Her face screwed up as if she were still having problems articulating. “Deleted but… brought back.”
It was Cal’s turn to sayfuck. He looked at Juston. “I can’t believe it. She goes from catatonic to being a better hacker than Nojan, all in the space of an hour?”
“She’s the Guardian. What more proof do you need, bro?”
Cal held her tighter. “Do you know what we’re talking about, little one?”
“Guardians spirits… for the Goddess of Light… and her twins.” Cal could see the struggle she was facing, but the words were undeniably connected. “Scattered to the cosmic winds.” She frowned. “Seekers. Demons. Crown Prince of Hell.”
What the fuck? Now she was an encyclopedia of arcane knowledge? She’d had fifteen minutes max at the console, according to Charlie. How had she discovered all of this?
“You got it,” Juston said. “We think you’re a Guardian, and the spirit inside you needs to be awakened.”
“Yes,” Gemma said, bringing her gaze back to Cal and burning him with her beautiful blue eyes. “Awaken me.”
“Could you give us some privacy?” Cal asked his brother. “Please?”
Juston frowned. “I’ll be right outside this door. I don’t know how much time we have, so you better make yourconversationquick.”
When the door shut behind him, Cal spoke rapidly. “I don’t think you understand what you’re asking, my darling. If you awaken fully as the Guardian, your life will irrevocably change. You’ll be set on the path to defeat evil, and you’ll never have another moment of complete safety. Everything will be different.”
“Want… different,” she said, emotion overwhelming her face, making it difficult for her to get her words out straight. “You opened… inside me. No more blur. I can… think. Speak. When I awaken, it will… last. I will… be free.”
Cal shook his head. “You may be free from one problem, but you’ll be stepping into a whole host of other troubles. Ones that may be much worse than what you’ll be giving up.”
Gemma pulled him closer. “You don’t understand. Nothing worse… than trapped in own mind. Please free me?”
Those last words had their desired effect. “Okay, little one, you’ve made your choice. I hope it’s the right one.”
He sealed the agreement with a kiss and soon was lost in her sweet little mouth.Taking her virginity is likely the wrong decision but it might just be the most powerful experience of my life.
The reminder of what was to come made him pull back. Cal traced her mouth with his finger. “My darling, in order to fully awaken you, I need to take your innocence. I’m sorry.”
She gave him a small smile. “It’s okay.”
“But you don’t get it,” he said, his expression serious. “If I’m wrong, you’ll have lost your virginity to me for nothing.”
Gemma laughed and he almost dropped her out of surprise.She’s laughing?
“Want you so bad. Not for nothing.”
He smiled. “Cheeky.” Then the corners of his mouth turned down. “And if I’m right, well, things get even more complicated.”
He released her, then stood and started pacing. “You see, my darling, as one of the heirs to the Vartik throne, I have certain responsibilities. That means that I can’t—”
There was a knock at the door, and then Juston stuck his head into the room. “Grimm is coming this way, and he’s got someone else with him. A new doctor.”
Cal’s heart stopped in his chest. He frowned. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but we’ll have to continue this conversation in the near future.”
“Don’t go!” she said, flinging her hand out to him and breaking his heart in the process.
“I’m sorry, dearest. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Then he was ducking out the door, just before Grimm and his companion stopped in front of it.
“Well, and how’s our patient doing?” he asked, his tone mocking. “Ready to turn her over to the experts yet?”
“She’s exhausted,” Cal said, his tone firm. “You should let her sleep.”
The woman beside Grimm let out a giggle. “You’re right. He is bossy.”
