Free Guardians of Stone (The Relic Seekers) by Anita Clenney Page A

vision. Without the blood and bones.”
    “You saw this place?”
    She nodded. “When I touched the drawing of the box. We have to be careful. There’s danger here.”
    That was obvious by the obstacle course they’d encountered getting here. “We need to leave. Now.”
    “
Alt
!” a voice growled behind them.

CHAPTER FIVE

    K ENDALL SPUN, HER heart racing. This was no goat herder. He was tall, and he wore a long, dark garment, something between a robe and a ninja outfit. His hair was dark and hung past his shoulders. Tattoos covered one side of his face, making it as hostile as the dagger sheathed at his side. Narrowed, amber-colored eyes drilled into hers. “Who are you?”
    Jake moved in front of Kendall, his body brushing hers, close enough that she could feel the tension vibrating through his muscles. “My wife and I are honeymooning. We were hiking and got lost.”
    “How did you get past the wall?” the man asked.
    “We uh...climbed,” Kendall said. “The vines...”
    “You must leave,” he said. “I’ll escort you out.”
    Kendall looked at the dagger. “What is this place?”
    “It is private.” The man continued to stare with those strange eyes. Jake stared back, his tourist face never wavering.
    “Couldn’t we take a peek around outside first?” she asked. “Those statues are amazing.”
    “She’s always loved old places, haven’t you, love?” Jake planted a kiss on her hair.
    “No one is allowed here,” the man said, but his focus was on Kendall.
    “Could we see the garden before we go?” Jake kept his tone friendly. “I’m studying plants native to Italy.”
    The man looked up at the sky, which was darkening quickly. He frowned and moved his hand closer to his dagger. “Just the garden. Then you must leave.”
    Jake took a step, keeping her close to him.
    “Not her,” the man said. “Women are not allowed.”
    No women
? Ordinarily, that would have had Kendall fuming, but an ancient mentality fit perfectly with an ancient secret order.
    They were in the right place.
    She saw the struggle in Jake’s eyes. He didn’t want to leave her alone, but he wanted to get closer to the castle. “Do you mind?” The look on his face gave her no comfort—the fake smile paired with the set of his shoulders that made him look relaxed but masked tension.
    “I guess I have no choice.” She was still irked, even though it meant they’d found the secret order.
    Jake shifted his pack, and one hand darted quickly behind him. He turned to her and his façade slipped. “Stay here,” he whispered. “Don’t move from this spot. I’ll see if I can find a way inside the castle.” He grabbed her in a newlywed hug, dropped a hard, quick kiss on her lips and fondled her butt. He was back in character again as he followed the stranger.
    She watched them walk to the garden, feeling the gun Jake had shoved down the back of her pants digging into her skin. He pretended to study the trees, but she knew he was searching for a way inside. Every minute or so, he glanced back toward her, presumably making sure she hadn’t moved. She started to sit on a big rock near one of the walks so she could rest her feet, but she was afraid she’d shoot herself in the butt. She stood, studying the place, trying to equate reality with her vision. It was the same castle, without the horror. It reminded her of something from afairy tale. She could almost picture Merlin inside, practicing his spells.
    The place might not be cursed, but there were secrets hidden here. She could hear them whispering. She wasn’t sure if they were trying to get her attention or warn her away, but the feeling persisted that she had been here. That often happened with her visions. Sometimes she wondered if she was traveling to another dimension in her sleep. She checked on Jake again. As if he sensed her watching, he turned and met her gaze. He continued to move around the garden, while keeping her in sight.
    She was burning with