Angel Kissed (The Watchtower Sentinels Book 1)

by Jasmine Walt

  Silence fell between us again, and I wrapped my arms around myself, cold now. My father must have noticed, because he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and drew me against his chest. I closed my eyes as he stroked a hand over my hair, soothing me with his gentle touch.

  “How… how did you know Lucas was using magic to control me?”

  “I called in a favor from a friend,” he said grimly. “A witch named Sarina, who specializes in dark magic. She did a sort of magical evaluation on you, and that’s when she found the taint Lucas had left on your soul.”

  I shuddered. “Is that taint still there?” I asked, remembering the simultaneous love and hate that always raged inside me whenever I came face to face with him. “Will it ever be gone?”

  “With time,” my father said, his voice soft. “In fact, it has likely faded significantly by now. Sarina used her magic to probe your shattered mind, and found out that you’d resisted Lucas at the last moment, refusing to hand over the Infinity Key. It can only be given willingly, so when you wouldn’t hand it over, he lashed out in a rage, stealing your angel from you out of spite.” He let out a long-suffering sigh. “Unfortunately, the woman was unable to figure out what you did with the Infinity Key. It seems to have vanished completely.”

  “Lucas seems to know how to retrieve it,” I said hollowly. “He said that all I needed to do was come willingly.”

  “He will stop at nothing to get it, and to get you,” my father said, his voice deadly serious now. He twisted to look at me, and then lifted my chin so he could meet my gaze. “You must not let him get his hands on you, Arabella. The power he can wield with that key is unimaginable, and he is a very clever man. If he thinks he can use you to get the key back, then he probably can.”

  “I know.” My insides went cold at the very thought of it. Lucas could already control the demons using his doubled angelic power. He would be able to raise an army with the key, one that could easily outnumber the Sentinel population. Even if I had to slit my own throat, I couldn’t let Lucas get his hands on me.

  I took a deep breath, then asked the question I was dreading the most. “How did my mother deal with all this?”

  “She was furious with me,” my father said, his voice so rife with pain that my heart ached. “Furious with me for not reaching you in time, and furious about your memory wipe. The council wasn’t happy that I’d done it without their consent either,” he added, “but they agreed it was the right thing to do. Your mind was damaged from the trauma of having your angel ripped away, and from what Lucas had done to you. It was kinder to remove you from this life—a Sentinel is nothing without their angel.”

  “But… if my angel was taken from me, then how is it I still have my powers?” I touched the brand on my chest. “I was able to use my bow and arrow, twice now, as well as my enhanced sight.”

  “I’m not sure,” my father admitted. “Either you still carry some small remnant of the angel’s power, or your bond is not completely severed and you somehow are still able to draw from her.” He frowned in puzzlement. “Can you feel your angel’s presence at all?”

  I shook my head. “No, but I think Lucas keeps her in the necklace he wears around his neck. Whenever he shows it to me, my chest aches, as if a part of me was ripped out and is missing.”

  My father nodded. “There might still be some lingering connection then. If we can get that necklace back, perhaps we can restore your angel.”

  “Do you really think so?” My heart soared, then plummeted as a horrible thought occurred to me. “What if my angel doesn’t want to be with me anymore? What if she hates me because of what happened with Lucas?”

  “She won’t,” my father said gently, stroking my hair again. “The bond between an Angel Kissed Sentinel and their angel is born of love and trust. She will not willingly abandon you. There is still hope.” His voice cracked a little, and he hugged me tight against him. “There is still hope, and I am supremely grateful to our Heavenly Father for showing us a way out. I thought I would never get you back, Arabella. I thought I’d given you up for good.”

  He kissed my forehead, and I could feel his tears on my scalp. My own face was wet, and I hugged him back fiercely, so glad he was here. “I thought you were dead,” I mumbled into his chest. “I thought you and Mom had both died in a car accident.”

  “No, sweetheart,” he murmured. “Your mother and I are both alive, and I’m here for you.”

