Ancient Guardians: The Uninvited (14 page)

After dinner that night, Reece’s wishes were granted. The entire family retired early, and she was able to fall into a much-needed slumber earlier than she anticipated. Even though it was strange to be back at the palace without Levi, Reece knew that she would be so preoccupied helping Allestaine to prepare the palace for the engagement celebration that she wouldn’t have much of a chance to miss him.

The next morning she woke up well rested and ready for the day. Allestaine had planned to start going over the details of decorating with the palace’s staff after their lunch. Because it was their first day back at the palace, everyone had matters of business to attend to, leaving Reece with some free time on her hands.

In the letter Levi had delivered to her while she was away, he let her know that Arrow had returned from his training, and she could go visit him at her leisure.

As soon as Reece was prepared for the day, she grabbed some apples from the palace kitchen and walked out toward the stables. When she approached the field where the Guardian horses were grazing, she leaned against the fence and searched for Arrow. It wasn’t but a few seconds later that a horse stopped grazing and directed his attention toward her.

There is no way he grew that fast!
she thought as he trotted over to her briskly. The young colt was now practically fully grown.

She handed him one of the apples and ran her hands through is long, silky mane. “Look how big you’ve gotten, boy!” she said, as she patted his strong, muscular side. “Levi was right; you have grown up.”

While Arrow indulged himself with the juicy apple, Reece was surprised to see Areion trotting boldly over to them. When he arrived, he stood tall and magnificent before her. Areion glanced over at Arrow, who was finishing the last of his apple, and then back to Reece. When he pawed the ground with his hoof and grunted, Reece laughed in response, knowing the massive stallion was expecting her to give him an apple as well.

She reached out and carefully raised her hand to pet the side of his face. “Hey there, Areion!” she said enthusiastically. “I would love give you an apple, but I’m not sure Levi will be okay with that.”

“Good morning, Miss Bryant,” Javian said, as he approached her. “Are you surprised by how much your young colt has grown?”

“To say the least,” she said with a laugh. “He looks like he’s old enough to be ridden already!”

Javian chuckled. “In about a month he’ll be ready for the saddle.” He patted the colt on the shoulder. “I must say, it is intriguing to watch these horses take to you the way they have. I do not believe I have ever seen Areion approach anyone out of his own volition, except for Master Levi, of course.”

Reece smiled. “He’s only here for an apple. I’m pretty sure he watched me give Arrow one.”

Javian laughed. “I would agree with you, ma’am; but if these horses were that easily persuaded, you would have hundreds of them patiently waiting alongside Areion.”

Areion brought his head over the fence and lightly nudged Reece’s arm with his nose.

Javian chuckled. “I believe he is waiting for his apple.”

“I’m not sure Levi would be okay with that,” she said, while petting Areion down the center of his face. “He gives me a hard enough time about spoiling Arrow. I wouldn’t want him to think I’m ruining
his
horse now,” she said with a laugh.

“Areion will be fine. He tends to be on edge when Master Levi is away, and since he will be gone until next week, I am sure having a treat will help to ease Areion’s angst.”

“Next week? Is everything okay?”

“Everything is perfectly fine. I was recently informed that Samuel has requested Master Levi and Master Harrison stay on Earth for another assignment after they have finished their current one.”

“Sounds like it’s pretty crazy on Earth right now,” she said, as she petted Arrow, who was nudging her for more attention.

“Indeed, it is; we have never had so many Guardians dispatched at one time,” Javian said, as he softly chuckled at Arrow attempting to reach for the basket in Reece’s hand. “Master Levi wanted me to inform you that if you wish to bring Arrow on your afternoon walks with you, he might help pass the time if you get a bit restless.”

Reece smiled in return. “That sounds like it would be fun. Maybe after Elizabeth is finished with her studies, we’ll get Arrow out on a walk.”

“Very well,” Javian answered. “If you’ll excuse me, I must be returning to the stables.”

Reece searched into the cloth bag and retrieved two more apples for the patiently waiting horses. She watched in amusement as the horses devoured their treats enthusiastically. Without notice, both horses startled and snapped her out of her daze. Areion whinnied loudly, and Arrow fled swiftly back to the herd.

Reece stepped back, mildly frightened by Areion’s spontaneous aggression. She was perplexed; nothing seemed to have transpired to startle either horse. She looked around for Javian, but he was nowhere to be found. Areion reared back, and began pacing hostilely along the fence line in front of her. It didn’t take long before she decided it would be best for her to leave and allow the horse to calm down.

Reece turned around and was stunned when she saw Simone approaching her. She was so shocked at the woman standing before her that she didn’t hear Javian call for Areion and Saracen, to prepare them for Harrison and Levi’s return.

“Good morning, Reece,” Simone softly spoke, “Please forgive me for startling you.”

Reece’s body tensed.
You’ve got to be kidding me!
If there was ever a person she wished she would never have to see again, it was Simone.

“Simone,” she answered in a low voice. “What are you doing here?”

Simone smiled pleasantly at Reece. “Since my sister has joined Lillian in traveling abroad, and my father is rarely home these days, it was growing quite lonely around our estate. I thought it best to join him here until Catherine returns.”

“Oh, well, I was heading back inside. I guess I’ll see you around,” Reece said dismissively, as she started to walk past her.

As Reece walked past Simone, the woman called after her. “Reece?”

Reece stopped, closed her eyes, and exhaled. She turned around to see Simone manage an uncertain smile.

“What do you want, Simone?” She crossed her arms and stared darkly at the woman.

Simone stepped toward Reece. “Before you leave, please hear me out. The main reason I decided to visit the palace was so I could offer you my sincerest apologies and to ask for your forgiveness.”

“Forgiveness?” Reece answered in a high voice of disbelief. “Simone, whether or not you choose to apologize to me now, I will never trust you
or
your motives.”

