Protector: A Young Adult / New Adult Fantasy Novel

by Joanne Wadsworth

  I brushed my hands off and ’ported out of the room, then arrived in the center of the frigidly cold river I’d already over-acquainted myself with today, but a necessary visit in order to mask my ’porting airstream. I’d have to thank Dad at some point for telling me earlier how that was done.

  Shouts resounded behind me, and holding my breath I dived deep, nipping straight to the field where Guy waited.

  Water flooded to my feet in the lush grass.

  “About time.” Guy’s jaw clenched. “What the hell are you doing with Loveria? Does Donaldo allow his own family members to consort with our enemy now?”

  “No, he doesn’t, but Alexo does.” Knowing lies would only dig me into a deeper hole, I chose the truth. “You know I’m Alexo’s daughter and that he brought me here from Earth. Loveria’s cousin, Silvie, was schooled in the same town as me. We’re best friends and I met Davio through her, or it was something close to that. Davio and I are mated—that whole soul-bond thing.”

  He eased one foot forward. “Damn, not good. What did Alexo say about this?”

  I wiped my damp face with my wet sleeve, hoping I didn’t look so much like a drowned rat, but rather like someone who knew what she was talking about.

  “That Donaldo can’t know. Alexo reveres the mated bond and accepts I’m here with Davio. But if you wish, I’ll work hard on finding your father and our other imprisoned warriors, provided you promise not to breathe a word of what you’ve now learnt, not to anyone.”

  His eyebrows pinched together, and then slowly flattened out. “You would keep your word?”

  “Yes. None of our warrior men should have to be caged behind steel. Although I need time, and I need you to give me sufficient space to find them and see them freed. Do we have a deal?”

  He sauntered closer. “I’ll give you that time and keep your secret, but I want updates.” He halted, his gaze moving over my head. “That castle up on the hill is a stronghold that must fall. We don’t imprison their protectors, not as they do with our warriors.”

  I followed his line of sight. Blue sky reigned over a stunning castle of gray-stone with turrets and flags flying, a castle that would compare to any of England’s finest residences. “Davio is my mate and this war isn’t mine, but I fully agree there should be no prisoners.”

  He withdrew his sword from his scabbard and pressed it into my hands. “Then this is for you. You’re Dralion’s princess and I will not leave you unarmed, mated to Davio Loveria or not. Make sure you find my father. If you need my aid, just ask.”

  I took his blade, curled my fingers around the burnished hilt as Guy blinked away.

  My fingers and toes tingled, and I closed my eyes. The lightest of hums rumbled through my very soul. I smiled, stroking the hilt, over and over. Such a sweet song, as if it were in my very blood and it resonated directly from the blade.

  Around me the air moved, chilling my moist skin.

  I lifted my sword arm and held the blade steady.

  Davio appeared and beside him Silas, who held onto Belle.

  “Damn it. Who told you about using a water source?” Davio was dripping wet, from head to toe.

  Slowly, I turned the blade in my hands over and it shimmered so beautifully in the sunlight. “My father.” I tracked a finger carefully down its length and whistled in appreciation. “I take it Carlisio told you where I was?”

  “Yes, and where is the dark-haired warrior he saw you with?”

  “He returned home.” I pulled my gaze from the weapon, looked my mate straight in the eyes. “Guy holds the skill of enchantment and is the grandson of Gilles Moyer, the warrior who first spelled the dome containment field.” I offered the information because Davio could never get to Guy, and it didn’t matter that he now knew.

  Davio fisted his hands at his side. “What are you doing with that sword?”

  I spun the piece around and balanced it over my two index fingers, one each end of the smooth metal.

  My heart pounded. “Guy gave it to me.” I pulled it back and clutched it to my chest. “I think you might have some competition. I swear I’m about to fall for this blade.”

  He flicked his fingers, motioning to Silas to move around me. “Merge your mind with mine, Faith. We don’t need you getting any more aggressive with what you have in your hand. Obviously, your strength is increasing. Silas brought Belle to help calm you down.”

