The Guardian

by Elicia Hyder

  “Warren, I mean it,” he said.

  “Azrael doesn’t want Adrianne to know.”

  “The baby’s an angel.”

  I just stared ahead.

  “Is it the Morning Star?”

  My jaw tensed.

  “Shit.” Nathan sat back in his seat, leaned his elbow on the door, and gripped his forehead. “That’s why he’s been keeping Adrianne away so much. He knows what it’s doing to Iliana.”

  “Probably so.”

  “What will he do?”

  “Nate, you’re gonna have to talk to him.”

  “Like he’s gonna tell me anything.”

  True.

  I looked at Fury in the rearview. She’d had lots more practice at spinning Azrael’s schemes than I ever had. “If nothing else, you can trust Azrael will do whatever is necessary to keep your daughter safe,” she said.

  Nathan closed his eyes. “That doesn’t make me feel much better. We’re talking about my wife’s very best friend. They’re practically sisters.”

  “I know,” I said.

  “Warren, you’d better get to Nulterra and find more of that God stone. I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

  Fury leaned forward between the front seats. “Why can’t you go to the Father and get more of the blood stone?”

  “From what Moloch told us, it doesn’t sound like that would be possible,” Chimera said. “He limits himself here now so that he won’t have the power to cause harm.”

  “Yeah. I’m sure if that were an option, he would’ve offered it already,” I agreed.

  I followed the directions on my GPS app and took a hard right onto the road that led to Azrael’s.

  At the top of the long and winding road, cars were parked like Tetris pieces near the house. I parked on the side road that went down toward the barn.

  The four of us got out, and I clicked the button to open the trunk. I looked around at all the cars while I pulled out my bags. “Man, when Adrianne said we’d have dinner, I didn’t realize she’d be throwing a party.”

  “Really?” Nathan asked. “I expected absolutely nothing less.”

  Fury grabbed her bags too. “It’s so weird seeing Az be so suburban.”

  “I dunno.” I closed the trunk, and we started toward the house. “My mom talks about Az like he was the life of the party when they were together.”

  Her eyes were fixed on the ground. “I don’t doubt it. Flint spent a lot time with your parents when he was younger. It’s just weird for me because I’ve only ever known him post-Nadine.”

  “What was he like when you met him?” Chimera asked.

  “Scary. And mean as a snake.”

  “Really?” Nathan asked.

  “Oh yeah. He used to scare the shit out of me and Anya.”

  It was hard for me to imagine Fury being afraid of anything.

  “He can be a dick for sure, but I can’t believe he’d scare little kids,” I said.

  “I don’t even know him that well, and I wouldn’t think so either,” Chimera agreed.

  Fury squinted against the setting sun, despite her new, cheap sunglasses. “He didn’t do it on purpose. It was who he was. Or, I guess, it was who he had become.”

  “That was what? Five or six years after I was born, and my mother was taken by the Morning Star?”

  “Plenty of time for his soul to turn black.” She sighed and shook her head. “Losing what you love most does bad shit to a person.”

  I thought of Sloan and Iliana and shrugged. “Maybe if you let it.”

  Fury looked at me.

  Before either of us could speak again, Nathan nudged my arm. “Hey, I just got a text from Sloan. She said Iliana’s asleep, so we need to be quiet when we go inside.”

  “That sucks,” I said.

  “It won’t be for long. She’ll get her up when the food’s ready. Trust me, you don’t want to wake that kid before she’s ready.”

  “Like her mom, then?”

  He laughed. “Yeah. Lethal with the ability to do something about it.”

  Inside, all the doors were open, and everyone had gathered in the backyard. The air smelled like fire and charred meat. My stomach rumbled.

  I touched Fury’s arm, then gestured toward her bag. “Want me to take that?”

  She handed it to me. “Thanks. I’ll meet you out back.”

  “Nate, where’s Iliana asleep?” I asked.

  “Probably Az’s room,” he said.

  I gave him a thumbs-up, then started in the opposite direction toward the hallway. A supernatural energy vibrated through the house, and I smiled knowing my baby girl was close.

