Protector

by Joanne Wadsworth

  I heard Zac’s answer seconds later. “It’s done.”

  I swayed and smiled, drinking in the heady sight of my returned mate. “Goodness, but you are sooooooo gorrgeeous. Misssy yooou.”

  “Let’s just get you to Belle’s.” He bent, an arm coming in under my knees and another around my back as he lifted me.

  Silas stepped up. “How can she be so drunk at seven in the morning? That’s odd, isn’t it?”

  I flung out a hand at Silas and pathetically slapped him. “Not drunk.” Which was the truth–except for the part where I actually appeared as if I were.

  Davio tucked my head under his chin. “Close your eyes. I don’t want you being sick while we teleport.”

  “Oh no. No-noooo sicky,” I slurred as I tried to catch my fingers in his beige button-down shirt. My eyelids slid shut, slowly and completely.

  I groaned and opened my eyes as he flashed us back to Belle’s. My stomach rolled, and I gulped great mouthfuls of air.

  Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I had been drinking. It certainly felt like I had.

  Ooo, yee-ah, that unreal bottle of vodka had a lot to answer for.

  With careful movements, Davio propped me on the couch and held my shoulders. “Belle, some water.”

  She appeared with a glass and I grinned sloppily at her. “I misss–”

  She frowned, tut-tutting under her breath. “I can’t believe this. You’re drunk?” She edged in, kneeling and taking my chin in hand. “I’ll just tap into your– Oh– Oh no. She’s so drunk she’s making me feel drunk.”

  Then she slipped onto her bottom and belched.

  I clutched my stomach, giggles rolling from me.

  Silas rolled his eyes as he lifted Belle, her limbs flopping around as he propped her beside me. He glared at me. “Belle can channel reactions along with emotions so if she says you’re drunk, then you’re drunk. You gotta wee alcohol problem there, Blondie?”

  I giggled, my chest bumping up and down. “Silas is funnee.”

  He snorted and set his hands on his head.

  Davio arched a brow. “What did you drink?”

  I blinked, lifting my finger and jabbing it at him. “Nothin’.”

  “Excuse me, Your Highness.”

  I jumped, albeit sloppily, having not seen Viv arrive. I focused as well as I could and saw a far, and I mean a far, too young-looking doctor in tow.

  Oh right, duh, they all looked young.

  Davio stepped over to speak to him, and the moment he let go of me, I fell sideways into Belle. “Belle, did I…tell you–” Hiccup. “I missed you?”

  She squinted at me through half-closed lids. “Nooo. Shh, tirrred.” She fell flat on her face.

  I laughed as I lost my head rest and slumped on top of her.

  We were a pathetic pair.

  “Miss?” The doctor spoke. He lifted one of my eyelids and sent a bright beam of light at me.

  I recoiled, closing my eyes and sinking my anxious mind deeper into Davio’s. “Go away,” I said to the doctor, flapping an awkward hand at him. “You’re not allowed to hurt me. Davio will kill you.” Somehow, I knew that, even in my smashed state.

  The doctor checked my temperature, his hand moving over my forehead. “She’s drunk, Your Highness. Allow her to rest for an hour or two. Her fast-healing will deal with the excess of alcohol quicker than any drug I could prescribe. Do you need me to stay?”

  “Yes. I need you to take every precaution with her health.”

  I snuggled into Belle’s back and heard her snoring, a little of the sound muffled by the cushions her face was mushed into.

  “Here, let me take her somewhere more comfortable.” I peeked one eye open as Silas picked her up and carried her to the opposite couch.

  With my anchor gone, I slithered into Belle’s spot headfirst and ate a mouthful of fluff as I did. Davio turned me, sweeping clinging strands of hair off my face. “Try and sleep, okay? Belle isn’t appreciating your current state of inebriation since she can’t fast-heal. You have to do it for her by healing first since she’s tapped into you. And why do you smell like you’ve swum in the ocean?” He pinched his nose.

  “Birdees.”

  He frowned. “You’re seeing birdees?” He rubbed his forehead. “I guess you will if you’re drunk.”

