Page 19 of Fated Guardian

“I’ve suspected, but now, I’m sure. Coral, I believe that the shifters who have come for you are mercenaries.”

Coral pales, and I want to punch Thorne in the face for upsetting her.

Whoa. Back off, Nolan.

“Mercenaries,” I echo, trying to get Thorne to say more.

“Yes. I think that whoever wanted your hive destroyed in Seattle wants to find you.”

“But… why?” Coral whispers. Both Thorne and I stare at her. “I’m not special. There are other faeries who are more powerful. Even plant faeries who are more powerful. I’m no one special. I’m just… me,” she whispers.

I can’t help it. I move forward, wrapping an arm around her.

“You’re not just you,” I murmur. “You are exceptional.”

She leans into me and sighs, burying her nose in my shoulder.

Thorne’s eyebrows skyrocket, but I shoot him a glare. Whatever he’s thinking, not now. Not. Now.

Thorne leans back. “I think that Nolan’s been doing an excellent job at protection. However, if your location has been disclosed, I think that it might be time to make an adjustment there.”

Coral shifts. “What?”

I agree. What?

Thorne looks over at me, his eyes glinting with some kind of mischief that I haven’t quite figured out yet. “Amara and Jasper moved back to their new house, right?”

“Yes.” To Coral’s questioning eyes, I say, “Amara is my sister, and she and her fated mate were staying with me because of a plumbing situation at her house.”

“Ah. Yes. Working plumbing, that’s usually very important.” Coral nods.

I laugh, but Thorne clearly doesn’t get it.

“I think that Coral should stay with you until we can figure out who is organizing the mercenaries and do what we can to continue to protect her,” he says firmly.

My heart leaps like a fucking prancing pony.

“Absolutely,” I say. “I think that’s a great idea.”

“But… what about my meadow?” Coral says softly.

I turn to look at her. “We’ll go back. I promise this is only temporary.”

I notice that she doesn’t say anything about the use ofwe.But she does nod. She frowns, looking up at me. “I’ll have to learn all of your plants.”

“I have a feeling, Coral, that you’re really going to love my house.”

“Bluebells and bees,”Coral whispers when we make it to my house. “I love this place.”

I can’t help it. I smile, the feeling of satisfaction pouring through me better than any feeling I’ve ever had in my entire life.

“I thought you’d like it,” I say, ushering her forward.

It turns out, old vehicles do just fine with Coral. She got a little green when we first got into the truck, but when I rolled the windows down, she said she could still feel her magic. And, of course, the truck worked just fine.

“What kind of house is this?” she asks, trailing her fingers over the walls.

“It’s called an Earthship,” I say, smiling bigger at her reaction.

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