by Lexi Ostrow
“If that is what you wish the relationship to be. I merely need to know if, once broken, a Guardian can be mended. Word Speakers move on, they’re able to pull others. Before my brother’s asinine attacks, very few Guardians had even been left alone. If you two are able to restore humanity to one another and to become assets to me should the war emerge, I will know there is hope for the others.”
“So what you’re telling me is that we’re the most fucked up. So if we can be rehabilitated, everyone else will be hunky dory.”
“Something like that.”
“And I don’t have a choice?”
“Something like that,” he said again, smirking at her.
Clamping her mouth shut, she nodded.
“Glad to have you on board, Marie. Very well then, let’s get you home, rested . . . and cleaned up.”
She went from standing somewhere in the desert outside of Primm to standing in her living room. The man was nowhere to be found. She paused, waiting for the hurt and pain to cripple her as memories of her and Zach living in the space came. Only it didn’t happen. She felt nothing, even when her eyes landed on a photo of them from New Year’s on The Strip. Years of love and loyalty were gone as if they’d never existed. Looking at the picture did nothing. In fact, she couldn’t even remember what it had felt like to be in love with him, let alone what his touch would have felt like.
“Wonderful. I always knew being an Ice Demon would have its perks.”
3
Marie’s head felt oddly dizzy. One moment, she had been in her bed, and the next, she was surrounded by the rather calming swirls of pastel on white walls—a clear indication she’d been transported to her leader’s home. She’d only been there once prior when she’d learned the truth of what she was, but she’d never forget the eerie beauty of the pristine white slashed with colors.
She hated that anyone could have that much control over her. When she’d first found out she was nothing more than a fantastical idea, she’d rebelled. Not against being a Guardian, but she’d demanded they track down the author. What she’d been planning to do when they found the woman had never been fleshed out. Which was fine, since when they had found the famous Sherry LaRou, all Marie had been able to do was stare in awe. She’d met her creator, and at that moment, all her anger had vanished. What had replaced it was a strong desire to control everything. The brother leading the war had made that entirely impossible.
“Should I take this to mean it’s time?” she asked with a yawn, not bothering to check if the man was even present.
“It is. I gave you a few days to recover, to check in from your vacation time at your shelter and to see if you could handle the emotions I rather hastily unlocked.”
The near apology drew a bark of laughter from her. “Where is this guy?”
A smile, not even his usual smirk, spread across his face. “North Las Vegas.”
Whatever she was expecting, it hadn’t been that. A Guardian lived less than twenty minutes from her, one who shared her misfortune, and she had never known. “Why do you keep us a secret from each other?”
He was quiet, a look of honest contemplation running across his features. “I see no reason to lie to any of you. I was given rules, just as you and Word Speakers are. My rules, like my brother’s, were to be certain you did not interact. The why behind it?” He shrugged. “I can only assume there is a fear that, if you all could connect with one another, the locks surrounding the prophecy could be purposefully opened before their time.”
She nodded. It wasn’t the explanation she’d expected, but she appreciated his honesty. “Then this man and this project of yours won’t affect my life at all?” The idea soothed her. Over the past few days, she’d grown rather interested in meeting another Guardian. Finding out the pet project she was a part of wouldn’t change her daily was relieving because it meant she also had a way out.
“As I told you prior, I do not care to disrupt your life. Only fix it. You will see as you go, you have not been living since Zach was killed. If you and Sean can bridge the gap between your differences, you will both benefit. All my lost Guardians will.”
She was about to open her mouth and tell him how little she appreciated being called lost but was flashed to a new location before she had a chance. The warm Vegas air caressed her skin, and the bright sunlight streamed over the wooden door before her. Cocking her head to the side, she confirmed the man had journeyed with her, unlike when she’d been dumped at Zach’s side a few years prior.
“I figured this was the politer route,” he said as he raised a hand and rapped on the door.
Seconds later, the door flew inward, revealing what might have been the most attractive man Marie had ever seen. His black hair was buzzed close to his head, and it served to emphasize his square jawline. Bright brown eyes locked onto her with a keen intensity that made her slightly uncomfortable. He was dressed in a wife beater that hardly covered his chest muscles and showed off every perfect muscle in his arms as well. Greenish-camo patterned pants hung around his waist, and she struggled to remember if she’d been told what branch he was in prior. She found it impossible not to appreciate his form, but there wasn’t the slightest stirring of anything except lust. A lust that barely sparked compared to the moment she’d first laid eyes on Zach.
Still holding the door in one hand, he gave a small smile, one Marie was certain was forced. As he stepped aside, he gestured for them to come in.
“I didn’t know you knew how to use a real door. Color me impressed,” Sean said, closing the door behind them once they were all in. His eyes never left her as he spoke.
“I have manners. I often forget to use them with you all, but I have them.” He gestured from her to Sean. “Sean, this is Marie. Marie, this is Sean. Welcome to the first ever Guardian meet and greet.”
She wasn’t amused by the humor in his voice, and apparently, Sean wasn’t either.
“I wasn’t aware this was going to be a joke.”