  I didn’t bother to defend myself. No one believed me and quite frankly, I barely did either. I yawned and burped, the noise hammering the nail into the coffin of everyone’s current assessment of me. “Lie sidee. Mindy thingummy.”

  “You mean your mind-merge?”

  “Nooo loozy.”

  He groaned, but bedded down beside me, wrapping one arm around me to hold me in place.

  Like I was going anywhere.

  Sighing, I burrowed, the world around me darkening then disappeared.

  * * * *

  “Mmm.” I stretched and uncurled, and oh boy, my body felt like my own again.

  “Go back to sleep. It’s only been five minutes.” I heard Davio, his voice rumbling under my cheek.

  “It can’t have been five minutes.” I elbowed up to see Belle waking across the room.

  She blinked. “We’re better already?”

  Pressing the back of his hand to my cheek, Davio frowned. “The doctor said an hour or two, but you feel cool.”

  “I was never drunk.” I wriggled my shoulders, wanting to move. “If it’s of any help, I may have imbibed too much seawater, but that’s it.”

  He scrubbed at his stubbly jaw. “If you weren’t drunk, what happened?”

  I squished up my mouth. “I need to move. Let me up.”

  I got a look in return that said a definite no.

  I slumped back. “Okay, so my mind might have missed yours. And I got a touch tipsy when we reconnected.”

  Across the room, Silas doubled over in laughter and it was impossible to tune him out. I threw him a scowl before seeing Silvie fidgeting from foot to foot at his side. Great. I needed to deal with Silvie.

  Davio squeezed my arms. “Are you sure that’s all it was?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure. It seems you can send me spinning out, in all sorts of different directions, even when only seconds back in your company.”

  Silas scoffed. “I don’t believe there wasn’t any alcohol involved. The blonde was definitely drunk.”

  I narrowed my gaze on him. “I don’t like you much and I should know since I listened to your rambles over the weekend.”

  He grunted. “And it seems you’re nosy, too.”

  Davio scratched his head. “If you were watching, why didn’t you come?”

  I looked him in the eye. “Because you need to learn who’s boss.”

  His lips lifted. “That would be me.”

  The doctor cleared his throat, reminding us of his presence. “Excuse me, Your Highness, but is she saying she’s watching others–like with forethought?”

  Davio turned sharply to Viv. “Take the doctor back, and have Stavros Sequeria wipe his memory of the past quarter hour to the point of when you collected him. I’ll not have him recall Faith or what she’s spoken of.”

  “You have a protector with the skill to wipe memories?” Wow, that was a new one.

  Viv disappeared with the doctor, and Davio ran his hand over the back of my head. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Ah, I’m thinking it could be a recurring problem, depending on how angry you are.”

  “Right now, you’re back. I can’t be angry about that.” He touched his lips to mine. “Except in the future, you can’t run as you did. If we have an issue, we address it.”

  He was right. “Yeah, we’ll see.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “We’ll see?”

  “I’ll start with Silvie. I need some practice on dealing with issues.” Because eventually I would have to enlighten Davio of my father’s decision, and I wasn’t looking forward to that. “Let me up.”

  He did, and I faced Silvie. This wasn’t easy to do with her wearing her favorite pink a
nd white striped pajamas, her red hair a messy tumble of curls. I crossed my arms.

  “Begin,” I issued.

  Tears swam in her eyes. “I-I’m not sure where to start. I can’t remember the early years, only from the time I was about six or seven.”

  “Then start there.”

  She wrung her hands together. “Mum made it pretty clear Peacio was a secret. She said Carlisio had sent us, that he saw enough in his forewarning to interpret that you would have a soul-bound bond with someone close to him. He presumed Davio but he wasn’t one-hundred percent certain.”

  She paused, her voice strained. “I don’t know if Carlisio ever imagined us being here this long, but with your father keeping his distance, there was no way Carlisio could accurately identify if he was of Dralion or Peacio. Carlisio simply couldn’t risk Davio losing his future mate if you disappeared as your father had. So we stayed and I remained close to you, something that was never a hardship, not when we were the closest of friends.”

