Rebirth - Book 1 Rogues Shifter Series

by Gayle Parness

  Chapter Thirty-six

  I took a nap when I got home, waking up around six, thrilled to see Garrett propped up on the bed next to me, working on his laptop. “Hey sleepy. Maya emailed me. You had yourself a busy afternoon. How do you feel?”

  “I feel fine, now that I got a couple more hours of sleep.”

  I automatically brushed my fingers along his arm, this time finding his skin warm to the touch. I adjusted my body so I could sit, leaning against my fluffed up pillows. I watched his graceful hands moving across the keys and allowed my gaze to wander up his long arms to his flawless face. His eyes glittered with energy in the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the window. I wasn’t terribly surprised to feel a tinge of jealousy. Should I insist on meeting his donors? Somehow I knew they’d be women. Did he kiss them when he fed from them? Did they feel like they were gently floating or did they feel the heat and the passion I’d experienced last night?

  He chuckled softly. “You’re very easy to read this evening, especially since your shields are down. Yes, they are all female shifters. I switch off between six of them so they can fully recover. No, I don’t kiss them. There’s nothing sexual about the experience for them or me. Basically I glamour them so they relax, then I feed for a few minutes and they fall asleep.

  I’d popped my shields back in place. “Do you touch them when you feed?”

  “I find it’s fastest if I hold them.” My incredulous expression made him pause from his typing and ask, “What is it? They’re fully clothed and fast asleep!”

  “Garrett, if you think these women aren’t getting off on your closeness or your hugs or your feeding from them, then you are a very naïve 234-year-old male. I mean look at you. Women must throw themselves in your path and beg to be fed from. You probably have a twenty-person waiting list.” I was laughing as I said the words, but the infamous green-eyed monster was starting to prowl around inside my head.

  He continued to type. “Closer to fifty.” He smiled, turning in my direction but not seeing the response he’d hoped for. “C’mon, that was a joke. They know the rules—it’s all very professional. No groping allowed.” He gave me an impish grin and brushed his lips across my cheek. “But I like that you’re just a little jealous.”

  “Hmph. Just a little doesn’t cover it. Do you pay them?”

  He kept typing and didn’t respond right away. “I did promise them our arrangements would remain private. None of my donors know each other.” He sighed at my determined expression. “Of course, I’ll tell you. I don’t want secrets between us, but you need to keep this information private as well.” I nodded. “I pay for their health insurance, for them and their families. Full coverage with dental.”

  His body relaxed when I finally smiled. “I figured it was something like that. You must know helping them out in such a generous way makes you even more attractive in their eyes. None of them have mates, do they?” He shook his head. “They’re definitely getting off on the whole look into my eyes while I embrace you and suck your energy until you fall asleep thing.”

  Garrett barked out a laugh, allowing his voice to go all deep and soft. “Ah, but isn’t it more important to you that I’m not getting off on it? That I only get turned on by my lovely cheetah with her delicious mouth,” he brushed my lips with his, “and her perfect body?” He’d put down his computer and was leaning closer, running his hand up and down my arm and nuzzling my ear.

  I had to admit he was right. That was way more important. But I wanted to have some fun, so I tried not to smile when I shrugged. “Yeah, I guess so.”

  “You guess?” He grasped both of my hands and gently pulled me out of bed, wrapping them around his waist to rest on his lower back. One of his hands wove into my messy hair and the other landed on the waistband of my jeans, looping a finger playfully through a belt loop and pulling my hips even closer.

  He whispered, “You’re the only one I want to be with.” He kissed me with passion, my whole body singing with heat. He was mine—every delicious, sexy inch of him. What happened when he fed from those donors meant nothing.

  “You made your point, Monsieur.” I teased, closing my eyes and melting against him, wishing that all the stress caused by Eleanor would evaporate so we could go back to our relatively peaceful life.

  Of course my stomach picked that very romantic moment to growl, so he laughed again and led me toward the kitchen. “Time to feed my perfect cheetah.” As I watched him move in his graceful way toward the fridge, I sighed and bit my lip. Yeah, I was definitely hungry, and I knew from our close embrace he was too. And he thought I was the stubborn one. Huh.

