“Of course.” The Earth Mother shot him a sly smile. “There was only need for the one joining to ensure my plan could be set in motion. By then, Celeste’s daughter had already conceived. And so had Celeste. The game, on my terms, had been set in motion.”
“So everything between us—you planned it all?” Celeste said, moving from his side and facing her cursed goddess.
“Not everything.” She touched the shining head of Celeste. “Love was neither necessary nor expected. But it seems even I can occasionally be surprised by events.”
“Here’s another surprise.” Rafe wound his arm around Celeste’s waist and his fingers curved over her belly. Instinctively, his hold on her tightened. “Legion won’t sit back and take this. They’ll send another assassin into the brink, but this time their target will be Celeste.” And he had no intention of letting that happen. He’d fight both the angels and the gods to keep his woman safe.
The Goddess smiled. It looked suspiciously smug. “The next move in the game occurs when you are sent to eliminate Celeste’s daughter.” She raised one eyebrow. “The same moment in your time when Celeste’s—and your—descendants join to defeat the cursed gods of the heavens.” And then she laughed. “You see how perfectly I have planned it this time around? The dark angels orchestrated their own gods’ downfall. The only drawback is that you must remain in this timeline until then.”
Rafe was speechless. Remain in this squalid time? For how many centuries?
“You lied to me.” Celeste sounded calm, but he could feel the tension vibrating through her body, as if she held on to tranquility by the most slender of threads. “You told me the demons were warmongers. Yet the war is between Earth and heaven.”
The Goddess waved a dismissive hand. “It’s of no consequence. The outcome, now, is certain. This time, my Celeste, our Earth will emerge triumphant.”
Celeste drew in a great breath and threaded her fingers through his as if seeking his additional strength to stand up to her Goddess.
He wrapped both arms around her. Whatever she needed, he would give.
“You forget. I’m of both the Earth and heaven.”
For the first time, the manipulative bitch looked unsure. Rafe brushed his lips across Celeste’s shining hair, and the purity of her essence washed through him, calming his rage. If he had to remain in this primitive timeline, it would be no great hardship. Not with Celeste by his side.
“Your place is here.” The Goddess’s voice was sharp as if she suddenly realized Celeste’s mixed heritage posed unforeseen division. “Your loyalty is with me.”
“No.” Celeste turned in his arms and cradled his jaw between her hands. Her eyes glowed pure gold. “My loyalty is with Rafe.”
He barely heard the shocked hiss from the Goddess as the last remnant of fury twisting through his soul shredded out of existence.
Celeste had chosen him above her Earth Mother.
He rolled his shoulders, flexed his muscles, and his wings undulated, finally emerging into the physical plane. Celeste’s lips parted, her eyes widened, as his feathers spanned the width of the room, brushing the grubby walls.
“You can’t go with that,” the Goddess spat and, although he wasn’t looking at her, he could feel the venom in her glare sizzling through his skin.
“Will you leave with me?” For the first time, he asked Celeste the question and gave her the choice. Taking her against her will was no longer an option.
If she declined, he would remain with her. He’d learn to tolerate living within such close proximity of humanity.
She finally tore her fascinated gaze from his wings and looked at him. “Yes.” Her voice was firm and clear, and his heart thundered against his ribs at the knowledge of everything she was giving up for him. “I’ll go with you, Rafe. Whether you take me to the stars or forward into your time. I want to be by your side.”
His triumphant laugh drowned out the infuriated shriek of the Goddess and his wings enveloped Celeste in a sensual embrace.
The present and the future no longer belonged to the Earth Goddess, the celestial gods, or even to Legion.
The future was theirs to conceive.
The End
About the Author
Christina Phillips is an ex-pat Brit who now lives in Western Australia with her husband and three children. She is owned by three cats who graciously allow her the occasional spare moment to write hot paranormal romance.
Check out Christina’s other books on her website: http://www.christinaphillips.com
Christina also writes paranormal romance for Penguin/Berkley Heat as Christina Ashcroft http://www.christinaashcroft.com
Touch of the Demon Page 4
