by M. R. Polish
Ailaina poked her head into the room.
She ran toward the bed, smiling. Reaching out, she gave me a hug. “How are you feeling? Are you okay?”
I sighed and nodded. “Yeah, just a headache.” Rubbing my temples in affirmation.
Her eyes sparkled. “You can fix that.”
I hugged her again, not wanting to let go. “I love you, girly.”
“Psh, I know that.” She leaned back and sat on the bed with us. “I love you, too. I’m so glad we found you. I don’t want you to ever scare me like that again.”
“I’ll try my best, but trust me, it wasn’t a treat for me either.” We both laughed.
I closed my eyes, willing my headache away. Magic was nice, at least I could make that hurt go away, but it took more effort this time since I wasn’t fully healed, and I couldn’t get it all to leave.
Opening my eyes, I saw Jarak staring at me. A corner of his mouth lifted. Time slowed to almost a stop as I allowed myself to enjoy the moment with him, Ailaina forgotten for the time being. I absorbed his features, memorizing every curve to his face, down to the hints of silver in his eyes. A clearing of a throat made me aware of the present, and I lowered my face, embarrassed that she knew I stared at Jarak. I smiled. Somehow, I didn’t think he was too far from where I’d just been. “Maybe I should come back?” Ailaina teased, batting her eyelashes.
“No.” Jarak stood from the bed, still watching me. “I was just leaving.”
I wanted to scream ‘no!’, but I knew he had things to do. Nicholas was still out there, and we needed a plan. Besides, the crush I had on him might not be reciprocated.
“It’s okay, I’ll stay with you. We can talk.” She smiled at me and grabbed my hand.
We sat and talked forever, relishing each other’s company. It was good that she didn’t make me talk about being underground or Nicholas, or even about how Meadow needs blood to survive. We talked about guys and life in general. The normal girl stuff.
Jarak
I pressed my back up against the wall and took a deep breath.
“How’d it go?” Maztic’s low growl lifted my attention.
“It went.” I was still in shock over how close I was to losing Es. I’ve already lost someone and didn't think I could bear it again. Then she said she saw Moriah. My heart still skipped beats over that. Everything from my past was coming full circle and I needed Es to finish it.
I wanted the crush I felt on Es to be real, but inside it was a child’s game of tug of war. My heart pushed me toward her while my mind tried to pull away. Julie’s image would sear my thoughts each time Es was around.
I wasn’t sure what to do. It was too confusing. Es was my Alpha’s daughter, and I needed to protect her, not fall in love with her, and that could happen all too easily. The only thing was... My heart wasn’t mine to give. It still belonged to someone else, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to take it back. Or if I even could.
“Your mind tells me otherwise my friend.” Maztic always spoke so wisely. He sat back on his haunches.
“You should ask before reading my thoughts,” I grumbled. “I think I’m in trouble. Well, my heart’s in trouble anyway.” I dropped my head into my hands as I slid down the wall, sitting on the floor.
“Luna is waiting to show herself until Esmeralda has more strength.” Gratefully, Maztic changed the subject. “She doesn’t want to overwhelm her.”
I lifted my head. “Wouldn’t being around Luna give her strength?”
“Yes, but she doesn’t want to put too much on her right now. Besides, she gave her all the strength she had while she was unconscious.”
“Do you think it’s possible for me to love again?”
“I think it’s possible. Just remember, it might not be you that she is destined for. You have a closeness with her because you’re a Guardian, everything you’ve gone through, and things yet to come. It won’t be easy. Besides, your past love might have an influence in how you feel toward Esmerelda.” Maztic cocked his head sideways. His white fur looked almost silver under the moonlight that streamed through the living-room windows. I reached out to pet him.
“I know.” I was confused. I didn’t need to be reminded of my past. I bowed my head. “I realize that now, after being around her, but I almost want to try. What if I lose Es, too?””
“You won't lose her. You will protect her. We will protect her,” Maztic declared.
