Guardian

by Amanda McLaren

  It’s no wonder they’re lovers. If she’d not called love bullshit, I’d say Lyrea would use her and toss her away like rotten meat. For all I know, this Templar is using my sister. Now that will be sexy. Maybe we can use her together.

  When they reached the gates, the guards saluted faster than they would for their own prince or general.

  “Get me Lyrea.” Kariken demanded sternly.

  “Page!” One shouted. A moment later a boy ran to the man’s side. “Get Lyrea; tell her it’s Xia Leafsong.”

  The boy pelted off as if his shoes were on fire.

  “She’ll be here as soon as she’s informed, Leafsong.” The guard responded.

  Hopefully this’ll go well for me, rather than for my sister.

  “Be cool and keep your mouth shut…” Kariken muttered to Anshumali. Her eyes didn’t leave barracks. “Well…unless she starts something with you. Then I’d love to see that temper of yours.”

  Anshumali felt the beginning of lust – followed by frustrated disquiet – from the Templar.

  She probed in an unsure, hushed voice. “Do you…want to talk about this?”

  “No.” The human barked sharply.

  Damn it. Does she have to fight everything?

  The waves of self-anger rolling off Kariken didn’t help. Rubbing the bridge of her nose with eyes closed, Anshumali strove for a way around an argument.

  Wait…I could play on her paranoia as a Templar…after all, my sister is the essence of what she fights.

  “You know how dangerous my sister can be, right?”

  The warrior’s fingers tapped her leg. “Did I say I would declare my undying love to her? No. This is more of a…I don’t know, a kind of arrangement. We both need to blow off steam.”

  At that comment the Azhi gave up trying to converse or change her partner’s mind.

  Magic rippled through the air. It was so strong Anshumali could practically taste it. The white-haired woman strutted from the barracks toward them in Palace traveling attire.

  She was the opposing appearance of Anshumali; pale skin, emotionless icy blue eyes. She had long limbs and a slim, wiry frame. Even though their features were close enough to tell they were sisters, most people would dismiss the idea.

  Kariken’s entire demeanor suddenly shifted. Waves of longing rolled from her, and the human’s eyes were glued to the white wolf twin. Anshumali wondered how the Templar just stood and watched Lyrea’s approach with the consuming lust the human was emitting.

  Is this a little game of theirs, or is my sister pulling something?

  Lyrea’s mind abruptly touched Anshumali’s from Kariken’s, infuriating the black wolf. With a feral, wolfish snarl, Anshumali thrust her twin right out of the Templar’s head. Instantly the cold, stiff warrior Anshumali knew returned. Kariken blinked at Lyrea with a furrowed brow and tight jaw. The white wolf faltered a moment, locking gazes with her twin sister. Amber eyes blazed into the frosty, ice blue.

  //She’s mine now, Lyrea. //

  \She seems to have her will, Anshumali. Did you forget how to enslave a tiny little human? \

  //Who needs their minds when you can have their souls? //

  \I found her first! \

  //Clearly you aren’t as strong as you boast. It won’t be long, my sister, and she will give me her mind freely. //

  Lyrea reached the gate and broke eye contact with her younger sister to greet the temple warrior. “I put a mark on her.”

  “I’m a Templar, not a mercenary, Lyrea; she agreed to repent. Thank you so much; it nearly cost me my life. If she hadn’t bound our souls, you’d be out of a lover.”

  So I have a chance after all. I’ll just have a small fight on my hands – well…I suppose that depends on how many lovers Kariken has and if they’re all this hostile.

  “I’m not thanking her.”

  “What a sister you are.”

  Lyrea glared at the younger Azhi. “Wonderful. Here’s your pay.” She handed her a sack of gold and silver.

  //Who do you think kisses better, Kariken? // Anshumali couldn’t resist the question.

  The Azhi hunter’s cheeks shaded scarlet. The girl slowly leaned in and planted a hard kiss on Lyrea’s lips, which she responded to eagerly. Lyrea grabbed Kariken’s butt and yanked her close. Lust pulsed off the human in revolting waves; the Templar even gave a little sound of pleasure. Anshumali looked away with a scoff of disgusted frustration.

