Guardian of Secrets (Library Jumpers, #2)

by Brenda Drake

  “What I wouldn’t give for a toothbrush and paste,” I said. “And a bath.”

  Bastien snickered. “We both could use one. My skin is sticky from that fruit. I wonder if there is a body of water nearby. We could get a little skinny-dipping in before the next arctic blast hits us.”

  “I am so not skinny-dipping around here.”

  “Let me understand this, if we were somewhere other than here, you would skinny-dip with me?” He tickled my side.

  “Stop it.” I dodged his next attack. “I’d never be naked around you.”

  “Never say never.” He took a spot on the bench beside Gian.

  I slipped onto the bench across the table from Bastien. There were eggs, jerky, and fruit on our plates, and cups of steaming tea beside them. “This looks great.”

  Royston sat next to me.

  “Eat quickly,” Gian said. “The freeze will end soon and we’ll have little time outside.”

  After breakfast, Gian gave us each a task and a ferret to look out for danger. I went about picking only the dark purple berries from the bushes in the foothills, staying away from all the other color berries that Gian said were poisonous. The sun glared at me and sweat trickled down my back, my shirt sticking to my skin. My guard ferret’s furry white body circled my boots, threatening to trip me.

  “We can’t play, I’m working.” I leaned over to pick a berry, but the ferret snatched it before I could reach it. I swear the furry nuisance was laughing as it darted off between the rocks.

  I spotted a crevice between the cliffs and peeked in. Flashes of sunlight teased the greenery and sparkled on a body of water. I squeezed through the crevice and moved down the rocks until I came out on the other side. High cliffs and thick-leafed trees surrounded a pristine pond.

  I searched the area and found I was alone, except for my ferret companion who followed and nipped at my heels. I sat on a rock, yanking off my boots, then socks, and rolling up my pant legs. Warm water welcomed my toes when I dipped them in. I removed my scabbard and placed it on the ground before skinning out of my pants and shirt, leaving on my undies and bra, then dove into the tepid water and swam out a ways. The ferret darted in and out of the shallows.

  “I should give you a name,” I called out to the ferret. “It doesn’t seem right not to have a name, don’t you agree? How about Momo? I like that name. It’s from a show I used to watch.” I leaned back and floated on the water, letting the waves ripple against my skin and closing my eyes at the sun’s angry stare.

  Something plunked into the water and I shot upright, wading in the middle. “Did you hear that, Momo?” Her cute, furry face just watched me. “Aren’t you supposed to warn me of danger or something?” I spun in a circle, inspecting the area surrounding the pond.

  Strong arms encircled me from behind.

  “Bastien, I told you I wouldn’t skinny-dip with you,” I squealed, and twirled in his arms to face him, then gasped.

  “Royston?” I pushed on his chest. “Let go of me!”

  “Do you like me now?” He kept his grip on me. “I finished my duties early and shaved with my knife. Cut my hair to look like your companion.”

  I stopped struggling when I recognized his face. It was him. From my dreams. Athela’s son.

  Stay calm. I took a soothing breath. “You look nice. Now, will you let me go?”

  He released me, and I pushed away from him.

  Questions flew through my mind. How did he get here? Should I ask him about his mother? No. Not now. This wasn’t the time.

  A squawk sounded high above us, and I shot back to him.

  He laughed, holding me against his bare chest. “It’s just a bird.”

  “Are you naked?” I wiggled away from him again, my eyes stuck on his muscled chest. And I froze. There was a scar the shape of a crescent moon on his perfectly defined pectoral muscle.

  Just like mine. Someone shielded him.

  “Isn’t that how you take a bath?” His face was serious.

  “Well, yes, but in private places only,” I said, wading in the direction I had dropped my clothes.

  “This was my private bath until you invaded it.” Royston launched past me and stood. “You are so beautiful.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Coming from a guy who hasn’t seen a girl since the Stone Age, I’ll take that as you’re very horny.”

  “Will you wed me?”

  I paused. What the hell? “No. Thank you for the proposal, but I’ll have to decline.”

