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

by Karen Tomlinson

  Instinctively Diamond released a forceful blast; it leaked from her hair, her skin, her eyes. Even in such a weakened state the light was enough to send the wraiths screeching into the abyss, into the safety of their dark world. Disorientated and weak, she stumbled. Vast unshakable strength invaded her body.

  “Diamond! Come back to me. Run!” her saviour yelled over and over.

  Sobbing, Diamond ran with every ounce of her remaining strength towards the voice that ordered her back from the abyss.

  Warm hands gripped Diamond’s shoulder’s, shaking her firmly. The voice still called her name, commanding her to return. But unlike moments before, it now sounded very real. Slowly, through the fog of her mind, she became aware of the softness of the bed underneath her, the warmth of the velvety blankets and the glorious downy pillows that supported her hot, sticky head. Her eyelids flickered and the shaking stopped. Breathless and spent, Diamond was unable to move or speak. Tears of relief leaked from her eyes, burning a trail down her skin into her hair.

  “Thank the goddess,” Hugo’s voice murmured into her ear, so familiar but so soft and full of worry she almost didn’t recognise it.

  Cracking open her heavy eyelids, everything looked foggy. Focusing was impossible, even breathing was an immense effort. She tried to speak, to ask where she was but only a whimper escaped her dry lips.

  “Shh. It’s okay. You’re safe for now. I will take care of you. Go back to sleep,” he urged softly. Dry, cool lips lightly grazed her forehead and she murmured, unable to form words of thanks to the warrior who had brought her back from the demon and the darkness.

  Chapter 25

  The young healer clicked her tongue. She disapproved of the fusty air in the room and threw the purple drapes wide open. Sunlight hit the Prince of Rhodainia in the face, causing him to moan in protest. The healer’s brown hair was swept back from the soft features of her face and secured in a tight bun. Her grey dress and white apron were neutral and professional, as was her expression. Quickly the healer dipped a curtsey to the handsome young man who had not left her patient’s side since yesterday evening.

  “Sorry, Your Highness, but the air in here needs freshening up, and Isla Norr has given me instructions to do what I need to do to get this young lady up and about today.”

  “Of course, Rose,” said Jack rubbing his eyes before pushing himself out of the large armchair that he had placed next to Diamond’s bed.

  For five days Hugo’s self-control had been balancing on a knife edge, and he was still trying to keep his head and heart together. For two of those days he had fought with Diamond, pouring his magic into her whilst everyone else thought him a silent guard by her door. No one, not even Rose, noticed when he leaned against the wall for support or had to blink sweat from his eyes with the effort of giving Diamond the strength she needed to survive whatever hell she was in. Hugo knew his actions were dangerous to them both, but he could not leave her any more than he could stop breathing.

  Serene and peaceful, she had been in a deep sleep since the shadows had left her soul. He had felt their coldness and greed as they tried to take her from this life into theirs. His magic had raged at the thought. Anxiety tightened his chest, though the current calmness of her magic reassured him.

  “And we can’t upset Isla Norr, now can we?” Jack commented while giving Rose a well-practised smile.

  Rose dipped her head demurely but not before Hugo caught the edges of her mouth curling up in response. He tried not to roll his eyes at Rose’s all too predictable reaction to the prince’s charms.

  Isla Norr was the Queen’s personal healer and was a formidable force of nature for one who was supposed to be kind and caring. The stern female fae had accepted the mantle of Principle Healer to the Queen fifteen years ago. Since then Principle Norr had run Valentia’s academy of healers with iron discipline. Even the Prevost of the Acolytes deferred to her judgment.

  Hugo had reluctantly handed Diamond over to the healers and patiently let them do what they could to cure her. They had stitched her lip, but none had dared try and throw him out of the room whilst they bathed her cut and bruised skin with the herb- and spell-infused water until she was almost unmarked. Knowing Diamond would be mortified by being naked and helpless in front of him, he had politely turned away but kept his magic near her until they had completed their task. Rose had then dressed Diamond in a stark white night gown that covered her from her neck downwards. Hugo hated it. In his opinion it looked far too much like a death shroud.

