The Guardian

by Quinn Arthurs

  I was relieved that only a few seats were occupied, the men in them murmuring amongst each other rather than paying attention to my entrance. From the way Onyx had angled himself to study the door, I was willing to bet he had expected my hesitancy and had been happily waiting to drag me inside if I hadn't appeared shortly under my own steam. I brushed past him, heading for the spread of food that River had shown me before.

  Different sandwiches were stacked on platters and some sort of pasta filled large bowls. I scooped up more than my share, topping it all off with the cookies that were plated on the end of the table. Onyx's nose was wrinkled as he stared at my towering plate, though it seemed he was more confused than disgusted.

  "I thought only Reed could eat like that," he muttered, and I snorted.

  "Get used to not having food available for a while," I advised him. "You'll appreciate it a lot more." I wondered for a moment if Reed had experienced the same poverty I had before shrugging the idea away. If he had, it was his own business, not mine. I wasn't one to judge him for it. It he hadn't, he still had every right to enjoy his food.

  Onyx grimaced. "Enough talk. Bring your food with you."

  I risked a glance to the corner table where the other Guardians had been sitting, finding them staring at me as I had feared. I offered them a finger wave before following Onyx from the room. We moved through the corridors with practiced ease, the heavily decorated walls giving way to simple wood and stone as we twined further into the Hold. I took the opportunity to scarf down as much of the food as I could while we walked, unwilling to put it aside when we reached our destination.

  Onyx pushed open an unassuming door, leading me into a room full of mirrors and equipment. I couldn't resist the groan that fell from my lips at the sight. I had never been athletic, and apparently it was too much to hope that being pulled into the Fae Realm would negate my need for exercise. Gym class wasn't supposed to exist after high school.

  "Finish your food if you must, though I suggest not overfilling your stomach. You can eat more when you're done."

  I grimaced, setting aside the plate on a nearby table. I didn't recognize half the tools or weapons in the room, and I figured that didn't bode well for me. "So, what? Reed teaches me about magic and you beat the crap out of me?"

  Onyx arched a brow, stretching his arms. I mimicked him, only muttering a little as my muscles began to warm. "Technically Terran will oversee most of your physical training. Believe me, he isn't any easier of a task master than I am. I'll oversee weapons with you, but I will also be teaching you how to access the fae portion of your magic." I paused in the stretches I was imitating, considering him.

  "Fae magic is different than, um, mortal magic?" This was getting confusing. How did they expect me to learn and understand three entire cultures in hours or days? Even if they were correct, and my heritage was truly a combination of both fae and witch, I was still only going to be exposed to a small segment of life in this realm.

  "Don't stop stretching," Onyx warned. A prickle ran over my skin and I scowled, though I started stretching again. I assumed that had been a warning strike from him. "Yes, fae magic and witch magic differ. You pull and control them differently. You obviously draw much of your witch powers from crystals, though it is possible you will have an elemental affiliation as well — most probably fire or earth as they are closest related to crystal."

  He bent at the waist, stretching his back and giving me a perfect view of his ass in the full-length mirror. The thick silks he wore emphasized the curve and his heavily muscled thighs, and a blush stole over my cheeks as I forced my eyes away, mimicking his stretch. It was completely unfair that such an attractive male could be such a jerk.

  "So why not just focus on one? Isn't it better to have full control than to split my energies and not be able to fully control anything?" If they were correct and I was in danger, or drawing danger to myself, then I would rather be able to defend myself instead of having three options to hold someone off until someone else could come and save me.

  "You will learn all of them." Onyx's voice held steel as he flowed into the next stretch. "We all learn weapons. We will learn every possible defense at our disposal. You never know when one may not be enough and your minute knowledge of swordsmanship may mean the difference between life and death."

  "You sure paint a cheery picture of this world we're in," I muttered.

