Young Guardian Trilogy by Lady Adellandra Dratianos (the lemonade war series .TXT) 📖

laughed, taking him and kissing him so he giggled. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
I grinned. “His twin, elder by six minutes, is Andrew James.”
Evelyn’s face went dark. “Named after my own brother no doubt.”
“Yeah, he is.” I told her. “Andrew is quieter than his brother, but I’m sure you’ll love them all the same.”
“They look so much like Derrick when he was a baby.” She cried, and then went into a daze. Evelyn shook out of her daze, and gazed into Mark-Antony’s eyes. “They have strange-colored eyes. Beautiful, yet mysterious.”
I couldn’t tell her about the Mystic Magic. It had to be kept a secret from the Readings. I made something up, not far from the truth. “They’re a Woods’ family gift. If you look into my own, you’ll see the same color, silver-blue.”
She did, and smiled. “One of these days, we’re going to go out to lunch. There’s much to discuss about being a Reading.”
“There you are, Momma!” I heard Kelly’s voice call. “Daddy’s been looking all over for you!”
Evelyn Reading looked shocked. “I didn’t know...”
I knew what she was thinking. As I hugged my daughter, kissing her forehead, I explained. “Oh, no. It’s not what you think, Mother Reading. This is Kelly, my daughter. She’s not Derrick’s, but Aaron Schmidt’s.”
Evelyn looked horrified. “We’ll definitely have to talk, young lady.”
Was I in trouble with her already?
After putting Mark back into bed, we left the room.
“Do you mind if I show Alex?” Evelyn asked me. “He’s already thrilled to know he’s a grandfather.”
“Sure, no problem. Make yourself at home.” I told her with a smile.
Something was fishy here, and it sure wasn’t my family.
She left Kelly’s and my side, and Kelly dragged me over to Aimee and Aaron.
“Congratulations, once again.” Aaron announced, kissing my cheek.
“I can’t believe how much trouble you guys went through to do all this.” Aimee was awed. “It must have cost a fortune!”
“Nothing’s too good for my wife,” Derrick’s voice came up behind me. He kissed my other cheek. “I see you’ve been talking with my mother. What did she have to say?”
“She just met her grandsons, that’s all.” I told him.
I think the wine was getting to me; I was beginning to get a headache. Aimee saw I was rubbing my temples.
“Are you okay?” She asked.
I nodded. “Just a little tipsy, that’s all.”
“What about earlier? Did you find out what was going on?”
I glared at her. “I already told you, but I can’t talk about it here. You know that.”
“Oh, right. The Readings.” Aaron looked sheepish.
In the middle of a song, there was a loud screeching noise.
Now my headache was worse.
“May I have your attention, please?” It was Craig Richardson. “The ceremonials are ready for us. Ariana and Derrick, if you may?”
That was our cue. Everyone left the house in limos and chauffeur-driven cars. It was wonderful, and exciting. We were all going to the church on the edge of town.
“You look lovely, darling.” Derrick whispered in my ear, helping me with my shawl. He took my hand and led me to the awaiting limo. I saw the “Just Married” sign on the back of the window and smiled.
“Thank you, Derrick.” I told him. “Let’s go.”
As we rode in the limo, I couldn’t help feeling something was wrong.
Maybe I was imagining things, but I thought Derrick was trying to hide something from me. Thinking back to the PTA meeting, and the way his eyes looked when Andrea told me about the Whiteheads, I could tell he didn’t want to talk about it.
If we were going to be husband and wife, wouldn’t he want to tell me everything?
I sighed.
“What’s up, Love?” He whispered in my ear.
I looked at him. “I’m just worried, that’s all. I mean, Aimee and Aaron agreed to watch the children while we were at the church. Since we were in California early last year, I could tell something was on his mind.”
He kissed me. “Don’t worry about Aaron right now. This is our day. You can always talk to him later. It’s not as if you’ll never see him again.”
I smiled. “You’re right. He’s next door. I’ll talk to him about it tomorrow.”
“That a girl.” Derrick teased, nibbling my ear.
He’d never done that before. It felt good and I sighed happily.
“Careful you don’t nibble my earrings off.” I teased him, turning to kiss his lips.
“I’ll wait until later.” He gave me a mischievous smile, and a glint was in his eye.
I giggled.
The ceremony was the same as the one in California, but a few differences. This time, the two families were on opposite sides of the room. I looked at the Readings.
I met Mother Reading’s eyes, which held a tear of joy. Right away, my clairvoyance triggered, and I felt she had a secret to keep of her own.
Oh, Mother Reading, if you only knew what secret your daughter-in-law had to keep from your proud family.
I ignored the vision and attended to the ceremony, wearing the same dress as I had back in California. Sure, Derrick had seen it, as had my family, but the Readings hadn’t.
I looked to my family’s side. Mother was smiling proudly. Luna was smiling as well, with Shane beside her, giving us a thumbs-up sign.
The second ceremony was almost as perfect as the System’s, without the Magic.
After it was over, we went home again, tired for the night.
Before heading to my husband’s side in bed, I peeked in on the twins. Both boys were silent, and Aimee was sleeping with Andrew in her arms.
I tapped her awake.
“How was the ceremony?” She whispered, handing him to me.
I tucked him in the crib with his sleeping brother.
“Wonderful. I’ll tell you more about it in the morning.” I told her, hugging her. “Thanks for watching the kids for me, Aimee.”
“Always a pleasure.” Aimee grinned. “See you in the morning.”
I nodded, following her to the other room and seeing her out.
Closing the door behind me, I yawned.
It had been a big day, and I was tired.
Derrick was already asleep when I arrived in the bedroom, so I snuggled beside him, kissing his cheek.
I stared at his sleeping body for a few minutes, thinking of our marriage so far. “I love you, Derrick. Now and forever.”
As my head hit his chest, I fell asleep.

