Her Guardians - A Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance(5)

“Nothing he can do for you,” she said quickly. “How far are you? Can you get out and run ?”

“No. I’m still on the highway. Anything you can do to stop these old bags ?”

“I’ll see what I can do. Keep going and get to her, Roman. I’m depending on you .”

As if that hadn’t already been weighing on my mind. I opened my mouth to say something, but my phone had already shut off .

God dammit .





3





Eve





M y mom always talked about bad people. The kind that were jealous and wanted what we had, but I hadn’t believed they were out there. I thought they were just stories to keep me from leaving .

She said they wanted her for all her power, which was why she rarely left the temple… our home. My mom told me that one day, they’d want mine too. She told me that maybe I’d be in more danger because I was also smart and beautiful, but those were just things mothers said to their daughters .

I never felt smart or powerful. I always thought I was kind of shy, and awkward. Most of the time I felt as though I was failing my mom because I wasn’t that great at magic .

In fact, I was terrible with magic. My spells failed and fizzled, no matter how charged I was .

The footsteps behind me were getting louder. I consider breaking out into a run, but I could see my apartment building. It wasn’t far. I only had to make it another block .

For all I knew, I wasn’t even being followed. I was probably just being paranoid .

A streetlight overhead lit the sidewalk a pale yellow, and when I stepped under its golden illumination, for a split-second, I felt safer. That was until I saw the shadow come up behind me .

I held in my gasp. Whoever was behind was close… too close. I couldn’t help myself from moving faster. I didn’t care if I had to run to make it to my apartment. My heart was racing… I had to make it .

Perhaps my mom had been right. Maybe there really were people out there that wanted me .

When someone stepped out of the shadows in front me, I screamed. It was a trap. There wasn’t anywhere I could go. My hands flailed wildly as I tried to injure them .

The person stepped back and lowered their gaze to look into my eyes. His eyebrows were squished together as he tapped his index finger over his lips .

“Shhh!” he said holding out his arms. “It’s OK now. It’s just you and me .”

I looked over my shoulder, but there wasn’t anyone behind me. My eyes bugged out when I turned back to look at the man standing in front of me .

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I squeaked .

The man wasn’t much taller than me, but his shoulders were much wider. His eyes were such a bright blue, they twinkled like the stars in the sky .

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said gently patting the air in front of me with his palms .

“Who are you?” I said between sharp, panicked breaths. “What do you want from me ?”

He looked me up and down as if he was trying to make sure I was all in one piece. “Come. Let’s get you out of the street .”

I held my ground and crossed my arms. When he saw I wasn’t moving, he shook his head .

“Before he comes back with others. Let’s get out of here,” he said gesturing towards my apartment as though he already knew where I lived .

There was a loud bang from somewhere behind me, and my body jolted up toward the sky. I let out a small squeak and stepped closer to the man standing in front of me .

“God dammit,” I mumbled placing my hand against my chest. “I’m so paranoid .”

“You should be,” he said looking behind us .

“Nice. Thanks. That’s a big help .”

He looked into my eyes and smiled. It was like he was looking at me for the first time .

“Sorry. I just know there are people out there that would prey on a pretty woman like yourself. All alone at night… walking the streets,” he looked behind us again. “Animals,” he shouted almost as if he was talking to someone specifically .

I narrowed my eyes at him, but his smile didn’t fade. He stuck out his hand, and I apprehensively shook it .

“I’m Gage,” he said flashing me a brilliant smile that changed his whole appearance, or maybe I just hadn’t noticed at first in my panicked state. He was out of this world gorgeous, so much so that my heart felt as though it had actually skipped a beat .

“I’m Eve,” I said looking at the sidewalk in front of me .

“Nice to meet you, Eve,” he said gesturing towards the apartment buildings. “One of these yours ?”

Was he just guessing ?

I nodded and pointed at the tall one with a steeple-like roof. It was definitely one of the older buildings in town, but the inside had been remodeled recently. I never asked, but I was pretty sure my mom had owned the building. The less I knew about it, the more independent I could pretend I was .

“Good,” he said flashing his perfect smile again .

We took about ten more steps in silence when someone ran across the street and stepped between Gage and I. It happened so fast I couldn’t react. I just stood there .

“Back off, man,” he said giving Gage a slight shove away from me .