Azar: Ascension, #9

By Hayden West

I am an Archangel. As one who is tasked with many of the more important missions to men, I am a leader in the army against evil. I am a guardian. Never have a I questioned my purpose, yet when I meet the quiet man who is my opposite in every way, I cannot ignore the draw between us. My attention on him has landed him in the crosshairs of demons. Those creatures will learn how dangerous it is to threaten what is mine.

I am…

Azar

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hayden West
• Release date: Oct 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393015253

Book preview

Chapter One

He swung his sword with deadly precision, cutting down the demons who dared stray between his blade and his ultimate quest. The annihilation of these spawns from Hell. Around them, the barren land burned.

Azar held no concern for the flames, they were incapable of burning him. If he were submerged in them long enough it may turn into a nuisance. Much like when they dripped their acidic blood on his kind. His blood hurt them, theirs did the same to him.

The chattering of their birdlike beaks altered him to the arrival of more. And they had arrived in droves.

Azar tossed his hair back, slammed his right hand down to his side, calling forth another blade.

You will die Archangel, one hissed, his tail flicking back and forth with his increasing irritation.

Not today and certainly not by your hand. The sun began to lower in the sky, drawing his focus, only part, not all, to another place on the ground where the flames were nearly golden instead of so red.

You are sorely outnumbered, and our final wave is coming in to finish up the job. His grin, more feral than anything didn’t stir Azar in the slightest.

Good to know this is your final wave. He dispatched the three who had been between him and the one trying his best to get a rise out of him. It didn’t work and Azar scanned him with one more blank stare.

The demon raised his mace and his sword both and screamed something that Azar, when it had first been something he heard, had wanted nothing more than to hide until it was over. Now he didn’t blink.

The demon hissed at him and lunged. His attack never made it. A silver chain shot out of the flames, wrapped around the demon’s neck and stopped him in his tracks.

As with most of the demons he came across when finally faced with their own mortality, they wanted to beg back for their own life. Pray that they would be forgiven and not have to spend the rest of time in Hell.

This creature was no difference. He begged and pleaded. Azar looked beyond him to the tall, powerful winged being who strode from the flames as if they themselves made him, breathed life into him, then set him free.

Intense and icy cold gold eyes didn’t miss anything and the second he landed them on Azar he yanked on his chain, removing the head of the demon and without any questions, held his gaze.

Even he, an Archangel, couldn’t deny the power rolling from the being striding toward him.

You are unharmed?

I am, thank you. I did not know you were in this vector.

The slightest pause. I was.

Thanks for the assist.

He didn’t bother pointing out he wouldn’t have needed the Powers help but he was appreciative. Something was wrong and bothering him. Azar couldn’t pinpoint where the unease sprouted from, only that he had it and it moved through him, alive and dangerous.

The area around them had settled after the battle. Dust slowly returned to the ground, the wind tempered, and a soft rain put out the flames that continued to burn. The rain came from one of his kind, he knew because after the initial brush of mental contact, he experienced a coolness along his skin, removing all and any taint of demon from him. The touch hadn’t been a personal or intimate one, as if he had been showering with them, but it was nice to be refreshed.

Something else on your mind, Power? He returned his swords and gave Danijel his full attention. The wind slowly lifted and set back his black and brown blended hair that the Power wore in braids hanging past his broad shoulders.

For the moment, he had been dismissed and Danijel stood looking out in the distance, his focus scary sharp and unwavering.

Azar looked as well but he didn’t see anything. They all had great eyesight to be able to see the demons and other hell spawn creatures but he couldn’t pick up on anything at all.

The earth grew eerily quiet and Azar called forth his swords once more, the familiar metal grips settling against his palms like a lover. He was a warrior, first and foremost. He lived and breathed fighting, commanded legions of his kind to protect and defend. Yet, even he, would pause and give this Power, all the respect he could because it was well deserved.

They come.

He may not feel it yet, that burn he had when faced with the demons and the others from Hell, but