Chapter Twenty-seven
The mood was right out of “The Crucible,” only the scene was set in a large office with the usual long table surrounded by uncomfortable chairs. Across from Garrett, me, Rob, and the team stood three shapeshifters: a woman with long wavy brown hair, hazel eyes and full lips, a man with short, spiky black hair, dark eyes and a muscular build, and another woman with light blonde hair cut short in layers, large green eyes and high cheekbones. Although no one had spoken, I could already tell by her hostile stare the blonde was Maya. They all looked to be in their early twenties, but by now I knew better than to go by appearances.
When our team had first met outside the office, I’d caught Kyle looking at my wrist. His disapproval and disgust were easy to spot.
“Kyle, this isn’t the time,” I warned him.
“I didn’t say anything, did I? Jackie, this is Peter Bain. Peter, Jackie Crawford.” He indicated the young man standing next to him who’d smiled warmly and stuck out his hand.
“Hi Jackie, it’s nice to meet you.” He was tall, slim, dark skinned, handsome, and smelled like cedar. I liked him instantly.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Peter.” I smiled back as I shook his hand.
“Kyle tells me you’re a cheetah. I hope you decide to stick around and become part of Garrett’s permanent team. Crescent City can use your special abilities.”
I snuck a quick gaze in Garrett’s direction. He was talking quietly to Rob. “I have no plans to leave. Have there been problems lately? Garrett hasn’t told me much about the work the team would be doing.”
“In the past we’ve had some incidents with a couple of blood witches. Lately we’ve had to deal with the odd werewolf showing up, trying to drag off one of our female shifters.” He shook his head in disgust.
“Freakin’ wolves behave like they’re living in the dark ages,” Kyle interjected, looking angry, as usual.
Peter gave Kyle’s hand a squeeze and an enormous smile spread across Kyle’s face, the tension in his body melting away. Wow. It was obvious they were perfect for each other. “Only a couple of local packs are giving us trouble,” Peter continued. “The rest are fine.” He stole a quick glance at Garrett and lowered his voice. “Eleanor’s nest has been causing problems, too.” Kyle scowled, but this time Peter ignored him.
When we were told to sit, Peter left to wait in the hall. Rob had argued for Kyle and Sinc to be able to attend, but he didn’t want to push his luck and insist on Peter attending as well, even though Peter was Garrett’s lawyer.
The blonde spoke. “I’m Maya, this is Sylvia, and Brad. We’re the elected members of the Crescent City Shifter Council. We’re here this evening to decide the fate of Ethan and Jacqueline. Will you answer our questions honestly?”
“Yes,” we replied together.
“Jackie, is it true you’re a cheetah?” Brad asked.
“Yes.”
“Who are your birth parents?”
“I don’t know. I’ve been brought up with humans in foster care. The Crawfords adopted me almost two years ago.”
They continued by asking Rob some questions regarding our training. He spoke about Ethan’s accomplishments and his propensity toward leadership. He emphasized my ability to adapt under stress, my speed, tracking skills, and basic willingness to work with a team. He also mentioned he felt I had the ability to illicit trust and that people were comfortable opening up to me.
Maya nodded. “Her aura is a rich green. It’s extremely rare.” She glanced at Garrett, who didn’t look surprised by this information. I’d have to find out later what a green aura meant.
“Jackie, tell us about what happened when Garrett was kidnapped.” I described finding his car, tracking him to the lodge, Kyle saving me from Hank’s attack, and Garrett’s rescue by the group.
“You mentioned four wolves, yet you only saw two. How did you know about the others?” asked Sylvia.
Here was the tricky part. I turned to Garrett and asked, “What can I say?” He was about to answer when Maya interrupted.
“You’re conversing mind to mind?”
I was shocked, answering automatically, “Yes.” I’d forgotten to strengthen my shield against everyone but Garrett. I took care of it quickly, just in time to feel a strong push to gain entrance. The wall held and it was Maya’s turn to look shocked.
She recovered her poise, saying, “Garrett, could you please describe Jackie’s psychic abilities?”
Garrett went into detail about how he’d noticed I was feeling the effects of the ley lines at Carly’s small cottage and how he’d tested me and trained me in using the energy to protect myself.
Maya stretched out her hand. “Jackie....”
I looked once more at Garrett for guidance. He sent, “Keep our channel open,” squeezing my shoulder.
I smiled sweetly and complied by touching her hand. She was trying to speak to me mentally, nudging at my shield, but instead of letting her in, I focused on holding strong. In my mind, Garrett stood beside me on the bluff above the sea, an arm around my waist. I looked back at the table surprised to see him still sitting there, smiling. “This is so cool,” I sent.
“Open your mind to me.” Maya was pissed, but then so was I.
“I’m sorry, but no.” Garrett had warned me this might happen.
Garrett leaned forward, catching Maya’s eye. “She has not been charged with a crime and like all of us, has a right to privacy. My lawyer, Mr. Bain, is outside. I could ask him in to discuss the law with you.”
Maya released my hand, obviously irritated with Garrett and me. She wasn’t used to being blocked.
Sylvia asked, “Were you able to communicate with Garrett mentally while he was in the building?”
“Yes. He was very weak and I thought he might be dying, so I let him feed off me.”
Maya asked Garrett, “You were able to take energy from her—from a distance?” Her eyebrows were practically even with her hairline.
Garrett nodded. “She sent me energy through our mental connection. I was in very bad shape and might not have survived without it.” He turned toward me, smiling proudly. “I’ve only just begun her training.”