  A mass of silver hair fanned out from Diamond’s head, covering the pillow. Not for the first time he struggled to hide his dismay at the stains and clumps of dried blood that made it dull and lifeless.

  Never mind. Rose will sort that out today, he reassured himself.

  Jack lifted his arms above his head and stretched, giving a moan of pleasure at the release on his inactive muscles. He strode over to the window with a sigh, leaning on the sill and peering out at the clear blue sky. After a few minutes the prince twisted back to face Hugo.

  “I’m going to have to leave her today. The war council and the Queen are expecting me at this morning’s meeting. I have delayed them as long as I dare,” Jack said, studying Hugo steadily. Hugo studied him right back, keeping his face blank and nodded once. Jack’s gaze did not falter but his eyes narrowed.

  When the prince and General Edo had arrived yesterday, three women had been tending Diamond’s battered legs. Hugo had been kneeling by her bed holding her hand. Jack had been instantly annoyed to see Hugo so close to Diamond. In fact the prince had been unable to mask his anger as Hugo had stood with difficulty and move back to allow him and General Edo to get to her side.

  For the first two hours Jack, General Edo and Hugo had kept a silent vigil by her side. They had all refused to leave the room until Isla Norr had personally threatened to cast a sleeping spell on them all, saying there were private things that needed doing for the young lady that should not be witnessed by any of them. Even Hugo had been ushered out, although he remained on the other side of the closed door, feeling for the essence of her weak magic. The next day Jack had sought permission from the Queen to move Diamond to a room of her own with bathing facilities. Since then Hugo had left her side only to allow the healers to clean and stitch his wound and apply salve to his burns before re-establishing his position as Diamond’s personal guard.

  “You know, the lovely Rose here is going to wake Diamond today. Maybe this will be a good time for you to rest and eat—and, err, take a bath. You stink,” said Jack bluntly, as a breeze from the open window sent the foul stink of old sweat and blood eddying around the room.

  Rose gave a snort of laughter as she walked into the bathing room to check the water.

  “I agree—when she is awake,” answered Hugo stubbornly, staring at Jack with his dark glittering eyes. “But until then I will stay here.”

  Jack held Hugo’s gaze, his face tight. “Hugo, you’re being a stubborn ass. The Queen will know you have refused to leave. Damn it! You are putting her at risk by staying here,” he declared, squeezing his hands into tight fists.

  Hugo remained silent, although behind his back he clasped hands together so tightly they hurt. Jack was right.

  “What happened between you two in the forest, Hugo?” Jack asked. The prince waited expectantly for an answer.

  Hugo just looked steadily at his friend and said nothing, outwardly portraying only icy calm whilst his insides roiled. He had been stupid. Jack was so utterly right that Hugo wanted to hit him—or something. The nearest wall would do. The fact that the Queen hadn’t sent for him to report, or thrown Diamond straight in the dungeons, filled him with dread. His Queen was like an adder waiting to strike. Hugo felt sick.

  “Whatever it was flattened half the forest, nearly burnt your skin off and left her unconscious. You know there will be questions, especially from your Queen,” Jack stated.

  More silence.

  “Hugo, you forget I am your
friend. Don’t keep shutting me out. Ever since you came back here to your Queen, you’ve been nothing but a cold-hearted shadow of who you were in Stormguaard.” The prince strode up to him and cocked his head. “I haven’t seen you laugh or smile in months. Is that what she does—steal any joy from your soul?”

  Hugo slumped a little, the breath whooshing from his chest. “Yes,” he whispered.

  “Then don’t let her steal Diamond. Anyone who knows you can see how much you want her.”

  Hugo’s eyes shot to Jack. “What do you mean?” he asked hoarsely.

  “Oh come on, Hugo. You lived around me and my soldiers for nearly three years. We can all see how you act around her. Besides, you’re fae,” he said as if that explained everything.

  Hugo ignored that. “What do you mean you can see how I act?” he persisted.

  Jack gave him a quizzical look. “Hugo, I have never been able to wind you up about anything, let alone a woman. But with her it’s as easy as breathing. You look like you want to rip apart anyone who talks to her, let alone anyone who might hurt her.”

