His Angelic Mate [Paranormal Protection Unit 7] (Siren Publishing Classic)
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Paranormal Protection Unit 7
His Angelic Mate
Being the Dragon King is good, but even that has its moments of absolute tedium. Apparently the others have noticed Talon’s lack of focus and shorter-than-normal fuse when he finds himself practically kicked off the job for a vacation. Completely unnecessary in Talon's mind, or so he believes until a woman plops down across from him and starts to steal his food.
Cinnamon Pericles is an angel who loves watching humanity in all its glory and all its low points. Pure of heart and soul, she's a lamb in lamb's clothing. Innocent and excited by everything, she tracks down the only man that can help her with her task and maybe a few more personal items as well.
With his very world being turned on its ear, Talon doesn't know whether to send her packing or find the closest room with a door that locks. She's drawn to the large Dragon King in ways she'd never known possible. When these two come together, sparks will fly.
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Shape-shifter
Length: 67,704 words
HIS ANGELIC MATE
Paranormal Protection Unit 7
Honor James
EROTIC ROMANCE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Erotic Romance
HIS ANGELIC MATE
Copyright © 2013 by Honor James
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-435-1
First E-book Publication: April 2013
Cover design by Viola Estrella
All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
Dear Readers,
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DEDICATION
I would like to dedicate this novel to the sisters and brothers that I have found via Siren Publishing. To the other amazing authors and authoresses that are there for me through all of the steps of the writing process. To those ladies and gents, I thank you. Thank you for being you and being there for me.
HIS ANGELIC MATE
Paranormal Protection Unit 7
HONOR JAMES
Copyright © 2013
Chapter One
Cinnamon watched as she always watched. She took careful note of all that were around and noticed that the more she watched, the more she wanted to get involved. She was reminded time and again of a human man that she had befriended once, his interesting ways of looking at life, and the quotes that he came up with constantly popped into her mind as she watched, especially now. Now she was thinking of the time that he had told her that there were no facts, only interpretations. If only he had been right.
Another killing, another brutal slaying. It was senseless, and there was nothing she could do about it. She pounded her fist on the pure-white marble baluster with gold veins thick in it. Frustration beat at her. She whipped around her white-blonde hair and glared at nothing in particular.
Anger is not an emotion you should allow to cloud your soul, child. You know as well as all of us that emotion, especially strong emotions, are not permitted.
“Yeah well I’m not old enough to grasp that concept yet,” she muttered darkly. “We have to do something.” She stated the obvious. “We have to do something because we simply cannot allow this to continue. We need to tell the group that fights for humanity. Gaia’s creations. Gaia has always been on the side of good Now is no different. We must get word to them as to what they are facing, because I fear if we don’t…” She took a deep breath. “If we don’t, all of humanity is gone, forever. This is not to be how it is written. We both know that.”
And who would you choose to emissary this mission? the voice questioned.
“Myself,” Cinnamon told the voice softly. “For it is I that has stared into the Abyss, and I saw it looking back at myself. It is time that I go there because I feel that is where I belong. Please, Father, let me do this?”
I knew allowing you to befriend Nietzsche would be a bad thing one day. There was a long suffering sigh and then he said, Go with love in your heart, daughter. Your destiny does await you there, on Earth, however. There was a great pause. You may not tell them what you are until the time has come for you to use the light inside of you. When that time comes, you will know. Until then you will be as human as the ones that you watch over. Be well, daughter, and know that I will always love you, her father whispered to her before the energy that was Him engulfed her in a loving hug.
“I love you, too, Daddy,” she whispered softly as she felt the love to the very depths of her soul. “I will return home soon, Daddy. I just have to make certain they understand what they are battling. I need them to realize that Chaos has created his own armies, armies of darkness and death.”
Not all, darling daughter. Not all of them will be as you have seen, just as not all of Gaia’s creations are good, and just and just as not all of humanity is as I had hoped for them. Keep that in mind as you deal with those that you encounter. Trust in what you know to be true, deep inside, because you will never be wrong. Be good, darling, and know that you will be protected. Gaia’s Warriors wouldn’t allow you to be harmed. Because He had the power to destroy the very universe if H
e so wished it, and Gaia and Chaos both knew that.
