Winter's Guardian (Her Guardian's Series Book 1)

by G. Bailey

  “Do it slower,” I tell him, understanding that he wants me to throw them like him. He nods and gets the daggers and repeats what he did. Slowing his arm movements down so I can see how he throws them.

  “Your turn.” Jaxson hands me the daggers when he comes back.

  “You’re good at this,” I comment as I take the daggers.

  “I’m more than just good at many weapons; my sword is my most preferred choice of weapon.” He tells me.

  “Can I see your sword?” I ask him, trying to keep the dirty thoughts from that sentence.

  “I would love to show you my sword anytime, it’s in my bedroom.” He winks at me, my jaw drops open at his flirting and I stutter.

  “Err I don’t know.”

  “I’m messing with you Winter, now throw them.” He tells me, a smirk on his face at my red cheeks. I try to ignore him as I take his place and get ready to throw the daggers. I remember the calm I felt and again, I hit both the targets. Dead in the centre of them.

  “I know what we are practising next time,” Jaxson tells me as he gets the daggers.

  “How is it possible?” I ask him and he looks away from me.

  “Lessons are over. See you around.” Jaxson walks off and just before he steps out of sight he stops and turns,

  “Don’t forget my brownies lass.” He says and walks away.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Atticus

  "You have three months until the wedding Atticus." My mother's voice rings across the throne room, seconds after I travel into the cold empty room. A shimmer of air next to my leg, tells me that one of my familiars followed me back. I look down at Mags grey eyes and run a hand over her head.

  "Excuse me? You’re joking right?" I ask her. Mags pushes against my side in comfort. I look down at Mags, as she is currently in her true form. Mags look kind of like a white tiger but two large pronounced teeth that drop from her mouth and a tail full of spikes. I remember telling Winter about my two cats, they do look like big cats when they are wearing their glamour’s. All powerful witches have a familiar; I’m the first to have two. I didn't lie about how I found Mags; she really was dumped into a load of magazines as new-born. Familiars are a type of sub-demon and come out of the underworld when they sense their owner needs them.

  "I'm not marrying anyone, I found the girl. The girl from the,"

  She cuts me off and shouts,

  "I don't believe that rubbish, where was the Goddess when all the new-born royal males died in our arms until you! Where was the Goddess when the angels attacked us?"

  "We have a truce with them now and she cannot change everything," I mutter.

  "A truce I made! Not her! Your Goddess didn't save your father’s life when an angel took his head." She says and I see the tears this time. With a sigh, I go over to her and pull her into a hug.

  "I know you don't believe in her anymore, but I do and marrying someone else won't give us a true future," I tell her as she sobs. My mother is a powerful woman who rules on her own. When my father died, they expected her to stand down and let one of my male second cousins to take the throne until I'm of age. They have no royal blood but they are married into our family so they could have been accepted. My mother scoffed at the idea and held an arena fight. I was only one at the time and she fought twenty heirs to keep the throne. No one challenged her again and when she got a truce with the angels, the witches respected her. My mother never remarried, despite our council trying to demand that she does, I know she didn’t because she loved my father. They were that couple that stories are written about.

  "It's just a marriage; the dark witch’s queen is young and very beautiful. You can still mate permanently with someone else." She says, offering a different deal.

  "I don't want that mother. I love you but don't make me choose." I tell her.

  "I can delay the wedding but I can't stop it. The witches want us to all work together. Having two different leaders isn't working anymore. We share this earth; we can't risk a war against our own kind." She tells me.

  She pulls away from my hug and walks to one of the large windows, which overlook our secret city. My mother looks every bit the queen in her long green dress and circular black crown on her head of blonde hair. Surprisingly the dark witches have a white crown that they made, as well as a fake queen to wear it. The crown my mother wears was rumoured to have been made for the witches by the Goddess. The vampires, angels and wolves also have crowns that make the true owner stronger. I've only ever seen my mothers and the vampire kings crown. They look similar but ours has twirls that hold up the four black stones around the crown. The vampire king is a dark red colour and has deep red stones instead. Their crown is made of thorns.

