Guardian's Faith

by Jacqueline Rhoades

  Life went on, if a little more hectic than before.

  Evrard tried to stay clear of everyone. He was dealing with his grief over losing his mother as well as the shame he felt for the acts of his grandfather, father, and uncle. He went out on patrol every night and took his meals in his room until one day when Lucien insisted he come to dinner. Once everyone was seated, Lucien made his announcement by standing and raising his glass.

  "As is my right as Liege Lord of this House of Guardians, I choose Evrard ad Gautier as my Second. He is a Guardian of good standing, a man who restored honor to his name, and a friend to this House. I have notified the Ruling Council of my decision." He raised his glass to Evrard, who sat looking stunned as those around him joined the toast.

  Evrard finally managed to stand with his fist over his heart in salute. "I serve at my Liege Lord's command," he said and meant it with all his heart.

  Vasco started driving over to the Hills of the Dead two or three times a week to talk with his beloved Consolata who, he believed, had visited him on that fateful day. His son and daughter thought this last beating had loosened something in his brain. Having seen the rising mists, Faith wasn't so sure. Except for those trips, he was the same old Vasco, flirting with the women and making them laugh and stealing a kiss from Faith whenever he had the chance, telling her that Consolata approved of his kissing angels.

  No one had an explanation for how Apollinaire had lasted so long as a vampire, but all agreed Faith's theory was the best. The blood of the brujas was like an addictive drug that had sustained him, but poisoned him as well. As he had kept his skull and tears right up until first death, Faith assumed his jealousy became anger and bitterness that grew into insanity after all those years alone. Lucien didn't agree.

  "You're too soft hearted," he said later while they were getting ready for bed. "He was a serial killer and you make excuses for him."

  She was brushing her hair in front of the mirror Lucien bought for her. It no longer bothered her to see the scars in her reflection. Now she smiled as Lucien slipped the thin strap of her nightgown off and kissed her shoulder. His hand slipped over her shoulder and cupped her breast.

  "Mmm… soft," he said.

  "That's not my heart," she laughed softly and leaned her head back against him. "They're not excuses. They're reasons. There is no excuse for what he did. You know what his father and grandfather were like. Apollinaire was jealous of you, of what you had with your father and I'll bet you were jealous of him and the time he spent with your father."

  The other strap slipped down. "And how do you come to that outlandish conclusion, Miss Hummingbird?"

  "Because I was jealous of Hope."

  "I thought you were the favorite?" Lucien leaned down and kissed her neck, then took the brush from her hand and ran it through her hair.

  "I was, because I was tiny and cute" she admitted while tilting her head to get the full effect of the brush running through it. "Not because I was nice. I wasn't and I knew it and I knew I didn't deserve the praise. Hope was the strong one, the one who knew how to take care of things. She was older and wiser. I loved her for it, but I hated it, too." Faith shrugged her shoulders. "I was jealous, like you."

  "Now you're older and wiser and stronger, too," he said gently and set the brush aside.

  Faith twisted her body and raised her arms to him. "Am I? Oh, Lucien, I don't know if I can go through with this?"

  He gathered her to him and kissed her, long and slow and lovely. "You'll do it," he whispered into her hair. "You're my hummingbird, remember? You're built to weather the storm." He took her hand and walked her to the bed where he sat and drew her, standing, between his knees. "No more talk of fathers or sisters or vampires," he told her. "No more old hurts or new worries. Here in this bed, our only concern is pleasing each other."

  Faith looked down at his lap and laughed. "It looks like you're ready to be pleased, Guardian."

  "Then it looks like you have some catching up to do"

  Lucien laughed and the next thing Faith knew she was bouncing in the middle of the bed with Lucien crawling up her body with a predatory look in his eye.

  Not so very long ago, such manhandling would have sent her into catatonic withdrawal. Now, she giggled under Lucien's tickling fingers. They kissed and played and teased until finally Lucien rolled with her, bringing her on top of him where he knew she was most comfortable both because of her size and because of her past. He was, therefore, surprised when she leaned down and whispered shyly in his ear.

