The Guardian: Paranormal Fantasy New Adult Young Adult Angel Romance (A Fight for Light Novel Book 1)

by Nikki Landis

  “She will be fine. Time heals all wounds.”

  Once we were in my room, he laid me down on the bed, climbing beside me. I felt his strong arms encircle me.

  “Sleep my darling Rhiannon.” His voice was low but heavy with emotion. “Sleep my rose.”

  “Don’t leave me,” I whispered, vulnerable now.

  “You have my word.”

  I let the darkness drift away, certain that Kellen loved me and just as certain that I loved him back.

  Chapter Fourteen

  We pulled up in front of Gran’s house and Kellen turned off the engine. He looked over at me and we smiled at each other. This was the third time we had gone out this week. Since prom and graduation, we had started to spend even more time together. We saw each other every day, almost every moment, unless Kellen was outside doing a “safety check” as he called it. It was starting to become routine.

  We were together constantly. Everyone knew we were dating. Emily and Mariah were so excited for me, I was constantly bombarded with texts and phone calls. Gran set an extra place for dinner every night now without asking unless we were leaving. I knew she liked Kellen, perhaps as much as I did. He was always a perfect gentleman. Gran especially liked that about him. She knew he treated me nice and that went a long way in her book.

  It was obvious to Gran that we were getting serious. She didn’t press me for too many details. More often than not, I came in with my eyes bright and dreamy. Too excited to sleep, I would tell her about our date. I filled her in on as many details as I was comfortable with sharing. She knew I was completely infatuated with him. It was pretty obvious that he liked me just as much. The two of us were inseparable. I oozed happiness from every fiber of my being.

  Kellen got out and walked around to open my door for me. He extended his hand to help me out since I always had a hard time climbing out of the Hummer. The thing was huge. I took Kellen’s hand as he pulled me out of the car, pausing to look into his eyes. He ran his fingers along my cheek and held my hand as we walked up to the house.

  We stopped at the bottom of the porch steps. I turned to look at him, gazing up at his handsome face, his eyes staring at me with that penetrating look again. My heart started to race as I anticipated what could be a goodnight kiss.

  Kellen hadn’t kissed me since that day in the woods, weeks ago now. I wasn’t sure if it had something to do with his struggle against those restrictions he had told me about or not. I was hoping tonight might be different. We never discussed that day. Not even once. But it had been another pivotal moment for us, like prom night.

  “I had a really great time with you this evening,” he told me.

  I smiled. He sounded so formal. He told me the same thing every time he brought me home. It was sweet.

  “Would you go out with me again sometime soon?” He asked.

  How funny, like he had to ask. I would go anywhere with him. I was totally helpless.

  “Yes,” I answered.

  “How about tomorrow?”

  “Sure,” I said.

  “And the night after?” He pressed.

  “Yes,” I said again.

  “How about the rest of the month?”

  I giggled. “Maybe we should go with the next six months.”

  “If we are going to do that, we might as well go for the whole year,” he agreed.

  I nodded my head in agreement. We were both laughing now.

  Suddenly his face became very serious. “Why stop there? We should just make it…forever.” His eyes smoldered at me.

  “Ok,” I said. My voice was barely a whisper.

  “Good.”

  His arms were around me and his lips were against mine before I could respond. I slid my hands around his neck and leaned into him, our bodies fusing together like iron and fire. I felt his hands tighten at my waist, pulling me close, his hard lean frame pinned against mine.

  Our bodies tingled with electricity and sudden passion. I hardly knew what was happening. I just knew that it felt amazing. I gave in to the sensation. Let it burn inside me until my thoughts disappeared. It was only him, this moment, this kiss that mattered. My singular focus. His lips were strong, warmly moving against mine, dominating until I parted and met his tongue, shyly at first and then with matched ardor.

  I don’t know how much time passed. All too soon he stopped. He pulled away slightly for a moment, both of us gasping for air. His lips were at my neck and then moving up to my ear. He kissed the spot just below it, the tender flesh exposed as he swept my hair aside.

