The Sacred Guardians Series Box Set: Books 1-4 Omnibus

by Wendy Owens

  “Gabe, I’m so excited!” Rachel gasped.

  “I know. We’ve been working so hard on the winter preparations we deserve this day,” Gabe shared.

  “I can’t believe I’ve only been here six months. It’s kind of crazy, but after working next to you day and night, I feel like I’ve known you most of my life,” Rachel explained.

  “That’s not crazy, I feel the same way. I did a lot of things I regret after I left Rampart. Back then I never thought I would ever feel a connection with another human being, like I do with you.” Gabe added.

  Rachel’s brow furrowed. “Umm, I’m not trying to sound like a jealous girlfriend or anything, but what exactly do you mean by a lot of things you regret?”

  “Does it really matter? I’m with you now, and that’s all that should matter, right?” Gabe said attempting to direct the conversation down a new path.

  “I suppose not,” Rachel replied hesitantly, not convinced it didn’t matter.

  “Besides—” Gabe suddenly doubled over, clutching his stomach in pain. Something was wrong. The alarms hadn’t sounded, but he had that old, familiar ache telling him something was coming.

  “What’s wrong?” Rachel exclaimed as she saw him stumble in pain. She ran to Gabe’s side to aide him.

  “We have to get back, now,” Gabe insisted.

  “Why what’s wrong?” Rachel asked, trying to assess the situation.

  “An Augurie,” Gabe cried.

  “A what?” Rachel felt a rush of panic.

  “You remember,” Gabe began through gritted teeth. “I told you, I get pains.”

  “Oh, the ones that are like warning alarms for you? What do you think it is?” Rachel asked, her normal calm attitude giving way to panic.

  Gabe grabbed his stomach more firmly, wincing again in pain. “We have to get back to the cabin, now!”

  “Here,” Rachel said shifting her pack and extending an arm to help.

  Gabe attempted to straighten himself upright, but the pain again overwhelmed him, and grabbing his side, he cried out. Gabe stopped for a moment, trying to focus all of his energy into stopping the pains.

  “Are you going to be all right?” Rachel asked again.

  Gabe didn’t reply at first. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and imagined pushing all of the pain in his belly out of his body. A moment later, Gabe stood, as if the agony had subsided.

  “What’s happening? Is everything alright now?” Rachel questioned, confused by the supernatural activity unfolding before her.

  “I can control it. It’s just been so long since I’ve had an Augurie that it took me by surprise.” Taking a hold of Rachel’s hand, Gabe began to run in the direction of the small home. “We have to get to the cabin now though.”

  “I don’t understand all of this; does this mean they’ve found us? How?” Rachel pleaded as she stumbled behind Gabe, him guiding her and pulling her along as if she were a weightless doll.

  “I don’t know what it means exactly, but we need to figure it out and fast. I don’t know if we’re safe anymore, Rachel. You need to be ready to run, do you understand me? No matter what, if something happens to me, you run and hide.” Gabe halted as he reached the corner of the cabin. Lifting a finger to his lips he motioned for Rachel to be quiet.

  Creeping slowly and quietly, Gabe peered around the cabin, into the clearing. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He couldn’t be sure though if something were lurking, just out of sight. “Come here, don’t let go,” Gabe whispered extending his hand.

  Rachel said nothing. She trusted Gabe would keep her safe no matter what dangers were hunting them. The two walked carefully and quietly on to the porch. Gabe turned the knob to the cabin door as quietly as he could manage and pushed it open, readying his body for a fight.

  When the door swung open, nothing happened. No demons came rushing out; no ambush was waiting to kill them. Perhaps Gabe’s abilities were failing him. Perhaps he wasn’t as amazing as everyone at Rampart had thought he was. Stepping the rest of the way into the cabin, Gabe’s breath was stolen for a moment.

  Lying on the bed, possibly unconscious or worse, was the body of Uri. His body littered with wounds, seeping blood. A gash across his eyebrow looked as though it should have been pouring blood, but wasn’t due to the swelling all around it. Beaten, bloodied, and bruised, Uri did not stir at the sound of Gabe and Rachel entering the room.

