Carl (Guardians In Love Book 4)

by Brianna West

  “He was someone special to you, yes?”

  My jaw tautened before I nodded. “Yes, he was.”

  “You believe he’s not completely lost to us, correct?” Logan’s eyes never wavered in their intensity as he stared across at me, fingers interwoven where his chin now rested.

  Steeling my nerves, I answered evenly, “No, I do not. It’s my belief that he isn’t beyond our reach.” Lifting my chin, I postured slightly. “Beyond my reach.”

  Aidan stiffened beside me, his indifferent expression faltering somewhat. He’d taken the seat between me and Conall, who had remained standing most of the conversation we’d shared with the angel.

  Conall’s hair was a mess, his unshaven face even more so, and the dark circles under his eyes an obvious indication that what he’d mentioned the day before still held true—he hadn’t fed. Aidan had apparently notated the very same thing, because the were-bear Guardian’s actions centered around keeping the clearly underfed half vampire from being anywhere near me.

  It had been an awkward few minutes when we’d arrived and Conall’s usual eagerness to be close to me was overtly thwarted by Aidan when the Irishman attempted to take a seat beside me on the couch. The air had grown dense and stagnant with the silent conflict, but Laura’s arrival had thankfully calmed it.

  After spending an entire night thinking about Aidan and the kisses we’d shared, I had very little left in me to intervene on another silent dispute between the two men. I was grateful to be saved from it this morning. If not, I wasn’t sure if there was anything I could’ve done to stop it that wasn’t outright insubordination.

  I was slightly irritated to find Aidan’s usual stoicism completely intact when I’d come out of the room the morning after everything had occurred between us. He hadn’t appeared to lose any sleep over what we’d done in the dark, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t upset me to know I was the only one suffering from an overactive mind. Not to mention, the nightmare that I still couldn’t remember plagued me somehow. All night I felt the phantom touch of someone’s hand on my throat. Whether or not it meant something, I wasn’t too sure.

  It felt like something dangerous was just around the corner, and I couldn’t help the weighted feeling in my belly when I thought about sleeping tonight. For some unknown reason, something inside of me warned against it.

  Laura was standing at Conall’s right, her arms crossed over a low dipping top and pencil skirt. She’d braided her long, golden hair over one shoulder, while gems donned her forehead to pair with sparkling diamond earrings. Red-painted lips that hadn’t smiled once since Logan had arrived were accompanied by an impeccable shade of eyeshadow and blush, which made her skin appear to be even more aglow than normal. Her manner of dress was noticeably elevated, and I could easily guess why since her eyes had practically never left Logan’s seated figure. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that the woman had an affection for the angel that went beyond a subordinate’s affection towards their boss.

  However, it was clear to me that Logan didn’t share the same affection. At least not readily. He very rarely looked her way, even going as far as to ignore her most of the conversation because she came late to what had went on the previous day.

  Her testimony was unnecessary. The angel had spent most of the morning probing Aidan and I, seeking our interpretations of what had occurred, both before and afterwards. After hearing Aidan’s proclamation that Niko had hesitated when he realized that I was hurt, it had inspired the current line of questioning from the supervising angel.

  “You’ve received clearance to look more into the matter surrounding Niko Lindberg from the Council, if memory serves right,” Logan inquired lightly, peering across at me as I nodded in agreement. “Which was the very reason Conall sought whatever information on the matter that I was aware of, I assume.”

  Conall smiled, clearly proud of himself. “I do what I can.”

  “Yet, despite my orders to send Aidan as his partner, you went instead,” Logan remarked to my surprise. It appeared Aidan hadn’t been aware, because his eyes burned with an all-consuming rage before he managed to control himself.

  Conall shrugged, unashamed. “There were extenuated circumstances.”

  “My arse there were!” Aidan got to his feet, but one look from Logan had him sitting back down with his anger quietly tucked away.

  The angel crossed a leg over, humming quietly as his blue eyes closely monitored my expression. “How do you feel on the matter? Do you feel that Conall acted solely on ulterior motives?”

