He was there for that in a big way for as long as they were together.
Two
The Human/Kindred Relations building in Tampa was a big, well-staffed one that had vehicles to spare. This turned out to be a good thing, since they were apparently splitting up at this point.
“I’ll take one of the other shuttles,” Melli heard Liosh tell Vorn after they parked in the back of the building. “I understand our charges live in two separate areas so we’ll need two vehicles.”
Vorn nodded.
“Be well, Brother. Did you pack a Think-me?”
Liosh nodded. “I’ll be in communication with you if I see anything suspicious. You be-speak me if anything odd comes up on your end, too.”
“Absolutely.” Vorn nodded and Liosh turned to look at Melli.
“My Lady Melinda,” he said formally, “Just give me a moment to get a second shuttle ready for you and then I’ll come get you and help you into it.”
“Oh, thank you.” Melli felt her heart start pounding. “But…I can probably walk?” She made it into a question, a little uncertain if she really ought to put much weight on her newly healed leg or not.
Liosh frowned.
“Better not, my Lady. Commander Sylvan said you’re to take it easy on that newly mended bone for some time. If you don’t mind, I’ll carry you to the new vehicle as soon as I get it ready to go.”
Melli felt herself blushing harder and her heart started pounding double-time in her chest.
“No, I…I don’t mind,” she murmured, looking up at him from under her lashes. “If…if it doesn’t bother you to, um, carry me.”
Liosh’s pale blue eyes went half-lidded and his voice dropped to a soft, deep rumble.
“I don’t mind a bit, my Lady. In fact, it would be my very great pleasure to carry you.”
“O-okay,” Melli stuttered. “I’ll, um, just wait for you here, then.”
“I won’t be a moment,” he promised and left the shuttle to go get another ready.
“Listen to yourself, Melli,” Jodi whispered to her fiercely. “Falling all over him and letting him carry you all over the place!”
“So what?” Melli hissed, frowning at her big sister. “Just because you don’t like your Kindred guard doesn’t mean I have to hate mine!”
Then she remembered that Kindred were supposed to have really acute senses—including a phenomenal sense of hearing.
“Oh, uh, sorry,” she said, sparing a glance for the front seat, where Vorn was staring straight ahead. “No offense.”
“None taken,” he growled, shooting a look over his broad shoulder. “I know exactly how your sister feels about me and I don’t give a fuck.”
“Nice language,” Jodi snapped, though she had been known to drop an “F bomb” of her own, from time to time, as Melli well-knew. “I’m just trying to warn my little sister to be careful and not fall in love with her Kindred guard just because he’s acting like the perfect gentleman right now.” She turned a piercing look at Melli. “You know what I mean, Melli. You’re going to be alone with this guy so be careful. Remember high school.”
The reminder made Melli feel like she’d swallowed a whole bucket of ice cubes. Her hands fisted in her lap and everything from the waist down seemed to clench painfully. She knew her big sister was just trying to look out for her, but why did Jodi have to dump cold water on her heart, just when she was feeling warm and safe and happy around a man for the first time in years?
“Actually, Liosh is a perfect gentleman,” Vorn growled from the front seat. “I’ve served with him for five solar years now and observed him in every situation. He would never harm a female—no Kindred would. So if you’re trying to warn your little sister to be careful of him because you think he’s not trustworthy, don’t bother. Liosh is one of the most steadfast and honorable males I know—he will give your sister the respect and deference that Melinda is due.”
Somewhere deep inside, Melli felt a knot that had begun to tighten, suddenly loosen again. Somehow the Beast Kindred’s words reassured her—maybe because they corroborated the feeling she already had—that Liosh was one of the good guys.
“See?” she said to Jodi, who was still frowning skeptically. “Liosh is okay—I’ll be fine, Jodi.”
“He’s okay according to his friend,” Jodi pointed out. “But you don’t really know either of them, Melli. Neither of us do.”
“Liosh is more than a friend—I consider him a brother, though we come from different branches of the Kindred tree,” Vorn growled. “And please don’t slander him before you get to know him—or me, for that matter. We’re here to protect you and as I said before, no Kindred will ever hurt a female.”
“Why is that?” Melli asked curiously. “I mean, is it just because you worship a Goddess? Is it a religious belief?”