Blood of the Guardian Read online

  He followed her out the door. Twilight had fallen. Had he battled all day? His stomach rumbled, reminding him he’d skipped dinner.

  “You can eat after,” she said. She must’ve heard his stomach too. Instead of the castle, Kat strode toward the gate.

  “The castle’s that way.”

  She laughed. “The maids would skin you alive if you tracked blood around the place. Follow me.”

  Awkward stares and whispers followed them. She turned, cutting across the width of the field. Nolan could still feel Empathy Shays on him, and orange lights of Perception Rol’dan watched from the walls of Faylinn. Kat kept on walking, not speaking, as they cleared the end of the wall.

  She kept going until the sea broke into view. The wind had a bite, but the gentle waves reminded him of a time when things were a lot simpler.

  She grinned—then she started stripping her clothes.

  The smile dropped from Nolan’s face. “W-what are you doing?”

  “I can’t get my uniform all wet, can I?”

  Nolan looked around the shore. They were alone. “Crows, Kat. The water is probably freezing.”

  She didn’t answer, only tossed her tunic aside with a flourish.

  Nolan swallowed hard and tried to look away, but he couldn’t. Why wasn’t he stopping himself? He couldn’t let this happen. Why should he give her false hope when the two of them could never be a couple? He couldn’t allow it, for her safety. He wasn’t human. But even as he reasoned with himself, he couldn’t pry his traitorous eyes away.

  In short order, she undressed to her undergarments. Thankfully, she left those on as she ran into the waves. She squealed as she hit the water.

  “Come on!” she said.

  Nolan looked around and found the shore empty. He pulled off his boots but left his breeches on. They were coated with blood anyway.

  He walked into the waves, gasping as the icy water hit his skin. He’d gone swimming a lot growing up, but he usually didn’t do so this early in the season. Whatever fatigue he had was suddenly sucked away. Finally, he waded to her. She bobbed in the waves up to her neck.

  “You’re a mess.” Her hands brushed over his chest.

  He gasped and stepped back. “I can get that, thanks.”

  Even with the cold water, a blush rose to his face. He plunged under, and the shock of cold promptly cleared his head. He came up and pretended she wasn’t there as he cleaned his chest, his arms, and his face. Red stains tinted the water before they were washed away. He raised his eyes, meeting her intense gaze.

  “Kat—”

  “I can’t help it,” she said. “You’re so beautiful.”

  She closed in. He wanted to step away, but his feet were rooted. Before he could speak, she reached for him. Nolan’s breath hitched; he grabbed her wrists, holding them. “So this is why you like me? Because I’m … beautiful?”

  She leaned forward, her wrists still in his hands. “Oh, Nolan. I liked you before you changed. When I watched you fight the first time … So graceful. So powerful. So dangerous. Then you showed me mercy.”

  The way she tilted her chin to him made him loosen his hold on her wrists. She didn’t hesitate but slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, inches from her lips. “And then, when you attacked the castle, you could’ve killed them all but didn’t.” Her lips nearly touched his, her breath warm in the cool air. “And then you gave your life for that cad brother of yours—”

  Nolan yanked back. “Oh, come now. Kael isn’t that bad.”

  She snorted. “He’s bedded nearly every woman in the Rol’dan. He’s self-centered. Hotheaded. Stubborn—”

  “Nearly every woman?”

  She winked. “Not me.”

  Leaning in, her lips were against his, her fingers twining in his hair. He’d kissed her once before when he’d absorbed Megan’s dream. But now, his feelings weren’t coerced. The sensations were all too real.

  Waves splashed, hitting their bodies. Salty water sprayed on their joined lips.

  He pulled back, groaning. “Kat. I can’t. We can’t.”

  “I know,” she said, her voice breathy. “Megan told me.”

  Reality smacked him back into focus. “Megan … told you?”

  “Emery talked to her this morning, about the danger of having the baby. The whole incident with Rikar brought up a lot of things.”

