The Guardians Crown.

Wendy Owens.

This book is dedicated to my fans. The only reason I was able to finish this series is because of an amazing group of readers who have continued to support my work. Your reviews have helped me grow as an author. I am humbled daily by you all.

The closer the creature came to them, the more the overwhelming smell made Rachel feel like she was going to vomit. She couldn't imagine how the boys were possibly tolerating the odor. She slipped her hand up over her mouth, her gag reflex overwhelming her.

Gabe lifted a finger to his lips, quieting her.

The earth beneath them shook as the creature pa.s.sed by. Rachel peeked out from their hiding spot, watching as it moved out of the vicinity. She wasn't sure if it was the demon that reeked or the beast it rode upon. She had seen similar demons with the dark leathery skin and fangs, but its mount was something quite different.

It was the size of an elephant with long matted hair covering it's entire body except where its face was. The face was wide and smashed, almost flat except for its oversized eyelids that stuck out along with its puffy lips. As it moved with sloth-like rhythm, it licked its lips, a long trail of saliva dripping from its mouth. Yes, she was certain now, the smell was definitely coming from the steed.

Rachel leaned forward, trying to get a better look, and as she did a twig snapped beneath her foot, echoing through the trees. Gabe's heart stopped for a moment; he pulled his wife close, wrapping his arms around her.

The great beast paused and turned, the demon peering around, searching their surroundings for the source of the noise. Uri wrapped his fingers around the grip of his sword, prepared to unsheathe its fury. Reaching out with one hand, Gabe grabbed his arm, shaking his head no.

"Wait," he mouthed silently.

The beast took a couple c.u.mbersome steps towards them and then paused. From their hiding spot Uri could see the demon sniffing the air, attempting to catch a trace of their scent. Closing his eyes, Uri stood silently, concentrating fully on casting a wind spell. A moment later a breeze blew all around them and their smell was carried away with it.

Satisfied he hadn't missed anything, the demon turned, and made its way to the east. Once there was sufficient distance between the monsters and them, Gabe released his wife from his grasp.

"Smooth Rachel, are you trying to get us killed?" Uri barked.

"Back off man, she didn't mean anything by it," Gabe defended, looking over at his wife to ensure the comment hadn't caused her too much distress.

Rachel didn't hear the discussion happening around her, all she could hear was the deafening pulsing of blood that filled her head. The forest began to spin as she fell to her knees, heaving air wildly.

"She's gonna pop," Uri declared.

"Babe, are you all right?" Gabe asked, running his fingertips across her back.

Rachel began to sweat, a feeling of disorientation consuming her, until at last her body forcibly relieved itself of all of her stomach's contents.

"Oh my G.o.d. She did, disgusting," Uri groaned, covering his nose to avoid the smell.

"Will you shut up already!" Gabe snapped, glaring up at his friend.

"Rachel, please, say something. Are you all right?" Gabe asked again.

The world around her came back, flooding her senses in an instant. She wiped the corner of her mouth and with Gabe's a.s.sistance stood to her feet.

"Yeah, sorry, I haven't been feeling well," Rachel explained.

"Sure, that's what happened," Uri remarked sarcastically.

"d.a.m.n it! Will you give it a rest?" Gabe said, his anger starting to bubble over.

"I'm sorry, I know it's not your fault Rachel. I guess I'm just frustrated the Alicorns dropped us off days from Iron Gate," Uri offered in an attempt to excuse his behavior.

Haim leaned forward, adding his thoughts, "They said things were too hot around Iron Gate. I'm sure they were just trying to be cautious."

"Yeah, I'm not an idiot, I get that," Uri snarled. "Doesn't mean I like it."

"Seriously? Cool it already. We're almost there. A half a days walk at most," Gabe instructed. "A night in a real bed will do all of us a lot of good."

Pushing past the group Uri began leading the way. Haim followed, but paused when Gabe grabbed his arm. "Do you know what's going on with him?" Gabe whispered.

Haim looked up at Uri and then back to Gabe before replying, "It's different all the time with him." Haim knew his friend had been testy ever since a lead on Seraphine's location had not panned out as he had hoped. He wasn't about to share that information with Gabe though, Uri made it quite clear he didn't want anyone knowing about her.

