The Guardian's Bond (Other Kin)

by C. A. Salo

  “Yes sir.”

  Livi tried to smile but the wounds to her face stopped her as Tommy led her to the Manor and her room. “You don’t have to.”

  “Your father asked me.”

  “And you do everything he asks, right Tommy?” she asked as he walked from her bathroom carrying a cloth.

  “He is my Alpha, Livi. Of course I’m going to follow his directions.”

  “Would you have done it if he didn’t ask?” she asked softly.

  “Yes.”

  Livi sat on her bed while he tended to her wounds. They both knew that her Lyken and Fae blood would heal most by tomorrow, but it was still nice to have someone care for her enough to clean her as gently as he did. “Tommy?”

  “Hmmm?”

  “Do…do you like me?”

  “Of course I like you, Livi,” he answered, slowly lowering the now cool cloth. “I thought that was obvious.”

  “Why have you ignored me all these years?” She glanced up when he sighed and moved away.

  “I can’t answer you, not yet anyways. And I know you’re going to be mad as hell with me when you find out, but I think you’ll understand why.”

  “I’m not following you.”

  “In good time, Livi. In good time.”

  “Where are you going?” she asked when he headed for her door. “That’s it? You tell me ‘in good time Livi’ and you’re just going to leave?”

  “I need to.”

  When he turned, Livi noticed his canines had descended and his eyes glowed. “Tommy?”

  “Stay there,” he said when she went to rise. “If you come close I may lose control and I don’t want that, Livi.”

  “The full’s coming.”

  “I know.”

  “But…”

  “Do not push me, woman,” he growled.

  Livi closed her eyes as the door shut behind him. What the hell, he was shifting just from touching her, tending to her, and her damn body was aching all over. She’d held back shifting to her Fae self but it wasn’t easy. Lying back on her bed all she could think of was Tommy as she drifted to sleep.

  * * * *

  Livi sat with her aunt and uncle the next day and told them what happened with Tommy the night before. “So tell me what I am supposed to do.” Moving her gaze from her fifteen-year-old cousin who was watching his toddler twin brother and sister playing, to her Uncle Evan and Aunt Kasey, she waited for them to answer.

  “I don’t know, Livi,” Evan said.

  “It’s like first he likes me, then he can’t stand me, then he likes me again, he’s worried about me, he kisses me, then he starts to shift by just touching me and my stomach aches every time he’s near me.” Livi sighed and almost missed the look they gave each other. “What was that?” Livi asked as she jumped up, staring down at the both of them. “What was that look you just gave each other?”

  “Oh Christ, don’t tell me they’re giving each other the look,” her cousin Tarrin snorted. “Next thing you know they’ll be taking off to make two more of these,” he said motioning to the twins.

  “Watch your mouth,” Kasey said as she pointed to him.

  “No, it’s not that kind of look, Tarrin. They know something and they’re not talking,” Livi said as they did it again. “See, right there!”

  Evan sighed. “Livi, you know how much we love you, and if I could, I would tell you everything. However, it’s not my place. You need to go talk to your parents or Mari, and I suggest you do it quickly.”

  Livi’s gaze narrowed.

  “Don’t even try to mind-read me, young lady,” Evan stated as he rose up, towering over her. “You know better.”

  “I’m a Guardian of Alston.”

  Evan chuckled. “Yeah you can try that shit, but if you remember, you can’t use your Guardian powers against a loyal Alstonian. Smart ass little kid, go talk to your dad before I put you over my knee and spank the shit out of you.”

  “Ha! As if you could catch me, old man.”

  “I’ll ‘old man’ you, girl,” he chuckled.

  Livi laughed as she flash-stepped away and headed for the manor. Why wouldn’t he tell her? Uncle Evan always told her what to do or what was going on. He was her ground; she could always depend on him to tell her the truth and not beat around the bush. He always gave it to her straight up, so for him to not tell her what was happening, Livi knew it had to be something big and that something included Tommy. Frowning, she knew what she was feeling or had a good idea. Although she hadn’t felt it since she’d been drawn back to Alston for her first mating and Tommy. Slowing down to a walk, she headed up the front stairs of Roven Manor and headed right for her dad’s office. “Hey, I need to talk to you.”

