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)
“You know, I think you’re right. Too many only children on the Cadre.” A mock scowl. “Then there’s Lady Sharine. He’s more interested in building a life with her than in conquest.
“Alexander,” Elena continued, “has definitely mellowed since Zanaya came out of Sleep. They also seem focused on building up and strengthening both their territories rather looking to expand—and of course, in making kissy faces of their own.”
“I do believe I will dare you to say that last to Alexander’s face.”
“Dare taken. Please save me when he tries the old smiting.” She drew his laughing face down to her own, nibbled on his lower lip.
“What about Aegaeon?” he said afterward, in no hurry to rush this slow, mutual seduction.
“Hah! You think you’ve got me!” Settling back against his side, she elbowed him playfully. “But I did a bit of research thanks to Jessamy, and it looks like he never makes war unless he has a partner in archangelic crime.
“By himself, Aegaeon’s a lush—yeah, he rules and he keeps a good territory. But the rest of the time, he’s all booze, babes, and building monuments to himself. You know what that says about the size of a man’s, er . . . assets.”
Raphael ran his fingers along the sensitive arch of her wings, had the pleasure of feeling her shiver. “I forgot to tell you he’s just begun construction on a grand palace, across the Danube from Michaela’s old palace. Word is, that one wasn’t grand enough for him.”
“So that takes care of Aegaeon.” She folded down another finger. “Your mother is self-explanatory.”
Raphael nodded as she folded that finger. In this waking, Caliane had never wanted to rule anything but Amanat. But she’d stepped into the breach when necessary and would help India heal from the trauma left by the reborn that had infested it during the war.
“I’ve heard Eli was aggressive in his younger years,” Raphael said, “but he is akin to a calm big brother these days. Since the day of my ascension, he has always been one of the cooler heads on the Cadre.”
“And Suyin,” Elena said, “has eons of work ahead of her to get China back to the thriving civilization it once was. She literally has no time for any type of archangelic pissing contest.”
“That leaves Marduk.”
“Do you get the impression he’s just . . . amused by us all?” Elena bristled. “I honestly want to smack him sometimes.”
Raphael threw back his head and laughed before turning to kiss his Elena’s scowling mouth. That, hbeebti, is how you ended up consort to an archangel. No fear, no regrets, that was his Elena.
She was smiling when they broke the kiss, her eyes silvery light. “Best decision of my life.” She traced the outline of his lips with a fingertip. “Getting back to your irritating ancestor, did you notice he never says he was an actual child during the time of the Ancestors? He only mentions his age in comparison to theirs—which is a whole different kettle of dragon scales.”
“Yes. But I have a feeling Marduk isn’t going to give us a straight answer there.”
Elena’s lips turned down. “No, I guess not. Seems like he’s mostly marking time until he can go back to Sleep with his consort. Who I’d love to meet—she sounds like a badass.”
Exactly like the woman by his side, Raphael thought. “He might be marking time, but he’s not like Qin. He has given the Cadre his solemn oath that he will stand with us until another archangel rises to take his place, whether that is in one hundred years or in a millennium.
“Though he has also warned us that if it goes much beyond five hundred years, his consort will likely wake—and in a bad temper, so let us hope that it doesn’t come to that.”
“How’s Astaad’s territory doing with Marduk in charge? Any news?”
“Andreas called while you were with Sara and your sisters. I have the strong feeling we’re not going to get him back. He has the kind of mettle to deal with Marduk, and Marduk appreciates that.”
Raphael would be sorry to lose the powerful angel to another court, but he accepted that the opportunity would allow Andreas to stretch his wings. “I think Marduk will ask Andreas to be his second.”
Elena whistled. “I can see it.”
“But Andreas is still mine as of now, and so he has reported back—in his words, the population of powerful vampires are ‘shit-scared’ of Marduk. Andreas has no idea what Marduk said or did to their leadership, but they’ve turned as ‘meek and mild as neutered dogs,’ so it appears even if Marduk is marking time, he’s doing his job as an archangel.”
Elena put down the last of the nine fingers she’d initially raised. “There you have it. Peace. Everyone too busy with their own business and uninterested in inciting chaos.”