  “I think I’m falling in love with you,” he whispered, “does that frighten you?”

  “What?” I asked dazed. Did he just say what I thought he did?

  “Silly girl,” he chided, “I’m falling in love with you.”

  “That’s good,” I said breathlessly, “I think I already love you.”

  He threw back his head and laughed. His eyes were shining when he looked back at me. I could tell it really pleased him. He picked me up and swirled me around, setting me gently on the ground again. Then he placed a quick kiss on my lips and I smiled up at him.

  I knew my words were true as soon as I said them. I do love him. I think I’ve been in love with him for months. I suspected it that day in the forest but now I knew. Maybe I was just too afraid to admit it to myself before, some instinctive drive to hide myself from the pain of rejection. None of that really mattered though. I knew I wanted to be with him. Everything else seemed secondary.

  Nothing was more important than this moment. My feelings for him were strong, stronger than anything I had ever known. I never felt this way before, the awareness seemed to resonate profoundly somewhere infinite in my core. I was in deep, and nothing could change that now.

  The night was so perfect that I didn’t want it to end. It was late but I wasn’t tired. He smiled at me softly.

  “Would you like to swing in the moonlight?” I asked.

  I took his hand and led him quietly up the porch steps. We sat in the swing together, Kellen sliding next to me and pulling me close. I leaned against him with my head on his shoulder and we rocked in silence with only the stars above us. I yawned slightly and snuggled closer to him. The night had gotten a little cool. I shivered slightly. He took off his jacket and put it around me as I cradled myself back into him. We continued rocking again, slowly, back and forth.

  I didn’t realize that I had fallen asleep until I felt him pick me up. I was vaguely aware of him cradling my body close, his soft nuzzle against my hair, bringing me into the house. He laid me down on the couch in the living room as I felt the warmth of a blanket float around me.

  My eyes fluttered open and I looked up to see his face smiling gently down at mine. I tried to smile back but I was so tired. Light was coming from the kitchen. Was Gran awake? Kellen leaned down and pressed a kiss against my forehead.

  “Go back to sleep, my darling. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

  I wanted to respond but my eyes were so heavy I couldn’t keep them open. I mumbled something but I was back asleep before I knew what it was.

  The sound of quiet voices awakened me. I could hear some kind of conversation going on. I didn’t know what time it was but it was dark outside. I tried to concentrate. It was Kellen and Gran. I wanted to hear what they were saying. I stayed very still on the couch and listened quietly.

  “Does she know the truth?” I heard Kellen ask.

  “Yes,” Gran responded, “a little bit. But not as much as she should.” I heard her pour liquid like tea into a cup. “She has her gift.”

  “Ah, I suspected as much. Rhiannon’s been quiet about it but that doesn’t surprise me.”

  “Yes, she is still trying to come to terms with it. She doesn’t like feeling like an outsider. She doesn’t like to be considered different. I think she will accept it with time…and with maturity.”

  “Then she’s the right age. Does she understand the significance?” He asked.

  “I was a
fraid to overwhelm her. She wears the vial around her neck on the chain you gave her for her birthday. I told her what is in it.”

  “I was wondering about that. It’s a great way to hide it.” I heard him say.

  “Yes, we thought it best. Kellen, I need to know…” I heard Gran hesitate.

  A small silence followed. “I understand. Yes, I love her,” he confessed, “more deeply, more profoundly than I ever thought possible.”

  “I know. I can see it when you look at her. She loves you too,” I heard Gran tell him.

  “I tried to keep my distance. I never really had a chance, I guess. Her beauty took my breath away the day we met.”

  “You know my concern. Her destiny was set long before she met you. This could complicate things…” Gran sighed. “Her fate is a difficult one.”

  “I know,” he said, “she has free will. She has a choice. I will respect whatever decision she makes.”

