Guardians Of The Shifters by Shannon Schoolcraft

left so that I could take a shower, although a cold shower would be my best bet. I smiled at him as I walked by and wondered how long I was staying here for, although it won’t matter in the long run.
    I quickly took a shower and as soon as I finished tying my shoes the damn sirens went off. Well there goes being clean. I ran out of the bathroom and to my bag grabbing a dagger and a sword. I was out the door before you could sa y catemand o . Metal clashed with metal and I was a bit dumbfounded to see other shifters turning on their guardians. That wasn’t supposed to be happening, we guardians put our lives on the line for them and they repay us back by siding with Cole…fuck that. I ran to the center of the supposed safe haven when I saw Rex on the ground trying to fight off a lion. I did a drop kick and both of my feet slammed into the lion’s side making it fall to the side several feet away.
    I landed on my back with an oomph but wasn’t down for long. Rex and I were back to back fighting off the assassins that came our way. It seemed like they were coming at us in waves. It only took me a minute to realize that they were gunning for my ass. I also noticed that there weren’t as many of them as there was the last time, maybe it was only supposed to be a snatch and grab.
    When the feeling of Rex’s back disappeared from mine I spared a quick glance over my shoulder and I knew that was not good on my part. Rex was a few feet away from me helping a different guardian, he probably figured I could handle myself. I turned back around just in time to see a blade coming for my chest and I quickly brought mine up. The strength behind the assassin’s sword was un-nerving. I looked up into the cold hard stare of Max and my arms wavered a little bit. He was then able to bring his leg up and kick the sword out of my hands. With his other foot he swiped my feet out from under me and I landed on my back hard, my head smacked off the ground and a dazed look crossed my face. He brought the tip of his sword down and pointed it at my throat. I knew it was a long shot but I tried to get through to him.
    “Max, it’s me, Cora.”
    He laughed coldly at me. “I know who you are Cora…you should have known that this day would come.”
    I couldn’t go out, not like this and not by the hands of someone that I thought I knew. The sound of my name being called echoed through the square and rang through my ears. A scream tore through the air as a streak of black knocked Max to the side. His screams echoed through me until the sounds of gurgling and bones snapping replaced it. I stayed on the ground unable to move because I was in shock. Cole must have been watching me through the eyes of Max. A mask fell into place on my face as I stood up and dusted the dirt off my clothes. I picked up my sword and dagger.
    Heat radiated through my body until it coiled in my belly and snapped, spreading over my skin. The amber tint that I was used to filled my vision as I made my way through the square. I was pissed, not because my parents were dead, not because Carla was dead, not even the fact that the assassins breeched this place twice or even because shifters turned on their guardians. I was pissed because Cole orchestrated it all and I knew deep down in my bones that he was a traitor to his people.
    My hands squeezed my weapons until my knuckles turned white. As I walked through the square looking for my target all fighting stopped and everyone moved out of my way. There were even a few gasps. I caught a glimpse of myself in a window on one of the units and I understood why they stopped and got out of my way. If I was me I’d get out of my way too. Fire surrounded my body making me look like a walking flame, my eyes were a bright Amethyst with dancing flames for the pupils. So, I guess I am a hybrid shifter after all, but a part of me already knew that and in all honesty…I didn’t really want to believe it. The realization should have scared