  “He talked to her?” Finally. “But how do you know about all of this?”

  “She was upset and needed to talk. We’ve become pretty good friends.”

  Nolan scowled. “And what does this have to do with us?”

  “She said you were probably worried about … being with women, because you are so much like a Guardian.”

  Nolan crossed his arms over his chest. Megan was quite insightful.

  “We’re just kissing. We don’t have to do anything else.”

  “You’re okay with that?”

  She laughed, throwing her head back. A drip of water trailed down her neck. “Oh, Nolan. Just because I think things, it doesn’t mean I’d really do them.” She bit her lip. “As lovely as you are, it’s not worth risking death.”

  He nodded slowly. She understood, thank Brim.

  They’d drifted closer to the shore and stood only waist deep in the waves now. The moon shone fully tonight, allowing them to see each other quite well. Hesitantly, he dropped his eyes, and his breath stopped. She’s the one who’s beautiful. He pried his eyes free and found her watching him.

  His face reddened. “Kat—”

  “Shh.” She put her fingers to his lips. “Kiss me again.”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  “PUT YOUR LEGS APART.”

  Kat did as she was told but leaned against him, glancing over her shoulder as one side of her mouth curled upward.

  Nolan stepped back, putting some distance between them. She was so … distracting. “Come on, Kat.”

  “Why?” she asked, pouting. “I’m terrible at this!”

  Nolan tightened the strap of the throwing spikes he’d attached to her. “It’s good to learn more than one skill.”

  “Says the man with six powers. You’ve got Accuracy!”

  She sighed dramatically and yanked a spike from the chest holster. Palming the throwing spike, she gave it a flick. It twirled, end over end, then wobbled, and disappeared somewhere in the weeds, missing the tree altogether.

  “We should try the sling instead,” Nolan thought aloud.

  “See! Even you think I’m hopeless!”

  “No, I don’t!” Nolan lied. “All right … a little. But anyone can improve. Maybe there’s a book on thrown weapons in the king’s library. If you just practiced more, I’m sure you could improve.”

  “A book?” She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “And why would I want to practice something I won’t use? I can just use my sword.” She slapped the hilt of her weapon, as if giving it emphasis.

  “There are times when a sword is useless.”

  “Such as?”

  “What if a wall of archers faced you? You can’t fight them with a sword.”

  “I can dodge. I’m fast.”

  She was fast, even for a Speed Rol’dan.

  He cleared his throat. “But you can’t attack them.”

  “I’d run past and take them out from behind.” She jutted her chin out, obviously pleased with her argument.

  Nolan snapped his fingers. “I used them against a whole battalion of Speed Rol’dan, remember?”

  She blinked. Of course she remembered. He’d nearly killed her. She shook off her shock. “Well … we weren’t expecting you to throw spikes. If we’d seen you throw them, we would’ve dodged.”

  This was also true. It would’ve been a lot harder if they’d known. “You can use them for a surprise.”

  She shook her head, unconvinced.

  Nolan flashed her a grin. “Besides. Think of all the quality time you can spend with me.”

  She snaked her arms around his neck
. “It’s not the only way to spend quality time.”

  Nolan pried her hands free. “Come on, Kat. Focus. These spikes might come in handy someday.”

  After another ten minutes of failed throws, Nolan finally conceded.

  Kat started to remove the spike belt, but Nolan touched her arm, stopping her. “Keep it. It doesn’t fit me anymore.” She’d been using the one he’d had before his transformation.

  From her scowl, she’d most likely be whipping it off and tossing it into a corner as soon as he turned his back.

  They walked back to Faylinn.

  “Do you want to go for another swim?” she asked.

  For the last week, Nolan had trained with Kardos. Kat waited each time, carrying his things until he’d wash the blood into the sea. After, they would find each other, bringing themselves to a point where Nolan was glad the cold waves splashed against his skin.

  “Haven’t you had enough swimming?” he asked.

  She smirked. “I wasn’t interested in the swimming.”

