I was surprised to discover I meant it. I may never forgive the varcolac, but his Chosen had nothing to do with my imprisonment. In fact, even if she hadn’t done it willingly, she was the reason I was free.
“You too,” River said and smiled warmly at me.
The varcolac returned to her side and rested his hand on her hip. As he drew her closer, he looked from Bale to me. He was taller and more powerful than me, but I didn’t look away from the intensity of his gaze.
“I kept the seals intact because I believed that was where those imprisoned behind them belonged,” the varcolac said.
I hadn’t expected the varcolac to acknowledge my imprisonment, or that of the others locked behind the seals. His words caused an unexpected surge of anger to rush through me. I couldn’t hear any justifications for what happened to us.
Bale’s hand fell on my arm. I would not react violently, and with her by my side, I would keep my temper under control.
“If I freed those behind the seals, Hell would have fallen, and not because of Lucifer,” the varcolac continued. “However, things are vastly different now. Any seal creature or demon who lives in peace on Earth is free to do so. However, we will destroy any who continue to wage war against us.”
“You won’t lock them away again?” I asked.
“I’ve realized it’s far more humane to destroy them than to leave them in that state of unknowing.”
“You’re right.”
There were many times when I prayed for death behind that seal, many times I wished for something different than the monotony of our endless existence. Many times when I was certain I would go mad from the boredom, and there were many times when I did go crazy. We all did a time or two.
Our times in hibernation states were the only way we survived. We could have killed each other while we were there, and there were many times I would have welcomed death, but for some reason, we never discussed ending our existence. No matter how bad it was behind the seal, there was always the tiniest hope we would somehow get free, and I clung to that to get through.
When that freedom finally arrived, I was determined to exact my revenge on the varcolac and any who stood by his side. NowIstood at his side, with my Chosen, and I wouldn’t do anything to change that.
“I hope that, one day, you will understand why I did things the way I did,” the varcolac said. “I do not expect your forgiveness, but as long as you don’t bring unnecessary destruction to this plane, you will remain free.”
I wrapped my arm around Bale’s waist and drew her closer. “I will not cause any problems.”
“Then, maybe one day, we can be friends.”
I didn’t think that was likely, but I wouldn’t try to kill him, and I believed he would uphold his promise to let us remain free. The drakón and some púca, and I was sure some other seal creatures, had found a home here, so could I.
The varcolac turned his queen away and started walking toward the vehicles. “Come on, everyone,” he called over his shoulder. “Erin, River, and Lopan have been planning a big party for you.”
Others started toward the vehicles, and I grasped Bale’s waist to left her onto Zorn when Raphael froze so suddenly Caim nearly crashed into him. Caim did an odd little sidestep and started to protest, but his words died and his scowl vanished when Raphael’s head tipped back and he looked to the sky.
Caim looked up too, but after a second, he looked down again. I saw the sorrow in his eyes before he closed them. Fiora gripped his arm and squeezed it. Raphael’s eyes closed, and a look of such rapture descended over his face thatIfelt a twinge of jealousy.
“It’s the angels,” Raphael said. “They say theBeinghas returned to Heaven.”
“That’s mighty fucking convenient,” Corson muttered as he walked past the golden angel to join Wren.
A snort of laughter escaped me as the varcolac and River turned back to stare at Raphael.
“The Being ishome,” Raphael said with so much longing a twinge of pity tugged at me. “The Being is home, and my brothers and sisters aresohappy.” A golden glow enshrouded the angel, and he smiled as he held his palms out beside him. “They say the Being has granted permission for me to return. I can gohome.”
Then Raphael’s head lowered, and he looked at Caim. “They say you can return too, brother.”
Chapter Fifty-Two
Bale
Raphael’s wordscaused my heart to plummet as I gazed from the wondrous look on Caim’s face to my sister’s devastated expression. Her hand fell limply away from his arm as Caim stepped toward Raphael.
Caim’s mouth parted, and his hand settled on Raphael’s arm. Fiora wouldn’t look anymore devastated if someone turned her back into a statue. She would probably prefer that.
No!I inwardly wailed, and my hand twitched as I considered drawing my sword and chopping off Caim’s wings again. He couldn’t leave. He would destroy Fiora if he did, and I couldn’t lose my sister again.
