Guardian by Shannon Mayer Page A

this region have acted as though they were the only ones. After the attacks, our coven has been trying to change; we are seeing we cannot stand on our own any longer. It is not possible in this world. So while we lost much, the damage that was done opened our eyes and showed us we were not above being killed. Add into that the hunters stealing our weaker members and we realized it was time to make a decision.”
    Liam walked over to us, his eyes drawn and fatigued. Whatever control he exerted over the water dragon cost him. “Perhaps I have an answer. She will continue to guard the moat, but will not harm any who comes to stay here from the coven or the wolf pack. If you can live in peace with the wolves, this would give both groups a chance to be safe.”
    My eyes widened, but I knew what he was suggesting was a good thing. Even if it went against everything I’d ever known in my life. Supernaturals didn’t like working together; yet I was banking on their ability to overcome the past, at least if I had any hope of defeating Orion. Maybe this would be a good testing ground for inter-species relations. In other words, I needed to keep my mouth shut and stay out of the arena so I didn’t offend anyone and see what happened.
    Val had a slight frown, but he nodded. “Yes, I think perhaps that would be doable. We could work together to keep the peace in the region. This could be a very good thing.”
    I hadn’t expected that, and I wondered at how far up the coven ladder Val was, if he’d be able to convince the other witches that Liam’s idea was a good one. Especially after dealing with the … er … rogue werewolf.
    After that, things went rather fast. Val left to gather his coven, and Liam left to gather Peter and his wolves.
    I touched Liam on the arm, stopping him from going. “Fedya too.”
    He gave me a quick kiss, stripped, shifted and was gone in a flash of black fur and silver gold eyes. While he might not be able to Track like me, his sense of smell would help him find her.
    I was left with two small children, neither of which was capable of speaking to me. Not that it mattered much; they were both beyond exhausted with everything that had happened to them. Before dark, I fed them both and tucked them into one of the spare beds. They curled up together, Pavel’s dark hair and Catya’s sandy blonde mingling on the pillow as they clung to one another in their sleep. Perhaps it was a sign that the two groups would be able to work together. I hoped that was the case.
    But there was something I still couldn’t figure out. Why the hell couldn’t I sense Catya until I was in the castle? Was there a spell blocking my senses here? No, that didn’t make sense; I’d been able to pick up on Dimitri and he’d been in the castle too. So what the fuck had it been?
    I found myself at the drawbridge staring into the dark waters of the moat. “Can you hear me?”
    The water stirred, and slowly, the water dragon raised her head, silver eyes glittering in the night like gems on fire.
    What do you want?
    There was no guessing about how she felt. Time for some kiss-assery to make things happen.
    “You’re a guardian, which means you have a great deal more knowledge than pretty much any other supernatural.”
    She preened under my words. Damn, I didn’t think it would be that easy.
    Yes, I am the oldest of all the guardians. One of the first.
    Well, that was interesting. She was one of the oldest and Liam had controlled her. Shit, my guy was a force to be reckoned with, even more so than I’d realized before.
    “Do you know much about Trackers?”
    Her eyes widened and she swam forward so she could put her forelegs on the drawbridge. That is what you are, you are a Tracker. Why would you ask me something about what you are?
    There was no need to hold back, since most of what I was going to share with her was common knowledge. “I didn’t have anyone to train me. I am the last and there is much I have yet to