by Aliyah Burke
She hung her head and took several deep breaths before shutting off the light on her way out of the bathroom. With a glance to the door, she made her way back to the bed and crawled in. Unfortunately she wasn’t tired. She wanted answers. Cale slept—he lay on his stomach and had one hand under a pillow.
“Wonder what he would do if I crawled into bed with him.” The idea sounded so good. Much better than lying in this bed alone. She could really do with some contact right about now. Taylor kept to her own bed and just stared at his back.
When she saw some colours hovering around him, she frowned and peered closer. They flashed like sparks, giving the entire thing an appearance of pulsing. A wealth of colours, and when she reached out, they moved towards her, winding around her arm and sliding up to her shoulder.
“Wicked cool.” It was, and she’d always been easily distracted by shiny things. This wasn’t only shiny but also colourful and sparkly. Not to mention unlike anything she’d ever seen before.
It looked a bit different on her, for there was more gold in it. When it reached her neck, sparks—much larger sparks—shot out and filled the room, surprising her. Her scream woke Cale and she stared wide-eyed at the weapons in his hands.
“What?” He gazed around the room and the colours that were going off like fireworks.
“I think it’s my turn to ask questions.” She pulled her gaze from the display and focused on the man armed with some kind of sword. Really? Who sleeps with that under their pillow?
He sat opposite her and yawned before scrubbing a hand down his face. “I do owe you some answers.”
“Yes, I think that’s putting it mildly.”
“Ask your questions, Taylor.”
“What is going on?”
He pursed his lips and took a large breath. Sword beside him, he sat cross-legged on the mattress. “A battle for the world.”
She moved her mouth a few times before anything would come out. “Battle for the world. Like, angels versus demons? You mentioned demons before.”
“Good versus evil.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“No.”
She didn’t like the sound of that. “So this isn’t like some church thing of God versus the Devil then.”
“No.”
“But that was a demon. They,” she amended. “They were demons.”
“Yes. The ones that attacked were demons. The ones who were following you were members of The New Order.”
She scooted to the edge of the bed and wrapped the comforter around her. “The New Order?”
“A group of fanatics who believe change is coming and they will do whatever they can to help it along. The change they want, however, is not…how do I say this? Beneficial to all mankind.”
“I’ve never heard of them. What’s their ideal?”
“Chaos. Darkness.”
Chills broke out on her arms and she tightened her hold on the blanket. He sounded so serious and she couldn’t pick up on any bit of joking from his end.
“How do they plan on getting to this point? I mean, you can’t just shut off the sun. People aren’t going to lie down and take it quietly.”
“They are helping the ones who are fighting against those chosen to protect the world. Us, more specifically, the Astral Guardians.”
That didn’t sound good. Really didn’t. With a gulp, she asked, “And who are the Astral Guardians?” Yep, sounding more and more like a dream I truly want to wake up from.
“My brethren and myself.”
“But you’re not an angel.” Why do I sound disappointed at that?
“No angel.” He held up a hand. “And before you ask, I’m not a demon either.”
“Then what are you?”
“A warrior.”
“Hence the weapons you sleep with,” she muttered more to herself than him. Waving a hand, she wriggled her nose. “What does any of this have to do with me?”
“Quite a lot, actually.”
She shook her head. “Nope, I don’t want to know yet. Tell me more about you first. And your family.”
“What you see with me is what you get, Taylor. I’m just like you.”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “That I hardly believe. I don’t sleep with swords and other weapons. I don’t have sparkly colours floating around me. And what else?” She tapped her fingers on the blanket. “I know there was one more thing. Now, what was it? Oh yeah, I don’t have demons chasing me.”
“Actually, you do.”
Head canted to the side, she asked, “I do what?”
“Have sparkly colours floating about you. The demon thing as well, for they are after you.”
“Man, those colours are from you. Not me. They were moving around you.” I really don’t want to address the demon thing. What the hell did I do to have demons chasing me?
“They are only around me because of you.”
That statement yanked her from her musings. “What?”
“They’re like a beacon. They let your other half find you.”
“My other half?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, the colours will also be able to be viewed by demons and other creatures of the dark, if they are also in the area and looking. Until you are actually in contact with your mate, the lights are a bit fainter.”
She waved her hand around. “Do those look faint to you? Christ, I’ll be able to be seen from the Space Needle.”
“Yours are no longer faint. You’ve met your mate.”
“Which I’m assuming is you.” Her response was droll.
“Yes.”
“And these lights are, what, just going around setting up arranged marriages? I mean, it’s bad enough when parents want to do it, but now you’re telling me some sparkly lights are responsible for setting me up with the man for my future? Forgive me if I don’t buy into that craziness.”
With her grand speech—without any screaming—over, Taylor felt proud of herself. She’d handled it like her grandmother would have wanted her to do. Stated herself well and hadn’t given in to hysterics. Those, of course, were hanging around just waiting for her to slip.
“An arranged marriage? How do you figure?”
How could he not see it? “What were you doing in France?”
