Protector

Protector

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#1.
5
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Companion

to

Son of Ra

Marked Like Me Series

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Cyndi Goodgame

Also by Cyndi Goodgame

(Fey Court Trilogy)

Deception Book One

Tainted Book Two

Betrayal Book Three

Guardian (Companion to Deception)

Mary Never Had a Lamb, She Was the Lamb (Twisted Paranormal Nursery Rhymes)

(Goblin
’s Kiss Series)

Denial  Book One

Yield Book Two

(Marked Like Me Series)

Orion Book One

Scorpion Book Three

Daughter of Anat Book Four

Shadow Queen Book Five

Protector (Companion Novella to Marked Like Me)

(Under Cover Series)

Under Cover Book One

Copyright © December 2012 Cyndi Goodgame

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of the publisher.  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.  This ebook may not be sold or given away to other people.  If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.  Acknowledgements go to the various authors of classic fiction who wrote so eloquently that their words have become easy to quote in today’s written word.

              ISBN:

             
[1. Supernatural-Fiction. 2. Vampires. 3. Valkyries. 4. Werewolves. 5. Hunters. 6. Gods and Goddesses. 7. Constellations   8. High School-Fiction]

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Summary:  The Vampire lord’s point of view for the book, Son of Ra.  Known as Thorn to his friends, Cas to her, t
he novel shows his take on his first encounters with Anastacia after kidnapping her from the Hunter school.

Prologue

              I don’t remember being born, but I remember her voice.  It’s strange, yes.  But she spoke.  She said things.  I didn’t know for years that it was even her.  Then one day,
I knew
.  She was there, in the court where I lived daily as the son of a Valkyrie.  I sought her out daily until her father found me spying on her.  If I could just tame my urges with her, the magical ones.  She and I had some kind of connection that wasn’t just telepathic.   I was young and knew nothing of anything but sightly love.  She was lovely then as she is now, but it wasn’t her beauty that captured me first.  It was her will. 

             
She was as strong then.

             
I love the idea of her long ago as a young girl.  She was brave, strong, independent (not by choice), and determined.  She had hoped to one day lead her own life and not be overshadowed by her father and his court.  That gave me hope back then.

             
Anastacia was different to me than other girls.  Smooth edges.  Deadly instinct.  Terrifying in just the right way.  But she didn’t have a choice in the matter.  She had no idea what the marks on her abdomen meant or that she wasn’t alone.  I wanted to see them.  I tried, but she kept it well hidden. Yes, her brother Szar was marked too, but that was meaningless to her.  She hadn’t met me or the others yet.  That gave me hope for the future.

             
And a constant fear.

             
I was different, chained by the life I lead.  Chosen.  For her.  Not because I knew that our marks would perhaps bring us together on some higher level (or hoped), but because I had to be who I was.  Head of the Vampire faction isn’t exactly the most loved of creatures.  I had to do some terrible things before.  Things that would spurn her away from me without a second thought.  She already developed a low opinion of me from the court faction gossip.  If and when she did meet me (which was soon and planned accordingly), and she came to hopefully notice me as an individual, would I repulse her? I was bad at one time in this life, but now I was worsened by the darkened deeds my faction kept leading us towards.  And I don’t deserve her after what I've done.  Maybe before, but not now.

             
But I want her and I will not give her up.  No one can take her from me.

             
I’ve seen her many times, from far away and only as a stalker in the night after the change.  If she knew how I worshiped her, she’d hate me in every way.  I knew it wasn’t natural, but nothing about her or I had ever been.  Watching her on every single mission her father sent her on and knowing that Szar and I were only a second away from any danger she might be in kept me sane.  On some level Szar knew the two of us were different,  caught the times I shout whispered things to her that didn't make sense, but he never let on.  She was meant for me.  Yet when she went to the Hunter school at my vehement opposition to the risk, she fell for the Hunter within minutes.  It took everything I hadn’t to uproot the callus ass and the crude friggin’ way he talked to her (as in the only suggestion I’d make to him would be to keep his ruddy hands to himself).  She was a piece of meat to him.  And she didn’t seem to care for it either, mostly.  That gave me hope.

             
Our time was coming soon and I wanted all with her to myself.  I knew she was innocent and unskilled in ways that were the opposite of her dangerous, killer abilities.  I wanted her to stay that way.  Knowing she had her first kiss with him made me sick.  Knowing he might hurt her made me sicker.  I wanted all of her and I didn’t want to share.

             
Yes, I have dated where she has not.  Yes, I have seen girls for years and made out with them more than my fair share.  But I held back my true desires.   I was trying to erase her memory.  And it never worked.

Chapter One

She was in trouble and her hand was bleeding, but it wouldn't be for long.  I could handle the bite it gave my skin (I w never hurt her.  I would kill myself first).  The burn inside was agony, but sadly, it turned me on when it came to her.  I’d shielded myself from it for years with the true pain of others who were just time wasters waiting on her.   The worst it ever affected me was at the clubs.  The main vampire clubs were forever keeping my faction busy with their messy clean ups.  So I took advantage of the being there with barely clothed women, not the blood.  It made a blood bank Vamp survive the unbearable.

All the time I danced with the high
as a kite females, my sad excuse of a man was picturing her.

I have killed.  Not for blood, but for the sacrifice of my faction.  If wayward Vamps were not taken care of, well vulnerable and Vampire just don
’t keep up together in the same sentence and expect to remain allusive and strong. 

The night of the party was here.  I'd refused to go out with Szar since the night after Anastacia put her mouth on the Hunter.  I was the crappiest friend to him since, but I wanted her face only in my mind. 

The Were yanked back Liam, my head guard and best friend.  He would take care of what I needed.  He was cut up, but ready with a sword nonetheless.  The party was an all out bloodbath and Anastacia would never see the end of it if I didn't get her out.

The
Were leader was my equal and he would be beside her as he said he would.  He was charged with the same rescue attempting task only I knew the outcome included only me getting the girl.  Save Anastacia Hathown at all costs, the girl who would change our world forever. 

I had arranged with her father to allow me to house her knowing he would see me as the stealthy lie low avenger that could save her over the others.  And I would.   Cord was a wild card.  Cord could have her if he got to her first.  He was smooth and effective with anything females.  They practically threw their clothes off for the guy.  I couldn't let him get to her first.

Cord was grabbing for her (and that is as close as he would ever get as in no friggin’ way is she to be touched by anyone but me) as Liam bade his time forcing them back.  Here was my cue.  Liam held on to her until I couldn't stand it anymore.  I latched on to her neck to see her safe no matter the cost.  Stealth was on my side.  Not one of the others here for her would catch on to the task I was given until the two of us were gone.  The other three fell to the ground losing sight of our target and burning their own selfish needs off with their fists.  She held her head in her hands showing me firsthand how she was far away in her mind from the fight at hand.  Cord was affecting her, or trying.  He was putting clues into her mind with his friggin' future jabs.  Damn wolf.  Damn marked wolf who shared some crazy connection with her like myself.

My hand closed around her waist giving me the warmth I craved just by touching her.  She seemed to sense my own fear and hatred for letting the
se other men near her(she didn’t know the real reason why), but she didn’t know that it was part of the plan.  It had to appear real.

The ache that ran heat through my body when she was near lit me up like a candle burning in below zero temperatures.  I was young the first time I realized what it was.  It was a cold day in December just after the first frost near my eleventh birthday.  I found her sitting in the wooded area reading a book and heard her read her book to herself only it
wasn’t out loud.  I guessed then that she must have been whispering low, but then she started to think things...not say things about the trees and birds around her.  After that I followed her for two weeks everywhere she went, I finally avoided her and closed off my mind.  Why?  She was able to hear me too.  I’ve guarded her closely ever since.

The Hunters were a little too late in seeing that she was with me and gone from their sights.  A small satisfaction settled inside my brain.  She panicked when she saw them worrying about what I was and that I held her neck too tight.  I loosened my hold to little or no pressure around her front and held her arms to her sides with my other hand.

Cassius!  That’s my name, Kissa.  But you can call me Cas.

Her head flicked up to mine.  She debated inside her own mind,
Did I just hear him?

Yes. 

She stared at my own cold eyes feeling the anger I had no control over. Her walls were built up, hiding who she was inside out of self-preservation.  I was at least glad she had some since there were times I’d seen her set her own safety aside.  She was safe now, but only just.

Anastacia reached for her dagger silently with the hand that fell free.  My face was hidden well, but the white of my eyes glowed bright by the way she stared.  My face was vacant like my life, except when I looked at her.  She filled me without knowing it.  She searched for the root of my anger, so I told her.

For those who would hurt you
.  She wasn’t even sure why I said that.

Of course, she had no idea why I felt this way, but she
’d soon find out.

Why does he hate so easy? 
And to protect me?  Aren’t you trying to kill me? 
She watched my eyes constantly trying to read me.
 
Maybe trying to force some answers.

She read at least that I meant no pain.  When she looked at the ring that was too large for her finger and wound around her neck, it sickened me to think about.   I confirmed her quizzical air by sliding it off her neck and sliding it onto my own hand as she watched it twist in my palm.  

Without this, your thoughts are unguarded, and unfortunately so are mine. 
My eyes searched hers.

Why?  How can I do this?
  She figured out the ring so friggin’ fast.  She was the most intelligent female I have ever seen.

I had to make you know.
Because, princess Anat, you are the one who has us all.  You can contr—

I averted myself.  She
wasn’t by far ready for all that information no matter how eager I was to make her see.  And fall in love with me. She could control the factions one day, or so her father said.  I trusted her father and mine to account for the tell-all coded letters.  Our mothers dying in childbirth all on the same day and sharing a birthday seemed to seal the deal when they first told me many years ago.  But it her that convinced me.  I watched her train.  I listened to her mind.  She was magical in her own right and she had no idea.