  Suddenly put on the spot, all eyes were on me. I didn’t quite know what to say that wouldn’t be outright rude towards Conall. Not that I owed him anything, but I would definitely feel guilty if my words somehow landed him into some sort of trouble with Logan. However, lying to Logan wasn’t an option. Whatever I said, it had to be an honest representation of what I truly felt.

  I’d been in the presence of many angels during my career with the Guardians; many of them difficult to figure out right away. So, it wasn’t disconcerting to have Logan’s stare fixed to me. Nor did I feel uncomfortable with the pointed interrogation. It was his job to get down to the bottom of discord on his team, and it’d be unlikely that anything I said would come as a total surprise to him since he’d been supervising angel for enough time to know who Conall was and how he acted.

  Angels, by all definitions of the word, were clever. Immensely intelligent. Indefinitely five steps ahead. It would be ill-advised to think I might be able to outwit one. Not that it was my intention to. But it was safe to say that whatever I said in truth would be understood as much.

  I smiled reverently, bowing my head to him once. “I’ll be honest, it did seem coincidental that Conall would bring it to my attention after he’d already assigned the other two to a mission. However, he offered me a chance to refuse if I wanted to. If he had ulterior motives, it was partly my decision to face whatever those were when I agreed to go with him.”

  Conall’s smile had wavered, his face uncharacteristically serious when I spoke to his defense. There was something in his expression that made me unexpectedly uncomfortable as I looked over at him. Something in his eyes expressed a hunger that made small, violent jolts run the length of my spine. But as quickly as the feeling had come, it was gone. Conall smiled brightly, crossing his arms with a short ‘thank you’ nod my direction.

  Aidan watched the exchange with growing frustration, the look he was giving suggesting his anger was near outburst again as he clenched his hands into fists and waited for Logan to respond. I felt guilty that my words had caused so much discord, but I’d meant every single one of them, nonetheless.

  I knew what could’ve happened if left alone with Conall, and I had trusted that I could handle it if something arose. Whether or not I could, I’d never know because Aidan had come so quickly to my rescue that the opportunity had never presented itself. However, it was true that it was partly my responsibility for agreeing to go with Conall.

  “Victor wasn’t just saying pretty things about you, it seems,” Logan murmured, his smile affectionate as he rose from his chair. “I think I have enough information for the moment.”

  I stood from my seat, spine straight as I nodded my polite understanding. I was glad that it appeared my words had helped take some of the heat off of Conall, because the last thing I wanted was to be the reason that the Irishman was disciplined. I may not agree with some of the things he said and did, but I agreed with Laura and Aidan—he was an incredible team leader and an immensely talented Guardian. It would be a travesty to endanger that for the Guardians because of my personal feelings towards him.

  “There are a few things I’d like Laura to run by you, if you’d hear them out.” Logan took hold of my hand, shaking it before straightening to his full height.

  Aidan’s eyes were on me as I nodded, hoping it didn’t come off too eager. “I would gladly hear whatever it is you wish me to know.”

  “Good,” Loga
n said, pulling the vest over his crisp dress shirt down and rebuttoning the suit jacket he wore before checking the cuffs. “I will have Laura relay the information once you have a minute.”

  The angel disappeared, and I was finally able to breathe. Without knowing it, my heart had started to pound. Even my palms were clammy, which was unusual for me. The room had gone silent, so I was left in a state of unease as I worked to get my wayward body under control.

  “Are there any missions requiring our attention?” Aidan asked, his tone clipped as he looked Conall’s direction.

  The half vampire’s mouth lifted into a surprisingly empty smile, his noticeably fragile state emphasized in the slight waver of his body. “Our orders are to rest and recuperate for the moment.”

  Laura seemed to notice Conall’s delicate state, the lines in her face hardening as she took him by the arm and led him to the kitchen. “Why the bloody hell have you let yourself fall into this state?!”

