by Brenda Trim
No, she wasn’t cheating, but the thought crossed her mind for one millisecond in her loneliest moments. The attention was sweet and made her feel attractive and wanted. She fed Cade’s interest when she shouldn’t have, but she had no idea how to stop this disaster.
Jace jumped and swung his staff, connecting with Cade’s back. Cade stumbled and grabbed Jace’s leg, yanking him off his feet. Both men fell to the ground, and she screamed at the loud thud when they landed.
“I can see you love Cailyn. Well, here’s a piece of advice. You’d better start paying attention to her. She should come first. There are plenty of male’s willing to give Cailyn what she deserves,” Cade said as he rolled to avoid Jace’s elbow.
Both men were on their feet in the next second and Jace was in Cade’s face. “Cailyn is mine. No other male will ever have her. I don’t give a shit if I’m no good for her. She’s mine, so stay the fuck away from her.” With that, Jace threw a punch and knocked Cade on his ass.
Without waiting for the male to get up, Jace turned and marched toward Cailyn. She expected yelling and more cursing, but Jace leaned over and grabbed her legs.
When he stood up, she was hanging over his shoulder. She looked back at Cade who was wiping the blood from his mouth. Arousal flooded her system at Jace’s display.
He was still jealous of anyone paying attention to her. Why she found that sexy, she had no idea. She laid her hands on his back and rubbed circles as he breathed heavily while carrying her up the stairs.
Elsie came out of her room as they approached and Cailyn heard her sister gasp then giggle. When they passed her, Elsie smiled the first genuine smile Cailyn had seen since Izzy’s abduction. Cailyn smiled back and waved at her sister as Jace entered their room and kicked the door shut.
Suddenly, Cailyn’s arousal was battling her nerves for supremacy. She had no clue what he planned to do with her, but the suspense was thrilling. Jace set her down and gently grabbed her face in his hands.
“I’m sorry. I know Cade is right, and you deserve better, but you’re mine and no one can have you but me,” Jace whispered.
Tears welled in Cailyn’s eyes. “I know you’re busy. It’s okay. He was only trying to work out these knots in my shoulders. It won’t happen again,” she promised.
“Damn right it won’t because I’m going to be here to take care of you. And, you have no reason to be sorry. You did nothing wrong. I love you more than you will ever know. You are what keeps me going through the long hours and bullshit of the ER and patrols,” Jace admitted to her.
He lowered his head and claimed her lips in a kiss that branded her soul all over again. The chains binding them flared to life, strengthening their connection while Jace devoured her mouth.
Gone was the self-loathing male she’d met all those years ago. Jace’s mouth moved over hers with precision and intent. Her arms wound around his neck, and she poured her desire into the kiss.
Picking her up, Jace carried her to the sofa and sat down with her in his lap. Their kiss continued for several long minutes until they were both breathless and panting with need.
Jace broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. “Things are going to change. I will quit the hospital before I allow you to suffer.”
Cailyn shook her head violently. “I’m not going to lie. It’s been complicated for me to be without you, but quitting isn’t the answer. You have a gift. The Goddess gave it to you so you can save lives and I will not be the reason you let it go to waste.”
“My gift means nothing if I know you are hurting, Shijeì,” Jace murmured.
She slowly unbuttoned his shirt and opened the fabric, revealing beautiful bronze skin. She ran her hands over his muscular chest, licking her lips as he tensed beneath her touch. She leaned down and placed a kiss on one nipple then the other. Jace groaned when she bit down on the tender flesh.
“I can’t think when you do that to me, love. I’m trying to grovel here,” Jace murmured and tossed his head back when she licked her way up the side of his neck.
Stopping at his ear, she licked the shell then whispered, “If groveling is the only way I get you naked, then, by all means, continue.”
“You can have me naked anytime. But, the changes at the hospital are a done deal. My new schedule was approved. No more long hours. And, Zander has the new class going through the training program so I should have fewer patrols.”
Cailyn knew Jace well enough to know that he wasn’t saying this to appease her. It was clear that he was upset about missed time with her, as well. He’d been working on it for a while if his schedule already changed.
