A loud shriek echoed as several people swarmed Ramiel. He smiled wide as Elsie came barreling down the massive staircase and grabbed her daughter from his arms. Loud thuds told him Zander and several others were hot on her heels.

“Thank the Goddess! Izzy, you’re home!” Elsie cried as she covered her daughter’s face with kisses.

Pepper and Dipple, along with several other gnomes came rushing toward them, as did Pip and Squeak. Before Ramiel could take a breath, the entire compound surrounded them.

“Izzy,” Zander croaked as he gathered her and Elsie in his arms. He met Ramiel’s gaze with tears brimming in his Sapphire-blue eyes. It brought a lump to Rami’s throat. “I doona know how you did it, but thank you for rescuing my nighean. I canna repay you for what you’ve done.”

“There is no need to repay anything. There was no way I was going to leave Isobel in the Underworld,” Ramiel replied and felt all eyes turn in his direction.

“How the fuck did you get in?” Kyran blurted.

“Impossible. There’s no way,” Rhys added as he wrapped his arms around his angelic mate. The sight made Ramiel’s heart leap. He missed his Fallen and needed to find her.

“I went there with a Fallen,” Rami shared.

“Where did you find a Fallen? The only one on Earth was Crocell, and I know that evil being didna help you,” Zander asked as he took the Izzy from Elsie and held her close, his free arm tugging his mate close. Ramiel doubted the vampire was going to let either of them out of his sight anytime soon.

“Zakara helped, Daddy. She loves Rami,” Izzy added as she kissed her father’s cheek and placed her hand over his heart. Power filled the entryway, making Rami smile. Izzy was soothing her agitated father.

“Zakara? Love?” Elsie asked with a raised eyebrow.

Ramiel met her gaze, and for the first time, his heart didn’t ache. The past they shared was over. He would always genuinely care for her, but now he saw her through different eyes. He wished her happiness and joy, and a long life filled with love.

Pulling on his ear, Ramiel shrugged his shoulders. “She’s the Fallen Angel I blackmailed into helping me rescue Izzy. I think Izzy might be putting the cart before the horse with her talk of love.”

“Does that mean you don’t want to be my mate, after all?” a female voice intruded.

Ramiel gasped and turned to see Zakara standing at the base of the stairs.

“Kara, you have bootiful wings,” Izzy exclaimed as she bounced on Zander’s hip. “And they have sparklies!”

Isobel was right. Zakara’s stunning purple wings had silver piercings through the tops. Without a thought, Ramiel rushed to her side and grabbed her in a tight hug. His mouth was on hers before he took another breath.

He relished the feel of her soft lips. All the worry and fear over her safety slipped away as she kissed him back with a fervor. Loud noises made him pull away, and Rami flushed to see the entire group nodding and clapping at their public display.

“I take it this is the Fallen that helped you,” Elsie said with a smile.

“Yes. This angel is Zakara. She is the reason you have Isobel back safe and sound,” Ramiel replied as he wrapped his arm around Zakara.

“Wait! If you’re a Fallen, how did you get through our wards?” Zander asked, and Rami could see the concern on the king’s face.

“Oh, I’m no longer Fallen,” Zakara stated and looked to Rami.

“What?” he blurted, squeezing her hip where his hand rested.

“I’ll fill you in later,” Zakara murmured and bumped her hip against his.

“I’m hungry, Mommy,” Izzy mumbled then yawned. Rami could see exhaustion taking over now that she was safe and sound.

“What would you like, sweetie? I can make you a grilled cheese sandwich,” Elsie offered as she headed toward the kitchen. Zander followed, and each of the warriors approached Ramiel and thanked him before following Elsie and her family.

Ramiel stood there wondering if he should take Zakara to his place or stay and celebrate Izzy’s homecoming when Elsie poked her head around the corner. “You guys coming? I want to hear everything.”

“Yeah, but this needs to be fast. We have a mating to plan,” Ramiel replied and kissed Zakara on the forehead.

“She was your wife, wasn’t she?” Kara whispered as they walked toward the kitchen.

“Yep,” Ramiel said and smiled at the jealous note in her voice.

“You were in desperate need of an upgrade if you ask me,” she retorted with a sniff.

“There is no comparison, Salsa. You light me on fire and burn me to ashes with just a look. There is no one for me but you. I had given up on love, and the Gods brought you into my life. Serving them for eternity is a small price for the gift I’ve received,” Ramiel murmured and stopped to kiss her again.

Heat flared between them, and the kiss quickly turned frantic. Kara pulled away, her blue eyes blazing with lust. “Let’s make this quick, Virgin. You’ve got better things to eat than a grilled cheese sandwich,” she declared.

Hell yes, he did.