War Angel Contingent (Everlasting Fire Series, Book 1)

by S. J. West

  Unfortunately, I have no clue. So I have to ask, “And no one has met this mystery criterion of yours yet?”

  Ethan takes a deep breath and says, “Actually …”

  “Ethan!”

  We both turn to look inside the house. I see Xander walking alongside a man I can only presume to be Desmond. The Watcher is handsome in a rugged sort of way with shoulder-length curly brown hair. He smiles at me with an ease not many people can manage when first meeting a stranger.

  “Glad to see you, Desmond,” Ethan greets him, holding his hand out to the other man. “Verati is in the bathroom with Zane. They should be back out shortly though.”

  Desmond looks at me and smiles. “And you must be the much talked about Julia Grace.”

  “Yes,” I say, confused. “Who exactly has been talking about me?”

  “Malcolm told us you would be traveling with Ethan to track down Helena’s whereabouts,” he replies. “I hope you can find her. We haven’t had much luck in that area since she went off the grid. I was also informed that she told you she hasn’t sought any medical assistance with the pregnancy. Is that correct?”

  I nod. “That’s what she told me. I don’t think she was lying. She had no reason to.”

  “I doubt she was either, lass,” Desmond agrees. “Knowing Helena, she believes she can handle having the baby on her own, but I would much prefer to be there for the delivery. Please tell her that, if you see her again, and let her know that all I’m concerned about is the child’s welfare. Nothing else.”

  “I understand,” I say, letting him know I can read between the lines. Desmond may want Cade’s child to be raised by anyone other than Helena, but he won’t actively try to take her son away from her, unlike the War Angels standing around us. “I’ll let her know if I get the chance.”

  Desmond nods. “Good.”

  I look over at Xander. “I honestly can’t say that I’ve ever seen you sober.”

  Desmond lets out a chortle at my remark, but Xander simply raises a dubious eyebrow in my direction.

  “I could say the same about you, Jules,” he replies smoothly with a satisfied grin.

  “Touché,” I reply. “I guess we’re both full of surprises today.”

  “Xander,” Ethan says, “maybe you can give me a report on the state of this world while Zane is attending to his wife. Jules and I have other planets we need to visit today. I would like to get going as soon as possible.”

  “King Manas has increased his demand for iron ore,” Xander tells us. “It’s only a matter of years before he’s harvested all he can from this planet’s crust. I’ve tried to talk him into slowing down, but he refuses.”

  Ethan sighs deeply. “Do what you can, Xander. We can only advise him on what’s best for his world. The rest is up to him.”

  “This is Zane’s home now,” Xander stresses. “Why can’t we do more? It wouldn’t take much to force Manas off the throne.”

  “We can’t do that,” Ethan says in such a way that Xander should know better than to try to argue.

  “Yes, we can,” Xander replies, attempting to change his leader’s mind on the subject, even though we can all see it’s an act of futility. “Just a few War Angels could take this whole planet away from him.”

  “You know as well as I do that the people of this world are scared of change. They’ve been conditioned by the Manas family for generations to be followers and not to think for themselves. We need to find them a strong leader to replace Manas before we completely revolutionize their world.”

  “What if we started laying the groundwork for a regime change? We could help those who want to rebel against Manas’ reign. Or is that against the rules too?”

  “We were not sent here to become the caretakers of the universe or its law enforcers, Xander. Our father sent us here to help Anna solve her Helena problem and facilitate the evolution of humanity.”

  “But we can do so much more, Ethan. Why won’t you let us?” Xander questions desperately.

  “Because it’s not what our father asked us to do!” Ethan thunders. “Now drop the subject. I won’t argue this point with you again.”

  Xander scowls at Ethan, but he keeps his mouth shut.

  All righty then. I guess even angels have tempers and get mad with one another. Not that it’s any surprise to me. I’ve seen my mom and Uncle Enis argue a lot over the years, but it was usually about something petty, like what color to paint the living room or something similarly trivial. They never debated whether or not to change the fate of an entire planet.

