by Lexi C. Foss
Yes. They’re opal, not pink.
Opal? she repeated.
He kissed her temple. Yes. Opal.
I like that more than pink.
His lips twitched. I thought you might.
She fell silent, her mind quieting again. He realized now it was a result of exhaustion, of her soul requiring rest. But their connection thrived, her heart beating in time with his. She even breathed at the same pace.
They were forever linked.
Eternally bonded.
And nothing would ever come between them. Not even Osiris.
You’re my always, Aya, he whispered, hugging her to him. Whatever you need, I’m here. Wherever you go, I’ll go. We’re a team, you and I. No matter the obstacle, no matter the trial, I will never leave your side. That’s my vow to you, always and forever. Across the universe and beyond, I will love you.
She remained quiet for so long that he thought perhaps she’d fallen asleep. But then she asked, Why does that feel like a proposal?
He smiled. It’s not.
Oh. She almost sounded disappointed.
It’s my wedding vow, he whispered. During Elizabeth and Jayson’s ceremony, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I would say to you, how I would convey my feelings. And the words just came to me, the certainty in them completing me in a way that just felt right. I’d intended to say them to you that night. I didn’t get a chance, so I’m saying them now.
She rolled in his arms, her tired gaze finding his as she cupped his cheek.
“You’re my always, Issac,” she said, her voice soft yet clear. “I promise to honor you, to cherish you, to be honest with you, and to respect you. To work with you, not against you. To forever remain by your side, regardless of the trial or task. And to trust you, always and forever. Across the universe and beyond, I will love you.”
Emotion burned in his eyes, his throat thickening as he whispered, “Always.”
“Always,” she replied. You may now kiss the bride, she added in his mind, causing him to grin.
The perfect wedding, he whispered to her.
To the perfect man, she agreed. My always.
My always, he repeated, his lips claiming hers. I love you, Aya.
I love you, too.
Epilogue
Astasiya stood outside, her face tilted back to enjoy the sun blazing overhead. She kept flickering in and out of her ethereal state, her gorgeous wings flaring around her and disappearing and flaring again. Her childlike smile said it was on purpose.
“She’s finally figured out how to mist,” Issac murmured, joining him at the sliding glass door. “She wants to visit Elizabeth first.”
“Her friend, right?” Sethios asked, recalling the name from Leela’s rundown about Astasiya’s current life. “She’s pregnant?”
Issac nodded. “Yes. I don’t think she’s due for another month, but it’s all very strange. Leela seems to have it handled.”
“She would. She helped Caro birth Astasiya as well.” He studied his daughter’s excited expression. “I need to find Caro.”
“And you want Astasiya’s help,” the intuitive male beside him surmised, his intelligence somewhat respectable.
“Yes.”
“Then tell her,” he replied, making it sound like the simplest task in the world.
“How?”
It felt weird asking another man how to talk to his own daughter, but these weren’t normal circumstances. And after everything Sethios had endured, he wasn’t quite sure how to talk to anyone, let alone his own flesh and blood.
“By being honest and forthright.” He faced him. “She’s still a bit miffed over being left in the dark all these years. The truth will go a long way.”
Sethios nodded. “That I can do. I—” The appearance of two males on the beach cut off his words, his hackles rising at Astasiya’s resulting frown. She took a step back as the taller one approached her. “Who is that?”
“My progeny,” Issac murmured, his gaze narrowing. “Tristan.”
An Ichorian. Sethios didn’t recognize him. “What can he do?”
“Control sound,” Issac replied, satisfaction radiating from his expression.
“Can you hear him now?”
“Not directly. But Astasiya is complacent, which tells me everything I need to know.” He gestured with his head. “Let’s join them.”
“ ’Sup,” a floppy-haired male said as he passed them, his gray eyes looking Sethios over with interest. “Papa Stas. Cool.” He waltzed into the house without a backward glance.
Sethios frowned. “Who the fuck is that?”
“Jacque. Hydraian. Teleporter. Lucian’s primary Guardian.” Issac glanced at him. “You’ll be seeing him a lot.”
“Right.” He dragged his fingers through his hair—which was shorter now, thanks to Vera’s intervention with a pair of scissors. Apparently, she felt cleaning him up was more important than finding Caro. The only reason he’d agreed was because his angel hadn’t contacted him yet.
Where are you, darling? he thought at her for the thousandth time.
Nothing.
She’d clearly severed the link, but he didn’t know how. Gabriel suspected it to be related to trauma and her wanting to protect Sethios.
Eighteen years.
A blink for someone his age, yet it resembled an eternity in his heart.
I miss you, angel.
“…make him happy. Thank you.” The male’s Irish lilt sounded old and tampered with age, perhaps an influence of living stateside for a while.
“That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Tristan,” Astasiya replied, smiling. “Careful, or I’ll consider it a request for friendship.”
