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)
Elena scowled, well aware who’d given him that “advice.”
Hauling him down, she kissed him until they lost their breaths. “We’re as bad as each other when it comes to independence, but we’ve been blessed with countless people who are loyal to us, who love us. If we let them, those same people will surround our child in love armed to the teeth.”
Another kiss, this one hard and fast. “I’ll hold you to account, and you hold me to account. Because if you’re afraid of madness, I’m terrified I’ll suffocate our child with my protectiveness.” All she wanted was to keep them safe—but she knew that, at a certain point, safety became a cage. “Call me out and I’ll call you out. We do this together.”
“Together,” Raphael said, his voice as rough as hers had become.
“Always.”
* * *
* * *
Despite the hovering knowledge of his mother’s possible descent into madness, Raphael felt far more settled when he and Elena sat down to dinner with Marduk and Tiamat that night in the other couple’s private dining room.
They were, all of them, in casual tunics and pants, this a meal between friends. As for the dining table, Marduk had made that himself—a slab of dark wood polished to a shine but with all its “flaws” left untouched. Rippled edges, knots, cracks in the wood. The legs, he’d carved, each one a different dragonish being.
Raphael would have just such a table in his own library, but this was one of a kind.
“Where’s Andreas?” he asked the other archangel as Marduk poured them all mead. “I thought you mentioned he was going to be here for the ball.” The deadly angel who’d once served Raphael was now Marduk’s trusted second.
Marduk’s grin was sly. “Andreas is distracted with Caliane’s Knife.”
Elena sucked in a breath. “Celesta is in the stronghold?”
It was Tiamat who answered. “Not on duty,” she clarified. “She sought leave to come to the stronghold on private business—they are both in the far wing handling said private business.” A smirk. “I do not know if Andreas is happy or terrified.”
Raphael’s shoulders shook, mind and body more than ready for conversation that was light of heart. “It took them long enough.”
“Celesta told me she would’ve felt as if she were robbing the cradle had she moved any earlier.” Tiamat’s eyes shifted in that way that was impossible to define—a wholly unique…ancient strangeness. “I believe she calls him the Infant when she wishes to spark a particularly heated sparring session.”
Elena put down her mead with a grin. “I feel like we’re peeking into their bedroom gossiping this way.”
“Oh, but there has been no bedroom yet.” Tiamat waved a hand, her grin as wicked. “They are still in the knives and flirtation stage. There might be blood involved—she is a vampire after all.”
Long ago, Celesta had been Raphael’s babysitter. She’d already been Caliane’s Knife back then, so the fact she considered dangerous, trained, and highly intelligent Andreas too young made sense. He also knew something had happened between the two at some point in the past, but Andreas had always refused to elaborate on what.
All Raphael knew was that one mention of Celesta could make the lethal angel flush like a youth.
“I wish them well.” He raised his tankard.
Marduk clanged his own to Raphael’s. “As do I. Andreas has been a second I’ve been proud to have at my side. He deserves a companion who will keep him on his toes.”
As Raphael noted Marduk’s phrasing—phrasing that seemed to indicate the relationship was coming to an end—the other archangel glanced at Tiamat. His smile was deeper than Marduk ever gave to any other, until it warmed even the striking ice blue of his eyes. “Do you remember our own knives and flirtation stage? You almost took out my eye.”
Tiamat rolled her own eyes. “I did not. I have perfect aim. I knew full well the blade wouldn’t get through your natural armor—which is why I aimed just slightly away from your eye.”
Marduk scowled. “All I did was bring you flowers.”
“Which you’d pulled from my garden.” Tiamat’s scowl was dark…before she threw back her head and laughed.
Marduk did the same, the sound so deep it was a vibration in the bones.
Elena touched Raphael’s thigh. They’ve been having this play-argument all their lives together.
As we will ever argue about how you shot me in the wing when I was only trying to court you.
Ahem, you were in psycho mode at the time. You should thank me for staying behind to offer first aid.
Grinning, he lifted her hand and kissed the back.
Lips twitching, she tangled their fingers before the two of them returned their attention to their hosts. When Marduk first wakened, Raphael could’ve never imagined that he would ever see him like this—so at peace, his wildness not tamed but simply…content.
Because Marduk knew he walked with his mate by his side.