  To her astonishment, after Lyrea released Kariken, the human grabbed Anshumali. Feeling her older sister’s rage, Anshumali leaned in to give her soul-bound a gentle yet passionate kiss without the power-play magic her sister had used.

  She had no use for them when their souls were merged. When Temple’s warrior slowly eased away, they were both trying to catch their breath. She looked Anshumali over with puzzled curiosity.

  “I…liked that.”

  //That was a very, very good kiss. //

  Kariken flashed an embarrassed smile. “I didn’t mean for you to hear that…”

  //I figured. Lyrea would never want you to practice that incredible magic of yours, now would she? //

  “…What?”

  //You’re gifted in magic, Kariken. Do you bulk from using it because of my sister? //

  “No, it hurts to use it.”

  Is that because of Lyrea? Well, if it is, I can use it for my own benefit.

  Lyrea put a hand on her hip and glowered at the two of them. “Kissing your guardian in front of an officer?”

  “Oh shut up.” Kariken’s good mood snapped like a frail twig. Kariken broke completely away from Anshumali. “I didn’t make any promises to you. The rules are kind of out the window when we did this outside the temple.”

  The air sizzled with Azhi magic.

  “Go ahead, Lyrea. Let’s see how many guards will just let you publicly harm a Templar.”

  Given her rank and the reputation I’ve seen, Lyrea may be better off robbing the temple or telling off a priest.

  “You’ve proven nothing. How do I know she’s really vowed her soul?”

  Anshumali snarled. “Fuck off! Unlike some people, I don’t bend the truth.” The guards’ eyes strayed to her.

  Kariken pushed back gently on her shoulder. “She seriously has to see proof. This has happened before.”

  “You can’t say my soul name!” Anshumali gasped.

  “I won’t have to say it out loud, dope.”

  “Anshumali…”

  Pain burned through her. Kariken’s eyes grew round as it echoed into her.

  “Hear me and obey. Tell your sister you respect her power.”

  For a moment Anshumali clenched her teeth, but the pain just built until she shook with it. So she spat the words “I respect your power, sister.”

  The sickening waves of relief that plowed through her still weren’t worth the words that had rolled off her tongue.

  “There it is.” Kariken said quietly. “Something Anshumali would never say.”

  “Don’t get smart with me, Xia.”

  “I’m not.” Anshumali noticed the playfulness behind her bite.

  No wonder she got pissed when I claimed her; she was playing with her lover and now she’s mine. This is just golden – Kari likes it rough. I can have fun with that.

  “Well, what are you waiting for? I paid you – go spend it without me. I have duties.”

  Anshumali couldn’t believe her eyes as Lyrea turned and walked away. Kariken shook her head, eyes wide with disbelief.

  I have to bribe Kariken into a kiss, and when the girl is asking for it, she leaves?

  “Let’s go to the inn.”

  “What about the temple?”

  She scoffed, rolling her eyes. Damn. Would her eyes roll back into her head and stay there? “I’m sure I’ll sleep well in a bed surrounded by my bosses.”

  “Your sister is a priestess there, though…”

  Kariken stopped and looked at Anshumali with sad, regretful eyes. “Do you think I wa
nt my sister to hear my screams in the night? Do you think she needs to be around somebody who kills daily for the gods she loves and believes so strongly in?”

  Hope flitted through Anshumali.

  Maybe she has a heart after all.

  “I think she wants to know you.”

  Kariken shook her head. “No; she wants me to be safe and not covered in the blood of millions just because they don’t follow her way of life.” Then the Templar turned to face the richer part of town. From here they could see a tavern and inn. “Come on; everything is on the temple and palace.”

  “Then why are they paying you?”

  “I go many places; sometimes I don’t return for months. I don’t always have the comfort of free luxury. Besides, anything extra I want or need must be paid for.” With a heavy heart locked down and her face still made somehow of stone, Kariken led the way toward their accommodations.

