Page 26 of The Hidden Guardian

Her face scrunches up. “I wish growling was as easy as English—I can’t decipher any distinguishable sounds.” She huffs. Her brows crease. She’s thinking. The bond twists with confusion, frustration, before it calms. “The wolves are protecting … something.”

I nod.

This is going to be harder than I thought. I have to figure out a way to show her. After all, it’s something one has to see with their own two eyes.

Then with all the facts, Rawe-tum can decide what she wants. To stay with me and deal with my undetermined fate, or to run from this place while she still has a chance. If Lupe’s words are any indication of how the trial will turn out, I might not always be here to protect her. Maybe she would have been better off not coming here. Maybe if I never came for her, the demons wouldn’t have deemed her a threat, or maybe they would have tortured her for any information. I guess we’ll never understand what could have been.

I stare into her warm honey eyes and they melt my worries away. The thick scent of arousal fills the air. I hope it’s true arousal, and not the bond’s attempt to bring us to mating. My soulbonded Guardian. I reach out and brush the golden hair off her shoulder. She shivers at my touch. If she only knew, I would fight the Sun God himself to save her. She will always be worth it to me. Always.

I can only hope she will feel the same way … someday.

ChapterSeventeen

AUTUMN

The vibrations of hundreds of hushed growls hum through the soles of my rabbit shoes and tickle up my legs. I cross my legs at the ankle. A skirt had been the last thing I wanted to wear to a werewolf trial. But that had been the only bottoms that weren’t stained with dirt or soaked in sweat. I refuse to wear my sweatpants in public. I’ll have to finally wash my clothes in that bathtub tonight, when this mess is all over, since I got distracted with Colton’s notebook the last time. I cross my legs the other way as my gaze travels along the cavern around me. The men and Guardians have lined the levels along the wall. Some hang their legs over the edge, and all the tables on the cavern floor are full to capacity.

Zev sits on an ornate wooden chair with large carved armrests inlaid with symbols and carvings. Lupe sits on the edge of his seat, her back straight, braid tight, and bite marks on display. She’s wearing a dress of deep red that drips onto the floor like a pool of blood. To the left of Zev is a larger throne. This throne, however, is left open. It must have been grand once, beneath overgrown roots and dried flowers, there’s a hint of unpolished gold that still shimmers even hidden. It must have shined in its prime. Whose throne is this? Are they waiting for someone? Or do they leave it open out of respect? Renall and I are seated on opposite sides of the dais just below the thrones, sitting on simple stumps.

The rumblings around the cave cease, my leg tingles with phantom vibrations. I cross my legs again and play with the hem of my skirt as my palms grow sweaty. Eyes all around the cave bore into me, through me. I keep my eyes down to avoid meeting them. My gut twists in anticipation. Zev rises, addressing the clan. His voice booming as he growls to the cave. Of course, I can’t understand him. He points to Renall, waves a hand toward me, whispers, and hushed grumbles echo through the crowd.

“He’s explaining why Renall is on trial and how it will be.”

I jump at the sound of English being spoken to me. Onai, Lupe and Zev’s daughter, stands a step behind me. Her hair is tied in two long braids down her back. Her velvet dress is blue in this light. She looks like the splitting image of her Mother, only her eyes lack the severeness.

Sensing my confusion, she adds, “Father said I was to interpret for you. They are going to start asking you questions now. The questions can come from anyone in the crowd. I will translate it to you and your response to them. At the end of the trial, there will be a vote, and clan majority decides Renall’s fate. Understand?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.” Truth is, I’m nervous as all hell. My stomach woke up in knots after the events of yesterday. I barely slept a wink and feel slightly nauseous now in front of all these staring eyes. What is to stop them from storming the stage and ripping me to pieces? Who would be faster? Them or Renall?

Onai growls something and the questions begin. Growling from all sides of the cave erupts before me. I toss a glance at Renall who is watching me, carefully and protectively, even from across the room. It’s probably better I don’t look at him.

“Where did you first meet Renall?” Onai asks.

“Uh, at a camping site in the middle of the woods.”

“Did you feel the bond then?”

“No, I wasn’t of my right mind that weekend. I didn’t feel it until he was in trouble.” I wince, recalling the pain I felt at him being imprisoned.

“They hear you were a Guardian before, what happened to your first wolf?” Onai flinches as she asks me. She must have overheard my conversation with her Mother.

“He was my brother … he’s dead.” I lower my eyes and state only for Onai to hear.

A few solemn nods, a few gasps. But twice as many growls cover them.

“How did he die?” Onai asks these questions in rapid fire.

“He was shot.”

“Shot by who?” she continues.

“Presumably the hunters.”

“How did the human demons know where you live?”

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