Blood In The Stars

by Jennifer Shea

  Luke gave her an appraising glance filled with reluctant admiration. “Not many would dare to speak to the Angel Michael that way. Certainly no human. You are auspicious in many ways, my dear.” He patted her shoulder before striding past her to check on Alastor and Jason.

  The adrenalin pumping through Daria’s veins vanished and she sagged against the wall. Perhaps it wasn’t a new power? Just the heat of the moment? But as she stared down at her hands, she knew that something had wanted to come out earlier. She just didn’t know what.

  With his father’s and brother’s help, Alastor gained his feet, the gash in his body healed. Jason had saved him. The thought warmed her and she rejoiced to know he still had his healing abilities. They were a part of him whether anyone approved or not.

  Luke supported Alastor out of the room. But Daria had eyes for only Jason.

  With gentle hands, he brought her to him and she rested her cheek against his chest. She relaxed against his solidness and his cool fingers swept the hair away from her temple. He would protect her always and she him. His steady heartbeats thumped against her ear, soothing her nerves.

  They said nothing for several minutes, just enjoying the feel of each other. She would have happily fallen asleep against him if they had the time. But she knew they would need to check in on Alastor.

  “What just happened, exactly?” Jason asked with a confused smile. “My father only said you were intimidating as hell. Absolutely magnificent.”

  She leaned back and gave him a tired, but elated grin. “It’s about time I protected you.”

  Epilogue

  A funny thought suddenly occurred to Jason as he watched Alastor rest against the pillows of the recliner. Their family had been spending an awful lot of time recovering from near-fatal wounds lately. Once every five hundred years wouldn’t kill them, but he certainly didn’t want to make it a regular occurrence. He rubbed his wrists, remembering the way the bands had dug into his flesh. He hoped he wouldn’t have to go through that again in the near future. But with the situation in Hell still unresolved, he suspected he’d be feeling them again soon.

  They sat by the fountain in the atrium. Jason shifted his position on Alastor’s footstool, tilting his head back to soak in the warmth of the morning sun while the sound of falling water surrounded them. He had always loved this spot in the atrium as a child and it had been centuries since he’d enjoyed it as an adult.

  “You’re thinking about a joke. I could use a joke,” Alastor grunted.

  “Why? You’re recovered.”

  “Then stop treating me like an invalid,” Alastor shot back.

  Jason looked at the orange he had peeled for his brother and stifled the laughter threatening to burst free.

  Yesterday’s ordeal had worn out the entire family and after he and Daria affirmed that Alastor was indeed all right, everyone had gone straight to bed. This morning they met downstairs and even had breakfast together. He couldn’t recall the last time his family had done something so . . . familial. The only person missing was Candy.

  “Where’s Candy?” Alastor asked as though he heard Jason’s thoughts.

  “She’s probably still torturing Miller. The party for his succession to the House of Witches is coming up. I got the invitation today.”

  He wondered what Candy thought about that. Maybe one day the two of them would finally work things out. Alastor sniffed but didn’t provide any snide comments. Instead, he queried, “Daria?”

  “Our father is grilling her about her powers, I believe.”

  Luke had called for Daria after breakfast and they had cloistered themselves in the library. Jealous and annoyed that his father monopolized Daria, Jason had reluctantly let her go after Luke said he wanted to talk about her powers. But that was hours ago. What did they still have to discuss? He needed time alone with his future bride, away from everyone.

  “She was definitely acting oddly yesterday,” Alastor mused. “The way she was looking at me—I don’t know. Her intensity was a little frightening.”

  Jason shrugged. Luke had told him everything Daria had said to Mike yesterday, including sensing an energy surge within her. He never knew she had so much courage that she would dare incur the wrath of the Angel Michael. And he most assuredly didn’t think she had it in her to kill anyone. But that was what she had threatened . . . Mike’s death.

  “What now?” Jason asked. “I still want to marry Daria, but you should rule.”

  “Father will rule,” Alastor replied.

  “But his laws—”

  “Will need to be modernized,” Alastor finished for him. “They are antiquated and from what you told me, were meant as a way to keep power up the chain of command. Depending on what powers Daria eventually develops, we no longer need to obey them.” Alastor’s wicked smile knocked Jason’s breath away.

  Voices echoed from down the hallway and they turned to see who had arrived.

  “I’m not going to help you guys launch a war on Heaven,” Daria asserted as she marched down the hall. She glared at Luke who strode beside her. “And you’re crazy for even thinking it.”

