Deep craters of rage and hatred surfaced on Satan’s face. He backed away from her and signaled his followers. Launching himself into the sky, he waited until Uriel and the other Fallen were beside him. Satan’s gaze slanted between Analise and Lucifer before it rested on her face. Malevolence darkened his blue eyes.
Analise experienced an extraordinary sadness. He’d lost so much. “Satan.”
“Save your compassion for my brother and your humans, they will need it in the coming days. You gave me free will, which was your first fucking mistake. Your second mistake was to use Lilith as a weapon against me. Your final mistake was to take my brother as your Consort.”
Satan’s eyes scanned the courtyard before he returned his gaze Analise. “You should have ripped my life thread while I was in my mother’s womb. What happens from this day forward is on your head, Tamahaq. I will destroy everything you’ve fought so hard to save. Everything.”
Epilogue
“All’s well that ends well.”
“Shakespeare? I thought Milton was your go-to guy. ‘By me the promised seed shall all restore,’ or something to that effect,” Lucifer said, pulling his life mate against him.
Analise leaned back against his naked chest. His arms wrapped around her and she tilted her head back so she could see his eyes. “You’re too cute, Angel boy.”
She shifted and stared out the living room window. Fog touched the upper railings of the Golden Gate Bridge, one of her favorite sights. No matter what, she’d protect this city and its people. Folding her arms across Lucifer’s, she wiggled her butt against his crotch. He lightly bite the top of her ear, then kissed it. “Behave.”
“I didn’t read the prenup. Is there a clause that requires the renewal of our vows once a millennium? Or one clause that bans supernatural twits from claiming I’m their Queen? If not, I’d like to renegotiate the contract since your brother intends to continue misbehaving.”
“A bonding ceremony occurs only once, Analise Saria. As to supernatural twits, I didn’t insert a clause. However, if you wish to renegotiate a relationship you created, I’ll need my attorneys to determine what works best for me as the innocent party in all this.”
Lucifer’s hold tightened slightly. “My mother wasn’t at all pleased with my brother’s behavior.”
“I can’t imagine she was.” Analise shook her head. “This was too much like a Sophocles tragedy, and the mayor was comic relief. I don’t know what he was thinking. I thought he’d lost it for a second, getting a hard-on for another man’s wife simply because she carries a sword. I saw flames flickering on your dad’s blade.”
“It appears the males in my family have acquired the same human emotion,” Lucifer observed.
“What’s that, Dream Candy?”
He kissed her ear. “Jealousy.”
Analise rubbed her butt against his groin. “Were you jealousy, Seraphim? I thought it was worry.”
“Both, although mostly worry. It was foolish to invite Satan into your thoughts, Analise Saria. You couldn’t have known what he would do.”
She stared out at the buildings dotting the skyline. San Francisco appeared unchanged by what occurred when angels fight. Maybe humankind’s long history of internecine wars made them indifferent. Toss in their ignorance of the true threat angels posed. . .yeah, humans definitely will need protection once the novelty wore off. It could be weeks, months, even centuries before Satan acted on his threats.
At the moment, however, Analise didn’t want to think about Satan or humans. “I still don’t, Seraphim, but I couldn’t let him spoil my wedding day.”
It was not a marriage, Consort. Angels don’t marry.
“Rule number one.” She rubbed her head against his shoulder. “This is as close as I’ll get to being married unless you become human. So let me have my cake.”
Lucifer voiced a weary sigh. “I must travel to the Enclave in a few days. We have to protect this world as much as possible. My father and the Hierarchy worry Satan is entrenched on Earth, which gives my twin a distinct advantage. We also fear whatever actions Satan takes will have dire consequences for humans.”
Analise turned and pressed her mouth against his bare chest. Lucifer held her close. They remained so for several long minutes until she ran her tongue along the smooth flesh. “Then we might as well celebrate our wedding night, Consort. I have a few fantasies I’d like to try.”
“It was not a wedding, and show me, Analise Saria.”
“When will you learn it’s not wise to challenge Fate, Dream Candy?” She murmured.
Analise fired image after image of what she intended to do to his body. The last image involved silk restraints among other toys. She grinned when his semi-hard penis jerked against her stomach.
“That last one is courtesy of my whatever great-grandmother Anne. Quite fascinating to think my mother is a direct descendant of a famous Restoration brothel owner.”
A thoughtful crease wrinkled Analise’s forehead. “I wonder if Milton. . . nah. Anyway, great-grandmother2’s diary is an eye-opener, both for lovemaking techniques and how to keep a life mate from being so bossy.”
Analise’s hand gripped his dick and slowly moved up and down his smooth flesh. “Do you require more telepathic stimuli?”
“No,” he replied, his breathing uneven. “I think they will keep us busy for the next few days. Good thing I’m Seraphim.”
Analise kneeled and unzipped his jeans. “A very good thing indeed.”
Acknowledgements
Eternal gratitude to Black women and Black romance authors. You inspire and encourage me to write HEAs across the romance genre spectrum with Black women and Black love always at the center. What can I say about the “Thervs’? Mia (my BWP), Elizabeth Spaur (coffee partner), Diane, Kristina, and Dionne (critique partners) except you rock!
Thank you Rebecca Poole and Dreams2Media for the cover and Kai for the editing. Mistakes are always mine.
About the Author
Elysabeth Grace (pen name) writes paranormal, contemporary, and historical romances where love and HEAs accept no impediments. Her stories and characters are diverse, sensual, and occasionally wicked. A native Californian and Professor emerita of English literature, she currently resides in Nevada where she remains an unrepentant academic scholar of Shakespeare and other things. In addition to her four-book paranormal series Daughters of Saria, she is working on a contemporary series, Midsummer Sisters, and a romance novel set in the age of Elizabeth I.
For information on new releases, contests, and giveaways, please visit her website: www.elysabethgrace.com
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