I lifted Gen to face the stone cross. “Dad, this is your granddaughter. Her name is Genesis Dillon, and I call her Gen. You might have recently met her father, Zane? If ever any souls were destined for Heaven, it was you two.” I paused to choke back my grief. “I’m going to marry Dominic Michaels this summer. You’d like him. He’s smart, kind, and makes me incredibly happy.”
Before I totally lost it, I moved on to Erica’s grave. Her gravestone said,
~ AMERICA TEMPLETON ~
LOST AND THEN FOUND
I thought about how I had succumbed to Stockholm syndrome during my relatively short captivity in Hell and considered the twelve years Erica lived in her hell. I couldn’t judge her for what she had become. I struggled to say something. “I have good memories of our childhood, Erica. I promise to raise Gen with only those stories of her aunt.”
I hesitated a moment before approaching Jesse’s memorial. Dominic had carved the stone. To preserve Jesse’s privacy and prevent desecration by those whom he had harmed, it simply read,
~ J.J. REBEL ~
LOST BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Lailah told me that his soul had been destroyed, and I struggled with that. I simply couldn’t comprehend a universe in which he didn’t exist. However, he would always live in my heart and mind, and I chose to remember him protecting Belle Starr from drunks, making a bold statement about bullies, feeding the hungry, and fighting off the demon inside him who had wanted to rape me.
When Mom planted flowers at the graves, I knew she wouldn’t have left Jesse any—she had been unable to find forgiveness for him. So, I brought a handful of wildflowers to remember my friend’s wild spirit and scattered them. Knowing there was no soul to hear, words completely failed me.
Finally, I steeled myself and approached Zane’s grave. We had given him an impressive giant stone cross with the inscription:
† ZANE DILLON †
A VERY GOOD MAN
I rested my forehead on it, and my heart spoke to him.
In our fleeting moments together
throughout the veils of time and space
our universe flipped,
and we were changed eternally.
We danced passionately in the arms of time
like no one had before.
Forever together, forever apart.
Forever reaching, yearning.
Loving you gave me courage.
Being loved by you gave me strength.
That love will outlast stars
and shine brighter than the moon.
Then I sobbed until my soul ached. When there were no tears left to shed, I sank to my knees, and a frantic Hallie whined and licked my face.
Suddenly, the Caretaker Davina appeared out of the mist. She knelt down, her hand touched me, and the fire of my agony became embers.
“You fought a good fight.”
I struggled to catch my breath. When I could finally speak, I asked, “Will there be more battles?”
“You chose the path of a warrior. That’s forever, Glory. The mission never ends.”
“Will the light ever defeat the darkness?”
“That depends on courageous souls like you.”
I considered the truth of her words, and in my heart I knew I was ready for whatever challenges were yet to come.
THE LIGHT WARRIORS
The Light Warriors is a spinoff series from The Legend of Glory trilogy. The first novel in this new series, Street Angels, is coming soon.
In Street Angels, the religions of man have exploded into global war, and a young prophet is destined to bring peace. However, the prophet is being held prisoner in Hell, and Heaven asks Micah—an angel who previously fell and was redeemed—to fall again and go undercover to help its cause. Not understanding Micah’s true mission, and feeling betrayed by his actions because of her role in his redemption, witch and demon hunter Kaia sets out to slay him. Meanwhile, Jazz, an angel destined to save the prophet, has forgotten who she is and what she was sent to do. While struggling with the horror of finding himself once again fallen, Micah is determined to help Jazz complete her mission—if he can resist the temptations of Hell, avoid discovery by Lucifer, and if Kaia doesn’t kill him first.
Street Angels reunites readers with characters from both the Legend of Glory trilogy and With Brave Wings She Flies, as they converge in the gritty streets of San Francisco. Visit Devin O’Branagan’s website at www.DevinWrites.com and sign up for her eNewsletter so you will be notified when Street Angels and other novels about this remarkable group of uncommon heroes are released.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
When I conceived this novel, I knew the science would be way over my head, so I asked scientist Ron Wingrove for technical assistance. To say he was patient with me would be a major understatement. That his help also included talking me off the occasional cliff and kicking me in the ass when I needed it, makes his friendship that much more remarkable. A simple thank you doesn’t even begin to express my depth of gratitude.
This work was blessed by the beta reading feedback of wildly talented and sexy authors J.A. Campbell, Ron Wingrove, and Jenny Kalahar.
Tammy Crosby rocked the entire Legend of Glory trilogy cover reboot. The new covers are stunning.
For help with research about Savannah, I want to thank Debra Coon.
And a very special shout-out to Jack Darby for believing so passionately in the Glory novels from the beginning.
For encouragement, answers to offbeat research questions, and general wonderfulness, I have to acknowledge my amazing Facebook community of friends. I would never had made it this far without you guys. www.facebook.com/devin.obranagan
THE LEGEND OF GLORY TRILOGY
The first novel in this trilogy, Glory, introduces Glory and her supernatural bodyguards as they race against time in order to save billions of lives from a deadly pandemic plague.
In Pretty Sacrifices, demons are determined to corrupt the souls of Glory’s loved ones, while Dominic is on a mission to win her heart. Kaia’s journey takes her through the veil of death, and she uses the opportunity to try to redeem fallen angel Micah. And a rift in time explores the epic love affair of Hope and Zane.
In the thrilling conclusion, Genesis, Glory has returned from a time travel event pregnant with a child whose DNA is predicted to save the world from genocide. However, evil forces are determined to claim the baby for their own vile purposes. Meanwhile, Zane struggles to find his way back to Glory after nearly two centuries of living in darkness.
Both Glory and Pretty Sacrifices are available as audio books, narrated by talented New York actor Becca Ballenger. Becca’s tour de force performance brings the novels to life. Her recording of Genesis will be released later this year.
Please visit www.GloryLegend.com and sign up for Devin O’Branagan’s eNewsletter to remain current on the latest developments in this trilogy and the new spinoff series, The Light Warriors.
WITH BRAVE WINGS SHE FLIES
This short story introduces the female manifestation of the Archangel Michael and other compelling characters to the Legend of Glory and Light Warriors canons.
With Brave Wings She Flies is an edgy short story about the Archangel Michael and a demon who wager for a young mother’s soul. An inspiring tale of love and courage.
What reviewers have said:
“A brilliant good versus evil story.”
“A compelling tale of heart, faith and courage.”
“A wonderful short story about good versus evil, and how far a mother will go to save her child.”
Available in print, eBook, and audio formats!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Devin O’Branagan writes novels about uncommon heroes. Her bestselling books have been published by Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books in English, Heyne Verlag in German, Dogan Egmont in Turkish, and released by indie imprint, Cornucopia Creations.
Devin writes in a variety of genres: paranormal thrillers, young adult urban fantasy, paranormal ro
mance, and romantic comedy. Her books are available in print, eBook, and audio formats.
Her website is www.DevinWrites.com
Copyright © 2015 by Devin O’Branagan
All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means: electronic, mechanical, magnetic, photographic, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, or otherwise be copied for public or private use without prior written permission.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales, or any person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Published by:
Cornucopia Creations, Ltd.
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