by Nalini Singh
As if nature knew their hearts should not be forced apart.
“The Cadre will decide,” Favashi said, spreading out her wings. “For now, I will go and welcome him to the world.”
Raphael rose into the night sky with her, showed her to the village. And he warned Alexander of her impending arrival. The Ancient was standing laughing with his sentinels when they landed, nothing in his stance or expression to betray his vulnerability. He’d woken at far too high a speed, would need at least six months to recover. Until then, he was at risk of a deadly attack, but only if someone realized the extent of his weakness.
Raphael would’ve worried Lijuan would launch another assault except that she’d retreated far too quickly from this battle. According to what Andromeda had seen in Lijuan’s citadel, the Archangel of China had only been partially healed when she’d decided on this mission. A second wildfire injury on top of the first should take her out of the equation long enough for Alexander to come to full strength.
“Can we kill her?” Favashi asked flatly once she and Alexander had completed the formal greeting. “While she’s weak?”
Alexander frowned.
Raphael, knowing the Ancient’s beliefs on honor and the rules of battle, expected him to negate that option. But he’d forgotten the rage now in Alexander’s blood. “Any archangel who attacks a Sleeper and murders his son is not worthy of respect.” Each word was a chip of ice. “I see no reason not to strike at her while she’s wounded.”
“We considered it after she attacked my city,” Raphael said, “but Lijuan isn’t stupid. Neither my spymaster, nor the spymasters of my allies, were able to pinpoint the location where she went to ground.” It hadn’t, despite appearances, been her citadel.
Favashi’s wings glowed. “Perhaps she has developed the ability to bury herself in the same way as Alexander and Caliane.”
Alexander stirred, his jaw no longer held in a vicious line. “Caliane? She has woken?”
“Yes.” Raphael met the other man’s gaze. “She will be pleased to see you—I think I take no liberties in extending an invitation for you to visit her territory.” Caliane would expect him to offer the invitation, for while he was Cadre, he was also her son.
Their relationship would never be simple or one-dimensional.
Alexander inclined his head in gracious acceptance of the offer before returning his attention to Favashi. “This land was once mine and still sings to my blood. Yet you have held it safe since your ascension.” The implication was clear: Alexander wanted his territory back.
Favashi didn’t back down. “As always, the Cadre’s decision will be law.”
“Agreed.”
“However,” Favashi added, “until the Cadre meets, the section of my territory which fell under Rohan’s aegis is yours.” Grief thickened her voice. “He always said he was looking after it as you would’ve wished.”
Alexander’s eyes sharpened. “You mourn my son.”
“Yes.” White lines bracketing her mouth, Favashi spread her wings. “I leave for my stronghold,” she said to Alexander. “Rohan’s palace—your old home—is badly damaged, but I can send a team to help repair it should you wish to use it.”
“No.” Alexander’s voice was subtly gentler. “I thank you, but my people and I will do what is needed.”
Favashi left without further words, but her mind reached out to Raphael’s as she flew toward the stars. I thank you for not allowing such an evil act to occur on my soil, Raphael. I have stood on the sidelines long enough—from this day forth, consider me your ally.
Raphael acknowledged her words, but he didn’t take them as unfiltered truth. Favashi played a deep game; he couldn’t trust that this wasn’t a great double cross, for the fact she mourned Rohan didn’t mean she didn’t want Alexander dead.
As the Ancient had just proven, he wouldn’t stand aside when it came to matters of territory—and in this land, loyalty to Alexander ran deep. Favashi had garnered respect in the short time she’d ruled, but even amongst mortals, the legend of the archangel with silver wings was talked of with awe and wonder.
Alexander had held this land for millennia before his Sleep.
As such, Favashi must’ve always known that if Alexander rose, she’d lose either all or a massive percentage of her current territory, face having to start all over again. The Cadre’s decision was a mere formality.
“Raphael.”
“Yes?”
“My squadrons will return to me,” Alexander said with a confidence that betrayed his own arrogance. “They’ll sever their contracts and fly home from every corner of this earth, but for now, I have no one who can fly to Titus’s territory.”
Raphael heard the unspoken request. “I must return to my own territory.” He had people to protect, too, and a consort who’d worry until she saw him safe. “However, I’ll fly through Titus’s territory and ask him to send Xander home with an escort. You can trust Titus. He is as he always was.”
“Blunt and honest.” Alexander nodded. “Tell him I will speak to him personally once I have things in order here.” He stared out at the caves under which he’d Slept. “A son should not have to mourn his father when his father is in the prime of his life, and a father should never have to mourn his son, but Xander and I will do this. We will give Rohan life in death and in vengeance.”
45
After everything that had happened, the trip back to the Refuge seemed to go by at the speed of light. Andromeda and Naasir flew in the jet as far as it was possible to fly that way, their time together beyond precious to her. Upon landing, Naasir picked up a small pack of cold-weather clothing Galen had left for him at the airport, and told her to take the skyroad while he straddled the motorcycle the mechanic had retrieved for him.
“Your wings need rest to heal properly,” he told her with a scowl. “The distance you’d have to fly to follow my overland path will only put more pressure on them.”
