Heart of the Guardians: Meeting Destiny Read online

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  In the warm afterglow of love and flickering candle light, they lay in each other’s arms. There was so much to say, so many things to talk about but James was content to hold her close. He didn’t want to ruin this moment by telling her half-truths or full on lies.

  He wanted to tell her who he was and his position in Galador. He wanted to tell her why he’d left and the choices he faced but then he’d have to speak of things she wasn’t ready to hear. If she searched and dug deep on the internet, she might find out who he was, she might find stories about the royal playboy and his various girlfriends over the years. He didn’t want her to find out about him like that. He needed to take her out of the city, maybe to a little hidden away bed and breakfast somewhere, and start laying out pieces of the truth, see how she took it. If it went well, he could tell her more, let her in on secrets thousands of years old that she thought were only fairy tales.

  Claire fell asleep with him stroking her arm. He loved to feel her breathing next to him, feel her heart as they beat in unison.

  James drifted off and dreamed of being a bear again, running through a vast, untamed forest. The woods were dark and brooding, old world ancient and he’d been here before. He was on the other side of the portal, in the other world where time moved differently and creatures long extinct on this side still roamed. He was running for the far portal, the one that led to the next world, the one much, much darker than this. He didn’t know why he ran but he sensed urgency and danger. He smelled fear in the air as he tore through the forest but he wasn’t alone. Another bear ran with him, one he didn’t recognize. It was a female, a rarity but not unheard of. She thundered through the undergrowth, kept pace and he caught glimpses of her through the trees. She was smaller and copper colored, almost reddish brown. They tore through the night, racing against time, a haunted moon lighting the path. The trails converged and they ran side by side, breath steaming from their overworked nostrils. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.

  He looked into her eyes as they pounded along the trail and was startled awake. The dream began fading as soon as he opened his eyes and he tried to hold on to it, to remember why they were in a panic but it slipped away. All he could recall was the color of her eyes, a bright green with flecks of gold before he dozed off again. His sleep was fitful, his dreams fragmented, more animal than human. He’d fight and kill, battle hordes of the unclean ones snaking through the portal and then lose it, drift into another dream. None of them were coherent and every time he woke, he felt the urge to call Frank, to check on home.

  When he woke and padded into the kitchen, Claire was in a bathrobe and pouring him a cup of coffee.

  “Good morning.” She said and smiled wide as he came across the linoleum to embrace her.

  “You have bad dreams last night?” she asked “You were restless.”

  “I think so.” He said “I don’t really remember.”

  They sat close together on the couch, feet on the coffee table and sipped their drinks. She leaned into him, put her head against his chest and felt complete contentment.

  “You have plans for the weekend?” he asked “I was thinking maybe we could get away, go out to the wilds, and find a cottage to stay in.”

  “When are we leaving?” She asked.

  “As soon as you can pack a bag.” He answered.

  “Give me a half hour.” She said. “But after I finish this coffee.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Endings

  “That was fast.” James said with a smile as he opened the door.

  He stood in shocked surprise when he saw Frank. His surprise turned to dread when he saw the expression on his dour face.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked. “What’s happened?”

  “I’ll explain on the way to the airport.” Frank said, no nonsense like always. “We need to leave immediately.”

  James was speechless for a moment but shook his head.

  “No. Wait. I can’t just go.” He said. “I have classes, I need to make arrangements…”

  Frank cut him off. “James, you’re not a professor. That’s all pretend, remember. Galador needs you.”

  “Well, Galador can do without me.” He replied, starting to get angry. “You can’t just show up and expect me to drop everything. I have a life here, Frank. Let the King take care of it. Let Stig or the council take care of it. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “You have to!” Frank said, getting upset himself. It had been one disaster after another for the past forty-eight hours. He hadn’t slept in days; he was in mourning and he was exhausted. He came himself to retrieve James and he wasn’t taking no for an answer.

  “Why?” James nearly shouted, panic starting to set in at the thought of losing Claire.

  “Because the King is dead, most of the council have been killed and your cousin is missing. There was a breach in the portal and he’s been gone ever since. He’s probably dead, too.” Frank nearly shouted.

  They stared at each other for a long moment, all of the fury going out of both men.

  “I’m sorry.” Frank said. “I didn’t want to tell you like that.”

  James swayed a little, the news hit him hard.

  “Let me get my things.” He said quietly and turned to walk back into the apartment.

  He stood in the living room and looked around but there was nothing he needed. His friend and advisor was right, this life was a lie. He grabbed his phone, tossed the keys on the kitchen table and the men hurried down the stairs to the waiting car. Frank opened the rear door for James, old habits and customs weren’t forgotten, even in a crisis. Before he climbed in, James placed his hands on Franks shoulders and they touched foreheads in the old way. They remained for a moment and shared the pain of loss.

  “Thanks for coming.” he said then slipped inside.

  He sat in the back of the limousine, lost in his thoughts as Frank returned them to the airfield and the private jet. He’d get the details on the plane but it was clear his life in the States was over. It had been short and glorious and unforgettable but he couldn’t dwell on it. Duty called and it came before any personal life he may have wanted. Thousands of years of traditions and successions fell on his shoulders. He couldn’t ignore it. He pulled out his phone, sent a quick text to the Dean saying a family emergency had called him away and he wouldn’t be returning. He agonized over what to send Claire. He wrote and rewrote, deleted and started over. He had to end it decisively so she wouldn’t think he was coming back. He couldn’t leave her hanging like that. He couldn’t drag her into any of his troubles. People were dead and more would probably die before it was over. His heart felt like it was ripping out of his chest when he finally hit the send button.

  “Hey, you two are going in style!” Dana declared as she peeked out of the window to see the long, black limo double parked in front of their building.

  Claire hurried over from throwing things in a suitcase and talking excitedly about the impromptu trip. Her smile faded when she saw James climb in and another man rushing to the other side.

  “Wonder why we’re not taking his BMW?” she asked. “I wanted to drive it.”

  “Hmm. That driver’s kind of cute.” Dana said and checked her reflection in the glass. “I might have to walk you out and see you off.”

  The car sped away as soon as the doors slammed and they watched it disappear around the block.

  “Huh. That’s weird.” Dana said.

  “Maybe he’s going after picnic supplies.” Claire said after a long moment. “Or something.”

  “Yeah. Probably.” Dana finally agreed.

  Claire’s phone chirped and she grabbed it off the table.

  “A text from James.” She smiled and opened it.

  Her face fell as Dana watched her joy turn to tears.

  “What is it?” she asked and hurried over. “What’s wrong?”

  Claire couldn’t answer, she was trying to control the hitching sobs that were coming on. She handed her the phone
and ran to her room.

  “Claire, I am getting back with my wife. Please don’t try to call or bother me. What we had was just a fling and it’s over. Regards. James.”

  To be continued.

  Final Thoughts

  The tale isn’t over, there are quite a few unanswered questions.

  What’s this portal all about?

  Will Claire and James get back together? (Of course they will.)

  Why was the attraction between them so strong, mutual and instant?

  What has he awakened in her?

  If Frank had caught a glimpse of Dana, would he think she was cute?

  What happened to Stig?

  Who had breached the portal and killed the Guardians?

  Are there other shifters?

  Are they all as noble and honorable as Guardians or do some hold grudges from centuries old conflicts?

  See you in the next story…

  Adrianna Adore

  25 April 2020