Guardian

by Amanda McLaren

  “Very well. In return you can follow me to the bakery to get candle wax, salt and bread for offerings to the gods. And of course, to the palace to turn in the weapons.”

  Fay retrieved the winged horse to lead the way through the thicket of people. Anshumali caught a throwing knife flying for the child’s skull before it could hit the mark, returning it to sender. There was a thud and screams as the crowd dispersed from the now-dead failed assassin. Fay’s eyes became wide as she watched the panic.

  “What in the world are they so afraid of?”

  Seriously? Did she not even notice? But she…she’s Kariken’s sister! I mean…not caring is one thing…but…not knowing? HOW????

  She was about to explain when she recalled Kariken’s temper. After opening her mouth and saying nothing, Fay just looked at her like she was daft.

  “Should we go check it out?” Fay asked in concern. “That man looks like he’s hurt.”

  “Nah, let the guards handle it.” Anshumali stated as casually as she could manage. “It’s their job and that, right?”

  “They don’t have medical training,”

  “If he’s hurt they’ll bring him to a healer, right?” Anshumali tried desperately to keep her away from her assassin.

  She gave a brusque nod as if it was a difficult decision.

  Anshumali waved the girl forward to keep her moving before somebody made an attack she saw. “So where’s that place selling herbs?”

  “You’re bossy, wolf-woman!” Fay wiggled her finger into the Azhi’s face like disciplining a naughty dog or child. “You won’t get far if you talk to my sister like that.”

  She’s lucky I’m bound to her sister, speaking to me like that.

  “Tell me about it…” The Azhi groaned sarcastically.

  “Okay. I will on the way.” Her voice was chipper, as if the subject of her sister thrilled her.

  Wow. Like…wow.

  There was a wave of lust from Kariken. Anshumali flashed into her mind before realizing Fay was racing ahead, and then darted away from her partner’s mind to keep tabs on the priestess in training. For all she could tell the warrior was staring at some stranger’s ass.

  ~*~

  I scanned my whip carefully after the blacksmith had handed it back. The break had been repaired, and the leather grip was rewrapped. I’d already placed the new suite of chainmail on. Just as I was turning around Lyrea approached to hand the blacksmith three swords.

  “These need repaired.” She said absently as she glanced at me out of the corner of her eye.

  It’ll take me a couple hours. I’m backed up with a new order for the regiment.”

  “I’ll be back then.” Lyrea replied smoothly, giving me a once-over. “I need to talk to you, Templar.”

  “Another mark?” I complained, shooting her a glare as I strapped my weapon to my belt. “I just got back last night from hunting down your sister!”

  “Isn’t that a part of your job?” The white wolf snarled. “Don’t like it? Leave the temple.”

  I gave her a dark look. “Whatever. Keep your damn tail on.”

  I followed her away from him. Instantly her mind seeped into mine, dousing me with a powerful hunger.

  “Oh,” My heart raced with both anxiety and anticipation as the white wolf led me toward the kennels. For a moment, I thought I felt Sanquility’s mind, but it was so brief I couldn’t tell entirely.

  Nosy bitch.

  The moment nobody else was in sight I grabbed Lyrea’s waist, jerking her to me. “Here’s fine.”

  Her lips meshed into mine with such demanding need I felt the urge to pull back. My own body was against me; it melted in her arms as my lips eagerly moved back. An unwanted longing for more swelled through me. She forced our bodies closer, slipping a hand under my blouse to poke and pry at a tit.

  My lips parted in a shaky sigh. The palace Azhi pulled away.

  “You little slut,” She whispered into my ear. “Can’t even wait until we’re inside, can you?”

  “So punish me.” I couldn’t help it; I burned for anything she’d do, as much as a different part of me wanted to gut her alive – slowly. Her free hand smacked my butt too hard, making me cry out in pain as much as in pleasure to leave behind a sting.

  Lyrea laughed mockingly, nipping at my neck. I seized her shirt to steal it open and attack her breasts. The surprised whimper encouraged me to suck and bite harder. My cunt seemed to throb in need as my skin pricked uncomfortably with heat. I felt Sanquility’s mind flicker with curiosity a second time.

