"I've got to find a way to make your dad approve of me," Zeph said as he buttoned his shirt back up. Kyra was getting dressed on the other side of the bed. "I need to be with you, Kyra. If I did something drastic, like an agreement? Would you sign?"
Kyra breathed deeply as she stood up. "Father would hate me forever for that. But, I would. It could smear your family name though."
"I know." Zeph gulped. "I'll talk to my father." He escorted her out of the room and gave her the condiments, hearing his brother and sister giggling behind them.
It was already plenty late, so by the time they got to the restaurant, her mother had been waiting for her. After a brief back and forth yelling, Zeph took off back to his family house.
Xiam and his secret girlfriend Iri had already left. Muin and Zaria were saying goodbye, without a kiss since he was watching. His mom and dad should be coming home in a few minutes. Once they arrived, Zeph greeted them and gestured to the living room, asking his father to follow. They both sat down.
"Dad, I've got a favor to ask you. It's big. I met a female. Not just any, she's the one. I've done everything to even get a date with her." Zeph sat beside his dad. "I even hired a Guard for a Guard's Oath."
"A Guard's Oath?" His father sat up in his chair. "You are serious. That's usually not necessary unless a wedding ceremony is involved. Do I need to ring up your brother?"
"No, I'm still trying to get a date." Zeph saw the shock on his dad's face. "I know. She loves me, and I love her."
"A date? That's ridiculous. A Guard's Oath for a date, and still not enough?" Io stood up. "Are you sure she loves you?"
"Definitely." Zeph wrang his fingers in his hands. "We even took it to . . . I brought her here today."
"Stupid, Zeph. Here? You can't even get a date, there was no permission to bring her to your family home." His father pinched his nose. "Okay. How old is she?"
"She should be living on her own," Zeph muttered. "She's almost my age."
"Your age?!" His mother Scented said, not being able to help eavesdropping. "Zeph, that is way too old. If she were some gorgeous celebrity hiring a Guard, I could see that. But your age, and her father not letting her go? And you love each other?" Scented looked toward Io. "Are you hearing this?"
"Yes, I am." Io tapped his fingers on his chair. "Are you sure, Zeph? There's only one way to take her."
"I know. I've done everything I can. We want to be with each other." Zeph rubbed his face. "I know it's not an easy thing to ask for, but she's the one. Please?"
"You don't even need to say, please," Scented said as she strolled over and kissed his head. "Your father will do it, or I will. Io?" She turned to look at him.
"Did you ask this woman?" His father said. "You've got to be a hundred percent positive, and it won't be easy."
"I know. I've been saving money. I can do this, and I have asked her." Zeph rubbed his knees. "I want to get her with me, dad. She spun out of control once, carving something in the ground. Love kills. I think her dad is trying to kill her spirit."
"Oh." His dad swallowed. "So she does feel the same way? Okay, Zeph, I'll get it started. At some point, I do want to meet this new woman."
"Thanks dad." Zeph grinned and shook his dad's hand. "You've always been a big help."
"You're going to have to get her to sign a written agreement that she wants this before they will proceed," Io warned him. "No one wants to take a woman and put her in a worse spot, they will demand that. It's going to take at least a month to get an agreement created, and I doubt our neighbor's will look pleased at us for what we are doing. After we get the agreement, you will have to take the initiative to get it signed. Can you do it?"
"One more round with her dad," Zeph said as he nodded. "Whatever it takes."
Zeph approached Kyra's house once more. He said no words of provocation, watching himself so that if enforcement was involved, he would be okay. Didn't matter though, he was still awarded with a slug across the face.
"Get out of here. You can come back every day for the next two hundred years," Mister Saga warned him, "but you can't have her. You don't get it, you don't understand what she is." He reached into his pocket and pulled out some currency. "What will it take? To never knock on this door again, what will it take?"
"There's not enough money in the world for me to forget Ky." Zeph looked toward the money. "Not even the king could offer enough. I belong with her." For that, he paid physically again.
As Kyrella rounded the corner to her house, Zeph approached her, acting like the hospital wasn't where he was headed. "Hey, Ky." He held his arm which got twisted. "How are you?" Kyra approached him, touching his face.
"Oh, Zeph." She hugged him tightly. "Why are you still doing this?"
"You're worth it." He hugged her back, trying to forget the pain in his arm. "I need you to sign this. It's the agreement. With my dad's help, I'm taking you away from here."
"Zeph, it's too late for that." Kyra whispered beside him. "I'm pregnant."
"Looks like things just got interesting."
Zeph looked beside him, and saw it. The one thing he'd been dreading. White pressed shirt. Dark green vest. "Oh damn."
It was a Guard. Not just any guard, a genuine female guard. A Guardian
"Mister Saga," the Guardian called out to the house. "New information about your daughter has just been shared."
"No." Kyra grabbed his hand. "Don't, I love Zeph!"
That Guardian wouldn't care. They never cared. All they cared about was their stupid job, keeping the female safe. Zeph took a deep breath. He'd taken the hits from her father, but no one wanted to tangle with a Guardian. Oh, crap.
As Mister Saga came out, the Guardian announced the news.
Picked up with force against his throat, Zeph no longer felt the ground beneath his feet. "Please!" he choked.
"Please? That's not good enough. You have not even earned one date, yet look what you have done. Destroyed a female's life. You are nothing but a predator. When a father says no, he means no." The Guardian threw him several feet.
"Ow!" Zeph grabbed his shoulder, feeling the break. "Don't do this!" Zeph was trying to stay strong. Fighting one of these guys, was like taking on her father a hundred times over. "That is my baby, and I love Kyra." Zeph looked at his footing and tried to copy it. It looked funny though, and he almost tripped himself copying it.
"Zeph." He heard Kyra's voice weakly. "That's not father. He'd put you in a hospital for weeks if not jail!"
After giving up on the footing, Zeph just put his fists up. "Even if I do go down, I'll go down fighting. I will not let you take them." Zeph readied himself, knowing that no one could take on this kind of a Guardian. "What class are you?"
"D."
Yep, he was screwed! Several days in the hospital if he didn't leave. His feet didn't move though. His body wasn't scared of the challenge. "I am not leaving Kyrella Saga here."
"Enough!" It was Kyra's mother that stopped it all. She pulled Kyra over to Zeph. "It doesn't matter anymore, she is spoiled. Your father is packing your bags." Silent, she casted her eyes downward. Zeph didn't move either.
"We will see you again," Mrs. Saga said as she dragged out suitcases packed in a rush. Apparently Kyra's father wouldn't wish her goodbye. She kissed her daughter on the head. "We will not fight this, but don't expect it to be easy." She glared over at Zeph. "You ruined her."
Damn it. It didn't have to be this way. Kyra's whole family was letting her go now? He watched the Guardian. He didn't say anything or try and fight now. It really was all over. "I'll take care of you from now on," he promised. "I'll do everything I can. We'll be okay." She hung onto his arm tightly.