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)
Raphael’s lips twitched at the quintessentially sibling comment as Izar added, “He’s still in Archangel Aegaeon’s territory. Spying while pretending to be a quiet scholar doing dusty research in the archives.” A fierce grin. “Because Archangel Illium is one of ours.”
“He learn anything interesting since his last report?” Nasien was officially part of Jason’s team, and almost as good as the spymaster in going unnoticed even though he had looks as distinctive as his two brothers.
A shake of Izar’s head, shadowy stripes beneath his skin and on his wings as he permitted his tiger out in Raphael’s presence. “Aegaeon’s troops continue to train as if readying themselves for a strike, but they do not move en masse to the border.”
Raphael could only hope that Aegaeon would hold to his unspoken word that he’d do nothing while both consorts were pregnant. Because if it came to war, then Raphael would have to leave Elena to go to Illium’s aid.
It would break both their hearts, but neither one of them would be able to breathe knowing that their Bluebell fought alone against a powerful enemy.
Elena sighed in her sleep, her lips curved.
His entire being pulsed with a love so deep that it had no name, no beginning, no ending. It just was.
43
I would bite him if I had sharp teeth.
—Small Sparkles to Naasir, on the Problem of Aegaeon (Once, before Blue and Adi became Archangel and Second)
Illium stood on a turret of his main border fort and took in the activity on both sides of the dividing line that had no wall, no barrier. There was no point—in an archangelic war, a single strike could destroy any such border.
That didn’t mean the border wasn’t there.
“They’re staying on their side,” Xander told him, his dark brown hair cut military short and his wings held with precision. “No increase in the numbers stationed at the border at any one time—Aegaeon’s generals just refresh their troops every so often.”
Xander had been with Illium since his ascension. Illium knew that, back at the start, Alexander had thought his grandson would eventually return to his court. However, these days, the Ancient seemed proud that his grandson had made his own way, was now a first general in his own right.
“Vivek hasn’t picked up any dangerous signs, either,” Illium told the other man. “Seems like the news of the upcoming births has mellowed my father for the time being.”
They both knew it couldn’t last.
How could it when this simmering tension was fueled by arrogance and bloated entitlement on one side and cold, hard anger on the other?
44
Raphael, Son of Archangel Nadiel, who is the son of Minariel and Athenecus, and Archangel Caliane, who is an Ancient with her lineage lost to time.
—The Naming Book (Archives of the Angelic Library, Refuge)
“My mother is here,” Hannah told Elena one crisp Refuge morning, when the marble of the buildings sparkled with a fine frost, and everything but the pathways shone white with a thick coating of snow.
Elena stared at the other woman. “I thought your mother was Sleeping?”
A mischievous smile. “She was until about three months ago. Says she felt that I needed her, so she woke up. She always led a quiet life so didn’t want any fuss when she woke—but she’s been fussing over me.”
Hannah exhaled, her breath white in the air and her face unshielded in its naked vulnerability. “I’m so glad she’s here. I have others who have been like mothers to me, but to have her with me at this time, it means…”
“I get it.” Elena squeezed Hannah’s hand, her throat thick with happiness for the other woman.
Hannah’s pupils flared. “I’m so sorry, Ellie, I didn’t—”
“Hush.” Elena shook her head. “I was mortal. She was mortal. I’m at peace with that.”
It was only later, when she landed on a distant field after a lazy night flight with Raphael that she realized she’d told the absolute truth. “I still miss my mother, probably always will, but…there’s an acceptance there now that takes away the final sharp shards and leaves behind something gentler, more tender.”
Her archangel rubbed her back in that exact spot that he knew bothered her.
When he swept his wings around her, she leaned back into his chest and looked up. “How are you doing, Archangel-mine?”
Raphael didn’t try to obfuscate; that would be an insult to his consort. “I still worry about my sanity.
“But having Mother go into Sleep when she did, realizing that I can make the same choice—and that I’ve set it up so I’m surrounded by strong people who’ll confront me with my madness should I begin to slide into the abyss—it eases my spirit until the shadows are but few.”
She reached back to stroke his face. “I’ll always have your back. Galen and Dmitri and Illium and all the others will help me pin you down and conk you on the head if I ever need to drag you into Sleep.”