Awakening Fire: The Divine Tree Guardians (The Divine Tree Guardians Series Book 1)

by Larissa Emerald

  They stood there, absorbing the silent scene unfolding outdoors. The wolf dogs were wandering near the tree line of the woods, sniffing. Venn could sense their communication over a rabbit. He’d allowed them to roam more freely with the threat Io represented. If something were amiss, Venn would know through his pack.

  A glimmer of fear sliced through him at the thought of Io being that bold.

  “Tell me,” Emma said. “There’s something you need to say.”

  “We’ll get to that in a moment.”

  She turned in his arms to look at him, then wound her arms round him like a vine on a trellis. With a sigh, she rested her head in the hollow of his shoulder. “You’re good at avoiding things, you know.”

  “What’s keeping you awake?” he asked.

  “So many things.”

  “Your grandmother?”

  “Yes. But also I have this huge sense of foreboding… I don’t know why.” She shook her head, confused. “The vision I have of me dying morphed into a dream that woke me. But this time it was different. This time you and Grams were there, telling me to run.”

  She shivered, and he took her hand, leading the way to the love seat in the sitting area. He gathered her into his lap, kneaded the length of her elegant neck, and then her shoulders. “Perhaps if I explain a few things then you might understand what’s going on.”

  The gibbous moon shone through the windows, and given the lower angle of the sofa, it was visible from where they sat as it eased behind a cloud cluster. He ran his hand over her shoulder and up her neck, moving her fiery hair away from her face with his thumb. “It’s time I tell you everything.”

  * * *

  She eased away from him until her back nudged the armrest. She folded her legs so she could loosely wrap her hands around shins and pushed her toes beneath his thigh to warm them. She was going for being in control and relaxed, but that was such a lie.

  His chest rose and fell as if he were bracing himself, as if on the intake of air he could smell the scent of her emotions, perhaps the aroma of her unease now. Ever since she’d learned he was a shifter, she’d understood he possessed animal instincts that set him apart from other men.

  As Venn spoke of archangels and the tree of life and Immortal Guardians, the spring within her rib cage coiled tighter and tighter.

  “Emma, I believe you’ve struggled with this your entire life because it’s part of you. You are Amelia reincarnated.”

  His words took life in the strangest way, touching her heart and discharging that mechanism holding her life in place. “Yes. I’ve felt her connection for a long time. But I just wasn’t sure about who she was.” She paused, swallowing. The core of frustration at being abnormal spun away in an exhaled breath of acceptance. She’d come to terms with her differences some time ago, but still, it was easy to slip back into doubts.

  “So I am Amelia reincarnated?” she whispered hesitantly, her tone saying she didn’t quite want to believe it, yet understood that what he said was true.

  “That’s right.”

  To an ordinary person, this would all seem farfetched, but to her it made perfect sense. It explained why she was different, why she had visions and dreams, why she’d felt connected to Venn from the very beginning.

  Even still, her heartbeat escalated and thrummed in her ears. With slow blinks, she summoned glimpsed images of Amelia and Venn at the river cottage, of them making love, of them riding at the country estate, and each was like a memory with a cluster of sensations and smells to accompany it. The images wove together with memories of the tree and of her dying. A glimpse of her life as Amelia. It was all too much.

  Run. The instinct weighed on her, nearly irrepressible, and she fled the sofa and the warmth of his nearness. At the massive windows, when she could go no farther, she stopped. Only the glass prevented her escape.

  To her amazement, Venn didn’t chase her. He remained where she’d left him. He gave her space and time to process.

  Little by little the truth filled the empty holes in her soul. The odd things in her world became clearer. The reason her life was so bizarre in the first place. The dreams and visions and her hot hands. With the last thought, she glanced at her palms.

  “Did Amelia have the same talent for melting metal?” she asked.

  “No. That seems to be uniquely your talent. Although, I believe it has something to do with your bond with Custos.”

