Hellbound Warrior: (Dark Warrior Alliance Book Five) (33 page)

Rhys looked around the beach, touched at the effort his friends had gone to for his mating ceremony. Tables and chairs under tents filled with twinkling lights were set up near their house on Whidbey Island. He was standing on the sand, where the mating ceremony would take place, appreciating the simplicity of waves lapping at the shore.

Breslin had placed hundreds of candles in the sand to offer extra lighting and illuminate Illianna’s path from the house. With the amulet gone and Kadir in Hell, they felt it was safer to have their ceremony on Whidbey Island, especially after what had happened at Gerrick and Shae’s mating.

Everyone pitched in to ensure their day was perfect. While the vampires helped the staff prepare the food for the party that night, the rest set the stage outside. The first task had been to replicate the amulet in some manner. After some debate and with the assistance of the Rowan sisters, they had a perfect image made from stones embedded in the sand along the shore.

Rhys paced along the edge of the stone circle, anxiously waiting for the ceremony to start. Zander clapped him on the back, drawing his attention. “’Tis time. You ready?” his friend asked.

Rhys couldn’t stop grinning. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment, I just never knew it. I’m the luckiest son of a bitch in the realm,” he admitted.

Zander chuckled. “Aye, you are. I doona have any idea what the Goddess’ master plan is, but I am honored to be a part of it. Despite all the fighting and death, I wouldna be anywhere else. ‘Tis what gave me my Elsie and now a daughter,” Zander relayed. Rhys felt the same and couldn’t have put it into better words.

Following Zander to the center of the amulet, Rhys looked back at the house when soft, subtle music filled the air. His breath left him in a rush and his heart stuttered to a stop when he saw Illianna standing in the doorway to the house. Elsie and the other females preceded her down to the beach, but Illianna was illuminated by the moon and looked absolutely perfect. Her wings were gone, but she shone brighter than the stars in the sky.

She had never looked more ethereal than at that moment. Her long, blond hair flowed in loose curls over a fur wrap draped over her shoulders. She met his gaze and smiled grandly, making his knees buckle. She hadn’t allowed him to see the classic gown, saying it was bad luck. He didn’t believe in the human superstition, but he saw the appeal in keeping it a surprise as her beauty floored him.

The gown was cream-colored silk, strapless and fitted curves that called to his inner beast. His cock hardened at the sight, in full agreement that it was the best surprise she could have given him.

The air shimmered around Illianna seconds before foreign power filled the area, making him and every warrior suddenly alert. Surely, the demons weren’t coming to ruin his ceremony. The thought had barely passed through his mind when three imposing angels with red wings materialized by Illianna’s side, accompanied by a regal female angel with magnificent blue wings who had the same silver eyes as Illianna.

Illianna squealed, calling female mom, confirming Rhys’ suspicions. She ran and threw her arms around the group and Rhys sent a prayer of thanks to her God. He had relentlessly prayed to his Goddess and her God that her family be present for their ceremony. Illianna hadn’t said anything about it, but he could tell it wieghed on her mind.

“Come on, sister. Let’s get you down this aisle before that demon of yours expires from anticipation,” Ayil murmured, giving Rhys the evil-eye. Rhys could read between the lines, this was their baby sister and they didn’t like that a demon was bedding her. Too bad, they could kiss his ass. He was never giving her up again.

Putting her brother’s silent admonition out of his mind, Rhys was captivated as his mate made her way down the path with her mother and brothers by her side. She was smiling from ear to ear when she reached him.

“Rhys, this is my mother, Dara. Mom, this is the man I’ve chosen for my life mate, Rhys. He’s the one who recused me from the Underworld,” Illianna introduced as soon as they stopped.

Thank you for saving my baby. You are a true hero,” Dara murmured as she grasped his hand and held it.

Rhys had to admit the praise made him uncomfortable. “Your daughter is the one that saved me. And, if anyone is a hero here, it’s her,” he replied, squeezing Dara’s fingers before letting them go.