Sixteen
Esmerelda
I knew what I needed to do. I was alive, and I just knew that it was my destiny to defeat Nicholas. His little stunt of almost killing me put my desire to finish this in overdrive.
“I think I’m okay. My head feels better.” I pushed off the bed with confidence.
Ailaina cocked her head. “You’re sure? I can help.” Her face scrunched as she talked.
I waved her off. “Nah, I got this.” I smiled, hoping my friend would believe me because I hardly believed myself. My feet were unsteady as I stood.
“Okay.” Ree breathed in deeply and swung her arms around me. “I’m just down the hall if you girls need me.”
I hugged her back. “Thanks, but I have to do this.” I watched her leave the room, leaving me alone under Ailaina’s scrutinizing glare.
“You don’t have to be the shoulder that carries everything you know,” she pouted. I disregarded her hurt expression and walked with her to the door.
Stepping out into the hallway, my strength faded. How would I defeat Nicholas? It was horrible being his captive in the horrid ground. Everything that happened still gave me nightmares. Even daymares.
Ailaina shifted her weight, giving me the I-don’t-believe-you look. “So, you’re sure I can’t help?”
I gave her a quick hug. “I promise. Everything is fine. I will come back up after I talk to Victor and Jarak.”
“Fine. I’m gonna go take a shower then.” She turned on her heel and walked away. I knew she was upset and wanted to help me, but I needed to do this on my own. Somehow.
I hugged my arms close to my body. It was lonely without her. I’d been too close to death’s door to want to be alone. Taking in a deep breath, I looked for the guys. My feet fell into a rhythm with my pounding heart as I descended the stairs. They were in the living room. Victor sat in one of the chairs while Jarak stood by the large window staring out at the backyard.
Both men looked at me as I entered the room.
“Esmerelda, are you okay?” Victor closed his book he’d been reading, placing it on his lap.
“Yeah, I made a decision. Nicholas said something about having another way of creating his Crossbreeds. We need to find out what it is. It might be what we need to defeat him.”
Victor’s brow scrunched together. “Another way?”
“Yes. I know what I’m supposed to do, but sitting here doing nothing isn’t it. I don’t want one person to have to go through what I went through. I’m sure he didn’t even get to the worst of what he could’ve done. I need to find out what or who it is that can help him.”
Nicholas was evil, and someone needed to stop him. I couldn’t imagine what the human race would have to go through if no one stopped him. And if I was who he needed to finish his Crossbreed crap, then I would be the one who stopped him.
Victor stood from the chair. His hands shook as he combed them through his thick hair. “Are you sure you’re ready to do something so big?”
I nodded my head. Dropping my hands, I propped them on my hips. “This has to end.”
Jarak met my gaze, and then strode over to me, placing his arms around my waist. “I can’t lose you again.”
I lowered my eyes. “I don’t want to lose you, either.”
I reached my arms around him, inhaling his spicy woodsy scent, filling me with a sense of peace.
“It's okay.”
I hoped that was true. I was worried too, but there was no changing fate.
“Esmerelda, I’m not sure you understand. Going against Nicholas could be f
atal if we fail.” Jarak’s timbre calmed my rattled nerves.
“I think she’s right.” Maztic’s growl entered my head. I twisted to see him walk into the room.
“Don’t do that!” I squealed. “At least warn us that you’re here. You scared me.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Meadow walk in. She stopped in front of Maztic. “Is Luna coming, too?” Her eyes never left Maztic.
Maztic nodded his massive head. “She is coming, but was momentarily detained,” Maztic told Jarak and me in our minds with confidence.
Jarak looked at Meadow. “She’ll be here soon.”
Victor nodded in understanding. “Jarak, as much as I hate saying this, you’ll need to leave tonight. Maybe take her back to the states.”
“What about you? I thought you had plans,” Jarak asked.
Victor looked away, hands on his hips. “It’s too late. Now the only thing I can do is help you fight Nicholas.”
“I’m sorry.” Jarak frowned.