Gabe sighed, "If you had to guess?"

Thinking quickly of an answer that would satisfy him, Haim said, "I think he's worried about what Michael's going to say."

"About what?" Gabe inquired, pushing for more.

"Who knows, you know how Uri is, he gets something in his head and that's it. Maybe because he took you to see Mirada," Haim replied.

It quickly became evident that Rachel had been listening in when she chimed, "He only did that because we made him."

Haim shrugged. "You told me to guess."

"Maybe you should talk to him," Rachel suggested looking at her husband.

Gabe watched Uri move further away from the group, cautiously searching around each tree as he swiped at random harmless plants with his blade. It was obvious something was eating him. "Maybe later," Gabe said with a sigh. Even though Uri wasn't the most pleasant to be around at the moment, he was a killing machine when he was in this kind of mood and that was the perfect thing to ensure they arrived home safely.

Coming back to Iron Gate had been a complete shock for everyone. They hadn't been gone terribly long, but the once bustling and vibrant estate had been transformed into a place none of them recognized. Most of the faces they pa.s.sed were strangers, the look in their eyes one of desperation. The streets and common areas had been turned into makeshift housing units with narrow rows of dilapidated shanties lining them. The entire place now felt heavy with desperation and decay.

When they greeted Michael, he did his best to try and mask the worry, but it was evident to them all how much of a toll the growing threat was taking on him.

"Come, sit, tell me everything that happened," Michael requested, gesturing to the group of four. Gabe and Rachel sat at one end of the couch, Gabe wrapping his arm around his wife's shoulders. Uri and Haim slid into the opposite high back chairs. They all watched Michael as he crossed over in front of them, perching one arm on the fireplace mantel.

"Well?" he prodded.

The idea of telling Michael they had spoken to Mirada made Gabe anxious after the conversation he had with Haim. Would Michael, in fact, be infuriated that they had approached his long lost love for answers? He waited for one of the others in the group to speak first, but n.o.body did, instead the entire room looked to him.

With a deep breath, he knew it was time to enlighten their leader as to what they had learned. "Things are changing fast out there."

"I know, we were just starting to find homes for all the refugees when an entire new group came in. Now we're taking in humans, as well," Michael explained.

"Isn't that against the rules? I mean blurring the line between humans and Guardians like that," Gabe questioned, glad to avoid the topic of Mirada a little longer.

"The curtain was pulled back, there's no reason to pretend we don't exist anymore," Michael explained.

"They're everywhere. Luxom was full of mercenaries, Wintoks, Braymars, Krinams walking around out in the open, like it was nothing," Uri remarked.

"There's no mistaking, the final war has begun," Michael spoke softly as he revealed what everyone else already knew.

"So what are we supposed to do?" Haim inquired.

Michael looked at each one of his once students and then to Rachel. They all waited for his wisdom, the growing silence making them increasingly uncomfortable. "All we can do is protect her now."

Rachel looked to Gabe; she wanted to disappear. The way the room was staring at her. You could see it in all their eyes. Even though they were fighting to save her, to save their friend, their faces revealed they feared they might not be able to help them.

"Why would you bring her back here?" Michael asked, glancing at Gabe.

"We didn't know where else to go," Gabe defended. "We tried running, but everywhere we went was infested with demons."

Michael did not relent on his stance, "this place wasn't safe for her before and it's certainly not safe for her now. Going underground is your only option. You can gain a couple weeks rest here, but then you should probably leave again."

"No, it's not our only option," Gabe argued.

"You're not ready to fight Baal; it would be suicide. Then who would protect Rachel?" Michael demanded.

Rachel shifted in her seat uncomfortably. It was becoming increasingly annoying, the way they spoke about her as if she weren't there.

"You're right, if I went to go fight Baal right now, he'd kill me, and I have no desire for that to happen. But there's a way we might be able to defeat him," Gabe began.

Michael shook his head, "not one I or any of the elders can see. Do you have new information?"

"Have you heard of *the Guardians' crown'?" Gabe watched Michael's face, waiting for a sign of recognition, which he received instantly as his mentor's eyes widened.

