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 rings themselves were as unique as the couple involved—of titanium with amber embedded within, they’d been made by Zoe, and suited both her half-chimera future husband and her weapons-maker self.
There were plenty more tears after the vows were done, and the couple ran down the aisle to a shower of sweet-smelling petals.
Andromeda gripped Elena’s hand, her face awash. “I’m so happy for Izar. She’s just what I would’ve wanted for him—she looks at him as he looks at her.” A hard swallow. “My boys love just like their dad. All in. I worried about their hearts—but I can stop worrying about Izar now. Because Zoe loves him the same way.”
Hugging Andi close, Elena kissed her curls. “She only ever wanted to be with someone if it could be like it was with Deacon and Sara—a forever love, loyal and true.”
That just made Andi cry harder, which had Elena’s own eyes burning.
* * *
* * *
Later, during the party section of the event—after the little angels had been tucked into bed—Elena walked across the light-bedecked inner courtyard to find Illium scowling at Naasir. “Damn it, Naasir! Your cub stole my weapons-master! Do you know how hard she’s going to be to replace?”
Grinning, Naasir slapped Illium on the shoulder. “You always knew she was a weapons-maker at heart—and so does Izar. That’s why he wooed her with a custom workshop that he built with his own hands.” The smug pride of a father in his voice.
Leaning into Naasir, her arm around his waist and his around her shoulders, Elena joined in. “But—and this is very important—he also offered to move to your territory if that was what would make Zoe happy.”
Illium threw back his drink. “Ugh, true love,” he said, just in time for Aodhan to overhear.
Opening his wing so it slid over Illium’s, he said, “Ah, I see the honeymoon phase is over.”
More laughter, more conversation, but at the center of it all was Sara’s daughter with the love of her eternal life.
“A good match,” Raphael said to Elena, the two of them watching the lights sparkle over the couple as they slow-danced in the center of the courtyard. “I think, Elena-mine, this love story will endure. They resonate with one another, two strong and unique personalities who fit together perfectly.”
“Yes, they’re it for each other,” she said, just as two shooting stars streaked across the midnight of the skies above.
72
Aanisa, daughter of Hannah of the Arts, who is the child of Shamilissa of the Weavers and Wing Commander Eragian, and Archangel Elijah, who is the son of General Eventhine and General Rathnael.
—The Naming Book (Archives of the Angelic Library, Refuge)
A year after the wedding, a small blue-eyed face swung down from a branch in the Legion forest to say, “Boo!”
Elena pretended to jump. “Gah!”
Nix grinned…right before a second small voice said, “Boo!” from behind Elena.
Elena did actually jump then…and realized she’d been set up.
Stepping back, she looked between the two miscreants. “It’s not nice to scare your mother, Nixie, and your foster mother, Anise.”
Unabashed, both laughing children swung down to the ground to come and tackle-hug her. Aanisa’s ombre wings—white flowing into soft peach, then a darker hue of the same shade, were a pretty sight against Phoenix’s black with gold.
“We got you, Eh-ma!” Aanisa’s eyes danced; her eye color had eventually settled—into a blueish hazel that Hannah had told Elena came from Eli’s line. A trait that skipped generations but remained in the bloodline—the last one with those pretty eyes had been Aanisa’s great-grandmother.
“Yes, we got you, Mama!”
Smiling at their glee, she went down to their height to get in a snuggle before they—full of childish energy—wriggled away to continue on their adventures in the Legion’s private jungle.
“Thank you for keeping an eye on them,” she said to the member of the Legion crouched in a nearby tree.
“Their laughter fills our home,” was the answer. “We did not know we liked children so much until the child of the aeclari. Now we have Aanisa, too.”
“At least for the month,” Elena said. “That’s when she heads home to her parents—and Nix with her.”
She’d had palpitations the first time Nix had spent any time away from home—and that had been with Lady Caliane, who would level literal empires to keep their boy safe. As for Nix, he’d waved them off with cheerful confidence as he ran into Amanat to join his waiting friends in a game—because Caliane had extended the invitation to all of the current pack of angelic children.
It had helped that Raphael was having as hard a time.
“But,” he’d said, “we must do this. We both have deep protective urges—I wouldn’t cause them to stifle our son, hbeebti.”
“Yes.” Her stomach had twisted. “Doesn’t make it any easier.”
But they’d done it, leaving Nix with his treasured “Mimi.” Because while they’d taught him “Grandma” for Caliane, like all children, he’d made up his own mind about what he wanted to call her after he became comfortable with her. None of them had any idea where he’d gotten Mimi from, since it wasn’t in general use in the Refuge, Amanat, or Manhattan, but Caliane was delighted to be his beloved Mimi.