Her Mortal Mate

Chapter Fifty Seven: Renata Amaranth

Jadea

“Hmm,” Fate turned her eyes to Balthazar. “I remember you. You also figured out how to turn back time,” she mused. “You saved your mate, Renata Amaranth. She was pregnant also, wasn’t she?”

“Yes,” Balthazar affirmed, his gaze not quite meeting hers.

Her contemplating gaze moved over him. “She was in danger. You were the Phoenix and you entrusted her to the safety of the archangels, did you not?”

“I did.”

I felt my pack’s surprise at this information. Heck, I was even shocked! This gave me so much insight into Balthazar and how he came to be the supervillain of villains in the immortal world. He knew how all of this worked because he had once been a Phoenix. He had once been a warrior fighting for justice, but—lo and behold—the archangels had failed him.

“And when I came, you had been taken by your enemy. None of them were willing to give their lives for her or her unborn child. And so I had no choice but to take her life anyway. They betrayed you, didn’t they?”

“Yes.”

“I hadn’t realized he was a Phoenix too,” Garret mused. “I wonder if he fell to darkness after learning about his mate and child?”

“That would make the most sense,” Briar pondered. “He had to be heartbroken and left feeling betrayed by those he thought would keep her safe. But, there has to be more to it. He had to have known about Fate, right?”

“I don’t think he did,” Garret stated thoughtfully. “Or he would have left someone willing to take her place.”

“What if he did?” I asked. It was interesting, getting an intimate glimpse into the history of Balthazar, one of the oldest immortals I knew about. However, there wasn’t much known about him, other than his recent misdeeds against the world.

He was the only being on earth who had attacked the archangels directly and won. He had killed an archangel himself; had captured and held another prisoner for decades, possibly even centuries; and his final transgression was sending Camael to lay waste to the archangels haven, decimating their ranks.

That time in immortal history was very dark and bleak.

“But what I don’t understand was why he turned himself over to Constance and her Imperium Guard in the first place.” Derrick muttered. “From what I know of the situation, and that isn’t much, he had no reason to do so.”

That was the mystery I hoped we would find out today.

“I remember your wrath,” she stated calmly. “Your pain. Your hatred when you learned the fate of your beloved and child. You have disrupted thousands upon thousands of souls. Possibly even millions that you sent to an early grave when it wasn’t by my choice. Your heart and soul are as black as they come. You give yourself up willingly to me, but I must ask why?”

Balthazar’s gaze moved up to meet hers, and in them I noticed a glimmer of hope. “Renata’s soul was reborn,” he uttered.

“And you know who she is?”

“Yes.”

An interesting development. I knew souls regenerated, but it was interesting to actually hear of this dynamic occurring. He had lived for so long, his mate’s soul regenerated and found his once again.

True soul mates, in a ‘souls’ lifetime—which consisted of several regeneration processes because matter couldn’t be created or destroyed—usually only met once in all of that time. A soul could accept others as ‘soul mates’ but true mates was rare.

It couldn’t be a coincidence, right?

“I have to wonder who his mate is?” Garret voiced thoughtfully.

“I’m sure we will find out,” Briar noted.

“Hmm,” Fate hummed thoughtfully. “That still doesn’t answer my question though. You could still claim her.’

“You know I can’t. Not like this.”

“You don’t think you’re soul is redeemable?”

“I’ve been lost to the darkness for far too long. Even if I killed myself and regenerated, my soul would be tainted. It would remain evil, even after death.”

“So you wish to cleanse your soul through me?” She asked bluntly.

“Yes.”

“You realize how many lives Constance and her guard saved today, right? You would be in my service for thousands of years.’

“I know,” he murmured. “But, if it is worth coming back untainted, I would do it a thousand times over. Because my Renata deserves nothing more than the best of me.”

“Does she agree to this?”

“She doesn’t have to. You only need my word.”

“I can change the rules, Balthazar,” she stated. “And, just because you offer yourself, does not mean I have to accept.”

Balthazar’s shoulders tensed, and his eyes hardened at Fate’s threat. “Please,” he begged. “Don’t do this.”

“You don’t trust those in this meadow to keep who your mate is a secret?” She asked.

“You know I don’t,” he snapped, his composure breaking. “You know I cannot trust anyone.’

“She will be gone from this body and world by the time you are able to regenerate.”

“All the more to protect her identity,” he growled.

“Please,” Fate pressed. “Indulge me.”

The way she said it caught my interest, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed it too. Constance, some of her guard, and Balthazar had heard that shift in tone.

Balthazar’s gaze turned to Constance. “It is your call, Phoenix.”

Constance turned to Gabriel and I felt the gentle vibrations of energy in the air as they conversed telepathically.

“Can you pick up on what they are saying?” I asked Garret hopefully.

“No, Alessandra is blocking their minds.”

One could only hope, right?

Gabriel nodded and Obsidian suddenly disappeared, teleporting away from the area.

It was then I noticed Celeste wasn’t present, and neither was Lance. Where were they? Had they been injured?

I wanted to ask my father, but Obsidian reappeared at that instance with an adolescent girl. She had long black curls, beautiful hazel eyes, black curled horns and black wings. Her features looked more like Constance, but there were traces of Gabriel mixed in.

This had to be Lilliana, Constance’s and Gabriel’s daughter.

Wait a second…

My heart fairly seized as she stepped forward and stood between Balthazar and Fate.

No!

It couldn’t be!

“Holy mother of God!” Garret exclaimed. “Constance’s daughter is Balthazar’s mate!?”

“Oh my lord, I want to know the story!” Blade said.

“That explains why he gave himself up, though,” Briar said.

“You wished to see me?” Lilliana asked fearlessly. She was just like her mother. A warrior. Unafraid to stare death in the face. I had to give it to her for not breaking under such revelations.

“You are his true soul mate?” Fate asked for clarification.

“Yes. I am.”

Fate’s gaze turned to Constance and then moved back to Lilliana. “Interesting…” she mused. “You are a strong soul, Lilliana. Do you remember anything of your past lives?”

“I have had several flashbacks from Renata’s life,” she confirmed. “And, some brief flashes of my time with you.”

“Yes, you were a particularly strong willed soul, I remember. Stubborn. Powerful. Though, you would have to be in order to be with a soul like Balthazar’s.”

“What do you want from me?” Lilliana asked.

“I want to make a bargain, Lilliana. One that also involves your soul. One that, if you win, could see you and your true mate reunited here on earth within a handful of years,” Fate started. “Would you like to hear the pitch?”