Guardians Of The Shifters (8 page)

Half way through our breakfast a knock sounded on the door, Caden groaned and got up to answer it. A kid in his twenties (possibly older) stumbled through the door, he didn’t even wait for an invite…how rude. He looked horrified and kept glancing at me and that made me a little nervous. His voice was high pitched and filled with anxiety.

“Is it true Caden?”

“Is what true?”

“About Cora, that she’s more than just a guardian…that she’s something that’s not supposed to be?”

I could see Caden’s back stiffen from where I was sitting, even if a shirt did cover his body. It felt like my blood stopped moving through my veins and I held my breath waiting for his answer. When it looked like he wasn’t going to say anything I got up from the table and slowly walked towards them. I put my hand on his arm to get his attention and when he looked at me I spoke.

“Is it true?”

“No.” He spoke the word way to fast like his brain was on auto pilot mode. The kid let out a breath.

“You better hope she’s not man because if she is Cole will kill her.”

That got my attention and I jerked my head in his direction. “What!?”

“Rex, there is nothing--.”

“No Caden, you don’t understand.” He cut him off. “Cole has been watching her since before you two even came here. He has been noticing things about her…” He looked out the window. “Last night when the assassins came, Cole said that he saw a faint light, almost like fire surrounding her.”

Caden crossed his arms over his chest. “How do you know this?”

Rex looked away embarrassed. “I was out doing my rounds and I heard someone talking, I thought he was talking to himself until I noticed the cell phone glued to his ear. I knew I shouldn’t have eavesdropped but there was something about him that didn’t seem right. Then when he said your name I knew I couldn’t walk away. After his phone call ended I skedaddled my ass out of there to find you.”

Caden pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a deep breath. “Thank you.”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t let Cole know you over heard him.” He looked at me. “Let’s all stay cool and lay low.” He looked back at Rex. “Meet Cora and I at the pond behind the training center at midnight…we have a theory about Cole.”

His eyes widened. “Okay, I’ll see you there.”

After Rex left I pinned Caden with a glare. “How do you know we can trust him?”

“We just can Cora.”

“How?”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “Because he’s my cousin.”

“What!?” I all but yelled. All he did was stand there and stare at me with no other explanation. I threw my arms up and headed to the door. He grabbed my wrist and spun me around crushing his lips to mine. His tongue delved deep into my mouth coaxing mine to move with his in this delicious but dangerous dance. He tore his mouth from mine. “I didn’t tell you because we’ve only known each other for four days.” He nipped at my bottom lip. “But it seems that we have known each other longer.” He breathed before going back for another longer lingering kiss.

So it wasn’t just me that felt like we have known each other longer than these handful of days. I threw my arms around his neck crushing my body against his and deepening the kiss. I could spend the rest of my life kissing him. It was a dangerous thought, I know. There was just something about this man that made me want to break all of the rules. The rules that I would gladly break if it meant that I could spend one night wrapped up in this man, it would be worth it…I would even die for it.

                       Chapter 15

Stars dotted the sky like little twinkling diamonds, they kind of lit up the night for how many there were. The night sky was filled with them and it was sort of pretty. Caden and I were sitting on the bench by the pond waiting for Rex to show up, as it was he was fifteen minutes late and for reasons I didn’t know it made Caden nervous. He couldn’t sit still, he was either pacing or bouncing his leg when he was sitting. I’ve never seen him in such a nervous state. I was half tempted to push him back on the bench and sit on him but I had a feeling that he would like that too much.

After a few more minutes he glanced at his watch, stood and started pacing again. I would hate to think that Cole found out that Rex eves dropped on the conversation and he did something to him. I didn’t want to think about that but I couldn’t help it, there was just something about Cole that just made your skin crawl. Caden threw up his hands in frustration.

“He should have been here by now.” He ground out.

“Maybe something came up.”

He gave me a quizzical look. “You and I both know that…” A twig snapped cutting off whatever he was about to say. His eyes snapped towards the sound causing me to go on alert. I had one of my daggers in hand as I stood next to Caden. Feet shuffled, another twig snapped and a few curses later, Rex was stumbling his way to us, he came up short when he saw the wickedly sharp dagger in my hand.

“What’s that for?”

Putting it back in its holster on my hip I answered. “One could never be too safe these days.”

He nodded his head. “True…honestly I don’t see how you shifters can have such good eyesight in the dark and we guardians get shit…so not fair.”

He had a point, well sort of, I could see in the dark perfectly fine. Caden didn’t share his joking tone, he crossed his muscular arms over his chest and glared at his cousin. I had to suppress an eye roll and it was harder than I thought it would be and ended up failing. Rex looked from Caden to me and back again.

“What I’d do?”

Caden growled. “Well for one you were half an hour late and for two I was worried.”

Rex chuckled. “I can’t imagine Mr. Big bad worried about moi let alone anyone else.” He looked at me and smirked. “Besides…Cole cornered me and asked where you two were, I lied and said I had no idea.” He looked back at Caden. “I spent most of my time trying to give him the slip…so why don’t we cut to the chase and get this over with, I’m tired.”

