Guardian Healer
A Taylor Coven Novel: Book 3
Author: Brittany Rose
Copyright 2017. This is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, Places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission.
Table of Contents
~ Chapter One – Kimberly ~
~ Chapter Two – Derek ~
~ Chapter Three – Kimberly ~
~ Chapter Four – Derek ~
~ Chapter Five – Kimberly ~
~ Chapter Six – Derek ~
~ Chapter Seven – Kimberly ~
~ Chapter Eight – Derek ~
~ Chapter Nine – Kimberly ~
~ Chapter Ten – Derek ~
~ Chapter Eleven – Kimberly ~
~ Author’s notes ~
~ Book Description ~
~ Chapter One – Kimberly ~
Warmth.
It bubbled up from my chest and filled me, radiated out and saturated me with a tingling heat that warmed my whole body, like a sip of hot chocolate on a cold day, times a hundred. My magic overflowed, and rushed like a torrent through my hands and into the unconscious human below me. It was instinct, I could feel the magic like an eager puppy, rushing toward the scratches, bruises, and lacerations to heal, soothe, and make whole. It sought out other things as well, old hurts, drained sickness, and strengthened their immune systems.
My magic used to be a trickle, but after the covenant with my goddess, it had become a torrent. It was addicting as well, it felt transcendent to heal others. It also kept me healthy, I’d never been sick a day in my life, although I’ve been hurt.
The shield I could create to protect from magic and non-corporeal evil entities didn’t feel nearly this good. It was still a rush, but didn’t fill me with warmth and joy.
The underlying itch faded, and I knew this human, whoever he was, was healthier than he’d ever been in his life. I cut off my magic, and it felt like a cool breeze ran through me as it dissipated. Then what I’d done earlier came rushing back to me, and I blushed before I looked for the next person. Except, that had been the last one.
I’d slapped my destined mate, I still couldn’t believe I’d actually done it. He’d gotten handsy without permission though, and deserved it. I was angry about that, and I wasn’t angry very often. How had I gotten stuck with the biggest male slut in Charlotte? Had he expected me to swoon when he grabbed and tried to kiss me without a word after the battle? What the hell had he been thinking?
I loved the goddess, and had faith in her, but what the hell was she thinking?
I shivered, and looked around again, hoping I’d just missed someone that needed healing. I wasn’t really addicted to it, but it felt wonderful, and I felt fulfilled and good when I healed others, but right now it was just more that I just needed a distraction. Any distraction from my thoughts would do.
Amber asked, “You okay Kim?”
I realized I was still on my knees, and staring off into space. I smiled up at my sister, and stood up. I was still smiling up at her. At five foot two, calling me petite was an understatement. I was the shortest in the coven.
“Fine.”
Amber raised an eyebrow.
“Derek.”
Amber frowned.
I wanted to roll my eyes, it was a sisterly interrogation by facial expression, “I’ve known since the first night, the night he ran for it, and jumped at the chance to go watch Tom and get away from me. It’s complicated.”
That was an understatement. I loved my sisters, and serving the coven, taking care of them, and working for the goddess through healing and protecting, those are things I lived for. Amber and Sherry were my sisters, and closest friends. I’d do anything for them.
I’d also lived in their shadows for my whole life. That wasn’t a complaint, so much as just a simple fact. I was short, petite, and practically unnoticeable next to my sisters. Amber looked like a blonde bombshell head cheerleader, and Sherry looked like a Fredrick’s of Hollywood model. In a lot of ways, I liked it that way. The boys and men I’d dated in the past were a lot less shallow because of those facts, but I was particularly sensitive right now. It hadn’t been my ass Derek was checking out as a wolf that night.
I didn’t even know what to do with that. My destined mate was shallower than a puddle.
Not that I was unattractive, I’d heard more than once I had a strikingly beautiful face, with a hint of the exotic. But my body was willowy and petite. I’d never had a problem with wandering eyes, men focused on my face, and eyes, which I was two minds about. My curves were clearly all women, but were rather understated in comparison to most of my sisters.
I wasn’t bitter about any of it though, it just was. I didn’t hold any grudges toward my sisters because of it, they were both beautiful amazing women, sisters, and my family. I was just out of sorts now because he was my destined mate. One with eyes that would wander from my face, but not to my body, to my sister’s. That was… I didn’t know what.
What was he thinking anyway? That he could steal a kiss and I’d fall into his bed? He didn’t even talk to me. We’d just buried our parents and fought demons, what had he even been thinking? He was long gone already, I couldn’t even ask. I felt like I wanted to cry, but there were so many reasons to fall apart right now, I wasn’t so sure how much of that feeling was because of Derek.
Amber asked, “Why didn’t you say anything? Do you want to talk about it?”
I ignored the first question, we were all grieving, and Amber and Sherry had their own male drama to deal with. Plus, he was out of sight and out of mind, it let me focus on protecting my sisters while hunting demons, and mourning for my parents. I figured I’d deal with it later.
