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

by Karen Tomlinson

  “Sorry. I can’t seem to help it. I love seeing you blush. You are always so calm,” he declared.

  Lyana grinned. “Not always. Now you promised me a lesson, and I should like you to explain to me why Arades has put the ships into sections and put Captain Sarrisa’s ship at the head of our little armada. I understood some of the orders that were discussed today, and I should like to learn more. I know Fetu is trying to learn, but it will not hurt me to know what is going on. Then if anything happens to him, I will understand and be able to help.”

  Jack felt his admiration for her practical nature soar. “Fair enough,” he acquiesced, happy to teach her what he knew.

  Chapter 5

  The sun’s rays beat down on Jack’s head, his scalp prickling under its burning touch.

  “They will not wait,” commented Arades, his attention narrowed upon the ten ships that blocked their way.

  “No,” agreed Jack. “But it is for the best. We have precious little time for skirmishes like this.”

  Arades raised his brows. “I think this will be more than a skirmish, my prince. They far outnumber our two ships.”

  Jack glanced behind to where Captain Sarissa sailed. Their two ships were alone, no sign of the rest of the armada. He frowned, hoping the two of them would triumph over these pirates. The warlords of Gar Anon were lawless this far north of the king’s rule. They did not allow any ship to pass through their lines without challenge. That was why the Silk Road in the Southern Hotlands was so popular as a trade route; it was relatively safe, while nothing that passed through Gar Anon or down the Najet River was ever safe.

  “Captain Reese?” Jack bellowed.

  “Ready, highness!” responded Reese, who crouched low behind the barrels and canvas they had piled on deck. His men remained out of sight, ready to pounce when necessary.

  “Zane!” bellowed Arades. “Ready the fae!”

  “Yes, general!”

  “Roin!”

  “Always ready, highness,” Roin growled, his hands gripping his sword.

  Beside Roin stood Tom and several other human soldiers. They were the first line of defence against the pirates. They were dressed like common seamen, their weapons hidden. The pirates would be expecting a merchant vessel. As such, its crew would not have fighting experience or even decent weapons most of the time.

  Jack resisted the urge to look up to where Gunnald, the eagle eyed archer, perched with his magic laden bow at the ready.

  Just before the first two pirate ships could throw their grappling hooks, several flaming arrows whizzed through the air. In quick succession they slammed into the two pirate captains, setting their clothes on fire. Panicked shouts filled the air as more flaming arrows lodged into the ships, setting their decks and sails alight.

  Jack grinned. A sailor’s nightmare. He watched with satisfaction as the remaining eight vessels headed towards them.

  “Now!” Arades bellowed and threw his hidden wings wide, as did the other fae. They propelled themselves skyward, their wings armoured and glowing.

  It was too late for the pirates to change course and retreat. They realised now this was not just a trade vessel but a ship full of armed military personnel.

  Mark, one of the youngest fae warriors, ran to the nearest grappling ropes as their metal hooks slammed into the ship. Working alongside the sailors, he cut the ropes. Underfoot the ship shuddered.

  Jack lurched but kept his balance. The other ship had rammed them in an attempt to disable the bigger vessel.

  “Use that wisely,” Jack advised Lyana, who stood gripping her light sword far too tightly. He pushed away his worry for her; being on deck was her choice. He glanced to the stern of the ship where a boarding plank had been slammed down. The first pirates ran lightly over the board.

  Jack swore as fighting broke out.

  “Highness, go. I will stay with my sister,” instructed Syhira. Her bow knocked, she fired arrows in quick succession.

  “So will I,” piped up Fetu. The pale-looking prince lifted his chin bravely.

  Jack smiled and clapped him on the back. “I know you will,” he replied.

  “I do not need looking after,” snapped Lyana.

  Jack did not wish to argue that point right now. Lyana might have learned some fighting moves, but she had never fought in battle nor did she have any experience of the gruesome nature of it. He thought her too gentle to be exposed to this sort of bloodshed. But it was not his choice; instead, he met her gaze. “Do not show them mercy, they will spare you none,” he told her before he pivoted away and charged down the decks. His blade met the first pirate who lunged, pushing the man’s old blade aside.

