The dark form hovered over her as if undecided, then swirled in a circle and launched itself directly at Kat. Mac pulled her against him, and Monte stepped in front of her as she brought her hand up over his shoulder and directed her palm toward the demon.
Tears streamed down her face, and her breath came in great gulping sobs, but her hand remained steady and her voice strong as she chanted the Latin incantation Michael had given her.
The temperature in the church dropped noticeably as the demon approached. Despite the frosty puffs of breath emanating from Kat’s nose and mouth, Luca could see the shiny beads of sweat forming on her smooth brow and dripping into her wide, gray eyes as she concentrated on her task. Midway down the aisle the shadow hesitated, thrashing wildly as it fought to resist Kat’s power. She had him!
Luca swiveled his head toward the entrance of the catacombs as an unexpected movement entered his peripheral vision.
“Luca!” Calli’s face lit up at the sight of him, and he felt the steel fist squeezing his heart loosen for the first time since he returned to the villa to find her gone. He realized he wasn’t the only one distracted as Calli began to run toward him.
Kat stumbled over the incantation. It was a momentary lapse, but it was enough to allow the demon to break her hold on him. With a roar that shook the stone pillars and caused dust to trickle from the ceiling, Azakriel changed direction and headed straight for Luca.
“Calli, no!” Luca yelled as he understood the demon’s intent. Calli picked up her pace, screaming his name.
Luca barely had time to register the terror on her dust streaked face before something hit him with the force of a freight train, driving him back. The ancient stone offered no cushion whatsoever as his head slammed into the wall and everything went black.
Chapter Nineteen
Calli cradled Luca’s head in her lap, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible as she watched Kat struggle to regain control of the shadow. She felt as though she had been wandering the maze of tight, dark corridors, roughly carved in the tufa and lined with tomb niches, for hours. She’d lost count of the times she’d stumbled on the uneven floors and banged her head on low ceilings or hanging oil lamps. Finally, she’d fortuitously wandered into an area usually open to tourists and followed the dim lights to a stairway that led back up to the basilica. She emerged from the tunnels and nearly collapsed in relief to find Luca waiting. She hadn’t given a moment’s consideration to what he was doing there, she simply honed in on him like a heat seeking missile.
It was only when he called out her name that she became aware of the others and saw the dark shape streaking toward Luca at top speed.
Terrified, she faded in the middle of her sprint and hit Luca with the determination of a linebacker, or maybe it was called a quarterback? She still didn’t understand the finer points of the game that kept her brother and Luca glued to the television on Monday evenings. She had no idea how she’d done it, but she wasn’t about to question it as it had gotten Luca out of the way just in time.
She hoped she hadn’t driven his head into the wall hard enough to cause amnesia. If he woke up and didn’t remember that he loved her, it would simply be too ironic! Of course, she had no problem devoting the next several hundred years to reminding him.
A faint smile hovered around her lips. She could think of a few interesting ways right off the top of her head.
“Now!”
Calli tore her gaze away from Luca’s still face and returned her attention to the battle unfolding to her left. Kat had regained control of the demon and directed it into the body of the Fallen, Ignazio Monte. Her sister-in-law trembled from head to toe with the strain of holding him there as Monte threw out his arms, exposing himself to Kassian’s sword.
“You must hold him until I am dead,” Monte gritted out, staring intently at Kat. She nodded her understanding, and Calli saw her jaw tighten until the cords in her neck stood out.
“Are you sure, Monte?”
Monte threw his head back and screamed at the ceiling. His body undulated wildly as he struggled to dominate the demon possessing him.
“Do it, McAllister,” Monte gasped. “It’s the only way and your wife weakens.”
Kassian gripped the Claymore in both hands and brought it back to strike.
“Nooooo,” the Fallen roared loudly enough to shake the church and dislodge several of the stone inscriptions displayed on the walls.
Kassian hesitated for a heartbeat and Monte lunged at Kat through the settling dust.
Kassian impaled the Fallen in one smooth motion before the demon could touch his wife.
