Page 4 of The Guardian's True-Mate

“Have you asked Terrick if he even wants me hovering over his pregnant mate?” I shot back.

“He knows I plan to send a guard. Our plans were to send one after the babies came, but with Scott on bedrest we agreed it was best to send someone sooner. You’ll stay in a house nearby. You’ll check on them often and keep your family link open for signs of danger.”

“What danger?” I asked. “If I’m going as a guard and you’ve seen something, I have the right to know.”

“You would, but I haven’t,” Mom said, smelling like the truth.

“Is this your overprotective nature or your concerned mothering?” I asked.

“Does it matter which one, Cardian?” she frowned. “I won’t make you go, but are you really going to spend forever locked away in your lair?”

“My lair,” I laughed.

“That’s what the others have come to call it,” she nodded.

“Fuck them,” I shrugged.

“Some of them might like that and say nicer things if you did,” Mom laughed, and I did too.

“Been there, done that. Lost a chosen mate to a curse,” I shrugged. “Not again. Never again.”

“Laurni knew what he was getting into. You forget, chosen mate or not, he was an Alpha like us,” Mom said. “He knew what battle entailed.”

“Yep. That’s why I became boring,” I shrugged, brushing off the memory of the day he was lost forever to me. “Boring people get to live long boring lives.”

“Long lonely lives,” Mom corrected.

“I’m not lonely. I have the wildlife for company.”

“Cardian,” she sighed. “I’m not sending you off on an arranged marriage. I’m not banishing you. I’m asking you to be my eyes somewhere I cannot be at this time. With the silly dragon wars over, Heartville should be peaceful. Your life won’t change much.”

“They’re day livers,” I sighed.

“Well, that might have to change.”

“And there are shifters galore,” I said.

“And what is the problem with that?” she asked, narrowing her eyes on me.

“It’s different,” I said.

“You can say no,” she leaned back in her seat. “There are others I can ask.”

“Why me?” I asked again, hoping to get the real answer.

“Because I think it would do you some good to see somewhere that isn’t here.”

“I have,” I shrugged. “Remember, I was out in the Wildlands when Laurni died.”

“The Wildlands don’t exist anymore,” she reminded me.

“I bet they do in the hearts of the people who survived that bullshit,” I sighed.

“Perhaps,” she nodded.

Laurni would’ve loved the adventure of going on some made up mission in the middle of nowhere. Only he wasn’t here anymore. It was just me now, but we all knew I was going to go.

Chapter Three

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