  Lucien was a creative and understanding lover. He drove her to heights of passion she'd never dreamed of, but there were still things Faith couldn't bring herself to do. This was one of them. Her body reacted involuntarily to the feeling of entrapment, of subjugation and control. After their second failed attempt, Lucien had cradled her in his arms and told her he would never seek that from her again. He was just as happy without it and she was in control.

  "You're sure?" he asked, "You'll tell me if you're frightened or uncomfortable?"

  "I won't be," she whispered and rolled off him to arrange herself for him. This wasn't for him. It was for her. She was tired of being controlled by the fears of her past.

  Lucien knelt behind her raised hips and starting with the globes of her ass, worked his hands up her back in a deep massage and her residual tension released. His hands were followed by his lips as soft kisses caressed the contours of her spine. When she murmured her pleasure he began again only this time he moved more of his body over her until his hands were braced on the mattress beside her shoulders.

  He nuzzled her hair and continued to kiss her shoulders and neck. His body rocked against her in the rhythm of love and she felt his erection against her backside and she began to rock against it. One hand left the bed to fondle her breasts. Before, she'd always felt surrounded by his power, but today she saw it differently. It felt good to be surrounded by his warmth. She turned her head and lifted one shoulder so she could reach his lips.

  While they kissed, Lucien slid his hand over her stomach and down between her legs where he spread her thighs apart to leave her open and vulnerable to his touch and there he rested his hand.

  "More," she whispered and tried to move her body against his hand. This was no longer something she had to do. This was something she wanted. "More, please."

  His fingers started to work their magic, curling inside her and finding the spot that drove her to frenzy while his palm worked her clit. He brought her right to the edge and then he withdrew, sliding his whole body away.

  "No," she whimpered until she felt him lift her hips and he entered her. Her sigh of contentment made him chuckle.

  "Ah, Faith, you are the best thing that ever happened to me, the sweetest thing in my life."

  He covered her again and began slowly to rock against her and chuckled again as she increased the speed. He only chuckled once. His breathing became heavy as he pounded against her, her cries of pleasure spurring him on. His hand slid beneath her again and his finger found her clit. Together they fell over the edge of passion and into that state where the world fell away and all that was left was an explosion of pleasure and love.

  Lucien held her there, enveloped by his body, while her body trembled from the force of her release. He nuzzled her neck in that special place and when she felt the light scrape of his fangs, her trembling increased with sudden need.

  "Do it," she whispered.

  Lucien stopped and withdrew. He rolled to his side taking her with him, spooning himself around her.

  "I can't. It isn't time." He explained to her what the completed act meant.

  It was only for couples who were mated and shared the red rose. If they were truly meant for each other, the man would feel the need to taste her blood and the woman would respond. The result would be the white rose at her breast signifying a bond that couldn't be broken.

  "I want you be my mate. I want to love you for the rest of my life, but I will never ask this of
you." He touched that special place on her neck. "Not after all you've been through."

  Faith squirmed in his arms until she was turned to face him. In quiet whispers, she told him about Apollinaire threatening to take her blood from that place and how she found the courage to talk him out of it.

  "I couldn't let him do it because it was your place, Lucien." She laid her hand on his cheek and kissed him. "Your place and no other."

  "You never cease to amaze me, hummingbird."

  "I hope that will always be true." Faith pushed him onto his back, straddled his stomach and held his hands to the mattress up by his ears. She kissed him on his lovely crooked nose which made him laugh.

  "When would you like to be mated," he asked.

  "You'd better ask Agdta," Faith told him with a roll of her eyes. "She's been planning it for weeks."

  Chapter 41

  Faith and Lucien travelled alone to Canaan's House. Evrard and Álvaro would handle things at the hacienda and ranch. For Faith, the trip didn't seem nearly so long, now that she could ride in a seat.

  It wasn't until they arrived at the House that the stowaway appeared. The little yellow cat sat by the luggage, expecting to be carried inside along with it.