  “Are you betrothed to someone else?”

  I thought of Bastien; in the Mystik world we were technically betrothed. “Well, actually, I am. Besides, you do realize you’re like my grandfather a hundred times removed or something. There has to be some sort of ancestor taboo thing there. I consider that incest.”

  “My mother married her cousin.”

  “Eww. You know, they’ve discovered that inbreeding causes birth defects.”

  “Your speech amazes me.” He stood when his feet touched the bottom. It was like watching a Russian god emerge from the depths. The water stopped just above his pelvic bone. His well-defined abs and oblique muscles glistened in the sun. “I have desires, and need a wife.”

  I bet you do. He definitely had been trapped in the Somnium for far too long. I sucked in a breath and turned my back. “I’m too young to marry.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Sixteen.”

  “It’s a perfect age to marry.”

  “Probably back in your time, but not in mine. How old are you?”

  “I am in my twentieth year,” he said. “I’d make a good husband. I have experience. I was married before I fell through the trap. She gave me a son.”

  “You were married and a father? Oh, this just gets better.”

  His eyes were stuck on my chest, so I wrapped my arms around me to cover my bra.

  “I am certain they are dead now,” he said. “I realized it when Gian told me the year he left behind.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” I said. “It’s late. We should return to the cave. Go ahead and get out. I’ll wait until you leave.”

  “I would never harm you, Gianna. But we should discuss my proposal later.”

  “There’s nothing to discuss. I’m promised to another.”

  “You heard her.” Bastien stood at the side of the pond, holding my trench coat. “She’s betrothed.”

  “Are you betrothed to him?” Royston sized Bastien up.

  “Yes,” I said a bit too eagerly.

  “I have more to offer than him. I am from royal blood.”

  “Um, so is he,” I said. “Bastien’s next in line to be High Wizard of Couve.”

  Royston trudged out of the water, and I caught a glimpse of his bare ass as he slipped into his pants. That ass could win contests.

  The two of them were so incredibly hot standing beside each other, I wished I had my camera phone to take a picture and send to Afton. Royston’s eyes were still on me like a hungry wildcat.

  Bastien ignited an electric ball on his palm, expanded his chest, and took a step toward Royston. “Don’t look at her. If you go near her again, I’ll fry you.”

  The blue light illuminated Royston’s face, but he showed no emotion. “My apologizes. I did not know she belonged to you.” He bowed his head before disappearing through the crevice.

  I paddled over to the shallow end, ran to Bastien, and snatched my trench coat from his hand. “Thank you,” I said, shivering. I wrapped the coat around me like a blanket. “And thanks for rescuing me from that Neanderthal.”

  “What were you doing with him?” There was anger in his eyes.

  “I was here first and he just showed up.” I pulled the trench tight around me. “Are you mad?”

  “Not at you,” he said. “At him. I’m sure you could’ve handled yourself.”

  “Well, I was in a vulnerable position. I didn’t have my sword.”

  “Well, he definitely had his.” He laughed, sparks ignit
ing in his eyes.

  “Not funny.”

  His face went serious. “Gia…”

  “What?”

  He stepped closer to me, lifted my chin toward his lips, and kissed me. The trench coat slipped from my grasp and tumbled to the ground. He pressed my half-naked body hard against his taut frame. My heart thundered in my chest when he parted my lips with his tongue. The warmth of his mouth tasted like berries.

  “You ate my berries,” I protested around his tongue.

  “Hush,” he said against my lips. “I’ve waited a long time for this.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. Every nip, suck, and kiss, gentle and full of passion. It felt good to let go. To forget. Forget where we were. Forget the dangers. Forget Arik’s rejection.

  Bastien stopped and studied my face. “I want you fully. Without Arik in your heart.”

  “He’s no longer there.”

  And he believed me. His mouth found mine again. His hands ran over my curves. His kiss faded all the memories of me watching Arik with Emily, them making out in the halls before classes. All the pain. All the tears I cried at night. Bastien wanted me.