“I will be good, I will listen to my heart, and I will know you will talk to me. Now. Send me to Earth please, Father. As close to their facilities as possible, if you could?” she asked and looked down at herself. “I am going to miss my wings.” The pure-white wings with the golden-tipped edges of the feathers of the plumage. They were truly warm and beautiful, but for this mission she knew she had to keep them under wraps, so to speak.
When her father’s warmth left her, she then felt the sizzle, the sizzle and burn of the Fall. She wasn’t losing her wings, but she was falling to Earth. She screamed as the pain tore through her, and she landed hard in the center of a field of flowers, leaving a crater where her body impacted.
Cin simply lay there for the longest time, her eyes closed and chest struggling to breathe in this air that was so filled with pollutants that it hurt her to simply move. She did, however, finally struggle to her feet, grasping at a rock or a tree here and there, and climbing from the crater and heading south toward the compound where Gaia’s Warriors were stationed.
Chapter Two
It was good to be King. Usually. Then there were days when even getting out of bed was quite obviously the wrong choice. Today was one of those days where had he known what was coming he likely would have climbed right back in and yanked up the blankets. He really had to learn to listen to that particular instinct of his.
“All right, enough!” he bellowed, his voice echoing sharply through the chambers. He hated raising his voice, but by the Gods, some of those that sat at the table were worse than children! “We aren’t getting anywhere like this,” he said, standing up. “Take an hour to eat, cool off, and return with clearer heads.” It was not a suggestion.
Watching as they filed out one after another, the pops from each Vortex signaling their departures, he sighed. Glancing to Quincy, who still sat there, he lifted a brow. “Did you think that was merely a suggestion?” he asked softly.
“Course not, I recognized that tone well enough,” Quincy said, tapping his fingers lightly to the arm of the chair. “You seem on the edge of late, T-Rex.” He used the detested nickname on purpose. “Not just with these douche bags, but even at work you’ve been testy. Want to discuss it?” he offered, looking to the big man curiously.
Did he ever, but he really couldn’t, not with the King of another House. But this was also a friend and comrade-in-arms. Sitting back down, he stared at him for a time before sighing softly.
“Come on, T, you know I’ll never repeat a word of whatever you say. Hell, I won’t even hold it against you. Talk to me, man. We’re all starting to get seriously worried, and you know I don’t like worrying, gives me nasty little lines.” Quincy rubbed between his brows with a crooked grin.
He knew Quincy could hold a secret tight, forever if necessary. Leaning back, he stared at some of the empty chairs for a time before speaking. “I’m tired, Q,” he murmured softly, “really tired.”
Quincy knew he wasn’t talking about exhaustion. No, his friend and boss was referring to his never-ending journey through life alone. “You have Talina now. Doesn’t that help at all?” he asked softly, sincerely concerned.
Smiling at the mention of his daughter, he had to nod. “She does help, quite a bit, but it’s not the same, Q. She has her own life to lead. I love the time we have together, every moment a true and priceless treasure.” He fought tooth and nail for every second with her, especially since she did have a life, a mate, a child on the way, and a budding career on base and at a local clinic.
“It’s all the rest of the time, alone at night that is starting to get to me,” he admitted. “It’s making me less lenient in other aspects of my life.”
“Dude, those jack-offs totally needed you to bitch slap them. Hell, they need someone to remind them even they can die,” Quincy said, rolling his eyes.
“True, but I’m not one to yell,” Talon muttered. “I have always tried to be respectful but firm with them.”
“So take a sabbatical, bro,” Quincy suggested and shrugged at the look he got for it. “Have someone step in temporarily for a few weeks to manage the idiots and take a vacay. You know the Teams will fully understand, and one of the others can probably manage not to get us all blown up for that long.”
“There’s too much to be done,” he said, shaking his head even as he started to consider and even like the idea.
“There is always a crap load to do, T. Just pick a date, put someone in charge, and go,” Quincy said in a firm tone. “Otherwise you’ll talk yourself out of it and we’ll have to do something drastic that you will not appreciate.”
