by Iris Abbott
****
Jessica’s heart rate was finally calming. She stretched and drew lazy circles against Lucian’s chest. “I need to know how you ended the threat to my life and I need the truth. If I’m really going to believe this is finally over I have to know everything.”
She hesitated and her hand dropped away. “I mean everything, Lucian. Brianna told me I was born into a long line of witches. And I believe her. I’ve always had a magical sixth sense. It’s what saved me in Kansas. I knew someone was coming for me. I felt it in my very bones. She explained the basics to me and I am going to join Brittany’s coven. And I am going to take lessons from both Brianna and Brittany until I’ve learned how to use the magic of the universe.”
She watched his reaction very careful. He just leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “You couldn’t find better teachers. Brianna is the strongest witch I’ve ever met. Even now I can sense the faint shimmer of magic about you. You’ll be casting spells of your own in no time.”
She suddenly sat up and touched the bite mark on the side of her neck. He’d bitten her again, this time hard enough to break the skin. “Lucian what are you? I know you’re not a witch or wizard, but you’re not just a man either. I can sense that much.”
Lucian sat up and drew her into his arms. “I’m going to tell you a story. Most would say it was just a myth, nothing true about it at all, but I think you will know better than that. The witch inside you will recognize the truth for what it is.”
He lightly rubbed her arms. “I’m what is known as a guardian. Guardians are responsible for the wellbeing of the mystical universe. It’s our duty to make sure that paranormal beings are able to live in harmony side by side with humans. We seek to maintain a balance between the two.” He hugged her tight and waited for her to absorb what he was saying.
When she didn’t ask any questions he continued. “Guardians are also the law enforcers of the paranormal world. Our mission is twofold. We protect humans by making sure they are not harmed by paranormal beings for any reason other than self-defense of course. We also protect paranormal beings by keeping their existence a secret from humans. Both of those goals require guardians to take out rouges that refuse to conform to the rules set in place by the council. After all those rules are in place to keep all living beings safe.”
This was a lot for Jessica to take in, but so far it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle. There was nothing wrong with law enforcement as a career, except for the danger of course. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t imagine anyone under Lucian’s protection getting hurt. “Maybe you should be in charge of the government’s witness protection program.” She gave him a lopsided grin. “All jokes aside, dispensing justice to other paranormal beings sounds dangerous.” She shuddered at just the thought.
Lucian shrugged. “Guardians were blessed by the gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt and we literally have nine lives. As long as our body isn’t burned to ashes or our head completely severed from our body, we can recover from anything else. And that comes in handy when you’re battling paranormal creatures consumed by evil, greed, blood lust, or any combination of the three.” He stopped when he heard the swift intake of breath from Jessica. He gave her time to process those words, so she could understand what was to follow.
“A minor Mesopotamian god created vampires, wolf shifters, and falcon shifters in a fit of rage and spite. A goddess worshiped by the ancient Egyptians wanted to make sure her loyal followers were protected from these strange new beings that would eventually procreate and increase in number. She was the goddess of justice and execution and was often depicted as having the head of a lion. She decided to create new beings of her own to serve as protectors. She chose the already revered and very useful domestic cat as her model. Other gods pitched in their mystical powers and guardians were the result.”
Jessica turned in his arms and looked at him really hard. She took in the dark stubble on his chin, his magnificent cat shaped eyes, and the rest of his heavily muscled, yet graceful body. “Are you trying to tell me you’re a cat shifter descended from these protectors?”
Lucian smiled. He loved the fact that Jessica was quickly taking everything in stride. She’d only learned of her magical ancestry hours ago, but there wasn’t an ounce of doubt in her voice. There were zero looks of disbelief on her face. It cemented what he already knew, she was the woman he’d been waiting for his entire long existence. “I am one of the original twenty cat shifters created by the ancient Egyptian goddess.”
“Umm, just how old are you?”
Lucian laughed at the comical look on her face. “I’m several centuries old, but don’t worry. I’m only on life number three.”
This time she completely turned around and sat up on her knees. “You don’t age. You still look thirty-five. I know enough about magic to know that it isn’t going to keep me alive for hundreds of years. I’ll die and then you’ll forget all about me.” A tear slipped from beneath tightly closed eyes.
“Oh honey, I will never forget you, even if I live another thousand years.”
That just made Jessica feel worse. “I don’t want to leave a hole in your heart after I’m gone either.”
He hugged her as hard as he could without causing harm. “As if I’d ever let you go, Jessica. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me now for eternity.”
Jessica’s head jerked up. “How? I’m not complaining, but I don’t understand.”
Lucian fingered the bite mark he’d deepened during their second bout of lovemaking. “Actually our saliva has special healing agents much like the blood of vampires. Ever since I bit you and injected some of my own saliva into your body it’s been working to internally heal any damage that might already be there. It all but stops your body’s aging process. Barring any catastrophic injuries you will live as long as I do. Over the centuries my kind has found that the bite only has to be repeated every month to continue the healing and anti-aging processes.”
Something he’d said earlier finally clicked. “Wait, there are vampires!”
Lucian laughed out loud before rolling over and completely covering her body with his. “My beautiful Jessica, I have so much to teach you about the paranormal world around you, but all of it can wait until tomorrow.”
Jessica totally agreed as she surrendered to her guardian’s loving caress.
Thank you, and I hope you had as much fun reading A GUARDIAN’S LOVING CARESS as I had writing it! Please feel free to visit my website irisabbott.com or my Facebook page Iris Abbott (author) for information on upcoming releases! I enjoy feedback from my readers. Please let me know what you’re thinking. I can be reached at [email protected]. Happy reading and remember brighten your day read a romance!
Table of Contents
IRIS ABBOTT
Books by Iris Abbott
Dedications
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX