The Guardians (MORE Trilogy)

by Franklin, T. M.

  “I did try.” Ava was more than a little annoyed at his superior attitude. “What is wrong with you?”

  Caleb threw his head back, rubbing his hands over his face before he stalked a few steps away from her.

  Ava watched him warily. “Caleb?”

  He looked back over his shoulder, but didn’t meet her eyes.

  “What is it?” she asked, her irritation vanishing as concern twisted in her stomach. “What’s wrong?”

  He shook his head slightly, as if to clear it, and turned to walk back to her. He reached out to touch her cheek gently. “I’m sorry. I . . . I’m just tired. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

  Ava took a step closer, sliding her hands under his coat and gripping his shirt as her anger evaporated. “Maybe we should head back? So you can get some rest?” She hoped he’d argue the point, but Caleb only nodded sadly.

  “Yeah . . . yeah.” He pulled her close and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I’ll take you home.”

  Ava clung to him as he shifted them back to campus, held his hand as he walked her back to her dorm, and tried to ignore the uneasy feeling that something was very, very wrong.

  Late that night, the ringing of a phone roused the occupant of a lavish home in New Elysia, the Race city hidden on a mountain about fifty miles from Kalispell, Montana. With a groan, the man disentangled himself from the naked limbs of his bedmate, who rolled over, taking the sheets with her as he fumbled for the phone.

  “Yes?”

  “He’s back at Allenmore,” a familiar voice reported.

  “Any problems?”

  “None. Everything went according to plan.”

  “Good, that’s good.” The man swung his legs over the side of the bed, leaned forward onto his knees as he yawned, and scrubbed a hand over his face. “What about the girl?”

  “No change.”

  The man stood and padded quietly out of the bedroom and down the hall, crossing the darkened living room to pour himself a drink at the bar. “We will have to help that situation along, it appears. What of the Protectors?”

  “No indication they were aware of our presence,” the voice said, a hint of smug satisfaction in his tone.

  “Don’t underestimate the Ross siblings.” The man took a gulp of his whiskey and winced as it burned on the way down. “Tell your men to watch themselves.”

  “They always do, sir.” He cleared his throat. “So what’s next?”

  The man sighed, years of planning weighing down his shoulders. They’d come so far, their goal finally within reach, but the timing of all of this was crucial. Any mistakes could be devastating.

  “We proceed according to the timetable,” he said. “I want daily updates on Foster. No one makes a move until all the pieces are in place, understood?”

  “What about Elias?”

  Elias. A critical piece of the puzzle.

  “Protectors are closing in on him as we speak. He should be in Council custody within the week.” He finished his whiskey and sucked on an ice cube before letting it drop back into the glass. “I don’t have to tell you what’s riding on all of this.”

  “No, sir.”

  “Don’t let me down.” He hung up without another word and crossed to the window, looking out at the darkness.

  His home sat on a slight rise overlooking New Elysia, and his gaze flitted over the sleeping city, drawn to a light here and there. He wondered if the people below realized that their lives were about to change. That their whole world was about to change.

  No. No, they have no idea.

  But one day very soon they would, and they would no doubt thank him for it. He closed the curtain, smiling at the thought, and turned to head back to the bedroom, leaving his empty whiskey glass on the hall table.

  He still had a few hours to sleep. The sleep of the righteous.

  And then, with the morning sun, he’d get back to work.

  Ava sat up in bed, unsure of what had awakened her, but unable to shake an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She’d had an odd dream but couldn’t recall the details of it, only fleeting glimpses of familiar faces—Caleb, Madeleine, Tiernan—and a sensation of running and panic.

  She shuddered, drawing the blankets up over her shoulders as she hugged her knees. She hadn’t had such dreams in months—not since the psychic block crumbled at the Rogue lair—and had assumed that the dreams were a result of her Race instincts trying to get her attention. Once she’d connected with them more fully, the dreams had disappeared, but for some reason those instincts seemed to be on high alert recently.