  “Livi, it will have to wait,” Drake said.

  Livi smiled at her Uncle Rhys and Aunt Mari. “Oh no, somehow I think these two are involved anyway so just call mom down here so we can get it out in the open.”

  Drake’s brow lifted. “Since when do you issue me orders?”

  “Since someone is messing with my life,” she snapped.

  “I suggest you watch your tone,” he growled.

  Livi’s lip curled as he took a step forward. Not only his Alpha energies but also his father ones had her bowing her head in submission. “Apologies, Dad, but I need to know and Uncle Evan won’t talk to me. He told me to come talk to you and mom, or Aunt Mari.” Lifting her head, she watched as they gave each other a look. “See, that is what I’m talking about. Someone is hiding something from me and I want to know what it is right now.”

  Drake sighed. “Sit down while I send for mom.”

  Livi sat there and listened as her parents and Aunt Mari explained everything, from the day Tommy and she got in big trouble from the Golem attack, to Aunt Mari’s conversation with her mother, Ancient Darina. And about Livi and Tommy staying separated so Livi could concentrate on her training instead of Tommy.

  “Livi,” Kalana said. “We found out before the Darkness attacked that you and Tommy are to be bonded mates, life mates, and it was advised from the Ancients to continue keeping you and Tommy separated so you could train and not be distracted by him. We couldn’t take the chance that you would concentrate more on Tommy than on your role as Guardian.”

  “But that wasn’t your decision to make, it was mine,” Livi said.

  “And if you remember, you wouldn’t follow pack rules. You ran about like a wild child, so we had to enforce what we thought was correct for you. Even Tommy told you, you never listened or paid attention to him when he tried teaching you pack rules. He stood guard over you all the time because, even then, he knew there was something drawing him to you, but you were both too young to realize what was happening.”

  Livi lowered her head as realization hit her like a wave of water. Her stomach ache every time she was near Tommy wasn’t her Lyken mating tendencies. She was feeling the Kirmid, the Fae way of telling her who her life mate would be. No wonder she transformed to her Fae self whenever she was near Tommy. “Does Tommy know?” she whispered, lifting her head when no one answered.

  “Yes,” Drake said. “And he’s been asked to try and stay away from you until this is over with, but I don’t see that happening. He’s close to a rut and it gets worse every time he’s near you.”

  Livi’s eyes widened. “That’s why he started the change just from cleaning me up last night?”

  “Yes.”

  “Dad, the full moon is in a week.”

  “I know, and if you mate with him then, even though it’s the first time for you both together, he’ll most likely claim you then, even if you both want to hold the claiming off.”

  Livi glanced sideways as her lips jutted to the side. “Well you see…that’s not entirely true.”

  “What?” Kalana said as she jumped up, standing by Drake.

  “If you two have mated, he wouldn’t be going into a rut,” Drake said.

  “I kinda…have been coming here since I went into season, and I’ve been ma
ting with Tommy every full moon; although he has no idea it’s me,” Livi said as she looked back to her parents.

  “Explain,” Drake growled. “There’s no way he wouldn’t know it was you, he’d have scented you the moment you stepped foot here. Especially during the full moon.”

  Livi stood. “Okay, but it’s easier to show you. Step back.”

  “By the ancients,” Drake whispered.

  “Holy shit,” Kalana said.

  “Hey, I had no idea,” Mari said as she held up her hands.

  Livi smiled at them as she unfurled her wings and shook out her long black hair. “For some reason when I went into season I shifted Fae, not Lyken.” Moving over to the huge mirror that hung in her dad’s office Livi noticed that her eyes had become translucent, her skin shimmered and her wings were those like an iridescent pattern of earth tone colors, almost like her mom’s but different. Livi had more reds to go with the Dragon energies she could call upon.

  “Can you shimmer or shrink?” Kalana asked.

  “Yes, both.”

  “Do you know how rare this is, Livi?” Mari asked.

  “Yes, Triton brought me to talk to his Aunt Hera and she explained why to me.”

  “You spoke with Hera?” Mari snorted.

