The Goddess and The Guardians Boxset: The Complete Romantic Fantasy Quartet

by Karen Tomlinson

  Hugo. She wondered how he had managed to give her enough energy to keep her grounded, why he had done it. Now she knew he also had magic while living in a kingdom that abhorred it. Does that make him a hypocrite or a born survivor? she wondered.

  When she opened her eyes again it was nearly dark. Tom had disappeared. Typical. Diamond shuffled uncomfortably. She needed to answer the call of nature. The prince lay on his side, an arm flung over his face, sleeping peacefully. Pushing herself to her feet, she carefully picked her way through the scorched trees to a bit of forest, thick enough to obscure her from view. Uncomfortable performing such personal necessities in the open, Diamond rushed herself, almost peeing over her boot when her oversized leggings got caught around her knees. After cursing under her breath, Diamond fixed her clothes then stood still and listened. Silence enveloped her.

  Alone, she allowed her shoulders to sag, letting her weariness and grief weigh her down. The fierce need to see her dad nearly choked her. Just once, she wanted to see him so she could tell him she loved him. She hadn’t told him for such a long time, and now it was too late. Giving into the sobs that had been brewing all day was almost a relief. So much of her life had been a lie, but it had been hers—and now it was gone. Diamond sank to the ground and wept until only a hollow emptiness remained.

  Diamond swiped at her wet cheeks. No amount of crying was going to change what had happened and bring him back. If she was going to survive she had to find a way to deal with his loss…and get away from Hugo and the fae Queen. Diamond didn’t understand how or why she had magic, but she knew the fae Queen would not tolerate it. Unleashing her magic like that, no matter who it had saved, had set her on a dangerous path.

  Around her, sinister shadows seemed to pulse. Diamond tensed. Completely still, the only sound she could hear was her own heartbeat. Pushing hastily to her feet, she hurried back towards the circle of guards. Suddenly, a shape materialised from behind a fallen tree trunk. She stifled a squeal, not wanting to bring Jack’s warriors or Hugo down on her head for leaving the prince.

  “There you are,” purred a tall, skinny man. He blocked her way forwards. “I’ve been looking for you. The name’s Freddy,” he gave a sly grin, sidling closer.

  Diamond conceded a step. His eyes glittered with a dark menacing amusement that had her hackles rising immediately. Alone in the dark with him was not a good place to be. Pointedly she ignored the hand he held out. It was only just possible to see the scowl on his face.

  “Now there’s no need to be scared. I just wanted to say thank ya t’ the pretty girlie that saved us from the dragon.”

  Just as Tu Lanah emerged from the clouds, Freddy gave an unpleasant smile that revealed rotten teeth. Another step closer and his hand snapped out. Diamond recoiled before he could grab her wrist, a chill skittering down her spine. This disgusting worm of a man was not a soldier. He was one of the refugees the prince had found hiding in the forest. Freddy cocked his head to one side, his tongue flicking around his lips in a lewd kind of way. Excitement gleamed in his furtive eyes. The thrill of the chase—a human predator. Her body gave an involuntary shudder, her instincts screaming at her to run.

  “Aw, come on, me lovely. It’s a long time since I’ve ‘ad the chance of saying thanks to a lady for ‘er help. Why don’t yer let me escort you back to the others? ‘Ere, take me arm. Yer look so cold.” His voice was intimate and quiet as he slowly raked his eyes up and down her body. “I can warm yer up if yer let me.”

  Diamond swiftly shook her head. “No thanks, I’m warm enough already,” she said, her eyes darting about for an escape route.

  “Diamond!” barked a deep voice from nearby.

  “Yes! Over here!” yelled Diamond, relief making her knees weak. She had met men like Freddy before. She knew what he wanted and it wasn’t to thank her or escort her back to the others.

  “What the hell are you doing out here on your own!” Hugo berated her as she ran towards the mass of shadow that seemed to solidify into his body as she got closer. “Why did you leave the prince?”

  “I was on my way back,” she said defensively.

  Hugo stared coldly over her shoulder at Freddy. Instantly a feral snarled curled Hugo’s lip.

  Freddy plastered an arrogant grin over his face, but got the message. Whistling tunelessly he sauntered back to the others.