“Don’t cut patrols if that means more children at risk. I couldn’t live with myself if we weren’t doing everything possible to fight these demons,” she told him, thinking that Izzy wasn’t the only child missing.
Jace kept one arm around her waist and called his staff in the other. His magic filled the room as he waved the alder wood and candles came to life all around them. Another wave and the lights went out. Her favorite magic trick followed when their clothes disappeared.
The electrical currents running between them were enough to power the entire compound. It sizzled and crackled, turning Cailyn on even more. The thought made her wonder if there was a way for Jace and Gerrick to harness the energy the couples in the house emitted and use it as an alternative to electricity. Perhaps they could use solar paneling to aid in the endeavor. She filed those questions away for another time as Jace swiveled his hips.
A moan escaped her throat. “God, I’ve missed this,” Cailyn said as she rubbed her sex over his pulsing erection. His long braid fell over his shoulder and tickled her nipple, enhancing every sensation.
“You will never have cause to miss this again. But,” Jace said, holding her firmly to his body, “you are never to allow another male to touch you again. I’m not trying to deny you, Shijeì, but I will kill the next male that lays a hand on you. I know it meant nothing to you, but I can’t say the same for Cade.”
Cailyn waved her hand, trying to erase the frown lines between his eyes. “Cade was goading you. He wanted nothing from me.”
“Don’t be naïve, Cai. You don’t have my sense of smell. I scented his arousal the moment I walked through the door. He’s lucky I didn’t behead him,” Jace replied without a hint of remorse.
Wiggling her hips, she kissed his lips before planting kisses on his face and neck. “I don’t want to think about him when I have you naked beneath me. Take me to bed, Jace.”
“Your wish is my command. I love you,” Jace declared as he stood and strode into their bedroom.
“With all my heart,” she echoed before she fell against the soft mattress and lost herself to pleasure only her mate could provide.
* * *
Chapter Nineteen
Light and sound came back with a rush, and in the next heartbeat, Ramiel realized he was freefalling. Without thought, his wings extended and he nearly dropped his precious cargo as agony stole his sight and breath. Instinctively, his arms tightened around Isobel.
“Hold on tight, Princess,” he uttered through the pain. “I’ve got you.”
“I knew you’d come,” Izzy whispered, and her tiny arms hugged his neck tight.
He wondered where they were, and, more importantly, if there were enemies nearby. He flapped his battered wings and gazed around, searching for Zakara and clues to their whereabouts. The sky was bright, telling him they were no longer in the Underworld, giving him hope.
When a green canopy nearly caught them in its boughs, he prayed they were on Earth. Regardless, they escaped that Godforsaken realm and Lucifer. Undoubtedly, wherever they were, was an improvement. All that mattered was Izzy was safe and unharmed.
He tightened his grip on the child as leaves and limbs slapped his battered body. A smile spread across his face joy filled his being, despite the excruciating pain from his injuries. He wanted to shout to the Heavens that they were free at last. With that joy, his Li
ght smothered the Darkness that consumed him in Hell.
He suddenly panicked at the thought of Zakara’s essence leaving his system. The last thing he wanted was to erase her. Rami hoped to convince her to choose him as her mate and spend eternity in his arms. She was the reason his heart was full to bursting. His once broken and bitter spirit was renewed and full of life because Zakara made him want to love again.
He braced himself as the ground appeared in a rush. His wings formed a cocoon around him and Isobel right before they smacked the hard surface. A loud grunt whooshed from his lungs, but the landing was less painful than he expected.
“You okay, Princess?” he asked as he looked down at Isobel cradled in his arms.
“Yep. Are you okay?” Izzy muttered and looked at him with big blue eyes. He squeezed her tight, thanking God for saving their lives. “I can’t breathe,” she whispered, and he laughed, relaxing his grip.
Ramiel exhaled his relief as checked Izzy for injuries. Other than minor scratches and bruises, and desperately needing a bath, she seemed intact. He got to his feet and glanced around, trying to determine their location.