I snorted and that earned me a glare from both boys, gee when they looked at me like that they kind of do look related. Wait hold up. I narrowed my eyes at Caden.

“If you two are cousins, wouldn’t that mean he’s a shifter to?”

Rex answered. “Not necessarily…when I was five Caden’s aunt adopted me, she didn’t care that I was human…she just wanted a kid to call her own.”

“Oh.”

“Now that your curiosity is filled…fill me in on the goods.”

“Cora and I have a theory that Cole…” I tuned him out at that point because I already knew what he was going to say. I turned my back on them and stared out at the pond. The stars reflected off the surface of the water and somehow made this place even more beautiful (not sure how that was possible, but it was). A light breeze ruffled my hair and carried the scent of the flowers with it. I breathed in deeply through my nose taking in the flowers scents and tried to place which scent went with the correct flower. I only got the tulips and roses when I heard Rex’s voice.

“Really…you think Cole organized the attack?”

“Yes, that’s what we think.”

“Well color me surprised.”

I turned around just as Caden placed his hand on Rex’s shoulder. “Tell no one this and look out for yourself and your charge.”

“Yeah of course…I’m with you guys.”

“Good.” Caden put his arm around my shoulders. “I think we should head back…you go first, after five minutes Cora and I will follow.”

Rex nodded his head, turned and walked off the way he came, we waited for five minutes and followed after. A shiver snaked its way down my spine, Caden thought I was cold and pulled me closer. It wasn’t the cold that made me shiver…somewhere in the foliage someone was watching us. I looked from right to left and didn’t see anyone, how could I when it was dark and one o’clock in the morning. I glanced over my shoulder and saw the source.

I couldn’t see the face because it was surrounded in darkness. The person was standing against a tree half hidden by a bush but I knew he or she was looking at us because I could see the yellow glow of its eyes. It had to have been a shifter because a humans eyes didn’t glow like that. The longer I stared the brighter the eyes seemed to get. Since I wasn’t paying attention, a root caught my foot and I all but tripped. Good thing Caden had a hold of me because if he didn’t I would have fallen. He helped me right myself.

“You alright Cora?”

“Yeah.” I looked back at the mystery person only to find that they were no longer standing there. Something cold slithered through my body and made a home for its self in the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t help but to wonder how much that person heard and if he/she was in league with Cole.

A branch snapped to the left of us jerking our attention towards the sound. At first I didn’t know what to think then I remembered the glowing eyes and sure as shit an animal walked out from the foliage. Saliva dripped from its muzzle and sharp teeth were visible because its lips were pulled back in a snarl. A low growl radiated from the wolf. It only took a moment to realize that the wolf’s eyes were set on me. A lump formed in my throat as I tried to swallow down the ball of nerves.

My hand slowly made its way to the dagger at my hip, the wolf noticed the movement and lunged at me. I quickly dived out of the way face planting the ground and getting a mouth full of dirt and moss, yummy. My dagger lay a few inches from my hand. The sounds of yelping hand me flipping onto my back and watch as Caden plunged his dagger deep into the wolfs under belly. It let out another wailing yelp that sounded like it was choking and fell to the ground not to move again. Caden rushed to my side and pulled me to my feet.

“You okay?”

“Just peachy…” Looking at the wolf. “Thanks for saving some for me.”

He chuckled. “We better burry it before anyone sees it.”

Looking around us. “How are we going to dig a hole…with our looks?”

“You stay here and keep a look out, I’ll be right back with a shovel.”

He raced off and left me standing with the now dead shifter. I’m sure it won’t take long for them to figure out that someone was missing and even better…dead. If it wasn’t safe beyond the doors and if it wasn’t safe inside the doors, was there a place that was even remotely safe? I’d have better luck on the outside, it was bigger and had a lot more places to hide if need be. In here everyone was together which made it easier for the assassins to pick us off. I think it was time for me to leave and time for Caden to find another guardian.

                          Chapter 16

A few minutes later Caden was back and started digging a hole and I decided not to tell him that I was leaving until the right time presented its self. I already knew that sneaking away wouldn’t work so I wasn’t even going to try. Caden finished burying the wolf in record time. With the shovel in one hand and his other arm around my shoulders we walked back to his house. I sank into the chair and curled up into a ball while my thoughts were running wild. I didn’t really want to leave Caden behind but I think it would be safer for him if I did.

I knew that there was something not quite right about me and I think I knew what that something was. But for now I’ll put it at the back of my brain and save it for a different day. My eyes started to drift shut and only partly opened when I was being picked up and carried. Caden’s whispering voice drifted through my ears. “Sh, sh, go back to sleep love.” The way he said love made my insides melt like butter. One thing that I knew for sure was that I’m falling in love with Caden (if I haven’t already) and it was going to break my heart when I left. It wasn’t the first time my heart has been broken and I know that it won’t be the last.

