She stood on her toes for a quick kiss and let him go. “We’ll see you at dinner,” she promised.
“Ladies,” he said to the others. “Always a pleasure.”
Bellina linked her arm with Rory’s. “I say we all have a drink.”
The others agreed, and as they left the palace, Rory’s heart was bursting with happiness. She would enjoy her time with her friends while she could, and when they left, forgetting her, she would endure it.
Caius foundLauren speaking with one of theAatxeunder her command, and when she saw him, she dismissed the guard and approached Caius with a half-hearted smile.
“Glad you made it back in one piece,” she said, glancing at the marks on his hands.
“I could say the same,” he volleyed. “Surviving Gedeon is no easy feat.”
She nodded and looked away. “He’s an idiot and thought he could kill me with his light.”
How she survived was a mystery to Caius, and he couldn’t help but press her for details. “How is that possible?”
“LesserAngelscan only be killed by the power of aSeraphor a blade forged by aSeraph,” she explained, but her answer left him to wonder what it took to kill ahigherAngel.
“Thank theSeraphimfor that. I couldn’t handle losing you and Sam both.”
“About that.” She sighed and asked Caius to follow her. “We need to talk.”
He trailed after her with a sinking feeling. “What is this about?”
“Not here,” she said and waited for him before she continued to walk. When they entered his office, she sat in a chair facing his desk, and he took his place across from her. “I’m leaving Vincula.”
“Why?” he asked, incredulous. “Aemas said nothing of your departure, and everyone remembers you.”Did she not want to stay?“Who will lead the Vincula legion?”
“I will train the most capableAatxeto replace Sam and me,” she assured him. “They led the legion just fine before we arrived.”
“You don’t have to do this,” Caius tried again. “We all miss Sam, and I can’t lose you, too.”
“You’re not losing me,” she countered. He sat back, listening intently. “Sam asked me to look after Stassi.”
“Ahh. I can’t argue with that,” he conceded.
“No, you can’t, but I’ll see you when you visit.”
“How will you protect her if she doesn’t remember you?” he asked.
Lauren grinned. “I always find a way.”
“I know you do. Rory plans on becoming friends with Stassi, too. After what she did for Cora, she insists on paying for whatever the woman needs.” Rory planned to stalk her and ‘run into her’ often. He chuckled at his wife’s determination.
Lauren stood and strolled toward the door. “We’ll figure it out,” she promised. “As for now, I will train new commanders and check in on Stassi every few days until I can leave Vincula permanently.”
He rounded his desk and stuck out his hand. “We’ll miss you around here, but I understand. When Rory finds out, she willprobably demand you leave and take care of Sam’s mate as soon as possible.”
“I can’t think of a more fitting queen,” Lauren admitted with an affectionate smile.
Caius couldn’t agree more.
59
ERDIKOA
Rory,Caius, and Adila sat in a booth in Erdikoa, and Rory rested her hand on Caius’ thigh, reminding him she was there to support him. It’d been weeks since the showdown with Gedeon, and Adila called Caius every day, asking to see him.