  Something about the way he said that gave me pause, and I glanced up at him. “What do you mean by that?” I asked as guilt flashed in his eyes. “Where’s Mom?”

  “She… she couldn’t handle what happened to you,” he said softly, his voice aching. “She left me a year after you were relocated. We’re still married, but she’s closed the bond between us, and I have no idea where she is.”

  I nodded, not sure what to say. The grief etched into my father’s face was so profound that I knew he missed my mother with every fiber of his being. I ached to see her too, but at the same time, I couldn’t blame her for leaving. She wasn’t a Sentinel, so she didn’t have the work to throw herself into the way he did. She would have been haunted by my loss for the rest of her days if she’d remained here. Maybe she wasn’t here to see me, but at least I could take comfort in the fact that she was still alive.

  “Can… can we see Jax?” I finally asked, my voice small. I wanted to see her for myself. I wanted to get away from the past for a little while, and focus on what was good in the here and now. And Jax’s recovery was more than good—it was a miracle.

  “Of course.” My father took my hand as he rose. “We’ll go and visit her right now.”

  24

  Brodie

  I sat by Jax for a good hour, keeping vigil as I watched her chest slowly rise and fall beneath the sheet. Her coloring, while still pale, was much improved from the earlier deathly white marbled with black veins from the demon poison. Whatever was in that antidote was powerful stuff—it had driven the poison from her, using every possible orifice. Unpleasant, to say the least, and I was mighty thankful there were orderlies to care for that mess. But she was clean and comfortable now, lying on new bedding in a hospital dressing gown, sleeping as peacefully as one could after such an ordeal.

  The infirmary was large, about the size of a school cafeteria, with curtains drawn around the beds to offer privacy to the patients and their loved ones. The place was large enough to comfortably care for fifty patients. Although, luckily, there were only three others I could discern. The doctor and his staff were off taking care of another, and Mack had returned to his duties, so I was the only one with Jax. I had half a mind to leave myself, but I knew Arabella would want me to stay. Besides, this was the first place she would come after her father let her out.

  It had been a shock to learn that the Watchtower commander was the lass’s father. He’d shown up while the doctor was still trying to stabilize Jax, having been alerted to the situation. He shared Arabella’s eyes and mouth, and his stern features and commanding presence were not to be trifled with. He’d taken me aside and grilled me for a good thirty minutes, asking who I was, how Jax had been injured, and why I was helping his daughter. I’d been of half a mind to clam up, simply because of the way his men had treated me. But the man apologized for it, and beneath his terse questions was a father’s love for his daughter. So, I relented and told him everything I knew.

  He’s probably still speaking with the lass, I told myself as I fiddled with my pouch belt. My knife and supplies had been returned to me once the commander had finished with his questions. The goddess knew those two had a lot to catch up on. But it still chaffed me not to be able to lay eyes on the lass, to be by her side while she faced the demons her father would no doubt bring up. Gaia had assigned me to protect her. Instead, I was sitting here with my thumb up my arse, completely useless.

  The curtain swished open, and my heart jumped as Arabella stepped in. She was a little pale, her eyes red-rimmed and her nose swollen fro
m crying, but those golden-brown eyes lit up with joy and relief. I wasn’t sure if it was because Jax was safe, or I was safe, or a combination of the two, but I didn’t care. That sweet look was all I needed—the knot of tension in my stomach relaxed, and I jumped up as joy swelled in my own heart.

  “Brodie,” she choked out as I embraced her. “I’m so glad you got to her in time.”

  “I knew ye’d never forgive me if I let her die,” I half-joked, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. I knew I shouldn’t, knew I probably shouldn’t even be hugging her this fiercely, but I couldn’t help myself. She was mine, if only to protect, and I needed to hold her tight against my body so I could feel that she was still alive and unhurt.

  “I wouldn’t have blamed you if she had,” Arabella said softly, “but I’m so glad she didn’t. You’ve done so much, Brodie.” She looked at me with eyes swimming with tears. “So much for both of us.”

