“Lycanthrope?” she asked quietly.
“They turn into wolves on the full moon,” he said with a nod.
“This sounds like something out of a bad PNR novel,” Cassidy said with a laugh like she still didn’t believe this was actually happening.
“It’s real. All of it.”
She licked her lips and sighed. “I can’t deny what I saw.” She met his gaze, the fear back in her blue orbs. “What are you going to do to me now that I know your secret?”
“I’m not going to do anything other than protect you.” He walked toward her and put his hands on her shoulders. “No one is going to hurt you or your nieces.”
“Oh God, Ginny and Veronica! Is someone going to go after them, too? They are just little girls.” She went to go for the door, but he stopped her again.
“Don’t worry. I have someone picking them up from school as we speak. My friend is going to take you and the girls to a safehouse until this situation blows over.”
He texted Aric on the way to his office; the water dragon was probably already in Chicago getting the kids from school.
“Wait! I can’t just pull them out of school. Christmas break isn’t for another week and a half.” She shook her head.
“It’s for your safety, Cassidy. Yours and theirs.”
“What will you be doing?”
He’d do what he’d done every full moon for as long as he could remember-- protect the innocent. “Tonight’s the full moon. I’m going to make sure the lycanthrope don’t hurt you or anyone else in this city.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
He tucked his finger under her chin so he could tilt it up. “I’ll be fine. I’ve been doing this for a very long time.”
“What’s a long time? You said you were immortal?” She frowned as if she were just processing what he explained before.
Santiago nodded. “I am. I was born in Spain in the year 1049.”
“1049? That would make you almost a thousand years old and you don’t look a day over thirty-five.”
“I was thirty-one when I died and became immortal.”
Cassidy sucked in a breath. She shook her head and her eyes widened once more. “I think I need a drink...or to lay down...something.”
“It’s a lot to take in, I know.”
She nodded her head. He kept his grip firmly on her shoulders and led her to the couch again. Gently pushing on her shoulders, he guided her onto the cushion and then took the seat next to her.
“Why are you telling me all this? I can’t imagine you tell this to everyone, right?”
She had a point. No one was supposed to know about him, technically not even her. “I”ve never told anyone my secret before, but it’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a while now. When you saw me use my powers, well, today seemed like as good a day as any to come clean.”
She frowned. “Why would you want to tell me if you’ve never told anyone before?”
He smiled, reaching up to graze his finger over her cheek. “You’re not like any other woman I’ve ever met. There’s something special about you, Cassidy.”
She laughed out loud. “I doubt that.”
Did she not know how wonderful she was? That was something he would have to remedy. “You have a fire inside you, Cassidy.”
It might not be the same as his, but the inferno inside him could sense it. She was tough. Instead of letting her situation get her down, she rolled with the punches and still came out on top. Not a lot of people would take in two young girls the way she had.
He looked into her background when he went over her application. She’d been studying to be a teacher at night while working full-time during the day to pay for school. Cassidy had given up her dreams to provide for her two nieces. It was why he forgave her tardiness sometimes, which he suspected had something to do with caring for the two girls since she had a stellar recommendation with no incidents from her previous employers.
He cleared his throat. “I’ve wanted to confess to you for a while because I like you, in a way unbefitting for an employer to feel about his employee.”
“Oh!” her voice rose a few octaves, but a smile slipped over her face. “You like me? Really?”
Santiago couldn’t think of words to say so he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. She froze for a second before parting her lips, allowing his tongue to swoop in and cascade against hers. She tasted like sweet fire. He needed so much more of her, but now wasn’t the time.
Aric’s footsteps clomped up the stairs to the apartment followed by two sets of lighter ones-- most likely Ginny and Veronica’s footfalls. He didn’t know what Aric did to get them out of school, he was just glad it worked. Aric had a way of getting what he wanted, regardless of the rules. He often wondered if it was an extra gift the Goddess had bestowed upon him.
The door to his apartment flew open and Aric sauntered in with the two girls behind him. Once they saw their aunt, they raced towardl her shouting her name.
Cassidy hopped up and opened her arms to the girls, drawing them in close. “Are you okay?” she asked them repeatedly while crouching down to look them over.
“Mr. Aric said we are going on vacation. I can’t wait!” the younger of the two girls said, jumping up and down in Cassidy’s embrace.
Cassidy looked over her shoulder and mouthed, “Vacation?”
Santiago nodded and walked toward them. “There’s a little bed and breakfast on Lake Michigan that one of my former colleagues owns. They’ll take good care of you there until I can join you.”
“I can’t afford that,” Cassidy shook her head.
Santiago held up his hand and smiled at her. “All expenses paid. My treat.”
“When will you be there?” Cassidy asked.
“Hopefully, sometime tomorrow.”
Santiago went to his kitchen counter and grabbed his car keys from it. He preferred to fly rather than drive, but in a city like Chicago a car did have it’s advantages when the sun was bright and it wasn’t safe to fly. There were a lot of people here and too many nosy neighbors. He didn’t get to take to the sky as often as he’d like. “Take good care of them, Aric.” He handed the water dragon his car keys.
