Guardian

by Loribelle Hunt

  Dedication

  Thanks to my wonderful writing support group, the gnats: Dayna Hart, Crystal Jordan, Kate Pearce, Ruth Long, Patti O’Shea and Elaina Lee. I also must thank my long-suffering husband and kids, who have adjusted without complaint to a messy house and late dinners. And lastly, Amy Sherwood, my awesome editor, who listened to me ramble on and on and on about how to fix this story!

  The Elect

  They aren’t human. They’re the next step in evolution, and they’re hiding in plain sight. Their senses are sharper, finely honed. Stronger. Smarter. Faster. Nature has created the perfect predator.

  Welcome to the top of the food chain.

  Life evolves, and for humanity the next step has arrived. The Elect are here, and all they want is to be left alone. But a malevolent unknown force is gathering against them. Driven by fear, the Stirling Institution has figured out humanity is not alone and is determined to destroy the threat. They’ve operated in secrecy while investigating the new species, but now they’re prepared to attack.

  The Elect are in a fight for their very existence, but first they have to find the people trying to destroy them.

  Chapter One

  Arson investigator Mallory Littman pulled up to the call box at the imposing gates and took a deep, fortifying breath. The high walls concealed a very exclusive, very private community. Apartments, houses—heck, even a small town complete with schools. All of that was a few miles from her current location, though, and not her destination. She was going to one of the few houses that sat alone, where Braxton Lee, president of Lee Enterprises and leader of the Elect, lived and worked. It was amazing the place was such a well-kept secret. Mallory wondered—not for the first time—how long that would last.

  The people who called themselves the Elect looked human, but they weren’t. Maybe they’d evolved alongside humans or maybe they were something new. That’s what their scientists believed, but Mallory wasn’t so sure. They were definitely different. Most were telepaths, but that wasn’t what set them apart. Plenty of humans were too. They were, however, stronger, faster and smarter. And insanely protective and possessive. They created a mental bond with their mates and rarely split up. And she was both one and not one of them. Usually their offspring were Elect. But not always. She should know. Her father and brothers were Elect, but despite having some unusual talents of her own, Mallory’s DNA was as human as her mother’s.

  With a shake of her head, she leaned on the buzzer. She didn’t have time to ponder the intricacies of interspecies mating. She had a case to finalize, even though the official report would be a farce, and she needed Esme’s signature. But more importantly, Brax, Esme’s mate, was waiting on the information Mallory had gathered on the Stirling Institute, the mysterious group that was suddenly much too curious about the Elect. But hell, she wasn’t looking forward to going inside the compound. She knew who else was behind those damned gates. She used to live in there with him.

  Three long, lonely fucking years ago. She snorted. Well, actually there hadn’t been any fucking over those three years, come to think of it. There should have been. If she had any damned sense she would have taken care of that as soon as she’d recovered. Instead, she’d waited.

  She’d thought at first that Zach would stop blaming her. That he would come around. She didn’t lose their child on purpose, after all. But she’d rarely seen him since that night. The first year they’d had very little contact. An email, the occasional phone call. She figured they’d both been too emotionally shattered. Later they’d tried face-to-face meetings. Dinners that started out well, but ended with both of them pissed off and bitter. He didn’t like the life she’d chosen, refused to bend even a little. Refused to see that she was a strong, independent adult. She didn’t need a man to take care of her. She could handle that herself, thank you very much. He thought she was weak. She’d made herself strong. He thought she needed a protector. She’d made herself a guardian.

  And still, he stayed away.

  She was surprised at how much that still hurt, but she sighed and bucked up and pushed the call button. He didn’t want her, so he probably wouldn’t even be around. But if that were true, why wouldn’t he sign the freaking divorce papers? She’d sent them twice in the last six months. Both times they were returned in shreds. And she was honest enough to admit a part of her was relieved. They couldn’t go on as they had. She ignored the tiny hope that there might be a way to repair their relationship.