I was sure I’d break down a lot over the next few months, and miss my parents for years to come, but unlike my sisters I’d been able to sob it all out the last two nights. I felt a little raw, but I thought the worst was already over. I’d truly said goodbye this morning.
I sighed, “Not really? I’ll figure it out. We just buried our parents, I can’t spare the brain power on it… him, right now. Derek.”
I’d once again offered his name as a simple one word explanation, and her lips twitched.
I was also hungry, or at least I knew I should be. Things looked cleaned up. Diana had already fixed the grounds at the cemetery, the impromptu dirt wall was gone and the grass looked undisturbed. The humans would wake up confused, but healthy, and Grace had managed to remove the car bombs the demons had planted just in case their attack failed.
Amber said, “If you change your mind?”
“You’ll be the first to know.”
Kevin walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. I smiled, even as I wanted to weep. The former won, I was truly happy for my sister.
“We ready to go? Or did you want to go back in and finish?” he asked.
Amber shook her head, “I was mostly done, and we did finish the important part and the ceremony, let’s get out of here.”
I nodded, “I want to get this over with. We need to eat, and hunt demons.”
Grace walked over, “I like the way you think.”
It wasn’t that I liked the fight, I didn’t. I was the healer and protector of our coven, and my magic suited my personality perfectly. It was more that I wanted a sense of normalcy back. Once we cleaned up the mess from the mass outbreak, we could go back to a more normal schedule. It would never be the same again, we’d be fighting demons often, days and sometimes weeks apart, but while guarding the gateway and in our own
home. There was also the matter of protecting humans, getting it done sooner would be better for everyone.
Grace knew that perfectly well, she was just teasing. I also happened to know she wasn’t nearly as confrontational as she pretended to be. It was more the challenge that she craved, than true violence.
In the end, we were all guardians and protectors at heart, I was just the most obvious.
Monica said, “I think we’re done. I got the old man, and the staff who were watching us from the main building.”
Amber nodded, “Let’s go home.”
~ Chapter Two – Derek ~
“You’re an idiot,” Adam said.
I pushed down the growl that wanted to come out. My wolf was in a foul mood, and I wasn’t doing much better. I hardly needed the reminder that I was an idiot. We were outside the Sherriff’s office and down the block. We couldn’t exactly hang out in Tom’s patrol car, but we were close enough to bail him out if the demons came calling.
“Thanks brother, I don’t see you lining up to pick up your mate either.”
Adam shrugged, “Someone had to watch Tom, and I wasn’t going to be the one to tell my alpha or beta they had to wait for their mates. Besides, I’m not the one that volunteered for this duty, you’re the one that volunteered to join the two of us. I’m also not positive I even have one in the coven. I haven’t been around them like you have, not long enough to be sure.”
He didn’t sound too sure of that, and I had a feeling he just didn’t want to talk about it.
I shrugged, “Maybe. But it wasn’t like Jennifer would have volunteered, you know what happens when she works with Tom and he gets in danger. As you already said, it would have taken a crow bar to get Tony or Kevin out of the coven house. Not a very likely thing.”
While that was true, I couldn’t deny that wasn’t the true reason. I had run for it that first night at the first opportunity. I’d never wanted a mate, not like Tony or even Kevin had. I’d been enjoying myself, my lifestyle without attachments except the pack, and I suppose I overreacted. I don’t know why exactly, but women had always been drawn to me, easily. Not all women, but enough to keep me a happily busy man.
The problem was, running didn’t help at all. The last few days I haven’t been able to get Kimberly out of my mind, and my wolf was pining away in the back of my head about it. It was driving me crazy, and I hardly recognized myself.
I didn’t even know how to act, I’d never been in a serious relationship before, and running from a woman’s designs on me had become a habit and an art form. Staying and making a connection? I didn’t even know where to start. It was new unbroken ground I’d never tread.
The adrenaline from the fight, and my wolf’s excitement at seeing our destined mate again had been overwhelming. I didn’t even know what I was thinking, when I just grabbed her like that and tried to kiss her. Maybe I’d been trying to express how I felt about her, badly. Then she’d slapped me and marched off to heal the humans. Tom had to get back to the station, he would already be running late as it was, and before I knew it Adam had me in the car and driving away.
I still didn’t understand it, I just knew I needed her, like I needed to breathe. Her face was stunningly beautiful, and I couldn’t get those soft pouty lips out of my head. She had warm brown eyes, and her flowing wavy dark brown hair was so dark it was almost black. Her body was tight, in shape, and petite. She had perfect little perky handfuls, a curvy waist, and the sexiest tight little and slightly bubbled ass I’d ever seen. Her small stature also brought out my protective side, it killed me that I couldn’t be with her to watch her back, in more ways than one.
It was still kind of amusing to me, that Sherry thought I was staring at her ass that first night. Sherry was a undoubtedly a beautiful woman, but my wolf and I couldn’t take our eyes off our destined mate. That was another difficulty I’d face, some of Kimberly’s sisters obviously judged me harshly for my lifestyle. My old lifestyle, as of two days ago. I’d never lied to a woman, or misled her with sweet words and false promises. I’d never said I was looking for more than a fun time. Was it my fault they all set out to change me and thought they’d be the one to do it?