  Her chiding continued all the way to where the blood bags were kept in the refrigerator. I watched from the living room as she bent down, still holding Conall’s arm hostage, and retrieved a bag from the locked compartment drawer inside the refrigerator. When she held it out to Conall, he refused it. Her tongue clicked loudly, drawing Aidan and I to the kitchen with the sound as she huffed an irritated sigh and threw her hands up.

  “If this goes on any longer, I’ll be forced to report it to Logan. I’m sure he already noticed you’re poorly, you stubborn twit.” Laura gestured to Conall while looking Aidan’s direction, her expression beseeching. “You two need to figure whatever it is out, and quick. I’m done playing referee to your child’s argument. You are both grown fucking men. Figure it the bloody well out.”

  Laura stamped her heeled toe, pointing at Conall and then Aidan for good measure. With a sweet smile, she swept me away by the arm and led me out of the house. When we were far enough away, she slowed slightly and peered up into my face, concern evident.

  “You look poorly,” she said blatantly.

  I chuckled quietly at the woman who didn’t mince words. “Can’t seem to hide anything from you, can I?”

  “A woman’s intuition is a scary thing,” she retorted wryly.

  She didn’t need to tell me that.

  “I’m well aware. Far be it for me to go against any woman’s intuition.”

  “I like you, Carl. You’re handsome, talented, clever, and unbelievably kind,” she listed off confidently, making me abnormally bashful with her direct compliments. “So, it’s no wonder the pair of those daft gits have gone all head over feet for you.”

  Grinning, I sensed a ‘but’ coming on. “Is that right…”

  “But…”

  There it was.

  “I like you enough to put my nose where it shouldn’t be.” I motioned for her to continue, making the beauty smile with the happy eagerness of a child. “What is it that you want? You came back, and I assume there’s a reason you did other than to see my pretty face again.”

  When faced with such sincerity, it was hard to dismiss her question. I didn’t want her to think that her concern wasn’t appreciated, so I answered as best as I could without giving too much away.

  “You assume correctly,” I acquiesced. “Call it an intuition of my own, but I felt there was something here that I’d left behind. I didn’t want to run away before I could figure out what that was.”

  “Or who,” she corrected, her blue eyes glinting impishly.

  Clever women were my weakness. I was no match for them.

  “Or who,” I agreed with a small, telling smirk.

  Her eyes were sparkling with excitement. “Well, have you figured it out? Oh, please tell me you have!”

  Beaten, I smiled in defeat. “I think I just might have. It’s still early, though.”

  “Brilliant! Bloody brilliant!” She crossed over her heart with her index finger and then gestured by pinching her mouth that her lips were sealed. “You have my solemn vow to tell no one.”

  “I’m mighty grateful, little lady.”

  Laura’s cheeks flushed a beautiful rose color. “What can I say, I have a soft spot for well-mannered, incredibly handsome cowboys.”

  Her expression darkened abruptly as she looked over to where the voices of the two men were subtle and surprisingly courteous. “There’s something you should know about Conall, though. Logan only recently trusted Aidan and I with the information, and has suggested it be made known to you as well. That’s what he was on about earlier.”

  She led me farther away, encircling our combined form in a privacy barrier. I was immediately on guard as she focused her attention solely on me. I was no longer smiling, and when I noticed how serious her eyes were, I could only listen carefully.

  “Conall was an exclusive spy for the Council, as you well know,” she said, getting right to the heart of it. “One of their best. But he was also one of very few that had managed to deceive Harlan. He’d infiltrate where no one else could. Quite honestly, he could infiltrate anything.” Her severe eyes narrowed. “Anything.”

  My pulse quickened, understanding the true depth of her statement with my vast Guardian knowledge and how unique spies were to the Cause. Particularly ones that worked for the Council. It reiterated upon my first comprehension of how truly gifted Conall was, but it also spoke to a part of him that was dangerous if his talents were used incorrectly.

  To be a spy that deceived one of the most formidable high-demons who’d ever existed, that was something in which I was incredibly wary of. Like with Niko, it was hard to believe that there was a way to deceive the high-demon that was seemingly without weakness that wasn’t outright giving yourself over to the darkness.