  “Seems my sister has taken a liking to your mind.” Lyrea growled resentfully.

  “She can’t help it.” I panted. “The link is forced.”

  “I see…then let her feel what I’m doing.”

  “No. She’s with Fay.” I forced myself to back away from her.

  The white wolf leered at me. “Are you refusing me?”

  “No. I’m not refusing you.” I just barely restrained myself from shoving her off me. “I just don’t want that filthy mongrel’s paws all over my little sister.”

  She smiled charmingly. “They’ve already been all over you.”

  “Like I said; we can’t help it. The bond between souls connects us in a deeper, stronger way than the link the gods give under temple edict. Besides, I never promised I would only sleep with you.”

  “So you two feel for one another?”

  “What the fuck is it to you?” I got in her face – fighting my unwanted need to kiss her. “I’m your gods-damned play toy. So play with me or walk away and let me cool off.”

  //Is something going on? I’m trying to figure out what keeps your sister so utterly clueless while keeping her safe. It’s not like you’re making it easy to focus. //

  “One, my sister needs to stay clueless. Two, I don’t want you near her. And three, you’re going to leave me to my own.”

  //For somebody so hot and bothered you’re in a nasty mood. //

  “Stay out of it. What are you doing with Fay?”

  //Not what you’re doing right now… //

  “So what are you doing?”

  //I’m keeping her alive. She’s taking me around the city while running her own errands. //

  Lyrea jerked me against her and kissed me hard. Everything in my mind just dumped. The white wolf’s twin hovered in my mind a moment as I tried to think, then vanished again.

  “I don’t want you talking to her like that.” Lyrea growled as she bit my ear until it hurt in a very strange, stimulating way.

  //Are you with Lyrea? // Sanquility complained angrily.

  “What?”

  //What do you mean what? Are you with my sister? //

  “Yes.”

  //Seriously? //

  “She kind of is my lover, Sanquility.”

  I tried to focus, but Lyrea reached down my pants to begin rubbing my clit. My tensed muscles relaxed of their own will; I found my legs shaking in an attempt to remain standing.

  //Don’t ignore me. // Sanquility complained angrily.

  “Huh?”

  //Don’t ignore me! //

  “…What were we talking about?”

  Her anger flooded me, almost overriding the desire for a split second; then Lyrea’s fingers slipped into my honey pot, nearly making me collapse.

  “I-I need to lie down.” I whimpered.

  Lyrea stopped to look around. “Pick a cage, slut.”

  //What is your problem? Wasn’t I good enough? //

  “I thought I told you last night was a mistake.”

  //So is she better or something? //

  “No.”

  //Then what’s your problem? //

  “She’s my damn lover, Sanquility! Pay attention to my sister and not my sex life!”

  //I can’t. It isn’t possible with this bond. //

  Pain lit my face on fire as Lyrea socked me in the jaw, making me leap back to glare at her. My fists shook in its attempt at restraint. I wanted so badly to give three t
imes what I’d just gotten.

  “I said I don’t want you talking to her like that. Get your ass in the cage.”

  “Sanquility, you’re getting on my nerves.”

  //Stop being such a fucking push-over! If you kicked my ass, you could kill her with your eyes closed! //

  “Last I checked people didn’t kill their lovers.”

  //Last I checked, they didn’t want to kill their lovers. //

  Sanquility’s words rang in my mind. I hesitated to obey Lyrea; a new, stronger surge of the most powerful desire I’d ever felt took me completely by surprise. I couldn’t help but give a groan from the half-wanted pleasure tormenting my mind and body.

  “I said pick a cage.” Lyrea snarled with a look of cool and collected knowing in her eyes. “You may have somebody to protect you from Quinn, but you’re not shaking me so easily. You want me. My sister being up your ass isn’t going to change that, whether or not she owns your soul.”

  Gods damn it!

  I resisted the urge to beg for her to touch me right here when she gave me a slight shove toward the cages.

  Lyrea snorted. “Stop fighting it. You’re mine, bitch.”

  Why did I ever let her get such control over this?