  She licked her dry lips, and I swallowed hard, the temptation to kiss her so strong that I instinctively leaned in. The lass’s body swayed closer into mine, and I hastily released her before I did something I would regret. My gut squirmed with guilt as I caught the flash of hurt in her eyes, but I pretended not to see it. I couldn’t allow myself the luxury of that kiss, because if I did, I wasn’t sure I would be able to stop myself this time.

  “Has she said anything?” Arabella asked, turning toward Jax. She rested her hip against the side of the bed, then lightly took her friend’s hand.

  “No,” I said quietly. “She’ll probably rest for a day or two before she awakens. The lass was near death.”

  Arabella nodded. She sat next to Jax in silence for a good ten minutes, simply holding the woman’s hand. My heart ached at the way her shoulders bowed with silent grief, her long hair hanging down into her face to hide her from the harsh world she’d stepped into. Whatever she’d talked of with her father, it had not been happy news. I would have to get her to tell me about it, but not now, not when the grief was still so fresh.

  “Lass,” I finally said when the clock struck six. “Why don’t we go and get a bite to eat? Yer father informed me that there’s a mess hall in the Watchtower that serves three meals a day.”

  Arabella lifted her head, a small smile on her lips. “Figures you’d ask about the food,” she said, and it did my heart good to hear the light teasing in her voice. “I suppose I could eat.”

  I didn’t know exactly where the mess hall was, but thankfully Arabella did from Jax’s memories, so I let her guide us to it. She led me out of the infirmary and down a long, wide stone hall with arched windows set into the right wall that offered a breathtaking view of Los Angeles. I’d never been here before, and I couldn’t stop stealing glances at the glittering city. I was sure it looked even more spectacular during the day, with the backdrop of the Hollywood Hills behind it. Perhaps the lass and I could explore it together, and she would show me around.

  Not until Lucas is caught, I reminded myself. We cannae afford to go frolicking about like a pair of tourists so long as he’s after her life.

  Arabella’s father had told me that under no circumstances was the lass allowed to leave the premises without an escort. I’d promised him that I would remain near her at all times, not that I had to since I was already under Gaia’s orders. The commander had explained to me the full importance of the Infinity Key, and I understood now why it was so important to Gaia that I look after the lass. She could not be allowed to fall into that smarmy bastard’s hands, even if I had to tie her to her bed to make sure she stayed put.

  An image of a naked Arabella lying spread-eagled on satin sheets, her limbs fastened to the bed poles, made my mouth go dry. Heat swept through me, straight to my groin, and I hardened so fast it was almost painful. Quit it, I growled, shoving the tempting image away. ”Tisn’t what I meant, and ye well ken it.

  You know you want to, a voice in my head whispered, so beguiling it had to be the devil himself. What better way to keep a woman distracted than to pleasure her so thoroughly that she can’t think of anything but you?

  I gritted my teeth—it was a good point. I might have hurt the lass’s feelings with my rejection, but I could coax her into my bed if I really wanted to. But if I did that, the visions would stop, and I couldn’t risk it. Gaia was stingy with them as it was—I didn’t need to give her another reason to close this door now that it had finally opened.

  Surely Gaia wouldn’t stop sending you visions if she thinks the lass is that important, the voice argued. And there have been exceptions in the past. Why wouldn’t this be one of them?

  “Are you all right?” Arabella’s voice pulled me from my internal argument, and I looked to see that she was glancing over her shoulder at me with a strange expression on her face.

  “Aye,” I said nonchalantly. “Why do ye ask?”

  “Because you were growling,” she said dryly.

  “Oh.” My ears burned, and I cleared my throat. “Just talking to myself.”

  “Uh-huh.” She gave me a skeptical look, then turned back around. “Well, make sure you’re still paying attention. Don’t want you falling down the stairs.”

