Darkness Wanes (30 page)

Lorna continued. “I can’t say for certain what my mate may do if he is released. Perhaps he’ll assist Melena in rescuing Ariel, perhaps not. That’s their decision to make. All I ask is that you reconsider his punishment and let him live in peace with his family. My son and I need him home where he belongs.”

“Thank you.” Remiel dipped his head. “You may take a seat.”

She walked back to the bench with watery eyes and a defeated expression on her face. After she sat back down, I pulled her into a hug and whispered in her ear, “We did the best we could. No matter what they decide, at least we know we tried.”

“I know,” she sniffled.

Just a couple of years ago I’d been in a similar situation to Lorna. The archangels sentenced Lucas to sixty years in Purgatory, and I’d had no hope of freeing him. It had been Ariel who assisted me in finding a way to get him out and helped me to keep him from being sent back. If nothing else, I owed her for that.

Lorna and I winced as a slight buzzing hit our senses. The archangels were speaking to each other telepathically so that we couldn’t overhear them. It went on for several minutes with one or another of them occasionally frowning or nodding. When the buzzing died down, and they turned toward us, I stiffened. What had they decided?

Remiel stood. “We have reached a decision, but in light of the wedding nuptials to begin shortly, we believe it is best to wait before giving you our decision. You can expect to hear from me exactly three days from now with the final verdict.”

Another three days? They sure were fond of that number lately. Lucas and I exchanged confused glances, neither of us certain what the delay meant. The only thing I could guess was they didn’t want us at odds with each other before we married. Too bad it would leave us in suspense for the time being.

“Fine.” I got off the bench. “Let’s get this over with so we can get out of here.”

Remiel smiled. “Not quite yet, Melena Sanders. The guests have not arrived.”

“Guests?” I asked, confused. I’d thought it would be a quick and simple ceremony.

“Of course.”

A moment later, an angel appeared in the room, gripping Cori by the arm. My friend held a large garment bag to her chest. Her mouth dropped, and she spun around, gaping at the place. “Wow, this is…even whiter than I expected.”

I took a few steps toward her. “What are you doing here?”

Cori gave me an amused look. “Are you kidding? There was no way I was missing the only chance I’d ever get to see Heaven.”

Remiel went into a suspicious fit of coughing.

“Okay.” I took in her appearance and the violet sheath dress she wore. “So they invited you?”

“Well, yeah. They told Emily and me about the wedding earlier today. We had to scramble to get you a decent gown in time, which I hope fits okay. I tried it on since we’re about the same size.” Cori held up the large bag. “Emily will be here soon too, but it was important I bring this to you right away.”

“If you follow me, I can show you where you may change,” Azrael said, gesturing toward the front corridor.

I took one last glance at Lucas, who appeared about as befuddled as me. Neither of us had expected the archangels to make this anything elaborate or to allow friends to attend. Somehow, that made it a lot easier to go through with it. I gave him a reassuring smile. Little did he know his own guests had just arrived nearby.

Chapter Twenty-four

Lucas

Lucas made his way to an antechamber at the far end of the front corridor—opposite the direction Melena went. Remiel had instructed him to prepare for the wedding there. What he was supposed to do while in an empty room he did not know, but the archangel had insisted. Lucas did not like being manipulated. Why couldn’t Remiel explain things in a clear and concise manner without cloaking his true intentions?

He ground his teeth as he neared the end of the corridor and found a heavy wooden door. What was going to be behind it? He seriously doubted the archangels had acquired a proper suit for him to wear or anything else useful. More likely, they’d wanted him out of the way for some other purpose. He would not put anything past them.

As much as the prospect of marrying Melena pleased Lucas, he did not care for the way the angels moved them around like pieces on a chessboard. This was the reason he avoided dealing with them as much as possible. First, they failed to share their verdict on Melena’s petition, and now they orchestrated a mysterious wedding for them, going so far as to bring Cori and Emily here as guests. He couldn’t begin to imagine what possessed them to carry out such a far-fetched plan.

