Free The Guardian by Sara Anderson Page B

though. Would she even
believe him that they had such a close relationship with their Goddess?  
    She sat on the bench next to him. He moved closer and
wrapped his arm around her. Cassie stiffened at first, but then she relaxed
into his body. He would do his best to get her used to him touching her before
he took her to his bed, because as much as he dreaded her discomfort, his body
was eager to get on with it.
    She was beautiful in her soul as much as her body, and
her body ... her body was beautiful, too. She had luscious curves that could
handle a man his size. He had never been attracted to the little underfed women
that would break under him if he let his more animal instincts loose. He longed
to explore every inch of her body. He would do his very best to distract her
from the violent changes going on in within her, and then when the time came he
would help her to shift.
    A sudden dread dampened his thoughts. What if she chooses to be bitten?   It was a less intimate way to start the
change, unlike the mating bite, which was pleasurable. He had bitten halflings to start the changes several times when a full
shifter wanted to mate with a halfling . Only a
guardian could change a halfling into a full shifter.
If she chose to be changed by the bite, then that would be her choice and he
would honor it. Just because there was a bond pulling them together did not
mean they had to mate. It was just a magnetic pull between two souls. He
wondered if she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He sensed so many
different emotions coming off of her. He felt a stab of guilt at how their bond
would be formed, but for now he would let her eat and think about some of the
information he had given her.
    ****
    Cassie could feel she was running out of time. While
drying her body from her hot shower after breakfast, she felt the first
tendrils of pain returning, and her vision blurred slightly. The large bathroom
window was open, and she stared out at the wildflowers growing. She heard a
chattering sound that she could not place.
    She moved closer to the screen and blinked several
times. She rubbed her eyes sure she was seeing things. Is that a fairy? No way. Lana
did say they were around. I just didn’t expect to see them.   A tiny body with translucent wings was flying
from flower to flower and playing with the puffs of pollen that fluffed up. Cassie
saw another one, and they both jumped flips in the air. After her stunned shock
wore off she smiled. They were beautiful little creatures.
    A stab of pain went up her spine and into her skull.
She cried out before she could use her fist to muffle her cry. She clung to the
window sill while the pain sliced through her. She heard the door bang open and
turned her head. Michael stood in the doorway.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked worriedly. He looked around
the bathroom for the threat.
    Cassie shook her head while she tried to breathe
through the pain. “The pain is coming back.”
    His eyes widened. “Already?” He rushed forward and picked her up.
    Cassie tried to reach for a towel. “I need to cover
up.”
    “We are out of time. Whichever way you choose to
change you will not need them. By the end of this you will need to be free of
clothing.”
    He walked out of the bathroom and down the hall. He
passed the room she woke up in and opened a door to a stairway leading down.
“Where are you taking me?”
    “Downstairs, it has the space we need, and Lana’s
children will not overhear anything.”
    Her fear spiked as he walked down the stairs. The
walls were thick and had soundproofing board on them. “I’m scared.”
    Michael kissed her forehead lightly. “I am going to do
my best to control your pain.”
    Cassie fought to get free. “I can’t do this.” She felt
tears running down her face as she struggled to get free. “Let me go. I don’t
want to change.”
    Michael closed a heavy wooden door and locked it. She
felt like it was the lid of her coffin closing. She