  “No.” I straightened to attention, taking the hilt and gripping it in the palm of my hand. My brow rose as I stared at it. “Okay, I seriously love holding this weapon.”

  He groaned. “It’s the battle skill taking you. It comes into being once one fully touches a blade.”

  Silas whistled as he edged closer. “Yeah, it feels good, doesn’t it? Like the blade in your hand is singing to you.”

  I twirled around and swung the blade in a deadly arc, aiming it directly at Silas’s head. “I wouldn’t come any closer if I were you. We’ve already gotten off to a bad start, and you’re not getting this pretty thing from me.”

  “Hell.” Davio pushed a hand deep into his hair, tossing up the wet mess. “I should have guessed this would happen. Every Wincrest I know holds the battle skill. Why should you be any different?”

  “It appears I’m not.”

  “Hand the sword over.” Belle stepped forward, her gaze on me. “I’ll keep your weapon safe for you. You’ll need instruction on how to wield it, but with a blunted sword, and not that one.”

  I narrowed my gaze, pointing it now at her, but she was right. I didn’t like it, although I understood that was the truth. Instruction with a blunted sword would be needed.

  Taking my time, I lowered the weapon and pressed the tip a few inches into the soil. Pulling my hand away, I sighed as the hilt swayed back and forth.

  Best to walk away quickly.

  I left Guy’s sword behind and merged my mind with Davio’s as I advanced on him. “You are in a whole lot of trouble right now. I have to have my hands on something, and it’s going to be you.”

  His chest rose. “Take it easy. We’ll compromise.”

  I pressed my hands flat to his chest as I knocked into him. “What kind of compromise?”

  “You need to train in the battle skill so you can move fully through your rising. I’ll give you Warrick and Derick to battle with, but it’ll happen under strict guard. You’ll have triple the strength, and it’ll take both of them to wear you out.”

  “Oooh.” I taped his chest with my finger. “You are such a flirt.” I wanted nothing more than to come face to face with the two men who’d taunted and imprisoned me when I’d first arrived here.

  He eased a hand around my waist. “Those are your increased emotions talking.”

  “I like it, and I like you.”

  “I can see.” He glanced over my head, but I was too late to react.

  Silas snagged my arms from behind. “There should be dangerous pay now we have a Wincrest in our midst.”

  I scowled over my shoulder at Silas, who I really wanted to kill. “You take all the fun out of being mated, Silas Carver.”

  He cocked a brow. “Does it look like I care? No.” To Davio, he said, “I’ll look after your mate and call Warrick and Derick. I can see this is going to be a long day.”

  “I’ll see you in the training hall. I’ll have Zac and Viv meet us there.” Davio reached for Belle who nabbed Guy’s sword. He took her with him as he flashed away.

  Silas came around in front of me. “Look, a word of warning. Davio watching over your battle training is not the best idea, particularly when these men will be raising weapons against you.” He hooked a finger into his belt. “You understand what I’m saying?”

  I mimicked his pose, lifting my chin. “Yeah, that I need to take care.”

  He glared. “You are worse than Silvie. Now four minutes remain. Go and see what you can find in her drawers.”

  I didn’t stick around.

  I nipped straight to Silvie’s room and searched throug
h her drawers. I found a pair of sky-blue shorts and two singlet tops in white and gray. I shook out the dust and dressed, tightened the string on the shorts and double layered both tops. I laced up sneakers and pulled my hair into a tight ponytail. In the training hall, Warrick and Derick were ready and waiting as I returned, both dressed in full black ninja-like gear. They even had strips of black cloth tied around their foreheads. At over six feet in height and twice my size, I should have sensed some form of unease, but I didn’t. The sight of them had me grinning, my blood racing through my veins at double the speed.

  I wanted this. Particularly vengeance at the way Warrick had treated me. Idiot.

  “Are you ready?” Silas asked, extending his hand toward the rack of blunted training swords.

  “Like you wouldn’t believe.”

  “The others have arrived.”

  They had. Zac and Viv wore their battle leathers, the same as I’d seen that first day. Belle rushed through the double doors and waited at the edge of the room.