Meadow placed her hands on my shoulders, turning me away from Jarak. “We won’t be far behind you. We’ll stay here and try to keep Nicholas off your trail for as long as we can.”
I nodded at Victor in approval—we were going to leave tonight. I grasped Jarak’s hand. “Tonight.”
Jarak squeezed my hand. “We’ll be together, and everything will be fine.” He gave me one of his debonair smiles and his dimple caved like in quick sand. “I’m ready.”
I smiled back. “I’m gonna go tell Ailaina.”
“I’ll come with you.”
I nodded. Still holding his hand, we slipped into the hallway, leaving Victor and Meadow.
Jarak stopped and pulled me in closer. “We should talk.” His voice dropped low and deep. “There’s so much to tell you. Why Victor needed you, why I needed you… But now…”
My heart fluttered. I could feel Jarak’s breath hot on my skin.
“Now what?” I whispered. Was this it? Was this the moment I hoped for? My heart fluttered anxiously.
Jarak hesitated then leaned in. “Now all I want is this…” His lips were as soft as velvet as they brushed across mine. The gentle pressure of our mouths molding together made my knees go weak. All thoughts of finding out what Nicholas needed disappeared.
All too soon, Jarak broke the kiss, his lips lingering over mine. He rested his forehead on mine with his hands at the back of my head, keeping me close.
I leaned back, breaking the spell between us. Brushing my fingers over my lips, I could still feel the tingling sensation of his kiss. “I guess we should get going.” My voice was raspy.
I turned away from him. My cheeks were still warm from our closeness. He guided me down the hallway with his hand on my back. The long maroon drapes framed the floor length windows as the light flooded the hall.
A razor-sharp pain moved through my stomach. I doubled over, crying out. Everything in my body became heavy as if something constricted me. The tight pressure enveloped me, and my eyes fluttered as I fought to keep them open.
Strong arms wrapped around me then my body was weightless. The hall swished around me with intricate colors—blue, green and red swirled together, making me dizzy. No sound came out as I tried to call out to Jarak for help.
Muffled noises made me aware of another presence. Blurring commotion filled my ears as if I swam underwater.
The firm hold around my waist moved to the back of my neck and at the small of my back. Jarak carried me, but I didn’t know why. Nothing made sense.
Jarak
“Maztic!” I shouted. The bellow echoed in the house.
I looked down at Es, still in my arms. She hung limp and unresponsive. Her skin was pale and cold. Fear churned in the pit of my stomach. What if the Belladonna wasn’t gone?
Heavy footfalls lifted my attention from Es.
“What happened?” I could hear Maztic. A worried tone laced his usual confident growl.
Dropping to the floor in a heap, I protectively held on to Es. Her chest still rose with shallow breaths. “I don’t know, we were walking and then—then this.”
Meadow bent down beside me, wiping Es’s hair away from her face. Her nostrils flared. “He’s close now—too close.” Deep red veins became visible around her neck as she became angry. It was what happened to all vampires when a thirst overcame them, it was in reality a chilling sight to see. Especially standing so close to one.
“What do you mean?”
“Nicholas. He’s close. He has to be. It’s the only explanation…” Her voice trailed off. “I thought we had more time, but in order to use a tracking spell to this magnitude he needs to be close. It looks like he obviously wants her dead. She’ll be okay in a little while, once the spell wears off.” She glanced over at Victor, who held a solemn look.
“What do you mean more time? What is going on?” I wanted to yell.
Ree came forward, glaring at Meadow. “Nothing.”
Meadow turned away. “Don't lie Ree. You and I both know it. It’s too late for us to fix it.”
“Not right now, if he can get her far enough away, there is still a chance.” Ree walked over to Meadow.
Ailaina cried out as she walked out from the bathroom, her hair still wet. She raced over to us. “What happened?”
Meadow answered her, “Nicholas is close. He used a spell to track Esmerelda.”
