Page 101 of The Last Guardian

Rolling her eyes as she let go of me, Nefeli turned to face her brother. She scoffed, “Cranky, brother?” She tilted her head, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “You seriously need to get laid. Someone’s clearly frustrated.”

Zaidkiel glared at her, his eyes darkening as if they could send knives. I pinched my lips, trying not to laugh at their dynamics.

Nefeli turned to me again, bouncing up and down like an overexcited child who refused to go to bed.

A smile curled on my lips when Zaidkiel let out a frustrated sigh at his little sister. Older brothers being irritated by their sisters was a universal thing then, even for people who lived for thousands of years.

I glanced around the place, a welcome, cozy home. Relaxing. No gilded furniture, nothing extravagant. Just simple wooden objects.

“I have some business to attend to, and we won’t be leaving for a few days. I’ll elaborate later,” Zaidkiel explained to Nefeli. “Would you mind accompanying Alyana to her room?” His shoulders tensed. When he looked at me, his gaze softened. “We can continue the Rite tomorrow. Is that alright with you?”

“Yes, perfect.” I nodded. My fingers played with my necklace’s charm. “I need a good night of sleep before.”

A hint of a soft smile crossed his lips for a moment. Zaidkiel’s eyes lingered as if he lost himself in a memory.

Nefeli squirmed next to me as she cleared her throat. I averted my eyes, swallowing hard. Hells, the effect this man had on me was going to drive me mad.

Zaidkiel turned his back, moving in the direction of the door. His shoulders tensed with every step, and he disappeared through the doorway.

I gazed at Nefeli, who cast a furtive glance towards the door, as if sensing her older brother’s spirit lingering there.

At last, her expression awakened, and Nefeli narrowed her eyes at me. “Everything alright?”

With a nod, I smiled. “Of course.”

Arching a brow, without quite buying my answer, Nefeli mumbled with a grin, “Right.”

I squirmed, trying to avoid this discussion at all costs. “Where’s my room?”

Nefeli smirked but said nothing more as she gestured to the stairs. She led us up the squeaky wooden staircase, past rows of hefty doors embellished with old canvases, lit only by suspended chandeliers. No windows to let daylight in.

At the end of the corridor, she opened the door to a large bedroom with a regal four-poster bed adorned with immaculate white and scarlet linens and sheets. The walls were painted vermilion, and in front of the bed, a fireplace was already lit, embers glittering.

“Mine is down the hall.” Nefeli pointed in the opposite direction. “Feel free to ask for anything you need,” she added as I took in my surroundings. “There are some clothes on the dresser for the next few days, and the bathroom is the large door near the stairs.”

“Thank you,” I responded with a smile, longing for a long, hot bath.

Nefeli opened her mouth hesitantly but changed her mind. She just stared at me for a few seconds, her sapphire eyes glimmering, standing out against her white skin.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked.

A soft smile curled on her lips as she said, “I’m just relieved that you’re back.” Her eyes met mine, and she added, “Both of you.”

Before I could answer, Nefeli had already disappeared from the room.

IT FELT STRANGE to sleep in an empty room. Alone. Zaidkiel’s constant presence had become familiar over the past few days.

I cursed myself for thinking of him at all. My life was already complicated enough without letting my thoughts become wholly consumed by him. I tried to ignore this pull as I woke up and dressed in my leather, determined to focus on a day of training with Dax.

However, I was quickly distracted by a dark green book on my doorstep, with a sheet of paper on the cover bearing my name.

Frowning, I grabbed the hardcover and brushed my fingertips against the soft fabric. My heart skipped a beat when I opened it and read what was written on the first page in beautiful, elegant handwriting: “For that curious mind of yours. Z.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I nibbled lightly on my lips. Just below his note, I saw the book’s title. The Encyclopedia of Species by Rothinda Will-Willows.

My heart pounded as I stared at the book, as if it would answer all my questions and all my doubts.

Just as I was about to read the first page, Nefeli came out of her room, wearing a magnificent black tunic with silver threads. And, as was seemingly customary for her and Zaidkiel’s clothes, a wolf’s head motif was featured. This time, it was embroidered above her heart.