Guardian: Volume 5 (5 page)

I
made sure all the lycanthropes made it off the grounds. “Are you coming?” Drake
asked me as he stood near Adam’s truck.

I
looked back up at the house. Cornelius had come out onto the balcony. He was
watching us; watching me. I could feel his eyes on me, and I didn’t want to
leave. I wanted to know what he was doing with the hunters. I didn’t understand
his alliance with them. “No, I will catch up with you later,” I said looking
back at Drake.

“Rayne…”
he started sounding unsure.

“I’ll
be fine, just go. Make sure everyone gets home ok. If you need me then call,” I
said firmly.

He
looked like he wanted to protest, but he didn’t. I looked back up at Cornelius.
I was suddenly on the balcony next to him. The transporting thing was really
starting to work for me. Cornelius smiled as he moved closer to me. “I see you
are learning quickly,” he whispered as he kissed the back of my hand.

“Maybe,
why are you siding with the hunters?” I asked watching him.

He
smiled. “Why are you siding with the lycanthropes?” he countered. He was
playing a game and it was a little annoying.

“They
came to me. I didn’t go conquer them,” I said haughtily.

“Really,
that is interesting,” he said softly as he moved closer to me. He cupped my
cheek and pressed his lips to mine. I didn’t expect him to be so calm and
collected. I thought he would be angry. I saw my uncle approach out of the
corner of my eyes, so I broke the kiss. I was on guard now. I wasn’t going to
let him fool me again.

“Cornelius
I…” my uncle started as he walked out onto the balcony. He obviously saw me,
and that was why he hesitated.

“What
is it Carl?” Cornelius said sounding annoyed.

“Have
you sided with her?” my uncle asked trying to hide his angry tone, but he was
failing miserably.

“I
wasn’t aware she had a side. She has made no decrees or requests like the
hunters continually do,” Cornelius said dryly.

“I
thought we had an alliance,” my uncle growled glancing nervously at me, then
back at Cornelius. It was almost as if he was waiting for Cornelius to tell me
to leave.

“We
do, in a way. Rayne and I have a personal relationship,” Cornelius said
sounding slightly amused. I had a feeling he didn’t tell my uncle he was the
one that turned me. If I was a hunter I would have never made an alliance with
Cornelius. He was too worried about his own agenda.

“Lillian
Rayne, rumor had it you were dead,” Julian said smiling as he walked out onto
the balcony.

I
felt Cornelius stiffen. Obviously he shared my dislike for Julian. “Just a
rumor,” I said watching him cautiously. I knew I could fight him if I needed
to. I just preferred not to. He was cruel and he didn’t mind cheating.

He
looked me over like I was a piece of meat. It was a little annoying that he had
a complete lack of respect. “You look alive to me, that’s for sure,” he said
suggestively.

“Carl,
perhaps you and your people should take your leave. The meeting is over,”
Cornelius growled.

Julian’s
gaze shifted from me to Cornelius. “He’s right Carl. You shouldn’t side with
people who are sleeping with your enemy,” Julian said watching Cornelius. I
could tell he was trying to provoke Cornelius.

“I
love how I have been labeled the enemy when my dear uncle seems to randomly
toss hunters to the vampires when they no longer follow his agenda,” I growled
watching my uncle.

He
stiffened like he wasn’t planning on me addressing his actions. I hadn’t done
anything about it because I didn’t know what to do. I hated him, but I wasn’t
going to have his blood on my hands. I was watching him though, and if he made
one wrong move I would make sure he didn’t live long. “You were endangering our
people,” my uncle said breathlessly. I could tell he was scared. He knew I was
a good hunter. I imagined he feared I was a dangerous vampire.

I
laughed harshly. “I was endangering your plans for power, but now look at you.
You basically have no one other than some fucked up hunter, who has been banned
repeatedly. Let me guess all is forgiven as long as he sides with you correct?”

Julian
scowled. He looked like he wanted to come after me, but my uncle shot him a
look. He straightened a little. “The hunters will survive. They always do.”

I
scoffed. “They won’t survive with you in charge. You are burning one bridge at
a time. In fact I just might go see what the renegades have going on. Perhaps
there is another alliance for me there.”