  Ava glanced at Lucy’s bed, hoping she hadn’t disturbed her, but her roommate lay huddled under the blankets, breathing evenly. Ava slipped out of bed and made her way to the window to peer through the blinds. It only took a moment for her to spot Katherine standing in the shadow of some trees.

  Although different Protectors appeared throughout the day, including Tiernan, on occasion, Katherine generally preferred the night shift. It amplified her gift—an unusually strong Veil that could render her nearly invisible to humans, as well as most Race when she wanted—but Ava was always able to see her clearly, something that both irritated and impressed Katherine.

  The Protector looked up, obviously feeling Ava’s presence, and waved a hand in greeting. Ava rolled her eyes but waved back before letting the blinds close. She turned to go back to bed and stopped abruptly, that uneasy feeling suddenly growing stronger. She closed her eyes and focused her thoughts, reaching out with her Race gift. She could feel Katherine clearly, but there was also something more.

  Someone . . . more.

  Ava slipped back to the window, parting the blinds enough to peer through. Katherine looked up again and tilted her head in question, obviously wondering what her charge was doing. Ava ignored her, heart pounding as she searched the shadows for whatever—whoever—had triggered her instincts. Her power sparked as she narrowed her eyes, looking deeper, farther—into each dim doorway and along each shadowed corner.

  Just like that, the feeling evaporated, and the only Race presence she felt was Katherine’s.

  Ava blinked in surprise, reaching out again in a fleeting attempt to recapture the sensation, but it eluded her like water trickling through her fingers. She looked down at Katherine, but the Protector was thumbing through her phone, seemingly unperturbed. Obviously, if there was someone out there, it was someone who didn’t overly worry Katherine.

  Ava frowned.

  She had been on edge lately, nervous, and she couldn’t figure out why. Her encounter with Caleb earlier had left her uneasy, verging on paranoid. He’d seemed off somehow, like something was bothering him, but when she had questioned him about it, he’d simply said he was tired and she was reading too much into his foul temper. Combined with the return of her strange dreams and whatever had just happened, Ava felt off-kilter.

  She sighed and got back into bed, pulling the covers over her head. Perhaps she was being paranoid. Sure, the Rogues were out there, and the Council still wasn’t convinced she wasn’t a threat, but she had Caleb watching her back—and Protectors as well. Not to mention that if she’d proven anything lately, it was that she could take care of herself.

  She wasn’t writing off her instincts yet, though. Caleb had told her time and time again to trust them, that they had the potential to save her life. But until she could figure out what they were trying to tell her, Ava decided she’d keep her concerns to herself. There was no point in panicking until there was something to actually panic about.

  One last time, Ava closed her eyes and searched for that unknown presence, just to be sure.

  Nothing.

  Well, if there was someone out there, Ava would be on the lookout for him. Until then, she had to get some sleep. She had an English quiz in the morning and a full shift at the diner after. On top of all of that, spring break drew closer with every passing hour and she still hadn’t told her mother she wasn’t coming home.

 
Tomorrow. Definitely tomorrow. Everything can wait until then.

  Chapter 4

  Other than a few texts on Friday, Caleb didn’t hear from Ava again until Saturday evening, when he showed up to walk her home after a shift at the diner. She was tired, so he didn’t linger, simply kissing her softly before she turned to walk into her dorm. She flashed him a quick smile as the door shut behind her, and he sighed when he lost sight of her, ignoring Katherine, who stood off in a cluster of trees, playing with her phone. He wasn’t sure he was handling the situation with Ava well at all.

  He’d tried to warn her about the bond, but it was difficult to explain if you’d never witnessed it in person, never seen both sides, as he had. Not many had because once bonded, it was rare for the two partners to be separated, except by death. Which, of course, dissolved the bond and, in a strange twist of fate, made the separation a bit more tolerable.

  But to be torn from your bonded mate while still alive? Well, Caleb was one of the few with intimate knowledge of the pain that could cause. Did cause. Still caused, actually.

  He had no doubt that Ava was the one for him, but he was determined that she understand what she was getting into, and that would take some time and unfortunately, a little chat with his mother. He knew it would be uncomfortable for Ava, to say the least, but Madeleine Foster could probably explain things better than anyone. Still, it was not something he was looking forward to bringing up with his mother. She would no doubt have her own opinions about Caleb’s relationship and his plans for the future.

