Battle With Fire (Demon Days & Vampire Nights)

With Darius’s help and excellent tailors, Cahal had cleaned up incredibly well. He wore a sharp black suit that fit his robust body, power and strength refined into dangerous grace. A cream tie was expertly tucked into his closed suit jacket. His hair had grown out a little from the close cut and was styled in an artfully messy do.

Penny practically pranced down the aisle beside him, her gaze focused on Emery. Happiness glowed in her eyes, and white satin flowed around her legs. She held a cream bouquet, and in her hair glittered a tiara, made from real diamonds because Darius was more than a little ridiculous.

Everyone stood as she came closer, the sound of wings reverberating above us. A feather floated down, twirling through the air. A moment later, in time with Penny walking down the aisle, Michael lowered from the ceiling from some portal or other that I didn’t really understand. He wore a cream-colored gown cut through with blue and yellow, his person glowing with ethereal magic. If anyone had happened to walk by, they would’ve had a genuine religious experience, especially since this church had been fashioned in honor of Michael himself back in the day.

Cahal had asked for a favor, and since Michael was a bit of a turd (and also because Penny blasted him with magic at the end of the battle), he’d insisted on meeting Penny in person before he would consent to marry her and Emery. The angels now had another couple of favorites. Michael had immediately seen the goodness in Penny, and I guess he wasn’t totally awful, because he felt for the turbulence poor Emery had endured before finding her.

I was still only mildly tolerated. My father had not been allowed to come to the wedding—not that he’d been invited.

“Oh my stars,” Ms. Bristol uttered, her hand on her chest, looking up at the descending angel.

“Holy shi— Is that— What is that?” Veronica exclaimed.

They had been told of the existence of angels but…well, it really was a “see it to believe it” situation. Clearly.

Michael touched down as Penny met Emery, no veil blocking her face, something she’d insisted on, and Darius had grumpily let go. Emery reached out, and Penny gave him her hand, tears in her eyes and utter love and devotion in his.

“We are gathered here today…” Michael began, but I doubted Penny or Emery heard any of it. They continued to stare into each other’s eyes, soul mates if ever there were any. They’d met by chance, a couple of times over, and their bond had grown until it had become the solid, enduring connection I witnessed now—endearing in a way that didn’t annoy me.

I slowly blew out a breath and blinked my glassy eyes, sliding my gaze over to Darius. He was looking back at me, and love glowed through our bond.

I smiled a little, wishing I could be beside him, our hands linked. I thought back to when I’d stood in my rooms in the Underworld, looking out at the beautiful view spread beneath me. I’d wanted him to share that with me. I hoped I could still make that happen. At least there wouldn’t be an arrogant, badly dressed angel there, I’d say that much.

“You may kiss the bride,” Michael finished.

Emery stepped forward in a rush, connecting his lips with Penny’s. She clutched him, her rock in any storm. Actually, yes, it was a little annoying how cute they were.

“My baby is all grown up,” Ms. Bristol said, dabbing her eyes with a white handkerchief.

With a smile that could blot out stars, Penny took Emery’s hand and turned to Michael. “Thank you for making this so special.”

Suck-up.

He bowed. “May you both find peace. Guard our gift to you, and guard it well. It will serve you in dark times.”

After hearing the story of how Penny had come by her angel magic, Michael had taken it away—and then given it again of his own free will. I was pretty sure he’d only done that so I could stop making fun of Penny for offing the Redcap. Killjoy.

Penny beamed at me before Emery walked her down the aisle, off to start their new life together. Or so the storybooks said. Really, they were just giving Ms. Bristol different things to gripe about. But whatever—at least they could say they’d been married by an arrogant angel. That had to count for something.

Veronica and the others followed, but I hung back with Darius. Roger slowed to keep pace with us.

“What’s next for you, Roger?” I asked, finally taking Darius’s hand.

“Same ole,” he said, snazzy in his formfitting suit. The guy had glossed up like a new penny. He could be incredibly hot when he wanted to be, which was apparently not often. Not in the “I’m a millionaire” sort of way, at least. “We’re still hammering out the particulars of the changes in the Brink.” He cut his gaze to Darius. “There will be a lot fewer restrictions on what vampires are allowed to do, so long as you have willing partners.”