I approached him carefully.
“Kai?”
He looked at me. “He’ll live. I only got him in the leg. Your dad is fine. Just knocked on the head.”
I knelt down next to Dwayne’s filthy face and smelled his familiar manure breath. I whispered in his ear.
“We’re going to call the police. You will confess all of your crimes or I will feed you to the rose, too. Don’t think I can’t do it.”
There is more than one kind of Freedom. It can be white, red, yellow, and sunset colored. Today, I can feel them all.
THAT NIGHT, AFTER THE POLICE and the paramedics left, Kai and I found ourselves alone. My dad was fine. The paramedics checked him out and determined that he was okay but should spend the night at the hospital, just in case. I offered to go with him but he grumbled that it would be stupid.
“Just pick me up first thing in the morning.”
I agreed.
Dwayne told the police everything, leaving out the part about my mother. He told them that he was angry because he felt like I belonged to him, and that was why he did everything. Hopefully, he would spend a very long time in jail.
Kai collapsed on the couch, and I fell in next to him. He wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on my head. I was surprised by this show of affection, but then we had been through a lot.
“It’s finally over,” he said.
“Not quite,” I replied, though I hoped it would be over very soon.
He shifted. “What do you mean?”
“I still have to right my wrongs and I’m tired of being the Master Destroyer. It’s time for me to hand over the reins.”
He nodded and squeezed my hand. Just when he opened his mouth to speak, his phone buzzed. He held up a finger, then answered the phone.
“Hey Mom, how’s Ruth?”
He nodded a couple of times.
“How’s the baby?”
He nodded again.
“Okay, tell her I’ll come see her as soon as I can.”
“How is she?” I asked.
“Good. A little sad, but relieved that it’s over. She’s recovering well. The adoptive family is there with her.”
We both stood up. He looked down at me, his eyes sad.
“Do you think we’ll have our shot at a normal relationship now?” he asked.
He kissed me before I could answer. This kiss was different. He had no power now. Only I did. It carried none of the feelings that I once knew. There was no cinnamon or dark chocolate. No roaring waterfalls. Nothing that I associated with Kai. Even though I planned on giving him his power back, too much had changed.
He pulled away. Maybe he felt the nothingness too.
I sighed. “No, Kai, I don’t think we’ll ever get our chance at normal.”
He held me that night as we slept, but I knew that I would never kiss him again.
The next morning, he was gone by the time I woke up.
I showered and dressed carefully. Today would be a day of many decisions. With luck, tonight I would go to sleep as a Guardian once again. I planned on going out to my garden, but I found Kai and Frankie talking in the living room.
“Give it back,” Frankie growled the minute he saw me.
I sat down on the couch and tried to isolate his power. It wasn’t the warm sunny power of the Guardians whom Hayden and Romeo had killed. Frankie’s power would be dark and stormy. I had four Destroyers inside of me. It was difficult to find Frankie’s. Eventually, I settled on the one that tasted like cigarette smoke.
I motioned for him to sit down next me. I gripped both of his hands in mine.
“This might not work. I’ve never done this before.”
He didn’t say anything.
“This will also probably hurt. A lot.”
“Just get on with it.” His lined face looked tired and scared.
I concentrated with all my willpower to send the energy into him.
My hands burned and bubbled. The pain was worse than when I sent it into the ground. The man’s face contorted in pain and I knew he was feeling the same thing. After I sent his energy back into him, I pulled away, breathing hard. I looked down at my hands and then over at Kai. He couldn’t heal me anymore. I remembered that I had his energy inside of me. I concentrated very hard and thought, heal. I smelled aloe and heard a newborn baby cry. Then I looked down at my hands. The blisters were gone. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Frankie lay on the rug clutching his hands to his chest.
“I can fix that.”
His eyes were bloodshot.
“I think you’ve done enough.”
“No, really, I can make the pain go away. Look at my hands, they looked just like yours a second ago.”
He grimaced and held out his hands. I gripped them hard and thought, heal. As soon as I broke away, he was back on his feet, looking at his hands in wonder.
“Do you have your power back?” I asked, hoping against hope that it was the right power.
The man cocked his head for a second. “I think so, I need to try it out first.”
Kai walked over with a mad twinkle in his eye.
“Go ahead, old man, make me cry.”
The man smiled. Within seconds there were tears flowing down Kai’s face.
He wiped his eyes.
“Looks like it worked.”
The man waved as he walked out of the house.
“You okay?” asked Kai.
“Yes. I’m very tired though. But I’m going to get rid of all this extra energy today. Before Jason gets here, I want to get rid of Romeo and Hayden. And give you your power back, too.”
He smiled for a second. “Let’s go feed that wicked rose of yours.”
It didn’t take much out of me to push them into the rose. The plant seemed eager to receive more. I had a few minor Guardians’ energy floating around that I didn’t want to feed to the Destroyer rose. I had a better place for them.
“That is a wicked rose,” said Kai.
“Yes, it is. Someone will need to keep a close eye on it.”
