Voluptuous Vindication (25 page)

Ian shrugged. “I guess I just haven't had too much to say.”

“I can understand that,” Arch replied, sighing heavily. “Life really is a bitch and then you die, or in our cases,
we endure
.”

“Did you have any issues in regards to the auditorium?” Ian asked politely.

“No, I got a clean up crew in there. It didn't take them long to put it back to rights. We've got a new Endurer, though.”

Ian looked at him curiously. “Anyone I know?”

Arch grinned ruefully. “It's the sheriff. I've been training him, but Shayne has offered to help out. That's where he is now. I wanted to come and check on you. I figured a week was enough time for you to get your thoughts in order.”

“It's not my thoughts I'm worried about,” Ian retorted absentmindedly. He was heartbroken over Sara, and he doubted it would ever get better. She'd been his mate, and they only got one. It was devastating that he'd only had a month with his.
A man couldn't come back from something like that.

The snowy world beneath them stretched out endlessly, cold, silent, and lonely. So did his life, and it was a fate Ian didn't look forward to. He turned to Arch, his eyes narrowed as he asked, “Why didn't you tell me Sara was my mate?”

Arch sighed heavily, his expression guarded. “Would it really have made any difference, Ian? There was no way to change her leaving, none of us can go against a law like that. How would it have changed anything for you?”

Ian sighed, realizing he was right. “I suppose it wouldn't, but I don't recognize the man I am anymore,” Ian hissed out, slamming a fist down on the metal underneath him. It rattled and shook, but he didn't notice. “I don't see how I can fully live again, not without Sara. I'm sure I'll exist, but I really don't care if I do or don't. I can't go more than five minutes without thinking about her. I even wake up from my sleep reaching for her, just to feel this overwhelming despair when I realize she's not even in this world anymore. Or is she? Has she been judged yet?”

Arch was silent for a moment, his eyes distant. Finally, he asked, “Do you remember what I said that day I joined Anna and Shayne?”

Ian looked at him puzzled. “I'm not sure, you say an awful lot.”

Arch rolled his eyes. “Real funny. Let me remind you.”

In his mind, he saw the day Anna and Shayne married. Arch had looked at him and said, “
When an immortal finds their soul mate and joins, two becomes one. Both of them will sacrifice something, but some sacrifices are painful to make. Make sure you know and appreciate the sacrifice she makes because sometimes it comes at an enormous price. Eternity can feel like hell when you miss the mark with your own mate.
”

Ian rubbed at his eyes and sighed heavily before responding, “Yeah, I do remember that. It's amazing how prophetic you are. Too bad you had to be so cryptic. Why didn't you just tell me all this would happen?”

Arch scoffed. “If I would have told you, none of it would have happened. Then you would have never met Sara. Is that what you would have wanted?”

Ian smiled sadly. “If you would have asked me then, I would have definitely wanted that. I was a fool, even though I didn't realize it. Now I'd give anything just to have her back.” His last sentence came out as a whisper, full of emotion.

Arch chuckled. “Don't feel bad. Most single men are fools, too scared of the proverbial chain and shackle to give love and commitment a chance. It's a powerful force when soul mate comes together with soul mate, though. It's not something that can be walked away from. It might not seem like it now, but you're a better man because of this experience. You've learned you have the ability to love and love deeply.”

“Where does that leave me, Arch?” Ian asked, his voice filled with pain. “Sara made all the sacrifices, and it was all for nothing. I'm here alone, and she's only God knows where.” His voice dropped, becoming hoarse and painful sounding as he asked, “Is she even still alive? I have to know.”

“Sara wasn't the only one to make sacrifices,” Arch disagreed, tiptoeing around his question. “You made sacrifices of your own. Shall I point them out to you?”

Ian shrugged, though he was curious to see what Arch had to say.

“Let's start with the night you fought the Guardian. You knew that no Endurer could win against one, but that didn't stop you. Instead of risking Sara, you had her to leave you there.”

“Any Endurer would do that,” Ian retorted. “What else do you got?”

“There's the night I offered to send another Endurer to guard her and nearly got my head bit off in the process,” Arch replied with a smirk. “Not to mention, the woman you refused at the nudist camp. The old Ian would have screwed both of them, one after another.” Arch paused, his head cocked to the side before adding, “Scratch that. You would have had them both at the same time, if they would have wanted to.”

“Shit,” Ian barked out incredulously. “Is there nothing you don't see or know about?”

“I wish,” Arch shot back, his blue eyes lit up with amusement. “I would be willing to gouge my eyeballs out if it would get rid of some of the things I've seen. Starting with the time I saw Vincent's hairy ass.”

Vincent was a fellow Endurer in New Orleans. Ian had spent time with him earlier that year, after the other man had come out of a two hundred year hibernation, so to speak. Ian had the misfortune of seeing his ass when Vincent decided to break in the kitchen of his mansion with his new mate. Ian cringed before saying, “God, you've had to go through that torture, too? It was enough to make me lose my appetite.”

At Arch's disbelieving look, Ian added, “Well, for a few minutes or so.”

Arch laughed before getting serious again. “Back to what we were talking about, though. You tell me. What else would you have sacrificed for your mate?”

Ian was silent for a moment before whispering, “Anything. I was even willing to give up my shot at killing the demons from New Orleans. I would have, if it would have kept Sara here.”

