Fallen For Four

ows that definitely weren't shadows slithered across the ancient manuscr

where beyond the stacks. "The archives close in twe

ils that seemed to be watching me. My first da

ext on the brittle pages blurred before my eyes, rearranging

Guardian

the temperature in the room plummeted. My birthmarks burned beneath my sweater

I whispered, backing a

ows move

e from behind me. "And you need to

ll sharp cheekbones, silver eyes, and midnight-black hair. His expression was col

g into the reading table. "And how did you

re now forming something that looked disturbingly like a

" My retort died as the shado

rkness coalesced into a vaguely humanoid shape that hissed words in

ssel located. The E

w creature as darkness seemed to pool in his palm. "This isn't how I

What a

e condensed shadow at it. The thing dissolved momentar

pulled out a phone, never taking his eyes off the creature

exploded inward, showering us with glass. I screamed,

re Kaiden was controlled, all coiled muscle and predatory gra

sked, flashing teeth

een me and the shadow creature, which was now joined by

beneath my sleeves, visible even through the f

ike an animal. "Three shades and I sm

's no

shock, the second man's hands transformed into clawed monstrosities as

asped, stumbling bac

's voice called, closer no

med. "Stay ba

ey ring that never left his side. His eyes widened at the impossible scene two

he whispered, looking at

at his voice, its form stretching g

I lunged forward, but

anded. "They wan

utting off as darkness filled his mouth. When it withdrew, Dr. As

sn't his voice anymore. "The M

sed. "They've taken a ho

narled back, pulling me t

d, blocking our path. "The bloodlines converge. T

a fury that felt ancient and familiar. The burning i

t now glowed bright enough to illuminate the entire room. Knowle

heard myself say, "

dow creatures shrieked in what sounded like agony as they dissipated. Dr.

hat followed

, staring at me with new re

carefully, as if I might explode again. "Scarlett Mor

lled me moments ago vanishing as quickly as it h

whispered, darkness creeping

s silver eyes the last thing I saw

sheets sliding against my skin. For a mo

still faintly glowing in the dimn

voice I didn't recogni

cs, illuminated only by moonlight through tall windows. Standing by the door was a man who couldn't p

anded. "Where's Kai

make the morning news," the stranger said, approaching with i

wh

arlett. Surely you understan

nd I was still dressed, minus my sweater.

have seemed ridiculous but somehow didn't. "As for how I k

," I said flatly.

al entities with a power you shouldn't possess." His head tilted, studying me. "Tell me, hav

ered my right arm. "That'

after lightning. "You're the Celestial Guardian, Scarlett. The one bo

steria. "Right. And let me guess

ehind him wings, I realized with shock. "Axel is the werewolf. Kai

wall. "This isn't real. I'm

mist. "The attack tonight was just the beginning. The Eclipsed have been searching for you si

e me fo

the room, jacket gone, shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal

many questions. "My

," Kaiden replied. "You'r

ide my life is over!" I pushed pa

e. "Going out there untrained and unprotected is suic

id softly. "Maven won't

aven?" I

en answered, his jaw tight. "And t

th me. "My parents died in a h

m the shadows of the hallway. He was smaller than the others, lithe and fox-like, with copper hair and the mo

" I whispered, feeling

er of uncomfortable truths. Like the fact that your parents knew exactly what you we

d the strange books my father kept locked away, the prote

. "But there's no time for gentle revelations, starligh

me?" I wrapped my arms around myself, sudd

, something ancient and pained crossing h

quipped. "I, for one, am de

're your protectors, Scarlett. Each of us guards one of t

is power? If I just wan

with blood actual blood spattered across his shirt. His amber eyes fixed

e. "Dr. Ashworth is

en," Kaiden cor

ey found her address on him. They'll

leave now," Domin

breath coming in short gasps.

er eyes meeting mine with an intensity tha

hether you'll run from your destiny or embrace it beca

choed from somewhere downstairs

us," Domin

s beginning to shift into

efore settling with grim certainty o

fae, whose playful ex

s said quietly. "Bu

ain, revealing Dr. Ashworth very much al

aid in that terrible voice that wasn't

ing themselves between me a

d bodies," Ka

into an inhumanly wide smile

shadows cam