  The call box hissed. “Mallory Littman,” she said into it. “I have an appointment with Brax.”

  They knew who she was. She wasn’t giving them more explanation than that. The voice on the other end surprised her, though. It was warm, welcoming and teasing, a familiar voice she was grateful to hear. She’d grown up in this compound, gotten married in it. Maybe she shouldn’t have stayed away so long.

  “Returning to the fold, Mallory? Come on up,” Gabe said.

  Her moment of pleasure was gone with a snap. She pushed down a surge of acrimony as she drove through the gates. Returning to the fold? Not likely. She wasn’t one of them. Her father and brothers were Elect, but she wasn’t. If it were up to her she wouldn’t have to deal with any of them at all. So why hadn’t she left Tampa? Why did she stay within range of temptation? She tamped down that thought. She’d learned the hard way how to hide her emotions from the Elect. It was the only way to survive in their midst.

  A guard was waiting for her on the circular drive in front of Brax’s house and she left the keys in the ignition when she stepped out. He’d park it close by while she dealt with those inside. She didn’t plan on being here long. This case was going nowhere and she knew it. It was aggravating, but when Braxton Lee decided to bury something, it stayed buried. And she didn’t really disagree with his actions. She didn’t want to expose her family any more than he wanted to expose the rest of the species.

  She didn’t wait for anyone to let her in, and it was like a time warp. Rocky Horror, here we come. Not one damned thing had changed about the gracious, spacious entryway. God, she’d loved this house. Loved living in it with Zach. Shit. It was time to leave Tampa. Time to leave Florida, and she knew it. He wasn’t coming around and she could get a job anywhere. She just needed that damned divorce. Why wouldn’t he give her that? He didn’t want anything to do with her so what would it hurt?

  And please God, don’t let me run into him now. She was weak where he was concerned and she knew it. She’d tried in the beginning to get him back, allowing her brothers, who were worried about her mental state and what Zach might do to make it worse, to act as intermediaries. When that didn’t work, she’d tried on her own. Not that it had made a difference. He didn’t want her. He considered her inferior. Weak.

  She trembled but straightened her spine. Asshole. If he didn’t want her, he should let her go. Not that she’d take him back now anyway. There was just…too much bad history. Wasn’t there?

  She walked into the huge foyer, went straight to Brax’s office, and son of a bitch, Zach was there. Her body responded immediately and she knew herself for the liar she was.

  Just the sight of him still made her pussy clench with need. She shoved her hands into her loose work pants and dug her fingernails into her palms, but the pinch of pain didn’t reduce her arousal. She hoped her expression was calm enough and she ignored Zach, turning instead to Brax. He was in charge, after all.

  “Hello, Brax,” she said, genuinely happy to see him. Mason and Gabe were also in the room, and she nodded a greeting to them.

  He’d always been nice to her. He smiled back her like he hadn’t just seen her a couple days ago and came around his desk. Of course, at the time she’d been stitching up a scratch from a bullet graze that Esme had received when she and Brax had been
attacked. His hands gripped her upper arms and he leaned down to kiss her forehead. She ignored the growl behind her.

  “You look good,” he said, stepping away.

  She grinned and shrugged one shoulder. “I guess you could say I’ve come into my own.”

  She knew what a dig that was and was unrepentant. Zach had abandoned her when she was twenty-five years old. She’d taken a break from the fire department to get a nursing degree, something Zach had wanted her to do. Something safe.

  After her miscarriage, she’d finished the degree and returned to the fire department. There was no reason not to. She was independent. Her choices were her own. It may have been lonely, but it was a satisfying life and she didn’t regret it.

  Zach, however, was making his displeasure clear. He was still in position near the door, his antagonism a tension that seemed to grate against her skin. It pissed her off and she turned to confront him.

  “What is your problem?” she snapped.

  “Maybe I don’t like my wife doing such a dangerous job.”

