I swallowed around the lump in my throat. Samael had told me about his visit to the ferryman. Had told me what my father had communicated.
“Tell your mate her father knows she is angry. But trusts that she won’t let that anger consume her. He loves her more than he could ever have imagined loving anything or anyone.”
It… helped, knowing my father was somewhere else. Even if it meant he wasn’t here with me. I hoped he was at peace. Hoped he could take to the sky, stretch his wings whenever he liked.
I remembered how much he’d hoped to see my mom. I could picture them both there in that garden, slowly getting to know each other once more. Maybe they would fall in love again all over again. I wanted that for them.
Garadiel excused himself, and Samael took me into his arms. I gazed up at him. “How were your talks with Lucifer’s generals?”
“Stimulating,” he said dryly and I laughed. “Some of them will become threats. But…”
“We’ll deal with it when it comes.”
“Thank you. For staying. For sitting on that incredibly uncomfortable throne next to me.”
I raised one eyebrow. “Would you have let me go?”
“Never. But if you had told me you wanted to rule in name only, I would have made it happen.”
“We’re a team. You and me, Samael. Even if I hadn’t promised the underworld, I’d never leave you to do this alone.”
500 years of peace. It was going to happen. I’d make sure of it.
His hand cupped my face, and I nuzzled his palm. “I cannot wait to spend our lives together, little witch. You are more than I could have ever imagined.” He lowered his head and I brushed my lips against his.
This was where I belonged. Here. In Samael’s arms. This was what I’d fought for. What I’d always fight for.
“Later,” he murmured, finally stepping back.
I gave him a saucy wink. “Later.”
EPILOGUE
DANICA
Iwandered around the bedroom I shared with Samael. We were having any trace of Lucifer purged before we moved into the royal quarters. But for now, this room was light and airy. Priceless paintings hung on the walls, antiques dotted almost every surface, but most importantly, the furniture was made for comfort. This was a place we could step away from everything and everyone and just be together.
Lia meowed at me from where she lay on our bed. I leaned over and stroked her soft fur, picking her up and carrying her toward the balcony. She already had the run of this wing, and it was likely only a matter of time before she was strutting around the rest of the palace.
Pushing aside the sheer curtains, I stepped out onto the balcony and stared down at our kingdom. Movement caught the corner of my eye and a lessor demon watched me from where he was perched like a gargoyle on one of the turrets. I watched him back, but he seemed content to sit in silence. Apparently, many of the lessor demons had been secretly loyal to my father. All while I’d been handing them over to the Mage Council in my realm. It would take me a while to come to terms with that.
Lia hissed at the demon, and he regarded her with clear interest. Every lessor demon here knew she wasn’t to be harmed, but my heart still leapt in my chest as Lia climbed onto my shoulder and then leapt up onto the turret next to the demon. He stayed still while she sniffed at him, swiped out at him with her paw a few times. Then she curled up next to him in the sun, closing her eyes.
My life was so weird.
Samael should be here soon. I’d asked Bael to ensure he had some time off this afternoon. To lure him up here to me.
Because life was short.
And I needed my bondmate.
I looked down at the gold mark on my arm, and my lips curved. It wasn’t all that long ago that I was going toe-to-toe with my demon and vowing that I’d make sure that mark was removed. Even when I’d fallen for him, I’d still chafed at the bond.
Now, I’d cut anyone who tried to remove the symbol of our mating.
Funny how coming so close to my own death—right after almost losing Samael–really put things into perspective. Less than a year ago, if someone had told me I’d pine for a demon whenever he wasn’t around, I would have stroked my Nim Cub warningly, and dared them to repeat themselves.
I couldn’t wait to live my life with Samael by my side. He was still a snarly, possessive demon, and I was still a wily, smart-mouthed half-witch. But the next few centuries were going to be one hell of an adventure.
