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

by Karen Tomlinson

  With that he roared and lunged. Diamond could not answer, could not scream. But she did move, so fast the table of watching council toads gasped. Ducking and twisting under the general’s outstretched arms, all Diamond felt was the moment the dagger sank into his flesh. It plunged between his ribs and found his heart. The strike was precise, a perfect killing blow.

  The warmth of his blood on her fingers made her want to gag, but she could not. The voice did not tell her to. Sobbing and screaming inside, her shocked gaze turned to the general’s face. Those beloved grey eyes met hers in a mixture of sorrow, defiance and pain. She wanted to look away but could not. Her hand withdrew the blade and a rush of hot blood covered her arm. Will my father condemn me for this from Eternity, or rejoice in me avenging his own painful bloody death?

  This had to be the Queen’s doing, no one else would have the power to control someone’s mind, someone’s actions. Diamond was forced to watch as General Edo collapsed to his knees before falling sideways, his life seeping onto the tiles. Blood cooled on her fingers and dripped down the blade, bright red droplets hitting her stocking feet. In front of her eyes General Edo’s skin turned alabaster, stark against the deep green flooring. In seconds his breathing slowed to shallow pants.

  Bile burned her throat as Diamond watched his last gasping breath. Those familiar eyes lost focus and stared unseeingly. Of their own accord, her fingers loosened and dropped the dagger. The overwhelming urge to do what the hateful echo instructed disappeared from her mind, and she collapsed on the floor. Not caring about the toads at the table or the Queen’s guards—or the immortal Queen herself—Diamond crawled through the general’s blood to his side, her fingers shaking she tried to stifle her sobs and gently closed his eyes.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she whispered over and over.

  Even though she knew what he had done, how his exile in a kingdom that was not his own had sent him to the point of desperation and insanity, all she could remember was the protection and love this fae had given her. But he had killed her father! She withdrew her hand, confused and dazed. He deserved this fate—he would have killed Jack, and her, and maybe more people to get what he wanted. Shocked, she looked at her shaking hand. Blood glistened. She had murdered an unarmed man. Gulping down gasps of air did not help. Promptly Diamond vomited, unable to process what she had done.

  A hand reached down and hooked under her arm. Still retching, bile and saliva dripping down her chin, she was pulled to her feet. Hugo’s face was empty as he turned her towards his Queen. Diamond found she could hardly stand. There was little choice but to lean into Hugo’s strong grip for support, not caring what anyone thought. Simeon remained naked and kneeling nearby. She didn’t know what would happen to him now. But Diamond’s brain couldn’t process anymore thoughts.

  The Queen smiled, a thing so vicious and self-satisfied it turned her perfect face into a mask of ugliness.

  “Well done, magic wielder. You have proven you can kill to save your own hide. Now all you need to do is prove that you can fight and kill to save the people of Avalonia—then I might let your friends live.”

  Diamond wanted vomit again—or faint or both. She had no thoughts other than collapsing. Magic caressed her skin. Unknowingly, she swayed further into Hugo, who held her firmly on her feet. Darkness fogged the edge of her vision.

  “Take her back to her room, commander. You will begin her training tomorrow. Remember what I said. Do not let me down. You may release the guards from duty at her door. I doubt she will run again; but just in case, the boy will remain with me.” She addressed Diamond. “He will be treated as fairly as my own trainee guards—unless you displease the commander, who will report to me as and when I desire it. I hope it is clear to you: you alone hold the fate of your friends in your hands.”

  Hugo bowed slightly and led Diamond, dazed and shaking, from the throne room.

  Chapter 53

  Diamond could not speak as they left the throne room behind. Her torn clothes flapped open unheeded, exposing her. She could not bear to acknowledge Hugo as she staggered along the corridor. Her stomach clenched, and her eyes blurred with tears. She was a murderer. Thick, sticky blood covered her, a gruesome reminder of her sin.

