Mad Panther (Alien Guardians of Earth Book 2)

by Donna McDonald

  Axel shrugged. “It was only a matter of time before someone discovered the truth. Three humans among us with matching breastplates and extraordinary abilities is too strange a coincidence to be ignored.”

  “Which is ironic considering how long it took Rodu, Lake, and me to accept the blades were real in the first place. Guess that kind of thing is easier for aliens.”

  Axel laughed. “I don’t think it has much to do with being Lyran or human. Marta has seen Father’s blade many times without questioning what it was until she saw that you and Lake possessed one as well. Caesar believes they are protective breastplates installed as part of a military experiment by one of those paramilitary groups. I’m not completely sure my parents didn’t tell Caesar that lie at some point.”

  Sugar sighed at the trouble. “Family has to be told, but we’ll have to come up with a better cover story before we find the fourth blade. I don’t think hiding the truth then is going to be possible. Do you think the other Lyrans suspect something as well?”

  Axel shook his head. “No, but if they did, any reasonable explanation would defer their curiosity. Most Lyrans are accustomed to strange anomalies among humans. Beyond that, they only concern themselves about when the queen’s next party is going to be. Her parties relieve the tedious responsibility and worry they endure from monitoring their section of humanity.”

  “Monitoring humanity? I don’t understand,” Sugar said, removing her arm from his.

  Axel smiled to reassure her. “Each Lyran watches over a portion of your world. They report anything that looks like a problem. It is intense work. Much play is needed to balance the responsibility. The upside is that they’ve seen nearly all the oddities you can imagine, including beast shifters, those with magic, and human scientists who misuse their knowledge.”

  Sugar rose to pace. None of what Axel had revealed made any sense to her. “If Lyrans know all there is to know about bad human behavior, why do you let bad things happen? You could stop us.”

  “Lyrans are not baby sitters nor are we teachers. We are guardians. Our job is to observe and to keep track. When things get out of balance, we help restore it.”

  Sugar thought about it. “I suppose I get that. Lyrans let humans learn from making their own mistakes.”

  “Within reason,” Axel added.

  She crossed her arms. “The sentient blades are waking up after tens of thousands of years. Doesn’t it make you wonder why?”

  “Not at first because I considered yours an anomaly. When I learned Father had one, I grew concerned. The boy is the one that I find most interesting. He’s so…”

  “Immature?” Sugar supplied.

  Axel laughed. “Yes—definitely immature, but as I recall, Father told me he was young too when his blade found him. Mother said it was several hundred years before he became as in control of the blade and himself as he is now. It just makes me wonder how long it will be before the boy matures into the power he’s been given.”

  “You’re concerned about Lake surviving. What about me?” Sugar demanded with a laugh.

  “Father said it took him a hundred years to complete the symbiosis process and hundreds more to learn to handle his gifts. You and your blade have achieved nearly seventy percent symbiosis in under one year. Plus, your warrior skills surpass mine. Truth be told, they surpass my father’s as well.”

  “Maybe it happened faster in my case because I’m female. Being a team player is more natural for a woman.”

  Axel snorted. “You jest but that could be some sort of truth.”

  Sugar laughed at the flattery. “Yes, I was jesting. I’m just…” she stopped, sighed, and then shrugged. “I think it’s because I’m not fighting the changes it brings. I’m going with the flow. In the end, this incredibly smart being in me tends to know the right things to do when it counts. Hosting the blade is the biggest adventure of my life, but also what I think I was meant to do.”

  “So who’s telling Gina about Father’s blade?”

  Sugar held out a hand. “All of us. I think all of us should tell her together. We just need to make sure we’re someplace private when we do.”

  19

  In the end, Nyomi made the surprising decision that it would be best for all the children to know about their father, including Caesar’s mate. The Lyran queen emptied the throne room of all others, had Axel and Gina do a search for spying technology, and then made Rodu sit on her throne because she felt it was the most comfortable seat from which to tell his story.

