Young Guardian Trilogy - Lady Adellandra Dratianos (top 5 books to read TXT) 📗

them in time to help them.”
Shannon bowed her head, closing her eyes. “Sabrina, I bet.”
Aaron nodded. “Has she done anything, yet?”
“Not that I know of, and I’ve been keeping track of the Crusaders.” Shannon explained.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
“That doesn’t mean she won’t try anything.” Shannon said. She stood and beckoned him to follow her. “Tell me more about the ‘feeling in your gut’.”
Aaron stared, first at her, then the thin line down his arm, fingering it.
“Is that the Blood-Pact scar?” Shannon asked.
Aaron looked back up at her, amazed. “Yeah, but how did you know?”
“Ariana’s got one, too. I’ve noticed it for awhile. When I asked her about it, she too fingered hers and told me what the three of you did.” Shannon said simply. “It holds a kind of magic all your own, doesn’t it?”
Aaron nodded. “Lord Guardian told us it was the Unicorn Magic.” He supplied, and told her all he knew about it. “I don’t know how the Crusaders or Ariana will react when I tell them about it.”
“Then don’t tell them.” Shannon said with a smile. “Show them. Use your Unicorn Magic in the Realm of Dreams on a Crusade. It’ll show them you aren’t just ‘Aaron Schmidt, Ariana’s best friend and former lover.’ You’re a Dream Realm Crusader with your own powers.”
Aaron liked that idea, as strange as it sounded.
“For now,” She continued, standing. “I’m going to set you up in a dorm with Shadow.”
“Who’s Shadow?” He asked as he followed.
She glided down the corridor, turning right at a corner. “His real name is Shane Morehouse. He’s one of the best Senior Detectives here at the System. He’s lived here since he was nine, and he’s really quiet.”
She sensed Aaron’s trepidation and tapped him on the back. “Don’t worry. He’ll probably be too busy with Luna to notice you’re there.”
Luna?
“Ariana’s twin?” Aaron asked, just to make sure.
Shannon nodded. “They’ve been going out officially for three years.”
“Isn’t that the same time as Ariana and Derrick?”
She grinned. “You got it.” She reached a door and buzzed it open with a code in the security panel. “Shadow?”
From behind the door came a man, dressed in earth tones. “What’s up, Shannon?”
She pointed to Aaron. “This is Aaron Schmidt.”
Shadow stared first at Aaron, then at her. “The third one in Lu’s premonition?”
Shannon nodded. “He’s one of the new Crusaders.”
The boys shook hands. “Nice to finally meet you, Aaron.” Shadow smiled, and he relaxed.
“Sorry ‘bout this, but I’ve gotta run.” Shannon waved goodbye and was off down the hall.
“How did you find out about the System?” Shadow asked Aaron as he sat on one of the beds.
“Ariana was in trouble a few months back.” Aaron began. “Derrick called Shannon, told her about me, and I was unofficially inducted on the spot.”
“Lu told me a little about the Crusades.” Shadow said. “Who else are Crusaders?”
“Obviously Ariana, Derrick, Luna, and Mark Grey.” Aaron told him.
“Any Companions?”
He knew about the Companions of the Dream Realm?
“Our friends Katherine Hawk and Wolf Stargazer.” Aaron told him, and was suspicious. “How do you know about Companions?”
He started to say something, but spouted. “Lu told me.”
This was the perfect time to see what’s up with Ariana. “Where is Ariana staying?”
“With Lu in Fourth Floor.” Shadow told him. He looked confused so Shadow said. “Follow me.”
They left the room and took the steps two floors up. He led Aaron to a door that looked identical to his. Aaron was surprised to find he knew the codes to this room.
Immediately, he saw Luna (or was it Ariana) sitting on the bed, writing in a notebook. Her head was down, so Aaron couldn’t see the glasses if it was Ariana. Her hair was up in a French Braid down her back.
“Come on.” He waved at Aaron with a grin.
At the sound of Shadow’s voice, she looked up. Sure enough, she was wearing glasses.
Ariana gasped, throwing the notebook down on the bed. “Aaron!”
She hugged him tightly, and Aaron kissed her on the lips quickly. His heart thumped when she kissed him back.
When they parted, Ariana saw Shadow was still standing there with a smile on his face.
“You can go now, Shane.” Ariana joked. “Aaron’s in capable hands now.”
Shadow saluted, kissing her cheek. “See you around, Ariana.”
With that, he left.
“So, what’s been going on since you left to meet your family?” Aaron asked.
His best friend walked over to the balcony and leaned over the railing. He traced his fingers around the line of her cheek and tucked some fly-away hairs behind her ear.
Why did she have to be so beautiful? He thought to himself.
“I spent the first week at home getting to know my new brothers and sisters.” Ariana began, taking his hand. He felt the magic in her touch, and was glad she felt as warm as she always had. “Afterward, it was time for me to practice the more advanced powers.” She looked at him excitedly. “Did you know an Ancient Mystic can change their image?”
He shook his head.
Ariana’s eyes sparkled. “Watch.”
