the time it took to blink an eye, he flashed from the roof to the backseat of the car, unseen. Mara wasn’t going to like this, and judging from the way Bryan kept reaching for the pendant around his neck, it was pretty obvious that her talisman was punishing him for his actions.
He had to be ready; if the effects of the charm weren’t enough, she’d materialize. He wasn’t sure the mortal could survive any more of her poison. His soul was barely a flicker as it was.
Cassidy looked in the rearview mirror and met Bastion’s eyes. Could she sense him? It wasn’t unusual for mortals such as she to pick up on the supernatural vibrations emanating from him. But to see him? They locked their gaze for a few moments, she winked almost imperceptibly, and returned her full attention to the road.
She knew. Bastion was startled.
A second angel appeared next to him, one he didn’t recognize. He looked powerful enough, most likely a fellow Protector. Though he wore his hair long and looked more hippie than heavenly, Bastion suspected that the angel’s appearance was deceiving. He could do damage when necessary.
“She sees me all the time,” the angel said casually. “Notice the stone around her neck - Aventurine. She’s all about calm and balance; she’ll be good for your guy.” He winked. “But you already knew that, didn’t you? Name’s Luscid, by the way. You can call me Lu.”
The two angels shook hands.
“Bastion. Protector or Watcher?” he asked.
“Protector,” Luscid answered. “Though, since the enemy doesn’t have anyone assigned to her, most of the time I feel more like a Watcher. Elsewhere, the danger is growing, and the Maker is sending us in force. There’s even talk of Warriors.”
Bastion nodded. He’d suspected they might be called upon. “Mara is involved in keeping Bryan, the mortal man, away from the Circle,” he explained. “I’m familiar with her; it’ll be difficult to operate outside of her knowledge.” He indicated the pendant around Bryan’s neck with a nod. “She charms them; it helps her to maintain control and acts like a mortal bugging device. His is Tiger’s Eye.”
“That’s not good,” Luscid grunted. “Under her influence, it will keep his mind foggy, confused, definitely lacking clarity. I’ve heard of Mara’s methods. The Demon of Apathy.” He raised his voice in case she was listening. “What a waste of what she could’ve been!”
“You have no idea,” Bastion mumbled. “So, you’re here to make sure the girl’s place in the Circle is secure?”
Luscid reclined back in his seat, arms stretched above him. “Yes, and so far it’s a very easy assignment, like I said. I suppose we’ll see if that changes once Mara hears about her.” His green eyes glowed. “Things could get a whole lot more interesting.”
“You have no idea,” Bastion repeated. He was beginning to like being around this other angel. He felt a kinship with him and immediately knew they’d make a good team. Maybe it was the same for Vizuhn and Feyth. He nodded toward Cassidy. “So, she’s aware of you?”
“Always has been, ever since she was a kid. I suppose it has to do with her openness to the Maker and His will for her life. She’s strong in her faith; His peace surrounds her.”
“That’s good,” Bastion began, “because right now, Bryan needs all the peace he can get.”
Chapter 8
T hey walked through the parking lot toward the door of the rental agency. Since leaving Carrie’s house, Cassidy talked nonstop to him, but the words weren’t really registering in his mind. Though he saw her mouth moving, Bryan found it difficult to focus on what she was saying. When he did, he started thinking things he was sure he shouldn’t be thinking about Cassidy Baker. Like how he’d like to silence those lips with a kiss.
She turned and looked at him expectantly.
“Well?” she asked.
“Huh?”
“Where is your head, Bryan? You didn’t hear a thing I
He had to be ready; if the effects of the charm weren’t enough, she’d materialize. He wasn’t sure the mortal could survive any more of her poison. His soul was barely a flicker as it was.
Cassidy looked in the rearview mirror and met Bastion’s eyes. Could she sense him? It wasn’t unusual for mortals such as she to pick up on the supernatural vibrations emanating from him. But to see him? They locked their gaze for a few moments, she winked almost imperceptibly, and returned her full attention to the road.
She knew. Bastion was startled.
A second angel appeared next to him, one he didn’t recognize. He looked powerful enough, most likely a fellow Protector. Though he wore his hair long and looked more hippie than heavenly, Bastion suspected that the angel’s appearance was deceiving. He could do damage when necessary.
“She sees me all the time,” the angel said casually. “Notice the stone around her neck - Aventurine. She’s all about calm and balance; she’ll be good for your guy.” He winked. “But you already knew that, didn’t you? Name’s Luscid, by the way. You can call me Lu.”
The two angels shook hands.
“Bastion. Protector or Watcher?” he asked.
“Protector,” Luscid answered. “Though, since the enemy doesn’t have anyone assigned to her, most of the time I feel more like a Watcher. Elsewhere, the danger is growing, and the Maker is sending us in force. There’s even talk of Warriors.”
Bastion nodded. He’d suspected they might be called upon. “Mara is involved in keeping Bryan, the mortal man, away from the Circle,” he explained. “I’m familiar with her; it’ll be difficult to operate outside of her knowledge.” He indicated the pendant around Bryan’s neck with a nod. “She charms them; it helps her to maintain control and acts like a mortal bugging device. His is Tiger’s Eye.”
“That’s not good,” Luscid grunted. “Under her influence, it will keep his mind foggy, confused, definitely lacking clarity. I’ve heard of Mara’s methods. The Demon of Apathy.” He raised his voice in case she was listening. “What a waste of what she could’ve been!”
“You have no idea,” Bastion mumbled. “So, you’re here to make sure the girl’s place in the Circle is secure?”
Luscid reclined back in his seat, arms stretched above him. “Yes, and so far it’s a very easy assignment, like I said. I suppose we’ll see if that changes once Mara hears about her.” His green eyes glowed. “Things could get a whole lot more interesting.”
“You have no idea,” Bastion repeated. He was beginning to like being around this other angel. He felt a kinship with him and immediately knew they’d make a good team. Maybe it was the same for Vizuhn and Feyth. He nodded toward Cassidy. “So, she’s aware of you?”
“Always has been, ever since she was a kid. I suppose it has to do with her openness to the Maker and His will for her life. She’s strong in her faith; His peace surrounds her.”
“That’s good,” Bastion began, “because right now, Bryan needs all the peace he can get.”
Chapter 8
T hey walked through the parking lot toward the door of the rental agency. Since leaving Carrie’s house, Cassidy talked nonstop to him, but the words weren’t really registering in his mind. Though he saw her mouth moving, Bryan found it difficult to focus on what she was saying. When he did, he started thinking things he was sure he shouldn’t be thinking about Cassidy Baker. Like how he’d like to silence those lips with a kiss.
She turned and looked at him expectantly.
“Well?” she asked.
“Huh?”
“Where is your head, Bryan? You didn’t hear a thing I
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