She didn’t want to be separated from him, but knew he was right. So she flew high in the sky, the ticking clock inside her growing louder with each wingbeat. She understood now that Naasir would never reject her—he wasn’t built that way. He’d claimed her and he’d keep her no matter what. But he couldn’t fight an eon of tradition, tradition that kept everyone safe. If she defected to another territory and the archangel in question didn’t return her to Charisemnon, it would break a visceral taboo.
Even enemies did not steal children from one another. It was simply not acceptable.
Her tears whipped away by the wind, she flew until her wings ached, the sky around her starry velvet. She reached the mountains of the Refuge sometime in the hours between dark and dawn. Flying low, she tried to search for Naasir’s secret home in the forests below, but it was too well hidden, a place he alone could show her.
She landed with stealth once in the Refuge itself, made her way not to her suite in Raphael’s stronghold, but to the aerie she had along the cliff edge. Everything in her body ached, but the worst pain was in her heart. Already, she missed Naasir. Even with his ferocious speed, it would take him at least a day to arrive overland.
Drawing a bath, she sat in it with her arms locked tightly around her knees, trying desperately to think of a way out of the trap in which she was stuck. Nothing. Freedom could come only at Charisemnon’s hand.
Her mouth twisted: Charisemnon expected his blood to do its “duty.”
Getting out on that bleak truth, she dried off, then forced herself to sleep. She didn’t want to waste a minute she could have with Naasir, wanted to be strong and rested when he arrived.
Her enforced rest took her through to midday.
So many hours yet to pass.
Unwilling to speak to anyone else, she stayed in her suite and did the painful task of cataloging any outstanding projects. It would make it easier for Jessamy when Andromeda left, not to return for five hundred years.
Time passed at a snail’s pace when she wanted it to race.
&nb
sp; Night fell at long last, whispered past midnight into the quietness when the entire world seemed asleep.
Throat tight at the thought of seeing Naasir again, she changed into a pair of simple black pants and a pretty pink tunic embroidered with fine blue thread around the vee of the neckline. She left her hair to do what it would, just pushed it away from the sides of her face using two jeweled combs Jessamy had gifted her.
Naasir liked her hair down.
Walking to stand on the cliffs, she watched for a familiar prowling stride, for a glint of silver under starlight. Only after she’d been watching for two hours did she realize Naasir might go straight to his home rather than coming here.
Her stomach dropped.
They had so little time and if she missed tonight, there would be no more nights. Tomorrow, she had to leave for Africa. “Naasir,” she whispered into the wind. “I’m waiting for you. Please come.”
As if he’d heard, he appeared in the distance, loping easily over the stone of the mountain. Her nose grew stuffy, her eyes gritty. Seeing her, he lifted his arm before disappearing from sight. It didn’t matter. She knew where he was going. Lifting off, she flew to the spot where a delicate stone bridge connected the two sides of the gorge.
He was already on it, and jumped dangerously high to catch her ankle and haul her down as she hovered above him. “Naasir!” Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Drenched in sweat and with heat coming off his skin, he was wild and beautiful and she wanted him so very, very badly. “Are you sure you don’t want to take me up on my offer?” she whispered in agonizing hope.
He rubbed his nose over hers. “I will. You owe me many bed favors for my frustration and patience.” That last was said on an impatient growl. “But I will collect the right way.”
“What if you don’t find it in time?”
“I’m good at finding things.” Snapping his teeth at her, he said, “I want to bathe.”
Leading him to her aerie, she drew him inside and shut the door. She had a scholar’s home, full of books and art, and he was a beautiful, not-at-all-tame creature who didn’t appear to belong. Then he tugged off his jacket, sweater, and T-shirt, and threw them on a chair as he kicked off his boots and socks, and suddenly, it was as if he’d always lived here.
He found his way to the bathing room without her help, since she was too tongue-tied at seeing the sleek, muscled beauty of him to give him directions. Leaving the door open, he said, “You ran the water.”
She could hear rustling as he got out of his jeans. “Yes.” Her throat was so dry she had to cough to clear it. “It was two hours ago, but I ran it close to boiling, so you should only need a touch more hot water to warm it up.”
A splash of sound as he got in. “It’s warm enough. The stone keeps it that way.”
About as able to resist him as a child could a sweet, she walked to the doorway and looked inside. He was dunking his head and when he came up, he shot her a sinful smile. “Come wash my back, Andi.”
Andromeda didn’t even attempt to deny him, deny them both. Not only did she run the soap over his back, she washed his hair, massaging his scalp until he purred, his eyes lazily closed. The stripes were visible under his skin again, fine fur delicate under her fingertips when she explored his nape and shoulders.
“What are you thinking?” His lashes snapped up, nostrils flaring. “Your smell changed.”
Cheeks hot, Andromeda went to lie, stopped herself. If these were to be her last hours of freedom with him, she would tell him every truth she could. And she would try to seduce him. Honor be damned. “I was wondering what it would feel like to rub my naked body against yours.”
His eyes gleamed. Closing one big, wet hand over her thigh where she sat on the edge of the stone bath, he hauled her closer, leaned forward until he was dangerously close to the pulsing, swollen flesh between her thighs . . . and bit her hard on her inner thigh. She yelped even as liquid heat pulsed between her legs. “You didn’t like my idea?”