Brad asked him, frowning, “So you can feed from shifters from a distance now?”
“Only from Jackie. We have a unique connection.” He took my hand and met my gaze, my muscles loosening, my heart warming. Garrett seemed to have the same effect on me that Peter had on Kyle. If we could bottle it, we’d make a fortune. I’d call it “Angel’s Touch.”
“Garrett.” Maya’s tone had turned sharp. When she asked her question she was staring at me, not him. “What’s your relationship with Jackie?”
“That’s not really....” Sylvia began.
“It’s fine, Sylvia. I’ve claimed Jackie as my mate.” He’d woven his fingers through mine, resting our clasped hands on the table for everyone to see. It was a starkly possessive move, reminding me I was in a room full of animals who lived by different laws and customs than those I’d grown up with. In their furry form, they hunted and killed their enemies and rivals, although shifters seemed to be the supernatural race most like humans.
Of course, when you got right down to it, humans weren’t all that different.
We were now officially outed as a couple, the expressions on my new team’s faces when they heard the news was priceless. Too bad I still didn’t have my phone. I would have loved to snap a picture.
And despite the seriousness of the circumstances, I couldn’t resist giving my man a peck on the cheek.
Brad was smiling, as was his mate, Sylvia. “Congratulations.” They seemed genuinely happy for us.
Maya huffed out a breath. “Yes, very nice, but can we please continue?” Maya asked me, her eyes narrowing, “In what ways can you manipulate magic?”
This was the root of their concern. “I can protect myself with a shield and share magic with Garrett. I’m not trained to do anything else.”
“You have
n’t experimented on your own?”
“No. I wouldn’t.”
“Who’s training you besides Garrett?”
“No one, only Garrett.”
The three council members conferred quietly for a moment, then Maya spoke. “We’re going to take a ten-minute break to discuss this information. Please wait here or in the hallway.” They left without speaking further.
Peter came in to get an update from Garrett while Ethan and Sinc whispered together. Relaxing back in his chair, Kyle asked me, “So what’s it like, reading each other’s minds, always knowing what the other one is thinking and feeling?”
“We’re tuned in to each other’s feelings, but we can keep our thoughts private.” I put my hand in Garrett’s and he pulled me closer, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.
Kyle wrinkled his brow. “I don’t think I could stand it if someone were reading my thoughts all the time.”
“What thoughts would those be?” teased Peter. “What’s for dinner or why don’t I have any clean socks or maybe, who changed the channel?” Kyle laughed and pushed against Peter’s shoulder playfully, their affection for each other glowing in their eyes. Rob sat alone, smiling at their antics, and I wondered if someone waited at home for him.
The council returned and Brad remained standing. “We’ve reached a tentative decision. Ethan is approved as a member of the shifter community without reservation. Congratulations, Ethan.”
I was trembling visibly, so Garrett tried to reassure me. “No matter what they say, stay calm. Nothing will happen tonight. You’re perfectly safe."
Brad continued. “Jackie is required to train under Maya’s supervision for two hours every evening at dusk beginning tomorrow. At the end of one month, her case will be reviewed. Tonight’s meeting is adjourned and we’ll reconvene in one month.” They walked out without a backward glance.
I sat there in shock. They thought I needed special training? What, like anger management? Garrett crouched in front of me, his hands on my knees. “She wants to make sure the community is safe. If you can relax, you’ll learn a lot from her.” He laughed and hugged me, apparently feeling relieved.
“But I’ll get to see you less and less,” I complained.
“I’ve already thought this through. We’ll talk in the car.” Grinning, he snatched my hand and led me to the parking lot behind City Hall. I was still pretty shaky. When Garrett pulled the car out onto the street, I fisted my hands, saying, “I’d like to stay with you for a while tonight and not go back to the cottage right away.”
“How do you feel about moving in with me?”
The largest grin I’d ever managed to pull off decorated my face as I threw my arms around him, dragging him sideways so I could kiss his cheek. “I’m in.” I laughed.
“Driving here.” He straightened up, laughing. “But gentle cheek kissing is not against the California drivers’ code.”
“Why did you change your mind?” I kissed the corner of his mouth, playing with a thick strand of his hair.
“Ummm. Much better. You want the truth?”
“Always.”
“My feelings are stronger since we shared blood this evening. I can’t handle thinking of you sleeping next to Ethan tonight or any night. You’re mine now.” Those last words had come out kind of growly.
“He’s mad about Sinc. Aren’t they adorable?” I sighed, leaning against Garrett’s shoulder.
He snorted. “Oh yes, adorable is the word I’d choose.” I punched him in the side and his eyes glinted with humor. “Most importantly, you’ll be safer in my house. If there’s an emergency while I’m resting, you can still contact me mind-to-mind. I won’t be at my best, but even then I’m fairly strong.”
“Don’t vampires…? Aren’t you dead to the world?”
“We sleep very deeply. We don’t breathe and our bodies grow colder. To be at our strongest, we feed as soon as we can after waking. But our connection is strong, Jackie; I would hear you if you needed me.”
We pulled up to the little house I’d shared with Ethan. It was empty and quiet since Ethan had gone to Sinc’s, so I quickly gathered up my things. Grabbing paper from a drawer, I left Ethan and Carly notes. Taking one last look around and leaving with Garrett, my heart pounded with excitement. Soon we’d be together.
Rebirth - Book 1 Rogues Shifter Series Page 27