  The argument over whether or not he was going to sit there took nearly fifteen minutes, but Sugar didn’t mind the delay. It was highly entertaining to listen to Rodu and Nyomi fight over who was sitting in the fancy purple chair.

  She kept having to elbow Lake to keep him quiet. The idiot kept snickering, and Sugar could tell it was only a matter of time before the fool lost it and laughed aloud. Junior sure had a lot of growing up to do. She hoped he did it fast.

  When Rodu was finally settled on the Lyran throne, Nyomi seated herself in the chair next to him—the chair that Axel usually occupied. Sugar smiled and wondered if that seat was the second most comfortable one in the room.

  But unlike Lake, she knew enough to keep her amusement to herself.

  “Okay, Rodu. Tell your children the whole story of how we met,” Nyomi finally ordered.

  Sugar noticed Lake sobered as he heard Rodu explaining about the pyramid he was building collapsing in on him and how the blade called Rodu’s name. She watched Lake frown when he heard how the blade forced Rodu to leave his homeland and wander the world.

  Over the course of the half hour it took Rodu to explain and answer his children’s questions, the irreverent boy hosting the new Protector blade got replaced by a humbled man who finally seemed to be realizing that someone had lived through exactly what he was going through.

  When it was time for a show and tell, Lake put a hand on Sugar’s arm. “I know you said you were going to do it, but let me,” he said. “If I can’t change and return to myself without sleeping it off, we’ll never be able to leave here and feel safe. I don’t want you having to worry about looking after me when we visit my father’s house.”

  “You just came back to awareness after three months of forced recovery. Are you sure about risking this so soon?”

  “No. Hell, no,” Lake agreed with a smirk. “But I don’t want adapting to take a thousand years for me to learn. Rodu’s story convinced me. Let me convince his kids. Maybe Gina will forgive me in the process.”

  Sugar giggled low. “Convincing them about the blade is achievable, but I wouldn’t count on that last part with Gina.”

  “It’s worth a shot,” Lake joked.

  With a smile, Sugar gestured with a hand. “Go for it then. Take your shirt off.”

  “Why would I do that?” Lake asked with a laugh.

  Sugar patted his cheek. “Trust me, Junior. Touch the trident tip in the center of your chest when you’re ready to call your blade.”

  Her advice about taking off his shirt made him grin so he gave Sugar a thumbs up. He walked a fair distance from the throne, the queen, and all the royal family. Then Lake pulled off his shirt and threw it. Gina caught it reflexively, mostly to keep it from hitting her in the face.

  Lake winked at her glare and ducked his head, whispering to himself before he touched the center trident. “Listen—whatever you are. Let me stay awake this time, okay? I want to see what Gina says and does. This is important.”

  Affirmative was the one-word answer. Lake’s sigh of relief was brief and followed immediately by the same incredible pain he’d felt the night of the party.

  Don’t fight the pain. Go with it, he heard Sugar order loudly.

  Lake blew out his breath as he did his best to reduce the resistance he felt. What felt like a lightning shot from his heart area straight up through his throat until it exploded across his brain in a blue shower burst. He felt like his body had been plugged into an electrical socket. Th
ere was only one problem. He couldn’t control any part of himself in the process. He felt himself float free and move to a place where he could observe.

  “This is amazing progress,” the Protector blade announced as he lifted both his host’s hands to inspect them. He looked around the room before his gaze landed on the other like himself. “It has been so long since I found no resistance in a human. This is quite surprising.”

  Sugar patted Axel’s arm before walking out to face the being now in control of Lake.

  “Protector Lake, I assume?”

  “Yes. Greetings, Protector Sugar,” he said, bowing his head. “Host Lake is observing. It was his request to do so.”

  Sugar nodded. “That’s good. I believe he’s truly ready now to know what happens when you come forward.”

  “Symbiosis has reached twenty percent with his request,” Protector Lake reported with a nod of agreement.

  Sugar turned to see the children of Rodu staring in shock at them as they listened. She cleared her throat as she addressed them.

