Guardian by Heather Burch

out of sorts. But really, if Will didn’t think of himself as the Halflings’ father, well … That was it. He did. She knew he did. “Look, you don’t have to admit anything to me.”
    He scratched his head, nervous tension flying off his body like showering sparks ready to combust. “There’s nothing to admit. I’m a caregiver. The boys are in my charge. I am commissioned to do my best by them.”
    Nikki laughed right out loud. She hadn’t meant to, but all that energy seemed to gather around her, and when she breathed it in, it took over. “I’m sorry, Will,” she said, swiping a tear. “I know they aren’t your sons. They aren’t even brothers.” Neither were Sky, Ocean, and Dash, she’d discovered. Though that’s what the three called each other. In fact, they called Raven, Mace, and Vine brother as well. No one was safe from the title. On occasion even she’d been referred to as brother by Dash. Nikki had given him a playful-but-dirty look the second time. He’d mumbled that she’d been the one to say she wasn’t a female.
    “Humor is a great tension reliever, so I’m told. But make no mistake, Nikki. The boys and their ability to work together is only one small part of this journey. Much of what will happen in the next several days holds you as the central piece. This is no game.”
    And just like that, all the joy dissolved.
    Will moved away from her, maybe to give her time to absorb. Instead, she shook it off and followed him to the front of the boat, where he wrapped his hands tightly around the railing.
    “Where are we headed?” she asked. The blue expanse of ocean stretched beyond forever. “Where is this voyage taking us?” There was a new gravity to her tone, but she didn’t care. Life was nothing if not volatile.
    Her question pulled Will’s attention from the water. “France. We’ll pull into port there then make our way to Viennesse.”
    “But you don’t think this voyage across the sea will be without struggle, do you? Will, what do you think is going to happen?”
    “I don’t know,” he admitted. “It was important to the Throne that we be on the boat. Now that we are, I only sense that we should be … ready. You, especially.”
    He really didn’t need to drive that point home any more. Maybe a change of subject would be best. “You said Viennesse. That’s your ancestral home, right?”
    “Not mine. The Halflings’.”
    Ah, yes—as a full angel, Will’s true home was heaven. Except not anymore. He’d been demoted. One day, she’d need to ask him about that. “Do Halflings split their time between an earthly ancestral home and the midplane, except when they’re on a journey?”
    He nodded.
    “Are there houses in the midplane?”
    “Not as you know them. It’s similar to earth, but being there … well, a human would liken it to camping.”
    “Only without the bugs?”
    He faced her. “Shall we get back to your lesson, or are you going to badger me with inquiries all day?”
    “No, you’re off the hook. Let’s get to this ever-so-important lesson. What is it, exactly?”
    Will cupped his hands as if cradling a beach ball. His brow tilted into a frown, creasing his smooth forehead, and his eyes closed tightly. Pure energy seemed to cluster about him like metal shavings to a magnet, and Nikki stepped back until she bumped against a pole. Will’s hands tightened slowly until a silvery ball took shape between his cupped fingers. It became more concentrated as he tightened his grip. When he stopped, a round, silvery globe with tiny blue lights trailing inside it rested on his upturned hand.
    Her mouth hung open and was quickly dried by the sea air. “What is that?” Intrigue forced her closer. A ball. A silvery ball appeared out of absolutely nothing.
    “It’s faith.”
    As soon as he said it, Nikki knew she was in trouble. She had faith in what was tangible. And this was not only intangible, it was untouchable. When she reached for it, her hand passed