Page 54 of The Hidden Guardian

The moon is high when a stir awakens me. Awe-tum’s warmth is missing from my chest, and I sit up from bed, looking around for her. She’s standing, facing the wall by the door. Her body swaying slightly on a phantom breeze. A shiver slides down my spine at the sight. Hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention as I approach her slowly.

“Awe-tum,” I try softly calling her.

No response.

“Awe-tum.” This time my hands reach for her, and she turns to face me. Her eyes are glowing golden like I’ve never seen before. I shudder; I’ve never seen magic like this before. It’s not natural. I place my hands on her shoulders to stop her from swaying, as well as to understand her.

“They are calling me. I must go.”Her voice is normal yet tainted with desperation.

“Who is calling you?”

She points to the wall, the moon rocks.

“Awe-tum, those are just rocks illuminated by the power of the moon. They cannot talk.”

“It’s her.”She smiles at me,“She needs me.”

“Who? The Goddess?”

Awe-tum doesn’t respond. She remains standing there staring at the wall as she sways hard to the left. I catch her before she falls and lift her into my arms and walk up the two steps and over to the bed.

“No,”she yawns.“I need to follow her.”

“Hush now, it’s time for bed.” I place her into the bed and sit down beside her. As I go to climb in, she clings to me. Her hands grip my arm tightly. I wrap my arms around her and she looks so tiny against my large muscles, protected in a Renall cocoon.

I watch her. Her body relaxes in my arms, and I continue to watch her. Her breathing evens out, and yet I still watch her. I brush the hair out of her face and tuck it behind her ear. Something strange is going on here, and I’m going to have to get to the bottom of it. Awe-tum’s powers started to come alive when she stepped foot in Luna Cavern. She’s reacting to this place, she’s growing exceptionally well for a new Guardian with little to no training. Now she claims the moon rocks are talking to her in her sleep. There’s something at work here, and I will figure out what it is. I must protect her.

Like her ivy, she has wound her way around my heart, and I don’t think I’ll ever get free. I wouldn’t even want to. We are bound together now, and I would endure any fate to ensure her safety. My Guardian. My mate. My soul.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

AUTUMN

Akiss on my forehead followed by the slamming of a door wakes me. Renall has left me for the day once again. When I twist my head toward the night table stump, another golden flower is perched on it. He’s been trying to tell me all along about the tree, so maybe his little gifts weren’t a courting ritual.

This trial seems to stretch on forever. How many questions can they really have? Then another question hits me, how many transgressions does Renall have? With that thought in the back of my mind, I rush to get dressed before Onai gets here. I wouldn’t want her to see me bare naked with my skin red from Renall’s beard all over me.

I’m slipping my pants on when Onai knocks twice on the door. I let her in, attempting to hide the smile I can’t shake from my face.

“Whoa, this place smells like sex,” she comments as soon as she walks past the threshold.

“Uh, no … I mean–”

“I guess the full moon had its effect on you after all.” Onai collapses onto the couch with a smug grin. Her velvet dress is a deep purple today, making her tan skin appear darker.

“Are my services even needed anymore?”

My cheeks flame. “Well, we did a lot of … stuff, but notthat.” She flashes me a knowing look and I change the subject. “How were you not affected?” I rub my sore thigh muscles and sit down beside her.

“My Mother makes me a sleeping potion every full moon and locks me in my room.” Onai shrugs.

“I guess that’s better than hearing your parents doing it all night.”

“First of all, ew! Second of all, there is nothing wrong with mating or the Joining. It’s one of our most basic and primal instincts to procreate—it doesn’t hurt that it also feels amazing.” Of course, she’d say that. That’s probably all she knows. People are mating all over the place here, she’s probably immune to it.

“And how do you know how it feels?” I tease playfully, smacking her arm.

She hides a sly smile, cheeks reddening, “I’m not joined or anything, but since I could have my pick of any of these wolves and they know it. A few have … made some convincing arguments.”

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