  "She needed to go home, too, I guess," Faith said sadly as the cat snuggled under her chin. "She's going to miss Álvaro."

  Lucien laughed when Dito hissed.

  This time when he entered the House, Lucien's reaction was very different. He smiled at the chaos in the kitchen that was so much like his own. He bowed deeply to Grace and asked if she would share some of her recipes with Agdta. The trainees missed her cooking. That was all it took for Canaan to come round and the others followed suit.

  It was Faith they were awkward with, glancing her way, smiling and nodding, but asking nothing. She stood back, quietly watching while Lucien shook hands and answered questions. A pat on her ass made her jump.

  "I like this new body of yours," Manon laughed, "It looks good on you as does the color in your cheeks." She nodded toward Lucien. "He is good for you, non?"

  Faith smiled and nodded but couldn't speak. Her throat was choked with tears. It felt good to be home. She looked over Manon's shoulder and raised her eyebrows.

  Manon understood the nonverbal question. "Otto thought it best to stay away."

  "No!" Faith cried, finding her voice. "He's family. Send someone for him. No, never mind. I'll go get him myself."

  The whole kitchen went quiet as everyone turned to stare.

  Lucien laughed and held out his hand to Faith. He hadn't told Canaan anything except he was bringing her home. "I thought you'd like to surprise them."

  "Shock the shit out of us more likely," Dov said. He and Col had entered the kitchen just as she spoke. "I like it, though. Sounds sexy."

  "And now she can tell you to piss off when you get annoying," Col said as he stepped forward. "You're looking good, Faith."

  "I'm feeling good," she laughed, "Can I have a hug?" She opened her arms to the twins.

  The ice was broken. Questions flew her way. What was the House like? Did she make any friends? Was it lonely out there in the middle of nowhere?

  "No," she said, surprising herself, "I was never lonely. Lucien saw to that." She began to tell them about Diego and Agdta and old Vasco and grumpy Álvaro. She laughed when Lucien frowned at her description. "Well he is!"

  JJ put her hands on her hips and said to Lucien, "This isn't the girl who lived here. What have you done with our Faith?"

  "Well that's a loaded question," Col muttered to Dov.

  "See?" Dov replied loudly, appealing to the others. "Everyone thinks I have the dirty mind." He pointed his thumb at Col. "He's the one who brought up them doin' the nasty."

  Faith felt Lucien stiffen beside her. She gave his hand a squeeze. It was all part of living in Canaan's House.

  Canaan was not so lenient. He smacked his nephew in the back of the head. "Go tell Otto he's wanted."

  Lucien asked to speak to Canaan privately, when the current group of trainees came in and Grace shooed everyone off to the dining room, saying dinner would be ready in ten, but Faith hung back.

  "Where are the others?" she asked.

  "Broadbent and Nardo are on patrol and your sister had a late meeting, so Nico said they'd see you later, though if you ask me, she wants to see you alone, away from all of this." She waved her spoon over her head and then her face became serious. "You haven't come home, have you." It wasn't a question.

  "I've come for a visit. You're my family and I can't tell you how much I love you all. You cared for me when I couldn't care for myself. You loved me even when there wasn't much there to love. You showed me what life should be like, but I never felt like I could be a part of it, like I deserved it, until I met Lucien. We're to be mated, but even if we weren't, my new home is with him."

  By the time she finished her little speech, Faith was in tears and so was Grace, who threw her arms around her, letting the gravy from her spoon drip on the floor.

  "Oh, sweetie, if you're happy then we'll be happy for you."

  The dining room door swung open and then closed and they heard Col announce to the others, "I'm not asking. They're in there blubbering on each other, but they're both saying they're happy. Women. Go figure."

  Hope opened the door to them and ignoring Lucien, wrapped Faith in her arms.

  "Are you all right?" she asked.

  Faith squirmed and pushed until Hope released her enough to hold her at arms' length.

  "Gee, everyone else says looking good, Faith. Don't I look all right?"

