“The original taniwha guided the first canoe to New Zealand hoping to find a new and better world. We have prospered here in the land of the long white cloud. All of us. We have adapted to new ways and must continue to change to fit in this modern world. We must follow the taniwha’s legacy of peace and unity and not let greed blind us to the right path.
“I will visit all and offer service but I bow to no man or woman. I am my own taniwha and will remain outside the tribal system. That will make the powers of the relic available to all, should they have a need.
“If you have any questions or concerns, please nominate one spokesman per tribe. I will see these spokesmen at two o’clock tomorrow afternoon. That is all.”
Jessalyn strode from the building with her shoulders back and her head held high. She aimed for dignity despite her casual attire and prayed she didn’t fall flat on her face.
20 – Jessalyn Lays Down The Law
Manu rushed after Jess with Kahurangi and Hone on his heels. He found Jessalyn staggering toward the parking lot and obviously leaning on someone.
“Stand back, Cassie. I’ve got her.”
Manu scooped her off her feet and strode toward his truck. Kahurangi jogged ahead and opened the doors.
“Sweetheart, you should’ve admitted your fatigue.”
“Couldn’t let them see me weak. Pride.”
“You were incredible,” Kahurangi said.
“Jessalyn,” Cassie said, still invisible. “I’ll come and visit you tomorrow. Will you be at Manu’s house?”
“Hopefully, I’ll be working on my carving, so you should find me at Manu’s warehouse,” Jess said.
“You should rest,” Manu said. His mate looked exhausted, and no wonder, given she’d stopped a war between the tribes and garnered respect in the process.
“Carving wood is restful for me,” Jess said. “I’m terrible at sitting around and doing nothing. I like to keep busy.”
“Oh!” Cassie sounded excited, a little breathless. “Manu, can I visit Jessalyn at your warehouse? I’d like to write a song to commemorate today. The ballad of Jessalyn. Can I do that? Can I?”
Manu grinned at her enthusiasm. Jess exchanged a glance with him and checked Kahurangi’s and Hone’s reactions.
“Even if a human listened to the song, they’d think it was fiction. I was there and participated, yet it doesn’t feel real,” Jess pointed out.
“Write your song,” Manu said. “But I and the other taniwha leaders will want to hear your completed version before you go public with it.”
“Deal,” Cassie said with enthusiasm. “Hone, we should go home.”
“Cassie, don’t forget to add in your part in the battle,” Jess said.
Cassie’s laughter drifted on the air as Hone headed for his SUV. Kahurangi climbed in the rear seat while Manu settled Jess in the front. He clicked the seatbelt for her and closed the door. By the time he rounded the hood and settled in the driver’s seat, her eyes were closed and it sounded as if she was asleep.
“She’s amazing,” Kahurangi murmured.
“Yes, she is,” Manu agreed. “She stopped a bloody war today.”
“And garnered the respect of the tribal leaders with her healing powers.”
Manu nodded, a bit shaky as he considered everything that could’ve gone wrong. He sucked in a breath and started his vehicle.
“She’s your mate,” Kahurangi said.
“Yes, but I don’t think she feels the same way.”
“Bull crap,” his younger brother said. “She likes and trusts you. You sexy, black beast, you.”
Manu glanced at Jess and laughed. “Heard that, did you?”
“It was hard not to hear. I think most of those present got an earful of her taniwha. Her taniwha accepts your beast and flutters her eyelashes at you. She understands the mate concept, but don’t you see? Jess’s half European blood combined with her Maori half is what makes her special. She laid down the law before she left and earned their respect because now they understand she won’t stand for their posturing. Court her. Take her on dates like a regular human male instead of dragging her to bed and huffing and puffing like a typical taniwha.”
Humor shaded Kahurangi’s advice, and Manu snorted. “If you’re huffing and puffing, it’s no wonder you’re still single.”
“So what have you done so far, smartarse?”
