Archangel's Shadows (Guild Hunter #7)(107)

“Give me something, Jess,” Elena pleaded. “It’s her first visit to our home.” Caliane had Slept for over a thousand years, rising to consciousness less than a year past, during Lijuan’s first overt attack on Raphael. Since then, Raphael’s mother had remained in the lost city that had arisen with her, focusing on the well-being of her people.

Elena ran a hand over her face. “It’s critical I make a good impression.” Not because she cared for Caliane’s approval, but because Caliane was Raphael’s mother.

If her own mother could come back, could pierce the veil of death, she thought on a wave of grief that had never ceased to hurt, Elena would want her and Raphael to be friends, to like one another. The latter was improbable with Caliane, but at least the two of them could have a cordial relationship that might, in, oh, ten thousand years or so, thaw into mild liking.

“This will have to do,” Jessamy muttered. “It’s an account of a younger archangel greeting an Ancient. You’re not an archangel, but as Raphael’s consort, you carry his status by association in this situation.”

Five minutes of swift instruction later, Elena headed downstairs, the slippers that matched her dress in one hand. Leaving them by the door, she went into the kitchens to discover controlled chaos. Waiting for a pause in the movement, she said, “Thank you. I know it’ll mean a lot to Raphael that you’re giving his mother such a welcome.”

Smiles on each and every face, the stress draining away.

She made sure to personally thank Montgomery as well. Maybe she didn’t know exactly how to be a consort, but she knew the members of a team functioned better with acknowledgment. And these people were all part of her team now—part of her family.

Then the rain, the crashing sea, was in her mind. Guild Hunter, I give you a five-minute warning.

A five-hour warning would’ve been better. She slipped her feet into the flat evening slippers and headed out into the snow to find that Montgomery had arranged for a pristine black carpet to be rolled to the landing area. We’re going to have a discussion when you get home about your idea of appropriate prep time. Though she had to admit he’d been right to cut it so fine—the rush had given her no real time to stress.

A kiss against her mind. I did not wish to steal your enjoyment in chasing your vampire rat.

What did I tell you about your new sense of humor? Conscious of Montgomery walking briskly outside, to stop several feet behind and to the left of her, she looked toward Manhattan.

Raphael’s wings were as distinctive to her in silhouette as they were in color, his wingspan extraordinary against the night sky, the white fire of them dazzling. That had to be Caliane by his side, smaller but with the same exquisite flight control.

A full squadron flew at their back.

Dmitri must’ve organized a welcome escort, but the escort fell back halfway across the Hudson, and it was Raphael and Caliane alone who landed in front of her. Eyes of excruciating blue and hair of midnight, there was no doubting they were mother and son.

“Lady Caliane,” Elena said, stepping forward with both hands extended as Jessamy had decided would be acceptable. “You are welcome in our home.”

Part of her was expecting the Ancient, dressed in weathered red-brown traveling leathers but with a bearing as regal as always, to reject the overture. She was ready to pretend it didn’t matter, for the sake of keeping the peace, but Caliane’s fingers closed over her own, the power in her bones a hum against Elena’s skin.

“I thank you for your generosity,” Caliane responded before breaking the handclasp. “I should’ve sent word of my journey.”

“This is your son’s home,” Elena said, going with her gut. “You are always welcome.”

Raphael’s eyes met hers. You are kind to my mother, hbeebti. I think she is embarrassed at her impetuous behavior now that she is here.

Thanks for the heads-up. Smiling at Caliane, Elena waved toward the house. “Everyone is excited to meet you.”

Caliane hesitated for a second, then fell in step with her. When Elena introduced Montgomery, Raphael’s mother was pure grace, as she was with the other staff members who’d lined up to meet her, every single one spic and span.

Showing Caliane to her rooms afterward—her fingers discreetly crossed that Montgomery had managed to arrange a gown—Elena said, “Please take your time. We’ll wait for you in the library. The dining room is a little too grand for family.”

“Consort.” Caliane’s eyes were intense, her expression unreadable.

Elena’s hand tightened on the doorknob, the hairs rising on the back of her neck. Her primal hindbrain recognized Caliane as a threat, screamed at her to run, but of course that wasn’t an option. “Lady?”

“This house . . . it has a heart. I am glad my son lives in a house with a heart.”

Unsure whether that was a compliment or a simple statement, Elena inclined her head and left Caliane when the Ancient made to walk to the bath. She didn’t blow out a relieved breath until she was in the master bedroom. Walking straight into Raphael’s arms, she let him wrap his wings around her and the two of them stood there, ready to face this extraordinary visit as they’d faced everything else: together.

? ? ?

Ashwini dreamed of Felicity, woke with the young woman’s face at the forefront of her mind. It frustrated her beyond bearing to know that Giorgio and Cornelius remained free to exercise their perversions. Leaving the bed to find Janvier on the balcony on his phone, she put on a large T-shirt, stuffed her feet into thick socks, then went out to hug him from the back.