  Luke remained silent, a pensive expression on his face.

  Jason still hadn’t come to terms with everything he learned last night. Looking at his father now, he wasn’t sure how much he believed, either. His father killed thousands in Heaven for his rebellion, and the damnation brought on him and everyone who followed him was known across the realms. To learn now that it was all within the calculations of God . . .

  The thought of that power staggered logic.

  Luke had dressed casually today in jeans and a button-down plaid shirt. Daria had borrowed one of his mother’s dresses and looked resplendent in sea foam green. Though they both appeared refreshed, neither was smiling as they neared. Aggravation had drawn Luke’s lips into a thin line and a crinkle had formed on his forehead. Frustration flushed Daria’s face and she huffed when she sat down at the edge of Jason’s stool.

  Jason twined his arm around her waist, pulling her close. Never close enough, though. His glance shuffled between the two of them before he asked with an amused smile, “Things didn’t go well?”

  Luke sighed and Jason realized his father seemed more disappointed than annoyed. “Daria has powers, but they seem . . . shy, for want of a better word. We can’t repeat any today. Based on what she said, she could sense things from us as though someone spoke them aloud.”

  “That’s great. So she can read minds like you.” Jason pressed a kiss to her temple. That was nothing to fear and actually quite common in his family.

  “I didn’t say she could read minds,” Luke replied, choosing his next words with caution. “She seems to know motivation and perhaps can even anticipate what another person will do before it occurs to that individual.”

  Jason straightened and stared at his father in speculation. “Are you saying she can predict the future?”

  At those words Alastor sat up and stared at her with new eyes.

  The implications of such a power were astonishing. Knowing his father’s ambitions, Heaven would be well within reach.

  “I suspect she can predict possibilities of the future, rather than the future itself,” Luke clarified. “We’ve never had an auspicious one live to adulthood, so we don’t know when her powers will come into their own or just how powerful she’ll become.”

  All eyes turned to Daria.

  “Stop looking at me like I’m some freak show,” she hissed. “That’s just what he thinks.” She jerked her chin toward Luke. “No one said he was right.”

  “True,” Luke acknowledged. “This is unprecedented. We’ll have to watch her very carefully, continue to monitor as her powers grow.” Then he waved his fingers at his sons and added in a low voice, “I also saw inklings of a fizzle in these.”

&nb
sp; Daria shot to her feet and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not going to be your lab rat. I want to go home.”

  “You can’t,” Jason burst out in panic. Three pairs of eyes focused on him. He blew out an unsteady breath. They were safe in his father’s villa for now, but if they stepped outside of their House’s protection, would there be creatures after Daria again? It was too risky.

  “We don’t know who will come after her,” Jason explained slowly, trying to calm his thumping heart. “It’s dangerous out there. She’s—”

  “Free to go back,” Mike interrupted as he strode into the atrium, grim-faced.

  “You want me dead that badly?” Daria snapped.

  “No,” Mike sighed, “that’s not it. I worry about the precedence it sets and what consequences it opens up.” When all Mike received were confused faces, he explained, “He has sanctioned your marriage and will grant you a reprieve so you can enter the church. This was against my recommendation but He thought your commitment to each other should be rewarded.”

  Jason’s heart thundered in his chest. God was going to allow him to enter a church to marry Daria. She would truly be safe and they could be together.

  Mike gave them cautious smile. “Now that Daria is under the protection of the House of Fallen Angels, the mortal plane should be safe. Besides, I think the demons are a little too busy with the uprising in Hell to worry about her flesh and blood.”

  Unease spread through Jason. There were still many unanswered questions. Visions of Balthazar and Alice came to mind. And with Daria’s maturation and Miller’s upcoming succession, it all seemed too much of a coincidence. He would have to meet up with Miller and Damien.

  But for now, he had everything he wanted.

  “You two should pick a day for the wedding,” Mike added, interrupting Jason’s thoughts. “I can preside. Or Miller.”

  Euphoria coursed through his body and he wanted to grab Daria and swing her around in joy. They could finally marry. They could reside in Chicago or stay at his father’s house. It wasn’t important where they lived so long as they were together. No matter what happened in their future, he would continue to protect her.

  Daria leaned against Jason. “We did it,” she whispered. “We can finally be together.” She gazed up at him with a dreamy smile. “Still want to marry me?”

  He pressed a kiss on the silky hair at her temple. “I thought you’d never ask.”