  That was what happened when your mother was the leader of the Council and your girlfriend was number one on the Council’s watch list. So, yeah. It was complicated.

  He heard Ava enter her dorm room and call out a hello to Lucy, and he turned to walk away, shuffling a bit on the gravel path. Before he could think better of it, he angled toward Katherine, who kept her eyes on her phone until he cleared his throat to get her attention.

  “Oh,” she said with a wide-eyed blink. “Hello, Caleb. Fancy meeting you here.”

  “Katherine,” he replied with a nod. “You seem to be pulling Ava duty quite a lot lately.”

  She shrugged, not denying it. “Tiernan’s on another assignment.”

  “Really?”

  “Very hush-hush. He won’t even tell me what it’s about.”

  “Interesting.” Caleb leaned against a tree and crossed his arms over his chest. “So the Council’s found something more important that Ava. Strange that I haven’t heard a whisper.” Not that his mother discussed Council business with him, but Caleb had contacts in a lot of places, and he usually knew when something was up.

  Katherine raised a perfect brow. “Don’t look at me. I’m as in the dark as you are.”

  “I’m getting a little tired of being in the dark,” Caleb snapped. “The Council needs to remember that it acts for the Race, not the other way around.”

  “Big talk, Protector,” Katherine said with smirk. “Better be careful, or you’ll be labeled a radical. Or worse yet, a revolutionary.”

  “Well, maybe it’s time someone stirred the pot a little.” Caleb straightened and kicked a rock. It pinged off a series of trees and disappeared around the corner of a building.

  “That doesn’t sound like you.” Katherine pocketed her phone and peered at Caleb curiously. “I mean, I’ve heard rumors of you and the Guardians . . .”

  “Like that’s a big secret.”

  “But bad-mouthing Mommy and the Council?” Katherine snickered at Caleb’s dark look. She’d always loved getting under his skin. “I’m just saying it’s refreshing to hear you thinking for yourself, that’s all. Maybe the girl’s been a good influence on you.”

  “Ava doesn’t have anything to do with it.” He leaned in, his eyes glittering in the darkness. “Hasn’t it ever irked you, Katherine? We’re the most powerful beings on this planet, and we’re relegated to . . . to chauffeur duties and babysitting. Doesn’t it seem like our time could be better spent elsewhere?”

  Katherine stared at him, eyes wide with surprise at the underlying vehemence in his voice.

  “We’re supposed to be Protectors. From whom? It seems a bit ridiculous, is all. Half-Breeds are some horrible threat? Or maybe the humans? I’m not sure I see it.”

  “Caleb, what are you talking about?” Katherine whispered as she glanced over her shoulder, suddenly nervous. “You can’t say things like that.”

  Caleb opened his mouth to respond, but after a moment, shook his head, letting out a self-deprecating laugh. “Sorry. Ignore me,” he said. “I’m just tired. Need a few cubes and a good night’s sleep, I think.”

  Katherine let out a quiet breath, all teasing gone. “That’s probably a good idea.”

  He forced a smile. “Yeah . . . yeah. Forget I said anything. I don’t know what’s gotten into me lately.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Katherine replied. “You know I won’t mention it again.”

  Caleb turned to leave, but stopped when she touched his arm.

  “Be careful, Caleb. You of all people should know you don’t want to end up in the Council’s crosshairs.”

  He nodded, but his jaw was tense, and he didn’t meet her eyes. “It’s fine. I’m fine. I’ll see you later, Katherine.” She released him, and he walked away through the trees, a little embarrassed at his outburst.

  It was true that he’d been feeling jerked around by the Council lately, but that was really nothing new. The Council had always operated on a need-to-know basis when it came to the Protectors, and he’d never had a problem with it before. Caleb had always taken his responsibilities as a Protector seriously, and even when working with the Guardians, only did so because he thought he was doing the right thing—for his people, as well as the humans and Half-Breeds. For a moment when talking with Katherine, however, he’d felt an unfamiliar irritation . . . a frustration with his role in Race society, and he wasn’t sure why.

