Judgment: Kian: Part 1 of The Judgement Duet, #1

Glossary

Characters

Afton: Human female. Woman Kian is falling in love with.

Altros: Male Angel. Former friend of Lars, Kian, and Sharadian, who he once loved. One of the Dark and serving Lucifer.

Chase McNeil: Human male. Brother of Tarius McNeil. Father to Cole McNeil. Was married to Lisa McNeil. Former California Assemblyman and overseer of the Elite.

Cole McNeil: Human male. Son of Chase and Lisa McNeil. Nephew of Tarius McNeil.

Fiona: Human female. Friend of Afton’s. Mistress in a sex club and aiding the Elite in bringing down sex slave trafficking.

Judicious: Male. Angel of Judgment and of the Light. Serves the Creator.

Kian: Male Guardian Angel. Currently serving time as a human male. Serves the Creator and is of the Light.

Laish: Male Angel and one of the Princes of Light. Serves the Creator.

Lars: Male Angel. Identical twin brother of Kian. Former lover and still in love with Sharadian. Former Guardian Angel who became a Fallen Angel. Is Dark and currently serves Lucifer.

Layla: Human female. Girlfriend of Leith. Former exotic dancer. Helping the Elite.

Leith: Human male. Former Navy SEAL. Member of the Elite. Boyfriend of Layla.

Lisa McNeil: Human female. The ex-wife of Chase McNeil. Mother of Cole McNeil. Former leader of a sex trafficking ring, currently serving a life sentence in a penitentiary.

Michan: Male Angel. Commander Guardian and trainer of the Light. Serves the Creator.

Mitch Rolston: Human male. Former Navy SEAL. Captain of the Elite and trained physician’s assistant. In love with Shelby. Best friend of Tarius McNeil.

Ravanna: Female. Angel, Imp and Witch of Light. Gatekeeper to Purgatory. Bound with the Ravens.

Sharadian: Female. Half Imp, Half Angel of the Light. Gatekeeper to the Forest of Contemplation. Serves the Creator.

Shelby Corbet: Human Female. Daughter and husband killed in tragic accident where she was horribly wounded. Nurse and once homeless. Closely connected to Tar and fighting her feelings for Mitch Rolston. Unofficial member of the Elite.

Tarius aka Tar McNeil: Human male. Married to Keely, father of Esmé. Brother of Chase McNeil. Uncle to Cole McNeil. Best friend of Mitch Rolston. Former Navy SEAL and member of the Elite. Currently heads the security team for Strand Industries.

Tome: Male. Angel of Death. Serves the Creator.

Zak Gillian: Human male. Famous actor. One of the leaders in the sex traffic ring. Serial killer and wanted nationwide. The Elite is searching for him. Also, Altros’ current puppet.

REALMS

Forest of Contemplation (n) The place where both Dark and Light are sent to gather their thoughts and make choices. Humans are permitted there under special circumstances.

Heaven (n) The place where human souls reside after their lifetime on Earth. Angels can come and go.

Hell (n) The place where human souls reside after their lifetime on Earth. Dark Angels can come and go. Demons are ever-present.

Purgatory (n) Dangerous realm of monsters. Both Dark and Light reside there. Humans have a holding plane there that is very small. Humans are not allowed to reside there permanently unless given special privileges.

Armies

Army of Light serves the Creator.

Army of Dark serves Lucifer.

The Elite: Humans, former Special Forces Black Ops team under United States government to bring down human trafficking and sex slave trade.

Prologue

(Kian)

KIAN STOOD RESPECTFULLY before his superior, head bowed as the arguments prevailed against him.

Lars intervened, As you can see, he has violated several of the rules that are clearly written and therefore, has lost his standing.

Silence, Fallen One, the deep resonating voice of the Prince commanded. Angel, what do you have to say for yourself? he addressed Kian.

I am guilty, Sir.

A thoughtful nod confirmed. The child is special and still needs protecting.

He didn’t dare raise his head in excitement.

But...you, Kian, need to learn from your mistakes.

Yes, Sir.

Lars taunted, I’ll take him with me.

Will you ever learn, Fallen One? This is discipline, not banishment. Be gone.

Lars’ ear-splitting scream filled the air as he was hurled back to Hell.

The Prince stood in front of the mighty warrior. I do hope you understand why I must do this. He motioned to two other angels who stepped forward. Bend.

Kian knelt as they ripped the wings from his body, stripped him of his armor, and gave him the form of a man.