I clenched my jaw and my body trembled. There was something amiss, and I needed to find out what. Resting my other hand on Es’s chest, I could feel a rise with a slight intake of breath, reassuring me that she was still alive.
How could I live if she wasn’t there? I couldn’t go through that again. I began to think I could try to have a happy life with someone again. I spent days watching over her while she recovered from the evil she endured with Nicholas and the Belladonna. It killed me not being able to help her. What could I do now?
“He will pay for this.” My eyes stared off into nothing, but I continued to hold Es’s warm body against my own.
I stood up, keeping care not to jostle her around too much. I would rather die than to watch her go through this again. It was too much.
“Where are you going?” Maztic asked. I turned to face him. A snarl came as he raised his upper lip. I didn’t have to explain to him. He knew what I would do. He was one with me.
“Home.”
Esmerelda
“I’m okay,” I managed to whisper as Jarak sat next to me on the bed that I just spent too many days on. My eyes fluttered as I looked around.
Everyone surrounded me. “I’m fine.” Whatever sharp pain that tried to shred me into pieces was gone. “Honestly.” I pushed the many hands away that seemed to be all over me.
Lifting my head, I placed a hand on Jarak’s chest, looking into his eyes. “I promise. Whatever it was, it’s gone.”
I shrugged as I sat up straighter.
“It was a tracking spell. Jarak brought you in here while we made plans for your departure. You need to leave, and get away before it’s too late. We can’t help you here,” Meadow said.
I looked over at her and almost cringed. Her face splotched with red markings. It was weird seeing her with such a vampire trait. She was mad. Her protruding veins gave proof and my stomach churned at the sight.
“I agree, we need to leave.” Jarak gazed down at me, never taking his eyes off me.
“Okay, then let’s leave.”
“You have me now too. I’ll help protect you at all costs.” I turned fast as I heard a familiar voice in my head. I recognized it from when I was still semi-unconscious with the Belladonna.
The most beautiful grey wolf materialized near the doorway. She was almost as large as Maztic, but her coloring was silver with white.
“Luna,” Jarak murmured against my head.
She came right up to me and nuzzled my hand. It was as if I were under a spell. Reaching out, I brushed my hands through her thick fur. “Luna,” I said her name to myself, liking the way it rolled off
my tongue. It was as if I’d known her my whole life. A tingle spread through all my body.
“You two were chosen to be together before your birth. You were bonded before you even took a breath, but your magical line that keeps you together was never connected until now because you were taken as an infant before you two were together,” Maztic spoke in my mind. “In order to connect that line, you must see each other, eye to eye…”
It was incredible. I could feel a part of her inside of me. It was hard to describe. Her thoughts, my thoughts, our thoughts.
Feeling her happiness made me smile. All at once, everyone in the room came back into focus. What a trip. It was as if the world stopped, and it was just the two of us in existence.
“Okay. So where are we going?” Ailaina blurted out, breaking the silence, not understanding what had just happened.
I forgot she couldn’t hear the wolves and that whole moment must have looked extremely awkward to her.
“We’re going home.” Jarak’s eyes twinkled as he gazed at me.
I raised an eyebrow. “Home?”
“Yeah, my house. It’s a secluded cabin in the Sawtooths and our wolves wouldn’t look out of place there, like here in the city.”
I got excited. That was in Idaho, which was close to home. Oh how I missed the states. “I’m all for it.”
“Me too.” Ailaina grinned.
Seventeen
Esmerelda
T he wheels of Victor’s private plane touched down in the small town of Stanley, Idaho. The view was astounding. The snow-capped Sawtooth Mountains surrounded the town, with quaking aspens and tall pine trees scattered around.
Stepping off the plane, I inhaled the sweet mountainous scent of sage and pine. A breeze tickled my bare arms, making me shiver. I had gotten used to Spain’s mild, yet warm temperatures. November was certainly a lot colder in Idaho.
The airport was smaller and more secluded than I thought it’d be, but then again, I guess being in the middle of the mountains it wouldn’t be like Salt Lake International.