“I took Jess on a flight to Great Barrier Island. We had a picnic on a private beach and watched the stars.” Manu tried not to sound smug but suspected he’d failed.
“Damn!” Kahurangi sounded impressed. “I need to up my game.”
“Are you still job-hunting?”
“Yeah. The garage owner refuses to give me a reference.”
“You shouldn’t have fucked with his wife.”
“I didn’t know she was his wife, and I didn’t fuck her. Her scent repelled me.”
Honesty rang in his brother, and Manu believed him. “I’m ready to go to market with my stealth unit. None of the taniwha suspected Cassie’s presence or that she was the invisible voice, so I’ve got the right balance for masking scent. It’s not the mechanic work you prefer, but would you like to help me with sales?”
“What about Tane? He hates his job,” Kahurangi said.
“I intend to ask him too. I’ve decided to rent the units and have fitted kill switches to use if a taniwha uses them unlawfully. Taniwha must apply to rent a unit, and the rental period will be weekly at first because I suspect the demand will be high.”
“You’ve considered this carefully,” Kahurangi said. “How much will you charge?”
“I want every taniwha to fly unhindered, not just those who are rich, so I thought I’d offer a discount on one unit each week. I’ll keep the other units at one thousand dollars per week.”
“Considering the years you’ve put into designing your units that is peanuts. Are you sure that is enough?”
“I don’t need the money. I have plenty.”
Kahurangi laughed. “Sucks to be you.”
Manu sobered. “It does. I had to execute our mother.”
“Manu! We’ve discussed this. She gave you no choice. Even Dad, deep down, understands. She placed you in an intolerable situation. We loved her. All of us, despite her faults, but look at it this way. If she had worn your shoes, she wouldn’t have hesitated to kill you. She wouldn’t have given it a second thought and would’ve strutted around afterward, trumpeting her tough stance and the greater good. You know this, Manu. She would’ve killed you—her son—without a blink. Hell, she tried to kill me and Tane when we attempted to stop her flying to Cassie’s place in Clevedon. Forgive yourself and move on. The tribal sword passed to you before this happened, just as Nelson’s passed to Hika today. The sword of leadership never stays with an unworthy leader.”
Manu indicated agreement because his mind understood the logic, but his heart… His heart mourned the mother he’d lost who’d taught him and his brothers right from wrong and turned them into half-decent men.
“Mum was old-fashioned in her ways. Already, the tribe is prospering from some of your changes. The young kids have a purpose. Once the tribes learn of your stealth units, they’ll be beside themselves.” Kahurangi’s tone turned sly. “And your mana will grow when they see you’ve wooed and won the guardian.”
Manu dropped Kahurangi off at the family home before turning his vehicle toward his house. Jess slept still and didn’t wake until he pulled into his garage and used the remote to close the door.
She stretched and blinked at him like a sleepy ruru.
“We’re home,” he said. “Come on. Let’s get you fed and into bed. Shifting exhausted me at first.”
“I feel as if a truck flattened me. Every muscle in my body hurts.”
Manu wrapped his arm around her waist, and when she staggered, he scooped her off her feet and carried her inside. He set her down in the kitchen. “I’d suggest you have a bath, but I don’t want you to fall asleep and
drown.”
She frowned. “I guess I can find my own place now that Nelson Waaka is no longer in charge.”
“I enjoy having you here,” Manu said, his heart racing at her declaration. She couldn’t leave him. “Jess.” He waited until her eyes focused on his face. “I care for you. I want you in my life and, if you agree, my bed. You’ve gained my respect, and I like you. A lot.” There. He couldn’t speak any plainer.
The truth—in this short space of time, he’d fallen for her. He loved Jess although she wasn’t ready to hear his declaration. He watched her, eager for her reply and working hard not to fidget.
“Woohoo!” her taniwha shrieked.
A tremulous smile formed on Jess’s sexy lips. “I like you too.”