  "The Hold is a law onto itself. It is a sacred ground, one that cannot be breached by any but the most powerful; even then it is breached at a great cost. The world outside of these walls is not as peaceful as you may believe it to be, Tori." Hearing my nickname from his lips nearly caused me to stumble to the ground.

  "What do you mean?" Anxiety fluttered in my chest, even as I breathed through the next stretch.

  "The politics of this realm are complicated and not something you need to worry about at the moment. Your focus needs to be on the training we will be putting you through. There will be plenty of time to study those intricacies later on. You need to ensure that you do not leave the Hold without a Guardian by your side."

  "Do you all leave with an escort?" I snapped.

  "We rarely leave without each other. There is not usually a need, so yes, we do all have escorts." Well, that soothed my anger a little. It wasn't just him protecting me, it was done by all members. "There is much for you to learn, and little time for you to learn it in."

  Onyx stood, hesitating before continuing. "I will not apologize for telling you this, but it is only fair that you understand my point. I do not believe in the prophecy, nor that you are the one who is foretold. The magic chose me as a Guardian, and I will fulfill my duty. The Ancients claim you have been chosen as a Guardian as well, and as our fated charge. I will not have a soulmate. I will not be tied to anyone. If I choose a mate, it will not be to place her in danger. I will train you and protect you with my life, as is my duty as a Guardian. I will not accept you as my mate or a destined charge."

  His eyes were surprisingly soft, nearly the color of a velvet sky rather than the flint I was used to, in direct opposition to the harshness of his words.

  I nodded sharply and he cocked his head, considering me. "I know nothing about this prophecy, nor do I understand it. I can't claim to be the charge in the prophecy nor do I want to be her. I want to go back to my old life. If that isn't possible, I want to simply move on. I have no desire to be your mate, or anyone else's. I can agree with you that I won't be controlled or tied against my will. So how about we both simply focus on training me and deal with the rest as it comes? I promise I won't tell the others about our little talk."

  Onyx studied me for a moment, evaluating my words and the emotion behind them. "Agreed." He seemed slightly more relaxed now, though whether it was due to the stretching routine we had completed or his confession to me, I couldn't be sure. "Let's get started then." He raised a hand, closing his eyes for a moment before his clothing shifted into armor. "Fae magic needs no words, no spells. It is an act of pure will. The stronger your will, the stronger your magic."

  He opened his eyes, rotating his wrist, letting pieces of his armor melt away and then reform. "You see what you want to happen, and you will it into being. As fae, we are innately connected to the world and everything in it. Our magic is at its strongest in the Fae Realm, where humans have not twisted nature to suit their own needs, corrupting it." He grimaced at that statement.

  "If fae are so powerful, why do you team up with witches? Couldn't you just will your enemies into being unmade?"

  He nodded, acknowledging my question. "It takes energy and an understanding of yourself and the world around you. Unmaking something is not as easy as making something. Completely erasing something from being is also incredibly difficult, most will never reach that level of power."

  "So, you're not destroying your armor when you will it away?"

  "I'm not destroying it, I am moving it. The armor already exists. I simply change its appearance and feel, lettin
g it settle back into the fabric to avoid its weight." My head was beginning to ache from the intricacies of the magic. "Many fae have no defensive or offensive powers at all. It takes an extreme level of power, will, and energy to utilize either facet. Witches’ powers replenish far more rapidly than our own and are able to enhance their abilities with the usage of objects or other spells. We do not have that luxury.”

  "So that's why you're teamed up with Terran and Reed." I extended my own hand, attempting to will my shirt to change colors.

  "Yes and no. Only a handful of fae are Guardians now; our numbers have dwindled rapidly over the centuries even as the witches have flourished. Interbreeding has diminished our numbers even more, the witch genes acting prominently and further diminishing fae magic. Fully fae teams, therefore, are nearly impossible. In our case, the Ancients have declared that it was destined for the three of us to be a team." He sighed, letting all of the armor slide away. "Enough questions for the moment. You will learn in time. For now, focus only on the magic. It is all in your will. You willed yourself calm, do the same thing now."