  Nolan shook his head. “Come on, Kat. We could just sit and talk once in a while.”

  “Why?”

  “I barely know anything about you. Where are you from? Do you have any siblings? Do you like doing anything besides making me crazy?”

  She held her hands up in defeat. “All right! There’s a nice rock near the wall by the sea. Even if we don’t swim, I know you’ll like it there. We’ll just sit and talk.”

  He cast her a suspicious glance. Not that he minded kissing her—he liked it quite a bit—but he wanted to know more about her than her lips and how she looked after jumping into the water.

  He shook off the mental image. This time, they would talk. She grabbed his hand, weaving her fingers into his, as they strolled through the woods. Even the touch of her hand sent shivers up his arm.

  They reached the shore and situated themselves on the rock. She turned to him and put her hands in her lap, apparently showing him how well behaved she could be.

  “I’m from Tramaine,” she said.

  “The mining city?”

  She nodded. “And I have five older brothers.”

  “Five, eh? Any who will give me any trouble?”

  She laughed. “Give you trouble? No. I’d like to see them try. Besides, they aren’t the protective types. They beat me up as much as each other.”

  “So you didn’t play with dolls much?”

  “Not much, no.”

  Roughhousing with a bunch of brothers seemed to fit her.

  “What about you?” she asked. “You grew up on a boat?”

  “Practically. My family’s business was fishing.” He cleared his throat. “You know my brother. My mom died when I was born. And my father is a twit.”

  She laughed. “So Kael takes after his father, then?”

  “He does, actually.”

  Kat picked up a rock and tossed it. It bounced twice and disappeared in a wave. “I’ve kissed Kael before.”

  Nolan’s eyes jerked toward her, but she continued looking at the sea. A playful smile touched her lips.

  “Did you?”

  “Like I said, he tries with most of the girls. He can be quite charming when he’s trying to use you.”

  As hard as Nolan tried to dismiss her comment, a spike of jealousy tugged at him.

  “That’s as far as he got,” she said. “I don’t like to be used.”

  A question touched his mind. He hesitated, wondering how to broach the subject. She turned to him, and her playful smiled faded. “What is it?”

  “I know it’s none of my business. So if you don’t want to answer, I understand.”

  She waited, curiosity emanating from her.

  “Alcandor sometimes summoned people for … things.”

  Understanding ticked in her expression. She nodded, a small smile touching her lips. “I’m not great with a weapon, and I’m not the most beautiful. I did my best to blend in, to disappear. So no, he never called me.”

  Nolan nodded, relieved.

  “And, so we’re clear on this,” she said, “no, I’ve never been with anyone, either. Not General Trividar. Not Alcandor. Not anyone else.” She slid closer to him, stood, and then sat on his lap.

  He held her, wrapping his arms around her narrow waist. Her presence was familiar to him now. But the closeness of her next to him made his head lighten.

  She laced her arms around his neck, and her hazel eyes danced with mischief. “How about you, Nolan?”

  He smiled, suddenly self-conscious. “A married woman tried to seduce me once … or twice.”

  “She probably didn’t get very far.”

  “Am I that predictable?” Nolan said. “I’ve always been a little shy around girls.”

  “Obviously.” Kat pressed closer, nuzzling his neck. Nolan’s breath quickened as her lips touched under his ear.

  His breath hitched. “Kat. Stop that.”

  She didn’t.

  Nolan groaned and gently squeezed her waist, his pulse increasing. The girl drove him mad. “Megan kissed me once.”

  She pulled back, curious. “Did she? Was it nice?”

  “Yes, it was.”

  “Anything else?”

  “No, that’s it.”

  Her expression grew serious. “Nolan, do you love her?”

  “No.”

  “You care for her, though?”

  “Of course I do. She’s my friend.”

  Kat nodded slowly. He hoped she wouldn’t ask the same question about herself. He liked her. A lot. But love was such a strong word; he’d never been in love.

  “One more question,” Nolan said, changing the subject.

