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)
The scouts who’d greeted them on their way in had laughingly agreed to keep their imminent arrival a secret. The only person on their team who knew of their plan to visit was the steward of Raphael’s Refuge stronghold, Yana.
Now, Raphael reached out to her with his mind. Yana, we are but minutes away.
Small and quick on her feet, she was in the courtyard when they landed. “Sire. Consort.”
Her smile huge, she bowed, her brunette curls a halo around the soft curves of her face and her pale brown skin flushed. “I have prepared your suite, and will bring up a tray.” Her wings, held neatly to her back, were a lovely rust orange with streaks of an unexpected deep blue.
“Our thanks, Yana,” Raphael said to the angel who had been with him since near the start of his reign; she’d begun young and untried, risen through the ranks to her current position—and though she’d done stints in New York, the Refuge was her home base.
“Where’s Trace?” Of all the people they needed to see, Trace was the only one who lived at the stronghold, with both Galen and Naasir keeping separate homes.
Yana’s dark brown eyes danced. “Keir asked him to run an errand.”
The healer, of course, had known of their flight.
“Venom and Holly are upstairs in their suite,” she added in a conspiratorial whisper. “They arrived a quarter of an hour ago and are refreshing themselves after their journey.”
“It’s only about eight,” Elena said with a grin, bouncing on her toes before the silver fire of her mind touched his. I won’t be able to sleep if we delay this till tomorrow.
“As you say, Consort,” Raphael replied with a grin of his own. “Will you gather our people together?” he asked Yana. “Jessamy and Andromeda, too.” Though neither woman belonged to Raphael’s court, they were family nonetheless. “You must also attend. Do not tell the others of our arrival, however.”
The steward was clearly curious, but said, “I will gather them an hour hence. Will that suffice?”
Raphael glanced at Elena, who said, “Forty-five minutes.”
As it was, they were ready within forty minutes.
Hair damp, Raphael had pulled on black pants and a cream-colored tunic with a laced neckline, which he left open.
His consort had chosen a simple blue ankle-length gown with clasps at the shoulders and ties on either side of the waist that could be used to cinch it in. While she remained far more comfortable in leathers, or in the fine armor that was now worn by most guild hunters, his hunter had, over time, collected a small array of dresses that she enjoyed wearing when at home.
Now, she stroked her hand down her belly. “This dress will still fit when I get bigger. No real waistline if I don’t tighten the waist.”
Moving behind her, he put his chin on the damp thickness of her hair and his hand over her own. “Elena-mine, do you not realize that Montgomery has most assuredly begun to plan an entire maternity wardrobe for you? I beg you do not shatter his dreams and say you intend to wear your normal clothes. I have no wish to see my butler cry.”
Her laugh was startled, her eyes sparkling as her shoulders shook. “He must be bursting, being unable to talk to his tailor friend about it.”
“We shall permit it soon enough.” He used his lips to caress the curve of her neck. “Do you think our spark is a girl or a boy?”
“Keir can probably tell us.” A look up. “Shall we find out?”
“Hmm.” He considered it. “I don’t know. Let’s decide later.” He shifted so he could kiss her lips, plump and soft. “A fierce little hunter or a wild little boy, either will run us ragged; of that I’m certain.”
“Hey, we could have a nice calm child.”
They stared at each other before bursting into laughter, were still smiling as they headed downstairs to surprise the others.
“Yana, you ever going to tell us why we’re here?” Galen’s deep voice flowing out of the great room of the stronghold. “Not that I don’t appreciate the evening snacks.” A pause. “Venom? Holly? You drop by for a surprise visit?”
The other couple must’ve entered the great room from the kitchen end.
“The sire and Elena are here, too.” Naasir’s voice. “I scented them.”
Drat. We should’ve realized he’d bust us.
We still have one surprise for him.
“They didn’t send word,” Trace said, even as Jessamy said, “It’ll be a joy to see them after so long. It’s been a year, I think.”
“Why are they here?” Galen asked with the shrewd alertness of a weapons-master, no longer anything casual in his tone. “Is Aegaeon finally declaring war on Illium?”
“Nope,” Elena said from the doorway. “I’m pregnant.”
The room went utterly silent before Naasir leaped at her, gathering her in his arms and spinning her around, the thick silver of his hair flying. “You are having a cub!” His delight made her laugh even as she told him to put her down.