  Hugo opened his mouth to protest but, smiling mischievously, Jack quickly continued and smacked Hugo’s shoulder good-naturedly. “Yes, you do. Like in the cave when Roin touched her. We all thought you might lose your cool completely. It gave us all quite a fright.” Jack cocked his head and grinned. “You’re behaving like a fae who has found a mate. Have you, Hugo?”

  Hugo scowled and snarled, but that just made Jack bark a laugh. Behind them Diamond stirred, drawing their attention. Jack’s face lost any levity.

  “She saved my life, Hugo. I owe her. If you don’t want her to be in danger, if you want to protect her, let me take her from here. Help me get her away. You know the Queen will kill her for the magic she can wield.” Jack’s voice turned almost pleading.

  Let her go.

  Those words of reason echoed in his head, but still Hugo remained silent. Selfishly, he didn’t want Jack to take her away. His throat constricted in panic at the thought of her leaving. But she deserved to be safe. Can I do it? Can I defy my Queen, get Diamond out of the trap I have woven for her and get away with it? He opened his mouth to ask Jack how, then clamped it shut as Rose came back out of the bathing room, clicking her tongue disapprovingly.

  “His Highness is right, sir. You need to care for your own injuries or you’ll get infected,” said Rose, oblivious to the last part of the conversation. “Besides, when the young miss is awake, she will need to bathe—and you cannot stay for that. It’s not seemly,” she said flushing at Hugo’s dark look, but she raised her eyebrows expectantly. “Not this time, sir.”

  “Understood,” Hugo answered, his eyes flicking to Diamond then back to Jack. “When she is awake I will leave.”

  Jack sighed, running his hand through his hair as he watched Rose. “Alright, Hugo. I’ll drop it…for now. But we will speak of this again—and soon,” the prince promised darkly, looking back out of the window at the Queen’s tower.

  Hugo hated the building that emerged from the centre of the grey granite palace. It loomed up to the sky like a ridiculous, huge phallus, its bulk dwarfing every other building in the considerable grounds. Constructed from pink marble, veins of glittering crystal wound through the stone. On a sunny day the whole thing seemed to soak up the light and glow, its massive structure making it visible for miles up and down the coast. There were more than two hundred rooms in the tower alone, housing the Queen’s opulent throne room, her council chambers, private kitchens, her own personal apartments and training rooms for all the Queen’s guard’s; there was a school and an armoury—not to mention her own dungeons under the foundations. Hugo shuddered at his memories of those awful, stinking cells.

  “I need to go and prepare myself for my meeting,” said Jack puffing his cheeks out. “I also need to introduce General Edo to my council and commanders today,” he told Hugo.

  The rug muffled his footsteps as he walked over to Diamond. The prince leaned in and lightly kissed her forehead before he straightened and squared his shoulders. He stroked a hand gently down her soft cheek. When he turned, Hugo’s eyes were obsidian, his face carved from granite. Unfazed, the prince only nodded grimly to the Queen’s guard as he walked out of the room without looking back.

  Chapter 26

  Rose opened the windows, and a gentle sweet breeze caressed Hugo’s sticky skin. His body stank worse than a sewer, and he must look a gruesome sight, covered in filth and blood, his clothes torn and his weapons encrusted with dried blood and guts. His chin was covered by a thick beard, half of which was burned off, and his mouth tasted like something had died in it.

  “When will you wake her?” he asked Rose, schooling his features into neutrality.

  Rose’s eyes were big and wary as she glanced at him. “Well, now is as good a time as any.” She smiled timidly, “Would you like to help me?”

  He said stiffly, “Err…. If you tell me what to do, I am willing to help.” He concealed his surprise. It would be a miracle if Rose hadn’t been ordered to pass on information about Diamond and him to Isla Norr or the Queen. He just hoped that no healer knew enough of ancient fae customs to understand what the mark on her breast was.

  “Please come closer.” Gulping, Rose beckoned him over.

  It was then he noticed the phial in her hand. Instantly suspicious he glowered at it and snarled slightly.

