by Leela Ash
Gael thought she heard a growl coming from across the room, but she was probably just imagining things. That, or it had come from outside. There were all kinds of different sights and smells to experience in a town that was full of bear-shifters. Part of her felt right at home among them, and a different pat felt woefully out of place. Thankfully, she was there with Rhett. Even though he gave her strange mixed feelings she was certain that he would protect her, even from himself.
9.
“So how was it?” Tommy asked when Rhett emerged from the house to retrieve the newspaper. He cringed. He had forgotten that Tommy was the man who delivered the packages to this area of Tanka and swallowed hard before answering.
“How was what?” he asked as evenly as he could. He was restricted from speaking to any of the outsiders about the Maiden’s well-being. Even if this was just a silly celebration, there was an ancient and important ceremonial element to it they had to respect, and the rules he had to abide by were clearly stated: Answer no questions about the Maiden. Answer only to the Maiden. Protect the Maiden.
“Your first night with the little princess girl,” Tommy said.
Things had shifted between Rhett and Tommy ever since he had been awarded the role of Guardian. He didn’t know how to feel about that, and hated he had apparently lost the only friend he had made in Tanka over something as superficial as receiving a role in what essentially boiled down to being a holiday parade.
“I’m under strict orders not to reveal anything about my relationship with the Maiden of the Harvest,” Rhett said stiffly.
Tommy’s face hardened and the fake joy that he had been displaying turned to genuine contempt.
“Dude, it’s not even that big of a deal. I just want to know what it’s like to be stuck sleeping with some pretty virgin in the house with you.”
This made Rhett’s anger boil over and he nearly made a start toward Tommy, but he held himself back. If he got into needless fights over the Maiden on his second day as Guardian, there would be no second chances. He wasn’t going to risk everything just to go off on Tommy. It wasn’t that important.
“I’m just doing what the elders told me to do. This is what I must do; protect the Maiden and preserve her purity until the ceremony is over. It’s not that big of a deal.”
Tommy sneered and turned away. “Yeah, whatever. You looked about ready to take me down.”
Rhett shrugged. “I take my duties seriously, no matter what they are. It’s a loyalty thing. Maybe the bear-shifters don’t understand that as well as the wolves.”
Now it was Tommy’s turn to face him, his eyes cold and full of rage. “You’re going to regret you said that,” he growled.
Rhett’s blood turned to ice. Apparently, he had just made an enemy of the one man he’d hoped he could rely on through this whole bizarre ordeal, but now it was just back to Rhett and Rhett alone.
Before they could exchange any more words, Tommy turned away and headed back to the road, slinging the huge bag full of packages over his shoulder.
On the ground, he’d left a small rectangular package for Gael, addressed mysteriously as from “S.”
Rhett pursed his lips. He was supposed to protect the Maiden at all costs. If there was something in the package that could be considered a threat, it would be his fault if it were given to her and caused her any harm.
He made his way back inside, where Gael was sitting in the living room, rocking gently in a rocking chair and reading a book. She seemed to be in her own little world, so he left her there and went to the kitchen to examine the package.
Rhett sighed, sitting down at the kitchen table and turning the package over and over in his hands. It felt wrong to be intercepting somebody else’s mail. It wasn’t really his place to do things like that, was it? Well, it would never have been were it not for his demanding role as the Guardian to the Maiden. If she wasn’t going to be able to trust the things that were coming in for her, then he would have to be diligent. Back in the old times, a Guardian would have no qualms about keeping her safe. A mysterious gift might be from a suitor, somebody who was going to try to rob her of her purity. In matters concerning the terms of ancient tradition, it was up to him to prevent that by making sure everything that reached Gael was pure and would not tempt her to go against her roles as the virgin Maiden of the Harvest.
With a deep, regretful breath, Rhett tore the thin brown paper of the package open and looked inside. It was a small box, one that was pretty and overlain with ancient symbols. He barely recognized them, though a few were shared between shifter races.
He opened the box cautiously and took in the sight of the beautiful golden locket that was inside. Beneath it was a note; something from Gael’s father. Rhett sighed. He didn’t sense any magic in the locket. Maybe it was going to be all right, after all.
“Gael, something came from your father,” Rhett said, crossing the house to the living room where Gael looked up from her book, her face the picture of surprise. It was kind of cute in a way, as if he had just told her she’d received an unexpected Christmas gift from her favorite person.
“Are you sure? My father doesn’t normally do that sort of thing.”
“I’m sure. It smells like you.”
They both looked at each other, their cheeks growing hot from the words. There was something oddly intimate about them, even though he was a wolf-shifter and that sort of thing was natural enough for him to take into consideration. For the most part, she was still a human, whether she had ancient shifter blood running through her veins or not. She would have no idea what it was like to live in a world of heightened senses like those he shared with all shifters.
“May I see it?” Gael finally asked.
“Of course,” Rhett said, thrusting the locket out at her. “It came with a note, too, but I left it on the kitchen table for you in the packaging.”
Gael’s brow furrowed. “You opened my package?”
