Archangel's Sun (Guild Hunter #13)(106)

I think, dear friend, you’re right in what you said to me when we last spoke—the Archangel of India is tired beyond bearing. Her heart is shattered. So much so that Titus tells me even her twin has laid down her arms; she refuses to fight a Neha who will not, or cannot, fight back.

Neha does her duty, that much we all see, but I think when the world is once more sane, we’ll lose her to Sleep. I can’t blame her, or any of her people, who make that choice. The horrors unleashed on their border should never have existed and will be a blot on our history forever more.

At least the last of the victimized children have been discovered and given mercy.

I know you, too, bear many more bruises on your heart as a result of this same evil. I understand it has awoken old pain. I’m here for you in the daylight hours and in the deepest night. Do not ever hesitate to come here, or to make contact. Please, my friend, don’t let the bruises fester and turn into sores.

You know I’ll hold your words close, repeating them to no other.

The news from Africa is much the same as when we spoke. We discover the odd reborn now and then, but the people are much better situated to fight them, and north and south both know they can call on their archangel’s troops. No more infected angels have surfaced, but the cure team continues to manufacture and store more doses in the hope they will never be needed.

I’m certain we stopped Charisemnon’s evil here, before it could begin to spread, but that’s no reason to be complacent. You’ll want to know of Zawadi—the babe is happy and beloved of her foster mother. I see her often, as does Titus. The little one has more likelihood of being spoiled rotten than to lack anything in life, but even knowing this, I’ll continue to enjoy spoiling her.

Her history is dark enough. Let her future be full of light.

You asked me how it went with Titus. My friend, I’ve never known such contentment and joy. It lives in me each moment of each day. I miss him desperately while he’s in Narja or at another one of his citadels, and he’s open in allowing me to see that his heart breaks each time he leaves me.

Yet his pride in me, in what I’ve achieved in Lumia . . . I don’t need anyone’s approval, not anymore, but there is much to be said for a lover who boasts about me to anyone within earshot. Here, I’ll boast about him in turn, for Titus is extraordinary in his ability to love. Such a heart he has, Caliane.

His love is a joy I never expected, and it’s a gift as great as my son.

Illium has begun to call him Stepfather when they speak, and Titus threatens to pluck his new-grown feathers for the cheek every single time. Then Illium laughs and my being overflows with delight, that these two people whose names are written on my heart like one another, too. My boy is young yet, but Titus says he’s becoming a power.

You know how I feel. I worry about him. I’ll always worry about him.

Our familial world has tilted the right way after being too long imbalanced. Illium no longer has to watch over me. At last, I watch over him.

Oh, how could I forget to tell you about the visit from Titus’s sisters! All four of them descended on Lumia some days past, and now I understand why he has such a voice, and such blunt ways. It’s a survival mechanism. I’m happy to report that I, too, survived the storm that is Phenie, Charo, Nala, and Zuri.

I laughed with them, but my laughter has faded in the past day, with the news from Suyin. I can’t help but agree when she calls it the nexus of darkness. Stay safe, my friend, and look after Aodhan. I carry your names on my heart, too. As I can’t stop you from flying to help Suyin, I can’t stop Aodhan from being an angel loyal and courageous, nor would I try.

But I will hope. And I’ll worry until I hear from you both.

With all my love,

Sharine





About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh is passionate about writing. Though she’s traveled as far afield as the deserts of China, the temples of Japan, and the frozen landscapes of Antarctica, it is the journey of the imagination that fascinates her the most. She’s beyond delighted to be able to follow her dream as a writer.

She is the author of the Guild Hunter series, including Archangel’s War, Archangel’s Prophecy, Archangel’s Viper, and Archangel’s Heart. She is also the author of the Psy-Changeling novels, including Wolf Rain, Ocean Light, Silver Silence, and Allegiance of Honor. Alongside her two series, she writes stand-alone thrillers set in a beautiful and moody New Zealand. The first one is titled A Madness of Sunshine.