My Guardian ( Book VI )

Saying goodbye

(Jared P.O.V)

“Alia,” I said lightly, “I want you to stay with me. Even if you cannot love me in return,” I said in desperation. “I will give you everything you want, the love you deserve, which I promised myself and your mother you would have the day you were born. I will protect you with my life, my very being should it come to it. I will not force you into anything, if you wish to leave now I let you go without question and let you fall in love with someone of your own choice…no matter how much it breaks me. I will live alone if you choose to be elsewhere; you alone will have my heart, no other woman will I see. My eyes are only for you and only have been. What will your decision be?”

I waited for her answer, I was eager to hear what she would choose. ‘I don’t want to lose her… If this was to be the last time he was with her, so be it, but he would hold her as long as possible.’ I thought and then tightened my grip on her.

“Jared,” she said softly.

Her gentle voice broke me from my inner turmoil of her possible rejection. She stared up into my dark eyes, hand replaced upon my face and her thumb rubbing my thin lips and her gaze flickering to them before returning to stare into my orbs, which watched her movements with such intensity.

“Perhaps in time I can love you, will you let me get to know you?”

“If that is your wish.”

“Then I will stay with you, and if everything turns out, I will fall in love with you just as you have with me.” Alia smiled at me. And I take a breath of relief. I am more than happy that my mate has accepted me and decided to stay with me.

“But before I go, can I leave Sara a message?” she asks.

“Of course,” I said, “and if it pleases you, she can come along. There is plenty of room.”

With that, I carried her in my arms and dashed through the trees toward the Knight castle with haste, eager to take her with me so I could protect her and show her how much I loved her, and I prayed, that she would eventually come to love me in return.

“You will make friends where we go, others like myself who will not harm you.”

She up at me, “I know you’ve always wanted someone to talk to.” I answered her questioning stare, glancing down at her.

“They are quite friendly, and I haven’t seen them for a while. I’ve remained by your castle for years and they were usually the ones who came to see me.”

“I would like that,” she snuggled closer to me, her face in the crook of my neck and the male could feel her breath hitting my skin and he shivered lightly.

Upon arriving at the castle, I reluctantly released the girl from my arms and hid while she spoke with Sara, who appeared with the princess in the garden where I was waiting.

“You’re taking her now,” Sara stated, knowing.

“I am,” I reply, “she has agreed to come with me.” My voice rang through the garden, unseen in the cherry blossom tree I was fond of.

Alia turned to Sara who was the only mother-figure she had, “I wanted to ask if you wanted to come with me.”

After a moment of contemplation, she smiled, placing a hand to her shoulder.

“I had promised to watch you and your sister, but I guess I turn over part of that job to I. He’ll watch over you, and I’ll have to remain here to watch over your sister…” her tone was sad.

She was dismayed, her only friend wouldn’t come, upon seeing her reaction, she reassured her, “We will meet again, Alia.”

Turning her saddened gaze up, Alia had seen something she had never noticed before. Barely there sharp teeth pointing through the woman’s lips, “You’re a vampire too.”

“That explains it,” I said, “I knew there was something off about you.”

“You were too stuck on Alia being born you never realized I was kin,” Sara snorted.

“Well forgive me for not wanting to be alone,” I growled and hid my face as I realized what I had said, a slight blush on my cheeks.

Sara grinned and Alia looks at me with a wide-eyed.

“I’m always last in everything compared to my brother,” he whimpered.

“Let’s leave now, ” I said and turned my attention back to my mate, my embarrassment is forgotten.

“You’re ready?” I ask.

Smiling she nodded, “Of course. I don’t need to bring anything do I?”

“Everything will be provided,” I grinned, suddenly appearing before her, very close she blushed.

“You look beautiful when you blush.” He said again, smirk now on my face, one she couldn’t get enough of.

Sara watched them, enjoying the interaction between them, but remained silent. And after so long, they kept staring at each other, she broke it, “A King always needs a Queen.”

Alia looked at me more, “King?”

“Of course Alia,” Sara continued, smiling, “I am one of two princes, he’s to be the King, my brother is the High King.”

There was silence while she thought of them. “It’s true, Alia,” I said, looking away.

“But if you wish to leave or see me as no more than a friend I will have no other woman. I won’t even look at one. Besides, you’re different from all of them.”

“You should get going; the guards will be changing their shifts soon.” Zara interrupted.

“Sara…” the princess was close to tears, as she quickly embraced the woman.

“As I had said, we will see each other again.”

“That will be a lifetime in human years; I’ll be close to being dead or will be.”

Grinning Sara answered, “Not if you become a vampire like I, and if you choose another he can make you immortal without changing you.”

“Let’s go, Alia, you will see her again, I promise you.” The Ellwood grabbed her delicate hand, eager to get her away from the palace that brought her no fond memories other than the medic.

“Go Mi’lady, be happy.” I pulled her on my back her legs to my hips and my arms underneath with her arms wrapped around my neck and disappeared. Sara was left alone who heard the guards scurrying about, smiling to herself. ‘You can finally have your happiness, Alia.’

Her warm breath my the flesh of my neck again, head resting against me. I could feel her heartbeat steadily, she was asleep. A small smile crept across my lips; it had been a tiring day for her. Then he felt her lips touch my skin. He had always wondered how soft they were, but now he knew. When he watched over her, he was so tempted to kiss those lips he had wanted to feel more than once, and often had to exit the room before he did something stupid.

Having no woman, no woman who wasn’t her, to help tame my inner beast. Just watching her could calm me.