  A slip of unease blossomed in her chest, and she touched her fingers to her sternum. At least that was something uniquely her own. Then she wondered… “Custos?”

  “The Divine Tree.”

  She nodded in tentative recognition. The first day she’d returned, there had been a strange yearning when she’d arrived at the tree.

  At last, she held her hand out to Venn in silent acceptance. In no time, he was there, wrapping her in his strong arms. Corded muscles flexed beneath her hand as she palmed from bicep to shoulder. His fingers tantalized her as he eased the hair away from her forehead and slipped the strands behind her ear.

  She slowly turned in his arms, anticipating his full embrace, searching the reassuring familiarity revealed in his eyes. He pressed his lips to her brow. A feeling of coming home soothed her tattered nerves. As his mouth brushed her cheek, a hot flush of excitement fanned her core and made her legs go weak. He kissed her long and hard, and with more passion than she’d ever thought possible. A blaze ignited within her that only he could trigger. Only Venn. It exploded, a spontaneous combustion, a flame of woven energy, like the way body and soul and minds intertwine.

  And she wanted all of him—hot wild sex, his secrets, his acceptance, his love.

  With that one spectacular kiss, they shared an awareness that she knew transfixed him, too. She felt his body quake, a hungry growl of impatience rumbling in his throat, and he tugged her tighter against the length of his body. She answered his possessive pull by burrowing her fingers into his taut, muscular back. As fire consumes oxygen and intensifies, the exchange established a deeper connection that she could literally feel in every cell of her body, as if she’d taken a part of him into herself.

  When the kiss ended, she opened her eyes, knowing that like solder melds to metal, part of her was bonded to this Guardian. The question was, what did that mean for their relationship? For their future? He was immortal, after all.

  Relationship. She let the word roll around in her mind. It was the very thing she avoided much of the time. She gazed out the window at the coming day, as pink lightened the sky and streaks of morning-kissed clouds fashioned an iridescent canopy above the trees.

  Her pulse gradually calmed, and Venn slipped an arm around her back and along her waist, and she hugged him at her side with both arms. She rested her head on his shoulder. The sky turned a shade brighter, and she followed the lines of the trees to admire the magnificent landscape. She could see a pair of wolves near the fountain below, gazing up at her with intent, glowing eyes. Expectantly, she thought.

  “You have wolves?”

  “Yes. They’re a special breed. That’s Glen and Loch.”

  On the lawn, standing alongside the wolves, stood a tall, rugged man. A security light seemed to spotlight him

  “And who is that?” she asked.

  Venn glanced after her. “Seth. The archangel who set me on this path.”

  It should surprise her, but it didn’t. She wasn’t sure anything could anymore. “Oh. An angel? That guy who scowls a lot? He looks very angry.”

  “Yes. No doubt he is.”

  * * *

  Venn and Emma showered and dressed and were in the kitchen as the sun crested the trees. Seth shuffled in moments later.

  “Coffee?” he asked as she set her purse and phone on the table.

  “Please.”

  Henry entered to room, heading straight to the fridge. “Are you up for a hearty breakfast?”

  “I believe we’re going for something quick.” Venn gave Emma a questioning look as he set coffee and cr
eam in front of her.

  She nodded in confirmation.

  Henry removed several items, grabbed some plates, and took it all to the table. He unwrapped a loaf of banana bread, then offered a slice to Seth. The angel declined.

  Venn realized the depth of Seth’s ire when the angel refused the food. Wisps of steam rolled off Seth’s wings, which ostensibly he couldn’t retract while angry. Venn had forgotten that detail. It had been centuries since he’d witnessed the likes of this temper tantrum. All because he didn’t do as he was told and share everything with Emma about Io’s true purpose.

  He surmised Seth’s irritation had been boiling while he and Emma had been preparing for the day. Now the geyser was about to blow.

  Emma sat at the table, nibbling a bagel like a nervous mouse, her eyes round and watchful. Obviously she wasn’t sure about this angel business.

