Protecting What's His Novels & Stories

In the next second, he pulled me into him very tight I felt it immediately… the way his control cracked just enough for something real to come through. His face pressed against my hair, his arms wrapped around me like he was anchoring himself. “I…” His voice broke slightly before he stopped himself. I held him just as tightly. For once, he didn’t hide it. After a moment, he pulled back just enough to look at me, his hands coming up to cup my face. “I will protect you,” he said firmly. “Both of you.” His thumb brushed lightly against my cheek. “No one touches you,” he continued. “No one comes near you. I’ll burn everything before I let anything happen to either of you.”

But because it was true enough to matter. “You think I’m your enemy?” I asked. “I think you made a move,” he said. “And now you want me to pretend I didn’t see it.” Silence stretched between us, tighter now. “You’re making a mistake,” I said, my voice quieter but more controlled. “You’re throwing away something that could secure everything.” “I’m protecting what matters,” he replied. “And what is that?” I demanded. His jaw tightened slightly. “Definitely not you.” That was it.

He makes a broken sound in the back of his throat. His arms come around me—hard, possessive, like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he doesn’t hold on tight enough. “I’m supposed to protect you,” he rasps into my hair. “Not… not this.” I tilt my head back. Look up at him through wet lashes. “You are protecting me,” I say softly. “From everything else. From her. From… from him.” The word him hangs between us. Vane’s arms tighten fractionally. His voice drops to something dangerous.

He asked suspiciously. “I should have left your stupid job the first day I set eyes on you! You are a monster!” “You have no idea.” He smirked, slamming the door behind him. He locked it and walked to a small cabin a few feet away. Inside were the two men he had kept to watch her. “I don’t expect much trouble because no one knows she is here, but keep your eyes open.” He warned them. “If you hear anything strange don’t wait. Go in.” “Yes boss.” He walked to his car, now it was time for his mother to feel his wrath.

“And now you know you’re the heir of the Ambroise family.” What did he just say? I’ll be living in this unknown place starting today? And the heir of the Ambroise family? I disagree. I can’t just leave my comfort zone just like that. You can’t just leave me this responsibility. “I don’t agree with this,” I argued with my father, but he didn’t care. “You have to listen to me this time,” my father calmly told me, which took me back. His eyes were begging as if there wasn’t tomorrow. “It’s for your protection. Please listen to my selfish request.”

“Harsh but cute.” “Go away, Linus.” He ignored me, picking up a small rock and tossing it between his hands. “You know, you should thank me. I’ve kept your little secret safe.” “Out of the kindness of your heart?” He snorted. “Please. I don’t do kindness for free.” I sighed. “What do you want?” He looked at me then, serious for once. “Protection.” I frowned. “What?” He leaned forward. “I want you to protect me.”

He turned back. "I just want you to know," he said, "that whatever you are protecting, I am not going to use it against you.”

Alma had never experienced this, though the young girl stared at Alma with excitement and curiously, Alma could also see that the same eyes had two meaning. Her eyes were clearly screaming, “read my future, I dare you.” Alma smiled at the young girl, she would rather not show that she feared the seven-year-old. “Alma, did you ever see the protectors?” The young girl asked as smiled brightly at her. “Yes, and I'll tell you the story” Alma said as she smiled at the girl. “The protectors are the chosen ones of the Sovereigns. They are the strongest, fastest and most powerful of each race,” Alma wheezed out, trying to suppress a cough.

Kade said suddenly. I turned towards him, not quite sure I had heard correctly. My anger was flaring hot and fast. “Excuse me?” “You collapsed. You could have died.” “So I’ve been told,” I snapped at him, “Repeatedly.” I glared at him through the rear-view mirror. His gaze hardened. “This isn’t a joke.” “It’s my life not yours! You were hired to protect me, not control me. Mind your business.” A second passed. “I can’t do one without the other,” he said quietly.

“Contained. Untouched by decay.” “That’s not an answer." “It’s the only one that matters.” He steps back, releasing me fully. I stumble, catching myself against the shelf. “You don’t offer love,” I say hoarsely. “Or freedom.” “No,” he agrees. “Those are inefficient.” “Then what?” “Protection,” he says simply. “Continuity.” I laugh bitterly. “You think that’s enough?” “For now,” he replies. He turns to leave, then pauses. “One more thing,” he adds over his shoulder.