  Skilfully, he spun on the ball of his foot and slammed his sword into the man’s side. Blood sprayed as he yanked his blade out and the man fell to his knees. He didn’t bother ending him. The pirate was useless now and would bleed out soon enough.

  More pirates rushed the decks but Jack and Reese were ready.

  Across the water, Captain Sarissa and his crew were fighting viciously. With no fae and few soldiers aboard, their chances of triumph were far lower than Jack’s own ship. But this was the royal flagship and needed to be protected as such.

  He was aware of the other pirate ships closing in, but before he could raise the signal, he and the other captains had agreed on, the sky above darkened.

  Jack’s stomach tumbled. “Shit!” he cursed as a huge legion of Ashmea flew overhead. Their leader glanced down, the monster’s dark eyes assessing. Its wings faltered. Banking around, it swooped down, passing close enough over Jack’s head that he had to duck.

  The Ashmea leader did not stop. It rose back into the sky and sped back to the head of their lines. The tremendous sound of their wings hurt Jack’s ears, their numbers cutting out the light.

  “Do not stop fighting!” bellowed Jack, dread coating his tongue and gripping his insides. Jack punched the nearest pirate in the face and slashed at his forearm. The man’s weapon fell from his useless fingers. Jack did not heed his plea for mercy. They did not have the resources to take prisoners. He pierced the pirate through, ignoring the self-loathing and guilt in his heart.

  Arades and the fae were not distracted by the Ashmea as they had seen them and fought them before; the pirates however, had not. The pained shouts of dying men reached his ears as the pirates froze with terror and his warriors took advantage.

  The last of the Ashmea flew overhead. Clearly, they had a more important target.

  Jack whispered a prayer of thanks to Lunaria.

  “Mark!” he yelled.

  The young fae nodded an acknowledgement. Immediately he flung his wings wide and raised himself up to Gunnald. Once there, he grabbed a spare bow. Together they shot flaming arrows skyward.

  A signal.

  Around the converging pirate ships, the rest of the Hourian ships shimmered into existence as the Hourian captains dropped their glamour.

  Cowing one vessel was not enough for Arades. The general launched skyward. He slammed his feet in to the second ship’s deck, followed closely by Zane and Karl. All three of them looked menacing, their wings out and armoured, blood coating their leathers and blades.

  “Surrender!” Arades bellowed, stepping over the dead captain.

  The nearest pirate snarled, too stupid to realise he was beaten, and lunged with his blade.

  Arades merely jumped away and raised a brow. “I thought you might say that,” he said, and spun on his heel, using his razor-edged wings as his weapon. Within seconds the man was dead, his blood spilling from a deep gash in his neck.

  Nearby, the pirates who saw their crew mate fall stopped fighting. Weapons slowly clattered to the decks. Like a wave rippling across the ships, the pirates ceased to fight, most preferring to live.

  “General? Would you care to secure the other vessels and bring their captains here,” Jack suggested though they all knew it was a command.

  Arades gave a sinister smile. “With pleasure, my prince. Z
ane! Karl! Gather your men. We are not done yet. Bring Gunnald and Syhira. We need archers above.”

  Within the hour, the captains who had decided they wanted to live kneeled before Jack and Fetu, whom Jack had insisted be by his side. A blood-covered Arades watched the prisoners closely. He needn’t have worried as none of them appeared to want to fight anymore.

  “Consider my benevolence a gift,” bellowed Jack, his voice strong enough to carry across the water to the other nearby ships. Upon the decks, the remaining pirate crews kneeled. “A gift I have bestowed upon you at the behest of a neighbouring king—King Fetu of Houria. He has persuaded me to allow you all to live.”

  A murmur of surprise rippled through the pirates.

  Jack hid his frown. Clearly, they would never have considered such an act. There was even a smirk curling one or two mouths, as if such benevolence made Jack and Fetu seem weak.

  Jack nodded at Tom, who stood in the bow of the nearest ship.