  To be honest, I’m on Xander’s side of the argument. I mean, if they know this King Manas is about to destroy the planet’s ability to sustain its inhabitants, why not stop him in his tracks and change things for the better? Although I can also see Ethan’s point too. If Anna’s War Angel contingent starts policing the entire universe, they’ll be so spread out that they won’t be able to help Anna if she needs it. But Ethan has drawn his line in the sand, and Xander doesn’t look like he’s about to cross it. I’m not sure if that’s because Xander knows Ethan would whip his ass in a fight, or if he simply respects his commander enough to follow all of his orders. My gut instinct tells me that it’s a mixture of those two reasons.

  The tension between the two War Angels isn’t broken until Zane and Verati walk back onto the porch. The conversation quickly turns to the subject of her pregnancy. I feel like an intruder listening to them talk about such a private matter and decide to walk over to the railing on the porch to gaze out at the beautiful scenery. I’m soon joined by Ethan, who must feel as out of place as I do.

  “We can leave as soon as they get through talking,” he tells me, not wanting to be rude to his friends by interrupting their conversation just to say good-bye.

  As I continue to observe the beauty of this world, I have to ask Ethan something.

  “Why won’t you let Xander save this planet? It sounds like he could, and you can’t argue that it’s not a world worth saving. I mean, just look at it, Ethan. It’s paradise.”

  “There are thousands, if not millions, of worlds just like this one whose people need help. We can’t save them all,” Ethan reasons.

  “Yes, but you could save some of them,” I argue. “You told me that you like to go to the down-world on Earth and look up at the stars to see all of the worlds God has made. Don’t you think He would want you to save as many of them as you and your men can while you’re here? Surely He didn’t just send you down to help Anna and bed as many women as possible to spread your seed throughout the universe. Why not do more?”

  Ethan remains quiet, and I can tell he’s thinking over what I just said before answering.

  “Like I told Xander,” he begins, “our primary reason for being sent here is to help Anna. Until we’ve completed that mission, I don’t see how we can add on any more responsibilities to the duties we already have. If that changes, perhaps we can do more to help, but until things get resolved, Anna needs us. I won’t abandon her. Not now. Not ever.”

  Ethan’s loyalty to his empress is commendable, but I can’t help but believe it’s a bit shortsighted. I decide not to push the issue any further though. It’s obvious he’s made up his mind on the subject, and I know I don’t have enough influence over him to change his way of thinking.

  “Ethan …” I hear Verati say in a singsong voice. It’s one that tells me she’s about to ask him to do something for her. “I was wondering if you are free for dinner tonight. I’m sure if I call my friend she would be more than willing to join us this evening.”

  “I’m sorry, Verati,” Ethan says, sounding believable, “but I already have plans for this evening.”

  “Oh, surely you can rearrange things and join us,” she insists.

  “I really can’t,” he says apologetically. “Certain arrangements have already been set into motion. I can’t back out of them now.”

  “And what is so important that you can’t come back here to have dinner with your frien
ds?” she asks, clearly suspicious that Ethan is simply making up an excuse not to come.

  “Jules and I are having dinner together this evening,” he lies smoothly.

  I thought angels weren’t supposed to lie. I know my mom told me that the War Angels can tell the truth from a lie, but I don’t see either Xander or Zane calling Ethan out for telling a fib. Did he ask me to dinner earlier and I just didn’t realize it? I don’t remember being asked out on a date, and I haven’t been drunk since last night. I don’t say anything because I’m not completely sure what’s going on.

  Verati looks at me with newfound interest … and dare I say it … hope?

  “Well then, I sincerely wish the two of you a marvelous time together this evening,” she says with what looks like a conspiratorial wink at me.

  What exactly is that supposed to mean? Does she think I am going to get lucky tonight? Fat chance of that happening. I’m not even sure Ethan plans for us to go on this convenient date he seemed to pull out of thin air on the spot.