  Livi smiled as she turned to face them. “Yes, and I know you two had some tiff going on Auntie, but seriously, she really does know how to make a great cup of tea, and she’s nice. Oh, and don’t go getting mad at Triton for not telling any of you, I made him promise me.”

  “So this is why Tommy couldn’t scent you and none of us knew you were here?” Rhys asked.

  “Right, and with the speed I can run, no one really noticed me coming or going.”

  “Is that a safety issue we need to discuss about fast moving Other Kin?” Drake asked.

  “No, it’s only me, Dad.”

  “So, you and Tommy have been mating for how long?” Kalana asked with a smile.

  “Since I came into season five months ago, and no there has been no one else, although the Prince of Atlantis did try to get a little frisky.”

  “Which one?” Mari asked.

  “All five, the horny toads,” Livi chuckled, stopping suddenly. “Shit, Tommy’s coming.” Closing her eyes, she shifted back to her human self and stood there as he knocked on the door and her dad granted him permission to enter.

  “Lord Drake, I hate to interrupt, but I believe it best for you and Lord Rhys to come to the security center now,” Tommy said as his gaze landed on Livi.

  Livi noticed his nose twitch.

  “What’s going on?” Drake asked.

  “We were able to gather more information from both Dragon Hunters with the ability Livi told us about. We have a bigger problem than we thought.”

  Livi started to follow them out when Tommy turned meeting her gaze.

  “Please stay back.”

  “What, why?” she asked stunned.

  “I can’t have you near me right now Livi, please.”

  Livi grabbed his arm. “I know, Tommy. They told me everything and we’ll be taking care of this shortly,” she whispered. His eyes shimmered silver as he leaned into her, kissing her quickly.

  “Before the full would be a good idea,” he murmured against her lips.

  Livi’s eyelids were heavy as he walked down the foyer following her father and uncle.

  “Why not let him see you in Fae shift, Livi?” Kalana asked.

  “It’s not time yet.”

  “She’s just worried he’ll be pissed when he finds out he’s been mating with her all along and she never told him,” Mari chuckled.

  Livi snorted as she turned to face them. “Yeah, okay, Ms. Dragon Shifter and protector extraordinaire.”

  “What?” Mari chuckled. “I’m right, kid and you know it.”

  Livi frowned as she turned back to the way Tommy had gone. All she had to do was release her pheromones for mating and he’d come running, especially now, but she didn’t want to do that to him. So how in the hell was she supposed to tell him she was the one he’d been mating with every month for the past five months? Her head turned, a smile lining her lips as she took off out the door.

  “Oy, she’s up to something,” Mari laughed.

  Chapter 3

  Livi waited until Tommy opened the door to his apartment before she partially shifted to Lyken and exuded her pheromones in his direction. She’d hoped that by being in Lyken mode when they mated, she’d stay that way or else she’d have a lot of explaining to do. Smiling when the silver glow of his eyes appeared in the darkened room, she knew he’d caught her scent. “How long did you know?”

  “Right after the Golem attack,” Tommy stated as he stepped forward, releasing his weapons belt. “Lord Drake and my father came to me and explained you and I were bonded mates, but I had to step back and let you train.”

  Livi didn’t need lights as her night vision increased with her shift. Her heart hammered as he tossed his clothes, revealing a broad chest and shoulders, lean hips, strong thighs and a thick jutting erection. Livi gasped as he fisted it, stroking hard. A shiver of anticipation rippled down Livi’s spine and her mouth watered.

  Tommy came right up to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. Her naked flesh pressed to his as he crushed his mouth to hers, thrusting his tongue between her lips. Claiming her with deep possessive stokes, he cupped her ass with his hands, his fingers digging into her flesh to bring her even closer.

  Livi moaned; the pain and pleasure melding together. The swell of his cock pressed against the low of her belly heating her core. She kissed him hard as her hands wrapped around his neck, her fingers sliding up into his short hair. She groaned as her aching breasts and sensitive nipples rubbed against his muscled chest. “Gods Tommy,” she breathed heavily. His mouth moved to her neck, nipping with his canines as he went to leave his scent upon her so every male would know that she was his. That excited her to no end. “Fuck me.”

