The Last Guardian Rises (The Last Keeper's Daughter) (36 page)

“What were you feeling when it happened? Was it anger? Fear? Try to recreate it here, where it’s safe. Ready?”

She looked up at him with her beautiful eyes. Clearly she wasn’t, if her body language was any indication, her hands placed on her hips. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“So far it’s your only special ability other than—”

“My blood is vampire crack.”

Lucien inwardly shuddered, remembering the enticing smell of her blood. “No, I was going to say your ability to read the texts.”

“Oh.” She smiled. “And my mad swimming skills.”

“That too.” He returned her smile and dipped his head to her. “Tell me, why are you afraid to try?”

“When it happened with Grigori I felt a rage that wasn’t truly my own, like it belonged to someone else and I was consumed by it, and wanted…needed to make Grigori respect me.” She hugged herself. “In London, I pushed my abilities to their limit, and I felt something, a long way off, and not human.”

“Your father?” Lucien didn’t like the sound of that.

And apparently neither had Krieger, who immediately appeared in the doorway. “How is your pupil doing?” Krieger strode into the training room.

Lucien bowed. “She’s got the basics down. Now it’s just a matter of practicing for muscle memory.”

Krieger stood next to him and reached out his hand to Lily. Without the blood bond, Krieger didn’t have as much control over her as before. She hesitated and then walked to stand next to him. He tucked her into his side.

“Tell me,” Krieger said, looking down at her and stroking her hair. “Do you think it was him?”

“It’s the only explanation. Maybe I’m the reason he was able to take me? You know, like he thought I was reaching out to him. Or he didn’t know where I was before I did that. I don’t know, but I can’t risk it again, ever.” She shifted her weight away from Krieger. “Plus it frightened me, made me feel untethered, like I was weightless, like I’d fly into a million pieces. Like I could move about without moving.”

“Move about?” Hunter asked as he entered the room.

Lily nodded. “I know how crazy it sounds. But it’s the best I can do.”

“The Elder could move through the ether, untethered, as she described it.” Hunter bowed to her and the king.

Lucien wondered what Lily thought of Hunter’s changed status. It wasn’t every day a Merlin chose another body to inhabit.

“Lucien is right. She should learn to control whatever this power is.” Hunter opened his hand, showing them two arm bracelets. “These are crafted from iron and spelled to connect you to Krieger.”

Lily tried to wiggle out of his grasp. “What do you mean, connect me to Krieger?”

“Without the blood bond I am helpless to find you. This will allow me to track you, and keep you here.” Krieger’s words were controlled, clipped, efficient.

“Yes,” Hunter said, holding the bracelets out. “Since Krieger is strictly a terrestrial being, no one should be able to take you from this plane.”

“As long as I’m wearing my slave chains.” Lily broke free of Krieger’s arm and glared at him.

“Apryini, they are bracelets, not chains, and their only purpose is to keep you from being taken again.”

“I don’t like it,” she responded.

“Here, give them to me.” Krieger took the bracelets from Hunter and gave Lily a stern look. “I need to speak with Mer… Hunter,” he said, coldly.

Lucien moved across the room, Lily close behind, and retrieved two wooden practice swords from the rack. “Take it.” He handed one to her. “This will increase your coordination and stamina.”

She eyed Krieger and Hunter, and then swung the wooden sword over her shoulder and went to stand in the center of the mat.

He worked her until she was having difficulty keeping the sword raised. It would take time to get her physically fit enough to be even remotely proficient, but it was gratifying to know she liked working with the swords as it was one of his favorites also.

“What do you think?” He lowered the tip of his sword to the mat. “Call it a night?”

Krieger and Hunter joined them. Krieger handed her a towel.

Lucien, not wanting to witness another confrontation about the bracelets, decided to direct the conversation. “I hear congratulations are in order,” he said to Hunter.

“It was a shock.” Hunter ran his hands over his newly shorn hair. He was already starting to mimic Merlin’s taste. “I’m still trying to wrap my brain around it.” He smiled. “Me, a father.”

“Really, that’s wonderful,” Lily said. “I had no idea. When?”

“In the spring,” Hunter answered. “We’re moving the wedding date up.”

