Guardians of Magic: A Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance (Guardians of the Fae Book 1)

by Elizabeth Hartwell

  I close my eyes and try what Cole says. I can feel something growing around me, and with each passing second, I feel the connection Cole is talking about. The rain isn’t just cold. It’s beautiful life. The wind carries with it freshness even in the city, and I can almost feel the afternoon sunlight as individual beams on my skin. I clear my mind, open my eyes . . . and my breath is taken away. “It’s so beautiful!”

  I’ve never seen such an idyllic sight. In the distance, I can see a shining, bright city, but closer, I can see fields with grass so green it makes my nose tingle, and a sky a dark blue-black that glitters with diamonds of stars even though the field is lit by light. It seems to come from the very air itself, and as I look out, I yearn deep in my heart to leave behind this mess in Old and New Haven and to step into that grass, to let it wedge between my toes. I want to smell the clean air, to sip at the water that promises to be sweeter than wine, and to hear the wind that holds the melody of a Mozart concerto.

  It beckons to my spirit, calling out in a siren song that sounds familiar, feels like . . . home. But the weight of responsibility holds me in check. I think of Alyssa, the people of New Haven, even Joe. And as much as I would like to play and frolic in the grass, my duty is to them.

  “Look,” Cole whispers, and the scene shifts. The sky’s the same, but the ground looks . . . ill. The air shimmers, and I can see what looks like a bruise in existence, trying to break through. The rift isn’t open yet . . . but it’s only a matter of time, and coming from it is wave after wave of pure darkness. Of evil.

  “The demons have always tried to influence both realms,” Cole says, taking his hands off my shoulders and making the image disappear, “so your power has not caused all of this. But something in your power is causing the problem to get worse, for demons to form. I can only call it cracks between our realms. For the past twenty-seven years, the frequency has been increasing, and since your powers have started to awaken . . .”

  I nod in understanding. “And you . . . want me to come back with you?”

  Tyler nods. “It would be in your best interest. In everyone’s best interest. A faerie sorceress can help you learn how to use your powers. Then, maybe we can see about healing the rifts.”

  “You would love it,” says Jacob before I can reply, his eyes gleaming. The way he looks at me heats my core. The way they all look at me tells me that if I went, I would not be sleeping alone for long. I should be running for the hills if four men I just met are looking at me the way they are, but I’m drawn to them.

  I shove the desire away, in danger of being consumed by it. Fantasies and lust aside, I have duties. But I think the more time I spend with them, the more likely I’m going to turn into a crazed nymph who wants all the faerie cock she can handle.

  “I–I can’t. I have a job. I took an oath. And I have a little sister here. She needs me. The people of New Haven need me. There’s a vampire menace going on right now, and the town is likely to go up in flames if it isn’t stopped.”

  The four look at each other, then Cole nods. “Vampires are to demons what shifters are to us. So, we shall help you resolve the issue. Our mission is to help and protect you, and then you will come with us. Agreed?”

  I shake my head. "Yeah, that's not how this works. I can't just bring you into the office. My captain would freak. But I can use you as informants, just between us." They don't agree, but it's all I've got to bargain with. They can take it or leave it because I've got a job to do.

  As if to remind me of the shitty job I’m currently doing, my phone rings. “Joe?”

  “You found anything?” he asks. “I figured you’d have hit the taco stand long ago, but you never called back in.”

  Shit. Joe’s right. It’s nearly sundown. “Just a possessed house.”

  “Huh?” Joe asks. “Listen, if you’re not too busy, maybe you can get your ass up to New Haven, by Patriot’s Square? I’ve got a suspect, but I might need backup.”

  “Be there in fifteen,” I reply. I hang up and look at the four. “Look. Give me time to sort this and figure it out, and in the meantime, you boys stay here and out of trouble. If the population realizes a new type of Para is around, things really might break out into chaos. Besides, I don’t want to have to lock you up.”

  Jacob grins. “I don’t mind handcuffs . . . in the right situation.”