  "I do everything I can to protect you Atticus. I fear there is something far worse coming for our kind. We won't make it out of this new threat without being united. I won't lose you, my son." She says.

  "Is it the vampire king?" I ask her, moving closer to her side.

  "Yes, he has started something he can't stop. He is a foolish, evil man and he will regret his actions in the end." She whispers to the window.

  "What has he done?" I demand.

  "I cannot tell you." She tells me firmly and walks towards the doors that open for her without being touched.

  "I have a wedding to postpone; I believe you have a mate to chase. If there is a Goddess around, we need her help for what will come. I don't wish you unhappy son." She says, her words echoing around the throne room before she walks out. I stand next to the two gold thrones in the empty room for a long time. The wide windows don't feel as open as they did when I got here, in fact, I feel like someone is trying to suffocate me. I call my power and imagine Wyatt’s living room, it takes a second for me to feel my body disappearing and reappearing in front of the fake fireplace.

  "Oh god Drake," I hear from behind me and I turn to see Drake, thankfully full clothed, feeding on Alex's neck on the sofa. Alex's eyes meet mine and she screams.

  "Shit I didn't mean to interrupt; I swear I'm not into watching people," I say and close my eyes.

  "Get out," Drake says and I open my eyes to see them both sitting up on the sofa. Alex is bright red and I'm trying not to laugh.

  "No can do. As much as Drake doesn’t turn me on, I need to stay and see Wyatt." I say and Alex chuckles into Drakes shoulder as she holds him back from trying to hit me.

  "Wyatt is feeding in the kitchen," Drake growls and I laugh; I walk out before he actually decides to hit me.

  Wyatt’s apartment is one of those new shiny places that he is anal about being clean. I don't like things being messy but every time I'm here I can't help myself by moving stuff around. I chuckle when I see his bedroom and I slip inside.

  I find his box of stupidly expensive watches that he loves and I move them into his en suite, I use my magic to hang each one on the curtain rail. After a chuckle, I leave to find Wyatt. The small things really piss him off, like the time that it took him a month to find his expensive wine collection. I moved them all into his garage and he said they were all one of a kind. I left them inside his spare car and I really didn't think it would take him so long to find them. It was a funny month of him trying to kill me.

  Wyatt is drinking a bag of blood when I come in, his eyes doing that weird thing where they turn all silver.

  "The silver is creepy dude," I tell him as I open his fridge, grabbing a bottle of orange juice out and drinking it. Most vampires’ eyes are dark brown all the time and change red when they feed. Wyatt is weird.

  "Atti, what do I owe the pleasure?" He asks when he is finished and throws the empty bag in the bin. I ignore him to go through his cupboards until I find his Oreo’s.

  "Don't be a prick, not those," Wyatt says behind me and I watch in amusement as he knocks me out the way and takes his Oreo’s back.

  "You’re holding them like they’re your babies, you have a problem, Wyatt." I tell him.

  "Whatever." He glares at me and punches me on the
arm as he puts his Oreo’s back and stands in front of the cupboard.

  "Mother is planning my wedding, she said she would postpone it but I think we need to tell Winter everything. I need a mate to get out of this or at least take Winter to my city and,"

  "I know, believe me, I get it. She isn't ready to hear everything yet." He interrupts.

  "I can't marry a dark witch; I think it's stupid to keep her in the dark about us. About what she is." I tell him, trying to make him see.

  "Soon Atti, I will tell her soon about me and then sort everything else. I know she has been around wolves a lot recently. I want to see if she can change Jaxson’s mind." Wyatt says.

  "I think she already has. He hasn't hurt her." I tell him.

  "Not yet," Wyatt replies gently.

  “I heard from a little birdy that he is still planning his mating with that wolf,” I tell Wyatt.

  “It was one of your witches that said they should be together.” He replies, a slightly distasteful look in my direction.

