by Apryl Baker
“Hello?”
I winced at my dad’s scratchy, sleepy voice. It was barely six in the morning in LA.
“Hey, Dad,” I said. “Did I wake you up?”
“It’s Saturday, Melinda.” He yawned the words. “Of course you woke me up, but I don’t mind. The house is too quiet without you here. What’s up, pumpkin? Everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s all cool,” I told him. “I just had a question about a reference I ran across on the Internet, and I can’t find any more information on it. Gran had no clue, but considering you are on the Council, I thought you might.”
“This couldn’t have waited until later?”
“You know me. Once I get focused on something, I can’t stop until I’m satisfied.”
I heard a suspicious sound, and then the toilet flushed. “Gross, Dad!”
“You were the one who woke me up, Melinda,” he said, chuckling. “Now what is so important you had to wake me up before the crack of dawn?”
“It’s hardly the crack of dawn,” I grouched. “I can hear the sirens over the phone.”
He only grunted.
“Have you ever heard the term Protector?”
“Where did you hear that?” he asked sharply, which made my eyebrows race to meet my hairline.
“I was doing some research on the use of dark magic and came across the term on a website. I don’t remember which site, though,” I said quickly to prevent him from asking.
He sighed, and I could just imagine him running a hand through his hair. It was his tell when he was nervous.
“Are they dangerous?” I asked. My gut told me Xavier was dangerous, despite his easygoing attitude.
“Extremely,” he told me. “They’re the right hands of Angels, Melinda Rose.”
“What?” I squeaked. That couldn’t be at all good.
“Protectors are assigned to certain people from birth. I know you’re familiar with the Guardian Angel concept, but the truth of the matter is, they’re busy beings. It’s the Protectors who do all the actual work. They typically show up to try and protect someone from themselves or from following a path that will lead to something potentially devastating for the Heavenly realm. If the person can’t be swayed from their destructive path, Protectors will execute them to protect not only the person, but Heaven and Earth as well.”
I gulped. I couldn’t help it. This path would lead to something that could harm Heaven? I was just after revenge for my sister. How could that hurt Heaven? Would Xavier really kill me if I tried to go through with my plan?
And he’d watched me since I was born. No wonder he knew so much about me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Just how old was he anyway? Did that make him pervy? Did I care?
“Melinda?”
“Hmm?”
“Is something wrong, honey?” There was a clear edge of concern in Dad’s voice. If I didn’t put him at ease, he’d fly out here in two heartbeats.
“Yeah, Dad,” I sighed. “I keep seeing Jenny everywhere. It hurts.”
“Honey, I’m still not sure this is a good idea. I knew it was too soon for you to be there, especially in her school, with her friends.” There was a rattle and then the sound of something pouring. Dad and I always tended to down our orange juice before we brushed our teeth. It let us get rid of the sewer mouth, but kept us from leaving acid on our teeth after we brushed.
“Dad…”
“Don’t Dad me,” he interrupted. “I miss Jenny too, but I didn’t change everything about myself. You completely changed how you look. You enrolled yourself in her school just so you could be closer to your dead sister. That’s not normal, Melinda. Why don’t you come home, honey? We can get through it together.”
Tears sprang to my eyes at the raw hurt in his voice. He’d loved Jenny like his own daughter even after Jenny’s dad had taken her from us. I forgot that Dad hurt just as much over her death as I did. He’d lost a child.
“Daddy,” I whispered. “I promise I’m okay.”
“You’re obviously not okay, Melinda,” he sighed. “I had hoped being with your grandmother might help you, but I don’t think it is. I’ve watched you slowly turn to darker magic after your sister died. I just don’t want to lose you to that darker side of our craft. I can’t lose you too.”
Dad was worried about me becoming a dark witch? Why hadn’t he said something?
“Dad, I swear, I am not a dark witch. Sure, I use dark magic here and there, but just barely. You don’t have to worry about me.”