Simone swallowed hard. “I understand that. I know I judged you prematurely, and believed that you didn’t belong in Pemdas. After I learned that my plans to have you traded to the Ciatron would have resulted in your death, well, I slowly became aware of the horrific monster I had become.” She diverted her eyes to the ground. “
I
am the one who is unworthy to live in Pemdas,” she said, as her voice cracked.

You deserve to live in a padded cell!
Reece thought in annoyance.

Simone looked at Reece with tears now filling her eyes. “Reece, I want to take this opportunity to make you aware of my earnest remorse about everything I did to you and our land. I have lost all of my friends, and my sister and father do not even treat me the same. I hope that, one day, they will all understand how I have changed. You may never forgive me, and I will understand if you don’t; I believe that I am getting what I deserve. Even so, I have acknowledged how wickedly I have behaved and I feel compelled to convey my deepest apologies to you.”

Reece felt somewhat bad for the woman. Simone’s malicious actions had cost her everything, and now Reece commended her for having the courage to apologize to her. Even though she could easily hate Simone for the rest of her life, Reece was a better person than that.

“I understand what it must’ve taken for you to be able to apologize to me, so thank you for that.” She managed a smile.

“Thank you for your forgiveness, Reece.”

T
he woman turned to run as soon as she proclaimed that Levi knew where the stone was. She ran briskly out of the parking lot and into a large field. She was overpowered when Levi grabbed her arm fiercely and forced her to the ground. Before she could defend herself, Levi was straddling her and holding the side of his sharp blade to her neck.

After he realized she was able to have read into his mind, Levi was no longer thinking rationally, but was more intent on his own self-preservation. He had to protect himself. She had to be destroyed.

Harrison calmly approached where the woman lay underneath Levi, her eyes wide and peering into his. “Levi, don’t do this,” Harrison ordered.

“She knows where the stone is!” Levi growled, as he pressed the side of the blade firmly against the woman’s throat. “How are you able to read my thoughts, Armedite?” he demanded.

Harrison advanced toward Levi from the side. “Levi, step away. Whether she knows or not, this is not your decision to make. I will deal with the woman.”

Levi ignored him. “How did you read my mind?” he insisted.

The woman closed her eyes and remained silent, infuriating Levi even more.

“Levi!” Harrison yelled.

Levi didn’t respond.

Harrison gripped his cousin’s shoulder. “You must remove yourself from her now. It is essential you leave; she is reading your mind, even now.”

Levi’s breathing relaxed, and Harrison’s grip loosened, knowing he had gotten through to him. Levi shouted angrily as he withdrew from the woman.

Once Levi was off of her, as the woman tried to flee, Harrison restrained her with locking devices around her ankles and arms.

Levi sank his dagger aggressively back into its sheath. His jaw clenched as he stared down at the woman sinisterly. It was repulsive to him that she could read his thoughts. Never in his life had he felt so vulnerable.

Rage and fury reignited within him when the woman smiled mockingly at him in return. He did not want this woman imprisoned in Pemdas. Her strong interest and threats about Reece gave him an overwhelming desire to end her life, whether or not Harrison agreed with him. After the thought of Reece entered his mind, he came back to his senses. He inhaled deeply and unclenched his fists, regaining control over his emotions.

The woman’s eyes widened as she continued to watch him. “
You
truly love this human.” she said as her eyes became mysterious. “Your love for her is more powerful than—”

“How are you reading my mind?” Levi roared.

“Leave us!” Harrison ordered him sternly. “I will take care of this from here. Contact the command center immediately, and tell them to send two men from Pemdas to retrieve her. I will await their arrival.”

Levi didn’t respond; he waited for the woman to answer.

“Levi! You must inform Samuel of this situation, now! You can no longer stay here; you are a risk. She is actively reading your thoughts, you must leave!” Harrison shouted out to him.

When Levi brought his attention to Harrison, his cousin exhaled in relief. Levi quickly nodded, and turned swiftly to remove himself from the Armedite woman’s presence.

Levi marched briskly through the field toward the parking lot and back to their car. Once inside, he contacted Samuel and notified him of the encounter and the new information about Michael. Samuel confirmed that he would have men dispatched to their location at once.

The Guardians who were assigned to retrieve the woman arrived within the hour, and left with her almost immediately thereafter. As soon as Harrison was seated in the passenger’s seat, Levi put the car in gear and sped quickly out of the parking lot.

“Was that woman able to see the location of the stone in my mind?” Levi asked.

“I am unsure; she hasn’t spoken a word since you left us. But I believe all she saw was that you have knowledge of the stone’s whereabouts.”

“Why would you assume that?” Levi asked, while staring intently at the road.

“Because it’s what I saw as well.”

Levi glanced over at his cousin, perplexed by what he had said. “My mind wasn’t open to you at that time.”

Harrison rested his elbow on his knee and twisted to face Levi. “That’s the strange part. I wasn’t trying to read your thoughts. I was still amazed by what that woman was revealing to you at the time. Then, one moment you grab her angrily, and the next thing I know your mind is projecting thoughts into mine. It was why you had to leave. When she validated your love for Reece, I realized that your mind was projecting thoughts into hers as well.”

Levi glanced over at Harrison in disbelief. How had his mind become weakened? What exactly had taken place when he gained this imprint from Reece?
This is absurd! My mind is projecting its thoughts? Impossible!
he thought as he stared out of the front windshield.

“This is odd,” Levi said softly. “This is exactly what happened when I first saw the location of the stone. Reece’s mind projected the images into mine. Queen Galleta mentioned that I now carry an imprint of the map.” He rubbed his forehead in utter confusion as to what was going on within him. “I have to speak to the queen about this when we return.”