Wren started laughing when she spotted them and broke free of the crowd to run toward Nadine and Randy. She embraced them, and they hugged her. When he started to squirm, Nadine set Oliver on the ground, and he ran over to stand beside Bailey. The two boys joined hands as they stared at everyone with wide, curious eyes.
Aisling walked over and knelt before Oliver. She said something to the boy who smiled and hugged her before stepping back to stand with Bailey again. As Aisling rose, her gaze scanned the crowd, and she broke into a grin.
“Sandy,” she said as she ran toward a young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes.
When two more humans stepped out of the vehicle Sandy exited, Aisling released a squeal and started running. Hawk, who had been following her, looked a little startled by her strange reaction.
“Mom! Dad!” Aisling cried as she threw herself into their arms.
I grinned at the happy reunion while Hawk nervously approached the couple. Lix let out a victorious cry and rushed forward to greet the few other skelleins who were still alive on this side of the world. They all embraced and chattered as they handed Lix a flask.
My smile faded when I shifted my attention back to Kobal and River. My king’s gaze met and held mine.
Chapter Fifty-One
Wrath
I bracedmyself as the varcolac stared at Bale. I’d meant what I said, I wouldn’t attack or try to kill him despite my feelings toward the man, but if he did something to hurt her, I wasn’t sure how I would react.
Bale’s nervousness exuded from her, and I despised it. My Chosen was a warrior who never backed down from anything, and I doubted she would back down from her king, but she feared he would turn against her.
The varcolac broke away from the others and strode toward us. Zorn shifted beside me and released a small snort, but he calmed when I rested my hand on his neck. I wasn’t the only one locked behind that seal for so long.
“Bale,” the varcolac greeted when he stopped before us.
“Kobal,” she said, and I was sure I wasn’t the only one who heard the uncertainty in her voice.
The varcolac’s entirely black eyes shifted to me. Those eyes were unreadable, but the fact he’d carried his child over to us spoke more about his faith in Bale than anything he ever could have said. I hoped she realized that.
“Wrath,” he greeted. “I assume we aren’t going to have any problems.”
“We won’t,” I replied.
He shifted his attention back to Bale. This time, he smiled with genuine affection. “It’s good to see you again.”
I felt the relief that washed off her before she grinned. “You too.”
They clasped hands before the varcolac turned his attention to Corson. Leaning against Zorn’s shoulder, I watched the reunion continue. I’d spent the past six months with Bale and the palitons, but it was still strange to see such closeness and happiness between demons.
This friendship and love between demons was not the way of my world, or at least it wasn’t the way of itbeforeher. But there were many things I didn’t experience before her… like my own happiness.
And I was happier now, with her, than I’d ever been in my life. I may not remember a good portion of my life, but Iknewthat was true. I felt it in every fiber of my being. I’d never known true happiness until Bale walked into my life, and now that I had it, I was never going to let it go.
At times, I still felt like an outsider amongst the palitons, but most of them treated me with respect, and I’d developed friendships with some of them. Caim had become my closest friend, as well as my family.
If anyone understood what it was like to go from enemy to ally, and the distrust accompanying it, it was Caim. Both of us were trying to find our way in this strange new world of demons who were friends.
And we’d both fallen for sisters. Months ago, Fiora claimed Caim as her Chosen. Though I’d never seen his marks on her, his eyes never left her when they were in a room together, and he beamed whenever she was around. He may not have marked her, but it was apparent he’d fallen hard for her.
I knew Bale was afraid he might change his mind or grow bored one day and find another, but I didn’t think that would ever happen. The angel was clearly in love, and even if he didn’t experience the intensity of the Chosen bond, he wasn’t going anywhere without Fiora.
When the queen approached Bale, my attention shifted to the pretty woman with black hair and eyes the same purple as Raphael’s. She smiled warmly at Bale as they clasped hands before the queen embraced her. Bale hesitated a second before hugging her back.
“I’m so happy you’re home,” the queen said.
“I’m happy to be home,” Bale said before stepping away and turning to me. “Wrath, this is River, the queen.”
“It is nice to meet you,” I said.