  “It’s alright, sir,” Rose soothed, following his gaze and trying to sound brave. The girl was human but had watched him stand over Diamond day after day without sleep or food. Clearly Rose was well aware of how protective he was of Diamond—that in itself made Rose a danger to them both. Hugo ignored his training, which told him to threaten Rose to ensure her silence.

  “This is just to reverse the sleeping spell. It will not harm her, commander; I promise. Just talk to her. She will be disorientated and scared when she wakes, and your voice seems the only thing to calm her.”

  Hugo nodded curtly after giving the phial another suspicious glare. Noticing Rose’s flushed face and the way her hands shook made him scowl harder. The shaking worsened and, for the first time in years, he felt a pang of remorse at using who and what he was to intimidate someone so kind. Rose had been here nearly as much as him. Despite that, he couldn’t bring himself to smile. Being this close to Diamond even so many days after the bite had his heart pounding so hard he was sure Rose could hear it.

  Only Rose had seen him kneel by Diamond’s bed and hold her hand to his lips. But it wasn’t until they were alone that he would lean in until his face was buried in Diamond's hair or his lips brushed her ear. In those precious stolen moments he would whisper nonsense to her. Rose was right; Diamond always stilled, almost as though she were listening to him. It was easy to tell her of his deepest thoughts: of wanting to take her somewhere far away, of escaping the servitude of the Queen. Vocalising his dreams made them seem more real. Their Nexus, his brutal existence as a young guard, he told her things he had never shared with anyone else. Hugo held back a derisive chuckle; it had been easy because there was no judgment—or pity—in the eyes of an unconscious woman.

  Each time the evil that lurked between this world and Eternity tried to steal her breath and take her soul, Hugo had controlled his panic and called to her, plunging his magic deep into her flesh and bones, winding it around the struggling ember of her own. His Nexus. Rare, beautiful, spirited. He would not let her die. Weak himself, the dampening effects of the city shield had been hard to overcome; but with sheer determination he had managed it, pulling and yanking at that tiny spark of hers until it flared brightly. His heart had raced with unaccustomed fear until she answered his commands to run from death, until her chest began to rise and fall as she breathed once again. That was, until the next time.

  He watched Rose tip three tiny drops of a red liquid onto Diamond’s lips. It ran along the full length of her mouth before her tongue flicked out and she licked it away. Rose was far too preoccupied with Diamond to no
tice the sudden flush that crept up Hugo’s neck.

  “Talk to her. Bring her back,” was all Rose said as she held Diamond’s hand.

  Hugo knelt down on the floor, his infected thigh wound bleating with pain. Leaning forward until his lips brushed the shell of her ear he whispered her name, sending his magic flowing through her, calling her back to wakefulness.

  Chapter 27

  Diamond smiled as that beloved voice gently coaxed her from her dreams back to reality. She followed it as she always did, knowing he would lead her to safety. Quickly, she realised he wanted her to wake. She dimly registered his warm fingers lightly brushing her cheek. Instinctively, she turned her face into that powerful hand, murmuring her contentment. All too soon it pulled away.

  A whimper escaped her parched throat, but the warmth did not return. Laying quietly, Diamond allowed her mind to begin functioning. The world around her slowly took shape; the wonderfully comfortable bed, her head resting on a soft feather pillow, the cool sweet breeze that blew gently over her skin. Something else tickled her nose as well—salt, she mused, she must be near the sea.

  Her eyelids flicked open, wanting to see Hugo to thank him, to throw her arms around him…. But it was not Hugo smiling down at Diamond, it was a girl about her own age with relief in her chestnut brown eyes.

  “Hello,” the girl beamed. “I’m Rose. I am your healer.”

  Diamond stared at her uncomprehendingly. Outside, voices rumbled and gravel crunched as someone walked on a path under the open window.

  “Healer?” she rasped. Her memory had become distinctly hazy in the last few minutes. Coughing to clear her throat she tried again. “Where am I?”

  “You are in Valentia. In the Queen’s palace,” Rose explained, giving Diamond time to absorb that piece of information.