His sigh turned into a heartbreakingly heavy one. “You can’t see the path you’re on, Melinda. I’ve seen so many people go down that same path and never come back from it. Come home, please.”
I’d no idea he’d been watching me so closely these last few months. Made me wonder just how much he’d seen. I’d grown increasingly more closed off as my plans took shape. I thought my dad would have been pleased that I’d shed my Goth look, considering how much he despised it. It had concerned him about my state of mind instead.
“I don’t know what else to say, Dad,” I said after a moment. “I’m good, honest. I’m here with Gran, and she’ll make sure I stay on the straight and narrow, okay? You trust her to watch me, right?”
“So you are doing something that requires your Gran to watch you?” The suspicion ran deep in his voice, and I winced. Why was he always so damn perceptive when it came to me?
“No, I’m not!” I denied. “I just meant…”
“Melinda, I’m coming up next weekend, and we are all going to sit down and talk. Do you understand?”
“Really, Dad, you don’t need to do that…”
“Really, Melinda, I do,” he cut me off. “No arguments. Oh, and Mel, send me that website you found the reference to Protectors on. We need to have it removed immediately.”
“Removed, why?”
“Just do it, Melinda.”
“I don’t remember…”
“Bull,” he said. “You either found it online, or you aren’t telling me what’s really going on. Either way, I am going to find out when I get there on Friday.”
“Dad…”
“I have to go, honey. I can see Mrs. Amos struggling to keep her mammoth of a dog from dragging her down the street.”
Mrs. Amos was eighty if she was a day, and Dad and I always helped her with Rufus each morning when she took the Great Dane outside. Or at least on the mornings we were up early enough to help.
“Okay,” I told him. “Talk to you later, Daddy, love you.”
I hung the phone up before he could say anything else. I fell on the bed, slightly defeated. That gave me barely a week to go through with my plan. I was going to have to step up my game now. I’d planned on worming my way into their little makeshift Coven, but with Dad coming up, I couldn’t risk it. What the hell was I supposed to do now? Damn Xavier.
With a sigh, I stared up at the ceiling. A dark witch. Could it be true? Dad was worried about it, and Jeff had said my eyes turned black twice yesterday. I didn’t want to be a dark witch, but if I went through with my plan and killed the people responsible for Jenny’s death, would it damn my soul? Would the darkness suffocate out all the good I had left? I wanted to save Brandon and Sebastian if they were innocent. Didn’t that count for anything?
“No, it doesn’t.”
I almost shrieked when I saw Xavier standing in my doorway. How did he get up here? I hadn’t heard the doorbell ring. Wait, how did he know what I was thinking?
“What are you doing here?” My voice came out shrill, and I winced. I didn’t want him to know how off balance I felt.
“I told you last night I’d see you today,” he reminded me almost gently.
“Can you read my mind?” I asked him point blank.
He grinned. “Were you having indecent thoughts about me?”
“No!” I shouted. “I…you…no!”
He burst out laughing. “Well, you should be.”
“Are you always this much of an as
s?”
“Yeah, pretty much,” he agreed. “Now, get your coat. We have things to do.”
There was no way I was going anywhere alone with him. Not if he was planning on killing me.
He sighed. “Your jaw is set in that stubborn way. Why must you always be difficult, Rose?”
“Mel, you okay?” Jeff asked. Xavier turned and gave him a once over before dismissing him. My eyes narrowed. Jeff deserved more respect than that.
“I am now that you’re here.” I smile my flirtiest smile. “Can you escort this ass out for me, please?”
“You really don’t want to push me this morning, Rose.” Xavier’s voiced turned soft, sinister. His eyes hardened, and I took a step back from the aggression in his stance. “We have things to do. I don’t have time to hurt the boy.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Jeff growled.
Yeah, no. I was pretty sure Xavier would obliterate Jeff on the spot, and I’d developed a soft spot for him. I didn’t want to see him get hurt. “Jeff, I’m fine. Xavier really is here to pick me up. I told him last night we’d go do some stuff today, but I didn’t expect him this early. It’s cool, really.”
