Paladin (A Higher Calling Novella)

By Willow Cross

***This is not a stand alone story. Paladin begins where A Higher Calling ended.***

Sophia remained vigilant in saving the lives of those around her. Especially those she loved. However, when the mysterious, seductive Ramiel decides to school her in the life of a Paladin, she discovers everything she thought she knew about the world around her was wrong. More importantly, everything she knew about herself was a lie.

Struggling to maintain her sanity and still sworn to protect the town of Burton, unwanted sparks ignite when the arrogant Ramiel is the only one who can help her. Does she truly have a higher calling? What will happen when death comes knocking and duty and the heart collide?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Willow Cross
• Release date: Apr 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310463648

Willow Cross

Willow Cross is a multi-genre author who resides in Indiana. She also moonlights as a radio talk show host for The World of Ink Network’s The Paranormal Hour. A self-proclaimed vamp enthusiast, were-hunter, prankster, dreamer, story teller, benevolent dictator of minions, and chocolate lover, she spends her free time with family and friends, as well as participating in paranormal investigations.Her home has been known to host the occasional ghost and several of her friends profess to be witches. Although she dearly loves Vampires and Werewolves, they are never invited for dinner.

Book preview

Paladin

By

Willow Cross

Copyright © 2014 Willow Cross

Smashwords Edition

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a fictional work by author Willow Cross. All names, characters, places and events are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, personal situations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Other Books by Willow Cross

Haunted

Haunted II

Haunted III

Haunted IV

Haunted Special Combined Print Edition

Still Haunted Print Edition

Ghost Diaries

Case #1 The Haunting of Sarah Beth Hawkins

Case #2 The Haunting of Reginald Bonner

Case #3 The Unusual Evolution of Timothy Hicks

The Dark Gifts series:

Birthright

Inheritance

Legacy (coming soon)

Dark Gifts Companions

Afterlife

The Bloodstone Oracle

Sacrifice (coming soon)

Oceans of Red series

Volume one- Rise of the Demons

Volume two- Demon Evolution

Volume three- Demon Apocalypse

Oceans of Red combined print edition

Demon Revolution

A Higher Calling

A Christmas Miracle

~***~

Dedication

For Theresa. You are my strength, my shoulder to lean on, and the wind beneath my sails when I need it the most. You are truly a warrior and I’m so very grateful to call you friend. Thank you for everything you do!

All my love,

Willow

Previously in A Higher Calling...

As we flew back to my home, I tried to process everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. It was a lot to take in. Too much really. Darkness had overtaken the sky and the stars had just begun to twinkle as we landed once again in my back yard. Still unable to speak, I nodded to Ramiel and turned to walk away.

He grabbed my arm and stopped me. Sophie, there’s one last thing. I didn’t want to be the one to tell you this, but I know Nathaniel won’t. If you are going to be choosing sides all the cards should be on the table.

Weary and completely overcome by emotion, I silently waited for him to continue.

It’s about Cryshell. She’s been marked.

Jerking my arm from his grasp, I asked, Marked by what?

Not by what, he answered. For what.

Well?

His mouth drew to the side as he carefully prepared his words. The same power that courses through your veins also flows through her. Because she has more humanity in her than you, what would normally scare evil away is drawn to her. Wicked men who would seek to harness that power will inevitably be pulled to her. She cannot escape them. Her only hope is the protection of the Paladin.

Rage careened through my body filling every last fiber of my being. What’s wrong with you people? This is the choice you give me? I have to choose between the life of the granddaughter I’m supposed to have and the life of the daughter I do have? What kind of screwed up choice is that?

Believe it or not, it gets worse, he replied.

What could possibly be worse than that? I hissed.

There’s another thing Nathaniel neglected to tell you. If you choose the way of the Sentinel, you must forsake all earthly relationships, especially those closest to you. You cannot travel the kingdom of heaven and live in the world of men. It is forbidden.

And if I choose the Paladin? What then?

His eyes held great sorrow as he spoke. You will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And when the Sentinels choose to transport the soul of the child, you cannot interfere. We are brethren, but to walk in both worlds is to be damned to the realm of the Fallen. You must choose.

A sob welled up inside me and I waved him away. Leave me. I don’t want to hear anymore.

Sophie, I--

I shook my head and raced into the house. Moving through the kitchen and living room, up the stairs, and into my precious angel’s room as fast as my body could move, I never heard him leave.

Shelly rested peacefully in her bed. Her lovely face, even at twenty, still retained a small amount of the baby she’d once been. As I brushed a lock of hair from