  Laura brushed away the golden hair from her eyes, exhaling softly. “When he’s determined to have something, very little stops him. I don’t think you need to worry, but his state since you left is…delicate. I’ve never seen him like this.”

  I looked over at the cottage before peering down at Laura’s grim face once more. “A high-demon spy?”

  “One of the best,” she corrected gravely. “He retired to be a team leader, and I’m not clear on the details, but it might’ve had something to do with his blood-taking requirements in order to use his power.”

  “So…”

  “So, be careful. Don’t be alone with him. Keep Aidan in sight. We’re all keeping him in our peripherals. Logan is concerned that Conall doesn’t have full control over his bloodlust anymore. He has asked that we report anything uncharacteristic of him immediately.”

  She looked over her shoulder and gestured to the house with her head, fixing her braid with the hand that wasn’t looped through my arm. “I’m on your side, you know. Not that I doubt your skills, but stay with Aidan in the meantime. For some reason, Conall is unusually attached to you, and Aidan is the reason he can’t do what he likes.”

  I appreciated her concern, and even if I thought I could handle it myself, the reality was that I’d been drawn into Conall’s pace several times before. I’d been unable to turn him away more than once and, for the sake of everyone involved, it was best if I just went along with whatever they suggested. No amount of pride was worth someone being inadvertently punished for something that could’ve been avoided.

  Nodding, I touched the gun holstered to my hip. “I’ll do as you suggest.”

  “Brilliant! I’ll go get Aidan, and you two can spend the day together. Leave Conall to me.”

  *

  “What did you and Laura sneak away to do? She came back absolutely beaming, and that bloody worries me. That daft cow only gets that way when she knows something I don’t.”

  Aidan and I had slipped away when Laura laid into Conall again for refusing to drink the blood proffered to him. The last I heard was her shrieking at him to call Logan and secure a proper donor, but his refusal to do so was clear in his expression before we left the house.

  I didn’t look over at Aidan, who was driving the usual car, h
is smell almost too much to handle inside the confined space. When I didn’t answer right away, Aidan grumbled underneath his breath something along the lines of ‘cheeky tiger’ before he was calling out to me again.

  “Oi, what’s the secret? Are you two in cahoots? Just know that Laura is as daft as she is clever.”

  “That makes no damn sense,” I finally said, chuckling in spite of my brusque response.

  Aidan appeared to be satisfied with himself, a cocky smile spreading over his face as his shoulders visibly teetered from right to left in silent victory. “Got you to answer, didn’t it? I’m a bloody genius, and you’re too much of a bloody gent.”

  “For what reason do you say that? Not that I disagree…with the second part, not the first.”

  Aidan smirked, honey-hued eyes igniting with mischief. “Anytime I do or say anything even a little bit funny about her, you get miffed.”

  “Calling her a daft cow is hardly funny,” I responded reproachfully.

  Aidan chuckled, the sound resonating inside the car. “Oi, I’ll have you know that everything about her being a daft cow is a bleeding riot.”

  Frustrated, I glared at Aidan as my temper flared. “It’s rude and just outright childish.”

  Aidan’s tone changed, somewhat sheepish in the face of my anger. “It’s just a bit of fun, Carl. Not like I say it to be a tosser, yeah?”

  Satisfied with the backwards apology he was attempting to get across, I relented. “Women deserve to be treated with respect. After suffering under male egos for how many millennia, isn’t it about time that they were treated the way they should’ve always been treated?”

  Aidan’s eyes dropped from mine as he sighed, letting his head fall in obvious defeat. “You have this way of making me feel like a complete arse, Carl, that’s almost inspirational. Now how am I supposed to take a piss at Laura?”

  “You don’t. Respecting a woman is a man’s privilege,” I retorted, smirking victoriously.

  Aidan gawked openly, whistling lightly. “You just came up with that, didn’t you? No wonder Laura’s bleeding enchanted. You’re something else, Carl. I didn’t even think blokes like you still existed.”