  I inhaled, taking all her words in. “I considered you a sister, much more than a friend and you know it. I’ve been betrayed by you.”

  Her lower lip trembled. “I know and you’ve every right to feel that way. But I couldn’t speak of it. Yet one day I knew you would be mated, and quite possibly to my own cousin. Please, you have to know that I’ll do anything to make this up to you. I never wanted the lies that have been there between us.”

  I sighed and shook my head. This was so hard because I saw she was innocent of her part in the beginning when we were young. Her explanation even tugged at my heart. “I’ve always told you everything. Do you have other siblings? A father? Because now I know you have a brother, a cousin and an aunt and uncle.”

  She caught a hand to her chest, tears streaking down her cheeks. “Yes, I have a father. He has brothers and sisters. I have other cousins and family unrelated to Davio. I’m so sorry, but you have to forgive me for never telling you. In my heart, you are my sister, and I know I’ve hurt you. Trust me I’ll do whatever it takes to repair the damage.” She crossed the small gap and took my hands. “I’ll make sure you meet them all. Please, you have to forgive me.”

  I’d never in our entire eighteen years been able to handle seeing her in pain, and I couldn’t now. “I’ll never forget.”

  She wiped at her nose. “Can you forgive?”

  Davio bumped me forward from behind. “You’ll hurt more if you don’t move past this.”

  Silvie hugged me as a new wave of tears released. I squirmed, hating not just her pain but also whenever she got this upset. It wasn’t like her–she was the stronger of us, always the first to mock and banter.

  I patted her back. “Okay, okay, but you’ll need to go cook.” Cooking always relaxed her. “Chocolate chip cupcakes would be good.”

  She sniffed and sucked in a deep breath. “Are you asking me to cook you some cupcakes?”

  I gave her a nod. “That’s just the beginning of this whole forgiveness thing. I’ll be after rocky road tomorrow.”

  “Okay, but we’ll talk more later? I need that.”

  “We will when there’s time. Right now, I have one determined father who wants his own forgiveness from my mother. Alexo intends to right the wrongs of these past eighteen years and admit to his lies and what he’s withheld. Which means too much on my mind.”

  “Are you saying Alexo wants Kate back?” She frowned.

  “That’s pretty much it, but with her, comes me.”

  Davio froze, then his gaze bored into mine. “Are you saying you intend to go to Dralion?”

  Around us, his protectors drew close, including Viv who had returned.

  My heartbeat raced. “Yes, and what am I supposed to do? I have an actual family–one I’ve never known. You try turning away from that.”

  His hands pinched into my arms, his breath blowing out. “It’s that damn blood-bond.” Then he unblocked, his thoughts churning in a whirlwind toward me through the merge.

  I fell back a step at seeing his need. He wanted me to choose him over Alexo, to decide on embracing Peacio over Dralion. For him, there was no other choice.

  “Look at me.” He was focused. “I am already falling in love with you. I cannot allow you to leave.”

  I held my breath. Why did he have to say that?

  “No.” I lifted my arms and wrapped them around his neck, squeezing my hands together so there was no letting go. I cried, thoroughly wetting his shirt.

  “Shush, don’t cry. We’ll work this out.” I heard him, his tone so soft in my ear.

  “I can’t fix this.” If I couldn’t, he couldn’t.

  I wiped at my nose and drew back. “I can’t stand this. It’s too hard.” I sucked in a stiff breath. “If you make me give up my family, I’ll hate you. You’re my enemy, and that’s the way you should stay. We shouldn’t tamper with history.”

  His jaw twitched, his fists bunching. “Wincrest is brainwashing you.”

  “He’s–”

  “Stay right here.” He turned on his heel, snarling at Silas. “I won’t be gone long. Do not allow Faith to leave this room or your sight. I need to consider what should be done.”

  He flashed away.

  And there was nothing but silence.

  Endless minutes ticked by.

  “I can’t believe you said that.” Silvie came around in front of me. “He’s my cousin. I’ve spent as much time with him and Silas, as I have with you, and he’s in pain. What you did–”

  “What I did?” I gritted my teeth together. “Our relationship is impossible. Dralion and Peacio are at war. I can’t–” I shook my head. “You and Silas have to take him home, to his family and to his people. It’s where he should be, not here with me.”