“You have my word. I’ll check in with you when we get there.”
Cassidy smiled at him before pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. “I’ll see you soon, then.”
He grasped her hand. “Tomorrow.” Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough. First he had to make sure that any lycanthrope that could be targeting Cassidy were gone.
Chapter 3
Cassidy sipped her eggnog as she watched the fire burn brightly in the fireplace. The bed and breakfast was cozy and warm. It wouldn’t open to the public until mid-January as it’s owners, Grace and Daire, had just finished fixing the place up. That didn’t mean it wasn’t decked out for the holidays.
It looked like an elf had puked all over the front room. Stockings hung from the hearth, three trees, one by the front door, one close to the fireplace, and one by the kitchen, were all decked out with decorations on every branch. Not to mention, lights were strung along the rafters creating a twinkling effect like an outdoor star shower. The outside of the home had so many lights, you could probably see it from Chicago on a clear night.
Ginny and Veronica had loved the house as soon as they stepped inside. They spent the afternoon decorating another tree in the upstairs foyer. Two other children, Caden and Claire, were also there and all four youngsters become quick friends. She spent the rest of the evening listening to them laugh and play happily. It was good to hear the girls so content, even if the circumstances weren’t the best.
“Do you mind if I join you?” a female voice asked.
Cassidy turned around and smiled at Grace. The woman had been so welcoming from the moment they arrived, making it hard to believe they were strangers.
“Sure.” Cassidy tucked her legs up so there was room on the couch for her to sit.
“How are you holdi
ng up with everything?” Grace asked. She lifted a steaming mug to her lips and took a drink. “I thought I was losing my mind when I first found out about Daire. I can only imagine what you must be thinking.”
“I’m still not sure this isn’t a dream, to be honest.”
Maybe she’d been struck by a car or something on her way to work this morning and this was all some elaborate drug-induced dream she was having while the doctor’s at the hospital performed life saving surgery. That was certainly more believable than the afternoon she had.
Grace put a hand on her chest. “I found out about Daire on our first date. We were attacked by lycanthrope and he turned into a giant dragon before flying me back to our apartment complex. It was the most terrifying experience of my life, but all the craziness has brought me so much happiness.” She wiggled her left ring finger where a giant diamond sat snugly. “We got married last month and I just found out I’m pregnant. We’re due in July.” She beamed and her eyes glistened.
“Wow! Congratulations!” Cassidy said, smiling.
Grace’s happiness was contagious. If Grace could find happiness with Daire, then maybe she had a chance with Santiago. They became good friends the past six months, but did she really know him at all? He kept a secret from her the entire time. Though, if she really thought about it, she supposed she couldn’t blame him; if he told her the truth awhile ago, she’d have thought he was nuts and probably quit on the spot.
“I know it’s scary, but I wouldn’t change a thing for the world.” Grace smiled as she took another sip from her mug. “All the Guardians are honorable men and women. It’s the only way they can become a Guardian. I don’t know Santiago very well, but I met him at the wedding last month and he seems like a fine man.”
He was a really good man; someone her parents would approve of if they were still living. Tragedy had struck her family multiple times. Both her parents were killed in the September 11th attack. Then years later, her sister and brother-in-law were killed by a drunk driver. It made her wonder what happened to Santiago for him to become a Guardian. She’d wished there had been more time to talk to Santiago. Now that she was done freaking out she had questions--a lot of them.
“How exactly do they become Guardians?” Cassidy asked.
“It’s different for each of them,” Grace started, “and I don't’ know Santiago’s story, but I do know that to become a Guardian they most forfeit their life to save another. Daire became a Guardian to save his wife and daughter.”
“That does sound noble.”
Now she really needed to know what Santiago’s backstory. Had he been married years ago? Did he die so his family could live? She’d have to ask him once she saw him. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
Chapter 4
Santiago circled over the building while he waited for Noah and Ethney to get in position on the ground. Their job was to block the exits to keep anyone from escaping. His job was to light the place up in a fiery inferno so there were no survivors.
They spent the day reconning the place, but no newly bitten lycanthrope were there. From what they learned, new recruits were automatically being transferred to some secret facility until their first transition. Only then were they allowed to leave. Once a person changed from human to lycanthrope, there was no saving him or her. The newly-developed drug by Elena Hawthorne only worked on those who had been bitten, but had yet to change on the full moon. The transition made its victim insane, driving them mad and hungry for blood. One bite was all it took to change a human to a lycanthrope and once that happened, his team only had until the next full moon to distribute the medicine or the human was lost forever.
They really needed to find out where they were taking the new recruits, but they weren’t going to sacrifice innocent lives to get that information. Tonight, the public would be kept safe from the lycanthrope in the area. Considering Chicago was a big city, they had their work cut out for them.
Santiago’s eyes went to the moon-it was nearly at its peak. The lycanthrope would be turning and hunting down their prey within the hour, which meant the time to attack was now.
