Elena had said. “When he was a child, we had to shield him. Now, as he grows into a man, we have to give him the tools and weapons he needs. Especially in knowledge.”
So yes, their boy raised in love understood the dark and would always choose to stand against it.
Raphael’s eyes were raw with emotion as he pressed his forehead to hers today, the sun burning golden fire off his wings. “We did good,” he repeated roughly. “Our boy with his mortal heart—what did Keir say we were?” A curving of his lips. “Ah yes, a gift of generational irritation. I don’t think the world is quite ready for what we’ve unleashed on them.”
Elena’s laugh was a little wet. “I hope he confounds, surprises, and delights everyone—and lives a life wild and extraordinary.”
“How could he not, hbeebti? With such a fearless hunter for a mother.” His kiss was wildfire in her veins, his wings a magnificent unfurling. “Will you fly with me, Elena-mine?” he murmured against her lips, breath to breath.
At home in his arms, Elena unfurled her own wings. “Always, Archangel. Into eternity and beyond.”