The Protector

Chapter 4

. Eliza .

March 25th 10:07Am . . .

        The halls were empty, and I relaxed my shoulders a bit. With the people gone, it was easier to concentrate. I looked around for Alexander, since he had promised to meet me.

            Turning a corner, I found him hunched over something.

            “Alexander!” I called out.

            He stood up, and I walk faster. I saw his eyes tighten and my expression. Alexander could see through my acts so easily, no matter how hard I tried to cover it up. His muscular arms wrapped around me comfortingly.

            “What’s wrong, baby?” he asked tenderly.

            I glanced at his face, and even though it was hard and strong, I knew that loving emotions could easily flash across his face. As his green eyes warmed, I shivered. His pressed his lips to my hair.

            “Nothing, Alexander, honey,” I lied, bringing my eyes down. “I’m just jetlagged from the flight still. I still don’t know why we had to go all the way to California. Why couldn’t we have just stayed in the woods? The Youth Protector Society is dumb! And I’m . . . uncomfortable.”

            Alexander shrugged. “YPS  is not dumb, Eliza . . . yet . . . I don’t know either . . . but it’s okay. We still have each other, baby.”

            He smiled beatifically at me, and I grinned weakly back. He pecked my cheek, and I dragged in a shaky breath. The guilt nagged at me, but I shoved it aside roughly.         

            Instead, I made myself rueful. “But still . . .”

            He nodded understandingly.

            Alexander drew comforting circles across my back, and I leaned into his side. As he massaged my shoulders, I closed my eyes. He was so kind to me, so good to me. I remembered the night he had “saved” my life. His rare, gentle kisses, the ones that he started, always slashed against my ribcage harder than the tigers ever had. The guilt was nearly unbearable, especially since he was nicer than the average Protector . . . but I couldn’t let that interfere with my mission.

            My mission to kill Alexander.