The three of them walked into the family room to find it loaded with the rest of the Brethren. The healing took place in her bedroom. As promised, her Protector was by her side for support. It really was as Raphael said it would be. When he placed his hand directly on her forehead, she immediately felt lightheaded and grabbed onto Michael. Then, Raphael waved his palm about an inch over her heart. Healing energy surged through her and eased her spirit.The whole process only took about five minutes. And the difference in Emma’s focus, her attitude, and the way she absorbed the world around her was immediate. Everything appeared so sharp and crystal clear. Colors were more vibrant, sounds that she hadn’t heard before were audible. Smells were more intense. All was as expected, Raphael had assured her. All of her senses had been enhanced as her powers awakened. Agremon’s hold on her mind had created a barrier that now no longer existed.“Dinner&rs

At first, her arms hung limply at her sides. But as his seduction deepened, she found her footing again, and her hands slid up his arms, then caressed Michael’s back and shoulders. She couldn’t seem to get enough of him as she fought with his tucked-in shirt. But, at last she won the battle. Touching his smooth skin, his taut muscles clenched with every brush of her fingers. He lifted her off the floor, never once breaking their kiss, and she was surprised to find herself planted on the countertop.“Oh God, Emma, do you know what you’ve been doing to me?” he growled. “Driving me crazy, woman. That’s what.” His lips left a feverish trail from her jaw line down her neck. “I need more of you, Emma. So much more.” Emma cupped his face and gazed at him, his expression blurred by her own desire. She turned her back on her misgivings. “My bedroom, Michael, take me there, now.” She could barely speak

“But how can you do that? He’s immortal like you, right? I thought immortal meant living forever.”“Yes, he’s immortal, too, and we can live virtually forever; however, there is a way to kill us, for good. Since I am a Protector, I was given the key to that knowledge.” He paused. Something occurred to him. He sat up. “You know, I always wondered why E.L. didn’t give the key to Gabriel and Urie, too. I’d thought maybe he didn’t feel they were ready yet. But now that I’m supposed to be this ‘Great Protector’, it makes sense somehow that they don’t know. I am the ultimate Protector, and I alone hold the key to life or death for the Brethren. Lord Almighty, he really socked it to me, didn’t he!” He shook his head in disbelief, and worried the whiskers on his cheeks with his hands.Emma sat up as well, faced him squarely, and took his hands in hers.“It is quite an a

The heat of the Arizona summer came on early and strong. By mid-morning, the warriors were drenched from training with swords and mixed martial arts, and had come inside to tackle the training of Hannah’s mind. Raphael and the other Saviors worked with Emma at the intermediate level of their healing arts, and then she practiced the meditation required to help her call upon her powers at will.Michael, Gabriel, and Urie required a more intense meditative session. They needed to be in perfect condition, and meditation enabled them to check, repair, and enhance their powers. Eventually all the Brethren would need to go through the same process. Manifesting and staying in human form had one drawback, the necessity to monitor and keep their corporeal bodies working in synch with their immortal powers. When facing battle, meditating was crucial to keeping both in harmony. Luckily though, while in human form, their bodies were impervious to injury. That is, any injury that could be inflicted

Resolve clear in Michael’s head, he turned his attention to the unsettling feeling that wouldn’t go away. Since making love with Emma didn’t seem to dampen it, he knew better than to disregard it any longer and figured it had something to do with Agremon. He hadn’t shown his face for a long while, and that bothered him. What was he up to? There had been no sign of him around the property, no threaded signature to give him away. Michael was confident that the Brethren guarding the property would be able to smoke him out with the smallest of indicators of his existence.He got up from bed, and she immediately reached out in her sleep. Instantly deprived of what had become so essential, her, he grimaced, tucked his wings away, and got dressed. He had a job to do that he mustn’t forget; protect the Great Savior Mother and the Great Warrior Child.So, he skulked around the house, scanning for anything unusual. Maybe cruising about would help hi