“Yay! I will contact my grandmother and have her set everything up. I’m sure Annalise will want to be involved, so I’ll have Grandmother call her and get her to help.”
“Have them call my mother; she’ll want to help too. Can you believe we are almost done here?”
“Ugh! Thank God! I don’t know how many more assaults my body could stand!”
I am power. I am strength. I am the wind. I am speed. I am courage. I am faith. I am hope. I am fierce. I am loyal. I am steadfast. I am true. I am protection. I am honor. I am a Guardian of Vesturon.
The graduation party was set for Maddie and Saylan. Lysandra, Annalise, and Saylan’s mother had completed all the arrangements. There would be around two hundred people attending, and the party would begin immediately after the ceremony. There would be food, drink, and music. Maddie was getting excited about the festivities and her graduation, but mostly, she would be able to be with Rayn again!
Maddie completed her final class and went to her quarters to pack her belongings. Graduation was set for one week from today, so she had a quite a bit to accomplish between now and then.
Saylan knocked on her door and entered.
“I cannot believe the end is here. I am so excited! I am headed out in a few minutes, but I wanted to say good-bye.”
The two of them hugged and promised to talk the next day. Maddie pulled a tiny box out of a side pocket of her cargo pants and handed it to Saylan.
“What is this?”
“Just a little something. Open it.”
Saylan ripped off the paper and opened a box. Nestled inside was a beautiful gold locket suspended from a fine gold chain. The locket had a spring latch that popped open to reveal a picture of the two of them laughing. The inside of the locket was inscribed with, “To Saylan from Maddie, Your True BFF!”
“Maddie, it is lovely! But what is BFF?” she asked as she placed it around her neck.
“Oh, it’s a silly saying we use on Earth, and it means best friends forever. It’s said as a joke but I honestly mean it Saylan.” Maddie answered as she helped her with the latch.
Saylan threw her arms around Maddie and gave her a fierce hug. When she released her, both of them had tears streaking down their cheeks. Then, they started giggling and shaking their heads.
“Boy, aren’t we the tough ones?” Maddie asked, jokingly.
“I will miss you and pray every night that our assignments are close together so that we can see other often.”
Maddie agreed, and Saylan took off.
Maddie gathered everything and teleported to her grandparents.
* * * * *
Maddie had arranged for everything to be in place. Rowan made sure Rayn would not have any duties for three days. All the Yarrister siblings were also given leave for the graduation. Only Therron and Xarrid knew why they would be travelling to Vesturon.
Maddie decided she would go to Rayn personally and bring him back to Vesturon. As of yet, he was unaware that he had the next three days free—free to spend with Maddie.
Three hours before the graduation ceremony was to begin, Maddie barged into the palace and ran to Rowan and Annalise saying, “I’m going to Earth to get Rayn. It has been eleven months and four days, since I have seen him, and I cannot wait any longer.”
Rowan and Annalise glanced at each other knowingly, and both smiled. “We were wondering, dear, if you would be able to last this final week!”
They both went to her and embraced her. “You have our blessing dear, and just let us know if you need our assistance with anything.”
“What you really mean to say is if Rayn poses a problem for me,” Maddie said laughing.
“Yes, I guess that is exactly what I mean,” Annalise replied. “Good luck!”
* * * * *
Rayn was lying in bed, trying to catch a nap when he felt her presence. He opened his eyes to Maddie materializing in his room.
“What has happened? Why are you here?” he asked, leaping up from the bed, worried that something had gone wrong somewhere.
“I missed you,” she cried as she leaped in his arms. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. She tangled her fingers in his hair and touched her lips to his. The fire that exploded between them nearly made her forget why she was there.
Then, she reached out to him with her hand and intently looked at him. Her brows were scrunched together when she exclaimed, “Oh Rayn! Your aura is identical to your father’s!”
“My aura? How can you see my aura?” he asked suspiciously.
“Oh, there is so much I need to tell you. I see auras, Rayn. My Power of Telekinesis is really strong.”
