The Guardian Trilogy: The Complete Collection - Guardian, Allegiant & Reborn

by Sara Mack

  It’s a good thing I’m wearing a mask because I don’t remember this and it hides some of my confusion. “I’m…”

  “It wasn’t her,” Dane interrupts. “I mean, she was there, but Matt and Shel were the ones actually in the water.”

  I let out a breath. What in the world were they doing?

  Mr. Walker chuckles. “If my club manager had his way you would’ve been fired. It’s a good thing Dane was there to save you.”

  What? “I’m so sorry,” I apologize.

  “Don’t worry.” He gives me a genuine smile. “It seems you two have a habit of saving each other from unpleasant things. Bad engagements, for example.”

  Heat rushes to my face, and I know my ears are flaming red.

  “Dad!” Dane snaps at his father in a hushed tone.

  “What?” he says innocently. “I’ve just met her and I already like her better.”

  “Dear.” A woman approaches Mr. Walker from behind. “The Thompson’s are here and Ken is looking for you.”

  Charles grimaces and turns to me. “Ken Thompson is a horse’s ass.”

  I can’t help it and let out a small giggle.

  “Lily,” Dane’s dad makes a sweeping gesture with his hand, “have you met Emma? This is Dane’s lovely date.”

  Dane’s stepmother politely smiles, but her mind is elsewhere as she tries to steer her husband in the direction of Ken Thompson. She’s not wearing a mask either – why the masquerade then? – and she wears a black velvet pencil dress with a matching cropped jacket embroidered with a gold pattern. Her brown hair is styled in a bob and streaked with gray in a classy way.

  “Maybe we can talk later,” she says as she pushes Charles away from us. “Enjoy yourselves.”

  When they’re out of ear shot, I face Dane. He runs his hand nervously through his hair and exhales slowly.

  “I like your dad,” I say and step toward him, catching his hands in mine. “You look a lot like him and he’s funny.”

  He smirks like he doesn’t believe me and then takes advantage of how close we are to lower his lips to mine. “I’ve been dying to do that since I saw you tonight,” he says.

  I feel a hand around my arm and turn to face a smiling Shel. “There you are!” she says and starts to pull me in the direction of the music. “I need a dance partner.”

  I laugh and follow her, leaving Dane with Matt. They find a table at the edge of the dance floor as Shel and I take advantage of the music and the atmosphere.

  After we’ve danced awhile, taken a break to eat, retrieved drinks from the bar, and danced some more, I realize I’m having a complete and total blast. I can’t remember the last time I’ve laughed this much or felt so right. Sitting across Dane’s lap with one arm wrapped around his shoulders seems like the most natural thing in the world.

  A string of slow songs start and, by the second one, Dane lifts me off his legs and sets my feet on the floor. He stands and informs Matt and Shel that not only has he lost circulation in his limbs, but he wants my undivided attention. We dodge several couples on the dance floor before he finally decides to stop walking and gather me in his arms. It just so happens he’s selected the furthest spot from our table to dance.

  “Finally,” he says as he leans in to me. He tries to rest his forehead on mine, but our masks rub uncomfortably against our skin.

  “I’m taking this thing off,” he says and removes his costume piece. His mask is plain black with a thin white line that traces the edge.

  I push mine off my cheeks and up into my hair, wiggling my nose. “That does feel better.” Apparently, Dane doesn’t like where I leave it though, and he pulls it off my head entirely.

  Turning, he sets both masks on a nearby chair. When he looks back at me, I notice a red line under his left eye. “Your mask left a mark.” I smile and run my thumb across his skin.

  He catches my wrist and gently kisses the inside of it. He continues up my bare arm, leaving a trail to my elbow, before placing my hand on his shoulder. As I try to breathe normally, I move my other hand to mirror the first and he wraps his arms around me, pulling me to him. We barely move to the music.

  “We are in a public place you know,” I say with my cheek pressed to his shoulder. “Maybe we should attempt to look like we’re dancing?”

  I feel his chest shake with laughter against mine and he turns us in a circle. “Better?”