If he was taken aback by her change of direction, it didn’t show. “I was skiing.”
Right, she knew that. All this new stuff going on had pushed it out of her head. After all, skiing was inconsequential when you’re running for your life from demons and who knows what else.
“So suppose someone walks up to you and says they were the one you’d been picked to marry. Spend the rest of your life with. How would you feel? What if you had a girlfriend?”
He canted his head slightly to the side, a furrow in his brow. “You’re upset because you have a girlfriend? Are you a lesbian?”
Hysterics were getting even closer. She gripped the blanket tighter still. “No!” A deep breath. “No,” she said in a calmer voice. “I’m not a lesbian. But for all you know, I could have a boyfriend. Now you show—”
His blue eyes went dark and she swore he had steam rising from his shoulders. Every inch of his body was rigid as he stared at her.
“You have a boyfriend?” Cale bit each word off and the room’s temperature fell with every one of them. The warrior wasn’t hard to see and she was impressed. His fingers flexed about the handle of the sword he still had in one hand. Yet, despite all that, she wasn’t afraid. Not really.
“A second ago you thought I was a lesbian, now suddenly I have a boyfriend? Make up your mind.”
He relaxed a fraction. “I never said I agreed you were a lesbian. I asked you if you were. And had you said no, I wouldn’t have disagreed. Now, do you have a boyfriend?”
“No, but you’re missing the point here. I could have and your lights would have lit my ass up for no reason. Who are they…? Maybe what are they would be better… Anyway, they have no right to tell me who I am supposed to be w
ith.”
He stood and stared down at her. The steam around his shoulders must have been a trick from the light, for she no longer saw it.
“Are you done?” he asked in a deceptively calm voice.
“Not hardly, but apparently you have something to say, so say it.” And here comes the flippant attitude Grandma told me to lose.
He placed the sword on the bed he’d just vacated and stepped until he nudged her legs apart. Then he leant forward, using his mass to push her back onto the mattress. When she stared up at him, heart pounding and palms sweating, he put his nose to hers.
“Your mate is not something you pick. We were destined for one another by the stars. Had you settled for someone else, you wouldn’t be happy.”
Those words set off trembling in both stomach and limbs. If only he meant them, as she wanted him to. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t feel something more with him, something deeper than she’d ever felt with anyone else. Even men she’d slept with. This was more, so much more. Didn’t stop her scepticism, though.
“You sure do have pretty words just to get my pendant.”
Danger slashed across his expression and in his gaze. “If that was all I wanted, Taylor, I would take it. Make no mistake on that.”
He kissed her. Not a quick one like what had happened between them in the bathroom of her apartment, either. No way. Lips connected, he slid his tongue into her mouth and she whimpered when he touched hers.
His taste was intoxicating. She opened further beneath his exploration and released her hold on the comforter in order to grip his shirt. Tugging him closer, she arched into him. In and out, his tongue stroked, and she closed her eyes as the colours around them flared even brighter.
Never had she wanted someone so much. She wrapped her legs around his waist and rocked against the hardness she encountered in his jeans. Yes, she wanted that. Wanted him. Wanted him deep inside her.
Bit by bit, he lowered his weight onto her and wound his arms around her, holding her tight. The kiss continued as he began flexing his hips, mimicking the motion of his tongue.
He lit her on fire and she wanted him to do whatever was necessary to quench it. Undulating beneath him, she conveyed her desire with actions, since he hadn’t released her mouth. Damn man could kiss. He touched every part he could reach and continued to dance with her. Her pussy creamed and her breasts—pressed tight against his wide chest—were almost painful with their need to be touched. Kissed. Caressed.
She was seconds from an orgasm when he pulled back. His gaze, a beautifully intense shade of zaffre, singed her. The blue hue was incredible and she wanted to dive in and see what awaited her.
“This is so much more than the pendant, Taylor. Never doubt that.” Another breath-stealing kiss. “Ever.”
Chapter Four
Cale stared at the woman lying beneath him on the mattress. The attraction between them was mutual. He wanted her, there was no doubt about that. However, her safety meant even more to him. He had to keep her safe.
Besides, their first time wasn’t going to be in this rundown, roadside motel. Unless she continued to watch him with such passionate heat in her gaze. He was, after all, only a man. Astral Guardian or not, he was still a man. Brushing his lips against hers again, he pushed up and reluctantly left her body. She continued to lie there, all her curves tempting him. Her lips wet and slightly swollen from his kiss. A kiss he could have never stopped.
Instead of going back to the other bed, he sat near the headboard. After moving his sword to the table between the beds, he drew her up to curl into him, comforter and all.
“I need your help, Taylor.”
She burrowed against him and humbled him with her trust. Being close during passion was one thing, but to do it after indicated trust.
“Why? Aren’t you one of the Chosen…wait, what did you say you were called? Guardians? Astral Guardians.”
The suspicion was blatant. “Yes. But I’m not invincible. None of us are.”
“Right. Your brethren.” She sniffed. “How many of them are you?”
“There are six of us right now who bear the marks.”