Eyeing him for a moment, Talon narrowed his eyes. “Was that a threat, Quincy?” he asked, not quite able to figure it out. He just didn’t know if he should be impressed, insulted, or pissed.
Snorting, Quincy gave him a smirk. “Dude, if you can’t tell the difference between a friend’s advice and a threat, you really need to take a break.”
Knowing he was right and being willing to admit that he was right were two very different things. “I will consider it, Q, but not until after our next couple of missions.” Both of which were slightly personal for him.
“Deal, but no procrastinating,” Quincy told him, “or my next piece of ‘advice’ will very definitely be a threat, with plenty of backup.”
Knowing the kid could easily pull a threat out of his hat without even blinking, Talon didn’t doubt him even a little. Though it did amuse him slightly.
* * * *
Just over a month later he had his bag hooked over the back of his bike, no plan in mind, and was hugging his daughter good-bye. After getting her and Aiden’s solemn promise once more to call if the baby came early, he took off with only a couple quick peeks back.
“Thank the Gods he finally got his head out of his ass and took a break,” Aiden muttered, rubbing his bond-mate’s back gently.
“If he hadn’t, there likely would have been a full-out revolt,” Trey said. “Right before we beat him bloody.”
“You really wouldn’t have,” Kat asked and looked around, “would you?” She sounded shocked by what she saw and assumed.
Quincy shot her a look. “The Ear of Truth isn’t a part-time gig, Kat. You know better than that.” They had all spoken the absolute truth. Talon had needed a holiday or there would have been absolute and complete anarchy. Plus they all needed a break from the big guy, too, from time to time.
“Well, he’s off now for a bit, and that’s all that truly matters,” Allister said, hopeful their friend could find some semblance of balance once more in his life.
“We have work to do while he’s away. Let’s do it and ensure we don’t need to call him home early,” Mac advised, smiling at his bond-mate and wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
* * * *
A couple hours after departing the base, Talon pulled off the highway and found a little town to refill in, both the bike and himself. Climbing off, he stretched and gave a nod to the older gentleman who came out wiping his hands on a rag.
“Fill her up for you?” Buck was the name on the well-used but clean coveralls he wore.
“Please.” Talon nodded. “And do you happen to have a restaurant here? I’m absolutely famished.” All the clean air, the open road, and time to relax had helped to rejuvenate his appetite.
“Sure do,” Buck said, starting the gas and looking up at the nearly seven-foot mountain before him. “Over on the next block is Franny’s. She’s got great food all day every day.”
“Thank you.” Talon dug out his wallet and paid for the fuel.
Watching the young man pull away, Buck went inside to call over to Franny and let her know a tourist was heading her way. When asked how she’d know, Buck just had to chuckle and told her honestly that not a soul in town or her place would be able to miss him.
Chapter Three
After laying there in the dirt for a time, Cin rose to her feet. Taking in another deep
breath, she licked her lips and then frowned when her stomach growled. Touching her hand to her belly, she said, “What is this?”
Hunger, darling. You are hungry. The one that you are searching for is about a mile away in what is called a diner. You will be able to find food there, dearest daughter. Remember, you cannot tell him what you are. You can only give him the proof that you have.
“But how?” she asked even as she began to walk, the long flowing white dress with golden threads of her station moving along with her, the white and gold sandals at her feet moving with absolute quiet across the grass. It was as if nature and all of the animals that were a part of nature truly knew what she was. Instead of running from her, they approached her. They came and touched her where they could before racing away as if to tell the whole nature community that a being such as her was walking the Earth for the first time in more than a millennium.
You have a pack at your hip. It has proof that he will be able to use. There are memory drives that have recorded the beings that you need to tell them about. You also have your knowledge of just how these creatures came to be. Don’t worry, daughter, you will be believed. They have a truth-seer, and she will know.
Cin continued to walk and nodded. “All right, Father. I trust you,” she stated. “I believe in you.” And she did. She had utter faith in her father. Touching the pouch at her waist, she smiled when she realized what was in it. “I had forgotten that these beings used currency.” She heard her father’s laughter and then said, “Thank you for ensuring that I would be able to survive while here, Father.”