  ~*~

  To have Sanquility enter the inn with me eased the sting of Lyrea’s refusal, even if it was only slightly because I technically wasn’t alone. I did notice as I waded through the crowd Sanquility watched the room as if everybody within was about to leap up and attack. The more I tried not smile at her paranoia, the harder it was.

  “What are you smiling about?” Sanquility demanded as she watched a man suspiciously.

  “You, miss eyes-on-everyone.” I half-teased as I chose a seat in a corner away from everybody.

  Sanquility cleared her throat. “Uh…thanks.” She sounded a little relieved, if a little embarrassed.

  Shrugging, I cast a glance at a certain table half-way across the inn by the fire. “I’m not much for socializing anyway.”

  The inn keeper brought us a plate of sweet bread and thick soup. There were vegetables cut into bite-sized cubes. I took note that they were my favorites, and was reassured that it was the best they had. The meat was tender and the soup was well-spiced. I slapped it on a slice of the hot, fresh and soft bread. Sanquility was served mead, but I was given liquor.

  Sanquility eyed hers carefully as I took a stout drink of the strong liquor I enjoyed. It wasn’t much for taste, but the flavor was bolder than most and went down smoothly enough. Besides, it worked quickly. I ate and drank quietly as I watched Sanquility pick her way through the food and completely ignore the drink.

  “Sanquility? What’s up? Don’t tell me you’re not hungry.” I glanced at the inn keeper. “Or is it the food?”

  When she didn’t answer, I pushed back the chair. “I’ll give that sleazy rat a piece of my –”

  With a sigh, she shook her head and indicated a far table by the fire. A familiar face was making quite the ruckus – clearly having had too much to drink. He was tall and heavy with a natural tan. His face was slightly unshaved, and his messy brown hair reached past his shoulders. There was a strange look in his hazel eyes tonight; emptiness.

  I pushed myself back to the table. Suddenly my tongue felt thick in my mouth.

  “That’s Quinn. Right?”

  “Yes.” I stared at the half-eaten meal, abruptly feeling less hungry. “Just ignore him unless he approaches us and I can’t handle it.”

  As if coming to beck and call, the man sauntered over. “Who’s the new face?”

  I withheld my sigh of annoyance.

  There goes my evening…

  “Her guardian.” Sanquility didn’t give me time to answer. “Shove off.” She showed her fangs. The image of Lyrea’s yawn and passively eating her meal came to mind.

  “I’m –”

  “I know who you are – Quinn; the asshole that can’t seem to leave her alone.” She finished for him as she stood and got in his face. “I don’t like repeating myself, mage.”

  A sudden surge of the Azhi’s power made my head snap to stare at her with wide eyes. “Sanquility?”

  What’s getting her so riled?

  He staggered backward. “Don’t you need an order to protect her?”

  “I don’t need her damn permission to fulfill a vow, human.” The Azhi countered.

  She’s going to get me fired!

  I hastily explained to the mage “We’re not bound through the temple. We’ve merged souls through Sanquility’s magic.”

  “Sanquility, are you listening?”

  //I’m just scaring him off. He’s just too powerful of a mage for me to remain passive. //

  “Are you insane or just stupid? If he reports this, I’ll get suspended – or worse! Aren’t I in enough hot water?”

  //I know what I’m doing, Kariken! He’s too drunk to report anything even if I was planning on hurting him. Nobody’s going to believe this shit-faced asshole. Especially knowing your history with him. //

  “Stop trying to protect me!”

  //I’m not losing your soul simply because you want to be a submissive child, Kariken! //

  “I just want to talk to you, Xia. Tell her to sit down.”

  “I’m not her fucking dog, mage.”

  “Besides, I don’t want to talk to you.” I growled in my own defense. I didn’t want him to think I needed this Azhi to do it for me.

  I already had the problem of Lyrea not being here.

  With a glower that said far more than words ever could, the mage shook his fist furiously and half staggered, half stomped off to his own table. Sanquility eased back into her seat, her eyes still on the ass shouting at his drinking buddies. Her magic seeped leisurely toward them in low, invigorating pulses.

  “You’re going to get me in worse shit,” I protested furiously.