  “Stay away from him. He’s dangerous,” Hugo warned, frowning down at her like she was stupid enough to seek the creep out.

  “I already figured that out,” she snapped before she could stop herself. “I’m not stupid!”

  “Come on. I’m taking you back,” he said, ignoring her tone. Instead he regarded Freddy’s receding back, a murderous glint in his dark eyes.

  Taken aback, Diamond registered his hostility. He must really hate Freddy to allow her to see anything other than his cold facade. Hugo’s sapphire eyes drifted back to her. For a second he looked perplexed and silence fell between them. Leather creaked as he squared his shoulders. When she dared look at his face again, only ice remained. Prepared to walk the short distance back, she raised her eyebrows in surprise when he held out his arms.

  “I will take you back,” he said.

  Footsteps nearby, followed by a grunt and the unmistakable sound of someone relieving their bladder made Diamond jump. Without another thought she stepped into Hugo’s warmth, let him slip one arm under her legs and his other around her back. Lifting her in his arms, he held her securely against him.

  It was far too dark for either of them to see the fury and frustration on Freddy’s face as he turned and watched them go.

  Diamond guiltily enjoyed the sensation of heat seeping from Hugo’s body into hers. He smelled of musky sweat, earth, leather and something she couldn’t place. It was a heady mix that invaded her senses, and in the minute or so it took to reach the clearing she could do nothing to prevent the hot flush that surged on her cheeks. It was thankfully dark enough to hide her blush as he landed and released her.

  Diamond moved toward Jack. At a look from Hugo, Jack’s two guards backed up and after a cursory. “Don’t go into the forest on your own again,” Hugo ordered as left her with them.

  Diamond stuck her tongue out at his receding shadow.

  Endless and vast, the night sky twinkled with thousands of stars. Unobstructed, Tu Lanah was so bright it cast oddly shaped shadows on to the ash from the skeletal burnt trees. She wrinkled her nose before plonking herself down next to the sleeping prince. Every time the grey ash was disturbed an acrid smell drifted up. It was disgusting.

  Diamond found it impossible to relax. Her nerves jangled every time someone strode nearby. Meeting Freddy again filled her with dread. Perhaps if she stayed near Hugo or the prince, he would leave her alone.

  General Edo decided it would be safer to stay near the clearing than travel the dark forest at night. Barking orders, the man who had been seen as eccentric and odd by the town’s people of Berriesford was unrecognisable to her. This stranger was tough, uncompromising and utterly sure of himself. In the dim light it was hard to see Tom, but she could hear him. He seemed happy to mix with the soldiers.

  Left to her own devices, her heart became heavy. It hit her how very alone she was now.

  Jack groaned and awoke long enough for his two guards to help him, an arm over their shoulders, to limp to a nearby burnt tree. He collapsed to the ground and, after a quick swig of water and a weak smile in her direction, he promptly fell asleep. She hoped that was normal and that he hadn’t been concussed by the general’s blow to his head. Dithering, she wondered what she should do now.

  “Diamond!” barked General Edo from across the clearing. “Please sit with the prince until he awakens. I need his guards for watch duty. Be ready with that…magic of yours if we get whiff that dragon is coming back for us,” he ordered.

  The two guards nodded to her and walked briskly to their new general. Diamond sat down next to the prince again. Every now and then she heard Hugo’s deep to
nes and the general’s rumbling voice. It made her feel safer to know they were both nearby. Tired but too unsettled to sleep, Diamond endeavoured to use her magical sight, wanting to know if she could use it at any time. It took her many attempts to figure out how to do it, but she eventually found herself holding her new perspective for longer and longer. Something about tapping into her new skill, or magic, or whatever it was helped her relax but she wasn’t sure she could summon such vast amounts to form a shield again without the woman’s help. Taking her time, she studied the energy that flowed around her. Between the beautiful iridescent energy of the ancient trees, little animals scurried, their aura bright and varied as they snuffled through the ash looking for food. Diamond kept quiet about them. The general had said no fires, so capturing the poor things for food would be pointless.

