Page 21

Jeff

My first real interaction with the Guardians, and I’m entranced. They’re huge, they speak so sweetly, and they’re beautiful, ethereal. I’m mesmerized. Are we in another dimension? Another reality? Is it simply a trick of the mind? I have no idea, but I watch them speak to Kari in fascination.

Is this what she gets to experience every time she interacts with them? One minute, she sees these tiny little fairies blinking in the leaves, the next, one is bigger than her and sitting beside her, comforting her? Things like this didn’t happen on Earth and only proves to show me just how little I know about the universe and all it has to offer.

My attention goes back to their words, hating to see Kari cry, but so incredibly interested in what information they’ll offer us. Until they start discussing the tragic side of this. “Yes, some will get hurt…. There is a possibility of sacrifice….”

When Kari turns to me, many others follow, and I’m left reeling. There’s no doubt that I’m going to get hurt. Even with the Guardian carefully wording to say that we will have no loss, I still don’t feel confident about my life moving forward. It’s been made quite clear that I am in trouble, I am in the crosshairs. But whose?

I have to wonder if I’m the only one, too. It wasn’t mentioned that others are targeted, the photos do focus heavily on me and Kari, but she also has Vahru in her life, the chief, Willa, Tavi, all of us could eventually be targets, and that’s a terrifying notion to realize. We have no way to know when we’ll be attacked or how, and living our lives in hiding and fear is no way to live at all. So how do we get through this properly?

When the conversation is over, we all head off to deal with this. Kari is off to talk about the research with Kij, Tavi heads off to meditate or whatever she does, and I go to meet with Terax. He’s the lead with the hunters and security and will know what to do better than anyone. I do get a little lost in my thoughts and wander around the village a bit before finding him with Rygen. I’m not sure how that’s going, but Terax seems tense.

“Hey, guys, I need some help. We’ve got a problem.”

They turn to me at the same time, full focus on me, and my stomach drops once more as I relive the meeting with the Guardians. Fuck my life. I sigh and focus on the moment. “Look, it seems that I’ve been targeted by the demon after us.” I hold up my hand to stop their questions because I have no answers. “That’s all we know, I have no answers, but we need to up security again. We have no idea who will come after us, how, or what weapons they will use, and we have no way of knowing if they’ll target others if I’m got. So, we need a plan to make sure everyone is safe. I probably need to start staying indoors more often, out of sight, despite the shield around us. What suggestions do you have?”

They look at each other for a long time before Terax turns to me. “I think we could up the patrol around the inside of the shield, watch for those outside, be wary. We can have more hunters patrolling at a time as well, more eyes on the situation.”

“I think we should set traps outside the shield to catch or deter those eager to get close. We don’t need anyone finding a way to get close or inside. Kij has a warning system up for the shield, I’ll talk to him about getting another or multiple at other distances outside the shield.” Rygen nods to me before running off to his ship to speak with his brother mate.

I sigh, and Terax grabs my shoulder. “Go home, Lieutenant. Be with your mate. Try to relax. I’ll take care of security, even if I have to work with Rygen.” His nose twitches, making him snarl a bit.

“Do I want to know what’s going on between you two?”

“It’s distant history I don’t wish to speak of. I’ll handle myself.” Terax nods once more before walking past me to take care of business.

I decide to take his advice and head home to find Willa cooking. She seems to either be cooking or sewing lately, she never stops, but she seems to love it. I lean against the door after closing it and watch her. Cruzig had been sitting in a chair he’s brought on the porch, so I left him to it. I simply watch her twirl around the house as she hums to herself.

“I’m glad you’re home, I’ve got a delicious soup for you!” Willa sings at me before spinning around to come my way. Her face drops as she realizes I’m not exactly feeling my best. “Oh, honey.” She slides her arms around my waist and hugs me tight, letting me soak in her love.

“We can talk over lunch, let’s eat before it gets cold, hm?”

She pulls away, giving me a worried look, but does as I ask. She sets out some bread on plates and bowls of soup before sliding into the chair across from me. We eat in silence for a long moment so I can gather my thoughts. It isn’t until we’re nearly done that I finally feel able to broach the subject without ruining my meal.

“Kari got a letter from the sky. A demon sent it. He’s out to stop her by taking the things she loves most, starting with me.” I stare at the wood of the table as I speak slowly before glancing up at her to see her mouth open in horrified shock.

“You!? What do you mean, like, take you or….”

“Or.” I nod and watch her face widen further in panic. Her head shakes side-to-side, and I sigh. “Yeah. The Guardians assured us that we won’t have losses in this war, but there will be suffering and pain. So, if you want to see the very thin silver lining, it’s that I’ll get hurt but shouldn’t die. I say shouldn’t because who knows how the wound will be handled or progress afterwards, if things turn for the worse-”

“Don’t you dare say it out loud. Don’t you dare bring that bad juju in this house. You will survive and be just fine. I will make sure of it!” Her green eyes are wide and vivid in her anger. She abruptly stands and gathers the dishes, taking them to the washing tub where she drops them and sighs.

When she turns, I’m standing from my seat and pushing in the chair. She reaches me and puts her hands to my chest, shoving me gently back into the bedroom until I sit on the edge of the bed. “I don’t ever want to hear you admit defeat like that again, do you hear me? This village needs you, I need you. I need you to stay positive, strong, and believe that you will come home to me no matter what happens. Okay?”

Her words are whispered, tears gathering on her lower lid as she stares down at me. “I know that this destiny of yours and Kari’s is hard, it won’t be easy, and there will be some sort of loss or pain in some way, but if you don’t believe you’ll come home, you won’t, and I….” She swallows, those tears falling, and I reach up to stop them, wiping them away.

I stand and pull her into my arms as I rock and shush her gently. “I hear you, Kitten, I do. I promise, I’ll come home. No matter what.”

We stay like that for another few breaths before I lift her chin and kiss her gently. Those gentle kisses of love turn passionate as she clings to me, desperate for more, and I slide her dress off and lay her down. I crawl up her body, kissing her thighs, until I reach that sweet spot between them where I worship her as she deserves. I reassure her between kisses and licks, needing her to believe as much as she wants me to that all will be fine.

“I’ll come home to this fine meal right here. I couldn’t leave it if I tried, Kitten.” My tongue flicks along her clit, forcing her to climb, until I slide down inside her with deep licks and teases, making her arch and beg for more. I finally let her have what she wants, letting her come all over my chin as I gently bring her down and shed my clothes. My lips trail kisses all the way up her body until I can sink right into her with a heavy sigh.

“This is where I belong, Kitten, right here with you. This is where I’ll always come back to, don’t you worry.”

She clings to me, tears dripping into her hair, but I kiss them away as I make sweet love to her and remind her that I will always be here. She’s right in telling me to believe in myself, in my return home. If I let myself think that I’ll die, then I will. I can’t give up before the test has even begun.