I blushed violently as the room was called to order. The meeting passed with little excitement. There were interviews conducted of all of the Guardians. They pretty much regurgitated one another’s story. It was utterly boring. I had gotten absolutely no useful information from any of it. As we were released, the head of the Council smiled down at me.
“What’s her name?" I asked Kennan.
“That’s Isadora," Kennan said with a knowing look.
“Wait. That’s what my dad wanted to name me," I said, looking back over my shoulder.
“Yeah, well she knew your family quite well. She was very close to your mother. She helped to put your parents into hiding," Kennan said, barely above a whisper.
“So she is definitely on team good guy then?" I asked as we made our way back toward our room.
“Yeah, definitely team good guy. But right now all I really want to talk about is what is hiding under those clothes," Kennan growled causing me to giggle.
He chased me into the room and I squealed as he tackled me to the bed. He went about having his naughty way with me. Not that I put up too much of a fight. I quite liked it.
**********
We spent the next few days in and out of meetings. I never gleaned any useful information from them. I considered it to be an exercise in self-control. I had a hard time keeping my hands off of Kennan, and the meetings seemed to cool my engines enough to make me focus.
Kennan was able to pull me out of all of my dreams and I had started to sleep well for the first time in ages. It seemed like his presence was scaring off whatever was haunting my dreams. By the seventh night, I didn’t have any nightmares.
“Nightmare free," I said in wonder when we woke that morning.
“Thank the gods," Kennan breathed. “I don’t know how you survived them as long as you did, Izzy. Just seven nights of that was horrifying.”
“Well, I had someone worth holding on for," I mumbled into his chest. “Hey, I have a question for you.”
“Well, enlighten me. What would you like to ask from your very handsome, very giving Guardian?" Kennan preened while I smacked him in the chest.
“I wanted to know if we could give the house to Molly and Ian. I don’t really want to go back there. There are too many memories there. I was thinking maybe we could relocate," I said hopefully. It was something I’d been thinking of for a long time.
“Sure, I have no particular attachment to Chicago. Well, other than you of course. The bar is doing really well, so I feel fine leaving it in Marky’s capable hands."
“Wait, what? Do you own that bar?" I asked, confused.
“Oh, yeah, I own the bar. So there is that. I own a few businesses. I’ve been around for an exceedingly long time, Izzy. So, just tell me where you want to move and I will make it happen.”
“Um, are you rich?" I asked, wondering why it hadn’t occurred to me before.
“We’re not hurting for money," he said as he ran his hand up and down my side.
“So, you’re rich," I corrected.
“Nope, we are," he said not bothering to open his eyes.
“What is with this 'we' business?" I asked, starting to get frustrated.
“Oh, you’re going to marry me," he said.
“Oh, I am, am I? This is news to me. You’re awfully sure of yourself there buster," I said, glaring at him.
“Hmm, did you say something? I was thinking a fall wedding would be nice," he continued like I was not even there.
“Fine, but let me be absolutely clear on one thing. I’m not ready for the 2.5 kids yet and I’m not sold on the whole picket fence thing," I sighed. I knew fighting him would be futile and in the end, I really didn’t want to. He was everything I had ever wanted.
“The 2.5 kids can wait and the picket fence is completely negotiable. So where are we going to be raising these hellions anyway? You said you wanted to move.”
“I’m thinking I want to go back down to L.A.”
“I think that would be perfect. I know just the town. It is quiet and small and no one will bother us down there. Plus it is an easy drive to the beach.”
“So where are we going K.O.?" I asked as I climbed over him to straddle his body.
“We are moving you back to Geneva. Alabama," he said as I began to ride him. “So, does that suit you, Mrs. O’Malley.”
“Not Mrs. O’Malley yet," I sighed as I surrendered to his primal needs.
**********
We left the Council headquarters, assuring Molly that she and Ian could have the house free and clear. I promised to sign the deed over as soon as we were settled. I also had to promise Molly that there were two separate rooms. I had a feeling she would be installing extra locks on her bedroom door. We had a tearful goodbye and I knew that I would miss my friends.
