Lost Protector (Midworlder Trilogy Book 3)

by Maggie Mundy

  The Elevated floated across to them and stood before Soren. She then gazed at Anne.

  “I apologize for the pain we have caused you both.” The Elevated’s voice sounded as if wind chimes accompanying it. Despite their situation, Anne smiled. “Our inaction over Liliath has put us all in jeopardy. Your sacrifice to fight her has saved our race, but we can no longer share Earth with you.”

  The Elevated knelt beside Soren, raised her hands above his head, and made her way down his body. Whatever she did caused Soren’s color to improve immediately.

  “I have done what I can, but you will need to complete the bond to heal. I can give you no guarantees it will work.”

  “Thank you. We’ll take our chances,” Anne said.

  The Elevated stood and moved away, and within a blink of an eye, disappeared. Mira hugged Nicole and disappeared as well. Soren sat up, Anne helped him to his feet, and he pulled her into his arms. The ground beneath them heaved as a rumble went through the cavern, causing the crystals to shimmer. Some came crashing down from the roof.

  Soren put his arm around her shoulder as they made their way out of the chamber to one of the corridors beyond. The walls were crashing in as they followed the others.

  “We need to get to the arrival chamber,” Ridge yelled back.

  Corridor after corridor collapsed and Anne breathed a sigh of relief when they entered the Arrival room. There was a long window on one side showing the vista beyond. Her mouth hung open for a moment at what she saw before her. Giant rocks were pushing up through the ground on the landscape that appeared like the surface of the moon.

  A large crack started to appear at the bottom of the glass window as they ran toward the elevated arrival pad. There was a loud bang. The ceiling was falling in on them. Anne tried to dodge the falling masonry as Soren’s hand was wrenched from hers and large chunk of the roof landed on her.

  Chapter 23

  Saving Anne

  Soren heaved at the slab of rock covering the bottom half of Anne’s body. He wouldn’t leave her behind. If she could not go, then they would die here together. Her face went pale and she couldn’t stop shaking. Ridge, Edric, and the others moved around the slab and managed to move it a few inches. Soren positioned his hands under Anne’s shoulders and dragged her free.

  Anne screamed and passed out as he scooped her up into his arms and headed for the platform to leave this place. He sensed the pain in his temple as the conduit opened for what would probably be the last time.

  He held Anne close as the wind roared past them, and then it stopped. He glanced back to see the colors of the conduit fading behind them.

  “We need to hurry. All the Guardians have left and it’s collapsing,” Ridge yelled.

  Soren still felt weak from the healing but flapped his wings as hard as he could. He needed to find some inner strength to save them both. If he fell out of the conduit before he reached Earth, who knew where they might end up.

  The night sky surrounded them and he could see the stars above Earth. He held Anne close but she wasn’t moving. Her legs were a mess of bone and blood. He didn’t want her to regain consciousness like this. He just hoped Genia and the others could save her.

  He followed his brother and the others as they descended to the ranch. There were cars and people gathered outside. Most he didn’t recognize but knew they were a mixture of Demonic and Angelic Midworlders, plus the FBI. When he had been taken over by Liliath he couldn’t respond but had known what was going on around him. It had been one of the hardest times in his life, especially when he had wanted to kill Anne.

  Now there were no Guardians everything would change. At the moment, the two groups were not fighting. He didn’t care about any of them or this planet if Anne didn’t survive. He walked inside and Genia said to place Anne on the table. In the light, he could see bones sticking through her skin and her blood continuing to flow away.

  She moaned and opened her eyes as he laid her down. He took her hand in his which she grasped as she took a deep breath.

  “The pain. I don’t think I can take it. I’m so cold.”

  Her lips were turning blue despite Nicole and Genia working hard to heal her. The bleeding eased but didn’t stop as the bones moved to reunite. She screamed and passed out again. Nicole touched his arm.

  “We’re doing all we can but she’s fading faster than we can work. You have to try to change her. She’ll heal if she becomes a Midworlder.”

  “But the Elevated said it could kill her and I’d be to blame.”

  “She’ll die anyway if we do nothing,” Nicole said. “All Genia and I can do is give you some time. We’ll try to bring her around again so you can get her to recite the words.”

  Nicole stood next to the table and placed her hands on either side of Anne’s head. Anne opened her eyes and took a deep breath.

  Soren leaned in close. “I’m going to try to change you. You have to repeat the words after me. Can you do that?”

  She nodded and he picked her up off the table as Nicole and Evie supported her legs. Soren placed her arms around his neck so their bodies could touch.

  “Whatever happens, I want you to know I love you and I was so happy you came into my life,” Soren said.

  “I love you, too.”

  Soren kissed her cold lips. He put his forehead against hers and said the words he had heard before. There was no reaction. Anne had passed out again. This time Nicole reached up to check Anne’s pulse.

  “It’s so weak I can hardly feel it. Get in her mind now with everything you’ve got or it’s too late.”

