by J. E. Taylor
André glared at him. “Don’t go there, Cal,” he said, wiping the bloody tears from his cheeks. “Did anyone else from the team make it?” he asked, diverting the conversation of his true lineage to another time.
“No, you and I are the only ones who are still alive.”
André wiped his face and took a deep breath, stepping into the role of commander as easily as his father had. “We need to arrange a national memorial service to recognize the sacrifices our team made, as well as my father’s leadership in protecting the country.”
“I already made that suggestion to the president and he is waiting for word on your condition before he finalizes the plans,” Cal said.
“What about the remaining Zyclonians on the spaceship?”
“Peaceful negotiations are underway and they haven’t shown any signs of hostility since your showdown. The president has included Sam in the negotiations and Sam confirmed their peaceful intent. He says they just want a place where they are welcome.”
André nodded and closed his eyes, letting the emotions back in. “Can I see Sam now?”
“In a second,” Cal said. “I need to tell you the extent of the damage and what we had to do.” He sat on the edge of the bed, taking a deep breath. “Do you know what happened?”
André shook his head. “The last thing I remember was leading Sam away.”
“Your uncle threw a dagger and it went through your heart,” Cal said. “I tried to push it away, but I was a little late on the draw. I was only able to move the trajectory a little, enough to save your life, but not enough to save your heart.”
André looked down at the bandages on his chest and back at Cal. “Okay, so whose heart do I have?”
“Your uncle’s,” Cal replied.
Surprise sputtered a shiver up his spine and André’s eyebrows creased. He had left the emperor alive on the football field.
“Sam killed him,” he replied to the unspoken question in André’s eyes. “He ended up being a perfect match to your blood and tissue type. Better than the one we had on ice.”
André closed his eyes and nodded. “Where’s my heart?”
“Probably still in the operating room. Why?”
“I want it buried with Katrina,” he said. “She’s the one who owns it.” The tears fell again. “It belongs with her.”
Cal nodded. “I’ll make sure that happens,” he said and stood up. “There haven’t been any complications at this point and no sign of your body rejecting the organ.”
André opened his eyes, meeting Cal’s. “I don’t know how I feel about this,” he said. “I hated my uncle; he was a cold-blooded killer.”
“André, it’s just a muscle that pumps blood. You are still André Robbins, no matter whose heart is in your body.” Cal tapped his temple. “It’s what’s up here that counts.” He headed for the door. “Besides, it’s an ironic twist of justice,” he said over his shoulder. “He wanted you dead; instead, he ended up saving your life.”
André swallowed the lump in his throat and sent a sad, lonely smile in Cal’s direction. “That’s something Kat would have said.”
The End
Thank you for reading MESSIAH. If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review.
About J.E. Taylor
J.E. Taylor is a USA Today bestselling author, a publisher, an editor, a manuscript formatter, a mother, a wife, a business analyst, and a Supernatural fangirl, not necessarily in that order. She first sat down to seriously write in February of 2007 after her daughter asked:
“Mom, if you could do anything, what would you do?”
From that moment on, she hasn’t looked back.
In addition to being co-owner of Novel Concept Publishing, Ms. Taylor also moonlights as a Senior Editor of Allegory E-zine, an online venue for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.
She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children and during the summer months enjoys her weekends on the shore in southern Maine.
Visit her at www.jetaylor75.com and sign up for her newsletter for early previews of her upcoming books, release announcements, and special opportunities for free swag!
Sign up for Ms. Taylor’s newsletter at: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/y2z2x6
You might also enjoy other books from J.E. Taylor’s backlist:
THE STEVE WILLIAMS SERIES:
From the mountains of New Hampshire to the streets of New York City, these novels take you on a journey through some of the darkest days in Steve Williams' FBI career.
The series includes these single titles:
DARK RECKONING (Book 1)
"J.E. Taylor has penned a tale of terror worthy of Lovecraft. The strong characters, edgy atmosphere, and unflinching narrative hooked me from the first and kept me riveted all the way through to its horrifying conclusion - a solid piece of storytelling!" Ty Drago, Editor of Allegory and author of PHOBOS
VENGEANCE (Book 2)
HUNTING SEASON (Book 3):
"Unstoppable, breath stealing, and terrifying all at once." - Cat Connor, author of killerbyte, terrorbyte, and exacerbyte.
"Hunting Season goes where few venture, mixing a compelling crime thriller with supernatural forces. The action and drama is thick and fast and I guarantee you will not be able to put this book down." - Poppet, author of Seithe and Darkroom.
