by Brenda Trim
Chloe held up her hand, cutting off the explanation. “Not today. It’s my mating ceremony and I don’t want to think about mistakes I made. For the first time, I have no doubt I am where I am meant to be. And, I’m happy. I hope I will see you again and we can catch up. I have a lot to apologize for, but I don’t want today tainted by my past.”
Her mother sniffed and wrapped her in a hug so tight, it healed some of the broken pieces inside Chloe. “I’m sorry. You’re right. And yes, we will be around. Now that we’ve found you, we won’t lose you again. For the record there were a lot of mistakes made back then. There are countless choices I would change if I could.”
Chloe’s throat tightened as her mom let her go. “Stop, mom. That’s in the past.”
Her mom cupped her cheek briefly. “Now, let’s get you mated. Your dad and brothers are waiting for you. And, so is your cambion.”
Never before would Chloe have guessed her parents would accept a cambion as a mate for her. Then again, Dante had been part of the group that entered Hell and saved Illianna, one of her mother’s friends. Everyone in Heaven had given up hope of ever finding Illianna after she’d been missing for over a century. It was three cambions that risked everything and rescued her.
Chloe’s dad beamed at her when Tris opened the door. “Oh my. Look at you. I’ve missed you. I was going to ask if you’re happy, but I can see how much Dante means to you.” Before she could say anything, Chloe was wrapped in his arms then each of her brothers followed suit.
Chloe wiped her eyes and smiled at her dad. “I’ve never been happier. Dante is my everything. He’s the best thing to ever happen to me and I love him.”
With that, she ran her hand down the side of her white gown. She went with a poufy, satin wedding gown she’d seen on a magazine cover. She’d lived in the human world as much as she did the supernatural one and it represented everything she found with Dante. Love, acceptance, promise and devotion.
The last few weeks were a blur of staying in bed with Dante, meeting more Dark Warriors and moving to Seattle with him. Relocating had been a tough choice. The entire experience with the archdemon and finding Dante brought her so much closer to Tris, and she found it painful to leave the first person that had become her friend in thousands of years. Apparently, Tris felt the same and ended up moving to Seattle, as well. While Dante would travel around a lot, he would be there most of the time.
It was awkward to be walking through Zeum with her family and Tris. She’d only been there for visits occasionally, but this was where Dante wanted to have the ceremony. It was a second home to him. These people were his family and would eventually become hers. After living a lonely life, she welcomed all the changes.
Elsie, the Vampire Queen met them at the base of the massive double staircase. “That dress looks stunning on you. Dante is waiting for you on the patio. I’ll meet you out there.”
Chloe beamed at Elsie. The female had gone with her and Tris to pick it out and endured the long process of trying on countless gowns until she settled on this strapless number. The bodice was covered in intricate beadwork and was fitted to her body while the skirt flared from her hips in layers of shiny silk.
“Thank you for everything.”
“My pleasure. Welcome to the family, officially.” Elsie embraced her briefly then headed through the kitchen doors.
Chloe was right behind her followed by her family and Tris. Her breath caught when she saw everyone dressed to the nines, waiting for her. It wasn’t the fact that the supernaturals were beaming that shocked her. The angels that filled the space were the most shocking. She hadn’t expected anyone there for her aside from Dante and Tris.
As she looked from Illianna to her brothers, she noted the thousands of twinkling lights strung throughout the space. And the flowers. There were so many hydrangeas, ranunculus, and roses. The effort everyone went to for his mating ceremony touched her beyond words.
A gasp left her, and her heart picked up its pace at the same time her mouth went dry. Dante was standing in the center of it all smiling from ear to ear. And he looked gorgeous in a black tux. Good enough to eat. But, most of all he looked healthy and happy for the first time since she’d known him.
She hadn’t realized before how close to having his inner demon take over he’d been. The dark circles under his eyes and the sunken cheeks had disappeared. His skin glowed and his eyes were bright. And that hair of his? It was thick and luxurious, and she was jealous. No male should have hair like that. But he was hers.