They were in the middle of a jungle, and the heat and humidity were suffocating. Rami’s leather pants stuck to his legs and sweat beaded his brow. The flowers and shrubs were lush. If he weren’t mistaken, they’d landed in the Rainforest of the Amazon. The light rain was refreshing, but it added to the stickiness. He looked at the sky. Based on the sun’s position, he guessed it was early morning.
“Oooh, pretty flower. I want one,” Izzy cooed and leaned down to pluck a pink flower that looked like a spider with its long, spindly petals. “And, one of those birdies, too,” she squealed, pointing to a branch above.
Izzy was a fantastic child. She’d endured torment most beings couldn’t fathom and yet was more interested in the beauty surrounding her. He was awed by her resilience and inner strength. He’d saved her but worried what mental scars she carried. It was a good sign that she was chasing a mammoth purple butterfly.
“Zakara!” he yelled as his head swiveled around, searching for any signs. His ears strained, trying to pick up any noise. Countless animals were scurrying through the underbrush, but nothing else.
“She’s not here,” Izzy replied as she danced around after the butterfly. Her pink dress hung in tatters, she was missing a shoe and was filthy from head to toe, but there was a smile on her face, and her happy, carefree demeanor was back.
“We have to find her. Say goodbye to your friend,” Ramiel told her as he held out his hand.
“Bye-bye, preyple butterfly. Come visit me at my house. We can play with Pepper and Pip and Squeak. I have sparklies for your wings, too,” Izzy said with a wave.
Chuckling, he picked her up. “Kara must’ve landed somewhere else. Can you help me listen for her?”
“I will, but we can’t hear her. She’s too far away.”
“Surely she can’t be that far,” Ramiel mumbled more to himself than anything.
The jungle thickened as he walked and he was forced to put Izzy down to pull vines out of their way. There were snakes, birds, and countless other creatures, but no sassy Fallen in sight.
He scented water and took a left turn. A low-hanging branch caught his wing, cutting a long gash in the fragile flesh. His wings had always been sturdy, indestructible appendages. The fact that a stick mangled it so quickly told him how much the Underworld decayed the very fiber of his makeup. He was lucky he didn’t suffer worse damage given Hell was the antithesis of his angelic nature.
“Zakara,” he called again, his heart racing. Where the fuck was she? She better not be back with Lucifer. He was holding Zakara’s hand when they entered the water and never let go. She’d been right with him up until the moment he and Izzy started falling from the sky.
“Izzy, did we manage to keep Lucifer in Hell?” If Lucifer followed them through the Lake, he might’ve taken Zakara somewhere else. Ramiel had to find her before something terrible happened to her. She’d risked everything to help him. No way was he going to allow her to come to harm.
“Uh-huh. I put magic from the Goddess in da witches’ bottle. He can’t leave da Underworld.” That was a fucking relief. Now, they just needed to find her.
“Here, sweetie, I’ll carry you. We need to move faster and find Zakara so we can get you home,” Ramiel said as he bent and picked Izzy up.
“You can’t find her.”
“What do you mean?” A band tightened around his heart, and he couldn’t catch his breath.
Nothing could happen to her. She deserved to have a life and be happy. And, yeah he thought that life should be with him, but even if she didn’t want him, she still should be free of the Underworld. She was too good for that shitty place.
“I dunno. But, Kara’s not here. I can’t feel her,” Izzy said as she scrunched up her nose.
“How we can find her?” Ramiel blurted, practically shouting. “I’m sorry, Iz. I’m just worried about Kara. Is there anything we can do to get to her?” he asked as he took a deep breath, trying to calm his frantic heart.
“I’ll try,” she replied, and Rami watched her close her eyes. Her body relaxed in his arms, and he felt the energy flowing from her. Surprisingly, it soothed the worst of his panic.
After several seconds, Ramiel opened his mouth to ask if she could see anything when smoke and mist filled the jungle. A potent power buffeted through the trees, causing the flowers and foliage to perk to life. It was astounding to see a lush landscape enhance even more.
Unsure of what Izzy was doing, he made a mental note to tell Zander and Elsie about this new power. Suddenly, a shower of silver glitter brought his gaze towards the green canopy above. He sensed the power coalescing in one specific spot and gaped as a woman emerged from the fog. She was breathtaking, with an ethereal quality he’d only experienced in Heaven.