Rhett gritted his teeth. “The elders here are pretty adamant about making sure things go by the letter on this thing. They have a whole idea about what should happen and how we need to behave until it’s over. It’s kind of silly, I guess, but I’m going to take it seriously. You never know.”
“Well, I’m pretty new here so I guess you should just do what feels best to you,” Gael said, though there was some reservation in her voice, as if she didn’t like or trust what was happening.
Then again, Rhett wouldn’t have liked it either. Someone else opening your mail was a pretty big invasion of privacy. She was reacting a lot better than he would have been under the same circumstances—that was something to be grateful about.
“I know this is all taking some getting used to,” Rhett said, looking down at his hands. “the whole thing is weird to me too. I didn’t want to open it, but they told me this is what I have to do to protect you, so whether we like it or not, that’s just the way it has to be for now.”
Gael nodded, her mouth set grimly.
“It’s a pretty locket,” she said quietly, turning it over in her hands thoughtfully. “He never really shows a lot of affection for me until I’m not there, and when it happens it’s always in such strange little ways.”
Rhett smiled. “I’m sure your father loves you.”
“Sometimes, I’m not so sure,” Gael said, though she said it so matter-of-factly it was almost as if she was already resigned to the fact and had made her peace with it. From what Rhett could tell, she wasn’t just seeking attention the way some humans did when they wanted to blow a problem out of proportion for the energy they received from other people’s sympathy.
“Everybody shows their own affection differently,” Rhett said, wishing there was something he could do or say to make her beautiful face light up cheerfully; the way it had before she’d realized she was in a place where her mail could be opened before she ever saw it, and the world she lived in included an oblivious and emotionally unavailable father.
“That is true. Now that
my mother has passed away, though, it feels almost like I don’t even have parents anymore,” Gael admitted, a sad smile creasing her features. It nearly broke Rhett’s heart. She was strong in her own quiet way. She had dealt with a lot she probably was never going to talk to anybody about.
“Well, you do still have your father, whether he knows how to show he cares for you properly or not,” Rhett said, tempted to tell her about his own tragic tale. He had lost both parents so young. He might be able to relate to her better than he thought. Still, he hardly knew her and it was hardly the time, so instead he smiled broadly. “It’s better than not having any parents at all.”
“I suppose you’re right about that,” Gael said, smiling brightly. “Come, could you please help me put this on? I would like to feel as if my father is near, even if he never will be able to love me the way I love him.”
Rhett smiled gently at her. “Of course, Maiden.”
She beamed and moved her silky golden hair off her shoulders. He swallowed hard when the soft strands brushed against the back of his hand. The wolf was telling him to make his move, to touch the gentle slope of her pale neck and taste the sweet flesh of it with his tongue. But there was no way he would allow that to happen. He was going to have to be patient and good about all of this. It was ridiculous how the wolf was treating her, as if she were the first woman he had ever laid eyes on.
There you go, Maiden. You’re all set,” Rhett said, gritting his teeth when he was finished with his task. She turned to him, her face bright with pleasure.
“Thank you,” she said. “Come, let’s take a walk. I want to see more of Tanka. My welcome here took up so much time, and I’ll only be here a short while. I want to see everything. Do you mind?”
“Oh… of course not,” Rhett stammered as she laced her arm through his. The wolf gave him another nudge to pull her close, to breathe in the alluring and sensuous scent that defined her, but he would never give in. Even if it was all just for tradition’s sake, he had a role to play, and this time he wasn’t going to fuck it up. No matter what the cost.
10.
Tanka was much bigger than Gael had expected for it to be and everywhere they went, she found something new to marvel at. Whether it was the way the paths along the way were lined with stumps, or trees buried in the ground to mark the pathway, or the smell of the food wafting from the diners, she was enamored with the settlement. The people left a lot to be desired, though. The shifters were surly and reserved and looked at Gael and Rhett with an air of caution.
That was fine by her. She wasn’t so sure about them either. Maybe it was the tiny dabble of bear-blood within her, but she had always preferred to keep to herself and rely on her own prowess in most matters. The truth was it was kind of strange to have somebody following her around all the time to protect her. She wanted nothing to do with that sort of special treatment. Even being the only daughter of the last house of the General’s family members had been a little bit too much for her at times. She could expect to receive gifts and elaborate greetings from people she had never even met who were fans of the General, or who had similar bear-blood running through their veins.
“Why does everybody here look at me like we’re aliens or something?” Gael finally asked once they had stopped at a small secluded bench to enjoy a soothing ice cream cone together. “I don’t think we stand out that much, do you?”
“Well, they know the elders chose us for the ceremony,” Rhett said with a noncommittal shrug. “They usually resent anyone who is outranking them in any way. I guess it’s just how they are sometimes. The elders said they would get over it in time, so we shouldn’t worry too much about it.”
“I know they said that, but I don’t think I like it,” Gael said, frowning down at her hands. “I don’t really feel safe here. I like it and all, but there’s something that’s making me feel a little—”
“Rhett! Well, well, look who it is!”
Rhett cringed at the sound of the man’s taunting voice, and Gael looked up in confusion.
“Hello,” she said. “What’s your name?”
