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Raphael
“Mate”
The word echoed in the silence of the enormous hall. A couple dozen pairs of eyes focused on me. But I couldn’t take my gaze off Chloe, my best friend.
Suddenly I saw her in a new light. While Chloe was one-hundred percent human, it hadn’t occurred to me that we could be more than best friends. Now here she was gaping at me as if I’d grown horns. Or maybe it was because of my wings. I ripped my gaze from her and caught sight of the white plumage over my shoulder. Woah! I’ve always had big wings but this…. My world changed overnight.
As the new Archangel of Clifton, the largest territory of Easend, more than my wings had transformed. Starting today, my new job would be to rule, defend, and protect the territory from internal and external threats. Moving from a guard to the head honcho was an upgrade for sure. Luckily it came with sweet perks like a large wingspan and extraordinary powers. But a mate? And her? My eyes sought Chloe once more.
The transformation had happened so fast. When Archangel Raika died this morning, the citizens of Clifton knew the power would pass onto an heir, but they didn’t know who since Raika didn’t have children. No one knew his closest heir was me, Raphael Knox, Archangel Raika’s chief of security and a relation so far removed that even I didn’t know I was related to him.
The moment his body burned on the pyre, I collapsed, the golden threads of power flowing from the burning body into me with a force that had knocked me out for a few hours.
When I gained consciousness, the first order of business was to make the change in leadership official immediately. Prime Minister Nosha had insisted. At least, someone had his wits about him in this chaos. So, here I am, sitting on the throne which I had been a guardian of just a few hours ago. Now I was waiting for my coronation and to give my first audience to the council members. Talk about a whirlwind.
Luckily, I was known to all the council members as the Chief of Security and they trusted me, because time was of the essence. There had been a sudden uptick in Azund vampire attacks in the recent months. Archangel Raika had been a victim of such an attack. We had assumed he’d have been immune to the vampire infection because he was an Archangel. That he’d been attacked should’ve been an impossibility, given that the Angel and Vampire territories were separated by an ocean and only the most adventurous of tourists crossed the borders. Recent events were creating unrest. The citizens needed someone they could trust. So, as far as the coronation goes, it was going perfectly fine until…
Chloe had barged in, somehow escaping the few guards chasing her. Her face was scrunched with worry but frankly, all I noticed was how cute she looked in her faded blue jeans and cream-colored t-shirt that I’d gifted her a couple of years ago. The words across her chest said I’m a Queen. Deal with it. If only she believed it.
My best friend often dismissed her awesomeness. Everyone loved and relied on Chloe. As computer grad from the best school in the entire Easend territory, a cybersecurity expert for the Archangel’s council, and a stunning beauty with dove-shaped eyes, she made many others envious, but Chloe didn’t believe she was anything special. She’d been hurt one too many times. Thanks Dad would’ve been a better slogan on her t-shirt. Anger stirred in me. If her father hadn’t been dead, I would have killed him over and over again for hurting her.
But all those thoughts slipped from my mind the moment I met her gaze. Intense pleasure hit me as if I’d been run over by a bus. It was unlike anything I had felt before for anyone. The room faded out, as I zoomed in on Chloe. She looked as stunned as I felt.
My breath quickened. My heartbeat loud enough for me to wonder if Chloe could hear it from across the room.
I wasn’t embarrassed by how hard I was, even in front of my citizens. It was downright painful to be standing here instead of bending Chloe over my throne and claiming her.
The thought that Chloe was my mate felt so right. It seemed wrong to think otherwise. She’d been the one person I could trust, no matter what. While I was always enamored of how beautiful she was (I’m a man after all), I had never thought of her sexually. But now even with the Prime Minister, guards, and citizens surrounding me, all I wanted to do was explore her body with my tongue. Yet, the thought that any other man would look upon what was mine, had me wanting to rip their eyes from their heads. No one but me should dare look upon her lusciousness. I inhaled sharply and forced my gaze from her voluptuous curves, letting my body cool.
Why are her eyes glowing like overbright LED lights?
“Mate?” Chloe whispered, the weird light in her eyes retreating.
I hadn’t realized that she would have been as physically affected as I was.
A mating between an Archangel and angels were more frequent and the effects well-known. With humans, not so much. So, I wasn’t sure how it worked on humans but if her glowing eyes were any indication, she’d felt something.
Chloe glared at the guards who took a couple of steps back from her. Good. I didn’t want to kill my guards for hurting my mate in the first minute of my coronation. Possessive much?
“What just happened?” she asked, a soft tremor in her voice. Her gaze pleading. A strong urge to soothe away her fear gripped me by surprise. I was always protective of her but this intensity would end in bloodshed.
“You are Archangel Raphael’s mate,” Prime Minister Nosha answered. Turning to me, he said “We should perform the mating ceremony immediately. The sooner you mate, the more powerful you become. Given that you –”
“I’m no one’s mate!” Chloe screamed as she glared at the Prime Minister. Her denial hurt like hell. She glared at both of us. The Prime Minister certainly could learn a thing or two about timing.
“Raf, end the joke. It’s not funny,” she warned, her face reddening.
The beseeching in her eyes tore at my heart, but my own heated emotions incinerated any thought of giving in to her. Anger, hot and scalding, rushed through me and I reacted instinctively. Closing my fist, I trapped the infinite power that now coursed through my blood. It pushed like an enraged ocean against my skin. This power will take some getting used to but damn, she infuriated me! Didn’t she know how important this was? While the mating bond was as much of a surprise to me as it was to her. Being mated to her would be perfect. She’d be safe from the dangers that exist outside these walls and I could finally stop worrying about leaving her unprotected. She’s always deserved the world at her fingertips, and as my mate, I could finally give it to her.
I shoved the rage down deep inside. I wasn’t going to beg. I won’t appear weak in front of everyone. Chloe needed to understand who the Archangel was. The lust haze receded a bit as well.
I rose from my seat, towering over her and most of the men in the hall. I was almost six-feet-six and built like a bull. My size was only one of the reasons why qualifying to serve as an Archangel’s guard was easy.
“Don’t deny you felt it too,” I commanded, taking a step toward her. I met her eyes, daring her to contradict it. That’s when I felt the invisible thread - tethered to her. If I closed my eyes and focused, I probably could even see the fragile bond. The ache in my chest eased with every step toward her.
She looked up to glare at me when I was close enough. I loved having a direct sightline to her luscious, pursed lips. They looked ready to be tasted.
She swallowed thickly and took a step back. I could’ve savored them, but she was never a fan of the limelight and was probably a couple of minutes away from a panic attack.
