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  I peeked out of the corner of my eye and watched my father grab my mother’s hands, cupping them in his.

  “Macy has seen the sign, Helen. She’s a Guardian, and it’s only right that we tell her what that means. We’ll reschedule dinner for tomorrow evening. This time, she’ll be allowed to have dinner with all of us.”

  My father drew her close, hugging her tightly as he kissed her gently on the forehead. I watched as she buried her head in his chest and sighed. My father pulled himself away from her, brushing her tangled blonde ringlets away from her frightened face. Fear left my gut in knots. The words my parents had spoken made little sense, but it seemed incredibly important. I hated to see my mother cry. I drew the blanket up a bit higher around my face, tucking the tiny trickle of tears away silently, out of sight.

  Mom smiled despite the rivers that now rolled down her porcelain cheeks. “Her first dinner as a Guardian…she’ll be delighted.”

  Chapter Two

  Induction

  Eleven years later…

  Picking at the food on my plate, I glanced over at my mother who was pouring herself another glass of Chardonnay. The white, satin, strapless dress I was wearing was incredibly uncomfortable, causing my ribs to ache with every breath. If only dinner would end and the ceremony would begin. I wanted nothing more than to go home, put on my favorite flannel pants, and plop down face first onto my bed, reaching out for my dreams.

  The last two weeks had been completely exhausting. Rehearsing my lines until I was blue in the face, my final dress fitting, and receiving the new, small tattoo that fell just beneath my right shoulder blade. A single, white feather was now visible for the rest of the dinner party to see; a rite of passage to those that join the group of guardianship. It was a sacred mark of our society.

  Tonight was my Guardian induction…a ravishing party that was planned for every new Guardian member on his or her eighteenth birthday. Not only would I finally become a formal member, I would be given my Shomer, the name of the individual that I would vow to protect for the rest of my life. It would become a sacred name branded across my heart for safekeeping. To say I wasn’t completely nervous would be flat out lying. I could feel my heart racing in my chest, and my stomach twisting in knots, leaving me nauseous instead of hungry.

  Trey Parsons sat across the table from me, his constant glances leaving me uneasy but somewhat flattered in an awkward, spellbinding sort of way. His dark brown hair hung loosely around his face, as if begging for some woman to run her hands through it. His evergreen eyes were mesmerizing, which caused my eyes to wander away from my plate and to his face repeatedly. Even the way he chewed his food was completely hot in a weird sort of way. Although I guessed my real problem was that I was infatuated with this twenty-one-year-old Guardian. We had only spoken on a handful of occasions, but I was determined to get a word in with him later this evening.

  “Macy, your dress is absolutely stunning,” Rachel Yancey said, her English accent falling effortlessly from her lips. I will admit, I loved hearing her speak. She was prim, proper and completely delightful. She was one of the very few Guardians that I had grown close to over the years. She was also my mother’s very best friend, and one of the few women who seemed somewhat down to earth despite her deep riches and poignant position in the Guardians.

  “Thank you, Rachel.” I smiled at her before darting my eyes towards Trey again.

  “Is it Chanel?” Rachel asked candidly.

  My mother chimed in before I had the chance to answer. “Actually, it’s Vera Wang. When I saw Macy walk out of the dressing room with it on, I knew instantly it was perfect for her!”

  “Indeed it is. She looks more like a ravishing bride than an angel, though,” Deidra Parsons replied, taking a sip of her wine. The spite in her voice rang out clearly to the forty or so guests that rounded the large dining table.

  I can’t say I cared for Deidra much. It was quite obvious she wasn’t a big fan of mine either, our entire family for that matter. This is why I was so hesitant about getting involved with her son, Trey. But I wasn’t exactly opposed to secrets either. A sly smile spread across my face when I thought about it, my eyes darting towards Trey again. It was as if he could read my mind. I instantly saw a smile spread across his face as well, causing my cheeks to grow hot and my stomach to flip-flop.

  My father stood up, clinking his wine glass with the side of his dinner knife. “Can I have everyone’s attention, please?”

