Eclipse of the Beginning

What haunts you more… love… or duty…?
Bound by a secret oath to protect the only hope of fulfillment in an ancient prophecy, Lancer Xaren finds no comfort in knowing his own involvement in the sacred writings. When a new commander arrives in LA, Lancer is forced to play the game of the High Council to protect the secret, but will taking lead of the squad assigned to track a roving group of rippers force him to fail in the one task that is most important? 
Driven insane by the ghosts of his past, Ash Z'Nial has made a life for himself in the corruption of Sin City. But when he is hand chosen to safeguard an ordinary mortal, Ash can only guess at the story behind the undisclosed assignment. However, when a small misjudgment on his watch delivers B’Lana Paris into the arms of death, Ash makes a startling discovery. 
Will B'Lana Paris be the one to safeguard her people? Or have the rippers already murdered the girl destined to save them all?
Learn how it all begins in the fast-paced prequel to J.L Hendricks’s stunning YA Urban Fantasy, The Eclipse Series! If you like The Ignited Series by Desni Dantone you’ll love Eclipse of the Beginning!
This is a 13K word short story that was first published in Inanna's Circle. 
You can read this short story in any order you want. But below is the best reading order:
Book 0.5 - Age of the Beginning (Novella)
Part I (Full Length books)
Book 1 - Eclipse of the Warrior
Book 2 - Eclipse of Power
Book 3 - Eclipse of the Heart