“You don’t plan on staying here?”
“No, I belong in Vegas with Ginny.” I hesitated for a second. “And Puck.” If he would have me.
Kai nodded and turned back to the purple rosebush. “Ruth would love to see this; do you think I could show it to her?”
“On one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You tell her how you feel.”
He hesitated. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I looked deep into his eyes and saw relief. He wrapped me in a bear hug. He felt so weird without his power.
“I’m exhausted. Can you go get my dad while I sleep for a bit?”
He nodded.
As soon as he left, I collapsed into bed.
Naomi + Kaiser Wilhelm = Love Story
FOR SOME REASON, the Master Destroyer energy was far easier to give away than other Destroyer power. My skin barely tingled. Jason was glad to receive the power. He promised to keep the balance, but told us he probably wouldn’t keep in touch. He also told me to tell Puck to mind his own business. I laughed and gave him a hug. It was a huge relief to finally be rid of that power. After that, all I had left within me was Guardian energy.
My dad was next. His energy was weak, because my mother had siphoned off so much of it.
“Dad, I need someone strong to keep my Destroyer rose at bay. You said that you tended to the roses with Grandma. Can you handle that rose?”
He hesitated.
“I don’t know. You know I’m weak.”
“I have the energy from three minor Guardians within me that I don’t need. I’m going to give them to you, if you agree to be the Guardian of the rose.”
My dad’s eyes welled up with tears and he smiled.
“Thank you.”
I took his weathered hands in mine. The Guardian energy flowed differently than Destroyer energy. It didn’t hurt at all. It was bright and warm like the sun. When
I was finished, my dad leaned back, closed his eyes and smiled.
I didn’t feel right keeping Alejandro inside of me. I took a cutting of my Don Juan, put it into a small pot, and fed Alejandro’s energy to the plant. Immediately, the cutting sprouted two more stalks and three buds bloomed. I inhaled; they smelled just like him. I’d give this to Ginny when I got home.
Now it was down to Kai and myself.
Kai came in a few minutes later. “I’m getting ready to go.”
“Where?”
He grinned. “Florida.”
“You gonna tell her?”
He blushed. “Probably.”
“Well, then, we have some business to attend to. Give me your hands.”
He shook his head.
“I don’t want it back. The last three years, I’ve seen more than I wanted of both Guardians and Destroyers. Ruth knows nothing of this world. I just want to have a normal life. I can’t have that if I’m still a Guardian. Call me a coward, but I’m done. You can keep it.”
“Are you sure?”
I took his hands in mine. He looked deep into my eyes.
“Positive.”
“Okay then. If you ever want it back, you can come get it.”
He nodded.
“Thank you.”
He kissed me on the cheek and then left. I hoped he would make Ruth happy. Then I realized I was done.
I called out after him. “Wait. Can I come to the airport with you? I need to get out of here.”
Naomi + Tuscany Superb = Soul Mate
I LANDED IN VEGAS SOME HOURS LATER. I made a few phone calls while at the airport, then took a cab into the mountains. Ginny answered the door. She looked tired and was starting to show.
“Welcome home.” I hugged her, then handed her the plant.
She sniffed it and tears came to her eyes.
“It smells like him.”
“Yeah. It’s part of him. I can’t explain it, but that flower will never belong to anyone but you.”
She wiped away a tear. “I hope I don’t kill it.”
“I won’t let you.” I smiled.
Sunday came barreling down the hall, barefoot and dripping wet, in a teeny bikini, a sopping wet cat chasing after her.
She flung her arms around me. “Welcome home.”
I looked down at her.
“Why are you all wet?”
“I’ve been in the pool. Do you wanna come swimming with us?”
“Us?”
“The cat follows her everywhere, including into the pool.” She looked down her nose at Sunday. “You take your skinny butt back outside. You are getting water everywhere. Naomi needs to see Puck first.”
Sunday grinned and ran back down the hall, the cat slipping and sliding behind her.
“Where is he?” I asked.
She pointed upstairs. “Second door on the left.”
“You didn’t tell him I was coming, did you?”
She shook her head.
I walked slowly up the stairs, still not sure what I would say to him.
I knocked on the door.
“It’s all right, Ginny, you can come in,” he yelled.
He was working on something at his desk, and he didn’t turn around right away. He wore a black t-shirt and loose black shorts. His hair was cut short, but spiked and tipped with a brilliant blue. It took every ounce of self-control to not run up and wrap my arms around him.
“What’s up?” he asked, turning around.
I looked into his piercing blue eyes and smiled. I didn’t know if he was still mad or not. I didn’t know if I was going to have to work to win his love back, or if he had just spoken in anger. I waited, hoping that it was the latter.
He paused for only a half second before he raced for me. He wrapped me in a massive hug and didn’t let go.
He buried his face in my hair and whispered in my ear, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean anything I said.”
I pulled back a little. “I’m sorry, too.”
“Can I kiss you?” he asked. I couldn’t believe he thought I might actually say no.
