Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 112287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 561(@200wpm)___ 449(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 561(@200wpm)___ 449(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
No, there had to be a grand ball to “usher in the new post-war age.”
Elena couldn’t remember exactly who’d said that, but it had been one of the grande dames of the angelic world—and by “dames” she meant interfering old busybodies of any gender.
As if they hadn’t been living in the post-war world for over ten years at this point. Though, she supposed begrudgingly, she could see the rationale behind it—this was the first year of actual calm. Every single one of the vampiric uprisings had been dealt with, no one had found any remnants of Lijuan’s reborn or Charisemnon’s poison for over twelve months, and repairs—or reconstruction—had been completed on the last of the major structures that had been damaged or destroyed.
It felt like they could breathe at last.
Yeah, she could see why people wanted to throw a blow-off-the-roof party. So this might not be too bad once they got past the stuffy polite conversation part; she wouldn’t mind dancing the night away with Raphael and their friends. Because pretty much the entire adult population of the Refuge would be there tonight.
Of Raphael’s senior people, Galen and Naasir, as well as Trace, would be joining them for the initial entrance. Archangels couldn’t just show up to this kind of thing; they had to bring an entourage. It just so happened that Raphael’s entourage was ruthless and lethal and as amused by the pomp as him.
Galen’s mate, Jessamy, would separate from them prior to the official entrance. Elena had only yesterday learned that as the angelic Librarian and Historian, Jessamy belonged to no court—and to all of them. Of course everyone knew she was closest to Raphael, but to walk in with him would be a grave insult to the rest of the Cadre.
Junior angelic Librarian, Andromeda—Naasir’s mate—would also peel away with Jessamy. Not for the same reason, however. It was because Andi technically belonged to a different court.
All five proved to be waiting in the courtyard of the stronghold. “Are we late?” Elena glanced at her wrist before remembering she wasn’t wearing a watch. As of the past six months, something in the Refuge had changed, making the devices act wonky. Analog or digital, clocks were a bust.
The scientists were working on figuring out why, but in the interim, Elena’d had to learn to read a sundial—to the great amusement of young Sam, who’d mastered that skill when he was “only a baby!” Never had Elena thought she’d be getting sundial lessons from a grumpy scholar with a giant white mustache while angelic children fluttered around offering encouragement.
Jessamy, her chestnut-brown hair woven into a complicated crown, and her lovely eyes as kind as always, smiled. “No, we are early. It’s been many years since the Refuge hosted a major social event and we’re as excited as the children.”
“Then let us go and horrify the elders.” Raphael’s pronouncement was met with raised fists from Galen, Trace, and Naasir, and outright laughter from Jessamy and Andromeda.
Elena grinned.
3
“Trace,” Raphael added, “I commend you for the pink hair.”
“Magenta. Not pink.” The suave vampire flowed into a bow as slick as the black suit he’d paired with a shirt and tie a bare shade or two lighter. “I lost a bet to Illium.” He sighed as he rose back up to his full height. “You’d think I’d have learned by now, but it was too tempting.”
Andromeda, her freckles dancing across her nose and cheeks, and her own hair a halo of glossy brown curls streaked with bronze for the night, tilted her head toward Trace. “What did he have to do if he lost?”
“Dress in monochrome outfits for a week.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.” Elena gestured to the man with hair of true silver against skin of rich brown who stood with his hand on Andromeda’s lower back. “I mean Naasir’s rocking monochrome tonight.”
Naasir’s charcoal gray suit was the same shade as the pattern on the brocade-style bronze fabric of Andromeda’s gown. It could’ve been a disaster, that fabric, but Andi had chosen a sleek gown that made a statement bold and frankly stunning on her small and curvaceous form.
“Ah, I forgot to mention that I would’ve chosen the color palette,” Trace clarified. “Violent purple was to be the first day, putrid yellow the next. I was looking forward to screaming neon green.”
Andi’s responding giggle was infectious and they were all laughing as they began to stroll in the direction of the huge open square in the center of the Refuge that had been created by doing away with the usual border walls. For tonight, it was neutral territory akin to places such as the Medica, the Library, and the School.
“The children couldn’t stop talking about this afternoon’s event,” Jessamy told Elena as the two of them fell into step side by side, while Raphael chatted to Galen and Trace.