Your Guardian Angel Uncut (The Guardian Angel Series Book 1.5)

by Skyla Madi

  “Poor girl...” I exhaled, sitting on Mila’s bed. “I couldn’t imagine losing my best friend.”

  Mila joined me, adjusting her long, yellow dress before sitting on the bed. “You have a best friend?”

  I smiled, recalling Camilla’s goofy, lopsided smile. “Yeah... and if I ever lost her permanently, I don’t know what I’d do.”

  Mila nodded. “It would suck.”

  “Majorly.” I agreed.

  ***

  I had to leave a lot earlier than I planned. Mila and Mr Aleksandrov were going to visit Mila's great aunt. I hugged Mila goodbye and walked out the front door, to my surprise Eli was leaning on a concrete column.

  I walked straight past him but he caught up quickly. We walked silently across the field and up the hidden path that was shrouded by trees. I thought back to when Eli grabbed me and had spoken to me with such emotion. My heart squeezed. He cared about me, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

  When we emerged from the opposite end of the path, Eli pulled me by the wrist in a different direction.

  “Where are we going?”

  He smiled. “For coffee.”

  “I thought we couldn’t be alone together?”

  He dropped my wrist and it fell limply to my side. “It’s just coffee and it’s in public. I’m not an animal.”

  I grinned, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “You said it, not me.”

  I followed Eli and his ‘short cut’ until we reached a cute brick house. On the outside it reminded me of a house and grandmother would own. All of the teachers’ houses looked like that.

  “Is this your house?” I asked him, stepping onto the porch.

  He laughed. “Yeah, awesome, isn’t it?”

  He ran inside and grabbed a set of keys for his Audi Q5 that sat in the driveway.

  “We’re leaving the school? Eli, I don’t think—”

  “Will you just relax and get in the car?” He interrupted. “We’ll be fine and besides, after the night I’ve had, you owe me.”

  With a sigh, I climbed into the passenger seat and clipped in my seatbelt. This was a bad idea.

  ***

  We drove down to the Sage shops and ordered coffees at the bakery Eli took me to on my first day at Sage Sanctum.

  He twirled a sugar packet between his fingers. “I know I came on a little strong before, but I just wanted you to know there are people here for you.”

  I played with my own packet. “I know, thank you.”

  He exhaled in defeat and sat back in his chair. I knew it wasn’t what he wanted to hear. Eli wanted me to confide in him and put all my feelings on the table, but I couldn’t do it. Even though he could feel the highs and lows of my emotions, I didn’t want him to know the cause of them. I did, however, want him to know he was my high and that I felt instantly happy as soon as I saw him. He probably already knew that. After a few silent minutes, I finally spoke.

  “I’m petrified of being alone.” I mumbled, giving him a small insight. “When I’m alone, I spiral into a weird depression. I feel like I’ve lost all hope, all strength, and all my emotions rain down on me. I feel like I’ve fallen down a hole and I don’t have the strength or will power to climb back out. So I give up all hope and let the darkness take over me. I let it consume me and I feel hopeless and worthless. I feel angry and sad at the same time. I just…I don’t know.”

  Eli placed his large, warm hand on top of mine and I lifted my gaze, locking eyes with my guardian. His green orbs reflected the same despair mine did, he felt what I felt. He’d experienced some of my pain first hand. I felt guilty opening up to him and bringing him into my world. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

  He let go and sat back as a woman brought us our coffee. She smiled, exposing straight, perfect white teeth and openly flirted with Eli. I also noticed she’d pulled her shirt up a little, revealing a large portion of her flat stomach. I frowned. I didn’t know you could ask someone if they wanted any sugar in such a suggestive manner. Eli smiled and declined politely. When she left, she threw me a bitchy glance over her shoulder. What the hell?

  “Jealousy?” questioned Eli, biting back a smile.

  “Hmm?” I looked at him, confused.

  “I’ve never felt jealousy come through our bond before,”

  I felt my cheeks light up in embarrassment at his amused expression. “Jealous? Yeah, because she didn’t offer me any sugar.”