  “I’m sure we’ll have an interesting time,” Ethan tells her before he starts making the rounds to the others and saying his good-byes to everyone.

  While Ethan is talking to the other men, Verati sidles up to me and says in a whisper, “You will have to tell me what happens on this date of yours. I’ve been trying to fix Ethan up with some of my friends for the past few months, but he doesn’t seem interested in any of them. I suppose he’s waiting until he finds his soul mate.”

  “Soul mate?” I ask, never having heard the term used before now. “What is that?”

  Verati looks at me in complete surprise. “No one has told you about soul mates yet?”

  I shake my head. “No. Why? Should they have?”

  “Well, I would advise you to ask Ethan to tell you about them tonight. It’s an interesting story if you have time to listen to it.”

  Ethan walks back over to us and asks me, “Are you ready to go to the next planet?”

  “Sure,” I reply, taking a step forward so he can place his hand on my shoulder.

  “You two have fun tonight!” Verati says enthusiastically.

  I look up at Ethan’s face just before he phases us and swear I see him blush.

  CHAPTER 7

  When we phase to the next planet on Ethan’s agenda, I find myself standing on top of a lush green hill in an isolated part of this world. Before I even activate my tracking device, I look up at Ethan.

  “So what was that all about?” I ask him curtly. “I really don’t like being used as an excuse to get you out of a blind date.”

  “I wasn’t using you as an excuse,” Ethan tells me, looking a bit taken aback by the ferocity of my reaction to what he just did. “Verati simply took me by surprise. I was planning to ask if you wanted to have dinner with me this evening after we’re through today.”

  I cross my arms in front of me. “And you just assumed that I would say yes to your invitation? What if I already have plans for my evening?”

  “I would never presume to know your answer to any question or expect you to change your own plans,” he states on the edge of being terse himself. “I simply hoped that you would accept my invitation. If we’re going to be working together, I think it’s a good idea if we get to know one another better. Don’t you?”

  I feel a bit let down by his answer for some reason. I suppose it’s because he makes the evening sound more like a business meeting than an actual date. I’m not sure why that bothers me, but it does.

  “I told Uncle Enis that I would be home for supper,” I tell him, not quite sure I want to use it as an excuse to get out of spending time alone with Ethan in a casual setting. I quickly decide that I don’t. “But I guess I can let him know my plans have changed. He’ll probably be happy that he doesn’t have to cook for me tonight.”

  “Does he always cook for you?”

  “He does if he doesn’t want me to have a meal from a fast food restaurant or reheated in my microwave.”

  “I take it that you don’t like to cook, then.”

  “It’s not so much that I don’t like it or can’t do it myself. It’s more like I don’t have the patience to cook a decent meal. If it takes more than five minutes to prepare, forget it. I’ve got better things to do with my time.”

  “I do like to cook. See, we’re getting to know things about each other already.”

  Ethan grins at me, and for some odd reason, I just can’t come up with a reason to refuse his offer to dine with him.

  “So, are you cooking for me?” I ask, definitely intrigued by the notion. “If you are, I can’t refuse your invitation.”

  “Then, yes,” he says as his grin grows wider, “I will be cooking for you this evening. Do you have any preferences?”

  “Seafood!” I automatically respond, or was it a shout? Probably a shout because this dinner just got way more exciting for me. “I heard Earth has more ocean covering the planet than land. Sierra is the complete opposite, and it’s against the law to fish in our oceans. I would love to try some seafood.”

  “Seafood it is then,” Ethan readily agrees. “Anything in particular for dessert?”

  “Nah, surprise me. I like surprises. Well, of the good variety anyway.”

  “Duly noted.”

  “So …” I say as I look around the world we’re standing on. “How come you keep phasing us to isolated parts of these planets we’re visiting? Are you afraid someone might see us?”

  “These are the safest places on each planet to phase to,” he answers. “They’re also the predesignated spots my men have been instructed to meet me at.”

  “Who are we meeting on this planet?”