  Tom saluted—and tossed the first pirate overboard. There were shouts of panic as those who couldn’t swim realised their fate. Jack stared calmly at those who had smirked. “Hmm, not so weak am I? If you have any shred of humanity in you, you can save your comrades who can’t swim,” he informed the furious-looking captains. “Oh, and you will have to build new ships,” he added with an evil grin.

  Gunnald and Syhira stepped forward. Lighting their arrows they fired, one after the other. The nearest ships began to burn like tinder, their decks dry and uncared for. Karl stepped up and encircled Syhira in his big arms and Zane lifted Gunnald. Between them, Unis and Somal lifted several flaming torches. Together they flew through the air setting alight the remaining vessels.

  As each ship began to burn, Arades and Reese forced all the captains to jump overboard, followed by their men.

  “You could have had the fae take them to shore,” commented Lyana quietly.

  Jack tightened his lips into a line. “No,” he said. “I couldn’t.”

  “Why not?” she asked, her voice tight.

  Jack eyed her coldly, instantly defensive over his choices. Then he softened his look. Lyana did not want to see anyone suffer, even these pirates, if it could be avoided. “Lyana, we do not have time to take them to shore and it would be far too dangerous for a fae to carry such cold-hearted men. I want our warriors to stay alive, and we cannot leave the pirates with any vessels to attack our ships as we travel farther up river.”

  “But the ones who can’t swim will drown. That’s such a horrible way to die,” she whispered watching the floundering men.

  Jack sighed. He did not particularly care about the pirates. What Lyana didn’t seem to grasp was that if Jack had lost this fight, the pirates would have raped and killed her whilst laughing at her screams.

  “Sister, what Prince Oden says is true. They would try killing the fae warriors whilst they flew them to safety. They would have used you and the other females and then killed you, and they would happily pillage every single ship in our armada and take whatever they wished.” Fetu turned to face Lyana. “Do you think they would be as benevolent as to throw our people overboard—alive?”

  Lyana scowled at her brother and then Jack. “I still think it is wrong to leave them to their fate,” she uttered before flashing them both a disgusted look and walking away.

  Jack let her go, feeling the pressure of her judgment but unwilling to risk his warriors to pull the pirates from the water.

  “Ah, leave her, prince. Women are far too soft-hearted to understand such things,” said Fetu.

  Breaking his gaze from Lyana’s retreating form, Jack peered down at the Hourian prince. “Really, is that what you thought when Syhira saved your arse from a pirate’s blade earlier? Or how you felt when Unis threw your enemy across the deck?”

  Fetu had the grace to flush. “No, I suppose not,” he replied somewhat reluctantly.

  “No, Fetu, women are not weak, no matter what race they hail from. And show some respect for the kindness and humanity of your sister. Lyana does understand, she just doesn’t yet want to. It hurts her heart to see others suffer. As a king, that is a trait you should admire, not ridicule,” Jack chastised. “There is enough cruelty in this world and far too little kindness. If you have someone to balance out the hideous deeds you will have to do, then it will serve to remind you of your own humanity,” he said, feeling more callous than ever for tossing the pirates overboard.

  Fetu’s bottom lip slipped forward petulantly, then he seemed to shake himself. He stood up straight and eyed his sister speculatively before he looked at first Syhira then Unis. “Maybe you are right,” he conceded.

  Jack grinned and slapped his shoulder. “You know I am. Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to talk with the captain and my general before I seek the forgiveness of your beautiful sister.”

  Fetu grinned and gave a small bow. “Good luck, prince. The way she is scowling at you, you will need it.”

  Chapter 6

  “Wow!” breathed Diamond as Rayan showed her and Eryanth into their suite of rooms. In front of them stood a floor to ceiling window with double glass doors and framed with heavy gold drapes, showing a stunning view across the rear court and gardens. Fountains pumped water into the air, their streams glittering like jewels.

  “Your bedroom is off to your right,” said Rayan, winking at Eryanth as Diamond spun around, her eyes shining with excitement.

  Eryanth grinned widely, and she couldn’t stop her cheeks heating at the way he looked at her.

  Rayan coughed. “Erm, you also have a private bathroom with running hot water. You will have a maid to clean your rooms and fetch you refreshments whenever you wish. Just pull this cord, but she will not enter the room unless your guards give her permission.”

