“Thanks.” He kissed her gently.
“… and you rock in bed.”
He blushed. “You inspire me. It’s never been this good with anyone else. That’s the truth.”
“Ditto.”
He squeezed her tight. “I love you so much,” he said, kissing her hard. When he came up for air, he winked. “Want to go again?”
“Can I take the rest of my clothes off first?” she teased, looking down at her shirt.
“Yeah.” His forehead scrunched into a frown. “Were you serious about the paddle?”
She gave him a wicked grin. “Don’t be bad and you won’t find out…”
He chuckled. “Fair enough.”
They sat up and he removed her shirt.
“Can I stay tonight?” he asked.
Her heart squeezed. “I’ve never asked you to leave,” she said softly.
“I know. I hate that I have to leave again tomorrow morning, but I need to head back to Cara and the others. I’ll stay in touch this time.”
“Okay, otherwise… the paddle.”
He laughed. “Deal,” he said and pulled her closer. “Round two?”
“Uh-huh.” She rolled on top of him. “Time for me to use more of my fifty points,” she said, pinning his arms above his head.
The look of panic he usually wore when she took control was nowhere to be seen.
“I trust you,” he whispered.
His words melted her heart. Trust and love were the two biggest gifts he had to give, and he’d given them both to her.
“I love you, baby. I’m going to make you feel good now,” she said softly.
“Okay.” He smiled.
She spent the rest of her fifty points giving him all she had and making sure that he enjoyed every second of it.
There would be time tomorrow to update him on her news, and break it to him that he was her Center Stone.
Tonight, it was just them. Nothing else mattered.
They collapsed an hour or so later, spent and happy. For the first time since their night at the Mercer, they slept soundly wrapped in each other’s arms… for the entire night.
Chapter 77
CONSTANTINA
France. Angelorum Sanctuary.
“ISHMAEL?” Constantina gave her daughter Hope’s former Nephilim mate a quizzical look as she entered her chamber, and closed the door securely behind her.
The white-haired albino Guardian bowed his head, hands clasped in front of him. “Eae.”
“What are you doing here? I thought you were assigned to guard Dr. Solomon’s daughter.” Concern gripped her as did a feeling of sudden uncertainty. Had there been a change in the Trinity Stones?
A small blonde-haired child stepped out from behind Ishmael. “He is guarding me.”
Constantina’s brows knit at the mature and serious expression on the four-year-old child’s face, and her heart skipped a beat behind her breast. “I don’t understand,” she whispered.
The child’s eyes gazed up to meet hers and a wise smile touched her lips. She pulled a talisman on a silver chain from underneath her pink blouse, and placed it in Constantina’s hand. “Hope gave me this before she died, to keep me hidden. I was afraid Achanelech would find it when he kidnapped me. Didn’t you wonder why the demon blade had no effect when it scratched my cheek?” Sara said with a precocious look that didn’t match the maturity in her tone.
Constantina stumbled backward and crumpled into the chair behind her. Tears welled in her eyes when the child’s energy hit her with full force.
The child’s eyes glistened as she spoke, her tiny hand reaching for Constantina’s. She whispered, “I’m sorry. This was the best that I could do. After the Wanderer gave up his mission before having his last son, I was left with no choice. Michael and his sister’s souls had already been chosen. This was the closest I could come…”
Sara reached up and caressed Constantina’s cheek. “I couldn’t let you do this alone, my love.”
Constantina looked into the child’s eyes, at the old soul peering out who she’d known her entire existence, and breathed, “Leo…”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
By day, L. G. O’Connor is a corporate executive in a Fortune 250 company. By night, she’s a writer of adult Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Contemporary Romance who lives in Northern New Jersey. She lives a life of adventure, navigating her way through dog toys and soccer balls and loaning herself out for the occasional decorating project. When she’s feeling particularly brave—she enters the kitchen.
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Books by L.G. O’Connor
The Angelorum Twelve Chronicles
TRINITY STONES (Book 1)
The WANDERER’S CHILDREN (Book 2)
Coming soon:
HOPE’S PRELUDE (Book 2.5)
ENDNOTES
Character List
Angelorum
Angel Benitez. Leader of the Avenging Angel’s Bikers Club (AABC) in Los Angeles; “retired” Four Hundred–Class Guardian. Brett King’s guardian since age ten. Also known by Nephilim name, Benedictine.
Angelis. Angelorum High Council Leader.
Brett King. Rock star and lead singer of King Metaljam. Secretly protected by Angelorum since the age of ten.
Cara Collins [kare + a; with soft c sound]. First of Angelorum’s Holy Twelve expected to lead the final battle. Soul Seeker in the Collins Trinity.
Chamuel, Son of Eae [sham + u + el]. Given Nephilim name of Cara’s former Trinity Guardian, now fiancé. With suspension from Guardianship he uses his human identity, Simon Young.
Chloe [clow + e]. Cara’s faithful Whippet. An Angelorum Sentinel who can sense Demons.
Constantina [con + stan + tina]. Angelorum High Council member. Cara’s mentor, and Chamuel’s mother in a prior human incarnation.
Deva Feldman [dee + va]. Michael’s former high school girlfriend and loyal employee.
Eae [a + e]. Angel who thwarts demons. Constantina’s true angelic identity.
Irene Hickey. One of Cara’s best friends from Georgetown University. Linguist for the State Department in Washington, DC.
Isaac, Son of Heiglot. Head of Tri-State Guardians, ceremonial replacement Guardian in Collins Trinity for Chamuel, Chamuel’s best friend, and brother of Chamuel’s deceased first love, Calliope.
