Archangel's War (Guild Hunter #12) - Nalini Singh Page 0,109

but because they loved her.

The Hummingbird’s warrior squadrons were treated with respect and awe. She had chosen each warrior herself, from among the armies of the Cadre, and not one angel or vampire chosen had demurred at serving for a time in what was considered an unexciting post devoid of risk or danger.

Fear hadn’t yet totally evaporated from the village, but it was no longer a noxious miasma in the air and she thought if she returned in another six months, it might be to clear air. These people were learning that they could trust angelkind not to be cruel and capricious and ugly of heart.

Such cruel angels existed in the world, always would, but not here. Not anymore.

“Ellie, it’s time.” Illium’s face was sullen, an expression she’d never before seen on him.

The Hummingbird cupped his face in her hands. “Will you not smile at your mother before you go?” When Illium continued to look surly, his mother leaned in close. “I promise you I will not be a ghost again—you do not need to worry. Do not forget that despite all his power, I won the race.”

Illium’s eyes widened. “You remember?” A rough question.

“I am waking, my sweet boy.” Tugging down his head, she kissed him on the forehead before rolling something off her wrist. “Wear this and remember who I once was. I will become her again.”

Illium held out his hand on a hard swallow, and his mother got the stretchy bracelet over his larger hand and onto his wrist. The wooden beads were far more separated out on his wrist, but it looked like the strap was strong and would hold.

Illium hugged his mother, wrapping her up in his wings and holding on for a long time, his face tight in a paroxysm of hope. Afterward, he said, “You’ll call if you need me?”

“I will call you,” the Hummingbird promised. “But if Aegaeon dares come here, I will deal with him. This is a matter between me and your father.” She stepped back—but not before she turned to Aodhan and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Go home now, fledglings. I hear enough to understand that a terrible darkness threatens the world. And I know that Raphael needs his Seven and his consort around him at such a time.”

Illium looked at Elena, nodded.

The three of them took off as one, with Aodhan going high as he preferred—that high in the sky, he was a shooting star or a spark of sunlight caught on an unknown object. Closer to earth, mortals and vampires gathered underneath, pointing and gasping. Drivers had been known to stop their cars without warning, distracted by the shattered light that was his body in flight under the sun or the moon.

Illium looked back one last time after they’d flown some distance. Following his gaze, Elena saw the Hummingbird’s small figure on the distant rooftop, the creamy orange of her gown fluttering in the morning breeze. Elena raised a hand and the Hummingbird raised one back. Illium’s mother became too small to see a wingbeat later, her home fading into a backdrop of desert and sky.

* * *

• • •

Raphael watched the jet come in from his vantage point on a nearby rooftop, the afternoon light hazy. Dougal was bringing the craft in smooth and steady, despite the high winds that had begun to buffet the area over the past hours. The weather scientists were forecasting hurricane-force winds and rains.

New York wasn’t the only city affected; the entire Eastern seaboard was under threat. It was also snowing in Florida. Eli had returned home to find half his territory in the grip of a massive snowstorm. Michaela had contacted Raphael in a panic because she was having trouble fighting the winds in her own territory to get to her child, but it had eased enough that she’d been able to break through.

He hadn’t heard from the other archangels, but he knew they were all apt to be dealing with things deadly and dangerous and unexpected, the Earth in chaos. Neha had the worst of it, her entire army on constant watch to ensure the fog didn’t drift across her border.

“Though what I will do if it does encroach, I do not know,” she’d said to him and Caliane before they all parted after burying Antonicus; shadows under her eyes, she’d rubbed at her forehead.

Elena-mine, I have missed you. Such simple words for the raw ache inside him. He’d nearly lost her too recently to be easy