"It's a myth," Michael brushed off.

"No, I think it's real. Do you know what it is?" Gabe questioned.

Michael turned and walked around the seating area, crossing the room, and securing the cracked door. As he returned to the group, Gabe could feel his heart quickening in pace as Rachel squeezed his hand tightly. "It's a legend, but I don't think there's any truth to it."

"Fine, then it won't hurt for you to tell us the story then," Uri prompted, intrigued by the secrecy.

"It appears you already know the story," Michael's response was flat.

"Only bits and pieces," Haim chimed in, before falling silent again.

Michael peered around the room, as if to one last time ensure that they were alone. Stepping closer, he lowered his voice, "It's said there exists a ma.s.sive weapon, a tool with which a circle of Guardians might have the ability to send even the mightiest of h.e.l.l's princes back to their fiery world."

"And you never told us this because a?" Gabe asked, raising his eyebrows, never taking his eyes off of Michael.

"Because it's just a story Gabe. Don't you think if it actually existed, it would have been discovered by now?" Michael reb.u.t.ted.

"Well there are obviously some who still think it's real." As soon as the words left Gabe's lips he wished he hadn't said them. There was no way Michael was going to simply let that statement go.

"Some like who?" Michael pushed.

Gabe looked over at Uri, hoping he would take the lead in the conversation, but from the way he avoided eye contact, Gabe knew he was. Somehow though, he couldn't think of the words to say.

Michael took a step closer to Gabe, "where did you hear about *the Guardians crown'?"

Gabe looked away from him; he didn't want Michael to see him avoiding the truth, "I don't remember, and it doesn't matter. If there's a chance there's a weapon out there that can defeat Baal, shouldn't we at least try to find it?"

"Who told you about it, Gabe?" Michael asked pointedly.

"Just tell him," Uri muttered.

Gabe peered into his mentor's eyes, a desperate look on his face. With a sigh he confirmed the person Michael feared it would be, "Mirada."

With swift movement Michael made his way to stand directly in front of Uri; swooping in close, he place a hand on either arm of the chair, only inches from his face. "You took him there? You took all of them there? How could you put her in that kind of danger?"

Gabe had never heard so much anger in Michael's voice.

"We're all in danger here," Gabe pointed out, but it was clear this conversation was solely between Uri and Michael.

Uri pushed himself uncomfortably back in his seat, "I wouldn't have done it unless I thought we had to."

"You didn't have to. You chose to," Michael snapped, spinning around and beginning to pace in front of them.

"I swear, she was fine when we left," Uri attempted to rea.s.sure his angered mentor.

"d.a.m.n it, Uri! Don't you get it, she'll never be safe if anyone finds out she's alive. Both sides would do anything to have her!" Michael shouted, never stopping his movement.

"We were careful," Uri said as if pleading for Michael's understanding.

"You should've never been there and you know it!" Michael growled, shooting a sharp stare in Uri's direction.

"Fine," Uri said in a solemn voice. "I messed up. Is that what you want me to say?"

Michael didn't say anything in response. The longer the silence grew the more uncomfortable the group became. Rachel looked to Gabe, wide-eyed, and he could see she wanted to be anywhere but in that room.

Shifting in his seat Gabe looked to Michael, and said, "She didn't have any details for us, but it was clear Mirada knows the Guardians crown is not just some story. It's real and we need to find it. I don't know, maybe if you go and talk to her, perhaps she'll tell you more."

"I won't be able to find her. n.o.body will; she's too smart for that. I'm sure as soon as you left, she was gone," Michael explained.

"What do you mean, gone?" Gabe inquired.

"She knows how to stay hidden, a visit from you, Gabe, meant she wouldn't stay hidden for long," Michael added.

"Jesus, Michael, what do we have to say to convince you we were careful," Gabe argued, agitated and almost feeling accused. "We were in and out, there's no way anyone was following us."

"No, Michael's right," Uri interjected. "Mirada's careful; she's probably long gone. She wouldn't take the chance in case a tracker was on us."

"Then who do we ask?" Haim moaned, the despair settling over him.

Gabe looked to Michael, whose gaze was affixed on the floor. "Do you know anyone who could help us?"