  I lift my head and nod. His hands move low on my hips and it takes only a second for his mouth to find mine. I feel self-conscious and lean away. “Public place,” I whisper.

  The decision flashes in his eyes. He steps back and takes my hand, leading me off the dance floor, through the kitchen, and down a hallway we didn’t explore before. We come upon a sliding glass door which he opens and pulls me through. As he closes it behind us and draws the shade, my line of vision is open to a glass room – a solarium. Soft light surrounds us along with a multitude of potted plants. A few chaise lounges and wicker chairs sit to our left, and to our right, the party tent butts up to where we’re standing. I can hear the music clear as day.

  “You grew up in the Boddy mansion,” I say referencing the game of Clue.

  He laughs and wraps one arm around me again. “I never thought of it that way.” We start to dance and he brushes my hair away from my neck, zeroing in on my skin with his lips.

  I tilt my head back and catch sight of the windows. “Um…” I stand up straight. “People can see us.”

  He frowns. “The only thing on that side of the house is a yard full of parked cars.”

  “Yeah, but if guests are leaving…”

  He smirks. “I’m only kissing you. Unless you think something else might happen.” His expression turns serious as he stares into my eyes. “I’ll gladly remove more than your mask,” he whispers.

  My throat goes dry. “I thought you liked my dress.”

  “I do. Very much.”

  “But?”

  He slides two fingers under my one strap and moves it an inch off my shoulder. “I’ve seen what’s beneath it and I like that a lot, too.”

  I can’t breathe and my knees nearly give out when I feel his mouth where my strap used to be. He’s pushing boundaries he’s never pushed before, and I need to stop this before things get out of hand. There’s only one problem.

  I don’t want to.

  “Emma.”

  When I hear my name it’s as if a bucket of cold water has drenched me from head to toe. I quickly turn to see James standing a few feet from us, his arms crossed, and his expression serious. I step back from Dane and adjust my dress. “What is it?”

  James takes me in, and I see his eyes widen at what I’m wearing. He blinks and refocuses. “It’s time,” he says. “Jack says Garrett is in serious trouble. We have to go.”

  “Now?” I take a step forward. I didn’t bring anything with me. Not a change of clothes, not my anlace, nothing.

  As if on cue The Larvatus appear beside him. In her hands Madeline holds a stack of clothes. She approaches me and hands over the garments. “We’ll wait here.”

  My heart pounds. This is really happening. I turn toward Dane, and he looks as if the wind has been knocked from his lungs. Silently, he walks toward the sliding door and I follow. He leads me a short way down the hall to a bathroom where he flips the light switch. I step inside and before I can say anything he shuts the door behind me.

  For a moment I stare at the back of the door speechless. I know he’s unhappy and have no idea how to make it better. Instead of dwelling on it, I change clothes. Madeline has given me a pair of brown suede leggings, a plain white tank, and an olive green shift of some sort that belts at the waist. When I look in the mirror, I realize I’m wearing the exact same outfit she is. She’s also given me boots to match hers.

  I emerge from the bathroom and quickly make my way back to the solarium. Dane sits at the edge of one of the lounges with his elbows propped on his knees staring down at his hands. When he realizes I’m back, hi
s head snaps up and he stands. James, Madeline, and Ash move toward me.

  “Here.” Ash pulls an anlace from his belt. “This one is enchanted. Don’t forget.”

  I tilt the knife in the light to reveal the amulet symbol on the blade. I feel air brush the back of my neck and realize Madeline is behind me braiding my hair like hers. She completes it in a matter of seconds.

  “How will I know when you’ve returned?” Dane’s voice wavers. He pretends to cough to cover it up.

  Ash opens his mouth to answer just as I hear the sliding door open. “Emma? What in the hell are you wearing?”

  I whip around to see Shel step over the threshold into the glass room with Matt close behind.

  “We were at the bar when I saw you come out of the bathroom.” She frowns. “What is going –?”

  She inhales sharply and reaches behind her to clutch at Matt’s chest. He looks confused and grasps her hand as she twists his shirt in her fist. The blood drains from her face, and I’ve never seen her so pale. Matt follows her line of vision and I turn my head, too.

