by
It was a year of change and healing, heartbreak, and renewal.
On his way to reunite with his First Consort, Lord Teo receives unwelcome news from Chi’NoSa Prime.
He is ordered to return to perform a duty he hoped to be spared.
There is no recourse except obedience.
Raphael, changed from his time spent with the Chi’NoSa, discovers that his gifts set him apart from his peers, causing them to shun him.
As his family and a few friends are the only colonists to support him, Raphael spends much of his time alone, removing himself from the cacophony of other minds.
When the wait for his lord’s return is finally over, Raphael assumes his place on the Golden Falcon, hopeful they can live in harmony as they look for new worlds.
Returning to Chi’NoSa Prime was not part of the plan.
Neither was an unwanted duty.
A duty that would change them both, leading them to a Queen who would ask for their future, and may change the Chi’NoSa and humanity forever. What will they have to give in order to save both their species?
TW: Violence and adult sexual situations.
PLEASE NOTE: This is the 3rd and FINAL book in the Archangel series. In order to enjoy the overall story arc we recommend you read Raphael's Rescue and Raphael's Redemption first!
Publisher: Independently Published
Editors:
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 4
Romantic Content: 4
Ending: Click here to reveal
Word Count: 60000
Setting: Chi'NoSa
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Naran lifted Talin off Jon as though he weighed nothing. Jon lay on the ground a moment more, regaining his breath, feeling sore from the impact of Talin’s body on his. As soon as he could, Jon sat up, ignoring his own discomfort. Talin lay next to him, unconscious, his blood feeding the grass below him. Divar arrived with the aid kit, deftly cutting Talin’s uniform away to get to the wound. The wound was a narrow groove, passing by his side, apparently glancing off one of his way too many ribs on its way by his body. Divar staunched the bleeding, cleaned the wound, packing it before telling Naran to lift Talin so he could wrap him to hold the dressing in place, pulling his tunic off to do so. Talin began to make sounds of returning consciousness as he was lifted, his face paler than Jon had ever seen it. Divar looked up at Jon’s devastated expression.
READ MORE“Senior Talin will recover, Senior Jonathan. The wound will heal without complication. I do not know the weapon used, but fortunately, Daranii are made to withstand much. We will take him back to the house. Please accompany us as Senior Talin would wish.”
Jon stood shakily, the security officer still by his side, giving him a hand. He took a deep breath, feeling every sore rib as he did so. “Please, take Talin up to the house. I will be there in a moment.” Naran started to respond as Jon cut him off. “That’s an order, Naran. I won’t be long.”
Jon walked slowly up to the gate. Security had formed a wall which opened enough for Jon to see the remaining crowd. The shooter was front and center, held by two of the security force. Talin’s assailant was an older white man, gray haired, clean shaven, with eyes that held only vitriol. One of the security men turned his back on the crowd, facing Jon.
“I’m Crawford, lead for your security, Captain Thomsin.” He held up an antique weapon. “This is a projectile handgun, several hundred years old. We have no way to scan for these, which is why it made it this close to you. It fires what I believe are called ‘bullets’ via a combustive release of gunpowder against the hammer of the gun. How is Senior Talin?”
Jon was staring at the man who had shot at him, managing to hit his husband. He gave his attention back to Crawford with difficulty. “Talin will be fine due to his Daranii bone structure. If that had hit me, it probably would have killed me. I want to talk with him.” Jon indicated the shooter. Crawford waved the restrained man forward with his two guards in tow.
The man, who had no ID, gave Jon a hate filled look. “You’re a traitor to your planet. You deserve to die,” he spat out as the security jerked him back.
Jon began to laugh much to the consternation of security, the remaining crowd, and the shooter. He laughed until he ran out of breath and had to stop, noticing for the first time the blood on his hands. Talin’s blood.
“You know, the last time that was said to me it was a Daranii who said it. They meant it too, showing me just how much as they tortured me.” Jon straightened up as much as he could.
“As you must know since you’re here, I’m the Captain Thomsin who was given to the Daranii by their order to stop their continued retaliation against Earth. I’m the one given in Sacrifice to them, to use, to kill so all of you would be protected. It was my duty, my honor to protect Earth. I didn’t fight back when the Daranii tortured me. I didn’t fight back when they told me I was dead to everyone on Earth and would never see my home again. I did that because it was my duty, my Sacrifice to them that made sure all of you would continue to live. I chose that, to endure that, for you.” Jon shook his head, his expression bleak.
“All of my Sacrifice, my agony, and now – now you try to kill me for loving the one person who saved me on Daran, the person who saved me today. I’m glad I saved the planet, my family…but all of you can go straight to hell. Do what you will with lives you don’t deserve and be damned. Now get out of here. Don’t come back. My husband can’t press charges, but I will and you,” Jon looked at the shooter, “are going away for a very long time. Be grateful for that. If anyone deserves to die, it’s you.”
COLLAPSE