  The crowd grew quiet as all eyes focused on my extremely handsome father in his black Prada tuxedo. His hazel eyes glistened underneath the lights of the enormous chandelier hanging above us. His auburn hair was still quite debonair despite the fine gray threads that wove through his locks. My palms grew sweaty as I watched his eyes grow moist.

  “Thank you all for coming this evening. This is a wonderful night for our family…for Macy. Becoming a Guardian is an honor and an eternal sentence of gratitude. One in which I feel completely blessed to be a part of. I know my wife, Helen, would agree.”

  My mother raised her glass, nodded her head, and winked at me.

  “Let us all raise our glasses to the Guardians! And let us welcome our newest member, my lovely daughter…Macy Louise Milligan. Congratulations, Macy!”

  “Here, here!” the crowd roared, as crystal glasses clinked together, echoing through the vast dining room.

  Trey raised his glass to me, and I did the same, smiling flirtatiously at him. The wait staff entered the dining hall and removed our dinner plates, replacing them with chocolate soufflé. I had barely touched my dinner; the last thing I wanted was dessert.

  I leaned over to my mother, whispering softly in her ear, “Mom, I need a moment. Can I be excused from the table?”

  “Oh, honey, I don’t know.”

  I watched as a few of the dinner guests got up from the table and walked towards the beautiful Great Hall, the room in which I would be crowned in less than half an hour.

  “Please? I just need some air. I’ll be back in a few minutes. In time for the ceremony,” I promised her.

  She took a bite of her soufflé before answering. “I suppose, Macy. Make it quick though, okay?”

  “Okay, I promise.” I patted my mother on the arm, standing to make my exit before she could change her mind.

  As I stood up from the table, I picked up the train of my dress off of the floor. I did feel like a bride this evening, not an eighteen-year-old girl whose life was about to change in a profound way. Stepping into marriage seemed like it would be easier than stepping into the life of a Guardian. Who was I kidding? Neither was easy, nor should be stepped into lightly. I needed some air.

  I walked away from the exquisite dining room and out into the towering hallway of Olivia and Rex Griland’s home, the Baron and Empress of the Guardians. Their home was on the upper west side of Manhattan, a beautiful spacious loft that overlooked the city, with a view that would easily take your breath away on a cool, clear night. I looked at the stunning portraits that lined the hallway. Angelic oil paintings of former members of the Guardians, portraying faces of perfection with large, white wings that created a silhouette of peace and perfection. Sometimes it was hard to believe that I was a piece of such greatness. This made me incredibly nervous and hesitant about how my life would become in a matter of moments. Was I ready to accept such a prestigious honor in my life?

  Walking to the cascading backdrop of the city of lights, I placed my hands on the towering picture window in the hallway. Taking a deep breath, I allowed the majestic view to seep in, which allowed me, if only temporarily, to forget how uncomfortable I felt in my dress. My nerves were completely on edge.

  “Amazing view, isn’t it, Macy?” Trey’s voice echoed around me, causing my heart to skip a beat or two.

  “Yes, it is,” I replied back before turning around to face him. His eyes fell effortlessly into mine, leaving me dizzy with desire.

  “You look beautiful. I mean…really gorgeous, Mac.” He walk
ed over to me, his body only inches from mine, and I felt my cheeks grow hot once more.

  “Well, you don’t look too bad yourself, Trey.” I ran my hands along the lapels of his black tuxedo. I figured there was no harm in flirting; heaven knows, I was completely smitten with him. It was obvious that he felt the same way.

  His hands cupped my face as he leaned in, our lips meeting in a hot, breathless kiss. Images swirled about as I fell into the heat of the moment, perfection flowing from every angle. His lips tasted like chocolate and wine, which inadvertently pulled me inward even more. Trey’s arms slipped around my waist, and I found myself running my hands through his mahogany locks. His lips left mine, traveling toward my neck as I looked skyward at the mural of a heavenly sky painted on the ceiling above us. I watched as the ceiling came to life, the clouds moving slowly and the angels floating with elegance as they peered down upon the couple who were entangled in a fierce moment of passion.