  They’ve both seen James.

  Chapter 16

  “You’re not dead.”

  Matt’s voice is barely audible. He looks as if he can’t decide whether to be overjoyed or scared shitless.

  James gives him a defeated smile. “No. Not anymore.”

  Matt releases Shel’s hand and she steps away from him cautiously, like if she moves too fast James will disappear. “Not dead,” she repeats, her voice small. Her eyes dart from James to me. “Why aren’t you freaking out?”

  “Because I’m used to it,” I say, almost ashamed. This is the biggest secret of secrets I’ve kept from her. With good reason of course, but still.

  She shoots me a bewildered look and the tension in the room is suffocating. My heartbeat quickens and matches the rhythm of the party music next to us. It’s steady and fast and growing faster. How can I explain this? Do I have time?

  “Unfortunately no,” Ash reads my thoughts and moves to my side. “Dane?” He looks over his shoulder. “Would you please escort your friends to our place? You have our permission to use whatever you need there. Explain things as best you can and we’ll assist once we return.”

  Dane steps around Ash and reluctantly nods. Matt stares at him in disbelief. “You know about this?”

  “He knows everything,” I say quietly.

  My gaze falls on Shel whose color has yet to come back. Actually, she’s looking more and more green the longer she stares at us. I walk up to her and quickly gather her hands. “You have to trust me.” I focus on her face. “You can ask Dane anything and he’ll give you honest answers. When I get back you can interrogate me, too. This is it my very last secret. I have nothing else. I promise.”

  Her brow furrows. “Where are you going?”

  I put it as simply as possible. “To save a friend.”

  “It’s dangerous?” she asks and looks down at our hands. “You need a knife?”

  I follow her gaze and realize I’m still holding my anlace, except now it’s pressed between my palm and back of her hand. I swallow. “Yes. But James and Madeline and Ash will be with me.”

  She looks up and past my shoulder at the people behind us. “Am I losing my mind?”

  “No.” I shake my head. “You’re completely sane.”

  She tries to smile, but it twists with confusion.

  “Emma.” Madeline nudges my arm to pull me back. “The sooner we go the sooner we’ll return.”

  “Okay.” I squeeze Shel’s hands to reassure her, but now that my friends know I’m headed into dangerous territory I’m beginning to feel nervous. I step away from Shel to position myself between Madeline and Ash.

  James takes a second to walk up to our friends. He hesitates in front of them, unsure of what to say. Matt tentatively extends his hand and when James takes it he looks astounded. He pulls James forward into a one-armed hug and pounds his back. “I can’t believe this,” he says into his shoulder. “You’re fucking alive!”

  James chuckles. “Yeah, I am.”

  When he removes himself from Matt he gently takes Shel’s hand. “It’s me. Don’t be scared.” He pauses and glances in my direction. “You know I’ll take care of her.”

  She gives him a wary look. I think her years of medical studies have been negated in a matter of minutes.

  Madeline and Ash take my wrists as James moves beside us. I close my eyes and try to feel weightless.

  “Grace.”

  My eyes pop open and I find Dane. The look in his eyes is pleading.

  “Come back to me.”

  I open my eyes to find myself in the shadows beneath a stone arch. I look both ways and see the sun reflecting off a paved path lined with trees and shrubbery. The wind blows and rustles the autumn leaves causing a few of them to float silently to the ground. I’m momentarily confused by the lack of fluffy clouds; it’s how Heaven is typically depicted. Then I have to remind myself that this is not Heaven. This is the Intermediate.

  “It’s about time,” Jack says as he rounds the corner.

  James snorts. “Don’t get your panties in a bunch. It didn’t take us that long.”

  “You would’ve been here sooner if you didn’t have to collect party girl over there.”

  I snap. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means that while you were celebrating some stupid tradition my brother is this much closer to death.” He holds his thumb and forefinger an inch apart.

  “You know we can’t do this without Emma,” Ash chastises Jack.

  He huffs and I read his thoughts. “If we’re too late I’m holding her responsible.”