Lucas pulled open the door, noting it moved on silent hinges. His first glimpse of the room revealed a white marble floor and walls bathed in golden light. There were high windows on this side of the building, giving the chamber a warmer feel than the inner courtroom. Other than a few benches, though, he saw no furniture.

He stepped inside and found Micah and Kerbasi waiting for him. They’d been just beyond his purview before, but now he couldn’t miss them. Both men wore black suits and ridiculous grins on their faces.

“What are you two doing here?” Lucas frowned at them. Not that he was upset to have his brother at his wedding, but he hadn’t expected it. For that matter, there were a lot of details about this day he had not foreseen where others apparently had.

“You can’t get married without a best man, right?” Micah asked, coming forward to embrace him. Even after seeing Cori’s arrival, Lucas hadn’t expected anyone to come for him as well.

“And you?” he asked, pulling away from his brother to address Kerbasi.

The guardian held up a garment bag. “I brought your suit, which I assisted Micah in selecting—he has dreadful taste by the way—so you may thank me later. Also, I wouldn’t dare miss a wedding hosted by the archangels.”

“This is why you two left the training facility early? You knew about this before I did?” He was still trying to wrap his head around this latest turn of events. A man his age could only take so many surprises at once and Melena usually managed to fill his quota without any outside assistance.

“Yes, they swore us to secrecy, but they thought it important that we obtain the basic items you would need for the ceremony,” Kerbasi replied. He seemed very proud of the fact he’d been included.

Lucas shook his head. “How could they have been certain Melena would agree?”

“You’re joking, right?” Micah lifted a brow. “Of course she’d say yes. Oh, and I brought the rings you purchased a couple of months ago.” He held up two small, black boxes.

“Good. Hold onto them for now.” He was relieved his brother had thought of it. Lucas and Melena had been in such a hurry they’d hardly had time to change clothes, much less consider what they might need to bring with them for the wedding ceremony.

Kerbasi unzipped the garment bag. “You should get dressed. Archangels can be rather impatient, and they will not want to be kept waiting.”

Lucas stood there, unmoving. He could have sworn his heart pounded hard enough that it would leap from his chest at any moment. This was not exactly how he’d planned to marry Melena. He’d wanted to give her plenty of time to consider his proposal and plan the way she wanted her wedding.

“I know this feels rushed,” Micah said, giving him a sympathetic look. “But you can’t ask for a better place to do the ceremony, and at least it’s free. Look at all the money you’ll be saving and you don’t have to worry about guest lists.”

“True enough, brother.” Lucas pushed past his uncertainty. If Melena did not want this, she never would have agreed to it. Micah also had a point—at least the ceremony would be memorable.

Lucas stripped off his clothes and donned the black tuxedo with satin lining Kerbasi handed him. He’d never admit it aloud, but the guardian did have better taste than Micah, and he had chosen the correct size. Of course, it was possible he’d used magic to alter the clothing. Lucas might not be particularly keen on having Kerbasi at his wedding, but at least the guardian was being useful.

After he finished dressing, Micah handed him a small mirror and comb. Lucas had groomed himself before leaving the house, but he found a few stray hairs that had fallen out of place. He made a mental note to get a trim as soon as he had some free time. His hair had grown far too long for his liking. It was Micah’s job to look like the ruffian between the two of them.

Remiel entered the room. “Are you ready?”

“Is Melena?” Lucas asked. He would have guessed the women needed more time to prepare.

“They are almost finished. That human, Cori, is surprisingly efficient,” the archangel said, sounding impressed.

Lucas took a deep breath and let it out. “Then let’s go.”