  Hope looked so shocked, Faith thought she might fall down.

  "Your… Your voice?" Hope stuttered.

  "I know," Faith laughed, "It sounds like it should belong to you, all big and busty and sexy." She laughed again when her sister turned red and turning to Lucien, she made the introductions. "This is my sister Hope, Lucien, and if you're not nice to me, she'll beat you up. She throws things when she angry. With her mind, not with her hands," she explained.

  "I do not!"

  Faith looked at Nico and raised her eyebrows, asking for his opinion.

  Nico raised his hands and refused to answer, but he was laughing, too.

  "And this is Nico, her mate. He thinks it's funny when things fly across the room."

  "I think I liked you better when you couldn't talk," her sister said and then she hugged her again. "I've been so worried about you."

  "I know." Faith wasn't laughing any more. "You thought when I wrote and said we needed to talk that I was in trouble. I'm sorry for that, but you don't have to worry anymore. I'm happy." She held out her hand to Lucien. "And he's the man who makes me happy."

  Lucien stepped forward and bowed formally to Hope before he put his arm around his mate. "Faith has thawed the Ice Dude's heart and I have vowed to love her and do all in my power to make her happy. I am a Liege Lord, a Guardian of the Race in good standing, and a man of my word."

  "I don't think you can ask for more than that, precious," Nico added his support.

  "I can't believe you told him about the Ice Dude," Hope whispered once the door was closed.

  "I tell him everything and he loves me in spite of it."

  They'd visited for an hour and Faith was relieved to see Nico and Lucien getting along so well. When the sun was not far off from rising, Lucien made his farewells.

  "You and your sister need to talk and I will only be in the way. I'll be waiting to hear what the two of you decide."

  Faith spent the next two hours with her sister where they laughed and cried together over their lives in the Community of Saints. Hope spoke of their mother whose existence was never allowed to be spoken of in their father's house.

  "You were so young when she died. You never got to know her like I did. I've always regretted that," Hope told her. "Mama was so full of life and not nearly as stuffy as Father. She used to sing when he wasn't around and sometimes she'd dance. You were so much like her when y
ou were young. It's why I worried so much about you. You were so much like her that I was afraid…" Hope shook her head. "I still can't believe she killed herself. I try and try to remember, looking for the signs I must have missed. I was too young, I guess, to notice. Did you know she could wiggle her fingers and make the flowers dance? We used to lie out in the field and watch the clouds in the sky and then she'd make the flowers dance and ask me if I could do it, too."

  "I know," Faith said quietly, "I saw you and I was jealous. That's what I wanted to talk about, Hope."

  It wasn't an easy story to tell and they cried together for a long time after. Then Hope called Nico and Faith repeated the story to him. He heard her out without asking questions and patted Hope's hand.

  "I'll call Sam Tolbert," he said to his mate and explained to Faith, "He's Chief of the Perryville Police Department and a friend. He'll know what we need to do."

  As Lucien promised, he was waiting for her. Seeing her face, he didn't ask how it went, but opened his arms and gathered her in. They stood that way for the longest time, Lucien waiting patiently for her to speak.

  "She still loves me," Faith whispered against his chest."

  "Ah, hummingbird, how could she not."

  It took several days and interviews before the arrangements were made, but Faith and Lucien weren't idle.

  Lucien spent his time observing the training of the new supplicants. He went on patrol with Nico to see what guarding a city was like. He even tried sparring with JJ to everyone's amusement.

  "I couldn't hit her back," he explained at dinner and when the others laughed, he held up his hands, "I know, I know, it's a whole new world, but you're going to have to give me time to catch up."

  When he spoke with regret about the abandonment of the enclave, it was Nardo who had a suggestion.

  "I can put the word out if you like," he said, meaning his internet contacts. "There are a lot of Paenitentia Independents out there who don't like the way the system works. They don't want one person calling all the shots. They want a say in how they live, but it's tough living alone in the human world. I can think of a couple of groups who might be interested in starting their own settlement without the interference of the Ruling Council."