  “Your mother told me that you were all taught Ancient Earth History as part of your education. Your father, Lake, and I host three of Athena the Ancient’s sentient blades.”

  Like every good teacher, Sugar paused to let the information she shared be absorbed before continuing.

  “The blades say they have chosen us and they tell us we have chosen them as well. I don’t understand how the selection process works, but the more I connect to the blade I host inside me, their explanation of the symbiosis achieved resonates as the truth. I’ve been researching and looking for the blades for years. I was physically searching for my blade when I actually found it. I think it led me to do so.”

  Caesar stared at Sugar in shock. “But the sentient blades of Earth’s prehistory are mythical.”

  The bewildered son looked at his father who shook his head. Sugar smiled and answered for Rodu who still looked uncomfortable with having shared about the blades at all.

  “No, Caesar. Your father hosts a blade named the Destroyer. Lake and I host blades called Protectors. Turns out they’re not a myth and there’s a fourth blade called Creator that hasn’t surfaced yet.”

  Caesar nodded and frowned. “This is a bit of a shock… and yet it resonates as truth.”

  Sugar smiled at Axel’s brother. “Because it is the truth, Caesar. Based on how quickly both Protector blades have chosen hosts, I think we can assume the Creator blade’s awakening is pending in the near future. I have learned that many unethical human groups are seeking the blades. I’m hoping to find the last one before it chooses a host. ”

  “Is finding the still-unawakened fourth blade possible?” Nyomi asked.

  Sugar nodded. “I believe so. I’m close to learning its location.”

  “I can confirm your findings, Protector Sugar. It is indeed in Angkor Wat.”

  All eyes turned toward Lake and gave their attention to the being in control of him. All eyes except hers. Sugar danced a bit, and then gave a big, old fist pump. “Yes! My research was right.”

  She smiled widely at the Protector. “Can I ask how you’re so sure?”

  “Host Lake chose the Protector blade over the Creator blade. He was suitable for both.”

  Sugar was going to ask another question, but Gina, who’d said nothing so far, walked up to Protector Lake and stared into his eyes. When she pulled her gaze away, Axel’s brilliant sister examined Lake’s body like she’d never seen him before.

  Willing to let the scene before her play out as it would, Sugar inched her way backward until Axel’s embrace stopped her.

  “What’s happening?” Axel asked in a whisper.

  “Not sure yet,” Sugar replied. “Looks like the beginning of a fight though.”

  Sugar thought Axel’s sigh exasperated echoed loudly in the room, but no one seemed to notice except her.

  20

  Gina quietly approached the male body whose bed she’d shared for the last three months. Even in the all but unconscious state of his healing hibernation, Lake had been restless and thrashed all night. This creature—this creature addressing her now—this creature was not Lake Allen Wright.

  “Greetings, Gina of Rodu,” Protector Lake said softly.

  “Greetings,” Gina said softly back. “Are you still Lake Allen Wright?” She needed to hear a verbal denial to confirm her theory.

  “Yes. Lake is host to the Protector blade. Symbiosis is twenty percent and rising. Initial merge is now complete. Does this answer your queries, Gina of Rodu?”

  Gina stepped closer. “The night you helped save my father you were covered in blue.”

  “An energy shield is sometimes necessary to protect the host from harm,” he explained.

  Sugar’s eyes widened as blue energy strands suddenly exited what appeared to be thousands of tiny holes in Lake’s trident. The blue veil of energy they created soon covered his upper torso.

  “You can self-generate an etheric plasma shield,” Gina concluded as she moved her fingers through the blue and touched Lake’s chest. An unusual shiver shook her.

  “For protection, the energy veil is far superior to the use of external materials such as metals, alloys, or stone. Energy and frequency are generated by the host’s natural resonance. Only some humans are capable of such a generation. This is one of the keys of being able to host a blade.”

  “Are you saying that Lake is now both matter and not matter at the same time? That combined you’re now a being who exists in a constant state of flux?”