I woke up to the sound of water running and light filling the room from a window above the bed. I ran my hands down my face and groaned when my stomach let out a growl. Untangling myself from the blanket I swung my legs off the bed and stood while I stretched and let out a yawn. I headed to the bathroom to do my morning business when I stopped just inside the door. I had to blink a couple times to make sure that I was awake and not still sleeping.

Caden was standing in front of the sink with a white towel wrapped around his waist. He had a razor in one hand and was spreading shaving cream on his face with the other. My mouth hung open and I think I drooled a little bit (okay, so I drooled a lot a bit). He caught my gaze in the mirror and winked at me. I turned and high tailed it out of there and I could hear his throaty chuckle following me.

I was in the kitchen when he came out and I was glad to see he had pants on at least (okay so I was a little disappointed), I mean I wouldn’t mind if he walked around in his boxers or go commando, But one couldn’t get that lucky. I tipped my cup of coffee at him and took a healthy sip. Setting the empty cup on the counter I went over to my backpack that was in the corner and pulled out a set of clothes. I hope there was enough hot water left so that I could take a shower, although a cold shower would be my best bet. I smiled at him as I walked by and wondered how long I was staying here for, although it won’t matter in the long run.

I quickly took a shower and as soon as I finished tying my shoes the damn sirens went off. Well there goes being clean. I ran out of the bathroom and to my bag grabbing a dagger and a sword. I was out the door before you could sa
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. Metal clashed with metal and I was a bit dumbfounded to see other shifters turning on their guardians. That wasn’t supposed to be happening, we guardians put our lives on the line for them and they repay us back by siding with Cole…fuck that. I ran to the center of the supposed safe haven when I saw Rex on the ground trying to fight off a lion. I did a drop kick and both of my feet slammed into the lion’s side making it fall to the side several feet away.

I landed on my back with an oomph but wasn’t down for long. Rex and I were back to back fighting off the assassins that came our way. It seemed like they were coming at us in waves. It only took me a minute to realize that they were gunning for my ass. I also noticed that there weren’t as many of them as there was the last time, maybe it was only supposed to be a snatch and grab.

When the feeling of Rex’s back disappeared from mine I spared a quick glance over my shoulder and I knew that was not good on my part. Rex was a few feet away from me helping a different guardian, he probably figured I could handle myself. I turned back around just in time to see a blade coming for my chest and I quickly brought mine up. The strength behind the assassin’s sword was un-nerving. I looked up into the cold hard stare of Max and my arms wavered a little bit. He was then able to bring his leg up and kick the sword out of my hands. With his other foot he swiped my feet out from under me and I landed on my back hard, my head smacked off the ground and a dazed look crossed my face. He brought the tip of his sword down and pointed it at my throat. I knew it was a long shot but I tried to get through to him.

“Max, it’s me, Cora.”

He laughed coldly at me. “I know who you are Cora…you should have known that this day would come.”

I couldn’t go out, not like this and not by the hands of someone that I thought I knew. The sound of my name being called echoed through the square and rang through my ears. A scream tore through the air as a streak of black knocked Max to the side. His screams echoed through me until the sounds of gurgling and bones snapping replaced it. I stayed on the ground unable to move because I was in shock. Cole must have been watching me through the eyes of Max. A mask fell into place on my face as I stood up and dusted the dirt off my clothes. I picked up my sword and dagger.

Heat radiated through my body until it coiled in my belly and snapped, spreading over my skin. The amber tint that I was used to filled my vision as I made my way through the square. I was pissed, not because my parents were dead, not because Carla was dead, not even the fact that the assassins breeched this place twice or even because shifters turned on their guardians. I was pissed because Cole orchestrated it all and I knew deep down in my bones that he was a traitor to his people.

My hands squeezed my weapons until my knuckles turned white. As I walked through the square looking for my target all fighting stopped and everyone moved out of my way. There were even a few gasps. I caught a glimpse of myself in a window on one of the units and I understood why they stopped and got out of my way. If I was me I’d get out of my way too. Fire surrounded my body making me look like a walking flame, my eyes were a bright Amethyst with dancing flames for the pupils. So, I guess I am a hybrid shifter after all, but a part of me already knew that and in all honesty…I didn’t really want to believe it. The realization should have scared me back to normal but at this point I was beyond caring. People had some explaining to do. Setting my jaw I continued my search for my buddy Cole.

From the corner of my eye I saw him running towards the dining hall, a slow twisted smile spread across my lips as I jogged after him. I kicked the doors open and scanned the area, I found him cowering in a corner like a little sissy bitch and I knew that the cowering was just for show, there is no way that this douche canoe was scared of little ol’ me. I jumped from table to table until I landed in front of him grabbing him by the throat and picking him up off the floor slamming him into the wall. His hands came up and wrapped around my wrists as his eyes widened.

I didn’t recognize my own voice when I spoke and he must not have either for his eyes got wider. “Why betray your people?” I tightened my hand around his throat. “Why side with the enemy?” He wasn’t answering me so I slammed his head against the wall wrangling a painful moan from between his parted lips.

“Cora!” My name rang out through the building and I turned my head slightly to look over my shoulder at the source.