Page 8 of Feral Guardian
The soldiers look to Trask and he nods once.
Pigeon-livered cucks.
With the others working on Lily’s belongings, I pull her aside. Her rose and honey scent washes through the grate of my helm and I’m undone by it.
No. It’s just her skincare products I smell, not her. It’s not her skin or her body, and I am not undone. I am a guard,her guard, and I am not undone.
She huffs indignantly, not meeting my gaze as she crosses her arms.
“Look at me,” I say as gently as I can manage with her overwhelming smell making my demon claw at the surface.
“I can’t,” she says. “Your helm is still on.”
I sigh out a long breath and lift my helm away. My rune-beaded braids clank against the metal as it comes free. Her scent is stronger with the barrier removed and I sense my demon’s desire for her. Unacceptable. I’m to protect her, not fuck her.
Remember your oath.
The monstrous side of me retreats at the mention.
I tuck the helm under my elbow and reach out with my other hand, grabbing hold of her chin. Her skin is so immeasurably soft below the rough pads of my fingers. Pink blossoms across her cheeks as I turn her face. Her vibrant green eyes lock with mine and the color of her face deepens.
“I’ve missed you.” The words come tumbling out unbidden.
My stomach squeezes and flips. I wish I hadn’t fucking said that.
Her eyes dart away and she sucks in her bottom lip, worrying it. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.
The apology hits harder than my own stupidity.
She didn’t miss me, too. She wassorryfor me.
Fucking hells.
Her expression shifts to excitement, though I can tell in the way it doesn’t touch her eyes that it’s false. She pulls her skirts up far enough to be indecent and I glance toward the queen’s guards as I block her from view. She grabs at one of the folds and uses a burst of her green magic to reveal a hidden pocket. She digs around inside before producing a scroll with a broken wax seal.
She gives me an overly impish grin as she passes the scroll to me. “My royal certificate of completion.”
I reach out to take it and the rune ring on my middle finger glows a bright red. Lily’s eyes snap open wide as she retracts the scroll.
“Still have that, do you?” she asks.
My ring that I specially designed to detect Lily’s magic because of how often she liked to prank me. As if I would’ve removed it simply because she wasn’t around. I knew she liked to leave years-long traps throughout the palace.
“Yes,” I rumble.
“Well, it’s for my mother’s eyes anyway.” She moves to put the scroll away and I snatch it from her.
“Hey!” she grouses, jumping to get it from my grasp.
She is not a short girl by any means, but even on her tiptoes, fingers stretching, her body half-leaned against mine, she can’t reach the scroll I hold just above my head. I unfurl it and my ring glows brighter, highlighting the modified parts of the document.
Under the “Final Judgement” section the entire thing has been replaced, as well as the “Recommendation” section. It now reads that Lily should become a diplomat for the crown and allow the title of queen to pass to one of her sisters. That she is capable, but not ideal.
I glare down at her. “Why are you trying to escape your duties?”
“Alastair,” she whispers, shame coating her voice. “It’s not—”
A sharp whistle cuts her off and I glare at the source. Trask.