  We grilled a chicken breast and some veggies for my dinner. Garrett got a lot of joy out of “manning the grill” while I sauntered back and forth finding the various implements, sauces, plates, etc. He’d told me he enjoyed watching me eat, so I took my time and made sure to lick my fingers just to tease him. After all, he was the one who wanted to wait, and though I’d promised to be good, I was only human … or close at least.

  As the meeting time grew closer, he paced, on edge about something he wasn’t telling me. I did my best to worm it out of him, but his answer only scraped the surface.

  “I’m working out in my head how best to discuss our plans with the team.”

  Hmph. That definitely wasn’t the whole story, but I figured he’d tell me when he was ready.

  At eight, we met in the woods behind the house so the team could demonstrate how the new crossbow worked. Liam showed up to watch as well, walking out of the forest just as we were beginning. Kyle and Sinc glowed with pride as I hit the target every time, even when Garrett made it tougher and more specific. Kyle discussed how the technology could be used with all kinds of weapons and that eventually he hoped people who only had a weak link to the lines could find a way to use it. Because their life force was strong, shifters were often victims of more powerful magic-using supernaturals like dark witches, sorcerers, and vampires. Weapons that could access magic would always be in demand.

  We moved into the living room, all of us taking seats. Sinc had her laptop perched on her lap, the clicks and clacks of her typing filling the temporary silence in the room. Liam sat next to her, quietly observant.

  Sinc spoke. “I’ve sent out emails to every shifter household on our list. The council is meeting tonight to decide what, if anything, they’ll do to help. I’ve also contacted our wolf allies. How many volunteers do we need to take down Eleanor and Lily and the rest?” Her eyes sparkled with eagerness. According to Ethan, Sinc hadn’t liked how easily Lily had controlled her and was itching for a rematch.

  “We’ll need at least fifteen volunteers plus our team. On top of that we’ll have Aaron and a few of his pack. Eleanor will probably bring Antoine, who’s older than me and very strong, Lily, Sasha, Yvette, and perhaps Heinrich. I don’t believe she’ll come with more. The much older members of her nest are in Europe or South America and she would not see us as a large enough threat to call them back. She’ll never believe we have a chance against her, even if we do organize.”

  Rob spoke up. “I’ll take on training any of our shifter volunteers. Most don’t know much about vampires or how to kill them.”

  Garrett looked at me for a moment then turned back to the group. “We need to be prepared for any eventuality, but I’ve made a decision which might solve our problems. I plan to challenge Eleanor to a personal duel to be held on the island, which is still considered neutral ground. Vampiric law for dueling states no one else can interfere while we’re fighting. When I take her out, the rest of her nest will be under my authority. They’ll have to join me as part of my own nest, pledging loyalty with a blood oath, or I’ll be forced to execute them. This plan keeps all of you, along with the volunteers, safe.”

  He swallowed hard, his nerves showing. “If she kills me, and makes a move toward any of you, you’ll have to fight. She’ll be in a weakened state from our duel, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to take her out
.” While he spoke, he kept sneaking peeks in my direction, but I kept myself perfectly still and shut down tight, not looking at his face or letting him into my head.

  When he finished, Ethan, Rob, and Kyle started talking at once, the gist being, “That’s a crazy idea … too dangerous … we can take care of her together, etc.” Sinc sat quietly watching my reaction, which was probably what you’d expect it to be.

  First, I was furious he hadn’t mentioned his little plan beforehand. We’d had plenty of time to talk when I woke up from my nap or when we were cooking and I was eating dinner. Second, I was terrified. How could he fight alone against Eleanor—a female vampire twice his age—and win? When he’d mentioned fighting her before, I’d figured he’d be bringing some help. But this plan? This plan was just crazy. Eleanor was going to kill him and I was going to lose him forever. I finally stole a glance, but his determined expression as he listened to the others told me we wouldn’t be convincing him to change his mind. I felt helpless—triggering another wash of anger.

  I took in a breath, ready to send a rather scathing mental remark his way, when I felt a sharp nudge at my wall, and it wasn’t from Garrett. I turned to the only other psychic in the house, Liam. He lifted an eyebrow and I let him into my mind.