  Jack dozed beside her, snoring every now and then. Groaning inwardly she watched a figure with energy unlike anyone else’s prowl closer and stop nearby. Hugo’s aura was a beautiful, shimmering sapphire blue, interwoven with tendrils of silver that writhed around him like protective serpents. He came and sat silently next to her, tilting his head back against the tree trunk, his broad shoulder almost touching hers. Her breath hitched in her throat at the sheer power and warmth, she felt as a silver serpent nipped gently at the back of her hand then coiled around her arm, binding her to him as he closed his eyes. She stiffened, not sure how she felt about that touch.

  “Relax. Try and sleep for a while. I’ll stay until my next watch,” he said.

  Too tired to wonder why he was showing any interest in her at all, Diamond did her best to relax and soon found herself drifting off to sleep.

  The night passed in snatches of wakefulness interspersed with nightmares. Each time she woke, panicking, breathing hard and scared as hell, she felt Hugo’s body shift toward her, his energy touching her skin, soothing her until she slept again. Hours later, without a word, he left for his watch.

  Chapter 12

  Weary and missing the security of Hugo’s presence, Diamond remained next to Jack as she tried to ignore the damp, creeping cold that seeped into her bones. She shivered, hugging her knees for warmth.

  “What’s up, little girlie? Lost ya body guard, ‘ave ya?” Freddy’s voice grated in her ear.

  Hot stinking breath smothered her, his closeness making her skin crawl. Lurching quickly away, she tried to grasp for her dagger but was too slow. Freddy grabbed her hair, jabbing the point of a knife to her neck. Diamond froze instantly.

  “Good girl. Now, me an’ you are goin’ for a walk and I’m gonna say thanks properly fer savin’ me life.”

  A disgusting, lustful chuckle rippled down her neck as he shoved his nose in her hair and inhaled deeply. “Hmm. Lovely,” he purred.

  A sick feeling started in the pit of her stomach, the beginnings of a scream churning in her throat.

  Jack stirred but stayed asleep. She wondered if she should wake him. Diamond went rigid as warm fingers, Jack’s fingers, grasped the material of her oversized leggings and gently tapped her leg. A silent request. In the dark, trying not to give herself away, Diamond shifted her hips toward Jack, hoping desperately he could see the dagger tucked in her waist band. Jack’s hand slowly moved up her leggings.

  Trying to distract Freddy, she slowly turned her head to gaze up at him and whispered, “I wondered when you’d come for me. I’ve been waiting for you. It’s boring as hell babysitting this useless excuse for a prince.”

  Freddy yanked at her hair, and it was all Diamond could do not to squeal as his blade nicked the soft skin of her neck.

  “Really?” he snarled.

  The dagger slipped out of her waist band.

  “Yes,” she whispered with as much conviction and longing as she could summon. “Someone like you is so much more exciting than—”

  Jack’s prone shadow burst into movement. Freddy screamed as Jack cut the tendons and muscle of his forearm at the same time as he pushed Diamond sideways. Suddenly the pair was fighting and slashing, grunts of effort and pain exploding from them.

  Diamond yelled at the top of her lungs, “Hugo!! Help!!” It was the only name in her head.

  Jack barrelled into Freddy, sending him sprawling. Diamond blinked, searching desperately for Hugo’s sapphire energy. It was nowhere to be seen. Jack grabbed Freddy’s injured arm and twisted it. Screaming, Freddy toppled, clutching Jack’s shirt front on the way down. Diamond cried out and scrabbled away through the ash, but not quick enough. The two men fell right on her, driving the breath from her lungs. Freddy grunted as Jack fell atop of him. Their weight crushed her face-first into the ash. She couldn’t breathe!

  Suddenly Freddy’s weight disappeared, his body flying into the shadows. Hugo roared with rage, his eyes glittering like bright blazing stars.

  “Look after the prince,” he growled down at her and shot after Freddy. At first all she heard was Jack’s rasping breaths, each one laboured and rattling ominously. With as much strength as she could muster, Diamond pushed Jack off her legs. A dark patch stained her leggings.

  “Prince? You’re bleeding. Help! Prince Jack’s hurt!” she shouted frantically.

  Guards were already running her way. Even as she pressed her cold shaking hands to the wound on Jack’s ribs, her spine stiffened. There was something else, a low pulsing rumble getting closer and closer. The unmistakable sound of big wings beating the air.