  I continued to stare at my arm, irritation growing as nothing happened. "Oh yeah, this is going to be lots of fun," I muttered, sweat beginning to soak me as I focused.

  "Feel your connection to the clothing, the way it lays against your skin." Onyx stepped forward, gripping my arm, his fingers wrapping gently around my wrist. "You know its texture, its smell, it's warmth. It is yours to use.” The heat of his fingers was distracting, even through my top, and I wrinkled my nose, trying to pull my attention back to the spell. "Focus, Tori. Force it to happen."

  I glared at him, realizing only as I titled my head how close he was to me. His mouth was inches from my own, his steely grey eyes almost silver in the light, the color drawing me in. I had no idea what it was about him that drew me, but I was going to need my own armor to continue to deal with him. Warmth spread through me and I gasped at the sensation as heat built on my arm.

  "Interesting." Onyx's voice was dry and I glanced down, seeing that the sleeve he gripped was now almost the same color as his eyes, the fabric carrying a metallic sheen. "Again."

  I blew out a breath, turning my focus back to my arm. I was right, this definitely wasn't fun.

  11

  My body was aching and my temper was fraying by the time Onyx called an end to our lesson. I managed to change the color of my shirt a few times but far from a regular basis. My muscles shook, my hands trembling, and I was about ready to deck Onyx. I knew he said that the act of changing the shirt was simply a power of will, but it didn't seem to be that way. Onyx had assured me I would learn to separate mental effort from physical effort in time, though it would always cause some level of exhaustion. I had refrained from flicking him off at that unappealing statement, though it was a very close call.

  I hobbled back to my rooms, Onyx leading the way in confident, easy strides. Even the view of his ass wasn't enough to distract me from the foul mood that now reigned. He swung the door of my suite open, ushering me inside after a quick check. "Reed can handle you from here. We'll do another session tomorrow."

  "Yippee," I grumbled, heading inside. Reed still maintained the same place on my couch, though now he was surrounded by stacks of plates and teetering towers of books. I growled, shoving past him and heading into the attached bathroom to rinse the sweat off. That felt so good I decided I'd take a quick shower, grateful that my room had one for my use, and a luxurious one at that, separate from the large soaking tub.

  The shower was walled off, allowing me to walk into the separate room and have complete peace, the walls done in copper and green tiles that were soothing. I let the hot water beat some of the pain from my muscles, enjoying the lavender and rosemary soap, the scent of the herbs mingling in the air and helping to soothe my irritation.

  I stepped from the shower, wrapping myself in the thick, soft white towels that awaited me before freezing as I realized the stack of clothes I had dropped by the door was gone. I considered for a moment, before irritation once again reared its ugly head. I cracked open the door, yelling, "Reed! What did you do with my clothes?"

  Reed appeared at the entrance to the living area, blinking slowly as though I had pulled him from intense study. "Hm?" The sound was a distracted murmur.

  "My clothes." I gritted the words out. The towel was soft and comfortable, but it wasn’t clothing. "Where are they?"

  "They were dirty," he offered up, as though it was simple.

  "So, you just came into the bathroom to take them?" My reply was nearly a screech, and I wished I had something on hand to throw at him other than the towel that I so desperately gripped.

  "You were in the shower." He shrugged. "I took them to be laundered so you did not need to bother with it."

  I squeezed my eyes shut tight, biting hard at the tip of my tongue to avoid screaming. "Then what am I supposed to wear?" At his blank stare I beat my head against the door frame. "River!"

  Reed cocked his head, studying me. "The call only works on those who are in the bond. I can try to find River if you like."

  I grimaced, yelling out, "Terran!"

  The ground quaked and Terran popped into the hallway, his eyes slightly bleary as though I had awoken him. "What?" Confusion was clear as he studied me hiding behind the bathroom door and Reed in the hallway. Terran sighed, shaking his head. "Tori, that call really is only supposed to be for emergencies." The scold was mild as he yawned.