  “It may not be as easy as that, Kellen. Listen to yourself.” Gran sounded almost angry. “What about the restrictions?” She asked.

  “I will deal with that when the time comes, if it does. I promise you…I will protect her. I will fulfill my duty by her. My feelings for her don’t change that.”

  “Are you certain?” Gran asked. “The council will not go easy on you when they find out.”

  “I know. I can’t stop the way I feel about her. I love her. I’ll love her until the day I die.” His voice broke off. “I will accept my fate, whatever that is. She is worth any suffering I may have to endure.”

  There was a long pause. I thought maybe I was dreaming the whole conversation. Then I heard the voices again.

  “Have you considered what that will do to her if you are punished?” Gran asked quietly.

  “Yes, and I am going to do everything in my power to stop that from happening. If I see that possibility coming, I will leave her. I can be strong enough. I have to be. I won’t deny that it will cause me great pain to do so. It wouldn’t be easy.” His voice sounded strained.

  “Yes, but is she strong enough to let you go? I’m not sure. In fact, I’m certain she will react badly. She is very attached to you,” Gran replied, “Rhiannon latches onto the people she loves. Loss is very difficult for her.”

  “I don’t know how she will react,” he said honestly, “part of me wonders if I should pull back from her now, save her the pain of deeper suffering later on. I tried, again and again to keep my distance. But I love her too deeply to do that.”

  “Kellen…I’m concerned about distracting her from her true course. She has an important job to do. I understand how you feel but is this best? Are you fulfilling your duty by her if you keep her to yourself?” I heard him object but Gran interrupted him. “I have my doubts.”

  “Our connection to each other is strong. Much stronger than I could have anticipated. When we are together…time ceases to exist. It sounds cliché but I have never experienced anything like it before. I don’t think we can stay apart from each other.”

  “I have been thinking about that too. The strength of your feelings for each other has surprised me. I am concerned about a relationship that could compromise her.” Kellen objected again but Gran must have silenced him. “You must understand her purpose. It is greater than your affection and desire.”

  “Yes, I know,” he conceded.

  “You seem destined to be in each other’s lives. She’s very young and innocent, pure and unblemished by the harshness of the world. Perhaps I have sheltered her too much. You know she is a very constant and loyal girl,” Gran told him. Her voice wavered.

  “Yes, I know. I would never hurt her like that or betray her trust with someone else. I value her purity and innocence. I don’t give my heart easily…or lightly.” I heard him clear his throat. “But, as you know, I may not be her final choice. Her destiny is her own. We don’t know how it will turn out.” His voice faltered slightly and I heard him sigh.

  “Kellen…what if he comes back for her?” I heard the catch in her voice. She sounded serious.

  “He won’t. He’s gone.” I heard Kellen’s voice sound bitter.

  “He’s meant for her,” She whispered, “he always has been. You need to remember that. There’s a very good chance he will return one day.”

  “I know,” he moaned, “I don’t know what will happen if he does. It hardly matters now. Not with everything happening so fast.”

  Silence filled the room again. Were they still speaking? I fought sleep as I listened and waited, the seconds ticking by slowly. I didn’t want to miss anything interesting.

  “Is the danger close now?” I finally heard Gran say something.

  “Yes, she needs to be told everything. It will no longer help her to be ignorant. Keeping her in the dark could endanger her now. She needs to understand what she risks and why.”

  “I know,” Gran replied, “I have been waiting a long time for this day. Her grandfather and I have kept her secluded for so long. Hidden away so many years…she knows nothing of her history or where she comes from. I fear this will be a very great shock to her.”

  “She is strong, stronger than we give her credit for. I have seen a fierce determination in her, a queenly grace that surpasses all of our hopes.” He took a deep breath. “We all have been waiting. She is eagerly anticipated in our world. The stars are watched for signs, the old runes are consulted, and even the ancient ones have foretold of her coming for years now. Your bloodline is strong. Rhiannon will fulfill her destiny.”