Control?  I can control you.  Well, how do you freaking know my name? 
She struggled to free herself, her eyes glowing green in the moonlight.  My own breath died away.  
Just try, my lady.  And it is not all.  Just the descendants, the ones who are connected to you.

She let her mind ponder my intentions as well as how we might be lifted into the air.  She
shouldn’t trust me and she knew this.   I wasn’t giving her enough information to process and what I did was confusing her more, but she was actually contemplating going with me.  See, her self-preservation was little to none.

The idea that we, the four men connected to her, are all part of this weird plot was
still confounding me.  I didn’t want to share.  But the magic surrounding the two of us was growing stronger even standing this close to her.  Could she feel it?  I didn’t think so.  My emotions were already buzzing with higher energy than I had ever felt at just touching her.

I noticed her staring intently at the ground reasoning things out,
All my allies  are gone.  My friends.  Where are they?

I answered her hoping to appease her.  I already wanted her without pain and I only just physically met her.  Granted, she thought more of me as a kidnapper.  Walls were reforming and breaking apart with each new thought.

Perhaps they deserted you.  If you don
’t go with me, Borgon will have the Elves and their warriors kill you.  The Weres almost had you.  You stay, you die Kissa.

Anastacia didn’
t understand how hard it was on me.  The hardships I have endured.  I know she has dealt with neglect and a life of training all for this moment in her life.  I know she endured loneliness and a sense of fear that she let no one know about, not even the friends she was allowed to have.  But I could save her.  I could take that all away.

She searched the ground below. 
No one?
 
Where are they?

I painstakingly could see her try to make it come together. 
I would love to sit here and listen to you puzzle this out, but I really must be going.

“Stop that!” she snapped loudly in the air hating the mind connection.  I knew she would, but it still depressed me.

No one is coming. 
She sighed long and with a sad heaviness.
  I can't take him, he is too strong.  Why is that?

You'll know soon enough.

She succumbed somehow realizing I didn't want to hurt her or I would have already done it.   She snapped a second time, “Alright!  It looks as though I haven’t a choice.”

For now.

I felt her shiver as the cold air caressed her soft pliable skin that stayed in my grasp.  We crossed the forest of trees that I know she recognized from her trips to town with the Hunter.    Her hair fell against my cheek and all manner of thoughts entered my brain that were far from safe.  She shivered again and I pulled her close to keep her warm.  Then...she started to think about the Hunter. 

She listed each of his attributes that seemed to aid her in some odd way.  She called herself lost, but now found.  What did that mean?

She even listed our factions. 
Vampire tides.  Werewolf tides.  Hunter tides.  And most recently...Elf!

Don
’t underestimate the Elves just because they are unseen!

Ugh
! 
STOP
! Her eyes lit up with frustration and I felt her tense up.

Can
’t princess.  I need you!  And your mind is so intriguing to hear. 

Need!  Define your need? Don't you get enough Vampire mind talk elsewhere?
   She pursed her lips.

I watched you for a long time.  I know you.  And you'll know me soon enough. 

She cussed at me
.

Lady like, are we? 
I didn’t like her using such language from that perfect mouth.

Almost to my home, she asked in her head,
Where are we?

My home.

She might not be talking to me intentionally, but I desperately wanted her to know I can meet her needs.  She wiggled her head to look down so I loosened my hold just enough for her to see.

I have no intention of hurting you. 

Just the opposite if I can keep from painting myself as the idiot point of evil she sees me as right now.  She didn’t ease her shoulders by any means, but she did let her heart rate slow a touch.  Only a touch though.

Her brain registered that she was in familiar territory not unlike her own court as our feet tapped down near the open door balcony of my den.  My arms around her shoulders, I watched her eye her ring hooked onto my pinky.

She looked at me, my face, through the shadows so I offered a smile in earnest.  She was actually trying to read my own thoughts about herself.  For her to even attempt seeing my point of view was amazing in itself.  And then...she recognized me.  I stiffened fearing the worst so I hid deeper in the darkness. 

Reluctant as I was, I let go of her silky skin and went into the den allowing her to survey her surroundings and conclude that no threat was intended in her presence.  I felt her thoughts drift toward the ground below and knew she was contemplating escape.  

“You can make yourself comfortable.  I’ll show you to your room shortly,” I told her letting myself speak aloud and hating the disconnected feel it left inside me.  I selfishly wanted to have her thoughts and know that no one else would, but that is moving too fast.  First, we had to get past the whole kidnapping, I'm the devil part. 

“You aim to keep me here?”  I couldn't answer that just yet.  Her sigh left me nervous and full of hatred for the stupidity of Borgon and his plot to take her from me.  He only played along with this whole ploy because of his greater plan that he assumed we knew nothing about.  But we knew.  We all knew. 
Except her.