I answered for him, gently kissing him on the lips. The kiss was electric and real and alive, tasting of sugar cookies, smelling of coconuts, and full of visions of sunsets on the beach. It was a true Guardian’s kiss. After a few minutes, he pulled away.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Long story or short?”
“Short, for now, you can tell me the long one later.”
“My mother is dead, my father is safe, Jason is the Master Destroyer, and I choose you.”
Copyright © 2015 by Kimberly Loth
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced in any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical without express permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues, in the is book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead is completely coincidental.
Cover design by Robin Ludwig
For my mom
For supporting me, no matter what
Sunday
They say that someday the desert will blossom like a rose. Roses don’t bloom in the desert, but cacti sure do. They bloom at different times of the year and can be just as fragrant as a rose blossom. But to me, they are prettier and more exotic than any rose will ever be.
THE KISS WAS EVERYTHING A GUARDIAN’S KISS should be. Full of dark chocolate and roaring ocean waves. The Guardian himself wasn’t bad-looking either. He had deep brown eyes and rock hard abs. He wrapped his hands around my waist and leaned into me for a deeper kiss. It tasted so good. And he smelled amazing. Sunscreen, with a hint of chlorine. He smelled like summertime. I might have moaned a little bit.
But his name escaped me. Johnny. Jack. J-something. It was so freaking embarrassing and distracting. I couldn’t really enjoy the kiss when I knew I would humiliate myself afterwards, when he would offer to give me his number, the way they all did. Hopefully he wouldn’t notice I couldn’t remember his name. His number would just be deleted later, but still, I didn’t want word getting around that I couldn’t even remember names. My reputation was bad enough as it was.
“Sunday?” Ginny called.
I pulled away and the boy smiled at me. Perhaps Ginny could rescue me from this.
“I should probably go,” I said and turned to escape around the side of the greenhouse towards the pool, where I knew Ginny would be waiting. Probably with a scowl on her face.
“Wait,” he said and grabbed my hand. I turned and looked back at him, which was a mistake. I was such a sucker for pretty faces and this boy had the prettiest deep brown eyes. It didn’t help that he was a total sweetheart. What was his name?
I had to think fast because I’d already stepped back onto the path and the stones burned my bare feet. I smiled at him and took a few steps backwards. He didn’t let go and walked with me.
“Look, Sunday, I know you don’t normally do this, but I really like you. Maybe we can go catch a movie later or something.” How sweet. He thought this was going somewhere.
“I’d like to, but I don’t think that’s a good idea. Puck says I’m not allowed to date you guys.” For once, I was grateful for Puck’s stupid rules.
“Sunday!” Ginny called again. If I didn’t get out there soon, she’d come looking for me and I didn’t want her to catch me hiding behind the greenhouse with a shirtless boy. We’d been swimming, so the shirtless was somewhat appropriate, but it still didn’t look good.
“What do you call this? Doesn’t Puck have issues with you kissing us?” Damn he looked hot. Those abs.
Concentrate.
I shrugged and tried to back up again. My feet were killing me. “He doesn’t know. If he did
, we’d both be in trouble.”
He tugged at my hand and pulled me closer to him, into the shade. I was so relieved that I didn’t register how close we were.
“Then at least promise to meet me again. Please.”
He planted his lips on mine and without thinking I wrapped my arms around his neck. Oh, heaven.
I heard the toe tapping first. Ginny was good at that, but I couldn’t bring myself to untangle from that sweet boy.
“Sunday, why don’t you introduce me to your friend?”
I jumped away from him; J-something at least had the wherewithal to look guilty.
“Sorry,” I muttered.
“I didn’t ask for an apology, I asked for an introduction.”
Now, if the boy was smart, he’d introduce himself. But of course he wasn’t one of the smart or suave ones. Hot. But dumb.
“Ginny, this is one of Puck’s Minor Guardians. He was swimming with me and we found that we liked each other’s company.”
She smirked. Ugh, she knew.
“And his name is?”
I held her gaze. I never backed down from a fight, but my cheeks reddened. “I can’t remember.”
Then I looked at him, because I owed him that much. His easy smile turned into a frown. He stormed off without saying a word. I still couldn’t remember his name.
I picked up my cat, Lincoln. His patchy fur scratched my bare skin. He’d been nudging me since before Ginny arrived. He didn’t like confrontation and he knew it was coming. I patted his head and looked at Ginny, waiting for her lecture.
“Sunday, this is the fourth boy that I’ve caught you with behind the greenhouse. This needs to stop.”
I dropped my gaze. Four wasn’t actually that bad. I didn’t even know how many boys I really kissed behind the greenhouse. It’d been three years since Naomi rescued me from my wretched Destroyer father. At first I wasn’t sure about the boys, but they spent a lot of time hanging around Puck’s place, especially by the pool, and after a year or so I’d nearly forgotten what it was like to be holed up in a house with Destroyers instead of Guardians.
The Thorn Chronicles-Books 1-4: Kissed, Destroyed, Secrets, and Lies Page 44