Page 38 of The Hidden Guardian
“Looked like?” Lupe asks as she twirls the tip of her braid, not even looking at me. She continues to translate the rest to her mate.
“No, I knew. I don’t know how, but I knew deep down they were waiting for me.”
“Ah, she does have Guardian intuition after all.” Lupe smirks.
I wait for Lupe to finish translating, or talking to Zev, it’s hard to tell. “Is there more? Have you seen these men there before?”
“Oh yeah, they go there all the time. They would get special silver-tipped ammo and they have the biggest shotguns, best for long distances. They special ordered several large bear traps. They just seemed like any other customer, except they were in town when my brother was …”
Lupe whispers something in Zev’s ear. Anger and frustration trickle through the bond. I reach up and place my hand over his on my shoulder.
“How many demons are there?”
“I’ve seen as many as ten different men. Sometimes they are the same, sometimes they bring new faces with them. A few I’ve seen only once and never again.” I respond.
Zev stands now, growling something to Renall.
“Ten. Ten men.” Lupe laughs. “Do you think us incapable of handling ten measly men? We are a strong clan, do not waste our time with false threats.”
“But it’s not … they have already …” I stammer.
Zev growls again waving me and Renall toward the direction of the door. I don’t need to speak wolf to know we are being dismissed. As I stand to leave, I notice Onai slipping back into the shadows of the far corridor. She thought the hunters were a threat. How can Zev not see what they are? That they have already killed his people because they obviously understand how and what they are. They found me and my brother, and it’s only a matter of time before they find us in this cave. We are not safe, even here.
* * *
Renall is quiet as we trek back to our room. The cave has emptied out as darkness starts to descend, but there are still mated wolves around shooting us unsavory looks as we climb the stairs to return to our cave. After the door is securely shut and locked, I find myself wondering if I embarrassed him. Onai and I made him call upon Zev to listen to a threat we thought he should be aware of, only to be dismissed like an ill-mannered child.
“Okay?” I ask.
He’s bent over the fire adding a few logs when he twists toward me and nods. “Rokay.”
“Is he always like that? Ignorant?”
Renall grunts.
I’m not sure if he understood, but I must remember Zev is his friend no matter how much I’m starting to get a bad taste about him and his mate. Guardian intuition Lupe had called it. I wonder if my intuition is warning me that they can’t be trusted. Can I trust anyone here anymore?
Renall straightens as the fire roars in front of him. It casts his tan skin in a golden glow. A bead of sweat trickles down his spine. I shiver as heat pools low in my belly. He, at least, is someone I can trust, can’t I?
* * *
My heart flutters in my chest and an energy pulsates around me. My eyes automatically open to the darkness of the cave. I turn in bed to face the cave wall. The moon rock inlaid into the wall beside the bed blinks. Weird, I’ve never seen it do that before. Lifting my head slightly, I stare to see if it will do it again. It blinks, then brightens. Suddenly, a crack forms along the wall, from that crack, a golden light emanates. The crack spreads, then deepens as it expands farther down the wall. I slip out of bed and place my palm on the wall. The dirt wall shimmers under my touch.
Autumn.
My name is whispered again, the same voice I heard previously. I glance around, but the only person in the room is Renall who is snoring on the couch. As I pull my hand away from the wall, I hear it again.
Autumn.
That second time, there’s a tug in my chest. I’m being pulled by some invisible force, much like the bond Renall and I share. This force seems to be coming from the cave itself, driving me forward. The crack continues toward the door now as my fingers trace along, following it.
I tip toe into the living area and slip out the door without waking Renall. I’m alone on the top ledge of the cave. The cavern is dark and silent, except for a few murmured, grumbling snores echoing in the night. The crack spreads farther, urging me to follow the golden light shining onto the cave floor below.
Autumn.
That pull urging me on. I follow around the ledge as it spreads down the two flights of stairs until I reach the cavern floor. I apprehensively walk deeper into the central hive, past the empty tables. My hand trailing along the crack in the wall taking me toward the hallway to the right. This. This is where I need to be.
My bare feet start tingling before I hear it. The growl vibrates the very ground I’m walking on. My heart stops. Slowly, I turn around to see who has caught me sneaking around the dark cavern alone. My chest ceases beating until I meet the angry, glaring eyes of none other than Renall. I freeze.
