The Guardian by Sarah Alice

Author:Sarah Alice [Alice, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2017-05-16T05:00:00+00:00

chapter 12

I began to feel the cold again in those silent, taut seconds. It came not from the air around me, but from Hart’s rapidly cooling body.

“No. No, no.” I thrashed out of my coat and tucked it against his chest. The extra small garment barely covered half his torso. My shaking fingers hovered over his lips—no breath—and then pressed the still vein in his neck.

“Hart,” I said sharply. I patted his cheek and cradled his head. “Hart.”

“Leave it alone,” Cal said.

“Get away.” I brandished my weapon in Cal’s direction.

Unlike Hart and the creature in the house, Cal didn’t even glance at the blade. His sad stare remained focused on me. “Leda ...”

“Leave us alone. Get back.” I darted a look at the Jaguar. If only I knew how to drive, if only I could get Hart to the car ...

And where was Orion?

Cal followed my eyes. “Were you two alone?”

I tried to drag Hart toward the grass, but I couldn’t budge him. I stripped off my hoodie and used it to pillow his head. The November night was bitter, and my thin T-shirt did nothing to keep out the cold. “There were two,” I chattered.

“Two what?”

“In the house. People. Things.”

“Devils like this one,” Cal said. “Did he bring an animal?”

The perceptive question startled me. I dropped my guard for a moment and he read the answer on my face.

“Then he’s long gone, Leda. This is nothing but a body he stole. The pet was a familiar; he’s taken that now and left you.”

“No. He. Hasn’t.” My breath steamed with each staccato word.

“Then why do you think he brought the animal?”

Despite my heated tone, Cal remained patient. If he smiled at me now or made me laugh, I would break. I knew he was telling the truth—not about Hart abandoning me, but about what he was. Not an angel. Not anymore. My heart had known it before my mind accepted it. Cal was kind, sincere, and selfless. Hart was dark, cold, and flawed. “Too late,” I mumbled.

“What?”

I shook my head. It was too late for Cal to deliver this news about Hart. I already loved Hart and I wouldn’t and couldn’t take it back.

“You’re wrong about him. He’s nothing like the thing we fought. He’s good.”

“You fought them?” Cal frowned.

“He fought them. He saved my life, and it wasn’t the first time.” I resisted the urge to kiss Hart’s paling lips, as if that might bring him back. It was my turn to save him, and I couldn’t.

“You’re right to say he’s different from the creatures that attacked you. They were closer to animals, I’m sure. This one is cunning. He’s deceived you, probably seduced you ...”

I blushed and turned away from Cal’s penetrating stare. I saw myself through his eyes—naïve, deluded, a little girl—and I despised him for a moment.

“You’re wrong,” I said.

“And you’re going to end up in the hospital if you don’t get warm. Please—” He took a step toward us and I waved my blade wildly.

“Stop! I’m not leaving him.

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