Archangel's Enigma (Guild Hunter)(119)

Andromeda stared, the haunting words echoing inside her skull, but in front of her, Lailah was once more the cruel, beautiful mother she’d always known, and Alexander was in the air.

She lifted off.





51


There was no way Andromeda could keep up with Alexander, no matter if he wasn’t at full strength. It was a physical impossibility for any young angel. However, the Ancient stayed with her to the border. The instant they reached the sea, he told her to find her way to his territory at her own pace, then flew high and fast, heading home to a people who needed him.

Andromeda didn’t linger, beating her own wings as hard as she could to get to safe harbor. Unlike Alexander, she couldn’t do the trip in one go. She had to rest and when she did, she chose isolated places. It took her more than thirty-six hours to reach Alexander’s territory; the sun was beginning to set in the west, its golden rays lighting up the sky. Not sure where to go, she made her way to the Brotherhood village.

It remained in ruins.

The wing brothers must’ve all moved to the palace, she realized. About to turn that way, she saw that the home in which she and Naasir had stayed was upright and in good repair.

Andromeda was too relieved to question why that one building had been repaired. She needed a safe place to rest and to find her bearings, and this small home with its memories of Naasir would do. It was a pale substitute for the man she loved, but it was better than anything she’d had before Alexander’s offer. Tomorrow morning, she’d locate the steward of his court, find out her duties.

And surely Alexander wouldn’t mind if Naasir visited her.

Hope a flame in her heart, she pushed through the door of the house, went into the bathroom and found that the plumbing worked. Grateful, she stripped and washed away the dust and grit of her journey. When she turned off the water and got out after wringing her hair dry, her eyes went instinctively to the back of the bathroom door. The silky black robe hanging there looked new . . . and it had the Grimoire in one pocket.

Andromeda had given it to Naasir to take to Jessamy.

Shoving her arms into the sleeves, she tied it haphazardly and burst out into the room. Her grin cracked her face as she ran to jump on the bed and on the man who was lying nonchalantly on it. “How did you get in?”

Silver eyes glinted at her in mock insult. “Did you just ask me that question?” He took the Grimoire and threw it on a small table. “Stupid Grimoire book.”

Laughing, she smothered his face in kisses. Naasir opened her robe and slipped his hands inside to lie against her wet skin as he held her close and turned his face so she could cover all of him with her kisses. “I missed you,” she said between each kiss. “I missed you. I missed you.”

His chest rumbled under her, his skin bearing tiger stripes. “You should miss me. I’m your mate.”

He sounded so smug that she kissed him again. “Why didn’t you come? I waited and waited!” Slapping her hand on his chest, she sat up on her knees. “I looked for you every night.”

Scowling at her, he said, “I had to think of a way to get you out of Charisemnon’s clutches.” He bared his teeth. “Then I had to hunt down Alexander and point out that he owed you and me a very big favor.”

Her mouth fell open. “Did you really say that to him?” It came out a squeaked whisper.

“Why not?” Hands behind his head, he shrugged. “Alexander was always known for his honor, and he likes you.”

Still astonished that he’d brazenly gone up to an Ancient and demanded repayment, she shivered. “He could’ve killed you in anger.” And she could’ve lost him forever.

“No. He likes me, too.” Grinning, he pulled her down and flipped positions so that she was pinned under him. “He tried to steal me from Raphael but I can’t be stolen.”

Stroking his cheek and feeling that fine, near-invisible fur that sometimes appeared with the stripes, she felt her eyes burn. “I was so scared.” A ragged confession.

Thunder in his expression. “Did anyone hurt you?”

“No.” Her wild chimera had no need to know how close it had come—that one thing, she’d keep from him, because it would cause him pain for no reason. “I knew you’d come.”

His eyes told her he saw her secrets anyway. “I knew you’d be strong, that you’d stay alive no matter what.”

Eyes hot and wet, she held on to him, was held, for a long time.

When Naasir moved, it was to pull something out of his pocket. “This is for you.”

Surprised by the way he’d ducked his head, as if shy, she looked down. Her hands flew to her mouth. “For me?”

“Mates wear amber.” Tugging one hand away from her mouth, Naasir slipped on the ring of gold that bore the patina of great age.

Its heart was darkest amber.

“Oh,” she whispered, staring at it and sniffing and smiling. “You gave me amber.” She touched the ring with the fingers of her other hand, made incoherent noises of naked joy. “It’s so beautiful.”

“It has a story, a history,” Naasir told her, openly smug at her delight. “I thought you’d like it better than a new ring.”

“I do. So much.” She smothered his face in kisses again. “I designed a ring for you,” she admitted shyly afterward. “I couldn’t have it made yet.” Too much risk her grandfather would hear, would learn she’d bonded that deeply with another. “It’s going to have my name written on the inside,” she added, daring him to argue.