“Excellent. We’ve settled that then. Can you manage a shower on your own while I cook dinner?”
“The wall will prop me up,” she said with a yawn. “I’m starving.”
Manu watched her stumble away and waited until the shower started running. He bustled around the kitchen and popped a cottage pie in the oven. He pulled a packet of snap-frozen vegetables from the freezer and got them ready to microwave. For dessert, he had a red velvet cake, and he was glad he’d thought to stock up the fridge before he’d left for today’s meeting.
The shower switched off before he checked on her, and he figured her hunger kept her upright. She burst into the kitchen, a towel wrapped around her dripping body.
“Manu,” she said, her expression determined.
His stomach swooped in sudden fear and he swallowed. He had to clear his throat before he could speak. “Yes?”
“I’ve been thinking about what you said. I don’t like you.”
His stomach dropped and his shoulders slumped. His taniwha’s growl of displeasure broke free and echoed in the kitchen.
“I love you,” she continued. “We haven’t known each other long, but you’re the first person I think of when I wake in the morning. Nelson shifting to his dragon horrified me, but my terror magnified when he spat his fire. His hurting you made me furious, and that is when my taniwha exploded from me. I care for you too, but it is with love and friendship. If you don’t feel the same way, I understand, but I had to be honest and tell you.”
Manu stared at the fierce woman standing before him in a towel. His warrior woman. “Jess,” he finally said with reverence. “I love you so hard. So much. My taniwha claimed you as his mate when we first met, and my human side toppled into love with you not long after.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“I wanted to give you time to get used to me. And then the guardian stuff got in the way. It wasn’t right to tell you my taniwha had claimed you when you were already under so much pressure.”
“Were you going to tell me?” she demanded.
“I’d decided to ask you out on dates and give you more time. The last thing I wanted was for you to suspect your guardian powers were the attraction. I wanted you before I learned any of this. You’re pretty and determined. You have courage, and the more I learned, the more I liked and admired you.”
“I’d enjoy dating,” she said. “I’ve never had that.”
“Another reason to romance you,” he said.
“Feeding me would be an excellent start. I’ll dress.”
She returned shortly after and Manu closed the distance between them and hugged her.
Jess held him as tightly. “Mine,” she said with a sigh of contentment.
“Yours,” he agreed, laughter filling him.
The taniwha women often grumbled because of the he-man mentality and the bossiness of the males of their species. His Jess moved a step ahead of his less agile he-man thoughts.
He pulled away a fraction. “Just so you know, I want to marry you. Not straightaway because you need the freedom to find your feet.”
“Yes,” she said. “Excellent plan. What have you cooked me for dinner? Lots of delicious meat?”
“No kiss?” Manu held back his laughter with difficulty “To seal our promises of a future together.”
Her belly gave a thunderous rumble. “My legs feel like cooked noodles, and only your grasp on my shoulders and feminine determination is keeping me upright. I’m desperate for food.”
Manu guided her to the breakfast counter where he’d set two places. He grabbed a can of soft drink from the fridge for her and studied the contents since the cottage pie required another ten minutes to cook. Ah!
He gathered a pot of hummus and a packet of crackers. In seconds, he had several on a plate for her along with some cheese.
“Thanks!” She fluttered her eyelashes at him and beamed before falling on the food. A sense of contentment filled Manu while he put the vegetables in the microwave. Looking after Jess made him happy. Making love with her was better but there was a soul-deep satisfaction in making certain she ate and rested.
The oven timer dinged and Manu removed the pie. He served a portion with the vegetables and handed it to Jess before getting his own. He sat beside her.
“This is delicious.”
“I can’t take the credit. One of the ladies in the tribe makes them.”
“You should hire her as our housekeeper. Does she cook cakes and biscuits?”
“She made our dessert. Red velvet cake.”
