Free Guardian of My Soul by Elizabeth Lapthorne Page A

wasteland you seem convinced it is. You have
dark patches encompassed fully by silvery, pure light. You are a good person,
Sally Bowry. You have enough light within your essence for three witches, and I
don’t ever want to hear you state otherwise or there will be consequences. Do
you hear me?”
    Once again Sally appeared caught somewhere between laughter
and annoyance. She stared silently into his eyes for a minute or more. Kyle
refused to blink or look away, willing her with every fiber of his being to
hear and see the truth behind his words.
    Finally, she nodded, still unable to speak. A part of Kyle
wanted to press her, hear for himself that she believed him, but he knew better
than to press her just now. Sally might appear outwardly to be meek or
biddable, but she had an astonishing streak of stubbornness inside her. If he
pushed, she likely would dig her feet in.
    Kyle pressed a tender kiss to her temple and once again
inhaled her flowery scent. He knew they should get up, shower and get ready for
the day but he wanted to hold onto the intimacy of this moment for just a few
seconds longer. Sally spoke softly, breaking into his thoughts.
    “Why didn’t you tell me before now how your coming for me in
the darkness left its taint on you?”
    Kyle’s heart stopped for a moment until he reminded himself
to breathe. For a crazy second he thought about denying such a claim, until he
remembered she had seen his soul just as he had viewed hers. Denying it was not
possible.
    Until his dying breath Kyle had never wanted Sally to know
the true cost coming after her had placed upon him. Never had he planned to
give Sally even a hint of the stain he had brought back with him. Lightning
quick he ran through his options of how to be honest—for he never wanted to
outright lie to his witch—without fully divulging every sordid detail.
    Sally already carried enough of a burden about that time. He
refused to add to it.
    “What makes you think it was when I came for you, love?” he
replied with what he hoped was a casual tone. “Think about the work we do, the
darkness we face on every mission. The manner in which we fight, the power we
need to expend when need calls for it. Our work has left its stain on me,
Sally. I’ve tried telling you before I have darkness within me. It’s different
to yours, but holes nevertheless. Are you repulsed?”
    Kyle winced at the almost pleading sound to his voice when
the last sentence slipped out. He hadn’t meant to ask that. The worry had been
subconscious, not overt. Instantly, however, Sally pressed her body into his
and kissed him fiercely. Kyle automatically responded deeply in kind, loving
the spontaneous gesture and hungrily eating at her soft, full lips. When they
pulled apart they were both panting.
    “Don’t be ridiculous,” Sally replied as she caught her
breath. “I could never be repulsed by you, Kyle. Never. Your magic is strong
sincere, far stronger than I had realized previously. I just hated the thought
I might be responsible for your carrying a burden.”
    “If you recall, sweetheart, it was I who insisted we become
Guardians,” Kyle replied with a small smile, relieved at such a convincing
response to his timid question. “We could have done practically anything. This
was my idea, you just followed along.”
    Sally huffed out a breath and sat upright, folded her legs
to the side and glared down at him with an astonishing regal manner.
    “I don’t follow along with anything,” she insisted. “I
weighed our options and decided your idea had merit. That’s something totally
different.”
    Delighted with the teasing tone in her voice, Kyle pressed
his luck. Grinning impishly he winked saucily at her and rested a hand up high
on her inner thigh, his fingers dangerously close to intimate territory.
    “Go on,” he purred temptingly. “Admit it. You’d follow me to
hell and out the other side. Wouldn’t you? I freely admit I would do so for
you, love.”
    Sally