Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Instead of laughing, they all stayed silent, because she was still looking at the images and there’d been a tone in her voice they’d heard before. Ashwini was no seer, not in the angelic sense, her ability a wholly mortal thing that she’d brought with her into vampirism, but when she picked up a glimmer of the future, it came true more often than not.
Her lips kicked up. “Don’t assign them rooms too high up in the Tower when they start to visit—even though they will be able to fly, they’ll climb down the walls just because.”
Janvier chuckled, his hand on his Ashblade’s lower back. “That sounds like exactly how I’d expect our Naasir’s cubs to behave, cher.”
Aodhan had the feeling the hunter had seen far more from the way she was staring at the images, but since her smile had only deepened, it was nothing bad, and that was all he needed to know.
“Have they chosen names?” Vivek asked from his spot beside Nisia; he, no doubt, was wearing an invisible earbud to stay on top of his intelligence network, but his eyes were on the infants.
“No news yet.” Venom wrapped his arm around Holly’s waist. “With a librarian and Naasir for parents, I can’t even imagine what they’ll choose.”
The answer came the next day at nightfall: Misha, Nasien, and Izar.
“Nasien and Izar, I understand,” Illium said at the news. “Izar means ‘star’ in the old language of Euskara, and Nasien is close to Naasir’s name while being different enough that it won’t cause confusion.” He flared out his wings as they walked onto a Tower balcony, closed them back in. “Why Misha, though?”
Aodhan thought of a time long ago, a time of pain and shadow. And of a grief shared. “Naasir would’ve wanted Dmitri to name his firstborn and so, I think, would Andromeda.” It was as close as he could get to telling Illium without breaching that confidence.
Dmitri wouldn’t mind, but it wasn’t Aodhan’s place to decide that.
And Illium’s heart, it was big enough that he understood at once. “It’s a great name. All of them are. Links to their past and to love while giving them futures of their own.” He glanced at Aodhan, the moonlight a caress of silver that outlined his profile. “Shall we gift them a Naasir-appropriate item?” Because first general though he might be, he remained Aodhan’s wicked Blue down to the bone.
Aodhan laughed, his universe as dazzling as the lights of Manhattan. “Let’s save that for when they’re toddlers and can drive their parents crazy with their toys.”
Today
43
The sun was bright overhead, the sky clear as Illium and Aodhan continued their flight to his new territory.
“Dmitri told me the rules of being an effective second,” Aodhan said aloud when they swung close enough to talk, the wind having died down. “The first one is to protect your archangel from idiots.”
Still laughing, Illium said, “Adi, do you think we have to follow the rules?”
“I was joking. There aren’t any official rules for seconds.”
“No, not that. I mean rules in general. About archangels.”
Aodhan glanced over. “What are you plotting?”
“Well, who made the rule that once you become an archangel, you can’t truly maintain friendships that have endured through time—even if those friendships are in the team of another archangel?” He scowled. “I don’t ever plan to be Raphael’s enemy, so what does it matter?”
Aodhan thought about it. “Right now, you have to follow the rules because it’s about appearance, about ensuring others see that you have your own power. That’s another thing Dmitri told me—sometimes, seconds have to advise their archangels to play the long game, as new archangels tend to be temperamental.”
Illium scowled. “I’m not sure I like your new advisor on all things second,” he said, no force in his tone—because Aodhan could find no better mentor. “He really told you Raphael was temperamental as a young archangel?”
“I can neither confirm nor deny,” Aodhan said piously. “That was a private second-to-second conversation.”
Yet, even as the two of them bantered, the sadness lingered, and when they landed for a break on a remote uninhabited island, they sat in silence while eating the food that Venom, Sivya, and Montgomery had packed for them.
When they did speak, it was about the people they’d left behind.
It wasn’t until the final break before reaching Illium’s new territory that they shifted focus and began to discuss those who might be enticed to join Illium’s team.
“You’ve already had several good approaches,” Aodhan told him as they sat on an isolated atoll, stunning white sands falling into an azure ocean. “I’m handling it, creating a short list. Dulce’s doing the same on her end, and talking to me when she’s not sure about credentials or reputation. There’s some I know you won’t be interested in off the bat.”
Illium didn’t question him on those calls—if anyone knew him, it was Aodhan.