Chapter Forty-Four
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RAMIEL’S PAIN DIDN’T last long after Qiana cut him open to remove the slug.
Her healing magic swept through him, repairing the damage in an instant.
Kochab helped him to sit up on the examination bed and clapped him on the shoulder.
“It’s good to finally have you here, brother,” he said with a grin.
Ramiel grinned back at him, then glanced at his unblemished chest. “I’m glad your female has such an amazing talent,” he said.
Amaros had left the infirmary, but Ramiel could sense his squadmates were gathered a short distance away.
“Hey, Ram,” Camriel said as he sauntered into the room. “These should fit you,” he said, handing over a bundle of clothing. “I’ll show you where the communal showers are,” his brother said.
Ramiel turned to the beautiful blonde cambion. “Thank you for healing me, female,” he said.
“I’m sure it won’t be the last time,” Qi said wryly. “I’ve already lost count of how many times I’ve patched our mates up.”
Qiana wasn’t the only cambion in the stone building. The teenager who’d come to take Caterina away was one as well. So were most of the people who were with his brothers. Only one felt like a human to him as he followed Camriel the short distance to a huge bathroom.
“Towels and other toiletries are in that cupboard,” Camriel said, pointing at a large blue cabinet over to the left. “I built it, with Oak’s help,” he said proudly.
“You did a good job, brother,” Ramiel said and his fellow knight beamed happily. “If I’m Ram, does that mean you’re Cam?” he asked.
“Yep,” Camriel confirmed. “Grace has given everyone a nickname, except Amaros. You’ll get to meet everyone soon,” he said, then left the room.
Ramiel took a quick shower to wash the blood off, amazed that they had hot water and electricity. He had no idea where they were, but he sensed they were somewhere elevated.
Anxious to be reunited with Caterina, Ram got dressed in the brand-new clothes his brother had given him.
He followed his link down a passageway and sensed two cambions with his female.
He reached an open doorway just as a lovely young woman with brunette hair took Cat’s hand.
Both females went still and he felt magic enter his cambion.
“That’s Zoe,” Grace said. “She’s psychic and scans all of us cambions, just in case we’re hiding some dark secrets.”
They snapped out of it and Zoe’s expression turned empathetic. “It wasn’t your fault that your cousin’s soul turned black,” she said compassionately. “He was always going to end up that way. The Rapture just sped it up. You did the right thing by frying his heart.”
“You can use fire?” Grace asked in awe. “Can you show me?”
Caterina held her hand up and tiny flames appeared on her fingertips. Closing all but one finger into a fist, she wrote the teen’s name in fire before extinguishing it. “I’ll give you all a proper demonstration later,” Cat promised.
“Grace will give you two the tour while we get dinner ready,” Zoe said.
“You can show them the lake tomorrow,” she added over her shoulder.
She scooped up a gray cat from the bed on her way out.
The animal immediately began screaming in her ear.
“Sin just fed you an hour ago!” she scolded the feline.
Grace was grinning from ear to ear, eager to show them the base. “This is the north wing and half of our bedrooms are here,” she said. “The rooms on the other side of the hallway will be for our kids.”
“You’re planning to have families?” Ram asked in shock.
“Amaros will fill you in when the tour is over,” their guide said, then proceeded to show them the entire building.
They saw the gardens between the three structures, then she took them outside to show off the garages and shed.
“Queeg keeps his caravan and truck in the second garage,” Grace said.
“They mean too much to him for us to leave them out in the elements.”
“Who is this Queeg?” Ramiel asked curiously.
“You’ll find out soon,” Grace said cheekily. “Dinner should be ready soon and I need to wash up. You guys can wait in the great room if you want.”
Ram’s brothers were waiting for them when they entered the gigantic great room. Grace sped off towards her bedroom in the south wing. Taking his female’s hand, Ramiel introduced her to his squadmates.