He snorted. “I wouldn’t go that far, pet.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Astasiya shook her head. “Your best friend is still an ass, but a tolerable one.”
Issac chuckled. “Noted.” He glanced at Sethios and then back to the one called Tristan. “Fancy a walk, mate? I believe we have a few details to discuss.”
A somber note overcame the male’s features as he nodded. “Of course, Sire.”
The formal address seemed to tighten Issac’s shoulders. “Make that several details.” He leaned in to kiss Astasiya’s cheek. “I’m going to be a while.”
She nodded. “I figured.”
Issac glanced at Sethios. “Sethios.”
“Issac,” he returned.
Astasiya watched the two men walk away, her heart in her eyes.
Sethios refrained from commenting on his opinion and instead decided to open with a query. “Gabriel tells me you were raised in Havre.”
She smiled. “Yes. With the Davenports.” Her brows rose. “Oh, I should call them. They’re probably worried sick about me.”
His brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Because I haven’t spoken to them since the holidays. That was…” She frowned. “God, I don’t even know what day it is, or month for that matter.”
“No, I meant why would they be worried? I thought they knew everything.” That was what Gabriel had implied, anyway.
“What? No. They know nothing about this world.” She started to laugh, but the sound slowly died. “Wait, why did you think they knew?”
“Your brother told me about them last night while bringing me up to speed on things. He mentioned them knowing about your ability to compel, so I just assumed that meant they were aware of, well, everything.”
“What?”
Gabriel chose that moment to mist in, his red feathers glistening in the sun. He frowned at the expression on Astasiya’s face. “What’s happened?”
“The Davenports know I’m a Seraphim?” she asked, her voice shrill.
“Oh. That.” Gabriel’s wings disappeared as he took on a corporeal state. “Uh, no, not exactly. It’s complicated.”
“Uncomplicate it,” she demanded, reminding Sethios of Caro. He nearly smiled at the familiar fury radiating in her gaze but managed to
cover it with his hand.
Gabriel sighed. “Think about it, Stas. They couldn’t possibly have raised you without a little knowledge. So I gave them everything they needed to know. Such as your ability to compel. And I may have told them you were a descendant of angels who would always be watching over you.”
Her jaw was on the floor by the time he finished.
Except he wasn’t done.
“Vera helped keep it in check over the years, altering their memories as needed. As an example, when you left for college, she erased all the details about your ability to compel. And when you started working for the CRF, she removed their memories of me. Which, in theory, means they know nothing now.”
She gaped at him. “You’ve been fucking with my parents’ heads for years?”
“Technically, Vera did that,” Gabriel pointed out.
Sethios crossed his arms, amused.
“Vera,” she repeated. “You’re going to blame Vera?” She charged at him, causing Gabriel to disappear and reappear on the other side of her.
“Violence”—he misted again to avoid her punch—“is not”—another mist—“the ans—argh!”
Astasiya had anticipated his next movement and nailed him in the face with an impressive punch while in an ethereal state. Gabriel landed on his ass with an Oomph.
“Nice form, little angel,” Sethios praised.
She stood over Gabriel, her hands on her hips. “Is there anything else you haven’t told me yet, jackass?”
“Why do I get blamed for everything?” Gabriel asked, his hand rubbing his jaw. “Ezekiel, Sethios, Leela, Vera, even Mom, were all part of this.”
“But we left you in charge,” Sethios pointed out.
The male grumbled something as he pushed himself up off the beach. “I can’t even retreat to my own fucking house because it’s overrun with guests. Seriously, what did I do to deserve this fate?” He stalked off toward the back door while Astasiya glared at his back.
“I think I hate him.”
“That’s too bad, little angel,” Sethios replied, tilting his head to the side.
“And why’s that?”
“Because we’re going to be spending a lot of time with him in the future weeks, possibly months.” He touched her on her nose, the way he used to do when she was a child. Typically, after misbehaving. “We need him to help us find your mom.”
A memory flickered in her gaze, her features softening. “He promised me once that we would search for her together.”
“He didn’t lie.” Sethios tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans and glanced up at the sky, his thoughts on the woman he adored, the angel of his dreams.
Where are you, love? Why have you blocked me from your mind?
When she didn’t answer—again—he met the gaze of their daughter. “That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Mom?”
He nodded. “And looking for her.” His chest ached, guilt settling in the pit of his stomach. Had his angel severed the link because he’d failed her? Because she’d felt the torment Osiris had inflicted upon him? Because she’d lost faith?
Sethios swallowed. He could spend days debating the cause. But none of them would bring his angel back.
“I need your help in finding her,” he admitted softly. “Please.” He didn’t use that word often, but it felt appropriate now. “I know I’m practically a stranger to you, that trusting me won’t be easy, and clearly, Gabriel has done a shit job of earning your trust as well.”
Yeah, he wasn’t explaining this right. Or even really asking in a comprehensible manner.
He ran his fingers through his hair, expelling a long breath.
Time to try again.
