My Guardian ( Book VI )

The Mating Bond

(Jared P.O.V)

Nervousness. That’s what I felt; I had waited for this moment for so long I didn’t know what to do.

I wait for the guards to disappear around a corner and find the window with a large balcony. Making sure the coast was clear before I proceeded to jump up and landed without a sound. Outstretching a hand I pushed the glass door open allowing a soft cool breeze to flow in with me before closing it to avoid suspicion I spotted a crib in the middle of a large white room with many infant toys and necessities.

The nervousness returned, and I swallowed hard taking slow and silent steps closer. Peering over the side I saw her. She was sleeping. The mark on her neck was unmistakable. Finally, after hundreds and hundreds of years, I saw her, finally getting to look at her, feel her, smell her.

“Alia,” I said barely above a whisper, my left hand coming to brush across her cheeks and forehead. She was so warm… and so soft I only wondered what color her eyes would be when they were open. I continued to stroke her face, still skeptical about this really being her or if this was all a dream and she would disappear as if she had never been there in the first place.

Gathering more courage, I brought my other arm in bringing her up in my arms supporting her head and neck. She stirred but did not wake as I held her against me. Inhaling, she smelt like cherry blossoms, so captivating and intoxicating.

“Only when you blossom, can I take you away from here.” I breathed softly, holding her tiny body close to me. As much as I wanted to keep her in my arms I gave her a small gentle kiss to the forehead and reluctantly put her down in the crib and tucked her in. Making sure she was warm. I remained standing up and staring at her slumbering face. Severe pain or death would come to anyone who hurt her, I would remain watch—guarding her until I could take her with me to my home and have a family with her, though I will wait for her until she is ready.

For now, I’d have to hide and watch her in secret; only Zara would know I was there when the time would come I would reveal myself to her.

“Sleep well, Alia…” I said and about to get out of the room and I hear a cry and I feel a little pain in my heart. I turn to see my love crying in her crib I take her in my arms and rock her back and front until she falls back to sleep.

I kiss her forehead and place her gently in her crib and walk to the window and back to my hiding spot making sure no one saw me. I can already feel the bond forming between us.

(3rd Person P.O.V)

FOUR YEARS LATER.

“Father!” a small Alia laughed, running to her father in a light white kimono with slightly darker cherry blossoms. The King was with his youngest and scowled when he heard her approach. The youngest princess had red hair reaching her shoulders and red-rimmed glasses in a red kimono with a black obi.

“I’m busy with Amy,” he replied coldly, stopping her in her tracks.

Face confused and beautiful jade eyes brimming with silver tears, she smiled hiding her pain, “Ok, maybe later,” she said and ran off to the garden, from what she heard was her mother’s favorite spot. Kneeling down beside the pond did she weep.

Sara walked up behind her, a sorrowful expression on her face. Glancing up into the cherry blossom tree, she saw the figure looming within. His posture enraged but dismayed with the young girls’ unhappiness. ‘You wish to take her now, don’t you, Jared?’

“Princess,” her voice low.

Whirling around she sprang to her feet and hugged the woman’s legs tightly, small body trembling as she cried. “Sara…”

“Alia,” Sara dropped to her knees to her level. “Life here won’t be easy for you, but it will get better. I love you, your mother loved you… and someone else loves you more than you could ever imagine.”

Hiccupping and wiping the tears from her eyes with a small fist, Alia answered, “Who could love me, Father said I killed Mother, that’s why he doesn’t love me… I’m nothing special…”

“You are more than special,” the man whispered so quietly it was carried in the wind and never reached the two’s ears.

“You never killed your mother, she was ill when she went into labor. Your mother loved you.” Sara lifted the girl's chin. “Three of us love you.”

“Who else?”

“Someone who you will meet later,” giving the girl a reassuring smile, she ruffled her hair. “He wouldn’t want to see you like this, Alia.”

“Who?” her tears were gone but the medic wiped her face clean of any evidence she had been crying through her eyes were slightly red.

Grinning, Sara answered, “Your Prince Charming.”

“I’ll have one like in those fairy-tales!” Alia asked excitedly.

“Of course, and he’s closer than you think, but Alia,” her voice became a little harder, “don’t listen to anything your father or sister says, it’s all lies.”

“Ok, thank you, Sara,” she said embracing the woman again, who looked up and found the man nod his head in his own silent thanks. “Sara, is my Prince Charming my guardian angel?”

“What makes you think that?” the woman was curious.

“Is he watching me? I feel like he’s close by.”

Sara was wide-eyed, Jared was surprised, “How close?” the blonde asked.

“Here in the garden, and with me when I sleep. Everywhere I go, he goes.”

‘Perhaps there’s more to this bond than I thought.’ The medic answered, “He will always be with you, even when you are feeling down. He wouldn’t want to see you cry.”

“Then I’ll be strong for him,” the girl grinned and ran off to play further in the garden, watched by two pairs of eyes.