Chapter 134

Chapter 0134

“Yes, I am Cara Nelson. It’s nice to meet you, King Ailduin.” Do I curtsy? Bow? I have no idea. But luckily he doesn’t seem offended by my lack of a gesture.

“May I have the name of your wolf Cara Nelson.”

Artemis pushes forward. “I am Artemis.” The king’s eyes brighten and a smile lights up his face. “Named after the Goddess of the Hunt I assume?” He asks her.

She nods her head in agreement. “It is my pleasure to meet you Artemis, the first Guardian born of two Guardians.‘

He turns to my father. Donovan has already pushed forward. “I am Donovan, Clint Nelson’s wolf. Guardian to Anders and father to Artemis.”

“It is an honor to see you again, Donovan, Guardian of Anders and father of Artemis.”

“What do you mean, again?” Donovan asks.

“I know you are here for answers. Those will take some time. Please, you must be hungry. Would you join me for lunch and afterwards we will begin the journey of finding answers to all of your questions.” He looks at Rik. “I assume that everyone is staying overnight?”

“Yes. We are prepared to stay two nights if necessary.” Rik responds. King Ailduin looks even happier than before if that’s possible.

“That is excellent. Please follow me.”

He takes us down a hallway to a small dining room. An intricately carved rectangular wooden table sits in the center of the room. It is already set for us. King Ailduin walks to the head of the table.

“Please, Alpha Anders, Guardian Donovan, would you do me the honor of sitting beside me?” He gestures to the seats on either side of his. They both move to their seats. As Rik and I begin to walk to the seats beside our fathers, we hear footfalls running down the hall. King Ailduin looks exasperated as a younger version of him comes running into the room.

Rik immediately turns to him. “Aolis!” He walks over, lifting him up in a hug and swings the young man around.

“Alpha Rik. It’s good to see you again.”

Rik puts him down, looking him over. “You as well. You’ve grown into quite a

+15 BONOS

young man since I last saw you.” He tells him. “Please, come meet my girlfriend and our fathers.”

Over lunch, I learn the history of how Rik met King Ailduin and of Aolis’s rescue that brought him here. After hearing the story, I turned to Rik. “So, you used your favor with King Ailduin to give me a book on the history of my parents?”

If I hadn’t already fallen in love with this man, I would have at this moment. He could have asked for anything, but he used his favor to give me something that is invaluable to me.

“I knew it was important to you, and that made it important to me. I wanted you to have it.” His gaze was intense, and I couldn’t look away. Artemis pushes forward to show her appreciation as well.

Someone clears their throat and breaks the spell. I look away, but I see Rik smiling out of the corner of my eye.

After lunch, we head back to the library. While we were away, it appears that the fae have set us up with a study center. Computers, printers, notepads, pens, everything we may want or need as we learn about our history.

When we reconvene around our study table, King Ailduin starts.

“First, you should know that the Fae have been the keepers of the Guardians history since the dawn of the Guardians.”

Dad interrupts him. “Then why have I not heard of you before today?”

“It is a good question and one that may best be saved for another day.”

It’s Anders that jumps in this time. “Does it have to do with the reason that the alliance between the Fae and the Werewolves ended?” He asks.

“It doesn’t have to do with the reason, it is the reason.” King Ailduin says.