II

The next I knew, I arrived in the Dream Realm. Lord O’Dell was smiling at me in his human-male form.
“So good to have you return to us, Young Guardian.” He replied.
I bowed to him. “Thank you.” I told him, rising. “Have I passed the Earthbound test, my Lord Guardian?”
He smiled, throwing his cape around me so we disappeared.
I took that as a yes.
When we reappeared, we were at the Palace doors. O’Dell opened the door for us.
“Destiny awaits, Young Guardian.” He announced.
When I stepped inside, I saw Derrick, Aaron, Panther, Katherine, Kitten’s Claw, Toby, Wolf, Marie, Shannon, Nick, Luna, Shane, and Aimee, gathered around. All the Crusaders and Companions, I thought. I also noticed Great-Aunt Dorianne, my Grandmother, Dixilynne, and Shannon’s mother Sarabeth gathered around the glowing pedestal. Mother, Aunt Sharon, and Uncle Stephen were there, too.
All the Earthbound Mystics were there, at least the Elders. For what, I wondered.
“Destiny?” I whispered, going to hug my sister and friends.
“Aye, Young Guardian.” I heard Sibylline’s voice behind O’Dell. “The Earthbound test has been won, and your power is greater than before.”
I looked at her. She had a male feline beside her, who looked like a male version of Kit and Kat. I smiled at Braken Hawk, nodding my greeting.
“Thank you, Mistress Sibylline.” I replied. “Why are we here? Why have the Crusaders been brought here with us?”
“The Mystic Ceremonies of the Companions and yourselves.” Jezebel replied beside her sister.
What made it hard to believe Sibylline and Jezebel were twins was the fact they looked nothing alike. Maybe it was because of the horrid life Jezebel had been living until now.
Jezebel was wearing the same glamorous gown and cape she’d worn when warning me of the Dark Magic. Next to her was the acclaimed, Lord Maximaniac.
“I have been waiting for this moment since you were announced.” Maximaniac gleamed, kissing my cheek. “Many things will be told, many stories will be shared, and more power will be bestowed upon you in your Earthbound lives.”
I was amazed, and my eyes caught the jewels on the pedestal. I recognized the five Mystic Jewels of the Province, glowing their brightest high above me.
Curious, I walked up to them and stared. Slowly, I took my hand to touch them. From its spot, I took the Green Emerald Earth Jewel, getting a glimpse of the Unicorn Magic inside. I was reminded of the time I met Aunt Sharon’s horses, being able to talk to them, and have them understand me and talk back.
I smiled at Aunt Sharon now, who nodded back.
The only two who weren’t there yet were Enchantra and Challandra.
“Our apologies, My Lords.” I heard Challandra’s voice call. “We were running a little late.”
Enchantra giggled, and I bowed to her slowly.
“The moments of truth.” She announced, shaking her head. She looked to me, and what I had in my hand. “I see you found the Earth Jewel, Young Guardian. What did you see when you touched it?”
I placed the Jewel back in its spot between the Red Fire and Blue Jewels.
“The Unicorn Magic working on me.” I told her. “One question, Mistress Enchantra.”
“Aye?” She asked.
“What are the Jewels doing out of Lord Guardian’s Castle Chambers?” I asked her, curious.
“They are always brought out when a Mystic is wed to their Earthly Protector.” Challandra answered for her sister.
“We were wed almost a year ago.” Luna replied, and Shane and Derrick nodded.
“A perfect Earthbound lunar cycle, to be exact.” Sibylline grinned. “It’s tradition.”
That could only mean one thing to me: our ‘sentence’ was over. I didn’t know about Luna, but I was able to control my power.
“Children, gather around the Jewels.” Sibylline lightly commanded.
The time had come.
Derrick and I, Shane and Luna, Kit and Toby, Wolf and Kat, and Panther and Marie would be wed the Mystic way. We each held hands, gathered around the Jewels in a circle. Outside our circle were Mother, Father, Sharon, Stephen, Dorianne, Dixilynne, Sarabeth, Mick McNathaniels (Nick’s father), Nick, Shannon, Shannon’s new twin Julia, a male I didn’t recognize held Sarabeth’s hand. Another male I didn’t recognize held Dixilynne’s other hand. In the third and final circle were Lord Max, Lord O’Dell, Sibylline, Jezebel, Enchantra, and Challandra, holding each of their staffs from end to end, touching the others.
My heart pounded with excitement and a kind of electricity I felt from the Jewels in front of me.
“Gentlemen, place your Pendants on the Pedestal. Companions, place your Amulets and Lockets beside them. Ladies, place your Lockets and Rings beside the Pendant of your Earthly Protector.” Enchantra commanded lightly. As soon as we did that, there was a strange glow from the Jewels. “Let the Mystic Ceremony begin.”
“Close your eyes and think of the Mystic Force within.” O’Dell instructed. “The time has come, my Earthbound and Dream Realm ridden Mystics. The Mystic Ceremonies of Young Guardian to her Earthly Protector Derrick Reading, Sister Mystic Aluna to her Protector Shadow Morehouse, and three sets of special Companions of this world.”
“Young Guardian and Protector Derrick, take each of your gems from the Pedestal. Once placing them around your necks and finger, repeat this creed.” Enchantra