Guardian

by Sam Cheever

  I gasped, throwing my head back in shocked pleasure as he slid into me, deep and hard. I arched up to meet him.

  Ian nibbled down the column of my neck and gently captured an earlobe as his body began a gentle assault of mine.

  His thrusts were quick and hard, giving me no time or space for anticipation as my mind wrapped completely around the incredible pleasure radiating from my core and sending waves of heat swirling through my body.

  I grasped Ian’s buttocks in both hands and pulled him hard against my body, begging him wordlessly to quench the nearly painful heat of lust that was consuming my body.

  I sensed the razor edge of release and strained toward it, using Ian’s willing body to get me there. As my intensity built, Ian recognized my urgency and did his best to help me reach my release. He reached beneath my body and grabbed my buttocks, tilting my lower body higher and driving deeper, taking the power of his driving thrusts to the next level.

  I cried out, nearly mad with desire, and clenched him hard with my legs, willing him to finish it. “Now, Ian!”

  He growled, driving even harder and faster into my body. I screamed, falling hard over that precipice into joyous release. My body shook uncontrollably as wave after wave of heat and pleasure swamped me.

  Ian followed quickly in my wake. His body stiffened and he groaned, capturing my bottom lip between strong, white teeth as he drove into me one last time and slid over the edge of release with me.

  I lay beneath him for long moments afterwards, enjoying the quiet aftershocks rolling thorough my sated body with his softening flesh still heavy and warm inside me. Ian touched my throat with soft kisses, feathering my sensitized skin with wisps of heated air and making me shiver.

  Around us the night spread silent and deep. Only the gentle rustling of the vibrant grass of the meadow, waving softly in a passing breeze, disturbed the silence. I sighed as Ian rolled over and pulled me tightly against his body. The weariness I’d ignored through the events of the long, long day swept over me.

  I closed my eyes and dropped into a deep and dreamless rest.

  ~ ~*~ ~

  I woke up with the distinct feeling that someone…or something was staring at me. I opened my eyes and felt my pulse pick up with instinctive alarm. Ian’s long, hard body was still draped over mine. A soft snore tickled my ear.

  Our bodies were slick with sweat. The air around us was hot, muggy, and tinged with smoke.

  My eyes scanned the area around where we lay, working to pick out shapes in the smoky light.

  The first awareness that filtered through my groggy thoughts was the fact that we no longer lay in the meadow where we’d fallen asleep. The second thing that hit me was the smell, which managed to penetrate the smoke.

  Demons.

  I hit Ian hard in the ribs with a bony elbow.

  He came awake with a snort, rubbing his ribs groggily. He focused a bleary chocolate gaze on me. “What?”

  I tried not to move even my lips as I said, “We’re not in Merlin’s time anymore and as far as I can tell we’re surrounded by demons.”

  Ian stared at me for a moment without moving. Then his nostrils flared and he swore.

  “Where are the weapons?”

  He grinned. “About five feet away. Behind me.”

  “Great.”

  “On three?”

  I gave him the briefest of nods.

  “One…” We moved away from each other just the tiniest bit.

  “Two…” I planted my hands on either side of my body in preparation.”

  “Three!” We were off the ground, standing back to back before Ian’s scream cleared the air.

  The first demon landed on my chest the second the soles of my feet hit the hard, black earth. It was a pig demon, and it smelled like it had been rolling around in offal for about a year before it landed on my poor, naked chest.

  Long, black claws raked my tender skin and the ooze coating them entered my system like poison, sending coiling ribbons of agony through my chest and making it hard to breathe.

  Long, curved husks, razor sharp and gore covered, pressed into my arms. Blood pooled around the tips as they penetrated my skin. I shoved hard at the thing to buy myself some breathing room and it landed on its four hooves in front of me. The demon snorted mightily, sending warm snot to spray my legs. I grimaced and stared into its beady, red eyes, looking for signs of intelligence.

  Nope. Nobody home.

  The demon launched itself at me again and I caught it. But this time I was ready for it. Placing my palm over its throat, I sent a kill level of power into the nasty thing.