  Seth paced the kitchen, then advanced into Venn’s personal space. “You ass. You omitted the most important detail of the story.”

  Exactly, and now the angel intended to ruin things. “What’s the point? She has no defense against him,” Venn growled, expelling some of the frustration over how to keep Emma safe. He glanced sideways to catch her shocked expression. He struggled to regain control of himself and added in a low voice so she wouldn’t hear, “She’s suffered enough over her grandmother. I’ll not add to it.”

  “You must.”

  “No.”

  “It has to be done.”

  She’ll hate me. Venn understood all too well what Seth wanted him to do. However, telling Emma that Io had caused her grandmother’s death seemed cruel and pointless. “Damn it, knowing will make not make a whit of difference.”

  Seth blew out an irritated breath and mumbled under his breath. “It will save the tree. She needs to decline whatever plan Io has in mind. She can’t make the right choice if she’s not informed.”

  “Damn you.” Venn smacked his cup down on the counter so hard that coffee sloshed over the rim.

  Henry hesitated mid-stride as he neared the table.

  “Guys,” Emma rose. “While I can’t say I understand your dilemma, I know one thing for certain. I need to speak with a lawyer who can stop my father. So I’m going to just…” Her voice trailed off, clearly uncomfortable.

  Venn shoved his hands in his pockets, checking for his cell phone. “I have that covered, remember? Kianso will meet you this afternoon wherever you chose. All I have to do is let him know.”

  She smiled and crossed the few feet to him. Placing her hand to his cheek, she kissed him. “Thank you. I can meet him at his office.”

  “No problem.”

  Seth turned away, and she gave a slight smile. “If you’ll excuse me, then, gentlemen, I should stop by Grams’s house and see if I can find a copy of her living will.”

  “I’ll meet you there. If need be, I can distract your dad while you look.”

  She glared at him. “No. You’ve done too much already.”

  “I hate the thought of you being alone.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  He clamped his lips shut, resisting the urge to hold her back. He had every intention of following her.

  A few minutes later, he watched her pull out of his garage in the Mercedes. He couldn’t care less about the car, but the tension resonating within him was all about her safety. Io most likely wasn’t watching Venn’s place; his wolves would have alerted him if the beast lurked near. So he tried to convince himself all was well but didn’t succeed.

  Something was off. He couldn’t put his finger on what, though.

  He returned to the kitchen where Seth lounged against the counter with his arms folded over his chest. His glare had the force of an earthquake shaking the room. With Emma gone, the archangel no longer held himself in check. Unfazed, Venn set his coffee cup in the sink.

  “Okay. Let’s do this.” The intricacies of dealing with an irate angel didn’t escape him. Seth could make one’s life damn miserable. Even a Guardian’s. On the other hand, Seth couldn’t do anything that would hinder Venn’s position as protector.

  Seth made a show of expanding and relaxing his wings, which resembled taking a long slow breath. So theatrical.

  “You can’t fathom the drama I can wield,” Seth bit out.

  “Seen you in action, man. I know.” Venn moved closer and folded his arms, prepared for a face-off. “What’s the deal?”

  “Open your eyes, Guardian. I think your plan is to do nothing so Io will leave her alone. And then whatever Io’s plan is…it will succeed. You can’t choose Emma over the tree. Too many other people are bound to die.”

  “I’m not.” Still, he erected a barrier to his thoughts in an evasive move. He planned to keep both Emma and the tree. He just wasn’t sure how yet.

  “Right. Which is why you’re shutting yourself off from me,” Seth said, then waved a hand. “Never mind. The point is, you must tell her about Io so she can thwart whatever plan he has her involved in.”

  “Trust me. I have it under control.”

  “God, you’re blind.” Seth shoved his hand past Venn, grabbed a stack of banana bread slices off the plate, then poofed it with a few sparks of light. “Tell. Her. About the demon.”

