“Yeah, Mom. They haven’t marked each other but can already feel each other’s emotions,” Hunter said, providing this information to someone who was much more knowledgeable.
Lita looked over at Asher. “That didn’t happen to us until after we marked each other. That must be an incredibly strong connection. Something like that …”
“Isn’t just an accident, right?” Freja added with a smirk.
“No, it looks like this was a gift from the Moon Goddess.” Lita smiled. The Moon Goddess knew about the treaty, and this was a beautiful gift to give the two heirs. She gave them an unbreakable bond with one another. A marked soulmate couple couldn’t be ruined by misunderstandings, because they could read each other’s mind. They could hear their thoughts. They would know them like they knew themselves. It meant baring your soul more than any other mate. But it was also worth it,what with the unconditional love, respect, and trust that came with it.
Aedan stared at Derrick quietly. He saw how he was holding Lucie possessively. Even the way he looked at her was like she was a treasure he was greedily protecting. But he wasn’t convinced yet. He would need to hear more of his story.
“We need to have a little chat, I think,” Aedan said quietly, keeping an intimidating gaze on Derrick.
Derrick smiled and nodded his head. “I figured as much.” He rubbed his hand over Lucie’s shoulder gently. If her brother cared about her like he was told, this was only natural. And he wanted to talk to Aedan as well, since he would be relying on him to keep his little mate safe.
“So, Mom … about Justice?” Chasen asked, seeing his son shifting from side to side anxiously.
“There has never been a guardian who wasn’t a werebear. But Chasen is right. If the power accepts you, then you were meant to be. It’s up to Hunter. Hunter is the one who must feel her guardian and decide who it is. That’s how it works. He can’t force it either. You feel it inside …” Lita raised a hand and placed it over her chest. “It’s how I knew Brody and Chasen belonged to me. It’s how Reiya was able to pick Mikah, even though he was dangerous in the beginning. But Grayson was able to straighten him out.”
“Nothing a few gentle slams couldn’t correct.” Grayson chuckled.
“Hey, um … Ryan.” Justice cleared his throat, noticing he seemed a bit uncomfortable about the guardian idea. “If it ends up being me, you don’t have to worry, you know? Like I’d never hurt Lucie. Not even by accident.”
“I trust you, Justice.” Lucie looked at him and smiled. She could get behind the guardian thing if it was Justice. He was always around her anyway. But she had one question. “Wouldthis mean he would always be my guardian?” She looked at her grandparents.
“Yes. There is no taking the guardian power away.” Lita glanced at Justice, understanding Lucie’s point.
“This would mean connecting your life with Lucie’s. Wherever she goes, you will go. Whether it be the vampire kingdom or Elysia. But as you’ve seen, the whole mate tradition has been changed.” Lita smiled, looking at Chasen and Jin.
“Yeah, I’m not going to be celibate or anything like Uncle Grayson, but I don’t mind following Lucie. And I think this would make the family feel more at ease, knowing I’ll always be by her side.”
Grayson chuckled. “I didn’t take a mate. I never said I was celibate.”
“Whoa! Uncle G … I never knew,” Justice said with a big grin.
“I don’t exactly broadcast my private life.” Grayson shook his head. He never took a mate. He didn’t want one. But he was still a male, and he had needs.
“Well, I don’t know if I have a fated mate or not, but I definitely plan to have a family one day,” Justice said with a shrug.
Lita looked over at Hunter.Don’t just pick him because he wants it. It doesn’t work that way. Connect with that part deep inside you, where your fairy magic resides. It’ll help guide you. It has a will of its own and it will help you choose the right guardian.
Hunter interlaced his fingers with Freja’s and looked into her green eyes. It had been a while since he’d really connected with the fairy magic that existed deep inside him. There had been so much peace that the need for that kind of deep power hadn’t arisen. It has been twenty years since he’d needed to fight with everything he had.
He searched inside, where his energy swirled, energy that was also connected to Xander and Reiya. One he hadn’t connected with in a long time. He watched as it circled around him in red ropes. Fairy magic worked differently from other magics. You willed it and it came to light when you needed it. You developed your magic over time. And because of the need for a guardian, it was awakening. The magic was searching for a protector for their potential heir.
He watched as a bright green rope swirled around Lucie but also connected with Justice, circling together in a figure-eight motion. The energy was connected already. But what was fascinating was how a white glow emanated from both Derrick and Lucie. The glow pulsated together and in perfect rhythm. It was a light he couldn’t see until he pulled his fairy magic forward. And both of their lights were reaching out to Justice, as if it already knew he was the one.
Hunter didn’t know what that all meant, but one thing was obvious … Justice was meant to be Lucie’s guardian.
“I guess I’ll be needing to make a trip to Elysia for the guardian ceremony to transfer powers,” Hunter said quietly. He watched Justice’s shoulders slink in disappointment. “Hope you’re ready for the life you’re signing up for, Justice.”
“You mean it?” Justice’s eyes grew wide as Hunter grinned and nodded. “Hell yeah! I’m going to be a guardian!” He jumped into the air and raised his fist.
“This will be very interesting. He’s the first one that isn’t a werebear. It’ll be interesting to see his power merge with fairy magic.” Lita looked at Asher and shrugged with a smile. He was already thinking the same thing she was. Since they were soulmates as well, they knew each other’s thoughts, and they were both thinking this was not a coincidence. Somehow, the fact that he was a sword-wielding guardian was even more significant. Somewhere they would see a connection to thevision of the girl wielding a sword in the future. A future that would one day come to pass.
CHAPTER 29
“I’d like to head to Elysia immediately so we can start his training now,” Hunter said looking up at his parents.
“What’s the hurry?” Asher asked
