Moon Sworn (Riley Jenson Guardian 9)

So do you brown or do you peel?

Brown. If a vampire burns, it usually results in the death of said vampire.

Well, I don't want you dead before I swear to you, so good move.

His laughter ran through my mind, warm and light.

Daskill had finally realized we were going out into the main street and balked as we neared the gate. But a hard nudge in the back with the laser soon put an end to that.

The two vans sat several houses away, one holding Jack and the banks of computers that were controlling Daskill's security system, and the other for the transfer of our prisoners.

The prisoner van door opened as we approached, and the stench of vampire wafted out. There were at least three guardians inside. Jack wasn't taking any chances.

We handed over our prisoners and stepped back as the door slammed shut. Even though the van was reinforced, I could still hear the wife's screaming as the vehicle took off.

"Well, that was almost easy," Rhoan said, sounding more than a little peeved.

"And it makes a nice change," I said, rubbing my arms. The time had come to talk to Jack, and I really wasn't looking forward to it.

I can - Quinn started.

No, I said firmly. This is for me to do.

"Riley, Rhoan," Jack said into my ear. "Go through Daskill's house and see what you can find. Another van is on the way to take care of the guards. They'll remain neutralized until then."

Meaning Quinn had messed with their minds and told them to stay. I pressed the little earpiece and said, "I need to talk to you first, boss."

He hesitated, then said, almost reluctantly, "Come on in, then."

Rhoan gave me a smile and a quick shoulder squeeze for support, then spun around on his heel and headed back to the house. I took a deep breath that did little to calm the twisting in my belly, then strode forward determinedly.

I slid open the van door, stepping inside and shutting it quickly so there was no risk of sunlight touching Jack. Not that it would have, given he was down at the far end of the van, sitting in front of a bank of monitors.

"What is it, Riley?" he said without looking up.

"I don't want to be a guardian anymore." I said it in a rush, because any other way and the words would have stuck in my throat.

He leaned back in his chair and raised his hands, crossing his fingers on the top of his head. There was little surprise in the green of his eyes.

"You can't leave the Directorate. The drugs are still affecting you, and we have no idea what direction the changes are likely to take."

That sick feeling in my stomach increased, rising up my throat and momentarily preventing me from breathing. It was all going to hell - all my hopes and dreams of walking away turning to ashes simply because I knew what he was saying was true. And yet, that stupid, stubborn part of me refused to give up. "But - "

"There are no buts on this," he said heavily. "We have no idea what might happen, and it's simply too dangerous for everyone around you to let you go unmonitored."

"There has to be some sort of middle ground, Jack." I said it softly, without the desperation burning through me.

"I've given up so many of my hopes and dreams in the last few years that I really don't want to give up any more. I want to live long enough to see my babies grow. And we both know that isn't going to happen if I remain a guardian."

"Riley," he said, voice gentle, "you were growing weary of being my assistant when you actually were. Now that you're a trained hunter, I very much doubt you could go back so easily to office work.">Most of the houses were on regular-size lots, but Daskill had obviously bought up the residences to either side of him, because if the sheer length of the fence was anything to go by, there had to be at least an acre of land behind it.

Quinn touched his ear lightly, his expression intense as he listened to Jack speaking through the earpiece. His face held a slight sheen thanks to all the sunscreen he'd lathered on - mine probably did, too. With my skin still so sensitive to sunlight, I thought I'd better start protecting myself. I just had to hope that it didn't develop into something deadly. The one vampire condition I didn't want was their need to stay out of sunlight. Well, that and the need to drink blood.

I could hear Jack's voice echoing lightly, but it wasn't clear enough to understand. A second later, Quinn leaned forward and kissed me. "We're a go. Jack will contact you when I've taken down all the guards."

I ran my fingers lightly through his silky hair, taking care not to touch any skin and disturb the sunscreen. "Be careful."

"There are only four of them. Piece of cake." He smiled and winked, then climbed out of the car.