Her heart swelled in her chest and her eyes swam when warmth engulfed every cell in her body. The smile that spread over her face was the first real one she’d had in her life. Her steps quickened and she was by his side, grabbing his hands before her parents had taken three steps.
Dante leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Like he had the first time he’d kissed her, her body became a live wire at the same time fireworks exploded and it seemed as if the Heavens were singing. In a flash, she was turned on and aching to be alone with Dante. Unfettered joy washed through her as she pulled back and saw everything, she was experiencing reflected back at her.
Zander approached them followed by several angels. This wasn’t the first time a cambion and angel had mated, and it seemed they already knew how to proceed. She hadn’t given it much thought because she assumed this would be the mating ceremony all beings in the Tehrex Realm got.
“Friends, and family, please form a circle around the couple.” Zander gestured the group forward. Chloe saw Izzy standing with Elsie and her brother, Cian. The little toddler looked exactly like his mother with brown hair and clear blue eyes, but his expression was as serious as his father. His tiny eyebrow even lifted to his hairline as he watched everyone move into place.
The rustling of wings distracted her from the royal family. Her jaw hit her chest and her eyes nearly popped out of her head. Raphael and Michael had just joined the event. What were the archangels doing here? Were they there to stop the proceedings?
Dante gripped her hand in his. “Are you here to stop this?” His words echoed the fear consuming her attention.
Michael shifted his gaze from her to Dante. “No. We came to support Chloe.”
“And offer her wings back. You can have your position back. If you want it,” Raphael added.
Ramiel chuckled and clapped the archangel on the back. “You really do have a thing for mating ceremonies. Don’t you, Raphael?”
Raphael shook his head as he smiled. “I told you, uniting a couple in love is one of the greatest blessings in life.”
Chloe’s mind spun in a thousand different directions while the angels bantered. Dante cleared his throat and addressed Raphael. “Can we discuss this after the ceremony? This is something my mate should think through and right now I want her focused on nothing but us.”
The corners of Raphael’s mouth twitched, and he inclined his head. Her father and brothers were joined by Raphael and Michael. Together, they formed the five points of a star with her and Dante in the center. The Angels spread their wings, so their tips touched, enclosing them in a colored cocoon of red, black, and white.
The second the multicolored wings joined, Chloe felt energy flow through her and watched as a veil snapped into place just outside the open patio. Dante lifted their joined hands to his mouth and kissed the back of hers as the energy built around them. Each of the Angels surrounding them held out a hand and called a weapon of Light to their palm. Chloe’s heart was full at the same time she ached from the loss of her wings so long ago.
Raphael extended his weapon above their heads and each Angel touched their Light to his. A flash of white light blasted throughout the sky, bringing tears to her eyes.
Holding Dante’s gaze, Chloe bared her feelings for all to see. “Fate brought you to me when I thought I’d lost it all. From day one you captured my heart. It took nearly dying to make me realize I love you and wanted to make you mine. Now that I have, you have me, heart and soul.
I hid from my mistakes for so long I forgot what it meant to truly live. You walked in and jolted me back to life. I want to say I’ve learned my lesson, but I wouldn’t change a thing if it meant not finding you. I love you, Dante. You are my choice.”
Dante wrapped his arms around her and kissed the life out of her. Her mind swam with desire for him while her heart raced in time with his. Her body liquified and she was a second from collapsing in a puddle.
Zander cleared his throat. Dante pulled away from her and they watched as the Vampire King lifted his hands. “We have gathered here in this beautiful place, under the eye of the Sun and the glow of the Moon. Let the circle be blessed and consecrated with Fire and Water.”
Bhric parted from his mate who was cradling a very pregnant belly. His twin sister, Breslin joined him. They’d been introduced to her as the Fire and Ice twins. With a flourish, fire shot forth from Breslin’s outstretched palm. It streaked to the ceiling with the angels’ power. Chloe cringed wondering if the massive house was going to catch fire, ruining her mating ceremony.