  I roll my eyes while Cole looks at me seriously. “Where are you going?”

  “My partner has a new lead on the vamp murders. Please don’t follow me. It’ll be easier and give me a chance to think. I can take care of myself.”

  I head for the doorway, half surprised they let me go. Running down the stairs, I jump in my car, silently sure that regardless of what I asked them, they have no intention of listening to a word I said.

  Chapter 11

  The Guardians

  “That one is more duty-bound than Cole and more hard-headed than Jacob,” says Noah as they watch her drive off, his eyesight allowing him to see better than any set of binoculars until she turns the corner two blocks up.

  “Stubborn, sure, but nowhere near as hard as me,” Jacob retorts after plopping down into a seat. “I swear I haven’t been this aroused in centuries. You’d think I was a fucking horny teenager again. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  “You are a fucking horny teenager,” Noah grunts, his nose twitching as he takes a seat himself.

  “Do you think she believes what we’ve told her?” Tyler asks Cole, stringing his bow. “About Lunaria and the demons? And how humans are the layer between us?”

  “I think she’s coming around,” Cole says thoughtfully. He hadn’t always been a soldier and had learned the quiet thoughtfulness and patience that comes with other professions first. He’s long pondered the bond between realms and wondered . . . if the Fae and humans once shared a common ancestor, what about demons and humans? And if so, what did that say about the Fae?

  “How much time are we going to give her to think?” Jacob, always the impulsive one, asks. “I know we agreed that we would make sure any threat is neutralized first, but you know Cassina will become restless if we don’t show back up with her in court soon.”

  “The demon influence will be getting stronger back home,” Tyler says worriedly. “We shouldn’t tarry here long, regardless of whatever’s going on with this town. Even if it could use some . . .” he growls, battle lust filling his eyes, “cleaning.”

  “Our compatriots in the queen’s Guard and army are well-prepared,” Jacob says, smirking as he watches the normally calm and distant Tyler get excited. Cool nerves might be helpful for an archer, but Jacob had always been a Fae of near-manic energy, a constant whirling dervish of sarcasm, playfulness, and speed. “They can handle a few demon hounds coming through any new rifts. A few extra days are not going to hurt.”

  Cole shivers, his mind going back to his youth. He’d been a true youth then, but already haunted by mistakes. Then, when he was barely seventy and just starting on a redeeming path, a pack of demon hounds had somehow gotten into his village. Fire, screams, and blood reigned for hours until the Imperial Guard showed up, Cole being one of only a dozen survivors. “Sometimes, Jacob, a few days can be all the difference.”

  Jacob, who knows the tale, stiffens. “Apologies, Cole. You know I don’t mock the danger.”

  Cole blinks, then chuckles. “You always mock danger, my friend. That is why your knives are so deadly.”

  Jacob gets up and stretches, his long arms seemingly touching the ceiling before stretching wide and taking up massive amounts of space. He needs to have fresh air, and Cole is sure by the end of the night, Jacob will be outdoors, either on the roof or patrolling the streets. “She says a vampire menace is taking over the town. What do we make of it?”

  Noah growls. “I think they should all be staked. The fewer vampires, the better. Hell’s final gift to humanity, and a constant thorn in the side of both realms.”

  They all nod, knowing what Noah is talking ab
out. For millennia, shifters and vampires had warred in the dark after demons were either banished or had chosen Hell as their realm.

  But while shifters fought with the weakened powers of light at their disposal with an attempt at honor and unwavering loyalty to their clans, vampires used their own penchant for the powers of darkness to confuse, to enrage, to encourage chaos and strife. It was a harsh system, only seeking to sow chaos among others in order to put their own despotic power structure in place. Over a dozen times in human history, vampires and their thralls had assassinated potential peacemakers. And now, at this vital juncture, they seem to be more dangerous than ever.

  Wherever vampires are concerned, you can expect chaos and evil to follow.