“What I mean to say is, working together—as a team—is the only way we’ll locate your mother. Because I know, without a doubt, that my father has hidden her somewhere difficult and impossible to find. But I’ve left your mother to suffer for—”
“Dad,” she interjected, the single word a caress against his frozen heart. “You don’t need to explain. I want to find her, too.”
Oh. Right. “Have I mentioned how much you remind me of your mother?”
“A few times.” She smiled, her expression even more reminiscent of Caro. “When do we leave?”
He studied her. “As soon as possible.”
“Good.” She took a step back. “Then I better perfect the art of misting.” Her wings appeared. “I’ll be right back.” She vanished, causing him to shake his head.
You’d be so proud of her, Caro, he thought, smiling. She’s just as brave and as fearless as you.
Nothing.
His shoulders fell, his eyes falling closed. Come back to me, darling. I miss you.
He took a step, his soul weeping inside, when a distant whisper prickled the back of his thoughts.
The words were faint, as if carried on a breeze.
Free me, Sethios…
Free.
Me.
Sethios and Caro will return in Blood Seeker…
* * *
An unexpected connection led to a forbidden affair that ended in blood. Now Sethios will stop at nothing to find his mate, even if it means risking his life and love in the process.
* * *
Caro’s mind is fractured, her body destroyed, her heart broken. She thought he would come for her, save her, free her from this nightmare. But her hope flees with every wave, her soul teetering on the brink of madness.
* * *
Will Sethios arrive in time? Or will other powers intervene?
* * *
A new prophecy is rising… One that will threaten to destroy them all.
Immortal Curse Series
What’s Next
Dear Reader,
* * *
Thank you so much for reading Angel Bonds. I consider this book the end of a major story arc, one I lovingly call the “Jonathan Is An Arse Era.” And now he’s dead.
* * *
This was the most emotional story I’ve ever written, and I’m fairly certain my husband thinks I’m nuts for all the hours I spent crying in front of my computer. But it was worth all the tears to finally give Stas and Issac the beginning of their happily-ever-after.
* * *
Did you catch that? My little hint that they’re not done yet?
* * *
*Waggles eyebrows*
* * *
I have so much more to explore in this world, from relationships to Seraphim bloodlines to Osiris… It’s going to be a whirlwind, and I can’t wait.
* * *
If you have any theories about future plotlines or relationships, be sure to join my reader group and/or the Immortal Curse discussion group on Facebook. You’ll find me hanging out there often :)
* * *
So, up next is Blood Seeker, which follows Sethios as he searches desperately for Caro. You’ll hear from Stas, Issac, Stark, and others along the way, too.
* * *
Oh, and the Elders might become uncles soon… Can you imagine them with a little version of Lizzie and Jayson running around? Ah, I’m in love with the idea already!
* * *
Until next time, feel free to join my newsletter for sneak peeks, early chapter reveals, and special excerpts. I may have some deleted scenes coming your way soon, too.
* * *
Thank you again for reading!
* * *
Cheers,
* * *
Lexi C. Foss
Music Playlist
Angel Bonds
Turn the Sky (feat. Apocalyptica) - Angelzoom
Back in the Moment - Angelzoom
Bloody Pleasures - Blutengel
Comfortable Liar - Chevelle
Violet Hill - Coldplay
The Vengeful One - Disturbed
You Said - Eurielle
Here We Stand - Hidden Citizens
Is This the End (feat. Young Summer & Sam Tinnesz) - Hidden Citizens
Too Far Gone - Hidden Citizens
She’s Like the Wind - Patrick Swayze
Hold Your Breath - Ruelle
Monsters - Ruelle
Revolution (feat. Ruelle) - UNSECRET
Acknowledgments
This book nearly killed me. Without the people mentioned below, I don’t think I would have survived. A lot of people don’t realize how much emotion goes into writing. It takes months to craft the right words, and an army to perfect it.
* * *
My husband is the person I always thank first. He’s the one who puts up with my crazy deadlines and insane sleeping habits and reminds me to eat often. He also plies me with caffeine, which alone is a great reason to list him first. But in seriousness, I could not pursue my dreams without him, and I’m very thankful for his support and love.
* * *
And then there’s Bethany. My editor. The Obi-Wan of Punctuation. Without her, no one would be able to read this book. It’d just be a bunch of nonsense scribbled on paper. Ask her. She’ll tell you. So thank you, Bethany, for perfecting my art and allowing me to run rampant with deadlines. One of these days, you will receive a manuscript on time. No, it’ll be early. Just don’t die of shock, okay? I need you!
* * *
Right up there with Bethany is Allison, my alpha reader, who drops everything to help me when I’m running late on a deadline. (Does anyone else sense a theme here?) She’s the one who keeps me honest, finds my double words, and makes me explain things that I don’t want to explain. Like, seriously, who cares if Balthazar somehow has three hands? I’m sure he uses them wisely.