  Snow fell from the sky and a frosty breeze sped around us. Bastien stepped away from me.

  “We’d better go,” he said, breathless. “Get dressed.”

  Perfect. This place had a way of interrupting everything good. I yanked on my clothes and shoved my feet into my boots.

  “I hate this moody weather.” I shrugged into my trench and fastened my scabbard to my waist. “If we stay here much longer, I’ll lose my mind. I swear.”

  Momo and Bastien’s ferret let out earsplitting screeches, alarming us that those beasts were nearby.

  I removed my sword from its sheath, metal crying against metal. “Where are they?”

  “I can’t see them,” Bastien said, studying the cliffs. “Hold on, there they are, on the ledge.”

  I looked where Bastien’s eyes were set. At the top of the cliff, three beasts paced, staring at us. “They can’t get down from that height, right?”

  “Who knows what they can do.”

  “Well, don’t just stand there.” I bolted for the passage through the cliffs.

  I sidestepped through the opening until reaching the end of the crevice and peered out. Nothing moved around the foothills. Momo darted out, and then the other ferret followed. I eased out of the opening, my sword readied, glancing around as I climbed down the foothills in the direction of the cave. Our boots clunked over the rocks.

  Something dropped to the ground behind us. I reeled around. A saber-toothed beast stalked forward, its eyes narrowing. Electricity sparked between Bastien’s hands, and then he released it. The charge zapped the beast and knocked him back, matted fur smoking. I’d seen the wizards’ electric charges hit Mystiks before. It had done more damage than what it just did to that beast. It was back on its feet quick and the zap had only succeeded in pissing it off.

  What the hell? That should’ve killed it.

  A few of its friends decided to join the fun.

  “That worked out nicely,” I said sarcastically, securing my footing.

  Bastien picked up a rock. “Get back.”

  “No. You get back.” I held my sword tight in one hand and ignited my battle globe in the other one.

  “Gia!”

  I ignored him.

  One of the animal’s weight shifted to his back legs as it readied to spring. I tossed the globe at the same time it lunged. A pink membrane engulfed the animal. It crashed to the ground and rolled down the foothill. The globe busted against a rock, crushing the beast’s skull.

  Bastien tossed a fireball, and it caught the brush between the creatures and us on fire. With them contained behind the wall of fire, we scrambled down the rocks. Stealing quick glances over my shoulder, I hoped the beasts would stay contained. A brave one jumped through the flames and charged after us. Bastien tripped over a rock and nose-dived down the hill.

  My heart raced, fast and furious. I centered myself as I waited for the attack. Snow blew across the rocks, and the wind slapped my face. The freeze was coming. I focused on the creature, watching its legs, waiting for a sign of which direction it would come at me. The creature hinted right, and I adjusted my stance.

  The thing propelled itself off a rock. When it was within range, I lunged forward, my sword sinking into its stomach. It crashed to the ground and slid across the rocks, knocking me onto my back. Momo ran anxiously around as if she could help me up. I hustled to my feet. Bastien struggled to stand, his face scratched and bleeding.

  Three of the beasts came at us from different angles. I lobbed a series of globes at them, but one dodged the pink barriers and reached me before I could get another globe ignited. I spun, just barely dodging its claws. It came at me again, but Royston charged the beast, stabbing it several times with a long dagger. The beast yanked away and scampered off, kicking pebbles into the air that pelted my face.

  “Shit.” I swiped the dirt from my eyes.

  Sprawled across the ground, Royston stared up at me, a look of amusement on his face.

  “Get up.” I shouted at him, peeved that he would risk his life like that. If he died, there would be no hope for the worlds. “You could’ve been killed. What were you thinking?”

  Electric lights blasted the other two beasts from different directions. Bastien’s came from behind me, and Gian’s came from the side. The beasts careened down a footpath, yelping and howling, their fur sparking and smoking.

  A sheet of wet snow surged across us, the icy wind racing over the land. I lifted Momo, tucked her into the front of my trench coat, and fought the blizzard with the others. The frigid conditions stung my exposed skin, and I was on the verge of hypothermia. I never thought I’d love a cave as much as when we made it into its shelter.