Rayn staggered backward, in shock. He detected differences in Maddie, but he had no idea how many there were. Her Vesturion abilities now rivaled his. How could that be he wondered?
“Well, I have Vesturion blood from my father’s side too! He was descended from the ancient Celts. That’s why, Rayn.” she said, reading his thoughts.
“This means…” he began.
“Yeah, most of my Powers and abilities are full strength! You should see me fight! I can take down most men, and I am FAST, Rayn! Super duper fast!” She was laughing, and he found himself smiling back at her.
“Maddie, I’m glad you are here, but we have been so busy. I am worried about you being a distraction for me.”
“Stop, Rayn.” She walked toward him and placed her hands on his shoulders, looking him in the eyes. “I am not here as a distraction. I need you to come with me.”
“Where?” he asked.
“Please, just give me your hand so that we can go.”
“Maddie, my love, I do not want to disappoint you, but I cannot leave here.”
“Yes, you can. Trust me, please. I promise.”
“No, Maddie, I cannot leave. I am in charge here and…”
“Rayn,” she interrupted him, “Call your second in command. Now,” she ordered.
He had not yet seen this side of her, so he was a bit surprised by her dominating actions.
“Please.”
Rayn hit his
shadar
and called for his second.
“Sir, I thought you would be gone by now.”
“Well, it would seem so. I guess I just wanted to tell you that I was leaving.”
“Yes, sir. We shall see you in three days. Enjoy your free time, and, sir, if an emergency arises, I shall notify you immediately.”
“Thank you, Kennar,” Rayn said turning to Maddie with a puzzled look on his face.
“Maddie, what is going on?” he asked.
“Rayn, trust me, honey. Now, take my hand.”
Seconds later, they teleported in front of the Great Hall at the Academy of Guardians, where the graduation ceremony would be taking place shortly.
Rayn still had a puzzled look on his face, and Maddie had to stifle a giggle. Rowan and Annalise were there, and Maddie waved to them.
“Maddie, why are we here?”
“Oh, we are attending the graduation ceremony, and then we are going to a party.”
“I still do not understand,” he said.
“I know, but I think it will soon make sense.”
She hugged him and then his parents, and she left the three of them to make their way to their seats. She wandered off, and when she was sure Rayn wasn’t watching her anymore, she ducked out the side entrance, exited, and came back in behind the stage, where the graduates were assembled. She had to hurry to get her Guardian uniform on. She had help from Saylan, and she just finished strapping on her
shadars
when they were told they needed to take their places.
The music started playing, and she fell into line for the Grand March. They paraded up and down the aisles of the Great Hall, and she couldn’t stop herself from seeking out Rayn. He was shocked to see her. His face was ashen, and his mouth was agape. Rowan and Annalise, as well as Taruk and Lysandra, were all smiling at her. Therron and Xarrid were grinning, but Tesslar, Rykerian, and Sharra looked exactly like Rayn; they were astounded. Maddie let a bubble of laughter escape.
The ceremony flew by, and when the awards were presented, Maddie accepted hers with grace. She was given the award for her capture of the team of four in the Unforgiving Forest in record time, and she was also acknowledged for her endurance during her torture session. They didn’t exactly put it like that though; they flowered it up by calling it the Covert Trials award. Lastly, she was given the honor of being first in her class, which was quite an accomplishment. The only other Yarrister to receive that distinction was Rayn.
Maddie was beaming as she walked across the stage and received her Guardian markings on her hands. She could not have felt more proud. When she turned around, she saw the Yarristers and her grandparents applauding. She finally felt like she had accomplished something worthwhile and notable.
All the newly installed Guardians filed out into the street, followed by their family members.
Maddie ran to Rayn, but then, everyone surrounded them. All the Yarrister siblings were chatting at once, so Rowan and Annalise instructed everyone to head over to the Ballistarius home for the graduation party.
Maddie looked up to see Saylan heading her way. She quickly introduced Rayn to her and told her she would see her soon at the party.
Rayn took Maddie by the elbow and began steering her away from the crowd. Maddie looked up at him and was surprised to see his jaws clenched.
“Is everything okay, Rayn?”