  I arch an eyebrow. “Then let’s get to it.”

  Ash clears his throat. “Across the street is the Allegiant headquarters. We’re going to come at them on two fronts.” He eyes Mad and I. “Jack will guide you two to where the Guardians are being held. Your goal is to release them and collect Garrett.”

  “Where will you be?” I ask.

  “James and I will wait here until Jack delivers you. When he returns he will take us to Lucas. With any luck, we’ll release our captives in roughly the same amount of time.”

  “And then what?” James asks.

  “We rendezvous back here,” Ash says. “With both Garrett and Lucas in tow, we’ll your need help to manifest everyone back home.”

  “Understood.”

  “Jack will run interference between our two groups,” Ash continues. “If some of us get into trouble he’ll alert the others. This is Plan B. If you receive word that there’s a problem, you will immediately abandon your mission to help the other team. I don’t want any of us hurt or left behind. If we can’t take care of this today we’ll try another. Understand?”

  Everyone nods. I lace my fingers and crack my knuckles. Let’s go save some Guardians.

  Jack walks away from us and toward the left side of the arch. Madeline and I follow and, when she passes Ash, she gives his arm a reassuring squeeze. I look to James and he wears an interesting expression. “You’ve got this,” he says, but his eyes say something different. He’s worried.

  Risking Jack’s wrath, I take an extra second to leave rank and wrap my arms around James. I give him the quickest hug imaginable and then sprint a few steps to catch up behind Madeline.

  Next to the arch is a grassy hill dotted with the trees I spotted earlier. We make our way to the top and follow Jack alongside a paved street. Why the afterlife needs roads, I don’t know.

  “Walk next to me so it looks like we’re friends,” he whispers.

  Madeline and I adjust our pace. As we walk we pass several people – Guardians – milling about alone or in groups. I glance from side to side and try not to look out of place. No one gives us a second thought, that I can tell. If a Guardian isn’t speaking with someone they look lost in their own world or sit with their eyes closed. Connecting to their Wards, maybe?

  It appears we’re exiting a p
ark of some kind because ahead of us sprawls what I can only describe as a metropolis. We reach the perimeter and continue across a large main street. I look up and catch the sign – Central Park West. Confused, I fall a step behind Jack as he leads us toward an impressive building where four white stone columns hug a multitude of stairs. At the top of the structure, and in between the columns, are the words Truth, Knowledge, and Vision etched in stone. In front of the stairs sits a bronze statue of a man riding a horse. I squint to concentrate my line of sight. According to the plaque the statue is of Theodore Roosevelt. I glance to my right and notice another sign. We’re headed to the Museum of Natural History.

  What the hell? I move to Madeline’s side and bump her arm so she’ll read my thoughts.

  “Are we in New York City?”

  She shakes her head. “Only a replication. The Allegiant alter the Intermediate daily. Who wants to live for eternity in the same environment?”

  I nod in understanding. “When we go inside will it look like a museum?”

  “No.” She blinks. “It’s just a façade.”

  Jack leads us along the street casually, near the edge of the sidewalk directly in front of the museum. We reach Teddy’s statue and pass it. Was this not our destination?

  Suddenly, he pulls us over and presses us back against the statues base, concealing us from view. “We need to manifest inside,” he says to Madeline. “Let me guide the way.”

  Madeline takes my wrist and Jack grabs the other.

  “We couldn’t manifest in there to begin with?” I whisper. “Why risk being seen at all?”

  Jack gives me an irritated look. “You need to know how to get back to the arch.”

  Oh. Right. “But, won’t the others notice us with Garrett? If he’s really that weak he won’t be able to walk.”

  Madeline waves her fingers. “My reiki should be enough to get him there.”

  Okay. I’m going to shut up now.

  The carbonated feeling builds inside my body until it disappears. Before I open my eyes, I feel a soft mist and hear what I think is the quiet rush of water. A moment later, I find that I’m correct; I am standing behind a waterfall. But this isn’t a water-tumbling-over-rocks natural kind of waterfall. This looks like something out of a sci-fi movie.