These people had been more faithful to me than I had ever deserved. Just as we headed out to the car Isadora approached us. She pulled me into a hug, which utterly confused me. This woman was as distant as they came. She bent over my ear and whispered, “They are still watching you, be careful my dear. If you see anything or you have any fears you call me directly. Trust no one but the ones you do now."
She pulled back and placed a small piece of paper in my hand. She hugged Kennan next. “You guard her and keep her."
She nodded at us before quickly disappearing.
“Well that was odd," I said, not sure what to make of the whole situation.
“Yep, but she is like two hundred and fifty years old, so that is to be expected. She sees a lot," Kennan said.
“Wait, what? Am I going to live to be that old?" I asked, suddenly terrified. I hadn’t thought to ask if we lived longer.
“Oh yeah, did I not mention that bit. Some Seers have lived to be almost 300 years old," he said as he ducked into the car to avoid my fury.
“Really, really Kennan? Is there anything else I’m missing out on? Will I spout wings and fly soon?" I asked as I climbed in the car.
“I love you?" he said with a smile.
“Just drive," I said, wanting to put the past few months as far behind me as possible.
As the Council building slipped away in the rearview mirror, I knew that I was finally safe once more. I had a wedding to look forward to and a really long life with Kennan. I wondered if I would kill him before I turned two hundred. As I looked over at him I decided that three hundred years probably wouldn’t be enough.
**********
EPILOGUE
The days had grown sticky and hot as the summer set in. The temperatures had soared into the hundreds with the humidity hanging out at around 100 percent. I loved every glorious second of it. I looked around my house and knew that I was exactly where I was meant to be. My time spent in that awful lab and at the Council was a fading memory.
I looked over at Kennan lying in bed and I realized how grateful I was for everything that had brought us together. We’d been here for almost six months and I still could not get enough of him.
“What are you thinking?" Kennan asked.
“I’m thinking how lucky I am. I sure do love you. You know that right?”
“I should hope so. Now get back in bed so that we can get some sleep. You wore me out today," he said with a snicker.
“Whatever, cake tasting is not hard work," I said as I smacked his chest.
I climbed in the bed and curled into his body. I allowed the peace and comfort to pull me into a deep sleep.
**********
I was in the forest again and the wolves were tracking me. They could smell my fear. I knew they were coming. I saw Xavier in the background, smiling in his maliciously cold way. I tried to run from him, but every direction was blocked by the wolves. I remembered the way their teeth had gnashed at me and torn my skin from my bones. It was something that I would never forget.
I looked for an escape and saw the only way out was through Xavier. I tried to remember that he was not real. I tried to remember that he was dead. I tried to control the dreaming.
I heard him laugh coldly. “Oh, Little One. You sweet naïve thing. They’re coming for all of you," he said as the blood started to pour from his neck wound.
“I wasn’t the only one," he said before fading into the fog.
As soon as he was gone the wolves pounced and I cried out.
**********
I was pulled out of my dream by my own scream. I looked over to find Kennan staring down at me worriedly. I had so hoped for a little peace. I had hoped that I could bask in my happiness with Kennan, but I knew that once again, my hopes had been denied.
I looked at him with tear filled eyes and said, “It isn’t over.”
The End
Michelle Graves is a self-proclaimed nomad, moving every two to three years with her husband the Army man, her beautiful daughter, and a fat, tailless cat named Torri. When she is not writing away, trying to purge her mind of yapping characters, Michelle can be found entertaining her daughter, attempting to craft (and trying not to injure herself with the glue gun), baking yummy treats, or reading. She admits to having a restless spirit, and forces her family to go out on adventures whenever possible. They lovingly play along. If you want to find out more about Michelle, be sure to check out her facebook page https://www.facebook.com/mgraveswrites or her blog https://michellegraveswrites.blogspot.com/.
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