  Her mouth pinched into a tight line. “You have not seen mates who are bound to each other attempt to regain their lives after one has died. This is what it would be for him. You leaving him would be a death.”

  “Silas.” I looked at him. “You and Davio are close. Surely, you see this won’t work. You have to take him away.”

  “You would agree to remain out of his sight, beyond Dralion’s shield?”

  “I’ll do my best. My father deserves his time.”

  Silas crossed his arms and glared. “Like my sister, I will not do as you ask. As much as I hate to say it, he wants you.”

  I ground my heel to the floor.

  Dad.

  Yes, I’ve been watching.

  How do I get out of here without one of the protectors following my teleporting airstream?

  You have to mask it. You must use a water source to teleport through, meaning you leave your current location and hold your breath. Use a pool of water, the sea, a river or a pond. Once you are submerged in water, provided no one has taken hold of you, you teleport to the next safe location. No teleporter can follow you through waters natural airstream masking.

  Got it.

  Silas gripped my arm. “You’re speaking telepathically to Alexo Wincrest.”

  “What of it?” I slanted my head.

  “Zac, call Davio and tell him Faith appears ready to do a runner. And you.” His hold tightened. “You will stay right where you are.”

  “You can’t–”

  Without warning, he took me straight to the floor. “I mean stay put.” Shoving me onto my front, he thrust his knee into my back.

  I bucked against him, locking and kicking my legs. “See, Silas,” I panted. “This is exactly why I don’t trust you a lot.”

  Belle knelt at my head. “Not so rough, Silas. You’re hurting her.”

  I rolled my eyes at the carpet. “What’s actually hurting is his trunk-sized knee knifing me in the back.”

  A rude mutter emitted from Silas in return. “Get over it. My knee will soon be the least of your problems.”

  I kicked out at him again, but nothing worked. I barely moved an inch.

  The air stirred, lifting strands of my hair, and I heard a deep growl. “I return and this is w
hat I see?”

  “Yes. It. Is.” Silas snarled in my ear. A second later, I lost my breath as my arms were wrenched behind my back and I was jerked upright to land on my feet, Silas holding me from behind. “She is nothing but trouble.”

  I glared at Davio. “It’s crazy for a Loveria and a Wincrest to be mated.”

  Stepping forward, he tipped up my chin, his fingers stroking down my neck. “I still want you.”

  I yanked on my arms, but Silas continued to hold firm. “My father deserves to have what he gave up eighteen years ago. He’s earned his family back, and I can’t keep that from him. The blood-bond is too strong. It trumps what we have.”

  His hands moved to cup my face. “It can’t. We hold each other’s souls. What you’re feeling is the familial loyalty behind the blood-bond.”

  I wanted to kick him. “You are a terrible listener. I can’t fall for you. And I can’t change what’s between us.” I tugged, still trying to free myself from the loaf holding me from behind. “Jeez, you need to let me kill Silas before I can continue yelling at you. This being restrained is not working for me.”

  Silas snarled in my ear. “Show some respect.”

  I kicked my leg back at him. “I hope you mate with your enemy. In fact, I’ll pray for it.”

  He laughed and released me. “Like that would happen.” To Davio, he said, “She’s all yours. Congratulations and all that.”

  I snorted, then bit back a smile, somehow seeing the funny side of this terrible situation. “This is so impossible.”

  Davio took my hands. “No one takes you from me. Work with me on this. I can see it will be difficult to keep you tied to one location. I will have to allow you to come and go from Dralion, just as your father and his warriors do. Speak to your father now and discuss your need for free access.”

  “A–”

  He pressed a finger to my lips, shaking his head. “Just do it. For this is an argument you’ll never win.”

  I sighed. “I think we need counseling. You’re too uncompromising, a–” Again with the finger to the lips.

  “For both our sakes give me this.”

  I rolled my eyes. Dad.

  I’m here.

  Is there any way I can come and go from Dralion as you have done over the years?