He frowned at me, not buying a word of it. “I promise,” I assured him. “Xavier’s harmless.”
Jeff and Xavier both snorted at that. “Can we just go?” I snapped, irritated. I wanted out before Jeff had time to put two and two together. He was very intuitive.
“Of course.” Xavier smirked, and stepped aside so I could get through the bedroom door. “Get your heaviest coat. We’ll be spending a lot of time outside today.”
I scrunched up my nose. I hated the cold, and I’d bet anything he knew that. “Gran!” I yelled when I’d grabbed my coat. “I’m leaving!”
She poked her head out the kitchen door. “Oh, Xavier dear, you found her.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said and pulled on his own coat. “You were right, she’s in a mood, but I’m sure my cheerfulness will wear her down.”
“What time will you be back, Meli?” Gran smiled. Xavier had her completely charmed too.
“I’ll get her back before bedtime,” Xavier promised before I could even open my mouth. I wanted to kick him. There was no way in hell I was spending all day with the guy who might potentially try to kill me. Why tempt fate by offering myself up?
Xavier grabbed my hand, and I barely held in my gasp as the electric current ran up my arm. He just winked at me and dragged me out of the house to where his motorcycle stood waiting. I balked. No way, no freaking way was I getting on that deathtrap.
“It’s not as scary as you think, Rose.” He laughed and proceeded to put the helmet on my head and buckle it. “It’s fun.”
“It’s death on wheels,” I said softly. “My best friend died a few years ago in a motorcycle crash. There isn’t a force alive that could get me on that thing.”
“I remember Amanda, and I’m sorry you lost her.” Xavier’s voice turned softer. “But I won’t let you get hurt, I promise.”
I laughed bitterly. “No, but you’ll kill me to stop me.”
His face blanched. “Who told you that?”
“My dad explained what Protectors are,” I said, my voice full of accusation. “He said you’d kill me to stop me.”
“You told your father you’re planning on committing mass murder?” he questioned.
My face blanched this time. He really did know what I was up to. I started to back up, but he reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me into him. His free arm wrapped around me, trapping me against his chest. He smelled delicious, soft and earthy, and again, I caught the distinct scent of stone. My breath hitched, and it took every ounce of will I had not to simply melt against him. I’d never reacted to anyone like this, ever. I hated it and I loved it all at once. Very disturbing.
“Did you tell your father?” he asked softly, letting go of my hand so he could wrap it around my neck and pull me closer to those luscious lips of his.
“No,” I whispered, licking my own lips. I’d never wanted someone to kiss me so badly in my entire life.
“Good,” he whispered, relieved. “I don’t want to have to hurt anyone to protect you.”
I frowned. “What?”
“Rose, your father is on the Council. He takes that role very seriously. It would kill him to do it, but he would turn you in. He would see it as saving your soul from becoming a dark witchling.”
“And you won’t kill me?” I asked, trying to ignore the truth of his words. My dad believed in the rules of the Council and had taught me growing up that none of us were exempt from those rules, including us.
“Not if I can help it,” he said solemnly. “I do plan on saving you despite your best efforts to screw your life up. You have a gift, Melinda Rose James, one you don’t even realize yet, but if you do this, all that is lost. You won’t be able to do what you were meant to do, and then we all get screwed over.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I almost shouted. What nonsense was he going on about now? And why hasn’t he kissed me yet? Dammit.
His nose found mine and rubbed alongside it. My knees buckled. If he hadn’t been holding me, I’d have fallen. The small gasp that escaped made him chuckle. “I have plans for you, Rose, that don’t include taking your head.”
“Plans?” I squeaked, trying to slow my breathing. Did he just say…take my head?
His lips feathered over my cheek. “Starting with getting you on this bike.”
Xavier kept one hand firmly around me so I couldn’t escape, and then sat on the bike, pulling me even closer. “Your turn, Rose.”
I eyeballed the spot behind him with dread. I did not like bikes. Amanda had been killed while riding behind her boyfriend, Max. Neither walked away from the accident. Just the thought of being on a motorcycle made me start to shake.