  Diamond couldn’t help it, she practically ran to the next room to see what it was like. “It’s so lovely,” she squealed, giving up on maintaining her queenly demeanour. A large elaborately carved glass bedframe stood against one wall, covered in plush gold and white silk bedding and cushions. Her stomach squeezed at the sight of it, her gaze flickering to Eryanth.

  He stood leaning against the doorframe, an indulgent smile upon his face, but when his eyes also flickered to that bed, his expression changed.

  Diamond exhaled, trying to control her racing heart. Clapping her hands, she ran to Rayan and threw her arms around him. “This is the most beautiful place I have ever seen,” she gushed. The austere insides of Valentia’s palace did not compare to this. This was how the insides of a palace could look. Luxurious but still warm and welcoming.

  Rayan grinned as he extricated himself from her arms. “You’re welcome. It’s the least I can do for my new friends,” he said, looking meaningfully at Eryanth too.

  Eryanth gave Rayan a small smile and a nod as if agreeing they were friends.

  Diamond felt tears prick her eyes. Both of these hardened warriors were not free with their trust or friendship. They all knew that statement meant something.

  “My father has arranged a welcome ball for tonight. I will send our best seamstress to see you, Diamond. Choose some outfits you want to wear for everyday too. This is my gift to you for making the journey to warn my kingdom of the dangers to come.” He hesitated, looking troubled. “And for all you will do when the time is upon us.”

  Eryanth could not suppress a low, angry growl.

  Rayan’s smile was tight but full of understanding. “Do not worry, my friend, we will find a way through all of this,” he said. “There has to be another way to kill the Lord of Chaos.”

  “Well, let’s not worry about that now. Look!” Diamond gushed throwing herself upon the silk-covered bed. She gave Eryanth a devious smile, knowing her actions would distract him and push Rayan to leave. “This bed is amazing!”

  Rayan chuckled. “I think that’s my cue to go,” he stated, bowing to Diamond and clasping Eryanth’s forearm. Her mate returned the gesture. “I’ll close the door on my way out.” Rayan grinned. “Elexon an
d Tawne are outside. But remember, my seamstress will be here soon—you might want to wait to, err, rest,” he quipped to Eryanth.

  Eryanth smirked, his eyes full of silver flames as he fixed Diamond with a heated gaze. He waited for the door to close, then stalked to the bed.

  Diamond lay transfixed as he stood over her. Her skin prickled as his eyes grazed slowly over her body. In the blink of an eye his armour disappeared. The muscles of his naked torso rippled as he leaned forward, walking his hands up the smooth bed cover on either side of her. His tattoos began to glow like his eyes.

  This beautiful male was hers. Her soulmate. Her blood sang as his magic pushed through her skin.

  His low groan set her skin on fire.

  Diamond smiled, running a finger along his flaming tattoos, the mark of his dragon. Her nail scraped down the glowing swirls until they traced the cut of muscle across his chest and down the valley between his abdominal muscles before stopping by the waistband of his leggings.

  She smirked as his breathing sped up. Keeping her touch feather-light, she grazed her fingers over the curve of his waist as he held himself above her.

  An animalistic sound emanated from deep in his throat as she traced the grooves of his spine, scraping her nails hard across the areas of sensitive scaled skin at the base of his wings.

  He swore and his wings snapped through his skin, shivering and pulsing.

  Diamond lifted her chin, her breathing fast and shallow.

  Lust-filled sapphire and silver eyes burned into her. He wanted her—badly, almost as badly as she wanted him.

  Diamond lifted her chin—just a fraction. It was enough.

  Eryanth dropped his head forward, his lips descending upon hers in a rush of heat and desire. His tongue probed her soft lips. She instinctively opened her mouth and let him in, groaning at the feel and taste of him. She kissed him back hard, gripping his hot skin. Nothing else existed right now but her mate—her king—and she wanted more, so much more. Her hands moved from his back, thrusting into his hair. Her fingers pushed through the silky softness and cupped his head, pulling him towards her.