She let go of Aaron’s hand and raised both her arms to the sky with her eyes closed. He could faintly see an opalescent type of wind following her arms’ movements. She let her arms cross themselves before finally resting them at her sides. Sure enough, when she was finished, she’d changed her clothes. She had been wearing a sweatshirt and a pair of jeans. Now, she wore a pink dress and her hair was down at her shoulders.
“See?”
“I never knew.” He whispered. In order not to do something he might regret later, he cleared his throat and changed the subject. “What happened next?”
“We used the Ancient Mystic Mirror at the house to propel us here using a travel spell.” Ariana continued after returning her image to the sweatshirt and jeans once again. “My sisters have been here teaching and testing me on my power. I never knew my power brought all this responsibility.”
Aaron smiled at that.
Goddess was she gorgeous, He thought.
She noticed he was staring and laughed. “What are you smiling about, my Aaron Theodore?”
Aaron took her hand again, kissing her cheek. “You. So much has changed in the last five years.”
“You can say that again.” She said, and shook her head.
Aaron held her close to him, his arms around her waist. For a moment, his Ariana Moon was his own.
She was quiet until she sighed.
“What’s wrong?” He whispered in her ear.
“Oh Aaron.” She sighed. “If only you knew . . .”
“The only way I’d know something is if I was told.” He replied.
Ariana continued to stare up at him with soft silver-blue eyes. It was as if they were back in time, back when there weren’t any Crusaders, or enemies. Aaron Theodore and his Ariana Moon, together again.
“I’d be lying to you if I told you I didn’t care about you.” Ariana began softly, placing her head on Aaron’s chest.
His heart raced at the act, and he kissed her forehead.
“Ever since that day in the attic, and even before, you and I have had an intimate relationship.” Ariana said. “In my own way, I do love you. Maybe not in the way you’d like, but I do.”
Aaron pulled back to look at her face. She was crying.
“Don’t cry, my Ariana Moon.” Aaron whispered. “Please.”
“I can’t help it, Aaron.” Ariana sobbed. “I’m so confused!”
He hugged her again, letting her cry on his chest. “Aaron Theodore’s here.” He whispered into her ear, knowing what those words would do to her. They soothed, comforted and warmed her heart at the same time it did his.
Her eyes were sad but loving as they met his. “I can’t choose amongst the three of you.” She said. “I love the three of you in different ways. Derrick is my Earthly Protector and my Imaginary Romeo. He’ll do anything to keep me safe.”
“I always have and always will.” Aaron tried to convince her, but she went on.
“At first, I felt sorry for Mark. He was so lonely and sad when I met him last year. After several months, we came to depend on each other, and I began to fall in love.” She looked away. “Then there’s you, my Aaron Theodore.”
He stood silent as she gathered her thoughts.
“You sheltered me from pain, comforted me when I cried.” She told him. “That day in the attic wasn’t a mistake. I wanted it as much as you did. I wanted to show you just how much you meant to me.”
“What do I mean to you, my Ariana Moon?” He asked softly.
She turned to meet his eyes again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.
It was torture, but Aaron loved it.
When they parted, she replied. “You are everything to me. My best friend who was the first to let me see what real love was all about. My protective brother who always kept me safe from harm. Everything.” She kissed him on the lips. The act surprised him. “I’m never gonna forget that, my Aaron Theodore.”
There was that name again. He didn’t know what to say.
After a few minutes, she changed the subject, telling him what she was learning. According to her, she’d run into Derrick soon after she arrived. Mark had surprised her by almost scaring her out of her wits.
“Unfortunately, we’re here for a more important reason.” Ariana replied. “Sabrina came to me, making me black out. She and Grand Psycho have come up with another plan to get back at me. Thing is, she hasn’t done anything yet, and we’re scared stiff. Derrick, when he’s not on a case, insists on staying at my side. All the other times, it’s Mark that wants to protect me. I don’t need protection; I’m the Young Guardian.”
“What do you need, then?” Aaron asked. “Maybe I can help you?”
“The Crusaders must reunite to fight her.” Ariana said, sounding like her Young Guardian self again. Straight to the point and in charge. “It’s time we did that. There’s a lot we can learn from each other.”
He nodded, agreeing. “I have something to tell you.”
“What?”
“I used the bracelet and a Travel Spell your father told me to bring me here.” He explained. “On the way here on a bus, I could’ve sworn I had a vision. Sabrina was definitely at it again, and she wants revenge of the worst kind.”
“My life, therefore my power.” Ariana stated. “That I know, but how could you have had a vision?”
“The Unicorn Magic.” Aaron said. “I only had to concentrate on it in order to use it on my own.”
Ariana was interested, crossing her arms. She thought for a minute. “That’s it. It’s definitely time to reunite. Come on, I know where Luna, Derrick, and Mark are.”
“Wait.” Aaron stopped her before she walked away.
She turned to him. “What?”
“I don’t want the others to know about my Unicorn Magic yet.” Aaron responded. “Promise not to tell them?”
“I promise,” Ariana nodded, “but when they figure it out, you’ll have to tell them. Okay?”
Aaron nodded. “Okay. Thanks, Ariana.”
“You’re welcome, now let’s go.”
Aaron followed behind her as she found the three of them. They were glad to see him, but wondered how he’d gotten there, or even why he was there.
The five of