“Meirta’s not much older than me.” Lily’s eyes went down to the mat. “I’m happy for you.”

“Who’s officiating?” Lucien asked. 

“I don’t know. She’s Catholic.” Hunter rolled his eyes. “She’s trying to find a priest that will come to our home. That’s where she wants the wedding.”

“You remember Reverend Shay from Walter’s funeral?” Lily asked.

“I didn’t meet him, but yes, I remember,” Hunter said.

“Well he’s old friends with a…” She looked up, clearly trying to recall the name. “Father Flannery. They visited Walter a lot and stayed at the house. Martha and I loved Sister Parnell.”

And just like that the pieces fall into place
.

“Sister Parnell and Father Flannery traveled together?” Hunter asked, smooth as silk.

“They did.” Lily adjusted her hairband. “Something to do with visiting orphanages. I know Reverend Shay was very involved with children’s issues around the world. If you want I can call the reverend and get Father Flannery’s number for you. I’m sure he’d be happy to marry you or refer you to someone.”

Lucien, Krieger, and Hunter all looked at each other without saying a word.

“What?” Lily asked.

“Nothing.” Hunter smiled. “I’ll have to run this by Meirta first. She’s commander in chief for all things regarding the wedding.”

Lily laughed and seemed not to notice the looks being exchanged between the men. 

“Thank you for the recommendation, it means a great deal.” Hunter turned the Elder’s ring on his finger.

Lucien watched Krieger closely. He was still, cold, and looking at the timber beams above. “I think we’re done for the night, unless you want to work on the punching bag,” Lucien said.

“No way, my arms feel like Jell-O. I’m going to take a long, hot bath.” Lily turned to join Liam, who was waiting for her in the doorway.

Krieger’s hand shot out quick as a viper and grabbed her wrist. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

Lily tried to yank her arm free. “No.” She looked at the bracelets in his outstretched hand. “I won’t wear them.”

Krieger glared at her. “Remember what I told you to never do in public?”

“Sire, if Lily does not like the bracelets then I can create a ring for her to wear,” Hunter offered.

Not taking his eyes off Lily, Krieger said, “No, she will wear the bracelets.”

“Please don’t make me do this.”

Why was Lily so opposed to wearing something that could protect her? She’d told him that she was terrified of going back to the place she’d been taken. Lucien closed his eyes and counted to ten to control his own anger at Krieger. He was too harsh with her, but then, though he would never say it, and probably didn’t even admit it to himself, he was afraid.
Would I do any different?

“Then bond with me.”

“I’ve told you why I can’t,” Lily cried. “I’m yours body and soul, but don’t make me feel like property. Don’t do this to me.”

“You. Are. Mine.” Krieger’s voice filled the voluminous space.

“Sire, she’s been through a lot,” Lucien said in a calm voice.

“Stay out of this,” Krieger snapped. Lily gasped as his grip tightened on her wrist. “Which will it be? The bracelets or my blood?” The glare he gave her was icy. “I know what I prefer.”

“He will kill you if we bond. I won’t be the cause of your death.”

He thought he knew all the particulars of Lily’s abduction, but this was the first he’d heard of her fears, that bonding with Krieger would bring his death. Why would she think such a thing?

“I hear the excuse you keep telling me.”

Lucien wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole.

“I hate you right now.” Lily snatched them from his hand. “What about you?” She screamed, “Are you mine?”

Don’t taunt him. Not while his blood is up.

“Tell her.” Krieger held up his free hand and released Lily, who cradled her reddened wrist and stumbled back on fatigued legs until she crumpled to the floor.

Hunter cleared his throat and stared at his hands. “The king has a corresponding ring.”

Krieger turned his hand for Lily to see. “So you see,” Krieger said, placing his hands on his knees and looming over her. “I too am wearing the iron, to keep you here, to keep you safe.” Each word was like the lash of a whip and Lily cringed back from him. “Put them on now.”

“This won’t stop
him
.” Not taking her eyes off Krieger, she slowly slid one and then the other over her hands. “My father will burn through these as he did our bond, and—”

“Slide them up above your elbow,” Krieger cut her off.

When she didn’t immediately do as he instructed he took a menacing step closer to her.