Without warning, Illianna stood on tiptoe, pressing her lips to his. All thought of a chaste kiss flew out the window when her tongue traced his mouth, seeking entrance. He knew they had an audience but didn’t care. Groaning, he deepened the kiss for several minutes before he forced himself to pull away, saving the rest for the blood exchange.

When he opened his eyes, he met a glassy, lust-filled gaze framed by red cheeks and swollen lips. She was highly aroused and seductive as hell, exactly how he always wanted to see her.

From beside him, Zander cleared his throat. “Friends, and family, please form a circle around the couple,” the Vampire King began. They decided to have Zander conduct the ceremony rather than Dante because of his importance as the leader of the Dark Warriors and the closeness he shared with their group. Rhys respected him more than any other male and couldn’t imagine anyone else performing the ceremony.

Illianna’s mother remained with the inner circle while her brothers moved behind their group. Rhys watched as unknown male angel joined the brothers. He knew it couldn’t be Illianna’s father because he had been killed. Curiosity over the male’s identity distracted Rhys until his mate’s soothing voice intruded.

Beside him, Illianna stood on tiptoe and whispered, “Raphael.” Ah, so this was the archangel who’d saved his life. Rhys couldn’t quantify what he owed the male and would forever be indebted. If the archangel ever needed him for anything, he would be there.

Rhys inclined his head toward Raphael who returned the acknowledgement. The male angels took the four points of the compass and spread their wings so their tips touched, enclosing their group. The second their wings joined, Rhys detected the familiar shimmer of a veil snap into place. Each male held out a hand and called a weapon of Light to his palm, making Rhys’ thrumming heart triple its speed.

Surely, they weren’t going to attack. He glanced down at his mate to gage her mood and noticed she was awestruck. Raphael held Illianna’s gaze and extended his weapon above their heads. Each one of her brother’s touched their weapons to his and a flash of white light momentarily blinded Rhys.

Rhys squeezed Illianna’s hand, pulling her close to his side as black spots danced in his vision for several seconds. Her gasp had his eyes snapping open. It was his turn to be surprised and his jaw dropped. His angel stood before him, her magnificent gold wings outstretched as her effervescent angelic power wrapped around him.

How had this happened? And, what did it mean? He may have been willing to let her go before, but now that wasn’t an option.

“Your brothers are very persuasive,” Raphael commented dryly. “And, I admit. Your century of imprisonment was payment enough for saving Rhys’ life.” It was the first time an angel outside of Illianna had called him anything other than demon. That had to be progress, Rhys thought.

“Oh my,” Illianna murmured, clearly overcome with emotion as she folded her wings. “I was prepared to pay any price, but I can’t ever thank you enough for making me whole again.”

“You can thank us by getting mated and living a happy life,” Abraxos responded. “You deserve this, and, so much more sister and we will always love you.”

“And, we will accept your mate when you bring him with you to Heaven,” Ayil begrudgingly added.

“I love you, my sweet Illianna, and I am so thankful that my grandchildren will be able to visit me in Heaven. Now, I believe we have a ceremony to complete,” Dara finished. Rhys broke out in a cold sweat at that declaration. Children? Visiting Heaven? One step at a time, he thought. There would be plenty of time for children, right now he just looked forward to the trying for children.

Zander shifted and lifted his hands. “We have gathered here in this beautiful place, under the eye of the Sun and the glow of the Moon. Let the circle be blessed and consecrated with Fire and Water.”

This part of the ceremony belonged to Bhric and Breslin, the Fire and Ice twins. The pair stepped forward and with a flourish, fire shot forth from Breslin’s outstretched palm. It followed the angels’ power up and over their group and down the opposite side to flow around the outskirts of the circle. The fire rose from the earth to join the star-filled sky above. Bhric raised his hands and water shot straight up the center of their group, sizzling as it touched the Light weapons before cascaded down in a sheer waterfall, extinguishing the fire. The result left their group in a sea of mist.