  “Ha-ha,” I said as I followed her down a spiral staircase. It wound down to the second floor, which had a little more color to it than the third—tapestries depicting heavenly scenes covered the stone walls, and thick carpet muffled our footfalls. We passed a few Sentinels on our way, and I responded to their suspicious looks with easy smiles. No need to let them know I was uneasy about being in their territory, or that I missed the wide-open spaces of my Highlands.

  You’ll be back there soon enough, a voice reminded me, and my heart clenched. Not at the thought of returning home—I missed the sweeping fields of heather, the sound of Agnid singing as she kneaded dough for fresh bread in the morning, the sparring sessions with the Druids who called me friend despite my parentage. But the thought of having to leave the lass behind…

  I heard the buzz of conversation long before we arrived at the mess hall—it seemed that this was where most of the Sentinels were at this time, and I couldn’t blame them. The rich scent of meaty lasagna being served at the buffet up front, along with a host of side dishes and salad, made my stomach growl. But my appetite was hampered by the stiff set of the lass’s shoulders as eyes followed her across the room. The buzz of conversation died down to mere whispers, too quiet for me to catch the words. But I could sense the intent well enough—Arabella wasn’t welcome here, or at least not by everyone.

  Drawing myself upright, I glared at anyone stupid enough to stare at the lass too long. Most of the Sentinels held my gaze—after all, they were warriors, born and bred for battle against unholy evil. But none of them wanted to pick a fight with a man of my girth, so they eventually looked away, and conversations resumed.

  “They all hate me,” Arabella murmured as we sat down at a deserted table in the corner. Her shoulders were back, her chin high, but the hurt in her eyes made me want to punch Mack, who had stared at her with the most loathing of anyone.

  “No,” I said, forking up some lasagna. “They just dinnae ken what to do with yer presence. Yer supposed to be dead.”

  Arabella shook her head. “I think a lot of people don’t believe that I fought Lucas when he tried to take the key from me. They view me as a weak-willed turncoat, who gave into her dark side and betrayed her family and fellow Sentinels.”

  “That’s just silly,” a woman said as she flounced into the seat next to Arabella. I blinked, taking in her candy-pink curls, her heart-shaped face, and the skin-tight leather body suit that clung to her curves like a second skin. It was open at the top to reveal a generous amount of cleavage. “You’re one of the most loyal and hardworking Sentinels I’ve ever known, Arabella Palladino, and I, for one, am very happy to see that you’ve managed to cheat death.”

  Arabella blinked, then broke out into a smile. “Brandy,” she said, her voice warm and full of delight. “I remember you. We’ve done a couple missions t
ogether.”

  “Hell yeah we have.” She punched Arabella lightly in the arm, behavior that was so very at odds with the way she dressed and made herself up. “You’re almost as good a shot as I am,” she added with a wink.

  “Are ye an archer too, then?” I asked.

  “I use a crossbow,” she declared, giving me a lascivious grin. Her bright blue eyes raked up and down my body in a blatant once-over, and I found myself grinning at her unapologetic behavior. “My gift is a bit different from Belle’s—I can see heat signatures.”

  My eyes widened. “So ye can shoot targets through walls? That’s very impressive.”

  “Yeah, but only if I’m close enough.” Brandy put a slender arm around Arabella’s shoulder. “Whereas this gorgeous thing can shoot a target from half a mile away.”

  I blinked, stunned. “Can ye really shoot that far?” I asked her.

  “I’m a little rusty, but Jax’s memories say that I’ve done it before,” she said with a shrug, as if it were no big deal.

  Other Sentinels came up to welcome Arabella over the course of the meal. Nearly all the women aside from a blonde who’d glared daggers at the lass when she’d walked in, and a goodly number of the men too. They hugged her and asked how she’d managed to cheat death, regaled her with stories of their most recent missions, and asked me a fair amount of questions as well. Several of the men sized me up, their interest in the lass plain. I wondered if she knew how many suitors she had waiting for her here.