  Hugo had not helped her…he had stood by whilst she killed. A sudden choking rage fuelled her body, giving her strength enough to run back to her room. She screamed as rage and grief burst forth. Wanting to hit something—anything, she threw open the heavy wooden door with such force it slammed against the wall. Catching it, she slammed it back in Hugo’s face.

  A weapon! The Queen wanted a magical weapon! Diamond growled. Of course that was why she had been imprisoned and not killed. The hypocrisy of this kingdom—her kingdom, made her laugh out loud. A bitter humourless sound.

  Hugo grunted as his hand collided against the swinging door with a resounding smack. The way he turned and closed it with so much care and gentleness tipped Diamond over the edge. Wild rage, grief and humiliation exploded.

  “You bastard!” she yelled. “How could you just stand there whilst I was made to murder my friend? How could you do that to me?”

  “He was not your friend, Diamond. He wished you harm and would have killed you if he’d had the chance,” Hugo responded bluntly.

  “No. No, I don’t—I can’t believe that!” she denied, then looked directly at him. His face was tight and pale. “I thought you said you would never leave me. You didn’t even try and defend me! Gods, Hugo! Would you have done it? Would you have whipped me—or Simeon? Would you even have hesitated?” Hot tears tipped down her cheeks.

  Hugo stared at the trails of wetness, conflicted emotion crossing his face. For a moment he opened and closed his mouth as if wanting to say something. Then his features hardened. “Do not judge me,” he said. “You have always known what I am, who I serve. What I said this morning meant nothing. Those words—my helping you—were the actions of a fool. It was a futile gesture. My place is with my Queen, my life is hers.” His voice became utterly flat. “I cannot defy an order, not even for you.”

  “But you are my friend. You helped me survive, and I don’t just mean this morning. You fought for me so many times—with the dragon, in the forest. Hugo, you brought me back from the wraiths who would have taken my soul. You cared for me. You saved my life,” she choked out, her heart aching until she had to clutch her chest. Tears flowed freely down her face, and it was such an effort to look at him. She didn’t know what she wanted to do most, hit him, rage at him or just throw herself in his arms and beg him to hold her.

  Instead she hugged her own body. “Did I imagine all that, Hugo? Did I imagine the things you said? Were they real or are you the best gods damned liar in the world?” she whispered, almost to herself.

  Hugo cocked his head, grinding his teeth at her words, his jaw muscles tensing until his scar looked like it would rip apart. “I have never lied to you, Diamond. I warned you that very first night in the cave that you had no rights in this city, that you would be in danger. You also knew we might get caught today. I am a Queen’s guard, I could not and cannot defy my Queen to help you,” he rationalised again.

  Diamond stormed up to him, her hands curled tightly into fists, wanting to punch that blank look off his handsome, scarred face. “How dare you!” her voice cracked. “Do you think that excuses you? You gave me hope where there was none. You might have been by my side, Hugo, but you sure as hell left me. And what of that poor, starving boy? Are you just going to leave him to the mercy of your perverted lord commander? Of course you are….” she jeered. “You brought me here knowing what your Queen would do to me, that she would use me or kill me—or both. I suppose it will ease your conscience when she orders you to slit his throat—and mine. After all, it’s easy to excuse anything when you tell yourself you are only following orders.”

  Panting and out of breath she felt her adrenaline ebb away and—along with it—her anger. In its place was just a curious emptiness.

  �
�I had no choice in any of it, Diamond,” Hugo answered quietly. “Bringing you here was my duty, surely you know that. And the only reason I saved you, cared for you was to ensure you became what you were meant to be—a weapon for my Queen.”

  Diamond stared at him in abject horror.

  “Oh, don’t look so shocked,” he stated, his voice detached and cold. “Surely you aren’t naive enough to think I actually felt something for you. You were just an amusing distraction from the mundane. I would never have run from my Queen. I am an elite guard; I care for no one other than her. “

  Diamond’s throat was tight to the point of pain, and she was gasping for breath, “B-but this morning you were going to come with me. You….” her voice faded. No, she had been fooling herself. He was right, he had not lied. She had blinded herself to anything other than her feelings for him. Defiantly, she lifted her chin, even though her whole body shook. Her hand automatically went to the scratch marks on her chest, seeking the comfort of her necklace, only to find it gone. Anger swamped her again.