  She cocked an eyebrow. “You really need to sign that paperwork, then. I haven’t been your wife for three years. I failed your test, remember?” she asked sweetly and was rewarded by a stricken look.

  “I never said that.”

  “Oh yeah, honey, you did.”

  He took an aggressive step forward. “When? When did I ever say that?”

  She frowned at him. What the hell was going on here? She shook it off. What did it matter?

  “It’s been three years, Zach. You’ve had plenty of time to revisit this.” She paused. “And that is not why I’m here. I have an investigation to finish and a report to make. Not old history to rehash.”

  This time even her feeble human senses felt the anger and danger in the air. She almost took a step backwards before reminding herself he’d never hurt her.

  “You’re not done with that history, sweetheart,” he snarled before casting a commanding look around the room. “I need a minute with my wife,” he bit out.

  The office cleared in half a second flat, and she backed up warily. She’d never seen him like this. He’d occasionally been exasperated or irritated with her, but never out of control. This was a different Zach. And that was bad. Real bad. Her clit throbbed at this display of power. He stalked closer until she’d backed up to the wall. His hands slammed into the wall around her shoulders and his body pressed against hers, his erection impossible to miss.

  “Don’t do this, Zach,” she begged. “Don’t make me hurt like that again. It’s just mean, and you aren’t a cruel man. I know you aren’t.”

  She’d beg if she had to. She couldn’t take another desertion like that. The old fear rose again, that even if she took him back, even if she gave up the part of herself that wanted to stand on her own and leaned against him…even if she did those things, what if she didn’t live up to his expectations? She couldn’t take another loss like that. It would destroy her and she knew it. And as easily as he’d always done, he read her thoughts as they flew through her mind.

  “What the fuck are you talking about, Mallory? I never left you. You gave up on me. Your brother came to me after the last time I saw you. That was what? Seven months ago?”

  Seven months, three days and about twelve hours. But who was counting? She shook her head violently. “I didn’t send him. I wouldn’t.”

  And that was a total lie. Well, she hadn’t sent him, but she’d cried on the shoulder of her oldest brother, Brad. She shouldn’t be surprised he’d taken matters into his own hands.

  His eyes lit with understanding and fury. “Your family has always interfered.”

  She shook her head again, but she couldn’t really argue with his statement. She was the youngest. She had three older, Elect brothers, and protecting her was in their DNA as much as it was in Zach’s. If one of them had gone to him, it wasn’t to keep Zach and Mallory apart. They wouldn’t do that to her. They wouldn’t keep her from her husband. Her mate. It would have been to force him to act. They knew the pain she lived with.

  “Do you still blame me?” he asked, and though the question was out of the blue, she knew exactly what he was talking about.

  Fuck. She squeezed her eyes shut and banged her head back against the wall as she suddenly remembered Zach rushing into the room the night of her miscarriage. She’d forgiven him years ago, she thought, but the things he’d said, the questions he’d asked… She’d been willing to let it all go. He was the one trying to drag history into the present. They’d managed to avoid this conversation for three years. Why now? Did she want to hear explanations now? Rehash the past now? She’d thought she was over the past and ready to move on.

  She wrapped her arms around her stomach and knew they couldn’t avoid it anymore. She’d always miss feeling the life quicken in her belly. She’d always remember what happened after.

  “Do you remember what you said? How you reacted?” she asked, striving to keep her voice cool. Composed. “I did not send my brother to fight my battles for me, but can you blame him for taking steps to protect me now? And what did you do? Just let him warn you off?”

  She wasn’t sure if she should be pissed off or hurt. Probably both. “You should have contacted me about this, but that’s always been the problem, hasn’t it, Zach? You’re great at ordering. Not so good at talking and listening.”

  He knew he’d fucked up. He’d accused her of not following his orders, of doing something, anything that would miscarry their child. He’d been scared out of his fucking mind. He hadn’t just lost the child, the son, but almost lost his wife. She’d waited so long to call him. Waited until she hoped he was done with his research for the day. It was a bitter pill to swallow. She’d believed his work was more important to him than she was and given his behavior towards her the last three years, he couldn’t blame her.

