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)
Naasir and Andi led the way.
In contrast to Andi’s figure-hugging gown and Elena’s liquid fall, tall and slender Jessamy wore a dress that was an airiness of dusty rose. Cinched at the waist with a golden rope, it was also gathered at the high neck and rippled around her ankles like living fog.
Her wings, those gorgeous wings of vivid magenta that flowed into blush and rich cream, couldn’t take her to the air . . . yet. Because in the years since Raphael had used his Cascade-fueled ability to heal her, her malformed left wing had straightened out to the extent that it appeared near-identical to the right.
Only her closest family and friends knew the pain Jessamy had suffered to reach this stage. The physiotherapy had been brutal enough to leave Galen white-lipped—and Raphael’s weapons-master was nicknamed the Barbarian for a reason. But Jessamy was determined to reach the sky on the wing, and Galen was determined to support her every wish. Right now, even though she couldn’t sustain true flight, she could maintain a controlled glide if she took off from a high point.
Her joy in being in the sky . . . incandescent might be the right word.
“Thank you for coming by,” the other woman added. “The children adore you.”
“As if I’d miss the event of the year.” Elena bumped her shoulder to Jessamy’s, the two of them both on the tall end for women. “I’d have been insulted not to be invited to their party.” It had been a joyous extravaganza of games and food and music. Now, as the adults partied, the older children would babysit the younger, with adults on rotation to keep an eye on them throughout the night.
The youths on the verge of adulthood, however, had been given dispensation to attend the first hour of the ball. “I can’t imagine attending something like this when I was a teenager,” she said to Jessamy as they stepped onto a stone bridge lit up by colorful hanging lanterns.
Further lanterns glowed in the trees and along the pathways that wove through the gardens of the Refuge, while large enclosed torches created both warmth and light this cold spring night. The pathways were filled with angels and senior vampires dressed with immortal grandeur.
The sumptuous beauty of it was undeniable.
More than one person shot a glance their way, but no one approached them. “Naasir, are you glaring at people?”
A silver-eyed look over his shoulder, his expression so austere you’d never know that beneath his skin lurked a playfulness feral and unique. “I’m just looking extremely serious.”
Andi, her arm tucked into his, glanced back at them. “He’s being his most grim-faced self.” A whisper. “I am terrified.”
Leaning down, Naasir nipped at the tip of her ear with sharp tiger-creature teeth. Andi yelped, then hit him on the chest with no force at all before leaning into him, her hand curled around his biceps. The two were ridiculously adorable, even if Naasir still refused to tell Elena his exact species. Oh, and everyone else thought it was just hilarious that she didn’t know. Ha!
“Ellie! Ellie! Up here!” The hail came from one of the houses that lined the edge of the gorge, the voice small and bright. “Teacher Jessamy! You look pretty!”
When Elena glanced up to the second floor, she saw a boy with wings of brown tipped with black and hair that was all tumbled black curls beaming down at her from an open window. His small body was leaning so far out of it that only his older cousin’s grip on his jerkin kept him from falling.
Elena waved back as Jessamy did the same by her side. “Behave tonight and I’ll take you flying tomorrow!” Sam remained one of her most favorite people in the Refuge.
Even after all this time, her brain had trouble processing the slow rate of angelic growth, and she was still sometimes surprised that Sam remained such a small boy, but one thing she knew: she’d love him all her life. Kid just had that kind of heart and sweetness.
“Promise?” Sam yelled out.
“Promise!” She blew him a kiss, then waved at his cousin. “And you as well, Tarielle!”
The gangly girl, who was about fifteen in human terms, beamed. “I can’t wait!”
“Rafa! Rafa!” Sam waved at Raphael, a tiny metronome on speed. “I’m gonna go flying with Ellie tomorrow! Tari’s gonna fly, too!”
Raphael’s childhood nickname had had a resurgence among the children after one of them heard an older adult mention it. And since her archangel had always had a soft spot for children, they had free reign to address him thus.
“Perhaps I will join you. If, of course, I’m invited,” he said to the children.
Who all but exploded with excitement.
Leaving their small friends, they’d just turned the corner onto another gentle bridge when the ground shook.