GEORGIA REIGN (Book 4)
CRYSTAL ILLUSIONS (Book 5)
“Gripping, rich and magnificent - crime whodunnits don't get any better than this!” Author Poppet – Author of QUISLINGS, BLINDSIDED, DJINN and DUSAN
“CRYSTAL ILLUSIONS is a dizzying thriller with a terrifying killer, a unique detective, and some twists you will not see coming! This is Steve Williams’ most addictive adventure so far and J.E. Taylor at her very best!” Ty Drago - Author of THE UNDERTAKERS Series
"This has to be one of the best mysteries I have ever read. Move over Agatha Christie there's a new sheriff in town, and she is great." - PRG Reviews
SAVING FACE (Book 6)
THE GAMES TRILOGY
Intensely disturbing. Beautifully horrific. Indescribably intense. Gruesome and gory. You can't help but get caught up in this series.
When Ty Aris kidnaps Jessica Connor for his step-brother’s underground film network, he is not prepared for the impact this woman will have on his life. The Games Trilogy brings Ty and Jessica from the dark days in his step-brother’s sadistic prison, to the glitz of a major motion picture premier in New York City in a powerful combination of suspense, romance, and heartache. They battle the worst in human nature, as well as a paranormal twist that nearly destroys them and all they love.
This series includes these single titles:
SURVIVAL GAMES (Book 1)
MIND GAMES (Book 2)
END GAME (Book 3)
The Games Series is for sale to Adult Audiences Only. It contains substantial sexually explicit scenes, graphic language, and violence that may be considered offensive by some readers.
FALLEN – Games Trilogy Prequel
Ty Ryan’s downward spiral started the day his mother met Jacob Aris.
An unexpected romance between the emergency room nurse and the multi-billionaire plunges Ty into the wealthy world of entitlement, secrets, and lies.
When tragedy strikes, leaving Ty and his siblings at the mercy of Jacob Aris, Ty is powerless to defend against the old man’s rage. Each random beating chips away at Ty’s sanity, leaving him vulnerable to his stepbrother’s master manipulation.
NIGHT HAWK TRILOGY
Damian Andreas is an ancient vampire tasked with keeping the archangel bloodlines safe. Blinded by his hatred for Lucifer, he snatches Naomi Hawk from the devil to claim her as his own. The moment his teeth sink into her neck, he realizes he has just broken his own vows.
When Naomi bites him back, his blood transform her into an immortal shadow, and puts Damian on a collision path with an angry archangel.
Single titles in this series:
NIGHT HAWK (Book 1)
TIGRESS (Book 2):
TRINITY RISING (Book 3):
THE RYAN CHRONICLES
Tom and CJ Ryan harbor the power of the Gods. Refusing to stand with Lucifer puts both of them, and everyone they love, on the devil’s hit list.
There are only so many ways you can break a man before his wrath changes the status quo. Rekindled by family, by love, by home and memories, the ruthless son of Ty Ryan steps into the shoes left under the family tree by his dad, and this time he’s out of mercy.
The series includes these single titles:
CJ’s Story:
ANGEL GRACE - Book 1
ANGEL HEART - Book 2
ANGEL WRATH – Book 3
Tom’s Story:
ANGEL BLOOD - Book 4
ANGEL FIRE - Book 5
ANGEL FURY – Book 6
MAGICK TRILOGY
Paige Turner’s magick skills are rusty, but she needs to refine her spells or her determination to save a very special soul will prove to be disastrous.
Single titles in this series:
MAGICK
BLACK MAGICK
PRACTICAL MAGICK
THE DEATH CHRONICLES TRILOGY
What would you do if you found out Death was your father and you were destined to take over the family business?
Dylan Nicholas Ramsay—Nick to his friends—does not want the job, but he has no choice. The fallout of refusing to accept his fate is bleak, and when rogue reapers step in to try to overthrow the status quo, all hell breaks loose.
Single titles in this Young Adult paranormal suspense series:
DON’T FEAR THE REAPER (Book 1)
HIGHWAY TO HELL (Book 2)
KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR (Book 3)
Introducing THE PARADOX FILES, a new urban fantasy series
A protector. A lost soul. A siren looking for salvation.
Kylee Paradox never expected to be a protector of humankind, but when hell’s portals open and let loose the creatures of the underworld, she can’t see any other way.
Armed with an ultimatum, Kylee has no choice but to embrace her new position as bounty hunter of the damned. Sending these monsters back to purgatory becomes her life’s mission.
The only glitches in an otherwise noble pursuit are those who hold her fate in their hands. They forbid her from using her deadly siren song to lure the beasts back to the pit.
If she harms even a single innocent soul in her quest, Kylee herself will become one of the hunted.
SILENCING THE SIREN – Book One
WAKING THE SIREN – Book Two
HUNTING THE SIREN – Book Three
FRACTURED FAIRY TALES
2018
RED
CINDER
BRAVE
TANGLED
SPINDLE
SNOW
FROZEN
BELLE
Other titles by J.E. Taylor
MESSIAH
SILENCE
STAR CROSSED
Short Story Compilation:
GLIMPSES
Visit Ms. Taylor’s website for more information on any of these titles!
Sign up for Ms. Taylor’s newsletter HERE.