You are hereby sentenced to one lifetime on Earth as a human.

Kian gasped, not just from the physical pain he was in, but the emotional pain as well.

Find the child named Cole McNeil and guard him. He will be a man of great power someday if you can protect him during the most vulnerable time of his life.

He placed a hand on him. I do hope you succeed, Kian.

The floor of gold opened, and he hit the earth abruptly. Naked. He scrambled to his feet, searching his surroundings. Snow. Mountains. Pine trees. And he was freezing his ass off, along with a rather important body part—if he recalled correctly. With a quick glance down at the thing that dangled between his legs, he ensured he was all intact.

Where the hell are your clothes? came a female voice from behind him.

He turned with a hand over the part of him that made him male. Not sure. His voice was much the same as before, deep and low.

Her eyes widened, and her breathing grew more erratic. She yanked off her parka. Cover your junk before it freezes and falls off.

His head cocked to the side; her body did not match her words. Yes, ma’am.

She threw a wave over her shoulder and turned. I’m by no means old enough to be a ma’am. Come on, let’s go get you in front of a fire. I won’t be held responsible for you being found in the spring thaw buck ass naked.

He couldn’t help but grin. She was—what was that word he’d heard Mitch say?—Sassy, he said, snapping his fingers.

You ain’t seen my sass yet, Mister.

Chapter One

KIAN TUGGED AT THE fabric constricting his movements. His agitation ratcheted up times a hundred. Yes, he took on a human form before, but it never felt quite so—what was the word he needed?—unnatural. The out of his skin itching persisted like ants at a picnic. This was proving to be a discipline he wasn’t sure he could bear. His fingers ran through his longish, obsidian hair, tugging out of pure frustration. There was a mission at hand. A child that needed his protection. Well, not his, per se. He was ordered under higher powers to guard the boy, putting his new life on the line for the greater good. Service. He understood what it meant to lay it all down, to be all in. But there were limitations to what he could do in this form. A man. No regrets to what he did. Perhaps, he was far too emotionally attached to human beings and becoming one would be a great lesson. Yet, never was loving or caring wrong.

He scoffed at his own justification for his actions. He deliberately and knowingly defied a direct order, intervening to protect Cole McNeil from the cruel harshness of a bloody scene, where his mother, clothed in pride and hate, took the starring role. His heart ached. Someday, the boy would become a man, and then the reality of who his mother was could not be hidden from him. Though Kian still hoped, for the child’s sake, her heart would soften. Still, free will was given to all—not unlike him or his kind.

The humorless laugh bounced off the logs, which served as walls. He was no longer an angel, yet the warrior inside him still fiercely searched the cabin. A woman was tucked inside another room, sleeping. He could not detect her breathing, but he cued in on the fact she was not awake.

Afton. He learned her name when she escorted him inside, embarrassed by his nudity. Curiosity plagued him. Humans were always ashamed of who they were, which didn’t make any sense. A beautiful creation handcrafted by the Master. Shame did not have a place there. Of course, when sin entered the world, everything changed. And though he’d been an angel, it was no different for his kind either. His heart felt strange as he pressed his fist against the rhythmic thump. Lars, his twin brother, made the choice; chosen to side with who he deemed right. But that light deceived, for behind it lurked a darkness. Moisture began to spill as he collected it on his fingertips...tears. It wasn’t that angels didn’t feel deeply, for they did weep in their own way. But they were unable to produce such remarkable things.

A creak along the floorboards alerted him that the woman was awake. He adjusted the too-tight pants between his legs, trying to figure out the why behind the phenomenon. His bulge pressed persistently, more to the point of slight pain, as she stepped into the room.

Her red hair was wild from sleep and draping across her peaks. They hardened under his questing gaze. He was aware of what sex was between a man and a woman, a holy union—sacred. Though his body felt anything but that, as his gaze roved her from head to toe. She was beauty incarnate, and, Heaven help him, he wanted to worship her fully, take his time as he learned how her body was different from his and what she desired most.

You are not here for pleasure, he sternly scolded himself.

He glanced away, feeling bereft as he broke their contact. Something he tucked away in his mental journal; a gaze could equal a caress. She broke through his musings. I’m glad they fit.

His head angled her way. Fit?

She ducked her head. The urge to walk over and lift her chin became an incessant demand. The jeans, she pointed out.

She referred to the godawful tight pants he wore. Ah, perhaps I could get another pair slightly larger?