  “That necklace was the only piece of my mother I have ever had. You took it away from me, Hugo, and I will never forget that. You are so honourable, aren’t you?” she spat, remembering the brush of his fingers on her skin. “A petty thief as well as a trained attack dog and murderer. I would have been better taking my chances with Freddy in that forest. You are a disgusting excuse for a male,” she declared, her eyes piercing his. Knowing she had been foolish with her feelings did not stop the rage in her heart. Beyond caring now, her voice rose to a fever pitch.

  “And no matter what you say, you are a lying bastard! You did care about me, and you did save me. But you are right about everything else. You didn’t leave me because you were never truly by my side. You are hers. For all your size and strength, that immortal bitch controls everything about you—even your body belongs to her!” She slapped her hands flat against his chest and shoved, utterly taken by surprise when he stumbled back. “You are her whore and a coward, Hugo. A pathetic weak coward!” she bellowed, her eyes a storm of violet lightening and hurt. “Even Simeon has more courage to stand up to her than you do.”

  Hugo stared at her, his eyes glittering. But Diamond ignored the warning signs: the tightness on his face, the way he clenched his fists and the growl that rose from deep in his chest.

  She opened her mouth to continue her barrage of abuse.

  “Shut up!” he suddenly bellowed. Savagely, he grabbed her shoulders, his face contorted with anger and self-loathing—nothing of the cold guard from seconds ago remaining. “Diamond, stop. I know my failings, both as a fae and a warrior. You are right. I am a coward. I cannot defy my Queen because I cannot protect you. I have shown you that today. Did I miss something? Because I’m sure you were listening when she threatened to make me kill you and everyone you care about! Is that what you want, for me to have to look in your eyes as I take your life? Like you did the general?” He paused and took a shaky breath.

  She stared at him, shocked by his distress. His eyes were dark and swimming with regret. It had not crossed her mind to consider what that threat might do to Hugo. But if he truly doesn’t care for me, why is he bothered? Conflicting emotions, made worse by grief and guilt over General Edo, stole Diamond’s ability to think straight.

  “But you treated me no better than an animal. You were going to whip me, Hugo,” she accused tearfully, wondering in a moment of confusion if she had imagined his sorrow and regret as his eyes hardened and his face became cruel.

  “So I was, but let’s not make this all about you, magic wielder. You are dangerous, and for everyone’s sake you need to learn how to control your magic. Unless I have missed something, you are no warrior; yet somehow I am expected to make you into a weapon powerful enough to subdue the immortal Wraith Lord.”

  The elite warrior stepped so close she had to tip her head back to look at him. Digging his fingers into her shoulders, he shook her hard enough to make her teeth rattle and gave a warning growl. “You think me a whore, a murderer, a thief…a bastard?” he smiled cruelly and leaned forward. Tears formed in Diamond’s eyes as she watched his scar twist menacingly. “You think I shouldn’t follow my Queen’s orders? You think because you led me away from her with your innocence and needy glances you don’t deserve the lash for trying to escape? Little girl, you have no idea how much of a bastard I can be, but you are going to find out.”

  Diamond felt sick at the pure ice in his eyes. He pushed her down into the armchair and squatted in front of her, his breath hot on her lips. His eyes flicked to the scrapes on her chest and a shadow flickered across his face. Just as quickly, it was gone.

  “You will listen to me. The next few weeks are going to be hell for you. Your weak body will be beaten and likely broken, over and over, but let’s be perfectly clear: I do not and will not care. You will work hard all day, every day. There will be no moaning or tears or you will hurt more. I suggest you learn quickly or be prepared to suffer the consequences.”

  Hugo leaned his massive frame closer until he had her pressed up against the chair back. He smiled, the tip of his nose touching hers. Warmth from his body seeped into her, and the smell of him smacked into her brain. His nearness, his scent, his impossibly beautiful eyes…. Her mind ceased to function and she could only stare at him like a cornered animal.

