Free Aurora Rising by Alysia S Knight Page B

him a moment than eased him away. “I see you’re all right today.”
    His head bobbed up and down. “You saved me. I was going to fall. My room collapsed. It was scary but you rescued me.”
    There was no keeping back her smile. He was so delightful she forgot about everyone watching.
    Tad leaned back in her arms and looked at her, his eyes going wide. “You’re a Guardian.” His voice was full of awe. His face alight with amazement.
    “Yes. I am.” Rori felt the words as she said them. Holding the boy she could still easily picture hanging out on debris, now safe in her arms. Rori knew whatever she faced, she was where she was meant to be.
    A second later, Dena reached them followed by a medium height man with the same brown hair and eyes as his son.
    “Tad.” There was gentle admonishment in Dena’s voice.
    “It’s all right. He was just saying hello.” Rori turned to her with a smile.
    “Thank you. And for last night, thank you. I never told you but I can never thank you enough.” Tears came to the mother’s eyes.
    “You just did. I’m happy I was there to help.”
    Dena smiled. “Oh, you haven’t met my husband, Harvus.”
    Rori turned to him. “Hello.”
    “Welcome and thank you.” The man opened his arms and Tad went to him. “You’re the new Guardian?” The man looked to her and then to Keyen who nodded and added a greeting.
    “Yes, I just arrived here. I’ve been at an Ag-unit.”
    “I will say welcome again and thank you for my son. I’m on the tech-team so will see you in the future. For now, we’ll let you get to your dinner.” After a brief good-bye, the man led his family away with Tad waving over his father’s shoulder.
    Rori was still watching them walk away when Keyen leaned close to her ear. “And when you’re bone-deep tired, in pain, and you wonder why you are doing this, if it could possibly be worth it, just remember this and the answer will always be…”
    “Yes,” she finished for him.
    A few minutes later they sat down to eat. Rori was again conscious of the attention she was getting. Knowing it wasn’t going to change, she decided to experiment with it. Opening up her mind, she reached out immediately the feelings intensified. She could almost hear their words. “Who is she? She’s dressed like a Guardian. Never seen her before.” There were even a few telltale flashes of envy. She glanced at Keyen.
    “Do you know several women in the room have a…” she paused to come up with the right term, “have an ardent desire for you?”
    “Really.” He glanced around quickly then back to her. “Which ones?” He grinned back teasingly before shifting to serious. “You’ll learn fast that there are those who will seek you out because you’re a Guardian, some pressured from their families because they want such a strong talent in their family.”
    Rori knew what he was saying was true, even though her parents were only mid-range talents. She knew from her grandfather many people sought out higher talents. Her mother’s parents had been ecstatic that her father was from a high talent. It was common that offspring from strong talents were usually at least mid-talents, though it all just came back to genetics and luck.
    “You want me to point them out?” she returned teasingly.
    “No, I like the company I’m with tonight.”
    Rori felt a wave of heat. Silence dropped over them. Keyen finally broke it. “I take it you’re readings people?”
    She nodded.
    “Tell me.”
    “It kind of feels overwhelming but I can handle it. Mostly what I’m getting is curiosity, but I knew that all ready. It’s just a whole lot stronger now that I’m focusing on it.”
    “You ready to try an experiment then?”
    “You mean on these people, the whole room?” She couldn’t hold back her disbelief in what he suggested.
    “Why not? There probably won’t be a better chance, and it’s a whole lot better than a dry run on panicked people.”
    Rori understood what he was