Zander thanked his siblings before they moved back to their places in the circle. “We call to the Goddess Morrigan, and invoke her to bless this mating,” Zander began, holding his hand out for their mating stone. Rhys retrieved the ordinary granite rock from his pocket and handed it to the Vampire King.

Rhys’ mother had given him the mating stone before he left
Annwyn,
telling him that he needed to keep it close for it would bind him to his Fated Mate one day. Aside from the necklace his mother had given him, it was his most cherished possession.

Rhys could feel the Goddess’ power surrounding them. It intensified as the mist suddenly evaporated, leaving a female standing beside Zander. A female Rhys hadn’t seen since he was twenty-five. As if his thoughts had conjured her, his mother, Anthea, stood before him, tears in her eyes.

“The Goddess allowed me to represent her for your ceremony, son,” she murmured and Rhys heard the muffled sounds of shock from those around him.

“Hello, Illianna,” his mother murmured, turning her attention to his mate. “I am so glad the Goddess chose you for my son. She couldn’t have given him a better female,” she choked out, a tear trickling down her cheek.

Rhys recalled how Illianna had told him of his mother’s depression after sending him away. He looked at his mother and saw the love she had for him shinning in her kaleidoscopic eyes. Like the mist that had evaporated, so did all of the anger and doubt he’d ever harbored.

“I’ve missed you,” he blurted to his mother. “I’m glad you could be here.”

“Me, too,” his mother replied, embracing him briefly and kissing his cheek.

Stepping back, Anthea looked to Zander. “I apologize for the interruption, but I couldn’t appear until the Goddess was invoked. Continue, please,” she urged.

“Welcome, Anthea. Rhys, your hand,” Zander instructed him. Rhys held out his right hand and drew in a breath as electrical pulses crawled up his arm when Zander placed Illianna’s hand over his. “We call upon the spirits of the East, of Air, Spring and new beginnings. We call upon the spirits of the South and the inner Fire of the Sun, Summer and personal will. We call upon the spirits of the West, of Water, Autumn, and healing and dreaming. We call upon the spirits of the North, of Earth, Winter, and the time of cleansing and renewal. Join us to bless this couple with your guidance and inspiration,” Zander recited.

The magic emanating from their stone enveloped him and Illianna, making emotion shine in his mate’s stunning silver eyes. The silver sparkle had returned, illuminating her face.

Zander removed his hand, leaving theirs clasped together around the stone. Rhys lifted Illianna’s left hand and placed it on his chest, over his heart, before placing his over her heart. The rapid thumping beneath his palm matched the rhythm of his own that pounded in his chest.

“I bless this mating under the Sun and the Moon. This circle of love and honour is open and never broken, so may it be,” Zander’s voice resonated across the beach.

Rhys felt both souls leave his body as heat built in the stone. He knew the moment the souls entered the stone and wondered if Illianna was feeling the same thing he was. She had chosen him, after all. He anticipated the moment their entwined souls would fill his being. Only then would he would truly feel complete.

A rainbow of light flashed between their fingers, making his skin tingle with the magic. Instantly, the bond with Illianna exploded to every cell of his body. He had never experienced something so surreal in his long life.

Their connection became a thick, gold ribbon that wrapped around her heart and ran to his, interweaving them. The moment their souls surged back into his body was orgasmic. His inner beast wanted to strip the dress from her body and take her right there in the sand. He didn’t care that family and friends surrounded them, he wanted his mate and he wanted her now.

Anthea placed her hand over theirs, stalling those amorous thoughts. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, sharing the joy he felt with his mom. She smiled up at him and turned to Illianna.

“The Goddess wanted me to deliver a message. No power, not even death, can ever sever this bond. Mating stones protect and bless different aspects for different couples. Yours blesses and protects your wings. Nothing can ever take them from you again,” his mother offered. That was the best gift his mate could have been given and was absolutely perfect, Rhys thought.