  “It’s a load of bull, that wolf’s parents must have paid a pretty penny for them to say that. Mating with Jaxson would be most wolves dream come true for their child.” I tell him.

  “Let’s hope he realises what he is doing, sooner rather than later.” He says.

  “He will,” I say. Well, I hope he will.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The next two weeks pass uneventfully; as I train with Jaxson three times a week and I go on dates with Wyatt on the weekends. I’ve seen Atti twice after the first time we met, once when he turned up at the café I was having lunch at. The other time was when he invited himself to dinner with me and Wyatt. Wyatt doesn’t seem to mind his light personality and carefree attitude, even with the long hugs goodbye.

  My classes are ending this week and I finally get to go home next week. A whole two weeks of mums cooking and relaxing, with no boy issues. No worrying about the fact I’m crushing on four guys, at least Atti and Dabriel aren’t hanging out with me all the time. Wyatt’s little kisses have become beyond frustrating but I understand that he wants us to go slow.

  My training with Jaxson has become so tense, I can hardly stand to go if it wasn't for the fact he believes he owes me and wants to train me, and I wouldn't go. I remember last week, as he took off his shirt as it was wet with sweat and I nearly drooled all over his rock hard abs. He has that amazing v that goes down to a little patch of hair I saw,

  I slam into a rock wall as I am walking out of class not looking where I'm going. I lift my gaze to see that I bumped into Harris, not an actual wall. Although he felt like it.

  "Whoa look out." He laughs, holding my shoulders and pushes me out of his chest. I laugh too.

  "Sorry, I was thinking about going home next week," I say slightly lying but Harris doesn't know that.

  "Cool but it's only Monday, you have a while yet. Oh, we have a sort of party this weekend, I don't know if you’re going but I could give you a ride." He stumbles a little and blushes.

  "I will ask Jaxson if I can come and if he says yes, then I will. I don't want to over stay my welcome with your pack." I whisper the end part as some people pass us.

  "You saved one of our pups, you won't over stay your welcome anytime soon Winter and you’re pack to us." He mutters to me with a look.

  "Alright but I'm still checking," I say with a smile at him, while he shakes his head with a bigger smile. I give Harris a small hug before saying goodbye and driving back to my apartment.

  "Alex, can I come in?" I ask knocking her door, she has been ill for a few days. She didn't come to class today and I'm getting worried about her.

  Drake opens the door with his usual cold stone face but he looks tired.

  "She is feeling better; it’s just a nasty bug." He tells me with a hand waving me into her room. She does look better, as she eats a sandwich, sitting in the middle of her bed. Alex room is covered in everything purple you could think of and she has always been like this. I smile as I sit on her purple bed sheets of her metal framed bed. She looks like a purple princess, as she leans back on big glittery purple cushions. She is wrapped in a bright purple dressing gown and the hood is up.

  "How are you feeling?" I ask as she smiles at me and takes the hood down. She does look better; honestly, she looks better than usual. Her red hair looks shinier and her skin looks golden. I want to ask if she is wearing makeup because her eyelashes look longer and her lips look like she has on a pale lipstick.

  "Better, sorry if I worried you." She picks up my hand and gives it a squeeze. Her eyes flash black for second before she looks at Drake at the door. When she looks back at me, they are normal brown colour. I must be seeing things.

  "No problem," I say hugging her slightly before letting her finishing eating in peace.

  Drake stands just out the door like he can't stand to leave her when I walk out.

  "Thanks for looking after her." I say to him, trying to ignore the slight distasteful look he gives me.

  "I will always look after her, you need not worry Winter." He says like he expects me to agree with him.

  "You best do or I will hunt your ass down." I point a finger at him as he smirks at me. A low chuckle fills his mouth before he holds it in.

  "I have no doubt." The bastard says while he is trying not to laugh.

  My phone rings as Drake walks into Alex’s bedroom, and I go to my own to answer it.

  "Hey," I answer; I really should start looking at who it is ringing me before I just swipe it open.