  Even the Fae don’t know what the end goal of the demonic forces is. They can only guess that their leader, the Lightbringer, the Hell King, whatever his preferred term, wants to rule over all and used the power of darkness and chaos to strengthen his own powers. Either way, the Fae felt there was no other recourse than to meet his darkness with their light.

  “We don’t have the time to kill them all,” Cole says, trying to find the best path forward. “Just the group that matters. We know how vampires work. Their covens always have a hierarchy. And some vampire lord probably has their sights on Eve. I would suspect he’s in contact with Hell somehow, with orders to take her out or set her up. It would take at least a vampire lord to prepare that mansion for the level of demonic possession we saw today.”

  “So we—” Jacob says, Cole grinning as he cuts him off.

  “We follow her and then take the demonic influence behind the group out.”

  It’s only a hunch, Cole admits to himself privately. But all the evidence points in that direction, especially after encountering the spirit of the demon that possessed the mansion. While the dark forces were chaotic, the Faes’ strict hierarchy meant that they could often manipulate from the shadows more effectively than the Fae could.

  So it’s feasible that a demonic force is directing the vampire group behind what’s going on in the city. The Fae had only been able to gather the details from listening to the agitated townsfolk talk about bodies piling up, a tactic that would ensure the police department’s, and hence Eve’s, attention. That attention, if played right, would bring her right to a vampire lord’s doorstep.

  “And after that?” Noah asks. “If she continues to deny that she’s part faerie? If she insists she’s not the cause of the disturbance between our realms and refuses to return with us to our home world?”

  Cole shrugs, standing up. “She’ll have no choice. Come, let’s follow her just in case.”

  Cole gets his sword, and as they get ready to leave, Jacob chuckles. “Does that mean I’ll get to tie her up?”

  Cole finally smirks. “If she’ll let you. I suspect Eve might be more of a . . . challenge than you might think.”

  Chapter 12

  Eve

  I burn rubber as I cross the bridge back into New Haven, my eyes flickering between the road and the rearview mirror. At the checkpoint, I even glance back to see if there is a menagerie of animals behind me.

  “What are you looking for, Detective?” the bridge guard asks. “Got trouble?”

  “No . . . just seeing if a great big bear is following me,” I mutter, shaking my head when he gives me a look. “Never mind. Too many hours, not enough sleep. Gotta roll.”

  I peel out, cursing myself as I do. I sounded like a basket case. But after getting levitated by a possible demon, seeing four animals turn into the hottest guys I’ve ever seen who all give off an intense vibe of wanting to fuck me—and even weirder, the feeling’s mutual—I deserve a break.

  I still don’t trust those four, regardless of their good looks and charm. After five minutes of constantly checking, I relax slightly, my thoughts on what the faeries told me.

  I believe in a lot of weird things, have seen them firsthand, but this, that I might be some magically powerful fairy, is just too much. It hardly seems possible and it’s enough to give me a nervous breakdown. My head is starting to pound, a nasty migraine that’s worse than usual. And of course, according to my four hottie harbingers of doom, these headaches are just another sign that I’m a ticking magical timebomb.

  Except I can’t remember a time in my life where there was even a hint that I could have powers. It’s not like I’ve been able to peek inside people’s heads all my life, although I will admit that I’ve been getting luckier with ‘hunches’ at work. And if the Four Hottsmen are any evidence, it could account for why I have golden hair and the gold specks in my eyes.

  But the thought brings other questions to mind. If I’m half faerie, who were my parents? I was left on a doorstep like something out of a, pardon the pun, fairy tale. Which one was human, and which one was faerie? How did they meet? And what happened to them?

  And maybe that’s why you were orphaned, says a voice in the back of my mind. Left on the doorstep of human folk because you’d be an outcast in either society. So, the only mercy they could show you was to leave you with people who didn’t know your secret.

  Even more troublesome is my line of work. The 54th is made up of humans. In fact, some of the new laws we enforce dictate what kind of jobs Paranormals can hold and what times they can work. If the department finds out, what would happen? For sure, I’d lose my job, but looking at it strictly, I could be arrested.

