Her Guardian's Heart by Crymsyn Hart Page B

Tannin.
    “Does this last forever?” I asked.
    He wove his fingers through my hair. “It can. We can let the world fall away and think about nothing except ourselves. In the end, there is always the real world to return to.”
    I sighed. “What did you do to the werewolf who attacked me?”
    “I didn’t kill her, if that’s what you’re wondering. I just showed her what her life could be like if she didn’t behave. You and she can both work out the polyamorous lifestyle that belongs with the pack. Does it bother you that Landon has been with other women? That he might be with more in the future?”
    Landon had brought other women home when Nick was alive. It had made me a little jealous, but he had always reassured me that I was the first one in his life. “No. I’m okay with it. Landon has always been good to me. Starting a pack and being accepted was one of the things he was striving for. I’m glad that he has it, but he has to carve out a place in the world for himself. I know that I can’t be a lycan mate for him. He always understood because it wasn’t exactly normal for him to bond with a vampire, since they are bitter enemies. They worked out their differences. That was the reason he was exiled in the first place, because he turned down the woman he was supposed to mate and went with Nick instead.”
    “You know, you can still be the mate that he desires. You can shift into a wolf as well as being a vampire.”
    I looked up from his chest and stared into his eyes. “How is that possible when the combination of the Guardian inside of me and my magic negate the vampire and the werewolf infections that have raged through my system?”
    “It doesn’t completely neutralize it. Being part angel, Guardians are allowed to blend in. Some Guardians are lycan. Some are vampire and Guardian. Guardians can become chameleons. They take on the strengths of the other being they mingle with, but not their weaknesses. There is more than just watching doorways. So much more that you have to learn.”
    “So then a Guardian could be a witch?”
    He shook his head. “No. The magic of both species shouldn’t be mixed. As chameleon with the other species, there is something supernatural in them. The witch part of you is elemental. Most pairings between a witch and a Guardian don’t result in offspring.”
    ”But witches draw on the supernatural power of the world around them.”
    “No. They draw on the natural power around them. Witches can tap into the universe. Guardians are supernatural. We manipulate the energy around us and through us, but we are not able to influence the elements. That’s why we can filter the other supernatural creatures’ powers through us.”
    “It seems like a Guardian walks a fine line between defining exactly what kind of a creature they are. I think there are only a few who can take on the characteristics of the other creatures you spoke about. Like my grandmother. She can because she’s darker, but my sister, she doesn’t have it in her. Am I right?”
    “Yes. There are classifications within the clans. The lighter Guardians help aid in the passing of other creatures. They don’t have to battle the dark forces out there. Think of them as mentors, and you’d be the general that would go into battle.”
    I nodded. It made some sort of sense. “So how do I get those fangs to come out?”
    Tannin kissed my neck. “How about we save that lesson for another day? First, you need to get your wings back in. You can’t walk around with them out.”
    “How do I do that?”
    He ran his finger between my wings. “Think about folding them back against your skin.”
    I thought about it and was surprised when they unwrapped from around him, leaving me embraced by his white gold wings.
    “Good. Now think about your skin covering them.”
    I envisioned skin growing over the feathers again. To my surprise, it seemed they sunk back into my flesh. I rolled my shoulders. I could still feel them