  “Uri!” Gabe shouted rushing to his side and shaking his friend violently.

  “Huh? What?” Uri snorted, stirring from his rest.

  “I thought you were dead,” Gabe gasped.

  “Oh my God, what happened to you?” Rachel asked.

  Sitting up, Uri moaned slightly. “We have to get you guys out of here,” he huffed.

  “What are you talking about? We’re fine. You on the other hand, you’re not looking so great,” Gabe informed his delusional friend.

  “It’s happened,” Uri said flatly, licking his fattened lip.

  “Come on man, you’re being cryptic. What’s happened?” Gabe snapped, consumed by frustration and worry all at the same time.

  “Baal attacked High Point,” Uri explained.

  “What? North Carolina?” Rachel asked, her voice cracking. Rachel turned and slumped her body in a nearby chair. Her defeated posture enraging Gabe. He wanted to protect her from everything. She had shared stories of High Point with him. Stories of home.

  “My family?” Rachel asked, almost in a whisper, clearly afraid of the answer.

  “We don’t know,” Uri answered.

  “You said if I left, they would be safe,” Rachel added, refusing to look at Uri. Her eyes flooded with unshed tears.

  “We’ll go back, Rachel, I promise, we’ll find them,” Uri pleaded.

  The picture of why Rachel truly went with Uri became clear to Gabe. She was willing to sacrifice everything if it meant it would keep her brother safe. “No more promises, Uri. I think you’ve done enough.”

  Gabe walked to Rachel, reaching out and pulling her close. She clung to him as if she were clinging to life itself. “I’m sorry, Rachel.”

  “It wasn’t my fault. The trackers have been trying everything to find Rachel. The last place they had her scent was High Point. When they couldn’t find any trace of her they burned the city to the ground,” Uri explained, trying to defend himself.

  “No, that can’t be. There were over a hundred thousand people that lived there. They wouldn’t reveal themselves to humans like that. You told me, they’re not supposed to reveal themselves,” Rachel argued, staring into nothingness as she processed the gruesome news.

  “An attack on the humans is considered an act of war. The demons have never wanted to bring the wrath down on them of the entire holy army, so they push the rules, but nothing like this. Baal is bringing the fight to the humans. This will mark the beginning of the end,” Uri explained.

  “Are you telling me this was the start of the apocalypse?” Gabe asked in disbelief.

  “Yes, the council has called all Guardians up for battle,” Uri said, hanging his head low.

  “Do they know where we are?” Gabe asked, realizing the danger could be coming.

  Uri simply sat silent, his head low, consumed with guilt for not saving Rachel’s family.

  “Dang it, Uri! Do they know where we are?” Gabe shouted as he released Rachel and turned to shake his friend from his state of shock.

  “Not yet, but it won’t take long. I hid my tracks as well as I could, but I know I had a couple of demons on me. The elder’s council has been moved to a new secret location. Michael has instructed I get Rachel and bring her back to Iron Gate to await further instructions,” Uri explained.

  “What? No!” Rachel exclaimed, snapping out of her distant state of mind.

  “She stays with me,” Gabe demanded.

  “Look, Gabe, you do whatever you want, but Rachel is coming with me. We leave in ten minutes, so be ready.” Uri pushed himself up off the bed and lim
ped out the front door.

  “What are we going to do?” Rachel inquired, the tears now freely falling down her cheeks.

  “If he’s right and the trackers are able to trace him here, there is no way I can protect us alone. I think the best thing you can do is go with him,” Gabe suggested.

  “What? No, I won’t leave you,” Rachel cried.

  “Rachel, calm down. I’m coming, too,” Gabe reassured his distraught love. Her entire home ripped away, destroyed in an instant and all she could think about wasn’t being torn away from him. He knew she loved him in that moment. Gabe never wanted to be part of this holy fight, but now that he was, he was not about to lose.

  “Rachel, I need you to listen to me,” Gabe began taking to one knee. Rachel looked into his eyes, awaiting his instruction. “Are you listening?”