  “Trey?” I said quietly.

  “Hmmm” he whispered back, his lips never leaving the nape of my neck.

  “I-I really need to get back to the party.”

  He ignored my statement, and his lips wandered back to mine. I allowed myself to fall back into our lustful kiss once more, his lips pressing against mine more fervently this time.

  “Trey!” Her voice rang out like shards of glass hitting a concrete floor. I immediately pulled myself away. She was obviously completely disgusted by what she had just witnessed. Deidra Parsons stood at the end of the hallway, eyes boring anger at her son and the girl who she rightly despised.

  “Trey…back to the party…now.” Her words were vile. Her long, satin, black dress whipped around in anger as she departed, her footsteps loud as she thundered away. I was sure she would tell my parents what she found their daughter doing with her son, and I panicked in fear.

  “Look, I gotta go,” I said, not knowing what else to say to the stunned face in front of me.

  “Macy…I really like you. I always have. Can we talk about this later, like after the ceremony?” Trey had a firm grasp on my right hand, as I allowed my fingers to intertwine with his, if only briefly.

  I shook my head, unable to think straight after such a perfect moment, feeling anew the anxiety of the ceremony that awaited me in the other room. “I like you, too. But I’m not sure this is…right.” It became blatantly obvious that I had wounded the heart of the one who had allowed his feelings for me to show. I felt bad for allowing my stinging words to fall from the tip of my tongue.

  Instead of walking away, a devious smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. “Well, that’s what makes it even more intriguing. Something so wrong can sometimes feel so right,” he said, running his fingers through my hair. Even the way he spoke made me yearn for his touch even more. I wanted him.

  “Perhaps,” I replied, bravely leaning in and kissing him ever so lightly on the lips.

  I heard the string quartet begin playing, the sound of footsteps echoing down the hallway. Everyone was taking their seats as they awaited my entrance. This meant my induction was set to start in less than ten minutes.

  Trey let go of my hand, his fingertips tracing the outline of my lips before kissing the tip of my nose softly. “I suppose that’s your cue, gorgeous.”

  Chapter Three

  Namesake

  I stood behind the closed doors of the Great Hall with my parents at my side. The guests were seated on the other side, awaiting my walk down the Aisle of Namesake, a rite of passage to becoming a Guardian.

  “Macy, honey, you look beautiful,” my mother sang out as a tear trickled down her cheek.

  My father kissed the top of my hand he held onto tightly. “We’re so proud of you. Are you ready?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be, Dad.” I closed my eyes and took one final deep breath.

  The string quartet began playing Angelic Traces, a beautiful piece the Guardians had adopted several hundred years ago as their victorious anthem. The enormous wooden double doors opened at once, leaving me standing in front of a crowd of onlookers and a room full of glorious white lily and red rose flower arrangements.

  I let go of my parents’ hands and walked forth, my nerves on edge, but the love of a new life burning brightly before me. The Baron and Empress of the Guardians stood at the end of the aisle, awaiting my arrival. As I passed by the many faces that I had come to know and respect over the past eleven years, I smiled at each of them, reflecting on how we were no longer friends…but family. Trey stood beside his mother, a sour look etched across her face as I walked by. I smiled at Trey, avoiding all eye contact with Mrs. Parsons. He winked at me, causing a warm pulse of desire to creep down my spine.

  Reaching the end of the aisle, I watched as Baron Griland nodded his head to the gathered crowd, prompting each of them to take their seats. My emotions were swirling as an effusion of dizziness fell over me. I tried to pull myself together, knowing good and well this would all be over soon.

  “To the Guardian society – we welcome our newest member, Macy Louise Milligan, to our family. Her mother and father have given us their blessing, and we in return will give them the sacred honor, accepting Macy as one of our own.”

  Baron Griland stepped forward, opening The Book Of Shomer…now was the time to remember the lines that I had worked so hard to memorize.