She wore a blood-red, velvet cloak fastened at the neck with a silver brooch that looked like Izzy’s birthmark, telling Rami it was the Triskele Amulet. A silver circlet, containing a bloodstone in its center, was wound into her long black and silver hair. The early morning light gleamed off the silky stands, which made her more divine.
Her soft features opposed the strong power radiating from her. Her ice-blue gaze met Rami’s and he felt her force wash through his veins. It was comparable to Isobel’s power, amplified tenfold. The magnitude of her authority almost brought him to his knees. The woman before him was, without question, the Goddess Morrigan.
He half-expected the goddess to don a white or even gold gown, but she wore a black one that hugged her form like a second skin. It was odd to be standing face to face with the goddess. He’d never been to Annwyn, where she ruled, but heard it was every bit as glorious as Heaven.
“Goddess,” Izzy cried out, bouncing on his hip and clapping her hands.
“My little one. We have been so worried about you,” the Goddess replied and walked over to where Rami stood. “I couldn’t reach you. Please know I never wanted you to suffer like this,” she voiced, and Ramiel sensed the raw pain in her tone.
The Goddess placed her hand on Izzy’s head and warmth radiated from their contact. “Camael chose wisely when he selected you as Guardian, Ramiel. Thank you for doing what none of us could.”
“I did my job, Goddess. I would do anything for Isobel. I’m only sorry I couldn’t save her from every second she suffered,” he confessed.
“Da bad demon got out, Goddess,” Izzy muttered. “But I used my power on da witches potion. He didn’t get away from da bad place, but I couldn’t get him back in the water.” Izzy lowered her head and sniffed.
Morrigan lifted her chin and kissed her cheek. “You are my bravest warrioress, Isobel. You saved the world from Lucifer. He might not be trapped in the lake anymore, but he can’t leave the Underworld, thanks to you,” she explained and smiled at Izzy who beamed with the acknowledgment.
“That’s great and all, Goddess, but can you tell me where Zakara is? I c
an’t find her. Is she trapped with Lucifer?” he asked, unconcerned with what was proper etiquette for the deity.
Morrigan tilted her head and considered him for a long moment before she muttered, “How did you escape the Underworld?”
“Through the lake, why?” he responded.
“That is where only the pure of heart can pass,” she informed him.
Ramiel’s heart stopped beating in his chest. He recalled their last moments together, and Zakara’s words. She told him she loved him as tears streamed down her face. She knew she couldn’t go with them and yet she jumped anyway. She gave her life to save theirs.
Rami dropped to his knees as pain wracked his entire being. No! It couldn’t be. She couldn’t be gone. She was purer than he was. If anyone should’ve died, it was him. His breathing constricted and his chest tightened.
“No! “She didn’t deserve this!” he growled as anger replaced grief.
Before rage took complete control, Izzy cupped his cheek and turned his face, forcing him to meet her gaze. “It’s otay, Rami. Kara’s not gone,” she muttered.
“I can’t tell you what will happen, but Zakara is not dead. She’s on another plane. She is out of Lucifer’s reach. Hope is not lost. Now, its time to take Isobel home,” Morrigan said then placed her hand on his shoulder.
Before Rami could ask more questions, the world tilted then blurred.
That hadn’t gone as expected, Zakara thought as she glared at the beautiful archangel in front of her. Raphael hadn’t changed one bit since she’d seen him thousands of years ago. He was still the same arrogant jackass she remembered. His massive white wings fluttered behind his back and piercing green pinned her in place. His power dominated, sucking all the air to where she couldn’t breathe. That was difficult to do, given they were standing in Heaven where space was infinite.
The setting seemed new. The park looked different from the last time she was there. Before, there weren’t songbirds. The small catfish she used to catch in the pond were massive now, and the flowers seemed more fragrant than ever. And here she stood, the poster child for the immoral; filthy clothes, thick scars where her wings used to be, barbells running down her spine, purple hair, and black horns. She didn’t belong in this realm.