Read Guardian's Beloved Mate (Song of the Sídhí Series #4) for Free Online Page A

joy flowed within him. Her love pulsed around him, curling and caressing him as only a lover could.
    “Mia Cara, My Beloved,” he whispered lovingly in her mind.
     

Going Home
    Lizzie shivered under the love and joy pouring from Alex. Their newly established lifeBond pulsed, flooding her with his determination to protect her and keep her forever safe.
    The forest disappeared as Alex teleported them into his bedroom. He was heading toward the bed when she stopped him, a single light touch to his bare arm.
    His lips brushed her forehead. “Love, the bed is yours. Until you are ready I’ll sleep in the connecting room.”
    Tears brimmed in her eyes, and she shook her head. “Alex…”
    He didn’t let her finish. “I can only imagine the horrors you went through. Lizzie, my dearest, as long as you are with me, I’ll wait forever.”
    She didn’t want to wait. That was the problem. “You’re right, what they did was horrid. But the kind of torture you’re talking about happened a very long time ago.” She hesitated, knowing it wasn’t going to be that simple. She still had nightmares. “I do need time, but not forever. I want you near me, even if it’s simply holding me. Nothing can make the memories disappear, but your touch will create a shield of happy memories.”
    “Of course, Mia Cara, whatever I can do,” he held her close, rubbing his cheek against her smooth head, “you have but to tell me.”
    It didn’t seem to bother Alex, but she hated not having hair. The wretched guards shaved her bald once a week as a form of mental torture. It worked. She looked up into the gold plated mirror decorating the wall, detesting the image of her baldhead. She curled her lips in distaste. Her skin was pale and dirty. She shuddered. She wasn’t dirty. She was filthy.
    Her stomach growled. Hunger was such a constant companion that she thought nothing of it until Alex jerked like he’d been physically hit.
    “Forgive my neglect, I just told Archibald to bring up some broth and to hurry.” Alex glanced worriedly into her eyes as he spoke of his devoted butler.
    “Don’t tell anyone I’m here.” She ordered suddenly, terrified for his safety. “Guardian Clara is a traitor. She came to me earlier today, trying to force me into telling her where your escape tunnel was at.”
    “Hush, no worries, I mentally changed all the protections around the estate as soon as we ported in.” Once again, he started toward the bed.
    She shook her head, emphatically pointing toward the bathroom. “More than anything, I want to be clean again.”
    He chuckled, and tendril of his humor slid through her. “A bath it is.”
    She smiled in return, and laid her head on his shoulder. “Nope, first I want a shower to get all the crude off then a long hot bath.”
    He carefully set her on the marble counter between two large sinks, and gently cupped her chin in his large hand. His eyes gazed into hers; dark with emotion, his eyes turned a brilliant grass green, not even remotely human looking. “I’m not leaving you in the shower alone. You’re too weak.”
    She slightly smiled at his arrogant announcement. If she hadn’t felt his fear for her, she might have argued with him. “Agreed.”
    And with that simple word, he proceeded to help her take a shower. She insisted on scrubbing up three times and was considering a fourth when she felt his humor fighting with his worry.
    “Archibald is waiting with the broth. You need to eat.” He insisted, holding her gaze as water poured around them.
    She nodded her agreement. “Please, start the bath first.”
    He gently lowered her into the large tub, pouring a large amount of her favorite scented bath oil in the deepening water. He waited for the tub to fill. His scowl would have scared a lesser person, but she had a direct link to why he was so snarly.
    “Stop fretting that I’ll drown. It’s not that deep.”
    He blinked and grinned sheepishly.
    With a nod, he turned and went into