“Marks?” She tugged the comforter up to her waist.
“Of our sign.”
“Here’s a thought, and keep in mind it’s just that,” she quipped. “If you want my help, maybe you should stop being so damn cryptic and just answer the damn questions.”
Feisty. He liked that.
“I bear the sign of the dog.”
Her sigh was heavy and she shifted against him. “Sign of the dog. Like Sirius?”
“Nope. From the Chinese zodiac.”
“You’re not Chinese.”
He chuckled. “No, I’m not. And no, I wasn’t born in the Year of the Dog.” He rested his cheek against the top of her head. “It’s different.”
“How so?”
“We were picked by the animals and imbued with some of their traits and powers.”
“This should sound so insane that I walk away right now, but given what I’ve gone through and seen in the past twenty-four hours, I’ll give you the benefit of doubt. And I remember seeing an outline of a dog behind the design on your right shoulder when I cleaned your wounds.”
“Yes, that’s my mark. The dog image and the word in Chinese. Thank you for that, you know, giving me the benefit of doubt.”
She harrumphed. “I know I’m going to regret asking this. Do you turn into this animal? I mean, I know very little about the Chinese zodiac, but I don’t know how fair it would be for one to turn into a bunny and one a dragon. I mean, what if the dragon was hungry? No more bunny.”
He chuckled. “No. We don’t shift.”
“Hence the sword?”
“Exactly. I’ve been training with weapons since I was fourteen.”
“Are the others Chinese?”
“No. Some of my siblings are Asian, but again, it’s not like that. This goes way beyond the simple labelling of something being in the zodiac. It started before people even had names for constellations, or the animals of the zodiac.”
“You mentioned before good versus evil, but it wasn’t an angels and demons kind of thing. Now you mention siblings—sorry, brethren—and training with weapons. Where the hell do you do something like that, and how are you chosen to be part of this? Then tell me how I got into it? I don’t have any tattoo or mark. So why did your lights pick me?”
He could hear the stress in her tone, but it didn’t overtake her questions.
“We live in Oregon. You’ll see it soon enough. On a vineyard.”
“So you drink all the time. Must help with the delusions you seem keen on having.”
“Actually I don’t drink at all. It’s a home for troubled teens. We’re taken in and taught how to work with others and behave in the world.”
“So, this is like X-Men. A bunch of kids living in a mansion who train with their powers until the time comes to save the world.”
Her analogies made him smile.
“I wouldn’t quite go with that. We’re not mutants for one. For another, we don’t live in New York City. And not all the children there are Astral Guardians. And how do you know about the X-Men?” He rose and grabbed his bag before rejoining her on the bed. Digging through, he found a picture of the vineyard and showed it to her. “This is where we live.”
“That’s beautiful. I know a lot of movies. When you can’t go out because people are hunting you, after a while there’s not much to do inside other than watch television.”
He hated that her own family was after her. “It’s even more so beautiful in person.”
“If this is such a battle, why would you have children who can’t defend themselves there?”
“They don’t attack there. I can’t tell you why. I suspect it’s part of their rules.”
“Whose rules? Who’s they?”
“They are the ones who want the world plunged back into darkness. I don’t know their names. They are the ones
who don’t want us to succeed.”
“Again? What, is The New Order going to blow up the sun? I mean, really? That wouldn’t bode well for their survival either. The world isn’t going to be plunged into darkness.” She shook her head.
“I didn’t mean literally, Taylor.” Although I can’t be positive about that. “I mean as in anarchy will reign. Evil will prevail and no one will be safe. Anywhere. Death and destruction will be the way life is lived. Daily. Kill or be killed.”
“How do you know this?”
“The prophecy.”
“You have a prophecy?”
“We have one.”
“And it is what?”
“You really want to know?”
“I think so.”
He could detect the hesitation but was proud she didn’t run the other way. So he recited the prophecy to her, “The parts to waken the world’s hope have been scattered far and wide to the winds and throughout the stars. It is from there the chosen ones are marked, becoming Astral Guardians. Alone their individual defeat has a greater chance than when paired with the amaranthine and genuine love of their mate. Those Guardians must find, defend and bind the pieces to call forth the hope of the world. It will take courage, strength, love and sacrifice. If the Guardians fail, swift death will arrive to the one who calms the beasts. With this outcome, the world shall descend into darkness, chaos and anarchy.”
“Not exactly cheerful,” she mumbled.
Cale wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that, for she was completely correct. It wasn’t cheerful.
“Your brethren. Tell me about them.”
“The two who’ve been there the longest are Tiarnán and Dracen. Then Billy. I came around the same time as Roz, and Aminta has been there the shortest amount of time.”
“And they all have a mark of sorts.” She crossed her arms and rested her head back on his shoulder. “So why wouldn’t the…I’m not sure what to call them…things that sent the marks to you, match you up with each other? Wouldn’t you be stronger like that?”
“The things that did that are beyond our scope of age, Taylor. This began back when the earth was born. A battle for who would control it, and every so often the time comes to fight.”