Kat’s arm trembled violently and she dropped to her knees, using her other hand to hold steady the one wearing the ring, as the demon fought to escape the Fallen’s dying body.
Kassian stood over the man, his feet spread on either side of Monte, and rested his weight on the hilt of his sword, pinning the Fallen to the stone floor with his blade as a widening pool of crimson spread beneath him. Monte’s body continued to twitch and convulse as the demon refused to give up.
At last, he stilled. Monte opened his eyes one last time, unmoving except for his chest heaving with his labored breathing. His eyes rolled unfocused in his head until he managed to fix them on Kassian. Then he smiled through the blood trickling from his lips.
“Bravo, McAllister,” he gasped. “Grazie.” His body arched against the sword once, and then he was gone.
“It’s over.” Kassian pronounced solemnly. After reaching down a hand to help Kat climb to her feet, his head swung in the direction of his sister where she leaned against the wall still cradling Luca’s slowly stirring form.
“You okay?” Calli heard her brother’s quiet voice in her head.
“Fine. You?”
He nodded stiffly before withdrawing his sword, wiping it clean on Monte’s jacket, and sliding it into the neck of his shirt where Calli knew it would dissolve back into the intricate tattoo decorating his back. He rubbed his palms together briskly until they began to glow with a blinding blue light.
Calli saw him swallow hard. Then he turned his palms toward the body and bathed it in the supernatural light until all traces of blood, death, and demon were gone.
“I will speak on his behalf.” His tone challenged anyone to disagree.
Kat moved behind her husband and wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her cheek against his back. Her eyes met Calli’s and a look of understanding passed between them. Kassian would advocate the Fallen’s pardon with Michael and they would all support him in the attempt. Monte may have had his own reasons, but in the end, he’d sacrificed himself for them and for the greater good, exactly as any Earthbound would have done. One couldn’t help but admire that, even if he had been a Fallen.
Luca groaned and opened one eye, fixing it on Calli’s worried face as he reached to cup her cheek with one hand and used the other to rub the back of his head. His eyes darted wildly around the basilica until he saw Kassian, with Kat tucked under his arm, striding toward the spot where Elle lay.
Elle’s arms moved weakly and her muffled sobs echoed off the high ceiling. He swallowed hard, thankful his aim had been true. He hadn’t killed her. He grinned and blew out a pent up breath. His relieved smile quickly changed to a grimace as he probed his injury and attempted to sit up.
“Shhh,” Callie soothed, stroking his hair away from his forehead. “Give it a minute.”
With little choice at the moment, he did as he was told and relaxed back into her lap. He used his thumb to wipe a smudge of dirt away from her cheek then traced a single finger from her earlobe down the length of her neck, pausing briefly on her racing pulse before stopping at her collarbone.
Calli failed to suppress the delightful shiver that moved through her entire body. He felt it and his smile grew wider. He bit the inside of his mouth hoping the pain would distract him from the inappropriate thoughts that had popped up without warning as soon as his fingers touched her bare skin.
“I was so afraid I’d lost you again,” Luca whispered quietly.
“You’ll never lose me, Luca. Not even if you try. My heart is yours. It always has been.”
He narrowed his eyes and blinked rapidly. “Well, at the moment, not only have I found you, but if I’m not careful about the way I move my head, I get two of you for the price of one. Not that I’m complaining. That demon must have hit me like a charging bull. How did Kat get him out of me?”
“Um, she didn’t.” Calli bit her lip and shifted beneath him. “What I mean is, he was never in you. It wasn’t the demon who hit you. It was me. I’m so sorry,” she went on in a rush. “But he was heading right for you and I was so afraid and I was running and… well, I faded I guess, and slammed right into you when I materialized. I didn’t know I would hit you that hard.”
“You faded? But how?” His brows knit together. “Hell, Calli. I was supposed to be saving you, not the other way around.”
“You saved me last time,” Calli pressed her lips to his forehead. “It was my turn. Now we’re even.”