  Venn fisted his hands at the last bright flicker. Interfering archangel. Couldn’t he see that Emma was like a starved person: feed her too much or too fast and she’d puke it all back up. It killed him to go slow with her when all he wanted was to have her accept their relationship and return his love. That wouldn’t happen if she knows about Io, knew that it was because of Venn and the tree that her grandmother was dead.

  No. There would be time for her to deal with Io, and she would not do so alone. Not if it were the last thing Venn did. With that thought, he impatiently changed into his wolf form to book it to the Grant home.

  * * *

  Io caught the essence of Emma as he flew in his owl form and followed that imprint until he found the car she drove. From afar, he tracked her, realizing she was going in the direction of her grandmother’s place. And for once, Venn was not with her.

  He landed on a nearby lamppost when she finally parked. She remained in the car, though, and he screeched long and loud, but she didn’t even look his way. That she paid him no mind irked the hell out of him. Didn’t she know he held the power of life or death over everything she held dear?

  He heard the snap of the brush below and winged his way to a high, dense pine. The wolf loped from the forest shadows and approached the car. He should’ve known Venn wouldn’t be far behind.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Arriving at her grandmother’s house, Emma switched off the ignition and sat apprehensively in the car with her hands gripping the steering wheel. She stared out the windshield at the evergreen tree in the center of the yard. It reminded her of Grams, who grew pecan trees but loved tall, dignified pines the most.

  Emma had the incredible urge to clutch the prickly needles in her hand and inhale their clean fragrance.

  She drew a long slow breath. The enormity of the tasks ahead weighed on her. The alone time during the drive had allowed her mind to wander from the delectable feelings she was experiencing with Venn to the weirder-than-weird angel and mystical tree, to her father’s hard-nosed repudiation. God, her life had always possessed an element of the strange, but instead of improving and moving away from that, now she was being sucked down a waterspout, dousing her inner flame.

  She needed to get on with it.

  Praying that at least this next task would happen without too much difficulty, she exited the car, walked around the front bumper, and stopped short. From the shadows of the trees, golden eyes stared back at her. The thought of it being Venn was spontaneous, a reaction matched by an upbeat spark in her heart. “You’re incredibly fast.”

  He altered into a man while advancing toward her. Yes, her support team had arrived. He immediately draped an arm around her as he guided to the side door of the house. “You’ll get used to th
at.”

  His warm hand squeezed her shoulder. Well, she could definitely get used to his touch, which was often possessive, gentle, and endearing. Some of her tension evaporated in an instant.

  “Aren’t you worried someone will see you change?” she asked.

  One magnificent, solid shoulder rose and fell in careless disregard. “No windows on this side of the house. Plus, I can sense when others are near.”

  “Oh,” she said, realizing he absorbed far more about their surroundings than she did.

  Her father’s car wasn’t in the drive, but she didn’t know how long that reprieve would last, so she didn’t have time to dally. As they walked through the kitchen, the grandfather clock chimed ten o’clock.

  Her grandmother was extremely neat. The floors had to be swept so not a speck of sand was tracked in, all the knickknacks gleamed without dust, and her bed was made first thing every morning. Her one failing had been paperwork. Tucked in an alcove off the kitchen, a computer sat on a desk surrounded by stacks of envelopes, decorative boxes of varied sizes, notebooks, and clutter. A filing cabinet ran up each side of the desk.

  “I think she would have kept important papers upstairs,” Emma said as she looked at the orderly mess. She turned to trek up the stairs, Venn close behind her. There was a measure of comfort in having him along, yet at the same time, she wanted to absorb the essence of her grandmother, which on some level he distracted her from. It felt strange walking through the house knowing that she would never hear Grams fussing down below in the kitchen again or calling Izzy and scolding the little dog she’d loved so much.

  When Emma walked into the spare room—the project room her grandmother had dubbed it—her heart sank. “He’s already rifled through this,” she said, swiping her palm over her brow. The boxes and file cabinets had obviously been moved. Some were stacked on the sewing table, and files were strewn about.

  “We should go through it, anyway. You don’t know if he found what he was looking for.”