Hound (Guardian) by K.L. Hernandez

Author:K.L. Hernandez [Hernandez, K.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-02-18T00:00:00+00:00

Hours after our phone call ended, when light vanished and darkness consumed the sky and my room, a knock against the door yanked me away from the desk. I hadn’t noticed the ache echoing in my muscles. Especially not the soreness on my backside until I inched the door open to peek out.

I wasn’t sure who I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t the Senior Guardian.

Sonia bowed and I responded the best way I could: with a swift nod. When she straightened herself, she said, “Good evening, Mr. Devon. I apologize for the late visit, however, I come with a last-minute summons.”

I spoke to Sonia a handful of times, and unlike other guardians, a few things stuck out to me.

One: she didn’t have a scent. She must have been one of the first guardians to be fully trained on how to conceal it.

Two: she never removed her sunglasses. Some guardians opted out of them like Katerina and me. Other guardians retired them after their post. She didn’t. They always sat perfectly in place against her flat bridge.

Three: she had a habit of closing the distance between us. Compared to her interactions with other guardians, where she kept them at a considerable arm’s length, with me it was as if she wanted to be close enough to sniff me. Weird, but I’ve experienced weirder in past posts.

Four: even though I couldn’t see her eyes, I could feel them on me, studying, attentive. Any movement I took—whether that be to breathe or glance around—they tracked me like a hawk. The intensity was always present, but somehow, it wasn’t in the same way a guardian would have over subordinates. It was nostalgic, warm, and piercing.

And five: every time we spoke, a chill crawled up my spine. It wasn’t the same chill that took over whenever I visited the CEG. Nor did my hairs raise as when I chased prey. They were completely new.

“From who?”

“Christopher Sephtis.”

Huh. He couldn’t even come to see me himself. Cowardly, pompous fuck.

I nodded as I ignored the warmth that spread through my chest and poured into my veins. “Thank you, Ms. . .” What was her last name again?

“Sonia.” Her voice faltered, the serious tone diminishing as she spoke, “Sonia is fine.”

My lips pressed against each other. “Thank you, Sonia.” With one more bow, she left, leaving me alone with my screaming thoughts.

Do I go to Christopher? He was still my employer, and as a guardian, rules had to be followed. Never had I broken them before—except for Lace.

But fuck that. I wasn’t going to run to Christopher like a fucking dog. If he needed to talk to me, he could find me. But that had to wait. Something else needed answers. Tonight.

Leaves crunched beneath my steady footing as I followed the passing wind, cold air brushing the short hair on my scalp. I’d never gone longer than two weeks without shaving. But thinking about everything that’s happened in less than a month, it slipped my mind.

That needs to be fixed.

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