  “What’s that?”

  “Why do you call me Nolan?”

  She laughed. “Why do I call you Nolan? Because that’s your name.”

  “Why do you call me Nolan now? You refused for so long; what made you change your mind?”

  The smile slid from her face. “When I first met you, it was hard to see you as anything but a god.”

  He was far from being a god, but he knew what she spoke of. Awe had poured from her nearly all the time.

  “When we found you at the gypsy camp,” she continued, “you were nearly dead. You were so helpless. I just wanted to protect you. It was then when I knew you weren’t a god. You’re a man.”

  He snorted. That’s up for discussion.

  “You are! Just because you’re … different doesn’t make you any less human.”

  “Unless I’m a Guardian.”

  “Just because you look like a Guardian doesn’t make you a Guardian.”

  He took her hand in both of his; they were so small. “Kat. I am a Guardian.”

  She blinked at him, her mind turning with confusion.

  Slowly, he forced out his story. His time with the gypsies. Rikar. And then the truth. As he talked, Kat’s eyes were fixed on him, concern pulsing from her in gentle waves. When he finished, he couldn’t look at her. What would she think of him?

  A hand reached under his chin, pulling him to face her. She leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “Nolan. If you told me you were half Dor’Jan, I would still feel the same way.”

  He smiled, relief covering his anxiousness. She was beautiful. And though he couldn’t say he loved her now, he was well on his way.

  They sat and talked for a while. About life at home and things they used to like to do before they’d gotten their Shay powers. After a while, the conversation shifted to the current situations. About the Talasians and about Nolan’s powers.

  “So how are you feeling?” Kat asked.

  “A little weak, actually. These matches with Kardos have been draining me. I don’t think I should do any more until the Guardians return.”

  “Wonder what’s keeping them.”

  “Wish I knew.” Nolan ran a hand across his chin. “It’s been close to a week. They should’ve returned by now.”

  He couldn’t help but wonder if something bad had h
appened. Were the Guardians dead? His stomach turned just thinking of it. He shouldn’t have let them go.

  “I’m sure there’s a good reason.”

  Nolan nodded hesitantly. “I hope so.”

  They sat in silence for a while, which then turned to kissing. He liked kissing her, but this time, his heart was only half involved. What would he do if the Guardians never returned? He needed to speak to Emery. Maybe a few Rol’dan could be spared to go look for them. Suddenly, he froze as an Empathy Shay touched him.

  He pulled from the kiss and looked up, searching.

  She started doing the same. “Did you feel that?”

  “Yes.” He aimed his Perception toward the tree line. Nobody was there. A movement caught his eye in the distance, out on the water. Nolan brought it closer into view. He inhaled sharply. So much for the rest of their conversation.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  He stood, dislodging her from his lap. “We need to tell the others; the Talasian ships are here.”

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  BY THE TIME NOLAN ARRIVED in the castle, soldiers ran to and from the throne room, strapping on their weapons. Emery strode from the rear entrance, tying on a teal cloak that reached the floor. He met Nolan’s eyes, and a pulse of relief leaked from him.

  “Nolan. Might I have a word with you?”

  Nolan nodded, and they headed toward the privacy of the conference room. The broken table and chairs had been removed after the confrontation between the Guardians a week prior. A new table and chairs sat in their place. Though functional, the new additions weren’t as ornamented as the last. Only simple and sturdy wood; the arms and legs of the chairs were no longer lavishly engraved. Knowing Emery, he most likely chose the new furniture himself, probably from a common merchant.

  Emery closed the door and stood there for a long minute, his hands shaking against the wooden frame.

  “Emery? Are you all right?”

  He turned, brown eyes locking on Nolan’s. “I wanted to ask the same of you. Are you well?”

  Nolan blew out a long breath. He couldn’t ask Emery for soldiers to search for the Guardians nor the stones, not with the Talasian army at their shore. Even so, he couldn’t lie. Not to Emery. “I’m a little weak, but I’m fine for now.”