  We thawed in front of the fire, not a single word spoken between us. I looked sidelong at Royston. I couldn’t imagine living like this for centuries or even seventy-five years. Fighting to live for a few hours of warmth each day. I vacillated between disbelief that this guy could save our worlds to believing he was the only one who could. How could it not be him? He’d survived so much. He was strong and fierce. No wonder he was a little bit odd. I felt my sanity slipping just the short time I had been in this godforsaken place.

  Momo moved inside my jacket, so I took her out and put her on the ground. My thoughts spun out of control. This had to be some kind of mix-up. Someone had to have read that stupid prophecy wrong. There was no way I could protect Royston. He didn’t need my protection. I figured the only way I could help him would be to teach him about the worlds he’d left behind so many centuries ago. Things were way different now from anything he knew or could ever imagine.

  “Now then, how about we warm up with some tea.” Gian broke the silence, going for his clay pot.

  Royston crossed his arms. “The beasts are getting braver. I have never seen them venture such a distance from their dens. They’ve never come into the cliffs before.”

  Gian looked up from his tea preparations. “Those were my thoughts, as well.”

  A howl sounded outside, and I flinched.

  Royston perked up. “They’re still out in this weather?”

  “I fear they’re evolving,” Gian said. “They’re acclimating to the extreme weather. It happened when I arrived, and it has now increased with Bastien’s presence here. The world changes when our magic enters it. We must get out of here. We can’t fail the next jump.”

  “We won’t,” Bastien said.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  The sun thawed hours of cold from my body. It had been three weeks since we entered the Somnium. I never appreciated the sun so much as I did now. My head rested on Bastien’s abs as we lay basking in the sun on a large boulder outside the cave. Momo curled up to my side. There were no chores today. We waited for nightfall to trek to the trapdoor. Supposedly, the silver lights would show tonight.

  B
eing there was like being on a bad vacation that never ended. If it weren’t for Bastien, I totally would’ve lost it. I rolled over and faced him. At my movement, Momo darted down the boulder after one of the other ferrets.

  “Have I ever told you how handsome you are with a scruffy beard,” I purred.

  He rubbed his chin. “No, just how much it scratches you when we kiss.”

  I reached up and pulled my fingers through his long hair. “You should keep your hair longer; it really is hot.”

  “You’re on the frisky side this morning.”

  “I’m just happy we’ll be home soon.”

  He slipped his hands under my arms and pulled me up to sit on his lap. “I’m not too sure I’m as happy as you are.” His mouth found mine and he gave me a passionate kiss before pulling back. “I kind of like having your full attention.”

  I sighed. “Well, don’t you miss your mother?”

  “I do, very much so, but…”

  I knew what was weighing on his mind. He worried that when I saw Arik, I wouldn’t want him any longer.

  Arik was a distant memory now.

  Bastien’s strength was my security. We took care of each other. Fighting off beasts. Foraging for food. He wouldn’t let go of me when I was falling through the trap. When he knew he couldn’t pull me out, he had jumped in with me. That kind of sacrifice meant a lot. And I would never let him go.

  Bastien caressed my cheek with his strong hand. “When that look is on your face and your lip shudders like that, I know something is weighing on your mind. What is it?”

  I love everything about you. Your blue eyes looking at me with concern. Your dark hair falling over your forehead.

  I turned my head and kissed his hand. “It’s nothing, just worried about tonight, aren’t you?”

  He pressed his lips against my temple. “Whatever we face, we won’t give up. I’ll be right next to you. Besides, you are quite fierce with a sword. There’s nothing more attractive than a girl who can decapitate a beast.”

  I laughed. “So you like the violent type.”

  He quirked a mischievous grin. “There’s nothing better.”

  Gian came out of the cave and gave us a stern look. I scrambled off Bastien’s lap and fidgeted with my hands. My great-grandfather didn’t like public displays of affection. Even if we weren’t exactly in public.