Guardians of the Akasha Read Online Free Page A

asked the man seated opposite her. “Do you not understand the severity of our situation?”
    Victoria had called Marco earlier this morning, asking—or rather summoning—him to a meeting at her Hyde Park apartment. As a rule, you dropped whatever you were doing when the Leader of Council called.
    “Of course I understand. You need more people on the street, Victoria. We have to show our strength, and I want to be out there hunting that bastard, not chained to some girl, even if she might be our saviour!” He slammed a fist down; the gold edged cups rattled in their saucers.
    “Stop abusing my table, Marco,” the old lady ordered. “I understand your need for revenge, but it is clouding your judgment. Any move against Daemon has to be carefully planned. He has surrounded himself with powerful allies and, misguided as they are, they will protect him. He spreads his poison and his Watchers’ numbers grow every day. It is amazing how the vultures gather when they think there is a banquet to be had.”
    “But the Draaken is also growing, Victoria. We still have allies,” Marco replied.
    “Yes, I can only hope that it will be enough,” Victoria frowned. “In the meantime, Keira cannot under any circumstances know that she is being protected. She has a certain stubbornness, you know,” a hint of pride crept into her voice. “And she is not an idiot. Your brother Rafael is not subtle enough.”
    Marco combed his hand through his short, dark hair. “If her magick is as strong as you sensed it to be, she doesn’t need my protection. She should be able to take care of herself. Victoria, we have too many—”
    “Are you being dense on purpose?” Victoria interrupted. “In the first place, if I sensed her magick this morning, don’t you think he did as well? That is exactly why she needs our—your—protection right now. Besides, her magick is unpredictable. She needs time to learn how to control and direct it. And in the second place, you only have to stay with her until I have convinced her to accompany me to the Council meeting.”
    “Do you have any idea when that meeting will take place?” Marco asked.
    “As soon as I’ve received confirmation that all the members will be there, which should be any day now. I will let you know.”
    Marco glared at her from across the table. “Fine, I will stay with her for a few days. But after the meeting, I am back where I belong—out there!” and he jabbed his finger out towards the window and the streets below.
    “I know you are frustrated, but you are the only one I can trust with this. She is more precious than you can begin to imagine. We must keep her safe.”
    Now that he had capitulated to her will, Victoria could afford to be gentle and understanding. She had decades of practice in the political subtleties of being Leader of Council. Most of its members had no idea how old she truly was and would be astounded if they knew.
    “Marco,” she said, “you have to promise me, no matter what happens, you will defend her with your life. The Guardians have been without a High Priestess for far too long. If only I—”
    His glare softened and he interrupted, “Don’t do this to yourself. You have led us and kept us on the right path. We didn’t need a High Priestess. Besides, you couldn’t have helped what happened.”
    Victoria smiled at him. Her mind agreed, but not her heart. She knew she would carry the guilt of her beloved’s death for the rest of her days, along with her inability to continue as the Guardians’ High Priestess after she had buried him.
    She allowed herself one small moment of weakness. Roberto. How I wish you were here, by my side. I can’t do this without you.
    Victoria shrugged the melancholy off and continued. “Let’s not talk about that now. Times have changed faster than any of us could have foreseen. Even Chloe was caught off-guard by the speed of Daemon’s changing tactics.”
    “She blames herself for that, you know.