  "It's me, training in about an hour? I have to do something tomorrow. So I can't do our usual day." Jaxson’s gruff voice says down the phone.

  "That's fine; I was only finishing some grade work that I can do tomorrow instead," I tell him.

  “Why don’t you just text?” I ask.

  “I don’t like using phones at all, I don’t text.” He says seriously and I try not to giggle but I’m sure he heard me.

  "Can you drive out here? My truck is playing up; I can borrow someone else's if you want." He says in a clipped tone. I must have pissed him off; the thought only makes me want to laugh a little more.

  "No I will drive, it's cool," I say.

  "See you Winter," He says in a more annoyed tone before putting the phone down. I chuckle thinking I've at least improved in his mind from just putting the phone down, I now get a 'see you'.

  I put on my black yoga pants and just a sports bra today because it's boiling outside today. The weather forecast a heat wave, in England is rare but nice. It's a shame I can't just sunbathe all day.

  I decide to pull into a local bakery on the way and I walk in to look at the selection. I choose some brownies and blueberry muffins. I get a few of each so I can give everyone some when I give Jaxson his brownies. Hopefully chocolate will make him forgive me for laughing. I know I would accept chocolate as a sorry. Hell, Jaxson would probably like a chocolate covered daggers but I don’t think I can find them in a few minutes. A warm hand on my back stops my inner rambling and I turn around in the queue I’m waiting in to pay. Dabriel is standing behind me, looking like a normal college kid. His lovely hair is covered up with the basketball cap he has on backwards and he is wearing a normal top and jeans. I can’t believe how much hotter he looks like this, my eyes literally can’t stop looking over his body. His arms are out and there are weird white symbol’s tattooed like bracelets around his wrists. I swear that they are glowing white for a second but a quick shake of my head and they disappear altogether. I really think I need some more sleep today.

  “Winter, you are looking as stunning as ever.” He tells me.

  “Dab,” I smile at him and he pulls me into a hug, as he whispers in my ear.

  “I’m not allowed to be here, to warn you, but you need to trust me. You cannot go to the party. I don’t know which party but death is chasing you. Be safe for me Winter.” He says and let’s go. I watch in confusion as he walks away.

  “Dab, what are you talking about?” I shout and h
e doesn’t look back as he walks out. A few people stare at me but it’s like they didn’t notice Dab was here. You couldn’t miss a guy like that. My palms sweat as I wonder what he was talking about. The only party I can think of is the wolf one, and I don’t think I’m invited anyway. What the hell was he talking about, death is chasing me?

  I’m half tempted to call Wyatt and ask if Dabriel is crazy but it’s my turn to get my cakes and I decide to leave it.

  Dead on an hour later, I pull up at the main house. A few young boys with their mother walk past my car, looking in interest before their mother shouts at them.

  "We don't stare at human girls, let's go."

  "Why not?" The first boy asks. All the times I’ve been here, I haven’t seen any girl children running around. A lot of boys like these ones but not girls. It really strange to see.

  "It's not allowed, she shouldn't be here." The mother says looking directly at me now. It's clear she knows my windows are down and I can hear every word she says. The boys look down and follow their mum, walking away into the woods.

  I lock my car before walking up to the two 'guard' wolf’s at the front door. I'm just about to knock when the door is opened for me by Freddy, who pulls me into a strong hug.

  "Hey, little wolf," I say.

  "Hey I'm not little, I missed seeing you around the pack, Winter. Uncle J wouldn't let me come to see you after the meal. He made Anna watch me when you were here so I wouldn’t be able to sneak in." He says with a little blush and I mess up his hair as I speak.

  "That sucks but I'm okay, I promise," I tell him.

  "Good. I don't want you to leave us." He says, his eyes filled with emotions and I just want to hug him, and say I’m never leaving.

  "That enough Freddy," Fergus says sternly, coming to join us on the porch which now feels very small.

  "Jaxson is waiting for you in the training cabin," Fergus tells me as he lays a hand on Freddy’s shoulder. A kind smile on his face as he looks at Freddy.