Chapter 273

Chapter 0273

It’s tiring work, trying to boost each other’s gifts, but it’s working and we’re getting better at it by the end of our training time. It’s about that time that I hear Liam talking to Dustin about Sarah having a real target. I know immediately that Liam plans to use himself as her real–life target.

He feels confident in his ability to heal but I’m not feeling great about him getting stabbed. I watch as Dustin gets Sarah ready in an attack stance and then as Cyran lunges at her. Sarah’s response is instantaneous. It’s a reflex response, she throws the knife at Cyran. I can see the trajectory of the knife and there is no way he can move fast enough to not get hit. It’s my instinct, I can’t stop it. Alessia pushes me to jump in front of Cyran and grab the knife.

It’s a bit like a movie. I grab the knife between my hands, just before it sinks into my chest. I stand there for a moment, shocked that it actually worked. Then Liam has shifted and is yelling at me.

“Angel!” He grabs the knife out of my hands. “I thought we agreed that you would never put yourself in between me and danger again.” He tosses the knife on the ground and grabs me by the shoulders, shaking me.

“It’s not something I can control Liam. I hadn’t planned on it, it just happened. Alessia saw you in danger and jumped in.”

He wraps his arms around me, holding me tight. “We need to rethink how we are going to fight against these vampires. I can’t constantly worry that you are going to jump in front of me.” He pushes back from me, looking at me. “We need to plan to be side by side the entire battle. That way we can both keep our promises. I can’t lose you.”

Rik and Cara come over to us. “I have to say, I agree with Angel. It’s not something that we can control. If it had been Rik, I would have jumped in. We need to reconsider how the five of us will be fighting.” She spreads her arm to include Clint. “We need to plan to be close together during the battle. If we, as Guardians, need to be close to boost each other’s gifts, then you, our mates, have to be close to us as well. Otherwise, we will break our ranks with each other to come protect you.”

Rik and Liam look at each other. “Okay. Let’s restructure our battle plan. We had already planned to have our Betas lead groups and Dad can lead his own group as well.”

“Agreed. That means that the five of us will be on the front lines.” Rik pulls Cara

into his side. “You stay by my side at all times little Guardian.” He tells her.

+15 BONOS

The reality of the pending battle is weighing heavy on me. There is no way that there won’t be casualties. What if it’s someone that I have developed a close, personal relationship with? These people are like family, how can I possibly lose any of them?

I look around, seeing my Guardian family, Rik and his family and pack, Dustin, Sarah, Jackson and our warriors. Who among this group won’t survive? How many will have to die for us to win? What if we don’t win? What happens if Cara, Clint and I are captured and held captive. Cara and I may not survive the death of our mates, but what about Clint.

And then there’s Sarah. I don’t know that she can survive the terror again. She’s just getting back to a semblance of normal, feeling somewhat safe.

As my mind starts to spiral out of control, I feel Liam’s strong arms wrap around me. “Calm down. I know it’s tough to think about, but you can’t let it get into your head. It can easily overwhelm you and shut you down. It’s war. It’s ugly and it’s messy and awful, but we will prevail. Those disgusting leeches won’t overtake us.”

Un as

I wrap my arms around Liam, holding if my life depends on it and, really, it does. When the time comes, it will be him and me. We will live or die, together.

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