Ishmael, Son of Derdekea. Sara’s assigned Guardian. Former mate of Constantina’s daughter, Hope.
Jessamine Drake [jess + a + mean]. One of Cara’s best friends from Georgetown University. Owner of Serenity Spa in Marin County, California.
Jonas. Leads the Powers Suborder of angels, the Transporters.
Kai Solomon [ka + i; same as the word kite, just cut off the t sound]. Cara’s first love in college, the Center Stone of her Trinity, and currently her personal physician.
Luke, Son of Ismoli. Kai’s assigned Guardian.
Melanie Solomon. Kai’s wife. Recovering from demon possession.
Michael Swift Jr. Messenger of the Collins Trinity. Owner of Rising Sun Dojo in Brooklyn.
Paco. Angel Benitez’s second-in-command in the AABC; Four Hundred Class “retired” Guardian.
Roxy Rexton. Brett King’s publicist and best friend from college at USC.
Samuel. Rogue Nephilim controlled by the Dark Ones.
Sara Solomon. Kai’s four-year-old daughter.
Sienna Sargent [see + n + a]. Cara’s best friend from high school. Designer for
Italian designer Nicolas Alda.
Simon Young. See Chamuel.
Zeke (Ezekiel), Son of Itqal. Young Tri-State Guardian reporting to Isaac. Mentored by Isaac and Chamuel.
Dark Ones
Achanelech [ack + n + el + ik]. Archdemon King of Fire. One of Lucifer’s thirteen lieutenants. Also known by human identity Le Feu.
Chaos & Destruction. Emanelech’s twin humanoid ice minions.
Emanelech [em + n + el + ik]. Archdemoness of Ice. Achanelech’s consort.
Escher Grant [s + sher]. Human identity used by Amon, one of Lucifer’s thirteen lieutenants.
Luc Morningstar [luke]. Human identity used by Lucifer, the Morning Star.
The Angelorum (Watchers)
Angelorum High Council: Each member represents one of the twelve Orders of Angels. Twelve is the number of completeness and wholeness.
First Choir: “The Invisible Ones,” angels of pure energy, they embody divine light and wisdom.
o Sara, representing Supernels: Companions to the Source and all existence.
o Christos, representing Celestials: Maintain connection between divine thought and wisdom.
o Isiah, representing Illuminations: Emulation of divine light and wisdom through the physical realms.
Second Choir: Angels of pure contemplation concerned with the universe and the divinity within it.
o Seraphina, representing Seraphim: Angels of love, light, and healing fire.
o Judah, representing Cherubim: Guardians of light, joy, happiness. Trusted with maintaining the records and the divine science of Heaven.
o Angelis (High Council Leader), representing Thrones: Control energies. Responsible for the Flow including all its healing powers.
Third Choir: Angels who govern the cosmos and its interconnectedness.
o Ciara, representing Dominations: Responsible for order and connectedness, balancing the spiritual and material worlds for mankind.
o Ezekiel, presenting Virtues: Responsible for interconnectedness. “There are no coincidences.”
o Virgil, presenting Powers: Warrior angels, they are the sponsoring Order of the Angelorum and the fathers of the Nephilim Guardianship. They are the Guardians of order and peace. They are tasked with stopping demons from overthrowing the world.
Fourth Choir: Angels of the world and friends of man.
o Hershel, representing Principalities: Oversees global reform, religion, and politics.
o Gabriel, presenting Archangels: Govern the affairs of the Messengers and their families. Order closest to man and Earth, sometimes taking human form to change the tide of human events. They have the ability to funnel energy bi-directionally between Heaven and Earth.
o Constantina, representing Angels: The Guardians of humankind. Their role is divine inspiration and protection.
THE HOLY TWELVE (as revealed by the end of Book 1):
FIRST: Cara Collins
SECOND: Chamuel, Son of Eae (Simon Young)
THIRD:
FOURTH:
FIFTH:
SIXTH:
SEVENTH:
EIGHTH:
NINETH:
TENTH:
ELEVENTH:
TWELFTH:
The Dark Ones (Fallen Angels): (Fallen Angel Name / Street Name)
Leader: Lucifer / Luc Morningstar
Thirteen Lieutenants loosely aligned with each of the thirteen portals to Hell:
North America:
Achanelech / Le Feu, Archdemon, Demon King of Fire
o Emanelech / Emily, Archdemon, Demoness of Ice, Consort of Achanelech
o Achanelech commands Semyaza’s disembodied Nephilim spawn
Amon / Escher Grant, Fallen Angel with strength over 40 legions
o Commands Samuel, formerly Achanelech’s male Nephilim
Europe:
Belial / Erik Janssen, Fallen angel of deceptive beauty that is without worth
Lix Tretrax / Le Vent, Fallen angel of the wind
Asia:
Bernael / Tariq Haj, Fallen angel of darkness and evil
Lahash / Ming Lu, Fallen angel who interferes with divine will
Pharzuph / Phar Rush, Fallen angel of fornication and lust
Africa:
Wormwood / Zulu, Fallen angel who brings plagues upon the Earth
Rahab / Josef al-Jazuli, Fallen angel of pride with name meaning violence
Xaphan / Sonny Fallon, Fallen angel who fans the fires of Hell
Australia:
Leviathon / Mick Farley, Fallen angel of the deep seas
South America:
Abaddon / Raoul Ladona, Fallen angel of death
Astaroth / Ezra Snipes, Grand Duke of Hell
Antarctica - Unattended
The Wanderer's Children Page 46