The Guardian (The Legend of Little Red Riding Hood & Her Wolf)

“The question here is not one of bravery, but of smarts. Being bait is idiotic.”

Whyyy, this man. He messes with my senses and then insults me? No way. No stinking way.

Ran snickers, scratching behind her ear with a hind leg, her saber teeth gleaming in the moonlight. You started it, she comments into my mind. I ignore my bonded wolf.

I barely refrain from punching that perfect nose. Instead, I lean forward, breathe on his neck, and pluck two of his daggers from their sheaths.

I spin, knock his grasping hands away, and gently caress the sharp black blades.

“These are better than my momma’s throwing knives,” I say in wonder. I salute the assassin, spy, or whatever he is. “I’m keeping these, thanks.”

Then a chuckle comes from Silver Eyes. It grows into a full-blown, if quiet, laugh.

“Stealing knives off my breathing body is quite the feat. Alright, Guardian. You keep those, and any others you take off me.”

“Really?” I ask, drawing the word out. My tone is that of an immature five-year-old... but come on. Those are glorious knives! Worth every single bit of fan-girling in my body.

He grins, another chuckle rumbling in that chest. “Of course. But I’m prepared.” His eyes grow harder. “If you manage another one, I’ll be surprised.”

I grin and give him a wink. “Wanna bet on that?”

He cocks his head as those silver eyes twinkle. “What would you like to bet?”

“If I manage to steal another one, you throw in its mate for free.”

“How’d you know my knives come as twins?” He studies me, not expecting an answer. “Alright. But what do I get if you cannot steal another by night’s end?”

I tap his knife on the edge of my lip. “What would you like?” I ask generously.

His eyes go to my lips. But then they flick back up to meet my gaze again. “What about a sparring match?”

“What?” That’s not what I was expecting.

“You obviously have been trained and trained well. I would like to see how well.”

I would also like to see how well I would hold up against this man.

“Alright, you have a deal.” I sheathe his knife, then hold out my hand for him to shake, and he does. Then he pulls me close. I’m lost in those eyes that twinkle with such depth, but in a way I can’t read.

He reaches towards my face... then snatches a knife from my shoulder. I stab at him in a jerky motion with his knife still in my hands, but he’s already flowing back, testing my blade just like I tested his.

“Hey! No fair!”

He taps his lip in an infuriating mock of what I did not minutes ago. “All’s fair in love and war, as they say.”

That. man. I'm gonna kill him.