  He rolled his eyes, making me chuckle. “Well, for what it’s worth,” He said, dropping his sugar packet and drawing his steaming coffee to his mouth. “You’re way better than her,” he said casually while taking a sip of his.

  Curious, I asked, “How so?”

  He placed his drink back down on the table and leaned forward, smiling sweetly at me. “She clearly tries too hard, wears way to much make-up and went as low as showing flesh to get my attention.” He shrugged his shoulders. “You and I both know her shirt wasn’t that high when we arrived.”

  I laughed once. “You were perving?”

  He shook his head, a wide smile adorning his face. “I was being observant, two completely different things. A guardian angel has to be observant, no matter where they are.”

  “Well played,” I giggled, sipping my own coffee.

  ***

  We finished our coffee pretty quickly and talked about everything besides our feelings. An hour had passed before we jumped back in the car and headed back to the school. After a quiet—but not awkward—car ride, we arrived at Eli’s house. I unbuckled my seat belt and grasped the handle.

  “Ruby, wait,” Eli blurted and I glanced over my shoulder at him. He looked like he regretted it as soon as he said it and he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “Thanks for opening up to me at the bakery—even if it was just a crack.”

  I smiled and sat back comfortably in the chair. “Well, it’s Sunday and I don’t have classes, so tell me something about you.”

  “I love coffee,” he proclaimed and I slapped his hard shoulder.

  “C’mon, you know what I mean, something personal.”

  Eli stared out the windscreen, thinking. After a while he looked at me, fighting a smile. “I’m glad you came to Sage Sanctum.”

  I arched a brow. “I didn’t really have a choice. You abducted me, remember?”

  He unclipped his seatbelt and shifted in his seat so his body was facing me slightly. “It was more like a rescue.” He countered, laughing.

  I listened as he laughed. It was so melodious and perfect.

  “And if you need anything, anything at all, let me know. I don’t care if it’s the midday or the middle of the night. I’m your guardian angel, that’s what I’m here for.”

  “Anything?” I asked, feeling bold.

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  I inched closer. “…Kiss me.”

  I don’t know what overcame me...I felt so confident, so daring. Eli noticeably tensed and his eyebrows drew nearer, slightly.

  He swallowed hard as his eyes fell to my lips before reluctantly returning to my eyes. “That’s not what I meant, Ruby.”

  “You said if I need anything. Don’t you want to?”

  “That isn’t a necessity, and whether I want to or not is irrelevant. It’s wrong.”

  I leant even closer to him. I could feel his warm breath on my face, but he didn’t lean away from me.

  “Why should we have to conform to what the higher power wants? I know you feel it, too.” I said in a low tone.

  “Ruby, stop.”

  Our faces were barely an inch apart and pondered going that little bit closer. No. I wouldn’t force him. I knew he wanted to—all of the signs were there—but he didn’t want to risk it. My lips twitched and I turned away from him. I opened the door and slid out of the car, shoving my hands into my hoodie pockets. I walked away from the car with a huge smile on my face. How I affected someone like Eli was beyond me.

  “Where are you going?” He called out to me.

 
I heard his car door shut.

  “It’s eleven thirty, so I’m going to the dining hall, sir,” I called mockingly over my shoulder. “See you there.”

  I walked quickly back to the student campus. Mila said she would be back in time for lunch and to meet her at the dining hall. Sure enough, Mila was standing with Gabriel outside the dining hall. Noticing my arrival, Gabriel farewelled Mila and acknowledged me with a wave.

  “Guess, what?” She squealed, grabbing my arms and pulling me into her. “Gabriel asked me on a date.”

  “Mila…”

  “I know, I know, uncle won’t approve blah, blah, blah, but Gabriel has already asked for my uncle’s permission and he said yes!”

  My jaw dropped and I pulled my hands back. “He said yes?”

  That definitely wasn’t what I was expecting.

