As soon as they spot us, they let out a call of alarm, and tiny bubbles appear, encasing each of them in their own, save the acorn-sized baby. She rides away on the wind with her blue-skinned father.
Equal parts fascinating and weird.
“Alven,” Taavi says, pointing at the bubbles as they flitter away into the trees. “One of the few relatively harmless faerie folk. The creek must swing a bit closer to the road here.” He peers into the trees, clearly just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Taavi expects trouble.
If it’s anything like the scarecrows or the kelpie, then I really should embrace my training with Stryker with gusto.
“Hopefully not too close,” Stryker adds, snatching an overripe piece of fruit from a nearby tree. Taavi grimaces as the wizard bites into it, but unless there’s slow-acting poison in there, it doesn’t seem to affect him in any negative sort of way. Maybe because, unlike me, he isn’t half-human? “Water might not be my weakness, but I’m not a big fan of kelpies either.”
“What a coincidence,” I quip, giving Taavi a look. “Neither is he.” I nod my chin in the dog’s direction, and he gives me a low growl in response. “Hey. Is it normal for your guardian to hit on you after they’ve shifted into a giant faerie dog?”
“Oz.” Just that one word, sharp and commanding from Taavi. He acts a bit less like a proper toto and more like a general in command of his forces. He’s pretty bossy for a slave, I have to say.
“Guardians can’t fuck their wizards,” Stryker says, juice dribbling down his chin before he swipes it away with his tattooed hand. “They’re our only anchor in an unstable world. You know what they say: a wizard without a guardian is bound to be bound.”
“That’s the second time you’ve said that,” I tell him, trying to ignore that subtle feeling of being watched. Surely Taavi or Stryker would’ve noticed if we were? “But I don’t get it. Why couldn’t a guardian and a wizard hook up?”
“I keep forgetting you’re from Kansas,” Stryker drawls, pronouncing the word Kansas like it’s so impossibly foreign that he can barely keep it resting on the tip of his tongue. “Our magic comes from the inside; it’s infinite, eternal. And it’s always looking for an outlet. A wizard that isn’t bound to a guardian is likely to be bound to someone or something else, looking to use us as their own personal power source.”
“That still doesn’t explain why a guardian couldn’t hook up with a wizard.” I give Taavi a look, and he glances away. I’m not sure why I’m even pressing this. I’m not interested in him anyway, just curious.
“Sex stirs up too many things,” Stryker says, finishing his fruit and chucking the ebon-black pit into the woods. “Too many emotions, too much magic. If a guardian is locked in the throes of passion, they can’t help with the ebb and flow of a wizard’s power. It’s why they’re celibate, you know.”
“Celibate, you say?” I ask, glancing Taavi’s way again. But he’s not looking at me. Instead, his brown eyes scan the woods as he maintains that brisk pace of his, looking impossibly formidable, despite the fact that he’s half-naked, wearing a collar and fuzzy ears, and padding around in bare feet.
“Besides that, guardianship is meant to last a lifetime. Lovers quarrel, that’s a fact. And once bound, the only thing that separates a guardian from a wizard is death. It’s just best this way.” Stryker looks between me and Taavi, and then shrugs his shoulders. “If you’re in need of a warm body for your bed, then you might consider my offer …”
“What happens if a guardian and their wizard do hook up?” I ask, and Stryker smiles, not at all deterred by my lack of interest. He’s a stubborn one, that’s for sure.
“They’ll be killed by others of their own race. If a guardian can’t keep up with their responsibilities, then they’ll be forcibly separated from their wizard and taught a lesson. Like I said, the only thing that breaks a guardianship bond is death …”
“Brutal,” I say, gritting my teeth and wondering about Taavi’s strange behavior. Mine. Mate. Breed. What was all that about anyway?
“Devastating,” Stryker agrees, and then he just stops walking. His eyes widen and power ripples around him, giving my skin that electrified feeling again. “Shit,” he curses, exhaling sharply and closing his eyes.
“Your guardian …” Taavi starts as Stryker parts his lids, gold eyes dark with frustration.
“Court must be in terrible shape to let go like this,” he muses, looking briefly over at me and doing his best to force a smile that doesn’t go anywhere near reaching his eyes. “You see? This is what happens if your guardian isn’t in control.” Stryker holds up his hands, and even though I can’t see anything, I can feel the power crackling in his fingers.