She took in a sharp breath. I can check to see if there’s a bigger size.

But her tone gave her away. She was pleased with the snug fit, or pleased with his—he paused, searching for the word—erection. His smile shifted to wicked. Maybe, you enjoy what you see.

Her gaze met his with anger, not arousal. You cocky bastard, she huffed and spun on her heels, making a loud commotion at pulling food from the cold box.

Damn, he would need to read and study this generation’s vocabulary as well as current slang. He chuckled low, and to learn more about women. Though he highly doubted this particular woman came with a handbook.

Stop laughing at me, she grumbled.

He sauntered toward her, leaning against the counter. "Forgive me for not fully comprehending, but I assure you, I was not laughing at you."

What are you? she gasped.

His eyes widened. A man.

No...okay, yeah, you are now. She held his gaze without apology for her uncanny intuition.

She fascinated him, but he wasn’t sure he should answer her. Then again, truth was always best. He held her intuitive regard. Your assumption is accurate, I’ve just recently become a man.

Her gasp and expression threw him off guard. I did not need to know that!

His brow arched in question. You asked.

Yes, well, your sexual conquests are not of my concern.

His turn to gasp. How the hell did she reach that conclusion? I never referred to such a thing, he admitted.

She blew out an irritated breath that matched her stance: hip cocked to one side, hand flailing in the air. Am I to believe you were something other than human?

He nodded empathically. Correct.

Oh, for the love of all that is holy, I’ve found myself an alien! She huffed out the words in exasperation, drawing his curious gaze to hers.

Science fiction is just that, fiction. I assure you, I’m real.

She shook her head several times. "Okay, then, what were you?" She asked with her eyes rolling, and he found it curious that he wanted to do something about her disrespectful behavior.

No point in answering a question you don’t want a truthful answer to. His ire came through the words as he turned and walked outside.

(Afton)

JUST WHO THE HELL DID he think he was? She followed him with determination and caught hold of his shoulder. Dear God, the muscle was beyond firm and defined. The memory of him naked in the copse of trees, where she found him, came to the forefront. She didn’t give herself permission then to ogle like she so very much wanted to. Her fingers disobeyed the direct order to release, while his chuckle grated against her frayed nerves. Do you wish to continue your fondling? he queried with a chuckle.

Damn him! Her senses were already unraveling. She dropped her hand with an exaggerated huff. "You only wish that was what I was doing."

He spun and leveled his gaze on hers. No, Little One, your desire betrays you.

As if, she scoffed out the lie.

He stepped in closer where his breath blew across the top of her head. I know, he rasped.

Hell, his voice and tone made her womb clench. But his directness shocked her, inviting her curiosity. She decided that was safer. Are you going to tell me the truth?

He waited until their eyes locked, then vowed, Always.

She felt that one word all the way to the center of her being. His honesty as shocking as it was welcomed. Why are you here? she hedged, unsure she wanted to readdress her earlier question.

To protect. His regard a little too perceptive.

Who are you supposed to be protecting?

A child.

You’re a father? She stepped backward to regain her personal space.

He shook his head with a slight smile. No. That would be impossible.

"Um...dude, no it’s not. I thought you would ‘always’ be truthful?" Her head tilted as she studied his expression. He remained calm without emotional tells. Now, she wanted him to unfurl to get an accurate read.

Considering I’ve only just gained the gift of procreation, I have yet to put it into practice.

His answer puzzled her, and she blurted out. My God! You’re a virgin.

His palms up revealed he hid nothing. Correct.

But how is that even possible?

His brow arched. I’ve been human for only twenty-four hours. If memory serves me correctly, it would take nine months for a baby to grow inside a womb. Since you and I do not know each other biblically, I don’t quite understand your questioning.

Her foot edged back. You’re insane, she half screamed as she bolted toward the forest.

He ran after her, but she held an advantage and hid in a cave. She tucked in tight and rocked back and forth. Her life was a series of wrong turns, massive errors in judgment, and always trusting the wrong man. Even when they fell from the sky, she continued down the same path—no matter how hard she tried. Her hand clapped hard over her mouth to stifle the screams of injustice. Could be punishment for her rebelliousness. God, it did cost her dearly. Hell, it had cost her everything. Surely her debt was paid. There was no one left. No family of her own. She was utterly and completely alone in this world, seeking some kind of solace in the only place that held fond memories. Now, it was tainted with a madman; his presence in her marrow as he approached. So, this was how she died. He pulled her free of the