Before her breathing reached hysterical levels, the flames arched over their group and down the side to flow around the outskirts of the circle then outside. The fire rose from the earth in the clearing to join the star-filled sky above. Bhric smirked at his sister before he raised his hands and water shot straight up through the center of their group, sizzling as it touched the Light weapons before zipping outside and fell in a sheer waterfall, extinguishing the fire.
Zander thanked his siblings before they moved back to their places in the circle. “We call to the Goddess Morrigan and invoke her to bless this mating.” The Vampire King held out his hand and Dante handed him their mating stone. Dante had explained to her that the seemingly normal piece of granite would act as a symbol of their bond and unite them.
“Dante, Chloe your hands.” Zander took Chloe’s right hand and placed her palm over Dante’s where he clutched their stone. She drew in a breath as electrical pulses crawled up her arm when they touched. “We call upon the spirits of the East, of Air, Spring, and new beginnings. We call upon the spirits of the South and the inner Fire of the Sun, Summer and personal will. We call upon the spirits of the West, of Water, Autumn, and healing and dreaming. We call upon the spirits of the North, of Earth, Winter, and the time of cleansing and renewal. Join us to bless this couple with your guidance and inspiration,” Zander recited.
The magic emanating from their stone enveloped her and Dante. Emotion was shining in her mate’s stunning blue eyes. A sparkle was there that she’d seen each time he looked at her. It was proof of his love for her.
Zander removed his hand, leaving theirs clasped together around the stone. Dante lifted Chloe’s free hand and placed it on his pec, over his heart, before placing his over her heart. The rapid thumping beneath her palm matched the rhythm pounding in her chest.
“I bless this mating under the Sun and the Moon. This circle of love and honor is open and never broken, so may it be.” Zander’s voice resonated throughout the room.
Chloe felt a tugging in her torso followed by heat that built between their hands in their mating stone. She gasped as she felt part of her flow into the rock. Dante’s expression shifted to one of peace a second before a rainbow of light flashed between their fingers, making her skin tingle with the magic. Instantly, the bond with Dante exploded through every cell of her body, bringing that piece of her back and consuming her as it raced through. She wasn’t the same angel when all was said and done.
Their connection became a thick, gold ribbon that wrapped around her heart and ran to his, entwining them. When Dante gasped and his eyes went wide, she wondered what was going on. His lids lowered and she swore he was growling. It was a low rumbling that vibrated her entire body.
It set off a chain reaction of need that coursed through her. She wanted to strip the tux from his muscular body and take him right there on the patio. It was her desire to celebrate with her family that stopped her from dragging him away.
She lifted a few fingers and stared at the biggest aquamarine stone she’d ever seen. It matched her cambion’s eyes perfectly. Before she could think more about the magic that transformed the granite to something that she would cherish the rest of her life, her ears rang, and she was engulfed in Light energy.
“I’ve had my eye on you a long time, Chloe.” Who was speaking into her mind? Her heart raced and she couldn’t catch her breath. She would worry, but there was nothing malevolent about the essence surrounding her.
“To answer your question, it’s the Goddess Morrigan. I wanted to thank you for opening your heart to one of my favorite sons. Dante has more than earned happiness. As have you. I will leave you to celebrate this occasion with one final blessing. Your mating stone will protect your Weapon of Light always. No one will ever take it from you again.”
Her eyes filled with tears. She never imagined being given such blessings. “Thank you for creating him for me. The stone is icing on the cake.” She knew the Goddess heard the thoughts she sent her way because warm arms embraced her then disappeared.
Emotion swelled in her chest. She had to take a few deep breaths. She wasn’t a sensitive person and had no idea how to deal with everything flowing through her at the moment. One smile from her mate and that all melted. She was ready to celebrate. But, before the festivities began, she had one thing to deal with.
“Raphael, Michael,” Chloe called out.