Luca opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by the sound of heavy footfalls on the outside stairs. Dimitri, in all his massive, wild glory, stood in the entry with his hands planted on his hips. A look of utter disappointment etched his intimidating features.
Luca dragged himself to his feet. Then he reached down a hand to pull Calli up into his arms. After dropping a kiss on the top of her head, he tucked her into his side and led her over to the others.
“Well, damn!” Dimitri exclaimed. “I guess I missed all the fun.”
“I’m not sure fun is the term I’d use,” Kassian returned dryly, settling Elle’s unconscious form into the larger man’s arms and tugging the weapon from her chest. He handed Luca his dagger as he and Calli drew level with the group and rubbed his palms together briskly, directing the healing light toward Elle. The blood flow from the chest wound ceased immediately. Then he turned to wrap his arms around his wilting wife. “But fortunately, you showed up right on cue to play doctor.”
Elle moaned and relaxed into the leather clad giant’s chest as if she belonged there. Luca grinned and Calli giggled at the look of revolted astonishment on Dimitri’s face.
“Now wait one freakin’ minute, Mac,” Dimitri protested, staring at the woman in his arms with the same horrified fascination he might afford a basket of rattlesnakes. “I don’t even like redheads.”
“Not a problem,” Kat said softly. She stepped away from her husband and tugged at Elle’s carroty pixie cut. It came away easily in her hand. Then she pulled a flesh colored skullcap free and a mass of dark waves spilled over Dimitri’s arm. “The wig started as a joke, but she’s become so well known, you see. The red hair has become her trademark and now she never makes a public appearance without it. That way, when she doesn’t wear it, she can maintain some degree of anonymity.”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Kassian muttered, tugging his wife back into his arms. “Don’t worry, brother. I’ll make sure you have everything you need. You’re just going to take care of her and make sure no one gets close enough to ask questions while she recovers. It’s not as if we can explain this at any hospital. Seeing as how you have an actual medical degree, you’re the best person for the job, don’t you think?”
Dimitri looked only slightly mollified, but he shifted Elle’s weight in his arms and nodded shortly.
“Are you all right?” Luca dropped a hand on his sister’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Fine,” she replied with a sigh. “Exhausted, but fine.” She shot a grateful look in Dimitri’s direction. “And now Elle will be fine. Thanks for not killing my best friend, Luca.”
Luca shrugged. “Thanks for not letting the demon get me.”
“Oh, don’t thank me,” Kat smiled. “Calli is the one who plowed into you like the entire defensive line of the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
“How?” Luca persisted, picking up the thread of their conversation before they were interrupted by Dimitri’s arrival. He pulled Calli around to stand in front of him. “What about the binding spell? Wanting to escape Rapier didn’t break it. Being lost alone in the city didn’t break it. Even being buried alive didn’t break it. I don’t get it.”
Calli shrugged. When she looked up at him, Luca caught his breath. Calli apparently had figured it out and her love shone in her eyes. She didn’t even try to hide it. She didn’t have to. Not anymore.
“Maybe love is its own kind of magic, Luca. I think my love for you is a magic too powerful to be bound.”
Dimitri rolled his eyes, Kat snuggled into her husband’s chest with a contented sigh, and Luca dipped his head to capture Calli’s lips to show her he agreed. In fact, he agreed for a very long time.
Epilogue
Michael needn’t have worried how they were going to explain Monte’s disappearance. The Fallen obviously had been planning ahead. When Luca and Mac returned to Monte’s office to ensure no evidence of their visit remained, Luca discovered the suicide note among the papers in the packet Monte had tossed on his desk before they’d left. Perhaps in a last ditch attempt to make amends, he’d left Giovanna more than enough money to realize her dreams for expanding the bakery, and the remainder of his vast holdings were earmarked for various charities. After hearing their story, Michael had agreed to enter into negotiations to revoke the damnation from Monte’s soul, and though there were lingering questions among the Italian authorities regarding the whereabouts of Monte’s body, there was no evidence to link his disappearance to anyone other than the man himself.