  As I gave in and chose a kennel, I seized the link between me and the black wolf. Swallowing my pride, I sent a wave of intense, inner distress. Right on the energy’s heels, pain slammed into me full force. It was so potent my head spun and my stomach churned so badly I wondered if I’d be sick.

  Lyrea roughly slammed me against the cage door, banging it shut with a painful clang. For a moment I thought she’d noticed. When the white wolf nearly ripped the fabric to my temple pants as she tore them away I knew it’d gone undetected. Lyrea kissed and sucked at the back of my neck while both her hands fondled my breasts.

  “Please…oh, please, Lyrea…” I begged, crossing my legs as I grew hotter and hotter.

  “What happened to your fighting, hmm? Tell me you’re mine, bitch.”

  Her nails dug at my skin, leaving welts. I squirmed, giving a restrained moan of half pleasure, half pain. The dogs began to howl and bark.

  “I-I’m – yours.” I hated the words leaving my mouth – and despised how much it turned me on.

  //That ain’t cool, Kariken. I’m not one to ignore distress calls from a soul-bound, but damn, you’re having the time of your life. //

  “Fine. Don’t come then; I won’t make the mistake of ever calling on you again. That shit’s just too painful.”

  Surprise shook me as it hit my soul-bound I was serious.

  “Not too loud. Don’t want to be seen like this, do you?”

  “More,” I demanded. I tried to turn around, but she just slammed me harder.

  “You’re the one begging me to fuck you.” She sneered. “Take what you can get.”

  The link between my soul-bound and I exploded forefront in my mind. It made the world whirl, leaving me feelings torn and confused.

  //I’m coming. Just resist her. //

  “I-I can’t. Sanquility, you don’t understand.”

  //No, I don’t. I don’t need too; I’ll be right there. Fay’s safe at the temple. //

  One of her hands finally slipped into my pussy as the other scratched and pinched my boob, shattering my concentration on her sister. She bit at my ear. I did my best to keep up with her magical fingers, but for the moment she seemed intent on doing all the work. My fingers gripped the cage door hard. No matter how much I tried to keep quiet, my screams grew louder.

  “Fuck!” The orgasm took me by surprise. Lyrea pulled away, letting me sink to the ground half naked.

  “My turn.” Lyrea let her pants fall to her knees.

  Her sex was thrust in my face. Out of nowhere, a black missile hurled the woman into the far side of the cage. Sanquility leapt off her, standing between Lyrea and me. My heart racing, I just stared at them as Lyrea became a huge winged white wolf. They lunged for one another.

  It was a flash of black and white, of crimson fangs. Fur scattered about the cage; the two rolled and twisted around the enclosure. Vicious snapping and snarling raised the hair on the back of my neck and caused the hounds to go ballistic. I jumped out of the way before the white wolf was flung against the kennel door.

  She became human. “This pretty little bitch is mine, Sanquility. Back off.” Lyrea’s voice was hardly humanoid. Sanquility took her form as well.

  “My teeth to your neck, Lyrea! I won’t be so gentle if I ever see you near Xia again!” Sanquility’s sword shimmered in her hand.

  Growling in rage, the older twin snapped her fingers. Her clothing back on, she opened the door and limped out. Sanquility just stared at me for a long moment, trying to calm her breathing. I watched as her wounds healed right before my eyes. Her weapon vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.

  “You gave a distress call, and you were all over here, Xia! What the hell was that about?” She demanded, thrusting her hand toward Lyrea.

  “It’s…complicated.”

  Sanquility sighed, slapping her forehead. “You know, it’s hard to know where I stand when you won’t tell me.”

  I just shook my head. “You’re here, aren’t you? Isn’t that good enough?”

  “So is that what I am to you; your guard dog?” The strain in her voice seemed more than just weariness. Trying to understand, to keep up, just gave me more of a headache.

  “N-no – you’re bound to me, soul to soul.” The twisting emotions of guilt and anger simply made me feel…tired.

  Anshumali visibly relaxed. “…That’s very true. It’s not like Lyrea has merged souls with you.” Her eyes ran over me with a look of restrained hunger. “Let’s, uh, get you dressed.”

  I blinked at her. “You mean…you don’t…um…want me?”