  “Their names are Atticus and Marcus,” he replies.

  “Do you always send your men out in pairs?”

  “Usually, yes, but not always. On the more volatile planets, it’s safer to have two stationed. If one of them runs into trouble, the other one can either help or come get me. You never did tell me why you don’t work with a partner in your bounty hunter business.”

  “Having to look after someone else would be too much trouble for me. They would just get in my way.”

  “Considering you hunt down criminals on a regular basis, it sounds like you should have someone who can watch your back,” Ethan says, sounding concerned about my physical safety.

  I shrug his worry off. “It’s worked for me so far. I don’t see any reason to bring someone new into my life if I don’t have to.”

  “Well, what about Enis? He would certainly be able to help you.”

  “More like hover over me like a mother hen. No thank you.”

  Ethan still looks less than pleased about my insistence to work alone, but to be honest, it’s really none of his business what I do. After this job is over, we’ll both go back to how things were before and probably never see each other again. The thought of that eventuality makes me pause before bringing the tracking device up and turning it on.

  “Is there something wrong with it?” Ethan asks. “It’s not broken, is it?”

  “No,” I answer, as I squeeze the button on the handle to turn it on. “It’s fine.”

  As I watch the little red dots flash on the screen, I find myself strangely hoping to see a “no signal” message appear. If Helena isn’t here, then I don’t have to worry about my adventure with Ethan ending too soon, which isn’t like me at all. Normally, I can’t wait to finish a job. I glance up to look at Ethan’s face and notice him watching the screen too with a worried frown crinkling his forehead. When the message on the screen reads “no signal,” I notice that his wrinkles vanish as he appears to be as relieved as I am that she’s not here. I find his reaction curious, but not in a bad way.

  “Sorry,” I tell him, trying to emote that emotion. “She isn’t here either.”

  “I’m sure we’ll find her eventually,” he says. “I have a feeling that she’ll at least resurface when it’s time for the baby to be born, if not sooner.”


  “Why would she do that?” I have to ask. “The safest place for her to give birth would be Hell. She can keep everyone out of there if she wants to.”

  “True,” Ethan agrees, “but I don’t believe she’ll want Cade’s son to be born there. She knows how much he hated her domain. It was one of the reasons they were on your planet. Apparently she wanted him to stay in Hell while she blew Virga up so he wouldn’t know what she had done, but he talked her into letting him stay in your cabin instead of Hell.”

  “It seems like he had a lot of influence over her.”

  “He did. More than anyone else she’s ever had in her life so far.”

  Two men phase in front of us on the hill. I can only assume one is Atticus and one is Marcus.

  Ethan holds out his hand to the War Angel to the left of us who has curly short brown hair and intense blue eyes. It’s not so much the color of his eyes that make them stand out. It’s the strength behind them that causes you to notice them first. He wears a serious scowl on his face, and I have to wonder if it’s a permanent facial expression since the creases of his skin conform to it so naturally.

  “Atticus,” Ethan addresses the man, “it’s good to see you. We miss you back on Earth.”

  Atticus shakes Ethan’s hand and replies. “I would definitely rather be there than on this planet. I swear the leaders here act like squabbling children fighting over a piece of candy.”

  Ethan holds his hand out to the other man who looks somewhat similar to Atticus, but rather than a scowl, his expression is more relaxed and self-confident. The two angels could pass for brothers, if you didn’t know any better: Atticus as the older brooding sibling who wears the weight of the world on his shoulders for all to see, and Marcus as the young rogue always looking for a good time no matter where he’s at.

  “So have the two of you been able to smooth things over between President Lauder and Prime Minister Arden?” Ethan asks.

  “Yes,” Atticus answers, “but the peace between them is tenuous at best. Neither of them seems to want to budge or share this land.” Atticus briefly looks around the area we’re standing in. “It seems to be an all or nothing situation for them, and they’re both willing to do whatever it takes to claim it. I’m afraid it’s just a matter of time before an all-out war breaks out here.”