  The demon squealed just like a pig as it died.

  Another demon landed on my head as the first one fell. I went down, landing hard on the dead demon and narrowly missing being impaled on the thing’s nasty tusk.

  Something large, black and squealing flew over me, handily knocking the second demon off on its way by. Ian’s hand appeared in front of my face. I grasped it and he pulled me to my feet, shoving my long knife into my other hand.

  Cool, hard flesh wrapped itself around my ankle and I looked down into a wide-spread maw filled with several rows of curved, deadly looking teeth. A snake demon had wrapped itself around my ankle and was rearing back, prepared to strike my calf.

  If even one of those deadly teeth pierced my skin I was dead. The poison from a snake demon traveled directly to the brain and melted it. There was no anti-venom known to man or god and there would be no time to administer it anyway.

  One swipe of my long knife removed the danger and the demon’s head. I jumped away from the demon’s blood, which spread in a thick, black pool of poison toward Ian’s bare feet.

  I extended my hand toward the poisonous puddle and sent enough fire power into it to turn it to dust.

  Ian flung another pig demon into the trees and looked around for more.

  The ring of black stone where we stood was empty.

  Beyond the ring, eyes glowed through the darkness but nothing moved.

  Tossing Ian his pants, I grabbed my tunic and pulled it over my head. “Where are we?”

  Ian’s gaze never stopped swinging around the area as he dressed. “I don’t know, but it’s damn hot, wherever it is.”

  I finished dressing and looked around. Off in the distance an orange glow filled the sky. Civilization?

  I nodded toward the light. “Let’s go that way. Maybe we can find somebody who can tell us where we are.”

  Ian nodded, glancing around one last time. “Don’t let your guard down. Wherever this place is, it seems to be filled with nasty things that go bump and chomp in the night.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  A Visit to Hades…and Persephone

  I swiped my sleeve over my face and punched a blood sucking bug that was as big as my fist. The thing gave a tiny squeak and smacked into a scrub tree. A moment later I heard the insistent buzz of its wings as it shook off my attack and took to the air again.

  Robo bugs. Demons that buzz.

  Though we’d been walking for what felt like hours, the glow in the sky didn’t seem to be coming any closer.

  The smoky aspect to the air around us never abated, in fact, it seemed to be getting thicker. Ian walked just ahead of me, his long strides determinedly eating up the unending distance and his shirt nearly soaked through. The back of his muscular neck was shiny with sweat.

  Like me, he was covered in large red welts from the biting, monster bugs.

  Suddenly he stopped and held his arm out in front of me. “Do you hear that?”

  I listened but heard nothing. Frowning, I shook my head. It wasn’t the first time Ian had heard something I didn’t.

  He looked at me, his deep-set brown eyes looking haunted. “You can’t hear that?”

  I shook my head again, giving him a tentative smile.

  Finally he looked away, sighing. “Let’s go. I think we’re getting closer.”

  My gaze took in the pulsing orange light in the d
istance. It didn’t look any closer to me.

  An hour later Ian stopped and sat down on a rock, swiping at his wet brow with the tails of his shirt. His eyes had gone from looking haunted to looking downright terrified. I stopped in front of him and placed a finger under his chin, lifting it so he was forced to look into my eyes. “What is it, Elfaery?”

  He shook his head, a deep shiver overtaking his large frame. “I can’t believe you don’t hear the voices…the constant screaming.” His lips trembled with emotion.

  His words struck a chord and I looked around, my eyes widening in horror. Like the miles and miles of uninhabitable land we’d already crossed, the land around us was mostly rock, with very few trees and no other vegetation to speak of. The few trees were bent and twisted. Devoid of anything vibrant or green, their scrawny limbs reached toward a gray, smoky sky like skeletal fingers, begging for rain.

  My gaze swung to the deep, pulsing orange light in the sky. “Hades.” I whispered.

  Ian’s pretty brown gaze jerked toward me. “What did you say?”

  My knees buckled and I sat down hard in the dusty, black dirt. “Holy shit, Ian. They came to the Underworld?” I turned to him. “Why would they do that?”