  “And stay away from any other fae warriors—in the training ground or off it. It seems you command far too much interest from them. You are now the Queen’s property—just like me. Whether you think that makes you her whore or not, I don’t care; but you will keep your legs shut. You are not free to take a mate or share your body. Is that clear?”

  Diamond stilled as his words sank in. The fae in the throne room.

  “I will be here for you at dawn, so be ready. Wear something you can move in and fight in, or you will remove it and train in your underwear.”

  He smiled maliciously, his scar revealing white even teeth in a macabre way. Heat and indignation seared her cheeks as he raked his eyes over her exposed skin.

  “Although, I am absolutely certain any males around will appreciate the naked sight of that beautiful body. I know I did when you begged me to undress you.”

  His mocking reference to the last time they had been in this room together sparked uncontainable fury in Diamond. Her hand shot out to slap him across the face. Almost lazily he caught her wrist, the hardness of his calloused skin scraping her as he squeezed. She yelped but he did not let go, he just shoved his face closer and snarled. Diamond recoiled. Moving in until his lips almost touched hers, he grinned wickedly.

  “Save your anger for the training ground, little girl; you’re going to need it. Every. Little. Bit. Because I’m saving mine—just for you.

  Chapter 54

  Hugo slammed Diamond’s door behind him, his self-control nearly in shreds. Clenching his shaking hands, he marched through the corridors, ignoring every single person that cowered against the walls. Not far now, he told himself, willing his legs to keep moving. In through the entrance to the guard’s quarters, then up the winding stone stairs to his small room in the tower.

  Quietly he shut the door. The silence hit just before he fell to his knees, his chest heaving. It was no good. He launched himself up, only just making it to the bathing room before vomiting in the toilet. Bile and saliva burned his throat.

  Spent and emotionally wrecked, he sank onto the floor, his broad back leaning against the wall. He wearily tipped his head back. Never had he loathed himself so much. But turning Diamond into a killer had been his only choice.

  He uttered a heartfelt plea to the goddess for forgiveness, trying to convince himself the hours he had spent in the palace libraries looking for old legends, and pulling out dusty old histories to research the venom bond, had paid off. What he had learned, what he now knew he could do, scared the shit out of him.

  He had never wanted to control Diamond, but he had wanted to know how the bond worked. Selfishly, he wanted to co
nvince himself her actions were her own when they related to him.

  Was it only this morning I allowed myself to hope, to dream of an escape? He chuckled bitterly. The dog. That scruffy-looking mongrel in the temple grounds had to have been a shapeshifter, a spy for the Queen—or the general had stupidly formed a deal with the Queen before he found them. Either way, it didn’t matter now. The general was gone, and he and Diamond were both trapped here.

  The Queen had shown her hand. Hardly a surprising turn of events. Diamond had been allowed to live to become a weapon. Not for a moment, though, had Hugo guessed how his evil monarch was going to destroy Diamond’s spirit. Hugo still didn’t know if he could have whipped Diamond—or that poor pathetic boy. But he had hoped with every shred of his warped soul that he wouldn’t have to. He had known Diamond would not kill the crazed general, so he had uttered a silent plea for forgiveness and grasped her mind with everything he had. The gamble had paid off.

  It hadn’t been Diamond who had killed her childhood protector—it had been Hugo. One day he would tell her. She did not deserve to suffer the guilt for such an action.

  Sometime later, feeling calmer and in control once again, Hugo pushed himself up off the floor. Diamond was right—he was a coward; no matter his reasons, he could never undo the wickedness of his actions in that throne room, but he could try and do something good in the present.

  Resolutely, he stood and walked to the window where he could watch the sun set. Patiently, determination in every line of his body, Hugo awaited the arrival of his closest friend—the darkness.

  The gentle wind that fanned the two silver-haired women was neither warm nor cold. It just existed.

  Diamond contemplated the woman from her vision. With arms even more emaciated and huge blue eyes that dominated her gaunt thin face, she seemed to shimmer like a spectre, coming and going with the breeze.