He flapped his wings, fire rolling along his body as he sank lower to the ground. Drawing in a deep breath, he simultaneously exhaled a massive fireball as orbs of fire rolled off his wings.
The fire hurtled toward the building, hitting three different locations: the roof and the two doors. Santiago drew in another breath and blew more fire toward the building. Flames ignited across the roof the second they touched it. They jumped across the building until the sky was lit up in an orange blaze. Smoke billowed in the air as the fire ate away at the outside of the building.
He flew to the ground and transformed into his alternate self before going to the window where a few scared lycanthrope scampered to exit.
At one time in his lifetime, he tried to save the lycanthrope, hoping he could make them see reason. It had never worked. They were too far gone. It was a shame; these animals had been people once. They had families and loved ones, but their lives had been shattered due to a feud between a god and a goddess centuries ago. It wasn’t right or fair for anyone. The only thing he and his comrades could do was protect others from being hurt, too.
When the window swung open, Santiago didn’t even look, he flexed his hands and hurled a flaming ball of fire inside. It hit the beast, the lycanthrope already halfway in transition, causing him to fall back inside. He hurled another ball inside and then puffed out his chest to blow a stream of fire at the side of the building. Flames danced across the opening, quickly flickering inside. He might not be able to save the souls inside, but he could try to make their deaths as quick as possible.
Sirens cried out in the darkness almost as loud as the screams coming from within the burning walls. Santiago took a few steps back to ensure no one else escaped. It was time for them to go. Hurrying to the side of the building, he met Ethney. A few partially turned lycanthrope had tried to break out, but they lay dead by the mermaid’s feet.
Santiago knelt next to them, placing his hands on their bodies while allowing fire to pass onto them; all evidence needed to be diminished before the police arrived. The bodies turned to ash and he and Ethney hurried to Noah’s side of the building.
Noah was the one man who could safely turn into a lycanthrope without losing his mind, as he was the first one to receive Elena’s injections. While it hadn’t worked as she hoped it would, it had spared the man the insanity of the change while giving him the ability to take the form of a wolf at his will.
“We should go,” Ethney said.
Noah stared at the burning blaze a moment longer before nodding. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
Ethney took Noah’s hand in hers and gave it a squeeze before leading him away. Santiago remembered the anguish he felt when he’d been unable to help. So much death and destruction for nothing. At least with the new drug they were finally starting to turn the tide of war. Perhaps one day soon the Guardians would be obsolete and he could be like Daire--free and mortal. He didn’t dare to hope though.
Chapter 5
Cassidy awoke to hushed voices. She shifted under the blankets and sat up, stretching as she looked around the room. The bedroom she was in was cozy and quite a bit larger than her own bedroom at her apartment. If she wasn’t careful, she could get use to the familial setting here and the luxury of having her own bathroom and a king size bed.
She bit her lip, contemplating going back to bed, but ultimately deciding against it when she heard Santiago’s accented voice. Climbing out of bed, she made her way to the door and poked her head out into the hall.
Santiago stood talking to Ethney and Noah by the stairs. When he saw her, he smiled and waved. The couple quickly excused themselves and hurried to a bedroom down the hall.
Her boss made his way up to her. Cassidy drew in a breath and let it out before opening her door wider. Gosh, he looked good. The closer he got the more she could smell his woodsy scent, like a mixture of burning logs a
nd pine. “Can we talk?” she asked.
“Sure.” Santiago nodded.
“Come in.” She waited until he was in before shutting the door behind him. Only after she closed the door did she realize how little she was wearing. She borrowed a few of Grace’s things since she hadn’t had time to pack any of her own. Grace had promised a trip to the mall in the morning to buy some new clothes, but until then she was wearing a very form-fitting, and revealing, tank top with plaid pants. Her mind went to the kiss she’d shared with Santiago earlier today and she licked her lips. Her face heated and desire swirled in her belly.
“You’re okay?” she asked, eyeing him for any signs of injury. There didn’t appear to be any.
“Of course. You? Aric said you had an uneventful trip here. Grace is quite the hostess, isn’t she?” Santiago asked.
Cassidy laughed. Grace was the perfect hostess. She was friendly and Cassidy could safely say she could become quick friends with the other woman. “Everything has been wonderful here. Did you take care of the...uh, lycanthrope problem?”
It still sounded weird to say it out loud. Part of her wondered if he’d double over laughing and say this had all been a big joke, but she knew Santiago wasn’t that type of guy.
“We took care of one of the cells. The threat is still there and, unfortunately, will be for some time to come.”
“Oh.” She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. What did that mean for her and the girls? Sure, Santiago had taken care of the men in his office, but it sounded like more nefarious men were out there.
Santiago reached out and put his hands on her shoulders. “You’re under my protection now. I won’t let anything happen to you or Ginny and Victoria. You have my word.”
She believed him. He’d never broke his word once and she doubted he’d start now. “What happens to us? I mean, is it safe for us to go home?” Surely, they couldn’t stay there forever. Grace and Daire were opening the bed and breakfast after the holidays.
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