  "Your friend over here came into the bathroom while I showered and stole my clothing, leaving me nothing but a towel," I snapped at Terran. Terran's eyes shot down to where I hid behind the door, then up to hover above my head.

  "Reed, we've been through this." Terran’s tone was more exasperated than angry. "Ask before helping, especially if it involves someone else's belongings or personal space." The words were repeated in a tired voice that made me assume this had been a frequent conversation between the two.

  "They needed to be cleaned," Reed argued. "It would be foolish for her to get redressed in dirty clothing when she's just taken the time to get clean."

  "Yes, but now she doesn't have any clothing to put on," Terran pointed out.

  Reed shrugged. "There are towels. She can simply conjure..." He paused, and I realized he was finally understanding the issue at hand. "Oh."

  "Exactly." I glared at him, then at Terran. "So, now that the little mermaid over here has gotten it through his head, what do you plan on doing about it?"

  I was far too grumpy at this point to be diplomatic. All the relief of the shower had worn off, leaving my muscles tight and my body sore, my stomach growling manically. I had brought bags with me, but I had no idea where they had been stored and my intent had been to redress in my shirt and leggings until I could address the issue myself once my temper was in check.

  "Reed, her bags are still in our rooms. They're stacked in the storage area. Bring them to her please." Terran shot Reed a look and he sighed but moved to comply without an argument. Guilt prickled at me, as Terran rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

  "I'm sorry." I really hadn't wanted to disturb Terran, but my temper could get the best of me at times. It definitely wasn't one of my more positive personality traits and one I knew I should be working on, though at the moment I was far more focused on adjusting to this new, twisted version of my life. "I lost my temper."

  Terran shrugged. "We all have tempers. Even Reed. He does this stuff fairly frequently, and it's going to be a learning curve with you in the group now as well. We'll all figure it out eventually. Besides, we should have provided you with your belongings before now. There was no reason for us to still be holding onto them when they are yours."

  Reed appeared with the bags I had packed. "Where would you like them?" His tone was slightly sheepish, and the guilt was back to biting at me.

  "I'm sorry, Reed. I shouldn't have snapped at you." Apologizing always stung a little, but I knew I needed to do it. If we were going to have any chance
of working together, my temper didn't need to get in between us, no matter how irritated I was.

  "As am I." Reed offered with a small smile. "I will try and work harder on realizing the new boundaries that will exist in our environment." He offered up the bags and I pointed at the one I needed, stepping back to allow him to slide it in through the door. I dressed quickly, gathering both bags up and taking them into the bedroom I had slept in.

  I wasn't comfortable enough in the space to put my things away in the closet and drawers that were available, but it was nice to actually have them in an area I could consider my own. It wasn't as if they would even fill up part of the available space, and it made them feel more mine to have them in the bags from my old life.

  It was my turn to be nervous and sheepish as I took a deep breath, centering myself before I headed back into the living room to face the music. Luckily Onyx hadn't appeared, as I wasn't sure if I could handle him after that training session. I had been completely enthralled by him during that moment in the gym, and it had shaken my confidence in myself. I never let myself be distracted by a man, not wanting anyone to have control over my life.

  Surprisingly, neither Reed nor Terran seemed bothered or irritated. Reed was stacking up cakes on a plate, seemingly looking for a specific flavor as he was talking quietly to himself. Terran was stretched out on a nearby chair, a book in his hand. I hesitated in the doorway, unsure how to break into their little group.

  Terran glanced up and saw me waiting there and offered me a smile. My chest squeezed tightly as smile lines showed up next to the warm, chocolate brown of his eyes. His smile was sweet and open, the dimples at the corner of his mouth not hidden by the beard he sported. I swallowed despite my suddenly dry mouth, turning to see a sweetly smiling Reed offering me a plate of cakes.

  "They're chocolate and raspberry — they're my favorite." A light blush mantled his cheeks, highlighting the red tint in his hair.