  “Yes,” Rachel said, nodding and taking a tight hold of Gabe’s hand.

  “There was something I was going to do today. You know how we were going to go on this picnic?” Gabe asked nervously.

  “Yeah, but what does this have to do with —” Rachel began.

  “Just let me finish,” Gabe interrupted gently. “We’re about to head into a world that’s full of danger and chaos, and brimming with uncertainty. We will never have anything close to a normal life. There’s already no going back for us because of who we are. Both of us will always be hunted.”

  “Yeah, this is really uplifting and all Gabe, you know, considering I just lost my home and all, but is there a point anytime soon?” Rachel urged, feeling as though she might come unraveled at any moment.

  “I’m not certain if I will live to see tomorrow, but one thing I’m certain of, more certain than I’ve ever been of anything, ever, in my life is how I feel about you.”

  “I love you too, Gabe,” Rachel said with a smile. “Is this really the time though?”

  “Rachel, I wanted this to be perfect and romantic, but now, well now I just have to say this because I don’t know if I will have another chance. Rachel, will you marry me?” Gabe swallowed hard after finally managing to push the words from his lips.

  “What?” Rachel gasped.

  “I know it’s the worst timing in history, but I have to know, will you become my wife? I’ve spent every moment of every day with you for the past six months and I can’t imagine spending a single one without you going forward,” Gabe asked again, staring into Rachel’s eyes for some sign of an answer. The silence lingered, hanging heavy in the air between them.

  “Well, are you going to answer the poor kid or leave him down there on one knee all night?” Uri bellowed from the door way.

  Glancing over his shoulder, Gabe rolled his eyes, annoyed, but not surprised their moment had been eavesdropped on by Uri.

  “Yes,” Rachel whispered, her voice full of both joy and sadness. She reached out and grabbed a hold of Gabe’s neck, pulling him close. She kissed him deep and long. In that moment there was no Baal, no hunters, only her and Gabe and their happiness. But that could not last.

  “I guess I did miss a lot while I was gone,” Uri joked awkwardly behind the couple. “Come on love birds, get what you need and let’s high tail it out of here.”

  As the three walked to the center of the area outside of the cabin, bags slung over their shoulders, Gabe and Rachel gave one last look at the home they had grown to love each other in. The months of hard work preparing for the harsh winter didn’t matter now. It was all wasted.

  “Man, Michael is going to love this,” Uri said sarcastically in reference to Gabe and Rachel’s relationship. He then placed his hand in the middle of the group, followed by Gabe and then Rachel. A moment later, the three were gone, only a distorted cloud momentarily lingered where they stood.

  The transportation spell left Gabe’s head spinning. He had grown in strength physically and magically since the time he left Rampart and now could easily transport without being rendered unconscious, but it was still not a pleasant experience. The travel was much harsher on Rachel, however; she was now lying on the ground at his feet, out cold.

  “Oh my God, Rachel,” Gabe cried, falling to his knees, shaking her gently. “Are you all right?”

  “Come on man, it’s no use, she’s going to be out for most of the day,” Uri insisted.

  Gabe knew he was right. Lifting his beloved into his arms, her limp body hanging loosely, Gabe instructed, “We need to take her somewhere she can rest.”

  “It’s been a while since you’ve been here, things have changed a lot. With all of the overcrowding issues a lot of rooms have been repurposed. Follow me, I’ll show you the best place for her,” Uri offered, taking off to the east, rapidly leading the way.

  Gabe glanced around the pathways; nothing was recognizable from his youth, stunned by the amount of change that had taken place.

  “Is everyone from Rampart here?” Gabe asked, following close behind, Rachel pulled into his body.

  “Oh no, not at all. They’re spread all over the place. Honestly, hardly anyone is where they began five years ago. Iron Gate is full of refugees from all over the world. That’s one of the biggest problems we’re having.”

  “I don’t understand, why is that a problem?”

  “It’s getting harder for the clerics to keep the shields in place; there are just too many minds for their magic to handle. The defenses were never meant to protect this many people, I don’t know how long they can keep it up, and if we can’t find a safe haven for them soon, I’m worried it won’t take long for trackers to locate this place,” Uri explained, the concern heavy in his voice.