  I walked into the queen bedroom I’d once shared with Cassiel and dropped my bags and Fury’s on the bed. Then I started back out to rejoin the party. As I neared the hallway’s exit, the bathroom door swung open right beside me.

  Reuel screamed.

  I screamed.

  Then the massive angel started laughing. I, however, was making sure my heart was still inside my chest. He pulled me into a massive hug, nearly crushing all the bones in my torso, and clapped his heavy hand on my back. “Akai nun cak vera.”

  It was a phrase in our language, Katavukai, similar to “long time no see.” Or more closely translated to, “I haven’t seen you in an eternity,” which it had almost been in Eden years.

  “Shh, we’re supposed to be quiet,” I said, reining in my own laughter.

  He clapped a hand over his mouth.

  “Akai kirek alis,” he said quietly.

  “I’ve missed you too, old friend.” I took a step back. “But you know you can speak English now, right?”

  He hooked his arm around my neck and grinned. “You know I don’t want to, right?”

  “When did you get here?” I asked as we walked into the living room.

  “About an hour ago,” he answered in English. “We saw the helicopter go down, and I spoke to Flint at the Eden Gate. How is she?”

  “She’s Fury. Stone cold as usual.”

  “Only on the outside. If Anya is dead, Flint was all she had left in the world.”

  “She has Jett now,” I reminded him.

  He shook his head sadly. “True, but still not the same. Where is she?”

  “Outside, I think.” I crossed my arms. “What are you doing here? You told me you didn’t want any part of this.”

  “I still don’t, but I have news.”

  My brow rose. “About?”

  “Jett.”

  “News for me, or news for Fury?”

  “Both.”

  “Is it good or bad?”

  He opened his mouth, but before he could answer, I cut him off. “No, tell me after dinner. I’d like one drama free night on Earth before I leave.”

  He smiled. “As you wish, but I do need to ask something else unpleasant. I’ve seen Adrianne. Do you have something to tell me?”

  I put my hand on his shoulder. “Later. I promise. Come on. Fury will want to see you.” We started toward the back door. “You are coming with us to Nulterra though?”

  “If I can’t keep her here.” He sounded exasperated.

  “What changed your mind?”

  He looked outside for Fury. “I’ve kept watch over her all her life. Can’t stop now, even if she is being hard skulled.”

  My eyes narrowed. “Hardheaded?”

  “Yes. Hardheaded.” Reuel struggled with idioms and metaphors, as words were only interpreted literally through Katavukai. “Still no convincing her not to go?”

  I shook my head. “No, but I’ve tried. So did her dad.”

  “It’s sad about Flint. He was a nice human.”

  “I hate I didn’t get to know him better.”

  “I’m sure he’d say the same about you.”

  “Have you seen Iliana and Sloan?”

  “Only Sloan. Iliana’s been asleep since I got here, but I heard it’s safe to meet her. Are you excited?”

  “My friend, you have no idea.”


  The backyard had been transformed into a party pad. Between the helicopter and the house, two folding tables were put end-to-end and covered with blue-and-white checkered tablecloths. Azrael tended the smoking grill, while Adrianne and Chimera set the table. I didn’t see Sloan or Nathan anywhere.

  Fury was talking to Enzo, Special Operations Director of SF-12, and Kane, one of SF-12’s most senior members. When she spotted Reuel, her lips parted, and she sucked in a shaky breath before running to him.

  With a jump, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  He held her in the air for a long time, speaking quietly to her in Katavukai, which she spoke fluently. When he finally set her down, he cupped her face in his hands and used his giant thumbs to swipe away her tears.

  She held onto his wrists. “Alis tai,” she said with the slightest hitch in her voice.

  “Of course I came back,” Reuel replied in perfect English.

  Fury’s head jerked back.

  “Surprise,” he said. “The Council changed the law. We’re allowed to speak English now.”

  Fury looked at me. “Did you know?”

  “I found out last night.”

  “I won’t do it often,” he said with a grin.

  “Because he’s terrible at it,” I teased.