Cam hugged her in greeting and received a glare. “Relax, brother,” the big blonde warrior said with a grin. “I’m happily mated to Vic. She’d break me in half if I even looked at another female, not that I’m even capable of it now.”
“Damn straight I would!” a female voice called out.
Cat snickered and Ramiel was glad she wasn’t freaked out by everything that had happened to them. “You all have cambions as your mates?” Ram asked, even though he knew the answer.
“I don’t,” the human who’d been introduced as Queegly Crantz joked.
“How did you come to be here?” Caterina asked. They’d all taken a seat after Cam had finished hugging her.
“Why does your voice sound so familiar?” Ramiel asked before the male could answer her.
“I was the one who warned you two to leave that bed and breakfast,” Queeg said.
“Oh, my God!” Cat exclaimed in shock. “You’re the Mad Prophet!”
He chuckled rather than taking offense. “That’s what most folks call me,” he agreed. “Fate sent me a warning that my former base was about to be discovered,” he explained. “She guided me here and the knights and their fair ladies took me in.”
“Get in here, azzholes!” Vic called out. “Dinner’s ready!”
“That’s my mate,” Cam said wryly. “She’s a delicate little flower.”
That was rewarded with laughter from his entire family.
Ram and Cat exchanged a look, then followed them across the hall to the dining room.
They realized what had been so funny about Camriel’s statement when they saw his female.
Six feet tall, she was almost as muscular as the males in her black skin-tight Lycra outfit.
The rest of the introductions were made and the cambions all explained what their skills were. It seemed to be a routine that they followed each time a new couple arrived.
“You all feel far stronger than usual,” Ramiel said with a frown.
“That’s because of our bond with our mates,” Amaros said. “I’m sure you can both feel a link with each other,” he figured and they nodded. “Fate has given us all a choice this time,” he said, then explained why this war was so different from the others.
Ramiel watched his brothers eat and drink, stunned that they were being given the opportunity to remain on Earth. He would need to consume food and liquids to survive, but it was a small price to pay if it meant he could become bonded to the female he loved.
Caterina had eaten her meal in silence, listening to his commander’s story. Wiping her lips with a napkin, she turned to face Ramiel. “I’m ready to bond with you right now,” she said and offered him her hand.
Ram took Cat’s hand and reached for her link. She reached for his in return, then their bond snapped into place, making them feel strong and whole.
“Aww,” Grace said, fisting her hands beneath her adorably pointed chin. “They just bonded right in front of us!”
“We’re usually naked when we complete the bond,” Tori said. “But I’m guessing you two have already done the naked mambo.”
“Why didn’t you become bonded when you had sex?” Wynter asked. Both Ram and Cat had been surprised to see two babies at the dinner table. They were still in a bit of shock.
“I’m fertile right now,” Caterina said in mild embarrassment.
“You were fertile, female,” Ramiel said. “It’s safe for us to celebrate our bond properly now.”
Their eyes locked, so they didn’t see Grace stand up. The teen left the table, but was back seconds later. “I’d better hand these out before they disappear to their bedroom,” she muttered. “On three, people,” she ordered. She held three fingers up, then counted down.
“Happy bonding day!” everyone shouted on three, including the Mad Prophet.
Snapping out of their love-filled trance, Ramiel and Caterina took the gifts Grace handed to them. “Sexy lingerie in my size,” Cat said in approval. “I can’t wait to try these on.”
“Fancy chocolates?” Ramiel said in surprise when he opened his gift. “And toilet paper?” he added, pulling out a roll of white paper.
“Surprise!” Jacquin shouted, then laughed and slapped his hand on the table. “I love the look on my brothers’ faces when they realize they’ll need to shiz and pizz,” he crowed.
Ramiel couldn’t stop the scowl that appeared on his face, but his new mate just snickered. They could read each other’s minds now that they were bonded and he knew she loved him just as deeply as he loved her.
Why don’t we take our gifts to our bedroom and enjoy them in private, she asked him telepathically.
His response was to teleport them directly to the room Grace had taken his mate to earlier.