“Can you afford a housekeeper? I can help once I get a job, but Cassie said I can’t go around in jeans and a T-shirt all the time. I have to buy clothes. She said people judge and first appearances are everything. That and confidence.”
“We should be able to swing enough money for a housekeeper,” he said, holding back a laugh. That was one problem he didn’t have. “I could give you money for clothes.”
“No. I prefer to buy my own things. Something Dad taught me.” She forked up a mouthful of pie. “I think I’ve finished being angry at him for not telling me about my… About Karen. The mortgage.” She sighed. “My biggest regret is not being able to get to know my brother and sister. Maybe one day.”
“They’ll want to meet you,” Manu said. “If it were me, the abrupt move to Australia and leaving friends would’ve made me stubborn and curious. I bet they’re asking questions. You and your siblings looked alike.”
Jess shrugged. “Perhaps.”
“Are you certain I can’t lend you money for new clothes?”
“No,” Jess said. “I’ll pay for them myself. I know! If you want to pay for something, you can foot the bill for the food.”
Manu chuckled. “Smartarse.”
Jess went to bed straight after dinner, and by the time Manu cleared the kitchen and joined her, she was sound asleep. He stripped, slipped between the sheets, and embraced her. Jess never stirred, but Manu smiled, that contentment and satisfaction blooming in his heart again.
His mate.
Her role as the guardian would bring challenges for both of them, but if they could have private dinners and quiet moments together, he’d be more than pleased with his lot.
A kiss on her shoulder brought Jessalyn awake. “What time is it?”
“Eight-thirty.”
“I guess it’s time to get up.”
“Not yet,” Manu said. “How are you?”
“Much better, although I could eat.”
“Newsflash,” Manu said. “Did you realize a tattoo has formed on your back?”
“What? Really? Let me see.” Jessalyn hurried for the en suite and the big mirror. “There really is a tattoo on my back. Ooh! When can I practice flying?”
Manu laughed.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ve said it before. I know where your taniwha’s inspiration for her chattiness comes from,” he said. “Turn around. Let me get a good look at your tattoo.”
Jessalyn obediently turned. The delicate caress of his finger over her back made her shiver with delight.
He laughed again.
“What now?”
“Your taniwha winked and blew me a kiss.”
“She
can move in her tattoo form too?”
“If she wants to reposition. Mostly they sleep. Come back to bed.”
His heavy-lidded gaze hinted at what he had in mind. A tingle sprang to life between her thighs as she crawled back into bed. An instant later, his lips claimed hers.
Jessalyn sighed against his mouth, thrilled with the force of hard muscles and the press of his cock. A thought occurred, and she pulled back to frown at him. “Did the guardian guide me to you? I mean, you were the perfect person to help me through my confusion. Even though you acted grumpily, you never turned your back. The fire-breathing scared me half to death, and your directions calmed me.”
“I was terrified too,” Manu said drily. “My taniwha decided he wanted you—an out-of-control dragon who didn’t recognize her species. Not your fault, I know, but still confusing for both of us and our taniwha.”
Jessalyn kissed the tip of his nose. “Luckily for you, I’m a quick learner.”
“I’m proud of you. Most people would’ve buckled under the pressure. You’re strong, and I have every confidence you’ll make this guardian position your own.”
Exhilaration sped through her at his praise, his belief in her. If she hadn’t sold her father’s vehicle and had stayed in Piha, things might have gone differently. She wriggled against him, drawing a husky groan from her lover.
She sought his mouth and tried to show him the depths of her emotions. They ran deep—she admitted that—but selfishly, she wanted dates and to learn the small, intimate things about him.
“Mine. Mine. Mine!” her taniwha cried, thankfully in an inside voice.
A groan escaped when Manu lifted and repositioned her body. Now, she gazed up at his sparkling eyes. One of his hands caressed her breast, and she moaned at the hint of pain that reverberated through her when he pinched her nipple. She kissed his neck, his shoulder and dug her fingernails into his back, urging him to hurry.
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