My
uncle’s expression darkened. I hit a nerve. He knew he would never get an
alliance with the renegades, but I could. I knew all the leaders personally. I
could easily overthrow the hunters, and he knew it. If I didn’t care about the
number of people that would die, I probably would have already done it.

“I
am not afraid of you Rayne. You are as arrogant and self-entitled as your
father, and that will be your downfall,” my uncle snapped the spun on his heel
and marched out.

“I
am looking forward to meeting again, Rayne,” Julian said amused as he followed
my uncle.

“Must
you provoke them?” Cornelius asked impatiently as he nuzzled my ear.

“Must
you have an alliance with them?” I countered as I pulled away and glared at
him. Now that I thought about it, the fact that he was siding with them was a
betrayal. If they decided to attack me, what would he do? Would he just agree
to everything they wanted?

He
raised his eyebrows in surprise. “I’ve had somewhat of an alliance with them
since long before you were born. You cannot expect me to break it because of
our personal relationship.”

I
watched him for a minute. I figured that would be his response, but it still
hurt. He was choosing my uncle over me. “You know what, you are right. I will
see you around.” Before he could protest I was standing in the living room of
Drake’s house.

“Fuck!”
Tommy yelled startled as he rolled off the couch. My sudden appearance
obviously startled him.

I
smiled slightly amused. “If you would get out of my house, then you wouldn’t
have to worry about me startling you,” I snapped as I walked to the bar to make
myself a drink.

“It’s
not your house. It is my family’s house,” he said angrily as he approached me.

I
really wasn’t in the mood for him so I figured it would be best to ignore him.
“Don’t ignore me,” he growled as he grabbed my arm and forced me to turn so I
was facing him.

I
just glared at him, but didn’t speak. He shoved me back against the wall and
pinned me with his body. “What’s wrong? Afraid you might lose to me so you
figure you better not even fight?”

“I’m
not afraid of you Tommy,” I said tiredly. I moved to push him off me, but he
stood his ground. He wasn’t going to budge. He kept me pinned to the wall. I
glared at him impatiently. “What do you want?”

He
watched me, and I couldn’t read his expression. It was like he was trying to
decide what to do. He cussed and moved away from me. “You should watch your
back,” he muttered then stalked out.

I
was a little confused by his words. Maybe he knew something that I didn’t.
Drake came in the room. “I didn’t expect you back so soon,” he said as he
walked to the bar to make himself a drink.

“Do
you think Tommy is up to something?” I asked watching the door he had just left
through.

Drake
laughed. “I couldn’t get that boy to do anything if I tried. He is lazy and
unmotivated. All he does is cause problems. I wouldn’t need a vampire’
protection if he would live up to his potential.”

“I
think he is smarter than you make him out to be,” I said as I glanced at Drake.
I just realized he was shirtless. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was for my
benefit or not. He did say he didn’t expect me home, so maybe it wasn’t. I kind
of liked the idea that it might be. I thought Drake and I had gotten closer
since I had arrived. I felt like I could tell him anything.

“I’m
not so sure,” he said smiling as he watched me. “I figured you were staying the
evening with Cornelius.”

I
shook my head. “He is working with my uncle. I don’t think I should trust him.
Julian is also back in town. I have no doubt my uncle will send him after me at
some point. I can’t let myself get clouded by personal issues. It will end up
making me weak and giving someone a chance to strike.”

Drake
sighed like he was thinking about it all. “I would normally agree with you
about Cornelius, but I think he loves you. I have never seen him so docile when
he had someone outdo him. He didn’t even look slightly angry when you took his chance
at more power.”

“I
know that was strange,” I said contemplating it. “I thought he would be
furious.”

“I
was not furious because I saw it coming,” Cornelius said appearing out of
nowhere.

“God
dammit,” Drake muttered obviously ruffled by his sudden appearance.

I
smiled and shook my head. I was getting used to him just randomly popping up.
“What are you doing here?” I asked watching him.

He
walked to the bar. “The polite thing to do would be to offer me a drink,” he
said haughtily.

