The sunshine was blinding.

Eden could hardly believe it—not only had Razael brought her out of that dark-crystal realm which for so long had been her personal hell, he’d brought her to something like heaven. She stood with her palm pressed against the window, gazing out at the rolling mountains and forests below. She was in a fabulous house perched seemingly in the air, with the brilliant blue sky above and the bristling pine trees below. A pair of birds dashed past the window, chasing each other through the brightness. The window was heating under her palm with all the sunshine—and it was lighting up her soul.

“You okay?” Ren asked quietly. She was holding Eva in a bucket seat carrier, and Ralphie was in a pack on her back.

“Yeah, it’s just…” She squinted at the brilliance outside again.

“I know,” Ren breathed. “I didn’t think I’d ever see the sun again.” Her smile lifted Eden’s heart even more.

Razael had brought them directly here to the “dragon’s keep.” The blessing he’d given her had left her blissed-out, floating on a high of love and angel energy. She really shouldn’t have asked him to do that, but she couldn’t help it. And it did feel like it healed her a little more each time. After that, he’d left for a short while, but when he returned, he explained everything. That the impossibly beautiful blonde woman whose apartment they were standing in was his daughter, Erelah. She was an angeling, like the adorable baby in her arms, little Aurora. The huge guy with muscles on his muscles who hovered protectively over Erelah and the baby was Leksander, one of the dragon princes. Razael explained that Leksander was a shifter—meaning he could turn into a dragon—and Eden kept trying to picture what that might look like… and failed. He was gorgeous, but nowhere near the angelic beauty of Razael. All the angels and angelings were unnaturally gorgeous, but she’d associated that beauty with cruelty for so long, it was hard for her to see it.

But now she could. Razael was stunning. And his care and concern for her had brought her here, to this palace in the clouds. She wished they were alone so she could thank him, but they had a whole crowd of people now. Razael and his right-hand angeling, Laylah, who kept sneaking looks at Eden. Razael had brought her, Ren, and the babies. Erelah and her family—Aurora and Leksander—were standing with Razael on the other side of the spacious great room as he explained their situation.

He was no doubt telling them that Elyon was after Eden and her baby—just like he’d come after Erelah and Aurora—and that he needed a safe place for them to stay while he made plans to destroy Elyon.

When they first arrived, Erelah had foisted Aurora on Razael—he hadn’t seemed to want to hold her—but now he seemed smitten by her. The baby was a constant distraction of the most adorable kind, poking at his face with pudgy fingers, fussing with the clasp on his toga, petting his long, black hair, untucking it from behind his ears. He seemed entranced by her, and Eden could watch the two and their silent dance all day.

Finally, he tried to hand the baby back to Erelah—Eden guessed their discussion was done—but Aurora broke free, unfurled her wings, and flew back into Razael’s arms.

Eden chirped a laugh and had to cover her mouth.

Razael was suitably charmed and let the baby stay perched like a little cherub on his shoulder, fingers dug into his hair. And the best part was the baby’s wings were white.

“Do you see that?” Eden whispered to Ren.

She nodded, watching Razael shift to keep Aurora balanced on his shoulder. “Do you think Ralphie and Eva’s will be white?” The two babies were just a few months old—younger than Aurora, who had to be about six months—but neither had shown their wings yet.

“I hope so,” Eden said, a little breathless with the idea. Aurora’s wings were white, but then Razael had said Erelah was a Light angel. All the babies in the nursery back in Elyon’s Regiment had black wings by the time they were old enough to join the band of angelings that ruled the nursery. Was it genetic? Eden carried the child of one of the most vile shadow angels, according to Razael. But from the beginning, she’d been convinced that the baby itself was innocent. There had to be something that turned a sweet baby into a grown-up monster, and Eden was determined that her baby wouldn’t be that. She didn’t think she could be jealous of an angeling, but in that moment, she wanted nothing more than for her baby to have white wings like Aurora’s.

Razael finally broke away from Erelah and Leksander, bringing little Aurora with him. Laylah trailed behind.

“The arrangements have all been made,” Razael said to Eden when he reached them at the window.

“Are we staying here?” Ren asked. “Please tell me we’re staying here.” The apartment was gorgeous—lit with sunlight from two-story windows, all modern furnishings, and a towering rock fireplace. Eden had never been in such a luxuriously decorated house.

Razael smiled at Ren, but his gaze rested mostly on Eden. “Not exactly. You’ll stay in a guest apartment, but there will be plenty of room for you and the babies. Most importantly, Erelah assures me that dragons have hearty appetites, and their mates even more so—they are well equipped to keep you well fed and cared for.” He was smiling alternately at her and little Aurora.

“That sounds wonderful.” Eden was dying to say more. Would he stay? Would he visit? Would she have a chance to speak to him alone again? Suddenly, that time spent recuperating in his chambers seemed entirely too short.