  “Yes, I believe that. Everything I have taught her has been in preparation for this time. She is strong in character. Her moral compass is true and unbreakable. She is good, loving, and kind. All the attributes she needs. She will be an excellent leader. But…I will miss her terribly.” Gran’s voice wavered a little at the end.

  “Can you not join her?” He sounded surprised.

  “My fate does not lie with hers. I have a different destiny. My dreams show a different path right now. This may change with her decisions,” she explained, “or it may remain the same.”

  “Dreams?” He asked, confusion in his voice.

  “Surely you remember the legends? We have premonitions, truth dreams.” Gran reminded him.

  “Yes, I remember now. Rhiannon has these too doesn’t she?”

  “Yes, but she doesn’t understand the meaning. I fear for her sometimes. Her nightmares are increasing. The time is getting closer. I know the war is not far off now. You have confirmed it tonight.” Gran sounded tired.

  “She needs to be prepared. You know what must be done now.” Kellen sounded urgent. “Tomorrow. We cannot put it off any longer.”

  “Yes,” Gran replied, “we’ll tell her tomorrow. Let her sleep now.”

  “Yes, you should get some rest too. I will stand watch tonight.”

  “Thank you.” I heard Gran say.

  It was quiet for a moment. Then I heard Gran speak, her voice full of emotion.

  “Kellen, if something happens to me, I need you to promise me that you will watch over her. No matter what her choices are, if you are together or not. I need to know that she will be safe.”

  “I will never leave her nor will I ever stop protecting her. If she chooses not to be with me, I will stay her Guardian, to the best of my ability, sanctioned or not. I will not break my vow,” he promised. I heard the sound of metal scraping something soft.

  “I know you mean that Kellen. No need to spill your blood. I will hold you to your oath. Nothing in heaven or in hell will be able to stop me if you break it,” she promised, “thank you again.”

  I heard the scraping of chairs against the floor as they got up. I waited in the silence trying to understand all that I had heard. There wasn’t much that made sense. I was still trying to sort it out when I fell back to sleep.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I awoke to the sound of soft snoring nearby. I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the bright light streaming in from the living room windows. Feeling th
e pressure of an arm on my leg, I looked down. Kellen was sitting on the floor next to the couch. His head and one arm were resting on my hip and thigh. He must have fallen asleep next to me.

  My protector. My Guardian. He was so much more than that of course. My heart swelled as I looked at his face. He was just as handsome when he was sleeping. I smiled. He kept his promise. He was still here when I woke up.

  I really didn’t want to move and wake him but my body was so stiff. I tried to move my leg just a tiny bit. It woke him up anyway. His eyes shot open fast, his face alert. He straightened up, looking around the room, anxiously taking in his surroundings. When his eyes fell on me he relaxed and smiled.

  “Good morning,” I said, “sorry to wake you.”

  He yawned and stretched. “No, it’s fine. I needed to get up anyway.”

  I sat up, stretching slightly, and put my arms around my legs. I watched as he threw himself on the floor and started doing push-ups. I giggled.

  “Do you always wake up that way?” I asked.

  He grinned at me. “Of course, I need to keep myself strong.”

  He hopped back up after a minute and sat down on the couch next to me, his breathing slightly accelerated.

  “Show off,” I accused him.

  He laughed and pulled me close to him. I looked up into his eyes, smiling. Suddenly all of the teasing was gone. His eyes were liquid green again. I realized at that moment what that extra something was I had been seeing in his eyes lately. It was deep desire. A resonating longing.

  The knowledge of that set my heart racing as I knew I desired him too. It was way too early to be thinking about a physical relationship (I wasn’t ready for that anyway). This desire I felt for him was more than physical. I could hardly explain it even to myself. It was a desire to be connected on every plane to him; spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and every other way. Every fiber in my being called out to be in connection with him. It was the strongest sensation I had ever had. It overwhelmed and exhilarated me at the same time.