“My name’s Tommy, little darlin’, but you can call me whatever you want.”
Tommy waggled his eyebrows lewdly at her and Rhett stood suddenly, stepping between the two of them and glaring into Tommy’s eyes.
“That’s enough, Tommy. If the elders knew you were harassing the Maiden, they would lock your ass up and throw the key away.”
“I don’t know about all that,” Tommy said, peeking over Rhett’s shoulder to grin at Gael. She felt a twinge of nausea and looked away, causing the man to laugh harshly. Gael flinched at the sound. She hated this sort of attention. Then again, what self-respecting woman actually enjoyed it? None she’d ever heard of, that was for sure.
“Well, I know if you don’t leave her alone right the hell now, you’re going to regret it,” Rhett said, his voice deep and serious. Gael was actually little bit startled by the change, but Rhett was holding his ground. He wanted to make sure she was safe.
“Like hell,” Tommy sneered. “You wouldn’t beat up your old pal Tommy over some little piece of ass now, would ya?”
Gael cringed as Tommy lunged toward her, as if to attack, but he was just psyching her out and Rhett growled deeply from the back of his throat, gripping Tommy’s shoulder tightly in one hand.
“I think the elders chose me because that’s exactly what I’m going to do if you don’t back up and leave this girl alone. You get me?”
“You’re such a pansy, man. No wonder nobody likes you. Not even your own pack.” Tommy shrugged his shoulder violently away from Rhett’s grip and took a few steps away from Rhett and Gael. “Once you shake this loser sweetheart, you give me a call. They don’t make them like you around here. No they don’t.”
Tommy shook his head and turned away from them, muttering to himself as he headed down the opposite direction from Rhett.
“I’m so sorry about that,” Rhett sighed, kneeling to examine Gael’s face. “He was never like this around me, not until the elders gave me this job for their stupid celebration.”
Gael laughed lightly. “It isn’t your fault he’s acting like an immature pig. You did your best to protect me, and you did. Thank you for that. It was really nice of you.”
Their eyes met and suddenly the nearness of their bodies became apparent. She nearly grew dizzy as a sweeping wave of arousal washed over her body. She had to swallow hard, hoping that maybe it would go away.
Rhett grew rigid and then stood up straight, looking down at her with an expression on his face that was hard to describe. It was almost as if he had known exactly what it was she was feeling and a deep sense of shame caused Gael to tear her eyes away from the man, worried that somehow she had perhaps broken his trust and made things between them irreparably strained.
“I’m just doing my duty to protect you,” Rhett said, clearing his throat. “Come on. Let’s get out of here before Tommy decides to come back. There’s still a lot to see.”
Gael stood, nodding at him as she did so. As much as she liked being able to look around the interesting little community of bear-shifters, the more she saw, the less impressed she was with it. The people here were harsh and unkind; everybody except for Rhett, who was distant and strange in his own way… and whatever had just happened between them had made them both feel incredibly awkward. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she knew that there was some part of her that was deeply attracted to this man. He was strong and handsome in all the right ways, and if she could feel safe with anybody in this frightening town, it was with Rhett. Pure and simple, he was the one that made her feel safe, whether that was something that could make sense to her or not.
“So where to next, do you think?” she asked, trudging along after him. He was taking long strides away from the little bench now, seemingly unable to wait to get the place behind him and forget the altercation with Tommy had ever happened.
“I think we should probably go bac
k to the house if there isn’t anything else you would like to see.”
“Actually…“
One of the elders suddenly emerged in front of them and Rhett halted in surprise.
“Rhett, might I trouble you to allow me a few moments of your time? It is important that we bring the Maiden to the encampment. There are a few more ceremonial rites that we must inform her of. This way, when the time comes the ritual goes off without a hitch.”
Ritual? She hadn’t realized that there would be an actual ritual involved.
“That’s just for entertainment value, right?” Rhett asked, as if reading her mind and sharing similar concerns.
The elder laughed brightly. “Why yes, of course! There are some things of utmost importance, things to tend to such as the guardianship and whatnot. But during the festivities, there is also a certain level of mysticism that the bear-shifters present will be expecting. Far be it from us to disappoint.”
“I understand,” Rhett said quietly, stepping aside to allow the elder to pass by.
“Hello there, dear,” he said, his eyes cold as he smiled emotionlessly at her. “It is time for us to go now. We will see your Guardian shortly. Rhett, be ready to escort her back to the house in about three hours. It’s always good to give the Guardian a little break here and there. We all have our own needs and matters to attend to, now don’t we?”
The elder winked at Rhett from above Gael’s head and she caught it, causing her anger to rise. She hated being in the elder’s camp. The men all looked at her as if she were the last morsel on a banquet table and each of them wanted it for themselves. There was something off-putting about being in their presence she couldn’t quite put her finger on, but her father had promised her she would be safe here in Tanka with the bear-shifters. She had heard so much about them that coming had been quite an exciting thing, and it was an honor to be placed as the Maiden of the festival. Yet there were times she was beginning to second guess whether or not she was lucky, or that she’d placed herself in a situation she would just as soon get herself out of.