“Trust me, Melinda,” Xavier leaned in and whispered. “You’re safer with me than anyone else on this Earth.”
“Until you decide to kill me,” I reminded him, panicked. No way could I get on that thing.
He laughed. “Stop stalling.”
Gingerly, I threw my leg over the bike, and when Xavier released me, I slid in behind him. He showed me where to put my feet. “Put your arms around me and hold on, Rose.”
I barely had time to grab on before he started the bike and we were off. I closed my eyes and focused on breathing. After a few minutes, I was able to calm down enough and actually feel the power of the bike beneath me and the wind rushing at me. I never got up the nerve to open my eyes, but I did enjoy the wildness of the ride. It reminded me of when I used Elemental Magic. The power of the Elements tore through me, giving me this crazy rush. Riding the motorcycle was as close to that same rush as I’d ever come. It was amazing.
And sort of fun.
But I wouldn’t admit that to Xavier. No need to feed his ego.
When we finally stopped, I said a prayer to whomever was listening for keeping me alive. I opened my eyes and saw we were parked next to a cabin in the woods. That stupid movie popped into my head, and I shoved it aside. There weren’t crazy people ready to unleash horrors upon us to appease the gods. Nope, just one very sexy Protector who could kill me at any moment. How stupid did that make me to be here alone with him?
Xavier hopped off the bike, took off his helmet, and grinned like a little boy. “Didn’t I tell you it was fun?”
I took off my own helmet and scrambled off the bike, thankful for the solid ground beneath my feet. “Next time you decide to kidnap me, we are taking the Bug.”
“Admit it, Rose, you had fun.”
Not a chance. “Why are we here?”
He pouted, and goodness, was he adorable. I had to fight to keep the grin off my face. “Are we going inside or what? It’s freezing out here.”
He grabbed my hand and dragged me up the steps. The door wasn’t even locked. Who didn’t lock their doors? Crazy psychotics who are all about murder and mayhem. The inside of the cabin mad
e me pause. It was cozy. Dark brown couches surrounded a massive fireplace. A wide screen TV was mounted to the wall above it. The kitchen dominated one whole side of the main floor, opening up to the living area where we were standing. A staircase ran up the wall to my left, and floor to ceiling windows spanned the entire right side of the room. The interior was made up of the same stone and brick as the outside of the small cabin. It was rustic, charming, and I loved it on sight.
“Shoes off,” Xavier said as he started on a fire. I did as he asked, and then ambled over to wall of windows. It looked out onto the woods, but a massive flower garden was directly in front of me. The flowers weren’t blooming because of the cold, but I’d seen my Gran’s garden enough to realize what I was looking at. Wooden benches were scattered around the area. This place had to be gorgeous in the summer.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Xavier asked, coming up beside me. “Peaceful, too.”
“Who lives here?” I asked and watched as the first snowflakes started falling from the sky. I wasn’t alarmed. It had been snowing flurries for days.
“I do,” Xavier told me. “Come sit in front of the fire and get warm. I’ll make us some hot chocolate.”
I frowned, but went to huddle on the big furry rug. The heat coming from the open flames enticed me. It was going to take forever to thaw from that ride. I put my hands out in front of me to soak up the heat. I loved fireplaces, and this one was amazing. The natural stone would soak up the heat the hotter the fire burned, and radiate heat long after the fire went out. This was the kind of fireplace I wanted in my own home eventually.
Xavier handed me a steaming mug and settled down across from me. He’d added marshmallows without my having to tell him. I snorted. He’d stalked me since I was born, he should know about my marshmallow addiction.
“Feeling warmer?” he asked, sipping his own drink and staring at the snow slowly falling outside.
I nodded. “This is yours?”
“Yeah, I bought it a few years ago. I love to come here in the winter. It’s my favorite season.”
It would be. He reminded me of winter. Maybe it was the stone smell. “So are we going to talk about you killing me?”
