by Ashur Rose
Lilith recognized shifters, elementals, fae, angels, elves and even a group of really big men in trench coats without shirts. The usual crowd at The Sanctum, she supposed. This time, the faces looked a lot younger.
Dirty blond dreads swung through the crowd, Raze lifting his chin in greeting. “We’re in the banquet room again, brother, Lilith.” He smiled, his bottom teeth crowded.
They plowed their way to the back of the club, the commotion dying as they reached the hall to the private rooms. Lilith did her best to ignore the gurgles, moans and shrieks coming from behind the closed doors.
Jenny the waitress, in her youthful form, materialized in the doorway of the banquet room. “The usual?” she asked.
“Just a beer for me,” Lilith said.
Jenny winked and misted out.
Inside, Cree sat at a table flirting with Alanis, the Undine healer. He quit as Raze, Iain and Lilith entered. Alanis poured herself out of the room.
“Hey, brother. Just about time.” Cree walked over and pounded Iain on the shoulder. He turned to Lilith. “I’m sure gonna miss the shape of your aura, love.”
“If you can put it back in your pants for a second, I’d like to thank you for getting me out of The Nether.” Lilith smirked.
“No thanks necessary. Can’t leave a hottie like you with those posey shades.”
Lilith glanced around. Other Drygs occupied the room, flirting with waitresses and patrons. “What gives? I thought you were the only Drygs in town?”
“Part of the deal Magnus made with the Phyrss. When he performed the realmwalk, he made this club a kind of locus. Now, it’s the first place watchmen on leave go for a little R&R.” Cree smiled. “That Light Fae ain’t no dummy.”
Lilith smiled. “The Phyrss is no dummy, either. Now she can revoke leave and send half a regiment at the shades instead of a bunch of exiled knuckleheads.”
Cree grabbed her shoulders and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “I love this girl!”
At that moment, the waitress who had posed as a naughty nurse for the vampires strutted by. This time, the child-sized T-shirt stretched across her triple-Ds read, “Sub.”
Cree’s eyes followed her. He gave Iain a double punch on the shoulder. “Love you, brother. Give the Phyrss a big kiss for me.”
“I like my lips where they are,” Iain said.
Eyebrows darting over his shades, Cree chased after the waitress.
Jenny materialized with a tray. They took their drinks. Raze returned from a circuit of the Drygs in the banquet room. “Almost time, Iain. I’m gonna miss you.”
“I’m sure the Banes will get thrown together soon enough,” Iain said.
Lilith took Raze’s hand in both of hers. “I can’t thank you enough for saving me.”
His eyes closed at her touch, a smile playing on his lips. “Anything for you, anything for Iain.”
Iain growled. “Okay, enough touching my brothers.”
“Stop it!” She slapped Iain’s arm. “I’m seriously in debt to the Banes.”
Wearing a sheepish look, Iain took in the room.
Raze folded his arms. “Where the hell is Steele? I know he hates this place and he’s a total dick, but I figured he’d show up to see you off.”
Lilith studied the floor. Steele was a bit of a mystery to her. It was no secret he didn’t like her. She figured she was the reason Steele hadn’t come.
“He’ll show,” Iain said. And then Magnus entered the room with his usual fireworks, pulling out a chair at the head of the banquet table. Iain frowned. “I think.”
The Light Fae adjusted the lapels on his suit—it seemed to be made of grayish tree bark—and shot his cuffs. Jenny appeared at his side, setting down a fishbowl-sized wineglass filled with swirling blue. Magnus’ eyes fell on Lilith and Iain.
“Ready, kids?”
“Not yet,” a deep voice said from the doorway.
She turned to see Steele walk in. He gave Iain a smile, his perfect teeth at odds with the scar on his face. He gave Iain a quick, fierce hug. Steele’s smile faded when he took in Lilith.
With a deep breath, she put a hand on Steele’s wrist. “I haven’t been able to thank you for rescuing us all.”
No emotion crossed his face. “Just doing my job.”
“It was more than that,” Lilith said. “You came for me, even though you hate me.”
For all the response Steele gave, he might as well have been in perch. After a moment, he finally spoke. “What I hate is weakness. Frailty. A lot of bad can happen when you step up to cover a man’s limitations or put yourself on the line for someone else’s flaws.”
“I’m a whole lot tougher than I look, Steele,” she said.
Still, his face remained blank, his eyes studying her from behind his sunglasses
“You’d have to be,” he said.
Steele’s perfect, bright smile flashed again, just for a heartbeat.
“My God, you really are a total dick,” Lilith said. Then she leaned into him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you anyway, Steele.”
Steele faced away with a grimace. “Yeah. Whatever. Like I said, just doing my job.”
“Really, can we cut the endless goodbyes a little short? I have lots of shit to get done.” Magnus growled, conjuring a clay sphere.
Iain took her hand, nodding to the fae. “We’re ready.”
The globe levitated, revolving slowly.
Are we? Lilith thought, watching the spell take form.
Magnus chanted:
“Earth and wind and fire and hail
Threshold found betwixt the veil
Flame and snow and zephyr and stone
Loose the gates and lead them home.”
“I’m kinda scared,” she whispered to Iain.
He gave her hand a squeeze. “Don’t be. Empyrean is beautiful. You’ll be welcomed with opened arms.”
“It’s another realm—another dimension. I’m just—”
“Lilith,” Iain said, interrupting. “You have me by your side. Always.”
Before her, a veil of solid white light unfolded, emitting no heat, no sound. Lilith took a shaky breath.
“Plus, all the ramen you can eat.”
She lowered her brows at him but couldn’t suppress a grin. “You jerk.”
He lifted her hands to his lips, kissing her fingers. “I love you, Lilith Maine.”
The words thrilled her and at the same time felt like they’d been etched in stone for eons. Feelings washed over her like a warm wind.
“I love you, too, Iain Bane.”
With a gentle tug, he pulled her beside him, leading her. Around them, the room broke into wild applause, shouts of joy tinged with the sorrow of parting. Together, Iain and Lilith stepped beyond the veil.
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ASHUR ROSE LIVES IN New York in a tiny loft she shares with her Bengal cat. You can stay in touch with her by joining her group.
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Romance Novel (Gothic Angels)