Guardian

Chapter Nineteen

Yang watched a flurry of emotions cross Blake's face. Shock, confusion, disbelief, anger, and, finally, fear. She crouched next to her as she began to shake but kept her gaze on Ilia.

"What does Adam want with her parents?" She demanded.

"He doesn't want anything to do with them," Ilia's color had returned to normal but her eyes still had sadness in them. "It's about Blake. It's always been about Blake for him. He believes they are supposed to rule the Fang together. A king and his queen."

Blake spoke Yang's words before she could get them out. "I don't belong to him! I thought I made that clear when I left."

"No all you did when you left was piss him off it seems," Ilia mumbled. "He has a camp in the forest surrounding Vale and he has a number of Fang members with him."

"How do you know so much about this?" Yang asked. "How do we know you aren't leading us into a trap."

"Honestly you don't," Ilia sighed. "Someone obviously tipped him off on where Ghira and Kali would be. I could tell you it wasn't me until I was blue in the face, literally, but it wouldn't prove anything."

Blake gave Yang a pleading look. "I trust her Yang. She had nothing to do with this."

"I don't blame her for being cautious," Ilia chuckled as she stood from the couch, testing her muscles with a few stretches. "She's doing her job as your body guard...and your lover."

"Ilia I-"

Ilia held up a hand and smiled as she silenced Blake. "We decided a long time ago not to risk our friendship on a relationship. What matters to me is that you're happy," her smile fell. "Besides, we have much more pressing matters to deal with."

"You know where he is right?" Yang asked.

"I know where he was," she sighed. "He likely moved camp."

"Even if we find him what are we going to do?" Blake stood and began to pace the room. "There's only three of us and he has who knows how many followers."

Yang pulled out her scroll. "I think I know where I can get some more muscle," she dialed a number and waited for an answer.

"You really have horrible timing," the annoyed voice on the other end make her chuckle.

"Yeah whatever Ice Queen. Give my sister her scroll back I need to talk to her."

"Hey sis what's up?"

"Got a side job for you if you want it. Put on some clothes and meet me at Crosshares. Oh and call Jaune too. We could use his team."

"See you in twenty then," her sister's voice was suddenly serious, hinting at her years of being the team leader.

"Crosshares?"

"It's a bar a few blocks down," Blake explained while Yang rummaged through her dresser.

"Here," she tossed some clothes at Ilia. "They might be a bit big on you but strolling through town in Fang gear is probably not the best idea. Bathroom is over there."

After Ilia disappeared behind the door Yang got herself ready and jumped when she felt hands wrap around her waist. "Thank you."

"I'm not sure what you're thanking me for?"

Blake stepped back to allow Yang to face her only to find tears in her eyes, her feline ears flat against her head. "For going after them. You didn't have to. Your job is to keep me safe. Not them."

"Jeez," Yang sighed and kissed her forehead. "Believe it or not I actually like your parents and I would like to be able to tell them about us someday. It may be my job to protect you but it's also my job to keep you happy and I want to be able to continue to do that for a long time. Losing a parent is hard," she frowned and looked away for a moment, the feeling she had when her dad tokd her Summer wasn't coming home rose up in her stomach, "and I will do everything in my power to keep you from having to go through that."