With a sigh, the man cleared his throat. “It is very much not a joke. I am as concerned about the arrangement as I am hopeful it will work. The future of many Guardians rests in whether or not you two can form a bond strong enough to fight for another over.”
“I thought you said this wasn’t romantic?” The words spilled out of her mouth, sounding far angrier than she’d intended them, but she was still working on controlling the rush of emotions she was experiencing thanks to their jerk of a leader.
A glance at Sean as he dropped onto a brown leather recliner told her he was just as irked as she was. Well, at least we seem to be like-minded at the moment.
“It’s not intended to be romantic. It’s intended to be whatever the fuck it needs to be to inspire a connection like Guardians and Word Speakers have.” He raised a hand in Sean’s direction. “Before you tell me you are a soldier and would fight to defend anyone on your side, you have to realize, as true as that is, it’s different from how you would have fought for your Guardian.” His eyes shifted to hers, the silver of them glowing brightly. “The same to you. Guardians and Word Speakers are not always romantic. Yes, an undeniable lustful connection occurs when a match has been made between. However, that is only if the attraction runs throughout the core of the connection. Many pairs have been based off a familial love, or even a deep admiration. While I would be lying to pretend those are the strongest relations, they are still bonds that tie Guardian and Word Speaker together. I sincerely do not give two shits which connection forms between you. All I care is that you do not kill one another and you find the connection. Without it, any Guardian who loses a Word Speaker is likely destined to float aimlessly and uselessly if released.”
Nothing about the arrangement seemed different than it had prior to arriving. In fact, Marie could practically hear how much he didn’t care in his words. She was used to hearing passion and anger, but the downright indifference was new.
“You don’t need to repeat your spiel again. We got it,” Sean said,
putting his feet up on the table, work boots and all.
“Then you both need to not ask questions that make me think it needs explaining.”
“I’m okay with the current terms. I’ll do my part,” Marie said, locking her eyes on Sean.
“Then I suppose I’ll be doing mine.” His mouth thinned into a line. “Is there anything you aren’t sharing that we need to know about one another upfront?”
“I wouldn’t dream of telling you each other’s secrets. That is what your time together is for. You’ll share what you wish I’m sure.” He paused as if he were going to say more on the subject but didn’t. “As you well know, I’ll be watching when I can. Give this process a shot. Give each other a shot.”
As always, he vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving her standing somewhat awkwardly in the center of a small living room. And she didn’t do awkward. Straightening her back, she crossed her arms over her chest and simply stared at Sean. He had no problem returning her stare, albeit his was far less icy than she knew hers was.
They went on for a few minutes like that, her staring him down and him leisurely looking up at her from the chair. Sighing overdramatically, she broke the stare and sat on his couch. She was shocked by how comfortable the rather non-giving looking cushion was. Not that it mattered, but she’d just assumed everything about him would be hard, like a warrior’s life in her book.
“Are you as confused as I am?” he asked and his tone of voice a good deal gentler than it had been when dealing with the other man.
She shrugged. “I’ll admit to being intrigued by the idea. I don’t know how you lost your Word Speaker, but if it was anything as painful as losing Zach, I would like to help. My kind, in my book I mean, have a way of coping with profound loss. We freeze our hearts.”
It felt like a betrayal, but Sean had never seen anyone as beautiful as the woman before him. He had loved Stacey with all his heart, and she had been positively radiant. However, the fictional woman in the room with him had absolutely been created for carnal sin and desire, as he likely had been as well. Eyes that bordered on clear seemed to glow at him against her ivory skin. Her features were delicate as if carved from ice. Her nose and lips were thin, her figure slender. White hair, something he never would have guessed was attractive, curled down to near her waist and appeared thick enough to wrap his hands in. It was impossible to tell while she sat, but she’d come close to matching his six-foot-five inches when he’d seen her standing.
Sean couldn’t help but stare at the Guardian curled up on his couch. Her beauty was breathtaking, but it was the comment that had shocked him more. “Excuse me?”
A small curve of her lips was the closest thing to a smile he’d seen from her. With an outstretched hand, she leaned toward where he sat. Cautiously, he shook it.
“Marie Frost.” She smirked then. “A rather comical name, almost unfortunate, given that I am an Ice Demon.”
He caught the word demon but was taken back by what happened next more than her nature. When he let go of her hand, he noticed small pieces of what appeared to be snow blowing gracefully over the tips of her fingers. He did a double take, knowing her hand hadn’t felt even remotely cool to the touch.
“I can control all things frosty. Nothing as grand as creating obscene weather patterns, but anything smaller scale, I can work with.”
He was still mystified but shook it off as he remembered they were book characters and it wasn’t strange that she had a paranormal gift. “Did you say demon?”
She nodded without so much as a look of embarrassment. “I’m certainly not psychic, but I can read your mind as loudly as if you were shouting at me. How can I be a demon and be fighting on this side of the war?”
If he’d been able to flush, he would have been bright red. He felt like a prejudiced ass, but she’d nailed it.