  At first she’d kept their contact limited to the occasional email or phone call, and he’d allowed it. He’d been harsh and cruel and hadn’t spent the time he should have with his wife. He’d lost himself in work and by the time he thought she might have recovered, she’d made a life for herself. He was still stunned she’d done it without him. And damned proud.

  But like an idiot, when she’d finally agreed to see him, he hadn’t told her that. Instead he spent those rare hours trying to convince her to move back in with him. To quit the job she clearly loved and excelled at. Because whether she wanted to admit it or not, there was an element of danger to it and the idea of losing her permanently was paralyzing.

  Their last confrontation was the worst and he knew that was the proverbial straw for her. The divorce papers had shown up a few days later and he’d thought for a time maybe he could let her live her own way. But damned if he could keep living without her. It was a gnawing ache in his gut that grew worse all the time. He had to try to fix this. Especially now that she’d walked back into his life.

  And, damn, his reaction to her hadn’t changed one bit. He was hurting, aching to bury himself inside her. He’d been so fucking afraid of that when he’d claimed her. She may have been in her early twenties, but she’d had an innocence that held him back. She wasn’t innocent now. She was harder, tougher. He’d let her suffer through the loss of their child alone and hadn’t made the last three years anything but harder. He could never make up for that, but if she let him he’d spend the rest of his life trying. And he had to start with the past they’d both refused to confront.

  He gripped the nape of her neck and pulled her close. She held herself stiff against him, though he could scent her arousal.

  “It wasn’t your fault, baby. I know that. I knew it then.” He took a deep breath. “I was so angry at myself for not paying attention, so sad and worried, but it’s inexcusable that I took it out on you.”

  She grew stiffer in his arms and tried to shove him away. He wouldn’t let her. He’d never survive it.

  “It doesn’t matter now.” That new calm, expressionless tone was in her voice
. He fucking hated that. “It was a long time ago, Zach. Just…let it go. Let me go.”

  He growled. He couldn’t hold it back. He didn’t want to. “Not going to happen.” He tried to soften his tone, but he knew he failed. “I’ve refused to sign those papers and you haven’t pushed it. Don’t you think there’s a reason why, baby? You aren’t willing to give up yet either.”

  He was positive of that, and it gave him hope. He kissed her temple. “Mine,” he whispered. “My wife. My woman. I won’t release you.”

  She shoved at his chest. He was lucky she didn’t burn him, and he knew it. She may have been human, but she had a strong pyrokinetic ability, one she had a shaky, tenuous control over. He let her go, let her stalk away. She whirled back around to face him, shaking her head, a confused expression crossing her face.

  “I’ve made a life for myself and you’ve made it really clear you want no part of it. Why are you messing with that? I can’t do it again, Zach. It was hell losing the baby. But then I lost you too, and I had nothing. I won’t do that again. I can’t be that woman again.”

  Jesus. He’d been a fucking idiot. He pulled her close. “I am not going anywhere, baby.”

  “And I’m not going backwards. Can you live with that?”

  He wasn’t sure if he could and he knew she saw it in his expression.

  “Yeah, I didn’t think so. We’re finished with this, Zach. I’m finished.”

  She yanked the door open and motioned for the others, who waited in the hall, to come back inside. Zach moved back against the wall, crossed his arms over his chest and just watched her. Finished? Not by a long fucking shot.

  Chapter Two

  Mallory took one of the chairs in front of the desk and tried to ignore Zach. She dug a folder out of her shoulder bag and handed it to Brax. “My report.”

  She could feel Zach behind her through a connection, a bond she’d thought she’d severed. It was weak, but it wasn’t dead, and she knew he was up to something. Planning. Plotting. She tried to ignore him and smiled at Esme, who’d taken the seat next to her.