  “Becoming a Guardian means giving your life to another, a life in which you vow to protect, honor…to serve the soul you are bestowed. In this, you are giving forth the right to only administer protection to this one individual, eliminating the opportunity for direct involvement or deep interaction. We are to oversee. We are not to satisfy our own desires. Macy, do you agree to the terms of the Guardians?”

  My voice rose victoriously as my confidence grew. “I do. I vow to protect, honor and serve the soul that I am bestowed…today, tomorrow and for all eternity. May I do so with integrity.”

  Empress Griland stepped forward, placing a simple crown adorned with white diamonds and topaz upon my head. The weight of its beauty made the gates of reality open with ease. I heard the soft sniffle of my mother behind me, causing my own eyes to well up with tears. I didn’t allow the waves of emotions to spill over, not just yet.

  “May the name of the life given to Macy now be spoken.”

  I watched as Baron Griland looked within the tattered pages of The Book of Shomer, his finger landing upon the name I knew was now mine.

  “Evan Samuel Williamson. Do you accept this name as your accord, Macy?”

  The name sped through my mind at lightning speed, as I searched for the right answer. My voice quivered as I quietly said, “I do. May their name be etched upon my heart forevermore.”

  The Baron and Empress smiled at me as my Aisle of Namesake came to a close. I had mastered my lines with flying colors.

  “May his heartbeat become yours, Macy.”

  I nodded my head in reply as Evan’s spirit merged effortlessly with mine, his heartbeat thumping within my ears, intertwining like vines upon the mossy wall of life’s history. My guardian tattoo began to pulse beneath my skin, the heat of his being becoming a part of me.

  “May I present to you, Lady Milligan, honorary member to the Guardians!” Baron Griland raised his hands to the sky as the guests rose to their feet in great applause. I curtsied to the Baron and Empress before turning around to face my new family. A smile of happiness rose to my lips as tears of joy spilled over effortlessly. My mother and father were clapping louder than anyone in the room, I was sure of it.

  Chapter Four

  Passion

  I awoke the following morning exhausted and completely famished. Having only picked sparsely at my dinner the night before, my stomach growled in displeasure. I threw my legs over the side of my bed, running my hands through my tangled locks before slipping my feet into my pink house shoes. Pulling the curtains of my bedroom window open, I looked out at the busy city streets below. It was nearly eight on a Saturday morning; individuals were wal
king the streets with lattes in hand and dogs on leashes for their morning walk. Somewhere among these city streets my Shomer was starting his morning, a changed person…although he didn’t know it, nor would he ever. Evan Samuel Williamson. The name sounded debonair. I couldn’t wait to learn more about him, to meet him in silence.

  I made my way to the kitchen, my dad with his nose in the New York Times and my mother flipping pancakes on the stove.

  “Morning, Lady Milligan,” my father said.

  “Good morning, Dad. I mean, Lord Milligan,” I said teasingly.

  I took a seat at the table, taking a sip of the freshly-squeezed orange juice my mother had gone to the trouble of making for us. I reached over to the bowl of fruit residing on the table, as I waited anxiously for the piping hot pancakes. Grabbing a slice of ripe watermelon, its sweetness instantly filled my parched mouth.

  “So, Dad, how is Wes?” Wes was my father’s Shomer, a stockbroker who lived in lower Manhattan with his wife and three daughters. My father had been assigned as his Guardian nearly twenty years ago. Upon doing so, he had met my mother at his own rite of passage, falling passionately in love with her. Seven weeks after their introduction, they were married in a small ceremony at City Hall. Eleven months later I arrived, the only child to two devoted parents who had introduced me to the extravagant life of a Guardian.

  Wealth came with the Guardian name. Our society was incredibly rich. Not only with money, but dripping with jewels, lavish wardrobes and posh treasures from past members, who had left their entire inheritances to our culture. We had a mission, and with that calling in mind, we shared the assets as a family. There was no greed, no jealous lies, and no reason for speaking quietly behind another member’s back. We might not be blood kin, but we were a tightly knit brood of individuals that vowed to carry on the name of our ancestors…together as one.