  Silas gripped my shoulder. “One’s battle training is marked with honor, although because of who you are, we can’t afford to train you in the arena before your peers.”

  I shook off his hand. “Your protectors are not my peers.”

  Davio shimmered into the room and my attention zoomed straight in on him. He wore midnight-black pants and a billowy white shirt, his sword belted at his side and boy, did he look hot and incredibly delicious. My mind scrambled fast to bridge the gap and merge.

  He looked at me, then right past me, his sight zeroing in on Warrick and Derick as they selected their blades. He marched toward them. “I’m warning you both, inflict one unnecessary nick or scratch on my mate, then I’ll go for your blood. Keep her training clean and professional.” He glared at Silas. “You arbitrate.”

  To the others in the room, his voice boomed as he said, “Zac, you take the southern wall. Viv, the eastern. Belle, you’re on the western by the doors and I’ll take the windows. All eyes alert and make sure no one enters and disturbs these proceedings.”

  They all took their positions.

  I frowned, and Silas pointed to the rack. “The safety measures are necessary. Now choose your weapon.”

  Walking along the line, I reached for the one which I sensed the energy humming from the strongest. A beautiful long and perfectly aligned blade, yet as I wrapped my fingers around the hilt, chills raced down my spine. I focused, a dark vision curling around the edges of my mind. A forewarning, and these I couldn’t control.

  I gripped the sword tighter, pushed for more and a face emerged from the shadows. Derick’s. He battled, and out of the fog, a blade punched forward, slicing deep into his stomach. He staggered, blood spurting as a man shrouded in red snatched at the gold chain at Derick’s throat and ripped it free. I gasped as the vision slid away.

  Never had I witnessed such a dark forewarning.

  I stormed across toward Derick. “Someone harms you, by use of this blade.” I tossed it to him hilt first. “Do you fast-heal?”

  Smirking, he caught it and held it up. “Yes. We train with these blades. Getting hurt happens even though they’re blunted.”

  Warrick clapped a hand to his back and laughed. “Ha, I believe I’ve cut you with that one before.” Derick grinned back at him and the two jostled shoulders together.

  No, they weren’t listening and this was what my skill was about. “You have to hear me, Derick. I had forewarning. What I saw is real.”

  Silas came forward and took the sword from Derick. He ran his thumb over the engraving on the hilt. “This one is favored by Davio.” Lifting his head, he scrutinized me. “We’ll remove it today if it brings such harm as you speak. Will that do?”

  I nodded. “Yes. Get rid of it.”

  He tossed the weapon to Zac, and the protector flashed away with the sword then reappeared seconds later without it. I sighed.

  Silas placed a hand on my shoulder. “When one trains, you must use a blade that perfectly aligns to your grip.” He returned to the rack and withdrew another. “This one fits a woman’s hand to perfection. It’s Viv’s baby.”

  “Thank you.” I accepted it, and the metal warmed in my hands. No forewarning. This one was good. “It’s perfect.”

  Near the wide bank of windows, Davio tapped his fingers restlessly on the windowsill he leaned against. “Keep your eye on Derick. He approaches.”

  “Of course.” I whipped around.

  “Let’s begin this showdown. One rising about to be dispelled.” Derick tapped his sword against mine, looked past me to Warrick closing in on my rear and instructed, “We’ll train in turns. I’ll guide her on movement and balance, and you can instruct on finding an opponent’s weaknesses and benefiting from them.” To me, he gritted out, “Copy my moves.”

  He sliced a figure eight in the air and swung at me.

  I twisted and just in time threw up my arm, our swords meeting with a ringing crash dead center. I eyeballed him as I breathed rough. “Oh, you did so not want to go there.” Then I grinned, my heartbeat racing. “Show me that again.”

  “I said keep it clean.” Davio paced, fists clenching.

  “Ignore my mate.” My Wincrest blood fired. “Push as hard as you like. Davio told me I’d be able to whip your butt today with this additional strength, and I’m going to since it’ll be the only time I can.” Yeah, these two men better watch out. Earth woman were smart and crafty. “You’ve been warned.”

  Derick rocked from side to side. “I believe I might like you.”