  Reuel held up his middle finger. “Donkey hole.”

  “Donkey hole?” Fury asked. “I don’t get it.”

  “Katavukai works like an international cipher for languages. Only it interprets them literally. Idioms and metaphors are lost on this guy,” I said.

  Fury turned back toward Reuel, her face hopeful. “Are you coming with us to Nulterra?”

  “I suppose. If I can’t stop you from going, I might as well try to keep you alive.” He bent to look at her. “Besides, I promised your dad I would.”

  “You saw him?”

  “Yes. He’s well.”

  She hugged him again. “Thank you, Reuel.”

  I’d never seen Fury show so much affection to anyone. Not that I was jealous, or anything.

  “Warren says you’ve been searching for angels who might have been born on Earth.” The muscles tensed in Fury’s neck. “Any luck?”

  He smiled, which was reassuring. “We’ll talk about it after dinner.”

  She blew out a nervous sigh but nodded.

  “Oh no! Who called the brute squad?” Nathan said behind us. Reuel and I turned as Nathan and Sloan walked off the porch.

  Reuel opened his arms wide. “There’s my little buddy.”

  Laughing, Nathan stepped into his giant arms. Reuel lifted him off the ground and spun around in a circle a few times. When he finally returned Nate’s boots to the ground, Nate staggered sideways, and Reuel grabbed his shoulders to steady him.

  “I’ve missed you too, man,” Nathan said, his head still a little wobbly.

  Chimera walked up beside me. “Hey, Reuel, have you met Chimera?”

  He turned, looked, and looked again. Then he took a small step back. “Seramorta.”

  “Yep.” She stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Reuel. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “You two didn’t meet at Echo-5?” Sloan asked.

  He shook his head. “I’d definitely remember her. You’re the one who brought the necklace?”

  “Yes, she is,” I said, happily.

  Sloan kissed Nathan’s cheek. “I’m going to finish helping Adrianne.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Nathan said.

  “I can too,” I offered.

  Sloan waved her hand. “You two relax and catch up. It’s Warren’s last night on Earth for a while. There’s not much to do.”

  “You sure?” Nathan asked.

  “Positive,” Sloan said with a wink.

  Enzo and Kane walked over and joined our group. “Warren, good to see you. How’s the back?” Enzo asked.

  I twisted at the waist, side to side. “Good as new.”

  “What happened to your back?” Fury asked.

  Enzo’s face soured. “Doc and Az had to rip a lodged bullet out of his spine a few months ago. On Az’s dining room table. It wasn’t pretty.”

  Fury’s sympathetic face was mocking. “Oh, and Warren’s such a baby when it comes to bullets.”

  “Hey now,” I said, offended but amused.

  Fury nudged Nathan’s arm. “When we were in Iraq, Warren took a round that didn’t even pierce his vest, and you’d have thought it blew his chest cavity open.”

  The guys laughed.

  I pointed at Fury. “Busted ribs are no joke.”

  “Verta,” Reuel said, nodding his head.

  Enzo raised his beer. “Hear, hear.”

  “And I remember you being pretty sympathetic that day,” I said to her.

  Her sympathy wasn’t the only thing I remembered. That was the first time we kissed, on base inside my sweltering and rank desert hooch. She wasn’t even supposed to be there, but Fury had never been one for following rules. Orders, sure. But she’d never really considered herself under the jurisdiction of anyone, except for (maybe) my father, and only when she was on his payroll.

  “Fury? Sympathetic?” Kane asked. “I’m calling bullshit on that one.”

  Nathan raised a hand. “Seconded.”

  “Believe what you want,” Fury said with a shrug.

  I pointed at her. “It was only because she wanted something.”

  Everyone laughed again.

  Kane shoved my chest. “I’ll bet she did, brother.”

  Shit. I rolled my eyes. “Not what I meant.”

  “Surrre,” Kane teased.

  “Are you kidding me?” Fury playfully slapped my chest. “Warren could hardly stand up, much less get anything else up that day.”

  There were echoes of “Ohhh!” and “Burn!” around the group. I just laughed and shook my head. Fury caught my eye and winked.