  Soren closed his eyes and sent his thoughts out to Anne. There was darkness and so much pain. He recalled how she saved him the first time they had met in his dream. He reached out into the dark to call her back from death. There was nothing and then he saw a small light and reached out to her.

  She was weak, but she latched on to his thoughts like a sinking man on a life raft. He said the words of the bonding and made her repeat them. This time the light got stronger. Slowly, she came back to him. Her memories of her mother, the burning house, and the years with her aunt all flooded into him. Next came all the times the two of them had spent together and he truly saw the depth of her love for him.

  He knew for this to work she would have to take his memories as well. He would have done anything to protect her from them, but it was the only way for the conversion to be complete. She saw his happy childhood and then his torture at the hands of Liliath. The agony his body went through and the darkness and anger that overwhelmed him at times. He then showed her his love for every part of her being as he took pain from her as much as he could.

  He could feel her body changing. It tried to reject the Demonic side of his nature, but he kept going. Liliath had not been able to take over his body because Anne had a part of him in her. He had to find that part and make it accept him. He searched her mind and finally found the place where she hid the thoughts from Liliath and joined with her.

  She no longer fought him and her body started to transform. As he held on tight around her waist, her glorious wings sprouted form her back. Anne opened her eyes and glanced back over her shoulder. His own wings came out as well as everyone in the room cheered. He leaned down and kissed her lips that were still cool but opened to him.

  Soren reabsorbed his wings and helped Anne do the same. Her legs were healed, but she was so weak they still gave out beneath her. Soren caught her in his arms. Nicole stood beside them.

  “I think we need to get you cleaned up while these people talk about what happens next.”

  Soren carried Anne into the bedroom and Nicole shooed him away as she went to run a bath. He didn’t want to leave Anne’s side but knew better than to take on Nicole in a mothering role. He changed out of his bloodstained clothes and went back to join the o
thers.

  Ridge called him over when he came back out. The large room was crowded with Midworlders of both sides and the FBI. Sayell and Charles were on the opposite side of the table to Ridge and Heath, but it was still something Soren never thought he would see. Edric and Genia sat at the head of the table in charge.

  Genia put up her hand to control the discussion.

  “Have any of you received any confirmation from other Midworlders that any Guardians remain?”

  Ridge raised his hand in reply. “Nicole’s brother Peter has been in connection with most Enclaves around the world and it seems all Angelic Guardians returned to Homeworld.”

  “It is the same with us,” Sayell offered.

  Edric whispered something to Genia and then spoke. “I’ve lived longer than most Midworlders and have learned two things. The human race is resilient but can be misguided by greed and self-fulfillment. Our communities are wide and varied and have been controlled by our need to protect our Guardians. That is gone.”

  Genia spoke next.

  “Because of what has happened here we feel we should set in motion a discussion for how Midworlders should exist on this planet in the future. We feel both sides should be involved in how we see our roles on Earth.”

  Charles laughed. “How will the humans react if we don’t see them as our equals?”

  Lydia chimed in. “We want to live together in harmony, but we will protect ourselves. I believe working together we all achieve more.”

  Charles nodded. “For now, I agree, but these will need to be ongoing discussions. After what we’ve seen here tonight with Soren and Anne, you will have a whole new race living on Earth.”

  Lydia nodded her head to him. “The fact your races exist has proved to us we need to be prepared for other races to visit our planet. We can help each other to be prepared.”

  “Agreed.” Sayell stood and put his hand forth for Ridge to shake.

  Ridge shook his head but stood and put out his hand and laughed.

  “I’ve some McAllen in the cupboard and I think this is the occasion. Would you like to join me?”

  Sayell grinned. “At ten thousand dollars a bottle, I don’t mind if I do.”

  Sara came across and stood with her arms folded.

  “Five years I’ve been trying to get him to open that bottle and now he does it with you. I’d better get a big glass with no ice to dilute it.”

  Soren took a glass and cheered along with the others, but his mind went to Anne. Nicole walked back in and wagged a finger at Ridge as he poured more whiskey. She then came over and whispered in Soren’s ear.

  “She is resting and tired but all she wants is to have you near.”

  “I can never repay you for what you’ve done.”

  “My repayment is that you’re alive and Ridge is happy. We’ve all had so much pain in our lives, but now is a time for happiness no matter how long it lasts.”

  Soren hugged Nicole and walked to the bedroom. He eased the door open and walked in to find Anne asleep. He sat on the edge of the bed and watched as she breathed in and out. The fact either of them were still alive amazed him.

  She was beautiful. Her lips were full and all he wanted to do was lose himself in kissing them for the rest of his life. Her eyelashes were long and sometimes she peered at him like a cat wanting to lick the cream. Her body was covered by bedding but he could see the shape of her shoulders, waist, and hips, and he wanted to be close to her.

  Soren went to the bathroom and showered. Would he ever be able to let go of the torture? He didn’t know if the darkness might come back but now he had the help of others to fight it. He would never hurt Anne. Her mother had tried to kill her and he would never add to that pain.