  He pulled a couple of R-cubes from his pocket and chewed them thoughtfully. He really wasn’t in the mood for walking. A quick shift home and some sleep, and everything would make more sense in the morning.

  Ava flipped through her notes, but she could feel Lucy watching her—again—and didn’t need her Race senses to know something was on her mind. She looked up, only to have Lucy drop her eyes immediately to the book Ava knew she wasn’t really reading.

  “What?” she asked.

  Lucy blinked innocently. “Hmm?”

  If she hadn’t known her so well, Ava might have bought it. “Don’t ‘hmm’ me,” Ava said, slapping her textbook shut and shoving her notes aside. “You’ve got something on your mind. Out with it.”

  Lucy bit her lip, eyeing her roommate nervously. “It’s just . . . I’m not sure if I should say anything.”

  “About?”

  Lucy pushed her books aside and crossed the room to sit cross-legged next to Ava. After a moment, she reached out to squeeze Ava’s hand, a sad and almost pitying look on her face.

  “Okay, now you’re freaking me out,” Ava said, forcing a laugh.

  “Sorry.” Lucy winced, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she took a deep breath. “Okay, it’s about Caleb.”

  Of all the things Ava had imagined, that wasn’t one of them. “What about Caleb?”

  “How . . . serious are you guys?”

  Ava wasn’t even certain how to answer that question. Sure, she knew how she felt about Caleb, and she was pretty sure she knew how he felt about her. But it was complicated. They seemed stalled in a way, especially after their recent conversation about the bond. Ava avoided thinking about it because part of her didn’t know what it meant, and part of her was worried about what it could mean.

  “We’re pretty serious, I guess.”

  “You guess?” Lucy squeezed her hand again.

  Ava felt the urge to tell her everything. She couldn’t, of course. That would put Lucy’s life in danger, not to mention her own and probably Caleb’s as well. But s
he could talk to her about some of it. The normal stuff. The boy-girl stuff. Maybe if she left out all the supernatural, life-threatening parts. After all, Lucy was her best friend. And she did have more experience with guys than Ava did. A lot more.

  “I love him,” she said quietly, the words foreign on her tongue, though she’d thought them plenty of times.

  “Yeah, that part’s pretty obvious.” She scooted next to Ava and put her free arm around her shoulders. “And?”

  “And . . . it’s good. It’s really good.” Ava said, not meeting her eyes.

  “But?”

  Ava glanced at her sidelong. “You sound like a Schoolhouse Rock song.” At Lucy’s blank look, she sang tunelessly, “Conjunction Junction, what’s your function? I swear, Luce, your childhood was sorely lacking.”

  Lucy smiled but didn’t let her off the hook. “But?”

  “But,” Ava said and sighed. “I’m just not sure where it’s going. He’s holding back.”

  “How do you mean?”

  Ava gave her a significant look, and Lucy gasped, her eyes widening as her mouth formed an astonished O.

  “You mean you haven’t?”

  Ava shook her head, her face hot.

  “But you’ve been together for months!”

  Ava shrugged. “We’re taking it slow.”

  “Well, that’s . . . fine.” Lucy patted her hand. “I mean, there’s nothing wrong with taking your time.”

  “There’s not, right?”

  “Of course not.” Lucy fidgeted a bit then exhaled heavily. Her words flowed out in a rush. “It’s just, I saw him—Caleb, I mean. Although who else would I be talking about, right?” She laughed nervously.

  “And?” Ava wasn’t sure where this was going, but she had a feeling it wasn’t good.

  “And he wasn’t alone.” The words came out in a final rush. “Hewaswithawoman.”

  “What?”

  “I mean, it doesn’t mean anything, right?” Lucy sounded as if she were set on high speed. She didn’t even pause for breath as the words rushed out of her mouth in a torrent. “They were only talking. And I don’t want to make it seem like a big deal, but I saw them, and I kind of waved, but he looked a little upset that I did—”