Growling up at her, he bared his teeth. “We can’t have those thoughts. You took a vow. Be good.”
Her mouth fell open. “I can’t believe you’re telling me to be good.”
“I won’t steal your honor,” he said stubbornly. “I’m going to find your very stupid Grimoire book so we can rut without guilt.”
Every time he said the word “rut” it made her entire body hum. It was such a carnal word, so raw and unashamed. “I want to know what you’d do to me,” she whispered, leaning in until her lips were a bare inch from his. “Tell me.”
A loud chest-rumbling growl was her only warning before he tumbled her into the water.
When she came up, spluttering and pushing her hair out of her eyes, he glared at her. “Behave or I’ll turn on the cold water.”
At the end of her rope, she bared her own teeth at him. “Try it and see what happens.”
He laughed and pounced on her, dragging her over to his chest. Another rub of his nose against hers. When she threatened to bite him, he grinned even harder. “I always knew my mate would be as wild as me.”
No one had ever called her wild; she decided she liked it.
When he kind of snuggled her against his naked body, her wet clothes sticking to her, she stayed. Because being held by him, being affectionately petted as they spoke about their adventure, it was so wonderful it made her aching heart pulse in unfiltered joy, her eyes burning until she had to shut them lest her tears fall and give her away.
* * *
Naasir left his mate three hours past dawn. “I’m going to find your stupid Grimoire book,” he muttered with a scowl.
“Naasir, it’s a legend.” His smart, wild—though she pretended not to be—mate glared at him, her hands on her hips. “I told you I take back that idiotic vow!”
“You can’t.” Something inside his Andi was broken and he wouldn’t help her hurt herself any more. “I’ll see you in a week at your parents’ estate for the dinner, and you’ll tell me what you hide from me.” It came out a snarl. “No more secrets.”
Eyes stark and wide, she nodded. Then she ran to him, wrapping her arms around him in a fierce embrace. “Don’t get hurt searching for the Grimoire. And don’t be late. I’ll be waiting for you at noon on the seventh day from today.” She pressed her cheek to his. “I’ll make us a picnic and I’ll go to what was the old elephant watering hole on the estate—you can find it by following the flight of the herons. They like that spot.”
Drawing deep of her delicious scent, he lifted her up and spun her around. “I’ll be there,” he promised when he put her down again. “Make sure you don’t cook the meat.”
Her fingers played through his hair, where he’d woven in a second feather. “I promise.”
“You should know something,” he said as they separated.
“Yes?”
“When we’re mated, I won’t go far like this again. We’ll be together.” Naasir didn’t understand why anyone would have a mate and not be with that mate. “If I have to go to New York or another place, you’ll come with me. If you can’t because of your work, I’ll ask Raphael to allow me to stay here—he won’t say no. He likes being with his mate, too.”
His words shattered Andromeda. Though he occupied a far higher position in the immortal hierarchy, he didn’t just assume his wishes would come first. “I would go anywhere with you,” she whispered, emotion a knot in her throat. “Go find the stupid Grimoire so we can do bad things together naked.”
A feral smile and then he was running out of the Refuge. She watched him until she could no longer glean even a hint of silver, and then she turned to pick up her small bag for the flight to Africa, a land that sang to her as Alexander’s territory did to him, and yet that was to be her prison.
46
Naasir hated the cold. Hated it. But he had to go into it to find the Grimoire. Everyone thought it was a legend, but during the flight home from Alexander’s territory, he’d finally realized w
hy it seemed familiar: he’d seen it.
It had been long, long, long ago, when he’d still been two. The tiger cub was the one who’d seen the red book with the golden etching on the front. It wasn’t something that would’ve registered on the cub except that the chimera experiment had happened that night, the boy and the tiger forcefully merged into one. The tiger’s memories had become the boy’s and the boy’s had become the tiger’s, but because they were two such different species who should’ve never been one, nothing had made sense for a long time.
It had been a confusing, terrifying period and the chimera he’d become had long forgotten the book the tiger had seen. But when Jason had described the Grimoire, the memories had surfaced as all parts of him worked together to win his mate. So he knew where that book had once been and where it should still be. Unfortunately, that place was now buried under tons of ice and snow.
Running over the cold white stuff, his body protected by thick clothing and his feet by insulated boots, Naasir growled at the snow that hit his face and wasn’t the least surprised when a black-winged angel landed not far from him. He was at the end of the world, but it made perfect sense to him that Jason would be able to find him. That was what Jason did—know secrets.
“What are you doing in Antarctica?” Jason asked, folding back his wings. “How did you even get here?”
Naasir shrugged. “I jumped out a plane.” Far, far from his actual destination on the continent, which was why he’d had to run so long and spend two nights on the ice. And because it was important to keep this secret, he’d asked Illium to make any eyes in the sky look away until he was out of here.
No one but his family and his mate could know of this place.
“You should’ve worn white clothing and dyed your wings,” he pointed out to the member of his family standing in front of him. “You stick out in this place without shadows.”