Free Kindred (The Watcher Chronicles #2) by S.J. West Page B

want you to know we tried."
    "I know," I tell him, cupping the left side of Chandler's face with my hand, immediately soothing his ire.  "Mason is just overprotective at the moment.  I don't think he's going to let me go back to work for a couple more days either."
    "That's fine," Chandler says.  "You do need your rest, but he seems to forget you need us too."
    "And how are things between the two of you?" JoJo asks.  "You and Mason."
    "He promised he wouldn't leave me again," I tell them.  "And I believe him."
    "At least he figured out how stupid it was to leave you the first time," Chandler says.  "Too bad it took you almost dying to show him what an idiot he was being."
    "Don't be mad at him," I say to Chandler, knowing he only has my best interest at heart.  "He's been through a lot in his life.  He just thought he was doing the right thing to keep me safe.  Now he knows I have enemies of my own and that I'm safer with him than without him."
    "And I intend to keep you safe."
    I look up and see Mason leaning against the doorframe to my room, his gaze steady on me.  "They'll have to kill me to get to you."
    "I think I have a way to stop them from trying to kill me," I say.
    "And how do you plan to work that small miracle?" Chandler asks.
    "Tell Lucifer what they did.  If anyone can stop the other princes or anyone else under his command from trying to kill me, it's him.  Even Asmodeus didn't try directly because Lucifer ordered him not to harm me when we were in Antarctica.  He had to call in Mammon to do the dirty work for him."
    "It should work," Mason agrees.  "None of them will go against a direct order from Lucifer.  They know the consequences of disobedience."
    "I'll just have to wait until Lucifer comes to have one of his little chats with me," I say.  "Until then, we'll just have to keep an eye out."
    I look at JoJo.  "So I heard you found your crown."
    "Oui, oui!" She says excitedly.  "Lilly says it belonged to her father, Michael."
    "You have Michael's crown?"
    "Oui," JoJo says, her eyes downcast.  "Poor, sweet Lilly seemed a bit upset when she found out.  It was only afterwards that I learned Michael is her father.  If I had known, I would have better understood her reaction."
    "She's been through a lot," I explain.  "I'm still waiting for her to come see me to speak with Michael directly."
    "What do you mean by directly?" Mason asks.
    "I can call on Michael when I'm awake now," I tell him.  "Didn't I tell you that?"
    "No," Mason says, his eyebrows draw together, "you didn't.  Have you tried to contact him since you woke up?"
    "No."
    "You might want to try," Mason suggests.  "Just to make sure you can still call him when you need to.  I'm not sure what damage might have been done to your brain after Asmodeus phased you all those times."
    I nod, suddenly becoming frightened I won't be able to connect with Michael anymore.
    As soon as I call to him, he appears in my room, still wearing the faded blue jeans and white t-shirt with black angel wings I dressed him up in the first time we met.
    "Glad to see you're better," he tells me.
    I smile.  "Glad to see you didn't disappear on me."
    "I assume you see him," Mason says, his eyes wandering to the empty spot where only I can see Michael standing.
    "Yes, he's here," I tell Mason.  I look back at Michael.  "I just wanted to make sure I could still contact you."
    "Our connection can't be broken," Michael assures me.  "I'm a part of you until we defeat Lucifer."
    "Will I lose you after that?"
    "If that's what you want to happen.  I will always be a part of you, Jessica; at least until you die and our souls are able to separate.  Once we've accomplished our mission, I can stay hidden within you like I have for most of your life.  I don't want to burden you with my presence."
    I shrug.  "I'm kinda used to you now.  I don't think I'll want you to stay in the background anymore."
    Michael smiles, pleased.  "I'll let you get back to your