  His eyes widened in sudden understanding. “We’re in Hades?”

  I nodded. “That explains why you hear the screaming and I don’t. Spirits don’t hear the screams of the dead. We’re in another plane. Unfortunately humans and other magical creatures aren’t so lucky.”

  He shivered again, his eyes fixed on the orange light. “The pits.”

  I nodded, grabbing his large hand. “But the good news is, Hades and Persephone are in residence. He came back to get Mack’s soul settled.”

  Ian came reluctantly to his feet. “Mack’s been sent to the pits!”

  I laughed. “Of course not. He’ll be settled into the Elysian Fields. With Hades.”

  “Do you know how to find the Fields?”

  I shook my head, holding up my bracelet free arm. “But I know someone who can.” I stepped away from Ian and called the Watcher. After a moment his ugly face swam into view from the center of a glistening communication portal. I grinned at him. I’d never seen a more beautiful sight.

  The Watcher’s ugly monkey face split in a grin. “Well aren’t you a sight for watching eyes. Where in Hades have you been, young spirit?”

  I grinned. “I was hoping you could tell me that, Watcher.”

  The ugly little god looked confused for a moment, then his beady black eyes took in the area around us and he frowned. “What are you doing in Hades, Nuria?”

  I sighed. “Following suspects.”

  The shiny, black eyes swung to Ian. “Isn’t he your suspect.”

  “Not anymore. I don’t have time to explain right now, Watcher. I need safe passage to the Fields. I have to speak to Hades and Persephone.”

  The Watcher’s overlarge hands were already forming shapes on the air. His face began to waver, and superimposed over it was a beautiful, green, and vibrant place with a sparkling castle on a hill. It looked a lot like Olympus, but I knew it was better than that. It was a way out of the horrible lands around the fiery pits. I glanced at Ian. And it was a much needed escape for a certain gorgeous Elfaery, who looked ready to slide drooling from the bonds of sanity if I didn’t get him out of there soon.

  As the Watcher’s face slid away to be replaced by the portal to the Elysian Fields his final advice filtered through the portal to us. “Beware Persephone, Nuria. She’ll not like seeing a beautiful woman on the assessing end of Hades’ gaze.”

  Ian’s large, hot hands settled on my shoulders and I sighed. The Watcher was right. Few goddesses were as annoyingly jealous and insecure as Persephone. I knew my presence in the Fields would cause no end of problems. As I reached a hand into the glistening surface of the portal and felt it draw us in, I decided I’d need Ian’s help with the infuriating goddess.

  He could distract her while I pumped Hades for information.

  The portal deposited us in a lush forest on the edges of Hades’ kingdom. Our lungs filled with clean, sweet smelling air, the last of the smoke expelled on a breath, and sunlight burned the sweat from our bodies. Looking down, I saw that our clothes and skin were clean again.

  Ian seemed to have been restored along with our clothing. He grabbed my hand and took off toward the castle with ground eating strides.

  I hurried to keep up.

  “I’ll get information from Hades while you keep Persephone busy.” He informed me.

  I glared at him. “I think you have that backwards, Elfaery.”

  He glanced at me, grinning. “Now you know Persephone isn’t gonna let you anywhere near Hades, sexy spirit.”

  I tried to keep my glare in place but I knew he was right. Besides, it wasn’t too terrible being called sexy by, arguably, one of the sexiest creatures I’d ever had the good fortune to encounter.

  I sighed. “You’re right. Why do I always get shit duty?”

  He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “I’ll make it up to you later, I promise.” His milk chocolate gaze focused on my lips and he lowered his head, licking the seam of my lips and nudging them gently open.

  I moaned against his lips, heat pooling between my legs, and immediately forgot every concern flitting through my head. By the time Ian lifted his lips from mine I could barely remember where I was.

  “What folly is this?”

  I jumped, turning toward the strident voice. Oh yeah, that’s where I was.