Who was the more dishonest and manipulative in that scenario? I didn’t think it was me. They’d all said they were fine with it, and weren’t looking for more with me either. Yet, it always had ended with me running for freedom, and them angry about me not changing. How the hell did that even make sense? That was all behind me now anyway, I’d never need anyone other than Kimberly. I’d never want anyone else. I ran a few nights ago, but between my wolf, and myself, I knew there was no point.
I didn’t want to run from her.
It was more than that too, it wasn’t just Kimberly’s looks that called to me and my wolf, I wanted to get to know her. I knew she was the coven healer, but that was about it. I wanted to learn about her, I was hungry for it in a way that surprised me, but I didn’t know where to start, I’d never cared about that touchy feely crap before. I also couldn’t ask my brother, or he’d tease me about it for decades.
It wasn’t something I’d felt before, and obviously trying to kiss her without even a hello wasn’t the right move. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever actually spoken to her, not once. In my defense, I’d been a wolf that first night. I wanted to get out of the car and run back there, and try to explain my insanity.
But… Tom was my brother, and was pack. I needed to be there for him right now, even my wolf understood that part of things. That didn’t make it easy though. Pack loyalty didn’t exactly trump a mate bond, but it was at least equally important. Just like I’d expect Kimberly to be there for her sisters if they needed her.
I couldn’t disobey the alpha either, Kevin wasn’t as tightly wound as most alphas, but he was in charge. We got away with giving him shit, and even argued on occasion, but when it came down to his orders, we all jumped. I also had to prioritize that with who was in the largest amount of danger. My future mate was well protected right now, I didn’t see any other choice except waiting for things to cool down. Once Tom was safe, and I had some freedom back, I could pursue my mate. Until then, my wolf would be miserable. Which sucked.
Adam said, “Snap out of it, Tom’s heading this way, and not in uniform.”
I stared for a moment, he was headed right for us, and he looked pissed off.
“That can’t be good.”
We both watched as he walked up, opened the back door, and slipped into the car.
Tom growled, “I’ve been suspended, pending an investigation by IA.”
“For what?”
Tom said, “Get to the coven house, they’re investigating the fourteen deaths. They found irregularities in my report. Irregularities my ass, someone is playing games with my cover up.”
Adam started the car and took off.
“Why would they be at the coven house.”
Tom shrugged, “I don’t know anything, obviously being under investigation means I’m locked out. But I’m also a cop, so I can guess. If I were them, I’d be sending a fire inspector out there and a detective to ask questions. Is it crazy to think the demons might be behind this?”
I replied, “A week ago I’d have said it was nuts. Demons don’t do subtle, but there’s a powerful demon out there with a very regimented and meticulous mind. Maybe that one does do subtle. What would be the point?”
Tom frowned, “I don’t know, get them out of the house and outside the wards? Could just be another way to lure them out. From what Kevin told me they keep changing their approach to take out the coven, and to try to get their hands on the gateway to keep it open. I’m not sure how this plays into it yet though. Either way, I’m off work for a few days at least, so at least we can get the pack together.”
Adam and I exchanged a look, and I lifted an eyebrow.
He sighed, “Fine, I’ll take care of it, try not to blow it with Kim. But you owe me one.”
Tom asked, “Take care
of what?”
Adam said, “Family issue back in Ohio. We’ve been putting it off the last few days to cover your backside, but if the pack is pulling together I should take care of it. I should be back tomorrow, or the next day at the latest.”
Adam and I are connected to the Bailey pack in Ohio just outside of Columbus. Connected might be an understatement. Our parents were the alpha couple, our mother was Kevin’s aunt making us cousins. We both felt the call early from the goddess, and left home to join Kevin’s pack. Our mother used to be a young, but had joined our father’s pack when they got married since he was the alpha’s heir at the time. Regardless, they thought they had a demon problem of their own. Nothing like we had here, just signs of one or two possessor demons causing trouble, but one of us should look into it.
That really was normal, the guardians of the gateway weren’t supposed to stop all demons, just most of them. It was part of the design, like it or not. Normal shifters couldn’t stop demons, about all they could do was make the demon vacate the body, but they had no ability to tear it to pieces like we could.
Tom said, “Alright. Be careful.”
Adam replied, “I’ll be fine once I’m out of town I think.”
I asked, “What if there is someone there, won’t you get in trouble for putting your nose in it?”
Tom nodded, “Normally yes, except my wife is there, where else would I go?”
That… was a really good question, where else would I go, besides to my mate. Another one was, would Kimberly even speak to me after what happened earlier?
~ Chapter Three – Kimberly ~
I felt my stomach drop as we approached our home.
The first thing I noticed was the undercover cop car sitting out front, and the fire department car with a siren on it. The second thing I noticed was the gate was open.
Sherry said, “What is it now?”
Tony replied, “No idea, I haven’t heard from…” he trailed off as Kevin’s phone went off.
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