Archangel's Heart

Her hug had held a fierce love; Sara understood that Elena was terrified of the day when Sara would no longer be there. The other woman had made Elena see that her own life was as dangerous, that it was possible Sara would outlive her, but what nothing could change was that Elena was becoming ever more immortal and her best friend, her sister of the heart, wasn’t.

As for Sara and Deacon’s daughter, Zoe, she adored Raphael, had no fear of him.

Elena had noticed that about her archangel. He terrified adults, but children gravitated toward him, tiny hands patting at his wings, small faces smiling up at him. He’d been known to take Zoe into his arms and fly so high that Sara complained of heart palpitations. But Raphael always returned Zoe safe and sound and so excited she couldn’t stop dancing.

“Perhaps the weapons are displayed in a different area?” Hannah’s voice broke into her thoughts, had her lost for a second until she remembered that she’d asked about a weapons exhibit.

“Maybe,” she replied. “I’ll ask Gian the next time I see him.” It would give her an excuse to talk further to the Luminata. He was the key to the secrets of Lumia.

23

Ten minutes later, she, Aodhan, Xander, and Valerius were in the skies above Lumia, the miniature still with Aodhan. Elena wanted to scream with impatience but she kept it together. This was a normal thing for warriors to do when trapped in a place where they had few other outlets—fly, stay strong, get some exercise. And she had to be normal right now, because people were watching.

Could be it was paranoia on her part, but she didn’t think so: people were watching.

Always.

Beside her, Xander did an acrobatic flip that had her clapping. “Almost as good as Bluebell,” she called out.

He grinned, handsome and cocky. “Illium is famous for his skills.”

Together, the four of them flew for about an hour, and at one point, she was aware of Aodhan and Valerius flying wing to wing, discussing something. It wasn’t until they’d landed in a large courtyard that Aodhan came to her. Bending to speak with his lips close to her ear, his breath warm against her skin, he said, “Valerius believes Xander is being monitored.”

“Why?” Yes, he was Alexander’s grandson, but surely no one was idiotic enough to think to go after him? Alexander had kept his sanity after losing his son, but he’d raze the world in a rage if he lost his grandson.

“Likely the same reason we are being monitored,” Aodhan replied, his jaw a grim line. “I want to examine your and Raphael’s quarters again.”

Elena nodded. “I still get the creeps if I step into the bedroom to retrieve stuff from the wardrobe.”

“Consort.” Xander bowed in front of her, the movement unexpectedly elegant. “Would you and Aodhan do me and General Valerius the honor of accompanying us for lunch?”

“Only if you promise to call me Elena.”

His pupils dilated to fill his irises, even as a shy delight warmed his skin from within. “Thank you, but my grandfather would be displeased.”

Elena sighed. “Guild Hunter, then.”

“Guild Hunter,” he said with a smile.

“Let’s go grab lunch.” She was starving after missing breakfast.

That lunch was laid out for them on the large dining table in the Atrium. The only other person in the cavernous room right now was Riker, Michaela’s pet vampire propping up the wall beside the inner chamber. Waiting for his mistress.

Elena had a feeling he’d been here since Michaela went in.

Ignoring him when he blew her a kiss, she took in the room in daylight. She’d noticed the glass dome of the ceiling last night, now saw the glass was carved with complex patterns that scattered sunshine on the walls of the room, turning the stone into a living artwork that would change throughout the day.

“Wow,” she said. “I might not have artistry in my veins, but even I know that’s incredible work.”

Aodhan was also staring rapt at the walls. “This is one of Ophelia’s pieces. She was renowned for her light work.”

“She Asleep?”

“I don’t know,” Aodhan said. “She was long gone from the world by the time of my birth, only her art left behind to tell us of her gift.”

A groan of sound, the large doors of the inner chamber opening.

The first to exit was Michaela, a cruel kind of amusement writ large on her features. She was wearing a bodysuit in deepest red, with a skirt of the same color that had a large split along one thigh that revealed her boot-clad leg with every step. Giving the table straining with food a disdainful glance and not even bothering to sharpen her verbal knives on Elena, she walked straight to the other door and out.

Riker followed at her heels.

Astaad exited next, followed Michaela out. His expression was more pained than anything, his fingers rubbing his temples as if to ease a headache.

Other archangels left the inner chamber one by one and they all, each and every one, headed out of the Atrium. Elena didn’t blame them—she’d have searched for clear air, too, if she’d been trapped inside half the day.

Raphael emerged after Titus, Elijah at his side.

Archangel, she said. You want to fly? Then she noticed that his wings weren’t solid anymore. Did that happen in the meeting?

No, just now. He spread them, to gasps from those who’d never before seen those wings of white fire.

Even Elijah looked impressed.

Caliane and Alexander exited as Raphael closed his wings. Caliane’s face went white for an instant. Whatever she said to Raphael, it wasn’t audible, and then Raphael was turning to say something to her in return, his head leaning toward her own.