Page 74 of Crown of Blood and Vengeance

Serenity clasped Raphael’s hand, her fingers disappearing into his celestial grip. He pulled her into a tight embrace, and to my horror, a brilliant white aura formed around them, pulsing with heavenly power. The light seared my vampire eyes, forcing me to squint against its holy radiance.

Shit, he was taking her from me. After everything we’d survived, after hell itself had failed to separate us, I was losing her to heaven.

“No!” The howl shredded my throat as I lunged forward, my body moving on pure instinct. Three centuries of supernatural speed meant nothing as I crashed against an invisible barrier surrounding them. The impact sent me sprawling backward, my sword clattering across the floor. Blood trickled from where my shoulder had connected with the unseen wall.

I scrambled to my feet, desperation fueling my strength as I pounded my fists against the barrier. Each blow sent painful vibrations up my arms, but I couldn’t stop. I retrieved my sword and jammed it against the translucent sphere with all my might. The blade skidded uselessly against the surface, not even leaving a scratch.

“Serenity!” I growled, my voice breaking with rage and fear. My fangs extended fully with primal vampire fury. “Come back to me.” The last words came out as a plea rather than a command, raw with the emotion I rarely allowed anyone to hear.

Chapter

Forty-Two

Serenity

I heldonto Raphael with desperate strength, clinging to the father I’d never known. All of my questions—the ones that had haunted me through sleepless nights and tear-soaked pillows—had finally been answered. Why had he abandoned me? The truth crashed through me like a wave: he hadn’t. He didn’t even know I existed.

Balthazar had stolen everything—keeping my mother’s soul in hell, erasing her memories of Raphael, ensuring my birthright remained hidden from me. The perfect cruelty of it made my chest ache with a lifetime of misdirected anger.

In my father’s arms, celestial warmth flowed through me, healing wounds I hadn’t even realized were still bleeding. Love radiated from him—pure and ancient as starlight—the same unconditional love I’d known only from my mother. No more fear clawing at my insides. No more resentment eating away at my heart like acid. Only love, vast and boundless, filling every broken place inside me.

A tear slipped down my cheek as I pressed my face against his chest, feeling the echo of my own heartbeat in his. For the first time in my life, I felt complete—the missing piece of myself finally found.

Through the moment, I heard Angelo’s desperate thoughts, his rage. I would never leave him. He was my heart and soul.

I slowly pulled back from my father—the Archangel Raphael. Love filled me like celestial light, flowing through every vein and healing old wounds I’d carried for so long. It was as if all my hurts and fears had been washed away by a divine tide, leaving me whole in ways I never knew I could be.

“I must go back,” I whispered, my voice steadier than I expected. The pull toward Angelo was undeniable—a different kind of gravity. “He needs me, and I need him.”

Raphael lifted my chin with gentle fingers that held the power to move mountains. His eyes—my eyes—gazed into mine with understanding older than time itself. “I know, daughter. I have a parting gift for you.”

The brilliant aura surrounding us slowly faded, dissolving like morning mist. The moment it vanished, Angelo ripped me into his arms with such force it stole my breath. His entire body trembled against mine, his breath coming in ragged, frantic pants as he clutched me like I might disappear again. Blood streaked his hands and face—evidence of his desperate attempts to reach me.

Enzo, Rocco, and Dimitri flanked us, both breathing heavily, their clothes torn and knuckles raw. They had all been fighting to break through—throwing themselves against divine power with nothing but determination and desperation.

They were my family. Not bound by blood but by something deeper—by choice and sacrifice. They had gone through hell and back to save me, risking everything without hesitation. In thatmoment, surrounded by their protective circle, I understood what true belonging felt like.

Raphael looked at Enzo, Dimitri, Rocco, and Angelo, his ancient eyes seeing far deeper than any of them could know. “I see you all have risked your lives to save my daughter. That is something I will not forget—even if you’re vampires.” He bowed slightly, a gesture of respect that seemed to bridge the chasm between celestial and mortal realms. “But that is not for me to judge, that’s someone else’s job.”

“He’ll condemn them all to hell.” Michael stood in the doorway, scowling, his massive wings spread out in a display of divine authority, his sword still dripping with demon blood. His voice thundered with righteous conviction.

I clung to Angelo, my fingers digging into his arms with desperate strength. A cold fear gripped my heart at Michael’s words. If Michael banished Angelo to hell, I’d fly after him without hesitation. The thought of separation burned worse than any hellfire could. Nothing would keep us apart—not heaven, not hell, not even archangels.

Raphael shrugged, a surprisingly human gesture from a being of such power. “Perhaps. But they are not all evil, Michael. Luckily, you’re not the judge.” The subtle challenge in his tone made the air crackle with tension.

“But I have input.” Michael’s jaw tightened, his celestial patience clearly wearing thin. “Come out of that dreadful church,” he commanded. “Balthazar is waiting his punishment.”

“Lucifer’s coming?” Raphael’s eyebrows raised, genuine surprise crossing his face.

“I summoned him.” Pride flashed in Michael’s eyes. “No one defies me, not even Lucifer.”

“True.” Raphael’s expression softened as he came over to Angelo. Angelo’s body tensed against mine, ready for either blessing or battle. My father looked deep into Angelo’s eyes, asilent communication passing between them. “I expect you to protect her with your life.” His voice dropped lower, intimate. “I gave her a gift. She’s immortal.” My heart skipped a beat at his words. “When you two decide you’ve had enough of Earth, call to me.”

“That vampire king is not defying heaven.” Michael’s voice cut through the tender moment, stark and uncompromising as divine law.

Raphael sighed, the sound carrying millennia of sibling exasperation. “Once again, not your call, Michael. I have influence too, if you recall.” The statement hung in the air—not a threat, but a promise.

Michael flashed us a disapproving scowl, his celestial face contorted with disgust. “You’re going to let the vampire continue to defile your daughter?” Each word dripped with centuries of ingrained hatred.

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