  The guards bellowed a warning, but it was too late. A deafening roar shattered the forest followed by a column of yellow flame that burst across the night sky. The dragon spewed his fire in a great arch, his red eyes blazing as he searched the shadows below. Diamond screamed as he looked right at her.

  All hell broke loose. Voices yelled and bodies dived for cover that would be useless against such a creature. Above the din of the dragon it was hard to hear Hugo as he roared orders from somewhere in the trees.

  “Prince Jack! Please. Wake up! We have to get out of here,” she sobbed as she violently shook his lax body.

  The burnt forest canopy crashed in around them, splintering burnt trees. Debris and sulphuric air swamped the two figures on the ground. Diamond screamed but could do nothing as talons as long and sharp as swords scooped them up, taking branches and earth with them into the dark night.

  The wind bit at Diamond’s face, reaching icy fingers in through the thin material of her clothes. Disregarding it, she concentrated on wiggling her numb fingers and toes to get the blood flowing again. The dragon had been flying over the forest canopy for what seemed like hours but, she reasoned, was probably a lot less. It wasn’t even full daylight yet.

  There was no hope of figuring out where they were being taken as the terrain below was just more forest. Strangely, Diamond saw the flash of a wolf’s pelt among the trees, as if it were somehow keeping pace with them. Diamond’s arm snaked around the unconscious prince’s back, pressing hard on his wound. The bleeding had almost stopped but he was terribly pale. The dragon’s grip was relaxed enough to breathe but that was it, there was no hope of wriggling free. She looked at the long drop to the forest floor. Even if they could escape, they would be killed or fatally injured in such a fall.

  In the distance a long winding river glinted like a ghostly snake in the dawn light. An idea bloomed. Could it work? The dagger that had been scooped up with the dirt was balanced precariously on Jack’s hip. It glinted invitingly. Hoping it wouldn’t fall, she shuffled her hips and painstakingly wiggled her other arm free from where it was trapped next to one of the dragon’s claws. Relief flooded her when the cold metal hilt of Hugo’s dagger was gripped tightly in her hand.

  “Prince Jack! Highness!” Her head nudged his insistently and she shouted loudly in his ear. He stirred and his eyes opened, looking cloudy and confused. It took only a few seconds for him to register the pain from his wounds and remember. There was no time for more explanations or to worry about issuing orders to this royal.

  “There’s a river coming up. When I tell you,
hack and stab at the root of that talon. Cause this monster as much pain as possible.”

  “Why? What are you going to do?” he asked, sounding dazed but he moved his fingers so he could grasp the dagger.

  Please don’t argue, she thought. “I’m going to hurt it—at the same time as you,” she told him with steel in her voice. This had to work.

  The river loomed closer. She blinked and focused on the shimmering water. It seemed to disappear off the edge of the earth, misty air hanging above it. Her stomach lurched and she rolled her eyes.

  Great. A waterfall. Still, it doesn’t matter. It has to be better than where this dragon is taking us.

  Colour, dazzling in its intensity, swathed the forest—but Diamond had no time to admire it. Instead she tried to block out the possibility they might both die from the fall or because she had no idea what she was doing with her energy.

  Breathe—concentrate. Embers of magic flared to life inside her. Desperately she pulled at them, focusing on nothing else until they surged free. Release, freedom—magic. Even in this dire situation, it was hard not to feel a smug satisfaction for finding her magic. Sizzling heat travelled up through her body and down her arms, escaping out through her hand. Letting instinct guide her, Diamond concentrated on the dragon’s scaly skin just where one black talon bulged through. Bone and flesh exploded into the air, followed by a roar of agony. Jack stabbed up and down with all his strength on another talon bed, swearing loudly and forcefully as scaly skin and blood covered him.

  Diamond felt her stomach lurch. Fresh air and weightlessness. It had worked. Seconds later Diamond slammed into the fast flowing water. Cold engulfed her, stealing her breath as the water swept her away in a torrent of noise and confusion. She fought the urge to inhale and scream. Then she was falling again. Down and down, out of control.

  Wham!

  Another hard sheet of water. Diamond barely registered the stinging force of the collision; once again she was at the mercy of the powerful flow. Lungs burning, she resisted her need to breathe and was tossed and thrown, the world whirling by. Another weightless fall and the cascading water trapped her in a never ending tumble.