According to Dimitri’s regular updates, Elle was healing well physically. Psychologically was another matter. Surprisingly, he’d offered to continue as her personal keeper until she was fully recovered. Knowing he hadn’t caused Elle any permanent damage made Luca feel remarkably better. But no matter what he or Mac said, and despite the letter Elle had written apologizing for peeking through Miranda’s things and inadvertently unleashing a demon, Kat was determined to blame herself. She remained convinced it was her fault Elle had been exposed to the danger in the first place. It didn’t help that Elle refused to take her calls.
He and Calli sent Giovanna off to London with Enrico in tow to spend some time with Mariana’s family soon after Calli had arranged the introductions. Gia had initially met their easy and complete acceptance of her existence with suspicion. But, Helen Ducati was a force of nature and her unwavering persistence at last convinced the doubtful girl that the family was sincere and was simply ecstatic to have found Marianna’s child. Exactly as Calli had predicted, Gia’s paternity made absolutely no difference to them.
Michael remained holed up in his solitary sanctuary in the Castel, offering no explanation for his declination of the wedding invitation. Both Luca and Mac suspected he was busy cataloging the other angelically infused items he’d bestowed on Aandalena and her descendants millennia ago. How many more were out there? That was the sixty-four thousand dollar question, and only Michael had the answer. At the moment, he wasn’t sharing.
The afternoon of the wedding had finally arrived. Luca had wanted an intimate gathering and, thankfully, the crowd did turn out to be relatively small. But despite the humble size, his sweet, biddable Callista had turned into a rabid bridezilla when it came to the details. Hell, who was he kidding? Sure she was sweet, but she’d never been biddable. That was simply wishful thinking on his part.
On some level he understood that never having expected to escape her captivity, let alone contemplate marriage, Calli was determined to have the wedding of not only this century, but of every one in which she’d lived. And if it made her happy, Luca decided to swallow his discomfort and go with the flow. Given the Victorian theme, and the fact that the entire McAllister family had decided to stay at the villa, Calli had also decided to become a born-again virgin and spend the long, dark nights leading up to the wedding in her own bed. Alone. He hadn’t been nearly as on board with tha
t decision. Luca ruefully recalled boasting to Mac that his wife would defer to him in all matters. Now he understood Mac’s skepticism. When Callista gazed up at him with those big blue eyes, being in charge seemed a whole lot less important that making her smile.
Luca ran his finger between his neck and the uncomfortably stiff collar for at least the tenth time. It came away damp, and he knew the fact that it hovered around sixty-eight degrees in the cold stone chapel meant that it wasn’t the temperature making him sweat. He spared a fond thought for his legendary dispassion. It seemed to have deserted him completely since Calli came back into his life. He closed his eyes and counted to ten when his cell phone vibrated in the inside breast pocket of his tuxedo jacket. Again.
Following her ordeal in the catacombs, Luca sat Calli down and spent hours and hours teaching her how to use every feature on her phone until he felt confident she’d mastered it. She’d been obsessed with texting him ever since. She texted him in the shower. She texted him from the kitchen. She even texted him in the middle of the night from her room down the hall when he tossed in bed nursing his body’s painful response to the memory of her soft, warm skin pressed against his.
At first, he’d found her delight in the new technology charming, but she’d continued to text him all morning and was already ten minutes late. The wedding guests were beginning to whisper behind his back. At his side, Mac glanced over his shoulder and then back to the front with a barely suppressed smirk. Luca resolutely faced the altar and tuned out the crowd behind him, working hard to convince himself that Calli actually would show up.
His phone continued to buzz insistently. Luca continued to ignore it.
“She changed her mind, didn’t she?” he asked Mac out of the corner of his mouth. “I rushed her into this. I knew I should have given her more time.”
“Grow a set, will you?” His best friend retorted quietly. “A bride is always fashionably late. Kat said so. I liked you better when you didn’t give a shit. You were a damn sight more tolerable.”
Angel Unbound Page 20
