I'm frustrated, pissed off, and confused as all hell. My own father would instead let me die than offer help, and Seraphina, being the absolute angel that she is (pun totally intended), would instead take the punishment to save my sorry ass.
"Your father doesn't approve of you being tethered to these…" she pauses and looks at Rhyland, "beings."
And there it is again. My choice of soulmate hasDaddy Dearestseeing fifty shades of pissed off. He's so butthurt over his rebellious daughter's life choices that he'd rather throw in the celestial towel and let the Apocalypse happen. Talk about a cosmic temper tantrum. I mean, way to prioritize, Dad. Your ego or the fate of the world? Tough call, apparently.
"And he was quite displeased that we interfered before by giving you the Atherite stone too early," Seraphina adds, her voice as sweet and innocent as a cherub's lullaby.
Well, hot damn, looks like I just snagged the "Most Dysfunctional Family" trophy. Go me!
"Prematurely?" I can't resist asking, my eyebrow arched in a perfect "excuse me?" pose.
"Oh, yes," Seraphina explains, with angelic sincerity. "The plan was to give it to you later. But Jophiel told your father how much you needed it. And, well, that's why I've been banished for meddling again."
I reach out and pull her into a hug, holding her close and inhaling the sweet scent of jasmine and something uniquely her. "Thank you, seriously. I'm so sorry that he's done this to you. What exactly does banishment mean for you, though?"
I'm curious now. Where does that leave her if she can't return home to Atheria?
She pulls back, taking my hands in hers. "It just means that I can't go back—I'll have to find somewhere else to stay, to lay low for a while. The good news is that I get to keep my powers. The bad news is that I was stripped of my title in Atheria and lost my golden wings."
She's explaining this to me like I'm supposed to have a PhD in Celestial Studies, but I'm lost as hell. I had no clue that angelic beings came with different wing colors, like some heavenly mood ring. And her title? For all I know, it could've been "Chief Feather Duster" up there.
Mental note:add "Angelic 101" to my ever-growing list of shit to figure out.
"Seraphina, honey, you're staying with us. Or better yet, crash at my place with Emily and Sable. They'll keep you safe, and you all can have epic girls' nights completewith face masks, trashy reality TV, and enough wine to make even an angel forget her halo."
She looks at me like I've just offered her the keys to heaven—ironic, considering. "Dani, I couldn't possibly impose like that. I don't want to endanger anyone because of my choices."
I roll my eyes so hard I'm sure I see my brain. "Oh, please. You're family now, sister. We take care of our own. Plus, I'm pretty sure Emily and Sable would kill for another girlfriend to swap gossip and beauty tips with."
Rhyland, standing there like a deliciously brooding work of art, finally decides to join the conversation. "Dani's got a point," he rumbles, his voice all rough and sexy, like a mix of whiskey and dark chocolate. "You're more than welcome to stick with us for as long as you need. It's the least we can do after your sacrifice."
Seraphina looks between us, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I... I don't know what to say. Thank you—both of you. Your kindness means more than you could ever know."
I grin, pulling Seraphina in for another hug. "That's what family's for, babe. We're like a dysfunctional celestial sitcom now. All we need is a laugh track and—"
A groan from the floor cuts me off, and we all whirl around. Lucian's standing up, his back to us, stretching like he just woke up from the world's most intense power nap.
"Uhhh..." he drawls, "What in the nuclear reactorfuckwas that? Did someone slip me some angel dust, or did I just get bitch-slapped by a supernova?"
Lucian slowly turns around—his eyes lock onto us like a heat-seeking missile. Suddenly, Lucian's whole demeanor shifts—his eyes glaze over, and I swear I can see the exact moment his brain short-circuits.
Lucian clutches his chest and collapses to the floor.
Lucian
35
Ican't breathe.
My heart's beating faster than a squirrel on speed—like it's trying to punch its way out of my chest Alien-style. And it's all because of the drop-dead gorgeous blonde bombshell angel standing in front of me, looking like a goddamn snack.
My mate.
My mate?—Holy fuck! My very own slice of heaven.
I felt it the second I laid eyes on her, like a fucking epiphany from the love gods above—my heart kicking on and beating loudly in my chest.
After she walloped me with her light grenade, all the memories flooded back like a tidal wave of holy shit-I-remember-now. Dani, Rhyland, the prophecy, my part in this whole fucked up play—saving Dani's perky little ass not once—but twice. My broody, stick-in-the-mud brother Rhyland, who I live to annoy just for shits and giggles. Erik, my stoic, honorable bro who's got a stick so far up his ass you could hang a flag on it. Azrael, Adrian, Luminara—the whole dysfunctional family. It all came back in a rush, like a high-def movie montage on steroids.