  “Garrett is doing the right thing. He knows what he is risking. He understands that you will be angry and may turn away from him. He also knows he may die, but he is thinking about your safety and the safety of his friends and the entire community. He is being selfless, according to his nature. Try to consider this before you attack him with your hurt feelings and your fear. Garrett needs your support more than he ever has before. To win against Eleanor, he must know you are all behind him, especially you, Jacqueline. He is more powerful than you know, perhaps more than he knows, but your trust and your acceptance of who he is and what he must do, will give him the energy and the will necessary to beat her.”

  I closed my eyes and allowed the sharp magic I was aiming at Garrett to float away, then turned again to stare into Liam’s alien violet eyes. He was right. As terrifying as it was, this was how I could help my mate. I’d been a big talker, telling Garrett I was a woman and not a child, that I wasn’t someone who required saving, that I wanted him to need me as a partner and not always be the needy one. Well, I needed him to live and I’d do everything I could to make sure that happened, but right now, he needed my help to gain support for his extraordinarily brave and dangerous plan. I clenched my fists and squared my shoulders. I could do this for him.

  I nodded at Liam and sent to him, “Thank you.” Holding my fear in check, I attempted to smile, but I couldn’t hide my feelings from Liam. My face was probably an open book, the table of contents a lineup of mixed emotions. But the ancient male met my gaze and nodded solemnly, and although his expression was serious, a warm respect glowed in his eyes. It gave me the courage to do what I needed to do next.

  Garrett, Ethan, Rob, and Kyle were still arguing, and even Sinc had joined the fray. I took a deep breath and stepped into the middle of the argument. “Could I say something?”

  “Jackie … I’m....” Garrett began.

  I put my finger on his lips and sent, “Please give me one minute to talk and please, please try not to interrupt me.” He nodded and started to step away but I grabbed his hand and pulled him next to me, looking directly into his amazing eyes with all the reassurance I could muster. “We must form a united front, general.” I smiled and he gazed back at me, bewildered.

  I faced the others. “More than anyone else in this room, I want Garrett to live and not get hurt.” I squeezed his hand so hard I might have broken a bone if he wasn’t a vampire. “He’s been tortured by Eleanor for over a hundred years. She won’t hesitate to use all of us against him. She needs to die, right?”

  The others nodded, waiting for the rest. “His plan makes sense. If he goes into her territory he’ll be killed or locked up and she’ll still come after us. If she shows up on our island with her nest and we all battle it out together, we might beat her, but a lot of us would die. We’re willing to do that for him, but how will those deaths affect us and the community?”

  No one spoke for a moment. “This way, she has to accept the challenge, which puts us in control.” A small shiver ran down my spine and suddenly Garrett’s hand was there supporting my back, holding me steady. “Surprise is our best defense,” I quoted his earlier remark. “Garrett is so much stronger than Eleanor realizes. My vampire will kick her ass from here to Hawaii.” I wrapped his arms around me, my back pressed against his chest. “I support his plan.”

  Silence filled the room for only a moment. “We’re in,” said Ethan, grinning at me. Sinc had a tear running down her cheek and even Kyle nodded and looked impressed. Rob gave a small salute in our direction and started laughing. Liam came over and spoke a few quiet words in Fae with Garrett, then nodded to me and left.

  The rest of us sat around for two more hours discussing strategy. When we finished, Rob took Garrett and me aside and said, “Jackie, you should think about running for council in a few years.” We laughed and I hugged him goodbye, then I walked over to Kyle to ask about Peter. Rob’s voice was quiet but our ears were very sharp. “When you finish with Eleanor, I want to be your best man.”

  The room got really quiet, really fast. Looking a little uncomfortable, Ethan, Kyle and Sinc waved their goodbyes and left.

  “We haven’t actually discussed marriage, Robert.” Garrett looked just as uncomfortable as the others.

  “Ask her, Garrett.” He turned away, winked at me and followed the rest out.

