Page 74 of The Hidden Guardian

He’s silent watching me. His shadows are gone in those emerald eyes, instead they are almost glistening. Renall’s voice is raspy as he says,“You chose me before knowing my truth. You jumped into the Blood Rite with me, accepting our bond in front of the whole clan, thinking I murdered my previous Guardian.”

I nod slowly before saying, “I did.”

“Awe-tum, I love you. I have loved you since the first time I saw you standing in the forest, your golden hair shimmering in the moonlight, your eyes glowed molten honey when they met mine. Did you know that?”

I didn’t. I was probably too inebriated to remember anything but the gorgeous naked man in front of me. He looked like a dream.

“Since the first moment I felt the bond, I knew that you were different. I will chase you to the end of the Earth because there is no other Guardian for me … no other but you.”

I completely understand why the Guardian whose wolf never returned threw herself off the ledge. There will never be another love like this in my life. I will never feel this way with anyone else. My fate is tied to his, so when Renall dies in battle—my heart will die with him.

There are no words to explain this to him, so instead I say, “I love you too.”

ChapterThirty-Eight

AUTUMN

Two days later …

The moon’s power trickles through my veins from the moment I awaken. Anticipation spreading throughout my body. To disperse some of it, I’m washing my clothes in the tub. A knock at the door sounds before Onai bursts in in a flurry of skirts and color.

“What are those?” I ask, wiping my hair away with the back of my hand.

“Well,” she hums as she places a hand to the wall and guides a tree root out and curls it over. She hangs the dresses on it. “Now that you are an official member of the pack and Guardian of the Protector Clan, I’ve had some dresses made for you.”

“For me?” I rise, water dripping from my hands as I walk over to her.

“Indeed.”

There’s at least five or six of varying colors and material. The style remains the same, floor-length, thick dresses with a V-neck and long sleeves. My fingers reach for the green velvet one, it has gold embroidery accenting the deep V-neck and repeats on each cuff, as well as a ring around the waist. It’s beautiful.

“Someone handmade all of these?”

“Some of us aren’t all gifted with death vines and ice blocks you know. Some enjoy the silkworms and needle bugs.”

“These were made by bugs?”

“The rarest bugs in the world, only here because of Bathinda, the seamstress.”

“Hats off to the bugs, these are beautiful,” I mumble, flipping through them all.

“Does this mean you’ll get rid of those horrible leggings? I feel like I’m seeing you naked each time you wear them.”

“Not on your life.” I shoot her a smile.

Onai rolls her eyes as she leans against the cave wall. “You know what tonight is, right?”

I nod. “I’ve felt it since the moment I woke up. I don’t know if it’s from the bond or just my gut recognizing its power. But I can feel the full moon as if it were in this very room.”

“Oh, I almost forgot!” She hands me a blue and green box of tampons from the pocket of one of the dresses.

“Yes, thank you. I used my last one last week.”

“So … you’re not bleeding on a full moon?” Her eyes widen.

“Nope, finished last week, but I’m sure I’ll put these to use next time.”

“Does this mean that you and Renall will …”

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