Page 39 of Mushy Stuff (Guardian Mates #1)

I keep an eye on Faylen as she says goodbye to Nanni and Pampa. Even though I feel like she is safe, I am concerned that the human woman’s Guardian might decide he wants revenge on his woman’s behalf for how she was treated.

He shows no signs of hostility toward Faylen though, even when she speaks to the human woman and they embrace.

I am still relieved when she walks back towards me.

I help her onto the horse, then pull myself up behind her. I nod to the human woman’s Guardian as we ride off.

As we leave the estate, I take the road to the right. Faylen finally speaks up. “Where are we going? ”

I reply, “There is an inn not far from here. I think we should get a room for the night so you can rest. We can make a plan in the morning.”

Faylen leans against me as we ride. I can tell she is exhausted, but I am also happy to notice that she is relaxed.

Lately, Faylen has been more stressed and afraid every day.

I could see the tension in her shoulders and jaw as she worked.

She no longer smiled. I could even scent the anxiety and fear on her.

I knew that he took her to his bed. I knew he was selfish and cruel, but Gods, I never imagined that he was everything the rumors said he was.

Gods, I can’t even imagine what she may have endured at his hands.

I grit my teeth at the rage that burns inside me.

All those nights that I knew she was with him; the only way it was bearable was if I told myself that she was getting pleasure.

Now I realize how foolish that was. Of course he wasn’t pleasing her.

It was never about her. And now that I know how he really was…

I wish I could have been the one to rip him apart.

I unintentionally let out a low growl at the thought.

Faylen looks back at me. “Are you okay?”

“Sorry, I was just thinking about Lord Varik…I am gl ad he’s gone.”

She leans back against me and says, “Me too. It’s like a weight has lifted off of me knowing that he can’t hurt anyone now.”

I lean down and kiss the top of her head. “I’m sorry, Faylen. If I had known…” I shift the reigns to my right hand and wrap my left arm around her and squeeze her close to me.

She rubs her hand over my arm. “Don’t feel guilty. I didn’t want you to know.”

She goes quiet after that. After a few minutes, I feel her muscles start to tense. Soon I notice that her breathing is heavy. “Faylen, are you okay?”

She chokes on a sob and shakes her head, then she breaks down weeping. My arm is already tight around her, but I stop the horse, so I can hold her.

I stroke her hair out of her face and hold her.

“It’s okay, Faylen, you’re safe. I have you.

” I wish that I could change what he did to her, but I can’t, so I just hold her as she weeps.

I stroke her hair, then I nuzzle my face into her neck.

I continue to murmur to her that she’s safe and that I have her. Eventually she stops weeping.

She sniffs. “I’m sorry Allium.”

I stroke her hair out of the way and kiss her neck. “Don’t be. I’m here for you. It will take time to heal those wounds. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, I will be here for you. ”

She sniffs again and hiccups on her inhale, then she leans back against me. “Thank you, Allium.”

I just hug her tightly to me. “Are you ready? We can stay here longer if you need.”

She shakes her head. “I think I’m okay now.”

We spend the rest of the journey quiet, lost in thought, and enjoying being close to one another.

***

When we arrive at the inn, I tie the horse to the post, then we go inside to speak to the innkeeper about a room and a stable for the horse.

He’s a gruff older Guardian, and he has only one room left, but he has plenty of space in the stable. We take the room without question. After we pay, we take the horse around to the stable, then he shows us to our room.

Faylen quietly looks over the state of the room. It’s not bad, especially for an inn, but it’s not that good either. It’s not really the type of place you want to take a female if you want to impress her.

It has a bed that looks soft and clean. There is also an attached bathing room with a decent sized tub in the middle of it. It’s not big enough for a Guardian like me, but Faylen should fit in it nicely .

Before the innkeeper leaves, I say, “We would like water for a bath.”

He grunts, “That’ll be extra.”

I nod and tell him I have the coin for it.

Once he leaves, Faylen sits down on the bed, lays back, and sighs. “The bed is actually pretty comfortable.” Then she pushes herself up to rest on her elbows for a minute and studies me. “Thank you again, Allium. Thank you for helping me.”

I walk to the edge of the bed, lean over, and cup her cheek. “I would always come for you.”

She turns her head and kisses the palm of my hand. I lean in to kiss her, but there is a knock at the door, interrupting us. It’s the innkeeper with a giant basin of water.

He takes it into the bathroom and pours it into the tub. Then he mutters, “I’ll bring one more.”

As he leaves the room to get the second basin of water, I sit down on the bed next to Faylen and take her hand. I rub my thumb over the skin on her palm, trying to fade the gold stain. “Do they still tingle?”

“Less than before. Do you think it’s fading?” She gives me a worried look. It’s not fading, and I can tell that she already knows that. This was just hope .

I don’t want to disappoint her, but I can’t lie to her. “No, I don’t think so. We will find a healer in the morning and see what they can do.”

She sighs in defeat, then she studies her hand while it’s intwined with mine. “Well, at least it’s pretty. It looks nice with my skin tone.” She holds her hand out as if she’s admiring it, then she gives me a tired smile. She takes a breath to say something else when the innkeeper walks back in.

He carries the water to the bathroom and pours it in the tub, then comes back into the room and collects the extra coin.

As he’s leaving, he says, “You two have a g’night.”

Once the door shuts, I turn to Faylen. “Come on, let’s get you into the bath.”