  Her eyes glazed over with awe and adoration. “We’re going to dinner at La Hope this Tuesday night,”

  “Mila, he’s a senior and is twenty years old.”

  How did Mr Aleksandrov not have this conversation with her? He walked in on me getting dressed in front of Eli and I received the ‘it’s forbidden’ speech. I knew I was being a bit of a hypocrite considering I made out with a teacher at this school who was also my guardian angel and seven years my senior—not to mention I’ll be meeting up with Hunter secretly to learn my magic, but still, this was Mila and I felt protective of her.

  “It’s only two years. Ruby, don’t worry,” Mila said. “And it’s only one date.”

  “Is it though? You’ll have one date and then two, three, four—I can only see it escalating.”

  “It won’t escalate. At the moment we’re friends. I won’t let it go any further than that.”

  She would, I could tell by her flushed cheeks and giddy facial expression. There was nothing I could say to change her mind, she was going on the date and that was that.

  ***

  We sat down for lunch and the menu today was ham sandwiches and fruit salad. My stomach grumbled at the healthy choice, I was really hoping for cheeseburgers or pizza.

  “I see you’re pimping Mila out now to make extra money,” sneered Raina.

  I crooked my head at her. I didn’t know what went on in her silly little head, but for some insane reason she had chosen to sit next to Mila and I. Even though she was stupid enough to sit next to us, she was thinking when she decided not to sit within arm’s length of me.

  “What are you talking about, now?” asked Mila, tapping her index finger impatiently on the wooden surface of the table.

  “The word is that you are going to dinner with Gabriel.”

  Her emphasis on the word dinner annoyed me.

  “…and he’s a guardian angel.” Her friend snickered.

  “What are you getting at? It’s just dinner,” Mila mumbled.

  “Oh honey,” Raina giggled. “When Ruby is involved, it’s never just dinner.”

  Bam! Something within me snapped, a fire burned in my chest and my skin became increasingly warmer. I lunged across the table, cocking my arm back. When I got within reach, I let my fist fly, punching her square in the eye and knocking her off her chair. There was a loud slap as we came into contact with the hard, tiled floor.

  Raina’s friends screamed but didn't dare help her. I had Raina pinned to the floor and she squealed and thrashed underneath me. She held such fear in her eyes and a few tears rolled out. Strangely enough, I didn't feel sorry for her. I wanted to hurt her more.

  “What gives you the right to talk as if you know me?” I growled at her, getting in her face.

  One of her eyes were forced shut by swelling, the other held so much fear that it softened me enough to not want to hit her again.

  “If you ever talk to me or even look at me from this point on, I will kill you.”

  We were circled by people chanting “fight, fight, fight,” and I even heard some people ask their friends if I was going to bite and drain her blood. Whatever vampire stories were circling around about me now, I just confirmed them. I moved with such precision, control, and speed, I would have thought I was a vampire, too.

  “The guardians are coming,” someone called out and I cringed. Crap.

  “Ruby!” the inevitable deep voice boomed. Of course it was Eli.

  The crowd moved out of his way in fear he might throw them across the room. Strong hands reached around my waist and pulled me off her. Not fighting against him, Eli slung me over his shoulder and I kept eye contact with Raina’s face the whole time Eli was carrying me away.

  “Put me down,” I growled when we were out of the common room.

  He didn’t.

  “Put me down! I’m not a child.”

  Eli let me go, dropping me straight on my arse. Although the grass looked nice and soft, it was hard, instantly making my butt ache.

  “Then stop acting like one,” he shouted, startling me.

  His green eyes flared angrily as he towered over me. I forced myself to my feet and brushed the grass off my jeans, looking Eli dead in the eyes.

  “She deserved everything she got. Raina has messed with me from day one all because I wouldn’t sit with her and her shitty group.”

  Eli put his hands on his hips. “You hit her because she bullies you? What are you, twelve? You’re a big girl, Ruby. Use your brain, not your hands.”

  I stepped closer to him, almost challenging him. “You should be proud that I managed to hold off as long as I did. Raina is a bit—”

  “Watch your language.” He ordered, cutting me off.

