Page 31 of Mushy Stuff (Guardian Mates #1)
I fill with hope the moment I see Wold.
He snarls at Lord Varik as he crouches before us.
Lord Varik shifts to stand up, but is still pressed against me as he laughs and looks at Wold. “You must be Mother’s first monster. No wonder she got rid of you. I never understood her fascination with Guardians. You are just disgusting beasts.”
Wold just snarls again at him.
Lord Varik dismissively waves a hand at Wold and says, “Guards, kill him.”
Osonia screams, “No!” But Haemir raises his sword and runs at Wold. Wold throws him against the wall and Haemir crumples to the floor, unconscious. Osonia sobs quietly behind me .
The other guards run at Wold, but he leaps through the air and slams another one into the wall. His hair vines whip out, wrap around the neck of the other guard, and fling him aside as well.
I watch in horror as Lord Varik begins melting and moving gold along the walls and floor to trap Wold.
I suddenly realize that this whole estate is a giant weapon for Lord Varik.
It’s all covered in gold. Wold must realize it too because he moves faster as he leaps from wall to wall, using his claws just like he does in the trees.
Wold is fast, but I notice as he leaps that one of his feet is starting to turn gold.
Lord Varik must have gotten him, but it doesn’t seem to slow Wold down.
Wold makes a final leap towards us, and grabs Lord Varik by the throat as he lands.
He yanks Lord Varik away from me, and I roll off the bed.
Lord Varik screams as Wold slams him against the closet door.
Then his scream is broken off when Wold squeezes his throat and digs his claws in.
Blood runs in little trails down Lord Varik’s chest from his throat.
Lord Varik tries to raise the knife against Wold, but Wold swats it out of his hand.
Gold is beginning to climb up Wolds legs and tail.
His feet are already covered in it, and it’s working its way up to his knees.
Wold snarls in Lord Varik’s face and says, “I think it is time for our mother’s house to die.
” He squeezes Lord Varik’s throat tighter, digging his claws in deeper.
Lord Varik’s eyes are wide and budging as he tries desperately to gasp for air.
He grabs Wold’s arm trying to break his grip, but he isn’t strong enough.
He does manage to leave behind a handprint-sized smudge of gold on Wold’s arm.
Then Wold stabs the claws of his other hand into Lord Varik’s lower stomach and slices them up to his ribcage, eviscerating him.
Blood pours from the wounds as Lord Varik’s organs begin sliding out of the slices.
Wold lets go of Lord Varik’s throat, and blood begins pouring out as Wold’s claws slide out of the wounds they made.
Lord Varik crumples to the floor and makes a little gurgling noise before he finally goes still.
Everything is quiet for just a moment, then I begin to see the gold melt off of Wold’s legs and arm.
I feel it melting off of my hands too. I look at Osonia and Faylen.
It’s melting off of their hands and feet as well.
But something is different. I can see the gold running off of them, but their skin looks like it’s stained gold.
I look at my own hands, and even though they are no longer bound, they are stained gold and feel tingly and numb.
Osonia pushes past me and stumbles to Haemir’s side.
She says his name over and over again as she tries to wake him.
After a few moments, he groans and opens his eyes.
When he sees Osonia, he croaks out her name.
“I couldn’t fight it. I’m so sorry, Osonia.
” She bursts into tears again, and buries herself in his chest.
I gasp and realize that I’ve been holding my breath. Then I run to Wold and fling myself into his arms. Blood smears all over my arms and dress, but I don’t care. I begin sobbing as he holds me.
A loud commotion comes behind us. In the doorway stands a massive Guardian wearing an apron and wielding a huge, long-handled meat cleaver as if he’s ready to go to battle.
He must be the cook. He’s covered in mostly white fur with dark leopard-like spots.
His features are mostly cat-like, and he has a long fluffy tail.
But he also has tall, proud horns that stick straight up from his head and curve only slightly towards the back.
He's breathing heavily as he surveys the room, then his eyes lock on Faylen. “Faylen, are you well?” She has tears streaming down her face, and I see her shake her head before a half dozen guards run up behind the cook. All of them are Elven, and are all different gemstone shades.
The cook strides into the room and straight toward Faylen. He picks her up and carries her out of the room like he’s carrying his bride.
A couple of the guards rush to Osonia’s side.
They help Haemir stand and support him between them as they begin walking from the room.
One of them looks at Osonia and says, “Come. His things are packed and are waiting with your bags. We need to get out of here.” Osonia follows them as they leave the room.
The remaining guards pick up the other two that Wold knocked unconscious and carry them out. I’m assuming they are going to get their things and leave too.
Wold looks at me and strokes his bloody hand down my cheek. “We need to go too. Nanni and Pampa are waiting for us in the servant quarters.”
I sniffle a little and say, “Nanni and Pampa? Nanni is here?”
Wold smiles and carries me toward the door. He steps over Lord Varik’s blood-soaked body and walks out the door and into the corridor. “I’ll explain everything when we get to the servant quarters.”