Defender's Blood Alex's Destiny (An Urban Fantasy) by A K Michaels Read Free Book Online Page A

when I was older but at the time I couldn’t help myself. Only now it turns out they didn’t die in an accident! She says they were murdered. I can’t understand it – we were just an ordinary family. Why would anyone have wanted to do that?”
    She started to cry again and Zach cuddled her close to him trying to ease her pain. “I’m so sorry Alexina, if there’s anything I can do please let me. I want to help.” Zach’s tone was one of someone who cared, she was surprised as they had only just met.
    She was also surprised at just how good his arms around her felt and she turned her face to his before replying. “No it’s okay, it’s just been a shock, on top of everything else today. It just took me by surprise and opened old wounds.”
    She sniffled and hunted for a hanky in her pocket to wipe her nose. She knew she must look a right mess. She wished she could do that dainty cry that some women could do, but no she was a swollen eyes, runny nose type of gal.
    “You said you were divorced?” Zach queried.
    “ Yup, biggest mistake of my life, I thought he was ‘the one’ you know, but he just wanted a wife to further his career in the bank. I should have seen through him but I was blind at the time. I so wanted a husband and kids that I put up with a lot of crap that I wouldn’t normally have. I learned quickly he didn’t love me and more importantly I didn’t love him. My dream of kids was so strong I kept trying to make it work. But it wasn’t to be.” Alex’s voice was sad as she spoke.
    “ You can still have that Alexina.” Zach tried to make her feel better.
    “ Are you mad? I’m nearly forty. I don’t want my kids in high school when I’m an old woman,” she retorted.
    “ Alexina, I will tell you what you told me earlier – you look good for your age!” They both burst out laughing and she looked at him and saw that he seemed sincere.
    “ Well thank you kind sir,” she quipped before continuing, “But I have given up on that, I just try to get through each day as it comes at the moment. I’m just sad as I always wanted my own family. I wanted to be a good mum, just as my mum was to me before she died.”
    “ Never give up on anything Alexina, never. This world can throw quite a few curve balls in one’s life.” Zach’s voice was low and damn if she didn’t find it downright sexy.
    “ Why do you do that?” she asked.
    “ Do what?” he frowned.
    “ You know, use my name so often? You use it in practically every sentence.”
    “ I like it, that’s why. Your name is beautiful Alexina and I have no idea why you would use Alex. It doesn’t do you justice, not one bit.”
    She was taken aback and wondered if he meant it? Did he like her, maybe? Oh for goodness sake give yourself a shake woman. Don’t be ridiculous – look at him. He was a very fine specimen of the male persuasion and he could have any female he wanted.
    She was just an ordinary, down to earth Scots woman, who really didn’t have a lot going for her at the moment.
    “ That reminds me of something your aunt said to me, just before we left.” Zach got up and opened a drawer underneath the table they had been sitting at and pulled out a very hi-tech laptop.
    She was impressed, she worked in IT and knew her way around technology. He started typing and then his expression seemed a bit startled. She asked him what he was doing.
    “Well your aunt told me to find out the meaning of your name in a rather cryptic way, implying it may be of some use to us. So that’s just what I have googled.” He looked at her with an eyebrow raised.
    “ Well, don’t keep me in suspense, what have you found out? It’s not something I ever bothered to do, it’s just my name, that’s all,” she said.
    “ Well according to this your name means ‘Defender of Man’. Now that’s what I call interesting.”
    Alex was taken aback. “What? Are you kidding me? That is so weird, it was my mother’s name and my gran’s. It’s