The leader of the archangels and the leader of the Warrior Angels stopped. “Yes.” They spoke in unison then paused to allow her to share her thoughts.
Chloe couldn’t suppress her smile as she held her mate’s hand. “I wanted to talk to you about your offer.”
“You want your wings back.” Raphael made the comment, assuming he knew what she wanted.
She shook her head from side to side. “Not exactly.”
Michael lifted one eyebrow in question. “Then what is it you need?”
Tugging her hands from Dante’s, she twisted both of hers together. “I don’t belong in Heaven anymore. I made the wrong choice centuries ago. I know that and accept it, but I am hoping to have my sword of Light back. It will make killing demons so much easier.”
Michael and Raphael shared a look before turning back to her. “Not many truly accept the consequences of their decisions. That you have speaks volumes about you. Then you add that you want to continue your mission of killing demons. I’m speechless,” Michael admitted.
“But, I’m not. You cannot wield a sword of Light without having Heaven’s blessing which means you getting your wings back.” Raphael pulled her into a hug. She was about to push him away when his large palms rubbed her back. Her scars stretched painfully as the muscles and tendons twisted and grew. The pressure was unbearable as wings formed then extended through the slits. Her breath left her body as the additional weight pulled her shoulders.
“Holy shit,” she breathed unsure what just happened. Her family and friends started cheering and before she knew it drinks were passed around.
Dante had never been happier or felt better in his life. His heart now beat for Chloe. He’d heard stories about what it was like when you mated, but words couldn’t accurately describe the depth of the love and need that sparked to life the instant that connection formed. And from the moment that gold ribbon bound them together, his inner demon seemed to be completely tamed.
No one mentioned that to him. This was something all cambions needed to know. To live without the threat of their inner beast taking over and making them do unspeakable things to others was a gift he could never repay her. And, would create a mess when cambions searched high and low for their other half. Better they didn’t know the effect mating had on the dark side.
Dante kissed the back of her neck and unzipped the sexy wedding dress. It fell to the ground leaving his angel in a strapless bra and barely-there silk panties. The bra fell to the floor a second later. It seemed the reappearance of her wings sliced thro
ugh the material.
They were in the master bedroom of his house. Before he left for Zeum, he’d set a romantic scene for them, complete with candles, chocolate and wine. Dante picked Chloe up and walked her to the bed. He leaned over her still stunned when he looked down and saw massive red wings resting beneath her body.
He ate her up with his gaze. “It took every ounce of self-control to keep from ravaging you. That dress shows just enough cleavage to turn me into a mindless sex crazed demon.”
The way her eyes sparkled at that moment entranced him as much as her body. His highest priority now was to make sure she always smiled. “Don’t blame your other half for wanting me. I know I’m irresistible. And even sexier now that I have my wings back.”
He bobbed his head up and down. “I can’t wait to see you riding me with your wings extended.”
She glanced around the room. “We’re going to need to renovate this room.” The laughter and joy in her tone made his heart soar. He might not have been the one to give her wings back, but he’d asked Abraxos to tell her parents and the archangels. His goals had been to invite her family back into her life and show the archangels respect by informing them.
The last thing he wanted was for them to try and force her to Hell if they discovered her. He’d lost sleep over his decision to reach out, until her parents informed him they’d be there.
Chloe moaned and shifted her legs. She lifted her hands and ran them up his sides then lifted her lips. His mouth lowered to meet hers as if they were made of steel and hers magnetic. The energy between them fed the fervor of their need.
Dante’s lips burned and a groan left him when she licked the seam of his mouth. Taking one of his favorite moves, she took the opportunity to slide her tongue inside his mouth. The way their tongues danced in an erotic rhythm made his cock hard as stone.
His mouth devoured hers, and his hand went between her wings on her back. She started writhing on the mattress. Every movement she made pushed her breasts against his chest. Her hard nipples teased him through the cotton of his shirt. Gods, he needed to taste her hard nipples.