“I hardly think this is the time or place to discuss this, Maddie. We will talk about this after the party.”
“Wait! What are you talking about? You’re angry, aren’t you?”
“Do I need to respond to that?”
“Yes, you do. This is one of the greatest days of my life, and you are acting angry for some reason.”
“Again, Maddie, I hardly think this is the place.”
“Yes, you’re correct. I don’t want an audience, but I hope I’m wrong in what’s happening here.”
Rayn did not respond to her, but he kept moving ahead of the crowd. Finally, she stopped him, entered the proper coordinates in her
shadar
and teleported them to her grandparents.
Since they were the first to arrive, Maddie dragged Rayn up to her room, shut the door, folded her arms over her chest and asked, “So, tell me, what is bothering you?”
Rayn sighed deeply and struggled for the right words.
“Maddie, I love you beyond reason. I would do anything for you, including sacrifice my life. I cannot explain to you the depths of my feelings, as there are no words to describe them. I simply do not understand why you would take on something like becoming a Guardian and not mention a word to me about it. I have experienced the training. I know firsthand what is involved. I know what you endured to gain this status, and it upsets me greatly.”
“I didn’t tell you for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I knew you would not want me to do this. I know it looks like I went against your wishes, and I did but I had a solid reason for doing so.”
She took Rayn’s hands in her and pulled him to her so that they were facing each other.
“I want to be with you, always, no matter where you go. I want to be there with you and for you, without you having to be constantly worried about my safety. I thought that if I had the proper training, you would feel better about me being with you. I am strong, Rayn, and fast and very powerful. I am not saying this to boast but to tell you the truth of things. I have been trained in combat and came in first in my class. I know you won’t like hearing this, but I was the only one in my class who completed the torture session in its entirety. You won’t have to always protect me as I have been taught by the best to protect myself. My second reason was I wanted to surprise you and make you proud of me.”
She reached up and placed her hand on his cheek and continued, “For the first time in my life, I feel like I’ve accomplished something meaningful.” She walked away from him, gathering her thoughts.
She returned to his side, grabbed his arm, and sat him down on the side of her bed, where she turned to face him.
“Rayn, for my whole life, I have felt like parts of me didn’t go together. I was clumsy except when I ran. I stumbled over my own two feet; you saw me and how uncoordinated I was. Then, I came to Vesturon, and things started falling into place. Julian thinks my body was in a state of friction, the human side fighting the Vesturion side. Then, when I came here, my Vesturion side took over, and I came into my own. I’m not a clumsy moron anymore. I don’t worry about falling down and making an idiot of myself. Who knows, maybe I won’t destroy your home back on Earth. If I’m lucky, I may even end up being a passably decent cook! Well, maybe not!”
“Maddie, I would love you anyway. It matters not to me if you are strong or fast or whatever.”
“I know it doesn’t, and I love you for that. I wanted to… no, I HAD to do it for
me
. I need to have self-worth. I always felt so inadequate around you and your family. It wasn’t anything you did; it all came from within me. I made myself feel that way, but I don’t feel that way anymore. Can you try to understand?”
“When you turned me away, I thought I would die. I did not know what to do.”
“Rayn, I never turned you away. I just had a great deal to learn about everything, including myself, and I really like the person I’ve become. I hope you’ll like her too.”
Rayn got up and ran his hands through his hair. Maddie smiled; she hadn’t seen him do that in awhile! He looked at her and cocked his head to the side.
“If you so much as do ANYTHING like this EVER again without discussing it with me first, so help me, Maddie, I will not be able to bear it. Just so we are clear, do you understand me?”
“Yes, my liege, I do,” she said as she flew into his arms, nearly knocking him over. They kissed and kissed, not able to tear away from each other. Their thoughts swirled about them, and Maddie felt tears slipping down her cheeks.
Rayn pulled away from her and wiped her tears with the pads of his thumbs. “Why?”
“Happy tears, not sad ones.”
“Truly?”
“I swear.”
She turned her head into his hand and kissed his palm. He ran his thumb along her lips and wrapped her hair around his other hand.