whispered.
Nick stepped back and said, “You have to.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
Nick stepped aside so Caleb could come in. “He’s one of your Guardians. You need to talk to him.”
“I need to check on Gary and Tom,” I said even though I had seen them in the dining hall and knew they were fine.
“They’re fine,” Nick said. He turned to Caleb. “I’ll leave you two alone.” He leaned closer and whispered something to Caleb and then left.
Caleb shut the door and exhaled harshly. “I need to come clean with you and explain everything.”
I sat on the end of my bed and folded my arms across my chest. Did we really have to do this now? I’d just gotten Nick back and he’d finally kissed me. I wanted to do more of that and less serious talk.
“I’m the next in line to rule the Fae,” Caleb said. “The man who shot you is my father.”
“Is he dead?” I asked. At the time I hadn’t cared what the Triune had done with all the adults, but now I was curious.
Caleb shook his head. “The Triune just sent them away.”
I swallowed. “So, they could come back?”
He sat beside me. “No. The Fae won’t come back. Now that we’re bound, they have to treat you like they would a queen.”
“Plenty of queens have been killed,” I said.
“I won’t let them hurt you, Sarah. I was blinded by my father’s hatred. It had infected me and I had planned to convince the others to stage a revolt against you and the practice of having Guardians for witches.”
“What changed your mind?” I asked.
“You. I watched you and saw that you hated this as much as me. That you didn’t want this. I realized that we weren’t the only ones bound to a fate we hated.”
“You can just leave,” I whispered. Despite wanting to dislike him, it hurt thinking of him leaving. “I meant what I said. Anyone who wants to, can leave.”
“That’s not an option,” he whispered and turned to face me. “I’m sorry, Sarah. I screwed up and it almost cost you your life. I swear I won’t betray you ever again.”
He moved slowly, giving me time to pull away, but when I didn’t, he kissed me.
I pulled back, blushing. “I’m going to put you and any other Guardian in danger. It would be safer if you left.”
He brushed my hair behind my ear and smirked. “You should know by now that I don’t run from a fight.” He kissed me again, and I thought my heart might leap from my chest. This time, he was the one to pull back. “Will you have me as a Guardian?”
I wanted to say no, to continue believing he was bad.
I didn’t believe that, though.
I chewed on my lip a moment. “You’re okay with sharing? Because I’m not leaving Nick.”
He smiled. “Yes.”
“You’re sure?”
He slid a hand along my jaw, around the back of my head, and pulled me into a deep kiss. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
I nodded. “But if you betray me again, I’ll make you answer to my foster father.”
He smiled. “Deal.”
Caleb left me to rest, but all I could do was stare up at the ceiling.
Nick was back and wasn’t leaving me.
Caleb had saved me and made some type of bond. He hadn’t explained it, and I had been too frazzled by everything to ask, but I could feel it.
Now, I had four Guardians.
Four.
“Everything will be okay,” Chelle said as she nuzzled my hair. “Now, we can focus on your magic.”
With Alfred gone, the school needed a new combat trainer. It shouldn’t have surprised me when Dad showed up, but I stood with my mouth open as I watched him fighting a group of students.
When he finished kicking their butts, he smiled and waved me into the ring.
I hurried to him, threw my arms around his neck, and buried my nose in his shirt. His smell, as my Alpha, was one of the most comforting things in the world.
“Hello, Daughter,” he said as he hugged me. “You’ve had quite an exciting time since leaving the pack’s grounds.”
I laughed bitterly. “Yeah.”
Chelle whined.
“Oh, right. Dad, this is Chelle, my familiar.” I stepped back so they could see each other.
Dad knelt and held out his hand. “Welcome to the family, Chelle.”
She rubbed her head against his hand and then ran back to me. “He’s strong.”
Dad stood. “So, which of these boys are your current Guardians?”
Nick walked into the ring with his nose raised but