  “That was awkward.” I’d never expected Garrett to propose to me. In fact I didn’t think shifters or vampires actually married. I figured the three-part mating ritual was it. A lot of them might marry for legal reasons and others for religious reasons, but none of it was necessary for me. I walked to the window and looked out at the waning moon. Marriage wouldn’t change anything between us, but I’d go through the whole dress/cake/ceremony thing if it made him happy. I turned and smiled so he’d know I wasn’t upset by what Rob had said.

  He stayed where he was, hesitant. “Rob was married to his love, Lynette. He wants us to be happy like they were. My parents were mated, not married, and they were the happiest couple I ever knew.” He walked to me slowly, still unsure, and reached out to hold my hands. “Marriage isn’t a requirement for happiness, at least not for me. I’ll give you a huge wedding if it’s what you want. I’ll do anything to make you happy, although I don’t think you’d accept my proposal if I asked you tonight.”

  He ran his warm knuckles down my cheek to my chin, neck and collarbone and on cue I shivered, my body making it clear what it desired. I thought about a life without Garrett and tried to gather up my courage.

  I took his hand in mine and turned once more toward the moon, bringing him along with me. He stroked my hair and kissed my head so I leaned back against him and wrapped his arms tightly around my body crossing them over my chest as we stared out the large window at the woods beyond. “I don’t need a wedding. The mating ritual will be perfect.”

  “What you did tonight, supporting me, even though you’re afraid and angry, meant everything. I’ve never loved you more.”

  I faced him, my need impossible to hide. “I love you. If you’re going to take this risk and face Eleanor alone…. If I might only have one or two weeks with you….”

  “I’ll destroy her and then we’ll be to—”

  I put my finger gently on his lips and spoke softly. “Please hear what I’m saying. I’ll support you with my whole heart. But tonight we’re together, and I need you. I need to be yours in every way possible.” I leaned in and kissed him, my arms around his neck, my brain shutting down as my body warmed up. I moved away and smiled at my handsome mate. “I need you to cave,” I teased him, wondering if he’d remember his little speech when I’d first moved into his lovely home.

  His expressive eyes were starting to darken, gliste
ning with silver sparks like the stars I’d wished on as a sad child. Leaning closer, he whispered next to my ear, “You shine like an angel in the moonlight, and I would never refuse my angel anything.” His smile had turned wicked, my heartbeat quickening like a rabbit’s. My toes curled up when he grabbed a handful of my hair and drew me in for another kiss.

  “Not feeling too angelic at the moment,” I managed to pant out before the next kiss scrambled my brain and set my body on fire.

  He led me into his bedroom with the huge bed and satin sheets, moonlight streaming in through the large windows. We stopped when we reached the foot of the bed and he took the band out of my hair, letting my blonde waves fall across my shoulders. He held me tightly against him, his whisper husky. “I’ve never brought a woman to this bed. I want tonight to be perfect for you.” Through our connection, I felt his desire but also his fear that he’d hurt me.

  I took a step away so he could see my face. “I trust you.” It was a simple statement, but it meant more to both of us than we could ever put into words. I hoped he believed me, because I did trust him. I trusted him with my body, my mind and my heart, even though I was scared that I wouldn’t be enough. The only experience I’d had being intimate… I shook off the memory of that boy. I was in my lover’s arms and I was his tonight, and he was mine.

  I smiled and smoothed my hand across his chest. “You are my dark angel.” He chuckled at the name. “That’s what you looked like to me when I first saw you at the cabin on Solo Island.”

  Enjoying the name, he grinned and translated, “Mon ange sombre.”

  When he slid a hand under my shirt at my lower back and pushed my body against his, I almost stopped breathing. He kissed my hair, my ear, my neck, my collarbone then brushed his lips back up to my mouth where he kissed me hard, his fangs tugging at my lower lip when we finally pulled apart.

  “Je t’aime, mon ange.”

  In the silver glow of the moonlight we undressed each other, crawling into bed to love and laugh and deepen our commitment. The magic of the lines pulsed with the rhythm of our lovemaking, connecting our spirits and enhancing our pleasure. Garrett made love to me with a gentle skill and an urgent passion, and all bad memories dissolved with every kiss and tender touch. We fell asleep utterly content: two lovers, two rogues.