Page 45 of Desired By her Alien Prince

"Azazel, are you wounded? What happened?"

"I'm alright, Fay," he laughed. "Everything is fine. We're free."

I stared at him in disbelief. Free?

"I don't have time to explain everything right now. I'm expected back for a family meeting," he winked at me, "and I want you by my side. It's over Fay, and I can finally show you off to my mother and brothers."

"Azazel," I breathed.

"Seth is the new King of Darkness. Behlial is secured in the brig. It's over," he repeated.

"So you and your brothers are…"

"True brothers now," he nodded, and the sparkle in his eyes showed how happy he was about it.

I followed him into the bathroom and watched him shower while resisting the urge to join him. It was hard, but I comforted myself with the thought that this was really over, and that Azazel and I would have all eternity for us.

Once he was dressed, he took great care to remove all my green adornments from me before placing his golden belt around my waist—it took a few more loops than on his waist—took off his wristband and placed it on my upper arm and shoved a ring from his little finger onto my thumb.

"I will shower you with more, but for now, this will have to do," he whispered in my ear, kissing my cheek and taking my hand.

He led me to the elevator, which took us down to the lowest level and through a dark, foreboding throne room. I shuddered at the marks of black and red blood on the ground, but whatever bodies had lain there had been thankfully removed.

Finally, we entered a large, more cozy-looking room that reminded me of an old-fashioned library in one of the great estates I had once visited.

Food and drinks stood on a large lower table and the walls were filled with old-fashioned books, some of which bore strange symbols. There were scrolls as well as round books, the likes of which I had never seen before.

That wasn't what captured my attention though. A noble-looking lady stood in the center of the room, regal and proud. She looked at the three men and seven women and I instantly recognized her from my dreams and memories.

"Ishtar!" I cried.

"Dumu." Her face lit up and a rush of warmth ran through me at her calling medaughterin the old Sumerian language. She stepped toward me and took my hands to hold me back for a moment to look at me. "Beautiful as always. What do you call yourself in this life, dear?"

"Fay," I answered as tears welled in my eyes and I remembered the woman who had always been kind to me through all my lives.

"Fay, a fitting name. Where did you find her, Azazel?" She turned a warm smile at him.

"On Adama," Azazel said, staring stunned at his mother. "You know her?"

"I knew her previous selves," Ishtar said, finally pulling me into the embrace I had craved since entering the room.

On some level, I was aware of all the eyes staring at us, but I was too happy to see Ishtar again to care.

The others gave us the time we needed before Azazel introduced me to his brothers and the seven maidens, of whom I recognized Lilith and Azubah from previous lives. Since they didn't seem to recall me, I took the seat Azazel offered and a drink before I settled into the role of silent observer.

Everybody settled into a seat or leaned against a wall when Ishtar said, "I wondered if I would ever see the day where my sons would unite against the king." She smiled. "One would sometimes challenge him, but never more, never united like you did. I can't tell you how proud I am of you to have overcome your negative feelings for one another and bonded together."

Seth looked at Azazel. "We never had negative feelings for one another, not like Behlial assumed. Most of it was acting for his benefit. It was you," he raised his goblet at Ishtar, "who taught us better."

Azazel, Grigori, and Marduk also raised their goblets to salute the woman who had been a mother to them.

"Thank you, Mother, without you…." Grigori broke off.

Ishtar gave him a warm smile. "I tried. I can't tell you how many times I failed."

"The old man let his guard down," Marduk sneered.

"Maybe," Ishtar allowed. "But don't underestimate him, he is still dangerous, and despite the oath of fealty the nobles and guards swore, there are still some who will remain loyal to him."

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