  Tommy grabbed a fistful of her hair and dragged her head back, his tongue traveling down to a pert nipple. “When I’m ready. I told you I’d wipe him from your mind.”

  Ah the irony, Livi wanted to cry. “It won’t be that easy.”

  “Don’t goad me woman,” he growled.

  Livi yelped when he drew her nipple in sucking heavily. “We’re bonded. Our mating will always be the most fantastic we’ve ever had.” Her eyes widened when he growled wolfishly. Cupping either side of his face, she lifted it to see he’d shifted even further. “I love you, Tommy, I have since we first met.” Brushing her lips across his gently, she shifted further into her Lyken self to match him and to keep her Fae from emerging.

  “Mine,” he snarled. His hand slipped between her thighs, the tip of his finger encountering her wetness, sliding along her clit and up into her heat.

  Livi groaned and her eyes fluttered as he pumped into her vigorously with two fingers while his thumb rubbed her engorged clit. “Damn it, Tommy.” Her head went back with a moan as spirals shivered up her spine. “Oh please, oh please,” she chanted.

  “You’re mine.”

  “Yes, oh yes, yours,” Livi cried out when his touch left her. Opening heavy lids, she met his gaze. “Why stop?”

  “Get on my bed.” Smacking her ass hard, he directed her to the bedroom.

  The back of her legs hit the mattress and she went down, grateful it was a king size as he sprawled over her, his strong thighs separating hers as his hands lowered above her head.

  “By the time I’m through with you, you’ll know who your master is.”

  Livi’s heart nearly stopped beating; cream dripped out to touch her thigh. “That’s a—turn on,” she breathed, lifting her mouth to his as desire sliced through her stomach. It had been almost a month since they’d mated and it sure didn’t feel like this. This time everything was more heated and charged ten fold. Her fingers curled in Tommy’s hair, his dominance exciting her as he took control.

  Tommy slipped down, attaching his mou
th to her nipple as a hand returned attention to her clit. His long fingers entered her, twisting and thrusting.

  She moaned when his thumb pressed down onto her clit. Her pussy contracted, her mouth opened with the beginning of a fabulous orgasm when everything stopped. She cried out as her climax receded. It took her a moment to realize his hand and mouth had moved from her body. “T-Tommy?”

  “Who?” Tommy growled.

  Livi’s brain was mush. It took several seconds to figure out what he wanted. “Master,” she breathed. Her body jerked as his strong fingers returned to stroke her sensitive flesh.

  “That’s right, Livi. You may be the Guardian out there, but in here, you belong to me. You leave everything at the door: your attitude, your rank, your title, and your stubbornness. In here I am master and you have no responsibilities except those I let you have, do you understand?”

  “Y-yes, Master.”

  Tommy smiled at her words as he lowered his head. He knew Livi held more power than he being Guardian, and if she didn’t accept his dominance during their first mating then she never would. They were two strong alphas and for their relationship to work, one of them needed to yield. Pressing her legs apart, he laid them on top of his shoulders. His tongue touched her clit, loving the way her body shuddered with pleasure. He teased the sensitive bud, his fingers lightly caressing her inner thighs before he slipped a finger into her pussy.

  Her hips jumped from the bed, the pressure that had ebbed built back up and Livi groaned loudly. “Oh T—Master, please let me come, please.” With her hips rocking, her head moved back and forth on the mattress as she flew back to the plateau of euphoria.

  Tommy waited. He wanted to see if she’d hold until he gave her permission. She knew how the bonding went. In order for them to truly bond with the mind-marking and become soul mates, they had to orgasm together on the night he claimed her for his mate.

  “Oooo you’re making it h-hard.”

  Tommy drew back, giving her excited body a brief reprieve as he pushed her back on the bed. She shuddered under his hands as he lifted her legs over his thighs. The head of his shaft invaded her just an inch before he pulled back and entered her slowly again. His teeth ground together as he kept control over his body. All he wanted to do was thrust up into her hard and deep. “Almost there, love,” he breathed. His cock was so damn hard he thought it would have exploded by now. Hissing when her hips thrust up encasing more of him, he plunged into her with a twist of his hips, moans leaving both of them as he lay still for a moment. “Damn baby, you’re tight.”