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s disrespectful, it’s disgusting, and I’m telling you to.” He took a deep breath and visibly calmed himself. “I don’t care what she is you can’t just lose control like that.”

  I couldn’t calm myself. I was too mad and I had to show him that I wasn’t in the wrong here. I was provoked.

  “That wasn’t me losing control. That was me smacking a bitch.”

  “Ruby, stop! Who are you trying to impress? There’s no one here but me and you so drop the act.”

  I dropped to the grass in defeat and rested my head on my knees. I didn’t cry. I was too angry to cry. The more time that past, the more I regretted hurting Raina. I felt Eli kneel down in front of me.

  “You can’t let anger get the better of you, same with jealous girls and their gossip.”

  I peeked up from my knees. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Ignore it.”

  He made it sound so simple. “I can’t, she pushes and pushes. It’s not once a day, it’s every single time she sees me or Mila.”

  “Mila handles it well. She handles it like a goddess should. You handle it like a renegade angel. You can’t beat up everyone that makes you angry.”

  I wanted to reply with things like ‘I can try’ or ‘watch me,’ but as much as I didn’t want to admit it, Eli was right. I shouldn’t have attacked Raina, but at the same time, I felt so much better. I felt relieved. I let Raina know I wasn’t afraid of her, that she couldn’t push me around like everyone else.

  “Miss Moore,” called Mr Aleksandrov. He and Tay strolled casually over to us and Eli rose to his feet. “I see you have gotten yourself into a bit of a situation.”

  Shit, it must be serious if Ivan Aleksandrov himself came to see me about punching a student, but not when a bunch of psychotic vampires attacked me. I didn’t answer.

  “Stand up,” Eli demanded and I fought the urge to scowl at him.

  He was always bossy when Mr Aleksandrov was around. Exhaling dramatically, I stood up, looking Mr Aleksandrov dead in his face. I opened my mouth to speak, but he lifted his hand, exposing his palm to me and cutting me off.

  “Every afternoon you will assist Mr De Luca in cleaning the auditorium.”

  “But—”

  “No buts.” Aleksandrov turned and walked off.

  I frowned. That’s it? I never got to explain why I punched Raina. Tay eyed me and Eli speculatively for a few moments
, and his jaw seemed to tighten slightly as he said, “Control your pet,”

  He turned and stormed off and I looked sideways at Eli. His eyes were burning blackly through narrowed slits. His jaw was clenched tightly, and his arms were rigid as he folded them across his chest. He turned his sights on me.

  “You’re confined to your dorm for the rest of the day and you’ll only come out for dinner.”

  “What? It’s only lunch time!” I protested.

  “I’ll let Mrs Ploit know that you can’t leave. I’ll escort you from your dorm to the dining hall and then back after you’ve eaten.”

  I took off in the direction of my dorm room, tears splashing at my eyelids as I stomped. I knew Eli would have a hard time trying to block out my emotions. I was angry and I was making sure he knew it. I marched through the dorm, eventually coming to my door. I tore it open and slammed it behind me. Just as I thought today couldn’t get any worse, there, upon my pillow lay another letter.

  Deeper Than Physical Attraction

  I stayed rooted in place for a moment, blinking rapidly as I stared at the letter. The creeping realization that someone was in my room again crawled swiftly through me as my skin began to prickle and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I dragged in a deep inhale, trying hard to control my emotions so Eli didn’t come kicking my door in. Oh god. I was going to have panic attack. Hot flashes overwhelmed my body and I could feel my heart rate begin to accelerate. No, no, no, no. Not now.

  “It’s okay,” I whispered to myself, taking another deep breath. “You’re going to be okay.”

  I thought saying something out loud instead of in my head would help, but it didn’t. I grabbed the note and opened it rapidly. I used both hands as I held the paper up, hoping to calm the shaking.

  Dearest Ruby, began the note.

  Relax a little. I am not watching you from around corners or through windows. I will not come to you, you will come to me. I have something very special planned.