“I won’t forgive you for this.” Lily slid the rings up each arm.

“Merlin,” Krieger said, then shook his head at his slip. “Hunter, seal them.”

“No!” Lily frantically tried to yank them off, but it was too late. Her eyes were rage filled and her voice icy. “You don’t know what you’ve done.”

“What I’ve done is save you.”

“They will not harm you in any way. I’ve spelled them to be as comfortable as your own skin.” Hunter said, keeping his eyes down.

She gave Hunter a look filled with daggers. Lucien wanted to comfort her, to tell her the king was doing this to protect her, but could do nothing. “She’s exhausted from the workout, and scared,” he said to Krieger.

Krieger’s tone was softer as he spoke to Lily. “I’ll do
anything
to keep you from being taken again.” He reached out to her.

Lily flinched back from him. “And I’ll do anything to keep you alive.”

Krieger turned the iron ring on his finger. “Go, go with Liam, take your bath and I’ll visit you later.”

She rose, slightly unsteady at first, and then spun around and ran to Liam.

Like nothing had occurred, Krieger looked at them. “I say we pay a little visit to Reverend Shay.”

“And Sister Parnell?” Hunter asked.

“SP.” Lucien shook his head. “We scorched the earth looking for the leader and it tumbles out of an innocent’s mouth.”

“Yes.” Krieger looked back towards where Lily had left. “Sophia Parnell, the coregent of Russia, has been busy.”

“How should we approach Grigori with this information?” Hunter asked what Lucien was thinking.

“I will contact him,” Krieger said, “He will deal with Sophia in his own way.”

“Then you don’t think that he is involved?” Lucien asked.

“I’ve hunted with him.” Krieger rolled the ring on his finger. “He has no knowledge of this, but I assure you he will pry all Sophia’s secrets from her.”

Yes, Lucien thought, he is cold and harsh and persistent as nature itself.

Anson

“I’m alone,” Anson said to himself.

“Baby,” Audrey murmured, “did you say something?”

“Nothing, go back to your script.” He went out onto the balcony overlooking the beach of Malibu.

He’d spent months driving across the United States searching for a hint of the divine female, a Lynea. In a small bucolic town in the state of Virginia he’d gotten his only wisp of a scent. It wasn’t fresh, and he knew she was no longer there, and though he searched there was no trace of where she’d gone. For many weeks he’d remained, hoping she would return, keeping his presence hidden from the vampires and Others who inhabited the area. It was like she’d been swallowed up into the ether. A Strigoi could not exist without a mate, a Lynea, and yet he existed and he thrived so she must be alive… but where? 

He should have killed the priest he’d encountered. The one who said he knew of a Lynea. He’d read his mind, seen the madness, the things he’d done, and felt revulsion crawl into his skin at the women the priest had wounded. 

More out of habit than hope, he reached out with his mind, searching for his brothers who’d been separated and scattered to the four corners of the earth. As each time before, there was no response; they were lost to him, lost in the abyss that was time. During the Great War, it was the Elders who had pleaded with them, the four Strigoi, to lure
him
into the gate to entomb for the good of all beings on earth. And so they had, the four of them dispersed to the east, the west, the north, and the south, so their powers would encompass the whole world. With the combined abilities of the Strigoi and the Elders they’d been able to subdue and intern
him
inside a place of isolation from all things, for all time.

He watched the children playing in the surf, remembering his brothers who’d had families with their Lyneas. Who out of concern for their safety had brought their families inside the iron rooms. Once their task was completed, the Strigoi were to be released from their imprisonment, but instead had been left, forgotten.

Why had the Elders betrayed the Guardians?
Will I ever know? Will I ever learn why I alone survived? Why the Elders died?
The questions were endless and unanswered.

He walked out from under the awning to bask in the rays of the noonday sun; his skin was kissed with a light tan that allowed him to blend seamlessly with the humans. Unlike the vampires of this time, Strigoi could walk in the daylight. It only weakened them slightly, and was more of a nuisance than a true encumbrance.

Audrey had become bored with memorizing lines and was now attempting to sneak up behind him. She slid her hands over his back and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her warm body into his back.

“What’s got you down, baby?” She placed tiny kisses on his back.

“I’m bored,” he said.