Judgment (The Alternate Earth Series, Book 3) by S.J. West Page A

vegetables that tastes slightly Middle Eastern in origin, Gabe and JoJo tell me about their life, living between Paris and New York City. It sounds very jet-set and exciting, but not exactly conducive to a family life.
    “Do you think you’ll be settling in one place after the baby is born?” I have to ask.
    “ Oui .” JoJo nods her head definitively, making her curls bounce against her shoulders. “We have decided to make New York our home during most of the year, and we’ll stay in Paris during the summer months. I see no reason to choose between two cities I love and gain so much inspiration from. Our son will have the advantages of both, and can decide where he wants to live when he gets old enough.”
    JoJo and Gabe fill me in on some details about their life and their plans. The love they have for one another is obvious, and being around them simply makes me happy. I now understand why Mason decided to invite them to have supper with us. I’ll admit I was slightly disappointed that we weren’t going to have a romantic dinner for two. But, now, I think I fully understand Mason’s intentions.
    His love for me is without limits, but so is the love my friends harbor for me. I need them just as much as I need him in my life. From what I was told, the bond between our Archangels is strong; at least strong enough to bring a group of strangers together from all around the world. It was powerful enough to pull my soul back into my body after Lucifer killed me, and it transported us all here to alternate Earth. Which made me wonder…
    “Do you think we could gather everyone together?” I ask Mason. “All the vessels?”
    “I’m sure we could,” he says, uncertain why I’m bringing this up while we’re all still having supper.
    “Didn’t you tell me earlier that, when we’re all together, we can make an inner realm?” I ask.
    “Yes,” Mason answers, waiting for me to say more.
    “Well, what if we make one right now? Maybe it can help me connect with Michael.”
    “Damn,” Gabe says across the table, “why didn’t we think of that? I’ll go get the others, Mason, but you’ll need to send someone out to get Rafe. I don’t know where Nina took him.”
    JoJo and I wait in the library together while Gabe and Mason work on bringing all the other vessels to me. In my heart, I can feel Michael jumping for joy. I feel sure that he wants to connect with the other Archangels as much as I want to finally hear him speak.
    About five minutes later all of the vessels are present, except for Rafe.
    “Do you know where they went?” I ask Chandler.
    “Not a clue,” Chandler shrugs. “I’m not even sure they were going to one particular spot.”
    “Why don’t we just call Nina’s phone?” Leah asks.
    “Cellphones don’t work anymore,” Zack informs us. “My guess is that the meteor shower took down too many cell towers and satellites.”
    “Even if we can save this world,” Gabe says, “it’s going to take them a long time to get back on their feet.”
    “Anybody else just really want to go home?” Leah looks at us all a bit guiltily.
    One by one, we all raise our hands, letting her know that she’s not the only one who feels that way. I may not remember home, but I know it has to be better than where we are.
    “It’ll be over soon,” Zack tries to reassure the group. “It can’t last forever. Though, if I miss the birth of my first born, Faison might just make me wish I had stayed here.”
    We all laugh at his joke, making the tension in the room a little less palpable.
    When Mason walks into the room with Nina and Rafe beside him, I breathe out a sigh of relief.
    “Ok,” I say looking at everyone, “how do we do this?”
    “We usually hold hands,” Chandler says, taking one of mine while JoJo takes the other, “and stand in a circle.”
    “Once the circle is made,” Gabe says, “we all concentrate and combine our powers to make the inner realm.”
    “Oh!” Leah says, turning to