They headed toward the courtroom where they found the rest of the archangels waiting. In the short time since he’d left, they’d completely decorated the place. There were three-foot tall white pedestals creating a path toward the opposite end of the room. The bench where they’d sat earlier was gone, and in its place stood an arch, adorned with daisies and violets. Remiel moved to stand under the arch where Lucas assumed he would preside over the wedding. The other archangels took their positions off to the right side of the room. Lorna stood with them, appearing more than a little nervous.

“I’ll wait here for Melena,” Kerbasi said, stopping at the entryway.

Lucas scowled at him. “What for?”

“Someone must walk her down the aisle. Would you prefer one of the archangels did it?” the guardian asked.

Micah grunted. “Let him do it. I’m certain it will inspire Melena to walk that much faster to reach you.”

His brother had an uncanny way of seeing the bright side of things sometimes. “Very well.”

They took their positions next to the flowery archway. Remiel looked at Lucas, a hint of amusement in his gaze. “Are you ready?”

“I still cannot believe you orchestrated this,” he replied. Nothing about this situation seemed real.

Had it truly been a little over two years ago he’d been in this very same room, chained, and sentenced to six decades in Purgatory? Everything about his life had appeared hopeless back then. The best he could do was gain the archangel’s favor so that he could protect Melena. A lot had happened since then, and yet this came as the biggest surprise of all. He was marrying the woman he’d once sworn to feel nothing toward except hatred.

“If it is any consolation,” Remiel said in a confiding tone, “I’d long since lost hope you’d settle down until you made the plea for Melena. She has been a good influence on you.”

Lucas grunted. “Says the man who took her away from me for three months.”

“I took no pleasure in that. Though she may have had good intentions, she cannot think to get away with breaking our laws without consequences. I’d hoped her time in Purgatory would dissuade her from making more foolish decisions.”

“You still have much to learn about my mate then, archangel,” Lucas replied and turned his attention to the entryway across the room. The light clicking of women’s high heels alerted him to Melena’s impending arrival.

Cori entered first. She took one look at Kerbasi and scowled. “Seriously? You never cease to amaze me.”

Lucas couldn’t help a slight grin from forming as Cori approached. It still surprised him they’d allowed a human to attend the ceremony, though he supposed they’d preferred her over a vampire or a pixie. Emily came through next, wearing a similar violet dress to that of Cori. She’d pulled up her hair into a chignon and enhanced her pale complexion with makeup—something she rarely used. Both women came to stand on the opposite side of the arch, leaving room for Melena.

Canon in D Major
by Johann Pachelbel began playing through invisible speakers throughout the room. Lucas had not expected any music, but the satisfied smile on Cori’s face told him she’d had a hand in that.

She winked at him. “I could hardly let my friends get married without a traditional wedding song played. Would you believe Remiel recognized it?”

Lucas was beginning to think there was more to the archangel than he’d once thought. Not that they’d ever become allies, but Remiel did seem to be a greater mastermind than he’d imagined. “I’m certain Melena appreciates your efforts.”

Gasps went up through the room, including from the archangels. Lucas turned his attention to the entryway and felt his heart skip a beat. His mate stepped into view, wearing a stunning ivory wedding dress. It billowed around her, making it appear as if she floated rather than walked.

The strapless ball gown formed a heart shape on her chest and had floral lace all along the front and skirt. The train extended several feet behind her. In all his life, he’d never seen a more beautiful woman, and Lucas could hardly believe she belonged to him. They’d pulled the top half of her hair away from her face and attached a veil at the back. He was pleased to see they’d left the bottom half down to curl over her bare shoulders. If ever he’d imagined what a true angel might look like, it would have been her.

Melena’s face practically glowed, and there was a twinkle of happiness in her eyes that had not been there since her return from Purgatory. He’d worried she would hate being forced into such a rushed wedding, but she didn’t seem to mind now. Even Kerbasi offering her his arm didn’t take the gleaming smile from Melena’s face. She accepted the guardian graciously, and they walked slowly down the aisle together as the music continued to play. Lucas was rather certain he’d never seen greater pride on the guardian’s face.