“I’m staying as a guard,” Laylah added. “But I’ll be outside the apartment, so I won’t bother you. Plus the keep has wards for security.”

That sounded like Razael was leaving. She looked to him, but Aurora had his attention.

Erelah came up behind them. “You’ll have everything you need. And you are welcome in the House of Smoke for as long as you wish to stay.”

As long as she wished to stay. Eden was in no hurry to leave—not with Elyon out there and Razael in here. But was he staying or not?

Erelah worked on extracting Aurora’s fingers from Razael’s hair. “You really need to visit more often, father,” she chided. “So Aurora doesn’t think you’re her new plaything.”

Yes! Eden wanted to cheer. But she kept quiet and watched.

“There are worse fates,” Razael said with a smile, finally coaxing Aurora toward her mother’s arms. Instead, the baby angeling took flight and swooped back to her father, who caught her in a swinging catch that said they’d played that game often.

Eden’s heart swelled so much she thought it might burst.

“Will you come back soon?” she asked Razael. The words were out before she could stop them.

That seemed to bring everything to a standstill, all eyes on Razael.

But he was transfixed by her. “I will… be busy, attempting to… Elyon is still a great danger.” He seemed to struggle with the words. Did he want to come back? Or was he stumbling because he didn’t want to? Because it was too hard being around her, and she had asked too much with that last blessing?

She couldn’t say any of that in front of the others, especially his daughter, Erelah, who was openly staring at her father now. Laylah was staring at him, too, and Ren was barely suppressing a smile.

“Of course,” Eden said and just dropped her gaze.

More softly, Razael said, “I’ll return when I can.”

Eden looked up. The way he said it—did she just want it to secretly say he wanted to be with her?

“Meanwhile,” he continued in a tone that seemed to wave away the discomfort, “I’ll be working to make sure you’re all safe.” He turned to Erelah. “I am sorry, my daughter, to bring this once again to your doorstep. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t believe we could keep you and Aurora safe.”

“I want Elyon banished as much as any,” she said, chin lifted. “You know my heart with that.”

He smiled at Erelah, and once again, Eden’s heart melted. How was it she was so suddenly and fiercely smitten? Was it the leftover blessings? Or simply the powerful love that seemed to pulse from Razael in the presence of his family? It was like the sunshine outside—she was uplifted just by being in its presence.

“I shall have to visit more often,” he said to his daughter, and it wasn’t Eden’s imagination this time—he gave a soft look to her as well.

Then he stepped back from their small huddle by the windows, twisted, and disappeared.

“You can raise the wards now,” Erelah called to her husband, Leksander, who was busy swinging Aurora in long arcs and eliciting giggles and small shrieks of happiness. He stopped their game and tucked her under his arm, scuttling from the spacious great room and toward the front door, apparently to enact the magic that would protect them from Elyon.

Which was a relief. Even with angelings, and apparently dragons, to guard them, she knew they didn’t wield a fraction of the power of an angel. Before, she had only thought of that as power for evil… but now, by the simple fact that she was alive, there was proof that some angels used their power for good. Tremendously sexy angels with long dark hair…

There was an awkward silence in Razael’s absence. Eden realized suddenly that everyone was looking at her. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Were her thoughts so transparent?

“So,” she said brightly, trying to smile past the awkwardness, “I guess we have an apartment? I don’t want to impose on you anymore,” she said to Erelah, “if we have our own place to go.”

Erelah gave her a look like she was crazy. “You are no burden.” Then she stepped closer and dropped to one knee, holding her hands up but not quite touching Eden’s belly. “I have ushered three immortal babies into the world, including my own—two dragonling princes, and my Aurora. Your babies will be in good hands in the House of Smoke.” Then she peered at Eden’s belly. A slow smile warmed her face. Erelah looked back up at her. “Did you know you have a son?”

“A son?” Eden gasped. She shook her head.

“May I give him a blessing?” Erelah asked earnestly.

“I… um… yes?” Eden felt strangely uncomfortable about that. So far, all her blessings had come from Razael, and there was this… well… sexual undertone to them. Receiving one from his daughter felt bizarre at best.

“It is an honor to bless the woman for whom my father has such great Love.” Erelah smiled and lightly pressed her hands to Eden’s belly.

Eden’s mouth hung open. Love. How did Erelah know? Did Razael say something? Then the flood of energy from the blessing hit her—it was the same feeling of comfort and life and energy as with Razael, only not as strong, and not sexual at all. It was like a magical hug between sisters, and Eden was charmed into silence—and nearly into tears.

It was over quickly, then Erelah turned to Ren and did the same. Only she said nothing about Razael “having such a great Love” for her. Eden couldn’t help the lift in her heart with that, too. Maybe after Elyon was banished… maybe after Razael came back for her… was it insane for her to want something like love from an angel? But she was carrying an angeling in her womb in a heavenly house in the clouds full of immortal creatures. If not here—where else could something like this dream come true? It wasn’t as if there were much for her back in Seattle. Her parents had passed, and she was an only child. She had friends at her job at the daycare, but no boyfriends or anyone super close. She’d always been so absorbed in the kids, the possibility of adopting, being the best mom she could be.