  “I am unsure of the answer Gina of Rodu seeks. Blades seek life. A host provides life. My host and I combine to become Protector Lake who is an enhanced species of human.”

  Gina gasped as her mind started rapidly assembling information. “Your creator converted matter into energy and thoughts into frequency. But where did she come up with what the proper combination of something that is both matter and not matter at the same time?” She pointed to the metal. “You are tangible and exist even though you seem able to change your form with ease.”

  “Athena mastered the extraction of transmutable etheric essences.”

  Gina caught her breath and stepped back. “Athena? Was she some sort of Goddess being?”

  “You use a human word that conveys someone you assume would elude all understanding. This is not the case. Athena was simply the creator. She was perfect love and perfect compassion in the finest being who ever existed.”

  Gina shook her head. She looked at her father, at Lake, and then her eyes met Sugar’s. “I need to think about this—all of this. I need to be alone.”

  Panic flared in her gut when Lake’s hand shot out to gently grip her arm and prevent her from fleeing. Only it wasn’t the human version of Lake touching her this time. It was the being inside him—a sentient blade who was in complete control of Lake’s body at the moment. She feared the created being in a way she had not feared the human male.

  Where had the real Lake gone?

  Once again Gina felt her body shiver with a level of awareness that made her very uncomfortable. She ordered herself not to yank free. She didn’t want to alarm the entity who currently possessed Lake. She also didn’t want to frighten the others by revealing her repulsion to the blade.

  She took a deep breath and forced her mind to calm. Perhaps she was mistaken in her understanding. Being wrong was not something she experienced often, but it did occasionally happen.

  Gina braced herself and stared at the creature who detained her. It turned into a glare when she didn’t see Lake’s typical smirk. “Do you actually understand the moral magnitude of what you just shared with me?”

  “Yes. I have consulted the blades which have awakened. All information is permitted to be shared with Gina of Rodu who has energy like the creator. We wish you to trust us.”

  Panic suddenly set in then no matter how much Gina fought it. Feeling human and vulnerable instead of Lyran and wise, Gina shoved Lake’s hand off her. “I can’t take t
his in yet. I’m still confused. Whoever or whatever you are, you are not Lake Allen Wright.”

  Protector Lake released his hold. “I am the host and the host is me. I regret causing you confusion, but your contemplation must wait. Now is not the time for thinking, Gina of Rodu. Your other help is needed.”

  Gina glared at the being controlling Lake’s body. “What kind of help?”

  Sugar reached out and put a hand on Gina’s shoulder. “We need a stealthy pilot to fly us to Lake’s father’s house. There are some papers there Lake needs to retrieve.”

  “Oh,” Gina said, still glaring in Lake’s direction. Could the entity read her thoughts? Could it feel her trepidation over helping? Her growing fear that the blades harbored terrible secrets?

  Gina looked at Sugar who seemed clueless about everything that was making Gina concerned or had Sugar’s entity had taken her over too? “Why do you think I am the correct person to provide you transport?”

  Sugar shrugged. “Axel said you were the best pilot at the palace. We need to land with stealth, conduct our search quickly, and get back here without alerting anyone who might want to dissect us. As you now know, someone with a cut-Sugar-open agenda always manages to find me when I leave the palace.”

  Gina’s startled gaze swung until it met the calm gaze of Protector Lake which was currently assessing her reaction. The real Lake didn’t know what the word calm meant. The actual Lake was restless and edgy and spoke nonsense. He reeked of testosterone and elevated male pheromones. He was a male perpetually in heat as most human males were at his youthful age.

  This calm entity was using Lake’s body to communicate through it, but it most definitely was not Lake. Was there some kind of timeline for complete possession to occur? Were the blades some sort of parasite that took over completely at some point? The thought alarmed her beyond what she was used to feeling in tense situations.

  “I regret your fear. There is no need to feel it. Neither my existence nor the existence of the other blades pose any threat to you or your people. A sentient blade is not a parasite, Gina of Rodu. Host Lake and I are one. We are,” he paused and sought the proper word, “partners.”