Her Guardians - A Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance(26)

Gage revved the engine, and the exhaust popped noisily. I covered my ears, and he drove off pretending not to notice .

I was about to go back inside the temple, maybe get a few hours of sleep when my phone buzzed .

“Aw shit,” I said staring at the screen. Lorne wanted me to meet up with Gage at the cemetery. She’d heard rumors of a necromancer in the area, and she hadn’t approved anything .

My phone beeped again. I looked at her message telling me not to engage .

“Am I supposed to wish him well?” I mumbled .

The phone beeped again. “Not funny .”

I called up Gage. “You get the message from Lorne ?”

“Yeah, want me to come back and pick you up ?”

“Please, dear God, no. Meet me at that park over there .”

“You bet,” he said and hung up .

It didn’t take me long to get over to the park. I considered walking to the cemetery myself and taking matters into my own hands, but Lorne would have been pissed. She was about the last person in the world I wanted to piss off. After all, she’d saved my life .

I never talked about it to anyone other than her. In fact, Lorne and I had only talked about it a handful of times after it happened .

I remembered it like it was only yesterday ….

She’d found me in a hospital. There were tubes and wires everywhere, several broken bones. I’d almost died, and at the time I kind of wished I would have .

I wouldn’t have been able to pay for the hospital stay. But then she’d paid me a visit .

It was almost time for her to leave. The nurse had just given me my meds to help me sleep and was about to leave the room .

“Now, you go on and let him rest,” the woman said placing her hand on her hip but flashing Lorne a bright, friendly smile. “This boy needs to sleep so he can get himself out of that bed. Ain’t that right ?”

I didn’t answer, but I had blinked my eyes which had apparently meant yet .

“Told ya,” she said lightly placing her hand on Lorne’s shoulder. “See you tomorrow .”

After the nurse left, Lorne got up and closed the door. She walked over to the bed and sat down .

I hadn’t known Lorne, but she’d visited me almost every day since I’d been in the hospital. At first, I was worried she was someone I’d known and had lost my memory .

“My name is Lorne .”

I blinked .

“I’m here because what happened to you is entirely my fault .”

I blinked twice and tried to shake my head. I’d been attacked by a group of five young kids. It hadn’t had anything to do with her .

“Just listen,” she’d said brushing my hair out of my eye. “Those boys,” she leaned closer, “were werewolves .”

Dreaming. I was dreaming. It all made sense. This woman wasn’t here, she was just a figment of my imagination. Maybe the drugs it must have been because of all the drugs they had me on .

“I tried to stop them, but I hadn’t gotten to them in time. They got you first. They thought you were one of mine .”

She’d held my hand .

“I feel terrible. Your bill will be paid for, and you will have nothing but the best care. When you leave this place, I want you to come visit me.” She’d told me her name and address .

“I’ll forget,” I mumbled .

“You won’t .”

She stood over me and rubbed her hands together. They started to glow a brilliant shade of orange. She’d placed them on me while muttering something and I’d instantly felt better .

“Remember to come see me.” That was the last thing she’d said before leaving the room .

The next day I was fifty percent better. No one could figure out what had happened .

Needless to say, it had been magic. The rest is history. She’d explain everything and then offered me a job .

I’d been with her ever since. She’d taken care of me, and while I’d never be able to thank her enough, she still hadn’t forgiven herself for what had happened to me .

I looked around and finally after a solid ten minutes heard Gage’s piece of shit coming down the road. He parked behind me, and we both got out at the same time .

“Come on newbie,” I said gesturing for him to follow .

We walked over to the cemetery side by side. I could feel the temperature drop once we got closer to the back. Gage met my eyes, and I was sure he’d noticed too .

“Back there,” he said gesturing .

I nodded. “She heard right .”

I started to march over to the guy with the painted face, but Gage grabbed my arm to stop me. “Don’t engage .”

“I feel like engaging .”

“Lorne would not be pleased. Let’s report back and await further instruction .”

I threw my fist into the air and groaned. “You’re such a wuss .”

“No, I’m just not stupid. Let’s go. Would you rather hit this guy and piss off Lorne, or report back and stay on her good side ?”

“I really, really want to hit the guy, but I don’t need to be on Lorne’s bad side .”

“Come on, tough guy .”

I followed him out of the graveyard watching him peck at his phone. He didn’t have to tell me, I already knew Lorne would send us away and send someone with some kind of supernatural power .