  “Of course I do!” She exclaimed instantly. “But I don’t think you’re exactly in the right mind-set to be getting frisky, Xia.” She came over to begin re-dressing me. It was just so strange, especially since anywhere she touched left my skin feeling electrified in an entirely new and unfamiliar way.

  “You’re so beautiful.” Sanquility told me almost sadly. “Why do you let her touch you, if you hate it so much? How do you get so aroused if you didn’t want her?”

  “Why does it matter?” Though I attempted to sound angry, all that came out was emptiness.

  She shook her head. “I guess it doesn’t, now that it won’t happen again.”

  …I’m not too sure about that. Anshumali may not always be so conveniently close-by to protect me, and it’s pretty clear Lyrea’s gotten too tight a hold of me to fight her off.

  Just as she stood from putting my pants on and tightened my belt, I slipped my hand under her shirt to pinch one of her tits. She gasped in surprised pleasure. Her eyes became wide and one of her hands shook from resisting touching me back. “Stop being so jealous, Sanquility. You’re a beautiful Azhi. Just…give me a little time.” I told her very quietly.

  Sanquility leaned over hesitantly to give me another gentle kiss, strapping on my cape so I was in full outfit. “Take all the time you need, Xia. I’m here for when you’re ready.”

  “Xia?” A familiar voice made us both whip around to see a powerful yet lean man with hazel eyes and sandy blond clipped hair in royal guard armor. “What are you doing in a dog kennel with an Azhi?”

  “Oh, uh, I…was just leaving, Chrono. This is my guardian, Sanquility.”

  “I don’t remember getting a report about any Sanquility repenting in the past year.”

  “We did it outside of Temple.” Sanquility informed him. “Our souls are directly merged through Azhi magic.”

  Chrono’s eyes stretched wide. “By the gods, Xia! This is going too far!”

  “It’s none of your business! It doesn’t endanger the royal family, now does it?”

  “We need you, damn it!”

  “Since when does the royal family need the dead?” I demanded as I tied up my hair. Sanquility straigh
tened her clothing.

  “Who does this Azhi owe her soul to, then?”

  “It’s mine if she doesn’t fulfill her part of the damn vow. Not that I’d have a use for it anyway.”

  Instantly, the fire in Chrono’s eyes sizzled out. It made the ground feel a little unsteady, actually, seeing him switch so suddenly. “Oh. Sorry. I…I didn’t mean to overstep myself. I just thought, well, you’d abandoned us.”

  His voice was soft. Quiet.

  This is ridiculous.

  I found myself blinking a few times, trying to keep up. Sanquility shook her head. “You’re something, aren’t you?” She said as she opened the door for me. I led the way out.

  “Abandoned us? Who’s us?” I had to ask.

  Chrono gave me a weak smile. “Now that hurt. Fay might be your sister, but I still love her.”

  “…You love my sister?” I cracked my knuckles with narrowed eyes, heading right for him. “Now ain’t that something?”

  Chrono’s eyes grew wide. The powerful man ducked from my swing. Seconds before my second attempt could break his nose, Sanquility yanked me away. “Cool it, Templar! I’ve not touched her! I value my life, you know!”

  Sanquility shoved me the opposite direction of Chrono. “Sorry, Chrono. She’s just very…protective.”

  “That’s expected.” He dusted his clothing off. Instantly he regained his composure; I suppressed the jealousy I’d always felt at his amazing control over his emotions. “You two are supposed to protect the priestess. I guess hard feelings aren’t easy to quell, eh?”

  Sanquility gave me a rough shove away when I swiveled around to attempt it a third time. “Whatever you say, Chrono. I don’t recommend crossing a warrior who can take me down in a single battle. I’ve no issues with helping her if you strike back, no matter what your rank is in human society.”

  Chrono nodded to her once as I was pulled away.

  “Damn.” I fought her guiding me away from a perfectly good fight. With a sigh, I relented.

  He isn’t worth getting suspended anyway.

  “In the name of the Fallen, Xia, what did he do?”

  I brushed myself off, feeling dirty and frustrated. “Chrono just…he pisses me off. He always has. Maybe it’s how smooth the man is. I knew he liked Fay, but if he touches her…”