“In my world, demons aren’t the bad guys. We’re protectors of the balance. We make certain that Hell and its evil remain safely locked away, but prevent any foolhardy individuals from venturing down as well. Of course, there are many of my kind and other demon races that are as evil as the interpretations I’ve learned since becoming a Guardian. My only desire is to protect. It felt all too natural to accept the offer presented when the other man, I believe his name was Demus at one point, represented all I fought against in my book.”
Her words held the same level of integrity that he’d heard from so many of his brethren, no matter the branch they served. Her words rang with honor, and he respected the hell out of that. Marie was daring him to insult her, to call her out or to simply ignore her. He would do neither.
“I’m intrigued,” he said bluntly as he leaned forward, trying to see if he could notice anything strange about her, anything that would give her away as a demon. All he found was that her beauty was even more striking. “If you don’t find this too forward of a question, is your entire kind as delicately beautiful as you are?”
She didn’t so much as flinch at the compliment. “I believe so, yes. Like ice, we are striking and deadly. I used my looks in my world on more than one occasion to stop evil from exiting Hell and to seduce men, and the occasional woman, away from the entrance.” Her tone was impassive. She was neither bragging nor appreciative of the commendation he had given.
Her eyes watched him as if she were waiting for him to react. In truth, there was nothing to react to. Her words were simple, and while she was the most attractive woman he had ever seen, he was also acutely aware of how closed off she was. If they were going to press forward, they needed to get as much out in the open as they could. Secrets lead to death.
“I’m not sure what you were told about me, but I think the sooner we get the small talk over with the better. Sean Donnelly, former U.S. Pararescueman in my books and current U.S. Pararescueman in the outside world. I’m human, one hundred percent. There’s nothing special about me, save for being written to the be the perfect military hero. I’m stronger than most I’ve encountered, able to see various angles of attack and fast. However, I wouldn’t say any of that makes me remarkable.”
It felt strange, summing up his existence, both in a story and out, in such a few sentences. A part of him wanted to tell her other things—like how he only ate sausage pizza and never touched soda. Those details were absolutely not pertinent, but he couldn’t shake off wanting her to know.
Which is ridiculous. You’re going to be spending plenty of time with her, you’ll learn the details that will make you succeed as partners. The thought of spending more time with her aroused him more than he wanted to admit. She was attractive, but that shouldn’t have been enough to make him desire her. Maybe it’s because we can both sense something in each other that makes us different, that we aren’t truly human.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to linger on his thoughts for too long because she took the social queue and started to explain her back story.
“We’ve already covered what I was. I’ve been released less than a year but spent most of that time frozen. Before you ask, yes, the process literally required me to freeze myself in a chunk of ice.” She waved her hand in the air as if it were the most common of ideas.
“When I was released, I felt useless. I began to volunteer at the local SPCA chapter. I quickly fell in love with the animals, and my few days a week turned into a full-time career in a matter of weeks. When I first lost Zach, I’d thought it would be enough.” She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them, there was no trace of emotion. “It wasn’t. I took matters into my own hands and did what needed to be done. I was, for a time, interested in leaving this world behind. I know that is not possible and foolish. While I probably wouldn’t know I ceased to exist as if I had merely died, I like my freedom. I did what I needed,” she repeated firmly.
She was a conundrum. One moment she was so human, the next, cold and dead from her eyes to her tone of voice. He understood what made them so different, despite their loss.
“For the most part, I’ve been abl
e to seamlessly blend into this world, both before my Word Speaker lost her life and after. I have no intention of damaging that place for anyone or anything. I belong here now, and I’m certain that is why I’ve been asked to help.” He flinched as he realized how callous he sounded.
“Because you’ve assimilated so fantastically, and I have not?” The question was little more than an irritated hiss. Her eyes narrowed and seemed to glisten with frost as her arms crossed over her small frame.
“Exactly. If you literally just froze emotion from you, which I’m seriously questioning after watching you right now, then you aren’t ready to live here and blend in. I’ve been blending in for three years.”
She reared back and blinked rapidly. “You lost your Word Speaker that long ago?”
The sympathy in her words shocked and irritated him. He didn’t need her compassion. He’d made peace with Stacey’s death and had found a way to survive. Even if the prick in the trench coat felt otherwise. He went to snap at her and saw the horror in her eyes as if she were reliving the moment she’d lost her Word Speaker, and he faltered.
“Yes. She was killed when a helicopter crashed unexpectedly. She was an Airedale, like me. Her death was unnatural, but it was not a part of this war. I believe it was my ability to find a place without her that makes me a match for your situation. We are clearly both protectors. However, I did not stand out in any way. Aside from the women throwing themselves at me, I am invisible. If my place is to teach you how to blend in and continue living with the loss, then I’m more than ready to help. I understand the pain of it, and I don’t think anyone should have to go through with it.”
She was quiet, her eyes watching him but utterly devoid of the emotion he’d seen moments prior. “I’m sorry. A part of me can vaguely remember how much pain I was in after losing Zach. But, that’s all been erased now. Memories aren’t the same as feelings.” She shrugged. “That’s why I’m not sure why I’m here. I’m as ready to move on as ever.”