  And what of my powers? So far, I’ve only had one incident, this morning, that I could attribute to my supposed faerie gift, while the rest consisted of headaches, mood swings, and voices. Voices that I’m told are actual thoughts.

  That is a powerful gift, my inner voice says. Even if you can’t hear them all . . . you’ll be able to pick out whispers in the wind, guide yourself by them . . . if they’re real.

  I’m about a half-mile away from Joe’s location by Patriot’s Square when my phone rings and my dash tells me it’s Alyssa. “What’s up, ‘Lyssa? Gotta be quick. I’m following a lead at work.”

  She doesn’t waste any time. “I hate these fucking Para Vigilante assholes!” she yells. “They all need to fucking burn!”

  “‘Lyssa, what’s wrong?” I ask, worried. I know the town is getting more agitated every day. Who knows what’s happened now.

  All the more important to shut down these vampires, says the voice in my head.

  “I was at a cafe with a friend in between classes, and I saw . . .” Alyssa says before taking a deep breath and composing herself. “We saw them drag a shifter out just because he was talking to a human girl and beat him to within an inch of his life. They were about to lynch him.”

  I shake my head. I’d heard about it right before I left with Joe on this. Didn’t realize Alyssa had witnessed it. I can guess who she was with. “I’m sorry to hear that. Are you safe, Alyssa? Where are you now?”

  “Don’t worry, I’m fine,” Alyssa fumes. “This poor guy was beaten to near-death. Don’t worry about me.”

  “‘Lyssa, you’re more important than anything.”

  Unfortunately for me, my sister is sometimes like me. When she’s pissed and wants to talk, she listens about as well as my left foot. “Eve, I love you, but this is more important than me. I just . . . I can’t stand it anymore. This city’s a tinderbox! All this hate and going back and forth needs to stop or else. Shifters aren’t evil and neither are most vampires!”

  She has a point . . . to a degree. But there is a vamp group going around feeding on humans, and they most certainly are evil.

  “Listen, ‘Lyssa, I’m sorry you witnessed that, and you’re right, things are tense in New Haven. A lot of it is what the vamps are up to. I know you feel different from me, but there’s a reason we have the laws we do. And regardless of the laws, I’m going to keep fighting because I love you and want to protect you.”

  Alyssa sighs. “I love you too, but I need you to do something about this, Eve.”

  “Dr. Cameron, room 14A. Dr. Cameron, room 14A.”


  The words are muffled as I blink open my eyes. I look around in a panic. I mean, I know I’m in a hospital. I’ve watched enough TV to recognize what the hell’s going on with that, at least. But . . . why? And where is Alyssa?

  I try to sit up, but I’ve got stuff stuck to me, and it hurts to move. I try to look around the exam room I’m in, ready to scream when I see her. She’s lying in the bed next to me. She looks so tiny, and she’s covered in wires, which scares me. She’s got a big bandage on her head, but I can see the little squiggly line on the monitor. She’s alive.

  Tears of happiness prick at my eyes as that fact filters in, but then I’m gripped by panic again as I start to remember what happened. Dad and Mom screaming at each other, the sound of screeching metal, then blackness. Where are Daddy and Mommy?

  The curtain in the exam area opens, and a man in a white jacket blocks my view of Alyssa. “Hello, Eve,” a warm voice says. “I’m Dr. Lysom.”

  I look up into the pale face of a very handsome man. “Hello,” I croak, trying to peer around him. Whatever he has to say . . . I want to see Alyssa.

  However, Dr. Lysom doesn’t seem to get the clue. Instead, he pulls out a clipboard and starts scribbling. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m sore. Hurt all over,” I mumble. It feels like my entire chest area is full of ache. “Where are my parents?”

  Dr. Lysom ignores my question and checks my monitors. “You’ll have some bruising, but you and your sister are lucky. You’re both going to be okay. She has a slight concussion, which is why she’s hooked up, but we’re going to let her sleep. You should too . . . get your strength back.”