  “Like is a strong word, but by all means, try and prove it.”

  “As you wish.” Derick struck again and I met the blow.

  My lesson had well and truly begun.

  For the next three hours, my adrenaline continued to surge, the euphoria almost overwhelming in its intensity. Wow, I loved this battle skill.

  The rush brought such clarity forth between my mind and body, and the torrent of energy which I let loose invigorated me. I fought against both Derick and Warrick, the men far exceeding my experience, yet even though I didn’t have their skill, I still had more energy from my wonderful rising and was able to hold my own.

  Hours passed, and at times I lost my footing, but I was back up within seconds and rearing for more.

  “Wait up.” Silas stepped into the fray, coming up right between Derick and me, and once we’d lowered our swords, he marched across to Davio and the two spoke. “Your mate has moved into the full strength of her rising. Do you agree?”

  “Yes, she should start to tire soon.”

  Tire? Ha. Tired was the last thing I felt. I could barely stand still as I waited for Silas to give me the all-clear to continue.

  Hands to his knees, Derick puffed loudly. “I might bow out for a bit, and let Warrick take over in full.”

  “Feel free to rest as you need to,” Silas said to Derick as he returned, his gaze cutting to Warrick. “If you need me to jump in, yell out.”

  A quick nod from Warrick.

  I rushed forward and swung. Warrick caught the strike, his eyes glinting with appreciation. We battled, hard.

  The fourth hour came and went. Then the fifth. The sixth.

  I was having the best time.

  Davio groaned, swearing as the eighth hour approached. He pushed off the wall and circled Warrick and me. “You’re not slowing down. Tell me how you feel.”

  “Like I’m on fire, and I hate the thought that this rising won’t last much longer.” Warrick’s attention diverted and I took advantage, cut my sword over his left side. He barely caught the hit, stumbling as he did. Sweeping in behind him, I kicked the back of his knees. It was a dirty trick, but he toppled forward, and I dropped on top of him, mushed his cheek into the cold stone floor and bit out in his ear, “So sorry about this, Warrick, but a girl has to go through her rising and all.”

  “I’ll get you back.” He groaned. “I never forget.”

  Derick rose from his sidelined position, and headed
toward me. “It’s my turn again.”

  Davio flashed directly in front of me, and slammed a hand into Derick’s chest. “You may leave and take Warrick with you. I’ll drag the rest of my mate’s rising out of her another way. That’s an order.”

  “Yes, Your Highness.” Derick nodded, bent and helped Warrick to his feet then cast me a sly look. “Until the next time we meet.” It was a promise I didn’t want to wait for, not with my emotions spiking.

  I pushed against Davio’s back, tried to get past him to nail Derick with another strike. “Hey, come back here,” I taunted as he walked toward the door. “Can’t you ignore one order? Don’t be a wuss. Come and fight me.”

  Davio blocked me, his frown fierce.

  I tried to dodge past him, but he whipped out an arm and kept me in place. Damn, he was being obstinate, and completely immoveable.

  With a snigger, Derick shut the door behind him and Warrick. Drat. I’d lost my chance for more payback.

  “I’ve told you your strength is three-times what it should be. Calm down.” Davio pulled me up tight against him, burrowed his nose against my neck and breathed deep. “I need to consider your next move,” he murmured in my ear.

  “You and Silas fight me. Or send for more protectors.” I slipped out of his hold and skipped in place. “Oh yeah, do that. Send for more. Lots more protectors.”

  A ragged sigh. “I can’t. We’ve already seen this morning how a warrior can infiltrate the village and right now, I can only allow those who I implicitly trust near you. Derick and Warrick are amongst those I trust.” He grabbed my hand, worked his fingers underneath mine and dragged the weapon free. He tossed it to Silas.

  “Hey, give that back.”

  Silas grinned and backed away with the sword toward the rack.

  “Listen to me, Faith.” Davio gripped my jumpy hands. “By my count, the first three hours was about your battle skill training, and the following five have seen you moving through your rising. My rising was six hours, and you’re still going strong. We need to up the ante and drag this out of you with speed.”