Page 16 of Awakened By Her Guardian

“Dad, what if he’d killed Uncle Gus? Or you or Mom?”

“You turning evil wouldn’t save anyone, honey,” her mom chimed in.

She looked at Gabriel, and he saw her resolve harden.

He was about to tell her not to do anything foolish like put herself in harm’s way, when she said, “I’m coming to you.”

“No,” Sandman said, getting on the phone. “He knows you’re powerful in a way that he can utilize for whatever his and Frost’s end game is. If you leave Northernmost, you’ll put yourself in danger.”

“Your power is different from mine,” she said. “But it’s similar. We should be combining forces instead of leaving me here while you fight a battle he’s trying to drag me into. We should take the battle to him.”

Sandman frowned, but didn’t say anything.

Ana met Gabriel’s gaze and he could see the determination in her eyes. “Not alone, Ana,” he said.

She nodded. “Gabriel should come with me.”

“Your mate can’t fight Nightmare. This will be magic against magic.”

“But he’s my mate and I’m not going anywhere without him.”

Gabriel’s heart swelled.

“As you wish,” Sandman said. “Get to Santa now. I’ll reach out to him.”

The call ended and they stared at each other for a long, quiet moment.

“I thought I wouldn’t be able to get to you,” she said. “Nightmare had me trapped, and I was so scared.”

“I will always come for you,” Gabriel said. “You’re mine.”

“It might get really bad.”

“I’m by your side no matter what.”

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too.”

Gabriel opened the door to Santa’s office and nearly collided with two males.

“Shit, sorry,” Marcus, one of the security team elves, said.

“Sorry, man,” the other male said.

Gabriel recognized him as Seth, though they hadn’t officially met. He’d worry about introductions later. Right now, he had to focus on his mate.

He held the door for Ana and strode in behind her to find Santa at his desk, two dark gold chains dangling from his clasped hands. “I just spoke to Sandman,” Santa said gravely. “I was already working on this because I knew you might need it.”

“What is it?” Gabriel asked.

“These are sigils,” Santa said, handing one chain to Ana and one to Gabriel. A heavy medallion hung from each. They looked old, with a blue gemstone in the center of a complicated mass of golden metal filigree.

“What are they for?” Ana asked. They both put the sigils on, and Gabriel felt a low hum of connection to her through his.

“These sigils are not like armor,” Santa cautioned. “They can’t keep you from getting hurt. They offer some protection, but their main purpose is to act as a conduit between the two of you.” He looked at Gabriel. “If her magic falters, hold the medallion and lend her your strength. She’ll feel you.”

Gabriel reached for Ana and squeezed her hand. “Whatever Nightmare brings, we’ll face it together. Even if I won’t be able to fight him myself, our bond is strong.”