  He returned to the bedroom. She was on her side and he curved his body around hers, placed his arm around her waist, and held her close. She was his and he was hers, and he would never let her go. Sleep came eventually.

  Anne stretched beside him and Soren marveled at the thought of waking up every day from now on with his beautiful women beside him. She lay on her back and smiled.

  “Are you feeling better?” he asked.

  “I feel amazing. Everything feels as if it’s healed.”

  “I think I need to check you out for purely medicinal reasons.” Soren threw back the covers. He was naked and aroused and Anne giggled. She wore a long T-shirt nightie with a sunflower on but he wanted to see all of her.

  “This needs to come off for me to do a proper check.”

  Anne sat up and he tugged it off over her head. He moved down the bed to look at her legs. Both were healed, but he could still see the scars where the bones had broken through the skin. He kissed each scar, knowing they would be reminders of what they had gone through to be together.

  He lay down on top of her and the feel of her naked body beneath him made him want to delve into her core. He kissed her forehead and eyelids, nose, and lips. He would never tire of kissing her. She opened to him and he pushed his tongue into the warm interior of her mouth. Her passion matched his as she fought to get closer to him.

  He trailed kisses down to her right breast and then took the taut bud of her nipple into his mouth and sucked hard. His hand caressed her other breast, rubbing her nipple as her back arched beneath him. He tweaked her nipple and she pushed so her hot core pressed against his cock.

  He moved down her body and pushed her legs apart. He kissed down her groin and she laughed as he tickled her sensitive skin. The smell of her arousal made his cock throb even more. He kissed her clitoris and then flicked it with his tongue so she groaned. When he moved his fingers into her, she clenched onto him. She was so hot and wet he moved down so he could lick up her labia and probe into her core, causing her to squirm beneath him.

  When he moved back up her body, she wrapped her legs around his waist so his cock pressed against her channel. As he took her mouth, he slowly pushed into her heat. He stretched her as he plunged deeper and deeper until she took all of him. He moved back and forth as he moved his hand between them and touched her clit. Time passed as the two of the reveled in the fact they were alive and connected so closely. Her breathing increased as he heard her scream out her release. He could not hold back any longer himself and poured his seed into her, feeling the hot gush come from his body as he climaxed.

  As he lay on her, he placed small kisses on her lips as she throbbed around his cock. He had never been so happy in his life.

  “I don’t know if my life can get any better than that.”

  He noticed Anne had a wicked grin on her face.

  “Are you planning something?”

  “You will just have to wait until tonight to find out. For now, I think we should shower as I’m sure the others will want to talk with us.”

  Soren waited until he heard the water running in the shower and then went to join Anne. He washed her back and down over her buttocks. Her wing tattoos were red like his. He turned her around and payed equally as much attention to her breasts and pubes.

  “I’ll never get tired of touching your body.”

  “Likewise.” Anne took the soap, lathered his chest, and then moved her hand down to his erection. She leaned forward and kissed his mouth as one of her hands moved back and forth on his cock while her other hand cradled his balls. He put his hands against the wall of the shower. The tension built and could not stop the loud groan as he came.

  “You will be the death of me, woman, but what a way to go.”

  Anne gave him one more kiss and left the shower. He rinsed himself off when he heard her shriek. He opened the shower door and found her smiling as she stared at the reflection of her back in the mirror.

  “They’re beautiful, Soren. I didn’t expect them to be red like yours. Plus, I didn’t have to go through hours of pain with a n
eedle. Even if I have gone through everything else since I met you.”

  Soren grabbed a towel and dried off.

  “Later I will help you to take your first flying lesson.”

  “Just make sure you’re there to catch me if I fall.”

  “I always will be.”

  Soren held Anne’s hand as they walked out to the kitchen. People were sitting around the table chatting and eating. Evie was cooking up a storm in the kitchen and the smells made his mouth water. He loaded up his plate and headed back to the table to sit beside Anne. Ridge patted him on the back.

  “I thought you two were goin’ to stay in bed all day.”

  “It did cross my mind,” Soren answered with a grin that got him a thump to his arm from Anne.

  Ridge sat next to him.

  “We’ve had more contact with the other Enclaves around the world and have agreed to send delegates to New York. All sides will take part in the discussion to see what’ll happen in the future. I want you to come with me, as well as Heath and our partners. The other Midworlders need to see conversions are possible.”

  “They’ll all want to see what kind of freak I am to be a mixed Midworlder.”

  “That’s true, but then again it’s better to get it over and done with. The feelin’ is most Midworlders want peace. They’re tired of fightin’ and most are rich and can have a good life.”

  After they finished eating, Soren took Anne out of the balcony. The ranch was far enough away from the city that no one would see them flying. She bit her bottom lip and he could see her hands were shaking.

  “You don’t have to do this now. We can wait.”

  “No, I don’t want to. If I do, I’ll just get more nervous.”

  “Close your eyes and imagine your wings are there.” Soren shut his eyes for a moment and his wings erupted from his back.