Arch crossed his massive arms, raising a dark eyebrow at him. “What about all that smack you talked about when Shayne, Vincent, and Peter met their mates?”

“Pure stupidity,” Ian retorted, waving it away. “Wait till you meet your mate. You'll see what I mean.”

Arch grimaced, as if he found Ian's words extremely distasteful. He snapped his fingers. The world shifted. One moment, Ian was a thousand feet above Las Vegas, the next in the hallway of the church, right outside of the apartment door.

Arch stood next to him, a big grin on his face. “I guess you were done?” Ian asked drolly, shaking his head. “Maybe I wasn't ready to come back. A little warning would have been nice.”

“Ian,” Arch said kindly, nodding his head to the door. “Has anyone ever told you that you talk way too much?”

Ian froze, his heart picking up speed. Arch never did anything without a reason.
Could it be?

Time slowed down as his hand raised to the doorknob. Opening it easily, he pushed it open and stepped in.

The lamps were on, the woman standing up as soon as the door opened. Her beautiful, blue eyes were wide behind her glasses, filled with nervousness and hope. She clasped her hands together, waiting to see what kind of reaction her presence was going to bring.

“Sara,” he gasped out, slamming the door closed behind him. He ignored the thud and subsequent yelp of pain as it hit Arch, having forgotten all about him.

Moving fast, he grabbed her. His eyes searched hers, praying that it wasn't a dream. “God, I can't believe you're really here.”

Sliding his hand up the back of her neck, Ian claimed her lips. Heat exploded between them at the contact, convincing him more than anything else that she was really there. The moments slipped away, his joy knowing no bounds.

“Ahem,” Arch called out from behind him, the sound slightly strained. With one final kiss, Ian pulled away, still staring down at Sara. She stared back at him, her expression dazed. “Sorry, Arch,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers. “I guess it's pretty obvious that I am very happy to see her.”

He finally turned to face the other man, pulling her in front of him so he could wrap his arms around her. “How is this possible?” He asked, afraid to let go of her, even for a moment. A horrifying thought shot through him as he leaned over to stare at her. “You know who I am, right?”

Sara and Arch chuckled at his words. “Of course I know who you are,” she replied, smiling. “I would have already slapped you otherwise. I don't go around letting strange men kiss me, you know?”

Ian nuzzled her neck as he teased,  “Have I told you lately how much I really dig your prudish ways?” Sara elbowed him in response, although there was no heat behind the action.

“Let's sit down,” Arch told them, gesturing toward the chairs. “I can already see that there is a lot of explaining left to do.” He limped toward the closest chair, glaring at Ian while he did.

Ian chuckled. The sight of the powerfully-built angel hobbling was too funny for words. He owed a lot to Arch, though. He couldn't recall ever feeling happier.

Pulling Sara with him, he backed up to the recliner and sat down, arranging her on his lap. “Ian,” she hissed out, shooting Arch an embarrassed look. “Let me sit in the other chair.”

“No way,” Ian replied, shaking his head. “There's no way I'm letting you go. I'm too afraid you'll disappear again. This last week has been hell, and I
would not survive it
if I had to lose you again.”

He stilled, looking between Sara and Arch. His voice hardened, his expression turning to stone as he asked, “She's back for good, right?” It was more of a statement than a question, though. “I refuse to go through that again. I don't care what has to be done, I won't live without her.”

“I assumed that,” Arch replied dryly. “Besides, it's all over with now. Sara's no longer an angel, and she won't be returning back to Heaven, although she has still retained her memories. Her judgment is null and void. It would seem your over-sexed ways came in handy, for once.”

Ian looked at Sara with a heavy frown on his face. “What does Arch mean?”

Sara blushed, shifting uncomfortably on his lap. His shaft hardened at the feel of her plump cheeks and thighs pressing down on him. His thoughts immediately centered on the hot, slick passage hidden between those legs.
It was amazing how fast that could happen.

“Ahem,” Arch cleared his throat again with a meaningful look at Ian. “We have business to discuss here, remember?”

Ian shrugged before grinning sheepishly. “Let's make it quick, shall we?”

“I'm pregnant,” Sara burst out, her eyes wary but hopeful as she fell silent and waited for his response.

Ian froze. Even his breathing stalled as Arch burst out laughing. Ignoring him, Ian said, “Come again?”

“You knocked her up, you moron,” Arch managed to gasp out, his voice shaky as he struggled for control. “Congratulations, big daddy. You're going to be the father of not one, but two girls.”

“Twins?” He repeated in a deadened tone. Ian was poleaxed, completely stunned. “Me?”

Sara's face paled, her shoulders drooping dejectedly. Ian saw her response. “No, Sara,” he said as elation filled his body. “I'm not displeased with this, only shocked. Give me a minute.”

He grinned as it finally sunk in. “Hell, yeah! Who's the man? I did a double slam dunk, nailing it right off the bat.”

“Um, okay,” Arch replied, rolling his eyes. “When you get done praising your prowess, let me know so we can talk about more important things.”

Ian pulled Sara's face down to his, kissing her thoroughly. “I'm the happiest man alive right now,” he told her, his voice sincere. “I never imagined that one day I'd have children. It's amazing, how one woman can keep making all of your dreams come true.”