  “Somebody get this man a beer to put out those flames,” Enzo said, laughing as he slapped my back.

  Kane handed me a bottled beer from the ice chest. I thanked him and twisted off the cap. He offered one to Fury, but she shook her head.

  “Ribs are done!” Azrael called from the grill.

  “Everyone find a seat at the table,” Adrianne said, carrying a large bowl out of the house. “There should be plenty of chairs.”

  Sloan was right behind her, carrying more food. Nathan jogged over to help her.

  Azrael carried the meat to the table, then took the spot at the head of the table. Adrianne sat on one side of him, and I sat on the other. Sloan and Nathan sat across from me and Fury. It was weird. Like we’d fallen into some alternate dimension.

  Adrianne leaned over and pulled the tin foil off the platter of meat. Reuel’s hand shot toward it. She held up a finger. “Reuel, we didn’t know you were coming, so you need to start small.”

  He pulled an entire rack of ribs off the plate.

  Adrianne’s eyes doubled. “I said small!”

  He turned his palms up with sad eyes that said, “This is small.”

  “It’s OK,” Azrael said. “Reuel, share those, and if you’re still hungry, I have some steaks in the fridge I can throw on the grill.”

  Reuel turned his sad eyes toward Azrael.

  Azrael huffed and pushed back from the table. “Fine. I’ll start them now.”

  Reuel smiled as Azrael walked to the house.

  Everyone started filling their plates and passing dishes around the table. Azrael carried a plate out the back door a moment later. “Hey, Sloan, I think somebody’s awake in there!” he called to the table.

  Sloan started to get up.

  “Wait,” I said. “Let me.”

  She smiled. “She’s in Azrael and Adrianne’s room.”

  I got up and jogged to the house. Inside, I turned left into the kitchen and walked down a short hallway to the master suite. I heard baby babble in Katavukai when I neared the door. I lingered there for a second, soaking it in.

  “Appa?”

&n
bsp; She knew I was there.

  I pushed open the door and found her standing in the portable crib. “Appa!” My heart nearly burst at the sound. Her arms shot up toward me, but she lost her balance. Eyes wide with panic, she toppled backward.

  I gripped her with my power before she hit the mattress, and I pulled her through the air into my arms. She giggled. “Appa.”

  I kissed her cheek. “Salak, me anlo.”

  I felt someone’s presence behind me. “What does that mean?” Sloan asked before I could turn around.

  “It means, ‘Hello, my love.’” I smiled. “Did you not think I could handle this by myself?”

  “No. I knew you could. I just forgot to tell you she’d probably need a new diaper.” She reached for what looked like a small rucksack, complete with morale patches on the dresser. The one on the front said, “I’m not small. I’m fun size.”

  “What is that?”

  She put it on the bed and opened it. “The diaper bag Nathan picked out. He’s a mess.” She reached for Iliana. “Come here. Let’s change your diaper.”

  Sloan laid Iliana on the bed, and I sat down beside her and let her hold my finger. “You’re a good mom, Sloan.”

  “I have a lot of help. I don’t know what I’d do without Nathan and Adrianne and Dad.”

  “How is your dad?”

  “He’s good. He wanted to be here tonight, but he had a call at the hospital.”

  “It’s so good to see you. I have a million questions,” I said.

  “Me too. It will be so nice if we don’t have to be apart when you get back. No more wondering and waiting for you to return.”

  I chuckled. “I doubt Nathan would agree.”

  “Don’t let Nathan fool you. I think he misses you more than anyone.”

  “Will you be all right if I do come back? I don’t want to get in the way. I know you guys are happy.”

  “We’ll be more than all right. We want you to be here. Iliana deserves it.” She picked the baby up and handed her to me. “You deserve it too.”

  I stood and put my free arm around her. I kissed the side of her forehead. “Come on. We’d better get back out there before Nathan comes in guns blazing.”

  Everyone else was eating when we walked back outside. Adrianne looked up as I carried Iliana back to my seat. “We’ve got a highchair. Azrael, go get it and bring—”