Archangel’s Ascension (The Guild Hunter Series)

Aodhan didn’t stiffen or send him a shocked look. “I was expecting a grand proposal. Now you’ve gone and shattered all my dreams.” Words so dry, they could’ve ignited a forest fire.

Illium threw back his head and laughed, then spun the other man around to kiss him. Aodhan was smiling, his words laced with amusement when he spoke into Illium’s mind. Of course I know, you idiot. But I’m not sure it’s good politics to announce it.

Scowling, Illium drew back. “Why not?”

“When was the last time you heard of a second who was also a consort?” Aodhan raised an eyebrow. “Consorts are protected in battle even when they’re warriors. A second can never be protected, because his strength is yours.”

He held up a hand before Illium could speak. “And aside from some outliers, archangels don’t consciously attack consorts or target them. You pronounce me your consort and your second at the same time and it’ll screw up the entire system.”

Illium folded his arms across his chest. “It’s not like everyone doesn’t already know we wear each other’s amber.” Aodhan’s bracelet glinted as if in agreement.

“Yes, my darling,” Aodhan said with tenderness, because he knew his lover. Archangel or not, Illium’s heart could be hurt—and Aodhan could hurt it most of all. “But you know the games of the Cadre. They can all accept that I’m yours and you’re mine, while politely ignoring that in favor of my title as second.”

Illium’s lip curled up in a snarl. “I refuse to play this game.”

“You have to.” Aodhan went toe to toe with him because that was his job as both Illium’s consort and his second. “You can’t destabilize the system. Not yet. Not when you’re so new as an archangel. And Blue? I don’t need a title to know who I am to you.” Grabbing one fisted hand, he pressed it to his heart. “I know.”

Illium’s jaw worked. “One hundred years,” he said. “Then, I’m adding you to my sigil. We’re one, Adi, and we’ll always be one. I don’t care if people want to pretend otherwise. I won’t.”

Aodhan exhaled. “One hundred years,” he said, accepting the compromise. Because he knew that obstinate look; Illium wouldn’t back down any further. “And you don’t have an official sigil yet.”

“Yes, I do. You already drew it. So when are you going to show it to me?”

“You drive me crazy.” Glaring, Aodhan cupped Illium’s face, kissing him with love and tenderness and affection. Because while he wouldn’t carry the title of consort, he’d never hide what they were to each other, what they’d been to each other for centuries.

Illium’s anger hadn’t totally retreated when the kiss ended, but the wicked glint was back in his eye. “Did you plan for it to be a surprise?”

Aodhan squeezed his nape. “I swear…” he muttered. “You’re infuriating.”

Releasing Illium’s nape, he reached into his pocket and withdrew the sigil he’d begun to work on in his mind the instant after Illium’s ascension. Since sigils were black for the most part—for only a rare few archangels had the gift of burning their sigil with color—he hadn’t been able to work with Illium’s signature hue.

Instead, he’d thought of all the pieces of his Blue, and decided on the image of a shooting star, but one that spiraled up in a bolt of dizzying power, not down. The detail was in the spiraling bolt—it was made up of innumerable other tiny stars. “All the hearts loyal to you,” Aodhan said. “All the people who love you because you know how to love so hard.”

It was a stylized design, crisp, clean lines with nothing fussy about it. “I can change it if you don’t like it,” he said when Illium was silent. “I have other options, I just—”noveldrama

“Hush, you beautiful, talented man.” Illium’s order was tender, his hands careful as he took the sketch lit up by the glow coming off Aodhan’s hand. “Is this how you see me?”

“As bright and generous and a gift?” Aodhan nuzzled Illium’s temple. “How can you not know that after all these years?”

Illium leaned into him, running his fingers over the lines of the sigil…until it suddenly glowed a vibrant blue. Lifting his hand, Illium did something in the air that Aodhan couldn’t quite follow…and the sigil glowed vivid Illium-blue against the night sky over their city, big and bright enough to be visible for miles.

Wonder and delight in Aodhan’s breath, his heart thunder. “I should’ve known you’d find a way to stamp your mark on it beyond any doubt.”

“Figure out how you’re going to incorporate yourself into it as my consort when that ridiculous century is over.”

Aodhan threw his arm around Illium’s shoulders. “You’re cute when you’re mad.”

“I am going to strangle you,” Illium threatened…right before he smacked Aodhan in the back with his wing, sending him tumbling off the roof.

As Aodhan yelled in surprise, Illium said, Illium, Archangel of Patient Vengeance.

His laughter lit up the night as above his city glowed a sigil of stars countless…and Aodhan’s laughter joined his, theirs an infinite symphony of two.