He smirks, “Well? One thing is for sure, life will never be boring with you by my side. Retribution, huh? I didn’t believe Lachlan when he told me what he thought, but now it all kind of makes sense. Being bound to you just gave me an upgrade, honey cheeks. I may not be a prince of The Underworld, but I would say that Mammon and I are on pretty even footing at this point.” He leans over and kisses my forehead and I lean into him for just a moment.
“Speaking of princes of Hell … Luc, that low life snake in the grass. I’m going to have a few words with him the next time I see him. Do you think he knew all along?”
Poppy shakes her head as the three of us consider that thought, she speaks up, “I don’t think so, Lillie JoBug. Even your parents didn’t seem to know, although, I believe that they do now, seeing how your memory has been restored. This little nugget of information will have been restored to your mother as well. The agreement that you struck all those eons ago is coming to fruition. Our creator is conniving in his master plan, allowing things and events to unfold in due course. You know you will not be able to keep any of this from Lachlan, so what do you plan on telling him?” She asks, before continuing, “Besides, we still need to find Vengeance and get that binding cuff off of you. I’m surprised you were even able to ascend.”
Not sure what I’m going to tell my brother about any of this, I latch on to her statement about the seamless bracelet that is continuing to hamper my abilities. “She’s right, Dax. I have no idea how any of that even took place with this binding bracelet on my wrist.” At that moment, the pendant around my neck warms at the words and I realize that it has been warming and cooling, and then repeating the cycle since I woke. My hand reaches for the bloodstone and I look up at Dax. “Do you think it could be that simple?”
Dax nods, “It could be. If that’s the case then I don’t want you to ever be without this stone. Not ever, it is your protective hedge. That and there may have been a bit of divine intervention to make sure that you ascended at the right moment.”
Poppy takes flight again and buzzes about the room in agitation, “I know that we need to head out sooner rather than later on our quest, but there is so much to discuss. Like … I don’t know! Like you have freakin’ wings, Lillie. You should have seen them before they disappeared. They were so beautiful, all black as midnight fading to a dark purple, then to a lighter shade of orchid at the tips of your feathers. I’m so jealous. Mine look like insect wings.” She wrinkles her nose at the thought, “All fragile and transparent, but yours … Wow, just, wow! Then they just kind of folded up into your back and disappeared from sight. Of course, you were kind of unconscious for all of that when Levi and Dez’s demon’s arrived with both of you in tow. Thank the gods for that or both of you would have gone splat on the ground below. You two were pretty high up in the sky when the light show began.”
“Did you see them?” I ask Dax quietly as Poppy continues to ramble on.
“They were magnificent, honey cheeks.” His look is intense, his eyes smoldering. The temperature in the room just went up several notches.
“I don’t know the first thing about flying or even how to use them. They were like dead weight on my back dragging me down. I don’t even have the faintest clue as to how to call them out.” I say dejectedly.
“You will,” Poppy preens, “You have demon boy over here and me to teach you. You will be flying in no time.” She lands on the bed and marches back toward us. Every other step is taken in the air as her gossamer wings carry her upward before she gently floats back down.
“Poppy’s right,” Daxell moves off of the bed and heads toward the table in the room, “We can teach you. I know that you want to learn and are even antsy to get on with it, but LJ, we have more pressing matters to attend to. The Underworld just witnessed the actual birth or ascension of a pair of gods. Luc will not be able to ignore that fact. I’m surprised that he is not here beating down the door to this place in order to take you in to answer for the crime that you are accused of.”
Dax’s parents walk into the room, their faces serious and I mutter, “Well, this can’t be good.”
Levi meets my gaze, “No, my dear young goddess, it’s not good. I know that your ascension was more than likely out of your control but there are those on this side of the Divide and the other that witnessed your little light display. Don’t get me wrong, it was quite a sight to behold, but in this realm? The sky rarely changes, so everyone took notice. At least all that were within viewing range, that is.”
Seraphina smiles and opens her arms and pulls Daxell into a hug full of motherly affection, and says proudly, “I knew you were meant for greatness.” She looks over to me and motions for me to join them. Smiling she pulls me in and says, “Thank you, Lillie.”
“For what?”
“For loving my son, for being exactly