  “Do the elders have any kind of plan?” Gabe inquired, trying to assess the situation further.

  Uri’s silence was all the answer Gabe needed. He led them down a path to what had been the great banquet hall. Gabe remembered the circumstances of when he had been here years ago, how different his life was. He was fighting for a relationship that he thought meant the world to him, and at the time it did. He never realized he would one day meet someone like Rachel, or have the capacity to love someone the way he loved her.

  Gabe had spent so much time building his walls and shutting the world out that when he let Rachel in, it was like an avalanche of emotion spilling out from him. There were moments he wasn’t sure if he could handle what he was feeling, his chest ached from the sheer range of foreign feelings. He feared he wouldn’t be able to protect her, while at the same time felt overwhelmed with joy whenever he saw her smile.

  He didn’t regret Sophie; she had been one of the bright stars that guided him out of the dark world he grew up in. Putting his life on the line to save her from the curse was his only choice. Taking their love out of the equation, Gabe knew he would have done the same for any one of his friends at Rampart. He had loved her though, so much that only years of not seeing her could dull the pain of losing her. Gabe naively had assumed you could only love one person in your life, yet here he was, madly in love with Rachel. An experience he had been certain he would never have again.

  He didn’t save Sophie all those years ago, at least not like he promised he would. She was alive, yes, but having no memory of them and who they were as a couple. He failed at keeping his promise to fix everything, and now, years later, all he could think as he carried Rachel was that he couldn’t fail her. She was going to be his wife. If he lost her, there would be no other for him. He couldn’t take the pain of losing her as well.

  “In here,” Uri motioned, ducking into the great hall. Gabe followed, curious why he would bring them there.

  As they entered the vast corridor and turned to face the massive room, Gabe quickly realized why. The banquet hall had been set up as an infirmary. Much to Gabe’s shock, the cots were full as far as he could see; men, women, children, their many wounds bandaged. Make-shift dividers hung throughout the room between various cots, hiding the badly wounded from the others; perhaps an attempt to keep spirits in the room from sinking too low.

  “The fighting started out in the
underworld, but it didn’t take long for it to spread to the earthly realm,” Uri explained.

  “What? That can’t be, the treaty—” Gabe argued.

  “A treaty is only good if both sides honor it. Baal’s men were keeping the skirmishes small, so as not to draw attention. Dina and the others, they do what they can here,” Uri continued.

  “Dina?” Gabe said with a smile, remembering his dear friend fondly.

  “Yeah, she helps run things in here. I don’t know what we would do without her brewing abilities. Over here, Gabe, you can put Rachel down here,” Uri directed, motioning towards an empty cot.

  Gabe took to the ground with bended knee, gently laying Rachel on her back, retrieving the blanket that was now perched beneath her legs. With great care he unfolded it, wrapping it tightly around her body.

  “You really haven’t heard anything about what’s been going on out there?” Uri asked in disbelief.

  Gabe shook his head, not taking his eyes off Rachel for a moment. “Once I realized the valley was so rich in copper, I went into hiding. I only went to town when I ran low on supplies, and even then I kept to myself.”

  “The prodigal son has returned,” a voice called out behind them.

  Though five years had passed since Gabe last heard the voice, he instantly recognized it. Quickly he stood to his feet and spun around, “Dina!” The woman that stood before him was just as he had remembered, save one thing, her hair had now turned an ashy shade of white.

  “Gabe Harwood, get over here and give your old friend a hug,” Dina commanded. Without hesitation, Gabe rushed forward and scooped up her tiny frame, wrapping his arms tight around her and lifting her several feet off the ground.

  He didn’t want to let go, he wanted to tell her how sorry he was he hadn’t been there for Raimie, he wanted to thank her for leaving a way for Uri to find him. He said nothing however, allowing the embrace to speak for him. At last he did release her, taking one last thorough look at her.

  “So that’s a new look for you,” Gabe jested, tussling her hair as he did so.