  The Azhi countered in a tense but low and calm voice. “I’m helping you like it or not. You’re terrified of him.”

  “I could kick his ass.”

  The black wolf raised an interested eyebrow at my remark. “Not if he used his magic again. You can barely handle healing magic.”

  We sat in a tense, uneasy silence. Finally, I couldn’t help but ask the one question nagging my mind. “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “What pissed you off and convinced you to step in? I could have handled him.”

  Sanquility gave me a look. “It’s kind of my job to protect you, Kari – err, Xia. Besides…I don’t like men and his type one of the reasons why.”

  We finished our meals in a slightly less strained silence as the tables got fuller and louder near the fire place. I was promptly served a second drink as I finished my first.

  “You should probably take advantage of the baths.” I advised, trying to relax. She was stiff and fidgety; I could feel her anger still rolling.

  How can I relax with her like this?

  “I, uh…sorry. I’ll stop.”

  Running my hand through my short hair, I let out a long, heavy sigh. “Sanquility, it isn’t just because of the way the evening’s turning out. You’re stiff as pressed wood, and I have a feeling you don’t get a real soak even as often as I do. So go take a few minutes to yourself to relax; we’ve not been alone since we made that damn vow.”

  I followed her gaze to where Quinn sat causing more of a ruckus than I’d thought was possible. “Don’t worry about it, Sanquility. He can hardly walk. What makes you think he can use his magic?”

  She gave a tense nod. “I won’t be long.”

  “Take as long as you need; I’ll be fine. I’ve never been attacked here in the inn, or I’d have never come back.” I waved down the inn keeper’s son who’d replaced his father not long ago.

  The teenager came hurrying over to me. “Y-yes miss Leafsong?”

  “Sanquility is my guardian. Take her to the baths to unwind.”

  “Of course, Miss Leafsong.” He waited for her to stand.

  The Azhi trailed behind the man warily, glancing over her shoulder.

  I downed the drink, shaking my head and making a face at the sting. The moment the keeper’s son returned he brought me a third without hesitation, and the night wore on. It was between my fourth and sixth shot – I wasn’t really keeping track, and saw no reason to try – befo
re I’d even begun to relax again. Two men shadowed Quinn as he strutted (or tried to) to the table a second time.

  I ran my hand over my face with a sound of frustration; Sanquility was still in the bath. I half-stood – not in the mood to deal with his shit – but Quinn’s hand shoved me back down. My adrenaline shot through the roof; suddenly the alcohol seemed like a waste of time. They made themselves comfortable in the chairs.

  “What is it you don’t like about me?” The jerk slurred. “Everything was fine before that white demon bitch of yours.”

  “Are you serious?” I scowled at him. “You were an abusive, drunken jerk. Now get lost.”

  “Your little warden isn’t here. She’s been gone for at least an hour.” One of the men garbled out. My mind marked him as a temple acolyte.

  What’s he doing getting wasted here in a tavern with a mage?

  “She’s not the only one who can fight, you dolt. I bring more Azhi to justice in a month than most Templars do in their entire career. Go fuck yourself.”

  “Yer a cold, cruel sllut, iz wat yooou are.” The third man managed to slobber out.

  I grabbed him by the shirt and lifted him up, shocked that I could after so much liquor in my system. “I’ve heard enough out of you three jack asses. You come over to my damn table to harass me after two weeks in the wilds and expect me to play your game?”

  His eyes were the size of sand dollars. I could hear him choking, could feel him trying to break free without any progress. Still I didn’t release the man.

  I wanted to watch the life drain from his face.

  Sanquility’s hand touched my shoulder. I looked over to see worry and confusion. The Azhi shook her head. I hesitantly, regretfully, lowered the man onto the floor. Not sure why Sanquility had stopped me, I drank the rest of what was in my cup and followed her to our room.

  “What happened?” She asked quietly. I noticed she was in the inn clothing that was just a tiny bit too tight around her big bust and slightly short on her.

  “Quinn was talking about us being together. That bastard blamed Lyrea for stepping into the picture. The acolyte called me a slut, and…”