  “Hello your majesty.” Persephone held a basket of flowers over one forearm and stood with a well-padded hip cocked, glaring at us through wide green eyes. Her dark hair flowed in soft curls over her shoulders to frame her abundant breasts and touch her tiny waist. A single white flower was tucked behind one delicate, pink ear.

  Her gaze never lifted from my embarrassed face. Her displeasure at my very existence throbbed on the air between us.

  Ian stepped forward, blocking me from the goddess’s hostile view. “Your majesty, your beauty far exceeds all reports. It is my sincerest pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

  Persephone’s gaze slid reluctantly from me and fixed on my Elfaery, widening just the tiniest bit in frank admiration. Her perfect, pink lips curved in welcome. “Hark, a randy bee to pollinate my flowers.” She reached out and touched his full lips, running a perfect, pink and white finger over his mouth and down to his strong chin with a reverence only a Spring goddess could show. “I await your seed, warrior.”

  I rolled my eyes and peered around Ian’s shoulder. “Majesty, we need to speak with you about some recent visitors.”

  Like a Spring storm over a sunny day, the sound of my voice brought a shadow to Persephone’s happy expression. She frowned at me. “Go away, ugly spirit.”

  I opened my mouth to retort but Ian stepped sideways to obscure me again. I glared at his back, crossing my arms across my chest angrily.

  Ian grasped Persephone’s flawless hand and tucked it in the crook of one arm, turning her toward the castle with the practiced ease of the most experienced courtier. “If you would walk with me for a bit, beauty, I would deign to ask you a few questions.”

  Just like that, the cloud left Persephone’s perfect features and she smiled up at my Elfaery. They floated toward the distant castle, my existence behind them seemingly forgotten.

  I plodded grumpily along in their wake.

  “What is your name, warrior?”

  “I am called Ian.”

  Persephone pursed her pink lips thoughtfully. “A strong name surely. I approve.”

  Ian stopped and turned to her, bowing over her hand and placing a tender kiss on the soft, white surface. “I am honored by your approval, Queen Persephone.”

  She nodded slightly. “What is it I can do for you, beautiful warrior?”

  “We seek a pair of plotters, majesty. An elf and a faery. We have reason to believe they visited the Fields recently.”

/>   Persephone frowned. “None such have come to my palace. Are you certain of their visit?”

  Ian nodded. “We have followed them directly here.”

  The goddess gave a little moue of impatience. “You are mistaken surely.”

  Ian opened his mouth as if to argue and then apparently thought better of it. He bent elegantly over Persephone’s hand again. “I bow to your wisdom, majesty.”

  She smiled regally. “Will you join me in a walk about the lake?”

  “I’d be honored, your majesty.” As Persephone turned toward the sparkling water in the distance, Ian glanced at me and jerked his head toward the castle. I nodded, and turned away.

  It was risky, but I needed to find Hades and question him. If Persephone discovered our duplicity we’d be toast. But we really had no choice. Having declared her rejection of the possibility that Aubrie and Dawnia had come to the Fields, Persephone would stick to her declaration like Zeus to his gavel.

  I needed to question Hades before she got to him.

  Praying the vain, fickle goddess would forget my existence in her world entirely…at least for a while, I stepped into a wrinkle and hurried toward the castle. Once there, I stepped out of my travel layer and grabbed the arm of the first person I saw. It was an old woman, dressed in servants garb.

  “I need to speak with the King. Where is he?”

  The servant woman turned her warty, large nosed continence to me and regarded me with dull eyes. I sent the tiniest bit of my power into her arm and watched as her eyes brightened. I knew Persephone had not only sent all of the young, attractive servants away in her jealousy, but she’d also infused the servants with a dulling power to ensure that none of them had any ideas of bettering themselves by approaching Hades with an offer he couldn’t refuse.

  Looking at the warty hag before me now, I shuddered at the very idea.

  I repeated my question and she nodded toward a long, marble lined hallway, her rheumy eyes sliding over me with interest. She smiled widely and I realized with a surge of revulsion that the inside of her mouth wasn’t any kind of improvement on the dry, wrinkled exterior. “Her majesty won’t be happy to see you, my dear.”