The Guardians: An Urban Fantasy Romance Read Online Free

trust someone who didn’t seem inclined to share their secret plans with you—plans that ruled your life every minute of every day. “Okay, let’s have it. What’s this mission?”
    “The mission isn’t a just a ‘what’.” Reniel joined him on the couch. “It is also a ‘who’.”
    This caught Micah’s attention. Removing his hat, he sat up in his chair and rested his elbows on his knees.
    “What do you know about the Seal of Solomon?” the angel asked, his gaze flitting from Jack to Micah and back again.
    Jack frowned, trying to remember his religious legends. He’d learned a lot from his stepmother, who knew things about the spiritual world that no one else on Earth ever could. Before she’d been given the privilege of life on Earth as a human, Sarah had been a messenger angel. Falling in love with his father had been enough to make her want to trade in her wings, which Jack never could quite understand. Still, he’d been fortunate to have Sarah there to step in and help raise him when his own mother lost her battle to cancer when he was just seven years old.
    “King Solomon possessed a ring that was said to give its wearer power over demons,” he recited as the memories of Sarah’s stories came rushing back to him. “Sarah used to tell me there are opposing views on the ring. Some believe it was real, and others think it’s only a pagan myth. She told me it did exist, and God did impart the power of dominion over demons onto it, as a gift to Solomon along with the gift of wisdom. When Solomon pissed God off by getting tangled up with the pagan gods of his wives, the power was taken from him.”
    Reniel nodded. “It is true, the ring existed … still exists. Part of your assignment is retrieving the ring. It holds the power that the Guardians need to destroy the ten demons, their scrolls, and the portals.”
    “Convenient,” Micah drawled, rolling his eyes. “Wanna clue us in on why Michael didn’t tell us about this magic ring before now?”
    “Because, it wasn’t—”
    “Part of the plan,” Jack finished for Reniel. “We get it. Why now? Why me and Micah? He’s a drunk who goes rogue on almost every mission, and I …”
    Reniel considered him as he trailed off. “You’re what, Jackson?”
    Tired. Angry. Bitter. Alone.
    He didn’t give voice to any of his true feelings, but he knew Reniel could feel them all. Angels, programmed to be sympathetic, could perceive the emotions of the humans around them. It took a well-disciplined angel to contain all of that and channel it without letting it get the best of him. Reniel had proved one of the strongest, and Jack had met a lot of celestial beings over the years.
    “I am willing to do what has to be done,” he finished, clearing his throat. “If Father chose us to find and bear the ring, then we’ll do it. Won’t we, Micah?”
    “Oh, yeah, podna . But you mentioned somethin’ ’bout a ‘who’, Ren,” he said, turning to the angel. “Who are we talkin’ about here?”
    “You two are not exactly responsible for wielding the ring.”
    Jack frowned. “So the person you’re talking about is the wearer. We have to find the ring and get it to them.”
    Reniel nodded. “Yes. Although, it might be best if you find her first, then take her to the ring. The members of the Order of the Seal of Solomon are going to want to speak with her and they’ll want proof that she’s the one.”
    “I’m no couyon , Ren,” Micah declared. “I know what you’re gettin’ at here. It’s not a ‘who’ we’re after, but a ‘what’. A Naphil, I’m thinkin’.”
    It made sense. Those with the mixed blood of human and either angel or demon possessed special gifts.
    “Yes, Father has commanded that the ring must be borne by a Naphil,” Reniel confirmed. “However, it cannot be just any Naphil. There is one, a young woman. Father has chosen her above all others.”
    “All right, fine,” Jack said with a shrug. “Point us in the right