And now, for all the horrible things that had happened, she had a baby of her own. And her baby was her future. She literally lived for him.

A boy. A flush of joy pulsed through her.

She would make a home wherever best suited for him.

When Erelah was finished blessing Ren’s belly, she rose up and hooked her arm around Eden’s. “I will show you to your apartment now. But with two baby angelings already added to our keep, you should expect a visit from Aurora soon. With her grandfather out of the room, I’m sure she will be fascinated with your little ones. So far, she’s only had playtimes with her cousins, the dragonlings.” The light and effortless way she spoke and guided Eden toward the door, it was as if they were already family.

Eden’s heart was full.

As she had told Molly when they first escaped—when she thought it would be the three moms and five babies—all she had ever wanted was a big family. She thought she might have to adopt her way to getting one, but maybe… just maybe… she would be adopted into a family that already existed. One with immortal children just like hers.

She’d only been at the keep five minutes, and she couldn’t imagine anything more perfect. Even if Razael never returned, he had already given her this.

As they wound through the hallways of the keep, it was clear there were many families living here. Erelah explained that the House of Smoke was a royal house of dragons tasked with keeping the treaty which protected humanity… and that the dragons were nearly all male and needed to mate with human women. There were many women just like her—a human woman carrying an immortal child—and everyone in the keep was excited about Eva and Ralphie and Ren’s and Eden’s babies. Especially given they were rescued from Elyon, whom everyone universally reviled.

When they reached the guest apartment, Laylah spoke up, after having kept silent and on guard the whole time since Razael left. “Do they not fear angels anymore, with you as their princess, Erelah?”

“Dragons do not fear much,” she said with a smile. “And their hearts were won when angelings saved their prince.”

Laylah nodded as if this was expected. They stepped into the apartment. It was just like Erelah’s—high ceilinged and gorgeously decorated and very modern-looking with the blonde wood and white couches. It was the kind of place rich people lived, and Eden had never been rich a day in her life—not with money, anyway.

“You each have a room down that hall,” Erelah pointed off to the side of the expansive great room. “And a nursery in between. The kitchen is stocked, but don’t hesitate to ask for something to your taste. We have several dragons who have become exceptional cooks.”

Eden couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. “Thank you.”

Erelah tipped her head and made her goodbyes, slipping out the door and leaving Eden and Ren and the babies with Laylah.

“All right, I’m checking out the place!” Ren said, setting down Eva in her carrier and wandering off with Ralphie still strapped to her back. Ren was as wide-eyed as Eden at the splendor of their apartment.

Laylah’s solemn face was a strong contrast to the smile Eden felt was etching down deep in her bones. “It’s true, you know,” Laylah said.

“What?” Eden’s heart jittered a little.

“That he has Love of you.” Laylah was watching her carefully.

“Oh. I, um…” Her heart jittered even more. “I don’t know about that.”

“I do.” Laylah’s voice was very serious.

Eden didn’t know what to make of it—was she serious? “Why are you telling me this?”

Laylah bit her lip and glanced down the hall. Ren was exclaiming the décor of the nursery and declaring it adorable. To Eden, Laylah said, softly, “You should know… he had a difficult Fall. His heart is…” She winced like perhaps she was second guessing telling her.

“His heart is what?” Eden asked, breathless.

“It still is marked by his Fall. Before that, he was a great Warrior class angel. One of the strongest and wisest of the Light angels.”

Eden nodded. “He told me about the woman he loved.”

Laylah pulled back, surprised. “He did?”

“Yes. And I’m afraid…” She hesitated. But she could tell Laylah, right? She was already encouraging them to be together, or so it seemed. Eden still dropped her voice. “I’m afraid he looks at me and merely sees her.”

Laylah frowned.

Eden’s heart sank. “Which is fine, of course. I mean… if I can repay any of his kindness in any way, I will. Even if only as a reminder. If it helps.” She was bumbling now, lost.

Laylah frowned further and dropped her gaze like she was suddenly uncertain.

Eden waited, unsure what to say.

“Eden!” Ren’s voice called from the back. “Oh my God, you have to see this view!”

Eden hesitated, looking to Laylah to see if they were done.

Laylah put a hand on her arm and stop her from leaving. “You can help him. You can be good for him.”

Eden’s heart lifted. “I hope so.”

Laylah nodded. “I’ll be out front. Let me know if you need anything.” And with that, she turned and marched back to the front door.

Eden smiled at her retreat. If Laylah thought she could be good for an angel—something so crazy it might actually be possible—then Eden would have faith it could be done. She would just have to figure out how.

With that thought and a growing smile on her face, she lifted Eva’s carrier and brought the sleeping baby toward her new nursery home.