I
laughed. “The polite thing for you to do would be to knock,” I countered.

“It’s
not my style,” he said amused as he poured himself a drink.

“I’ll
be around if you need me,” Drake said then walked out leaving us alone.

“Does
he always walk around shirtless?” Cornelius asked dryly.

I
smiled. “Jealous?”

He
smiled as he approached me. He stopped when he was only inches from me.
“Slightly. From what I understand he is your primary food source.”

“He
is my only food source,” I corrected him.

He
scowled. “Are you trying to make me jealous?”

“Maybe,”
I said amused.

He
smiled slightly as he leaned into me. “I am very jealous,” he whispered as he
brushed his lips against mine.

“Good,”
I murmured against his lips. He growled low in his throat and deepened the
kiss. I tangled my fingers in his hair and pressed my body to his. I loved how
he kissed me. It felt like all the uncertainty and fear disappeared when he was
touching me.

Someone
cleared their throat not far from us. I broke the kiss and looked over at
Aubrey. He stood watching us, and the look on his face made my chest ache. I
didn’t understand why I still had feelings for him. “I am sorry to interrupt,
but I need to speak with you Lillian.”

“You
cannot be serious,” Cornelius muttered as he walked over to a chair.

“You
aren’t interrupting,” I said shooting Cornelius a look. “What do you need?”

“Colin,
Luca, Kai, and I are concerned the hunters are planning some form of
retaliation. We have a reliable source saying your uncle is sending that hunter
Julian after you, and several others,” he said watching me.

“I
expected no less from him. What is it you want to do?” I asked watching him.

“With
your permission I would like to strike first,” he said watching me cautiously.
He obviously thought I was going to protest.

“Why
do you want my permission?” I asked as I took a sip of my drink.

“Because
we have all agreed your uncle’s death is necessary. I did not want to do it
without your permission,” he said softly.

I
scoffed. “I don’t care what happens to him, but I do care what happens to my
aunt, and my cousin Tanner.”

“You
really think it wise to kill the leader of the hunters?” Cornelius asked dryly.

“I
think we are left without many choices. He is starting a war. Now he has brought
Julian here. Everyone knows Julian’s reputation. There has been a few vampire
slayings in the last couple days. I have no doubt he is to blame,” Aubrey said
firmly.

“Since
when have you cared about the politics of the vampires?” Cornelius asked
sounding impatient.

Aubrey
didn’t answer immediately. He looked over at me, and I knew his reason. He was
trying to help me in some way. “I think it is time I start doing something. I
am tired of watching our people die.”

Cornelius
scoffed. “Open war isn’t the way. The way to solve this is diplomatically. Let
me talk to Carl and we will go from there. No unnecessary actions until after I
try to solve this without more death.”

Aubrey
didn’t look like he wanted to agree. “I think we should listen to him. As much
as I hate my uncle his people do trust him. Killing him could lead to an
all-out war,” I said quietly as I watched Aubrey. I knew he wouldn’t like it,
but it was the reality of the situation.

“Fine
we will let Cornelius try to reason with the hunters. However if they make a
move against us then we will retaliate,” Aubrey said firmly, then he was gone.

I
sighed as I walked over to the window. Things were getting more complicated by
the day. People were getting antsy. This war was only just beginning. I felt a
sudden sense of panic. I didn’t understand where it was coming from, then I sensed
Drake. He was in trouble. I looked at Cornelius terrified, but before he could
say anything I was gone. I stood in the woods. I knew he was here somewhere or I
wouldn’t have been there. I looked around trying to find him. He was hurt. I
could feel it. I was trying not to let my own panic take over. I had to focus
and find him. I spotted a small hiding place almost like a little cave. I knew
he was in there. I ran to the little cave and went to my knees. Just as I
thought he was lying there motionless. Fear shot through me. If he was dead I
didn’t know what I was going to do. I pulled him out of the cave hoping he was
still breathing. He had wounds all over his chest. His chest was rising and
falling, but his breathing was shallow. Anger rushed over me. I wanted to kill
whoever did this, but I had to focus on getting him safe. I put my arms around
him and cleared my mind. Within seconds we were back in the living room.