“Merci. I would.” She took Isaiah’s arm. “Have you purchased the villa from Garrett and Jacqueline?”
“Oh no. It’s his.” He tilted his head toward Garrett without looking at him.
“I see.” Yvette’s eyes glittered with humor. “It is only that you are acting the host, quite charmingly I might add.”
“Merci, Mademoiselle.”
Garrett and I walked behind them into the house; also arm in arm.
“He’s doing everything he can to get a rise out of me. It’s a game with him,” Garrett muttered.
“Demon,” I explained. ’Nuff said.
While lunch was cooking, Isaiah fed from Yvette in the privacy of his room and Garrett and I snuggled on the couch in the family room and watched an episode of our favorite superhero show. Who doesn’t like watching hot heroes and heroines save us from the evil aliens? Hey, it could happen.
The chef went all out, offering Isaiah and me salmon with herbed baby potatoes and string beans, salad and even apple pie for dessert. I stuffed my face, and groaned when it was time to go back to work, but Isaiah was firm. We had to move forward at a steady pace.
“I thought you told her she should rest.”
“She rested while you watched that silly show.”
Although our hopes were high, the moving to the driveway experiment did not work. My demon had no desire whatsoever to hang out on a sloping stretch of asphalt rather than fight in an imaginary field. On a more positive note, she killed—and devoured—ew—the female she didn’t recognize, but left Kaera and Brina alone. Isaiah and Garrett escaped without any thrashing around on my part, although I still managed to shamble away with bruises and a few shallow cuts, all accidentally self-inflicted.
As before, Garrett cared for me, then he and Yvette went out to feed while I started a new book by one of my favorite authors. When he returned we cuddled in the bed for a few minutes.
“Would you change for me?” I asked.
“Of course, but won’t that make you sad?”
“Yes, but I feel like I need to explain.”
Garrett laughed. “It’s me, silly. I know why you can’t shift, at least I know as much as you do.”
“Please. For five or ten minutes. I want to pet you.”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “I would never object to you petting me in either form for as long as you desire, my love.”
“You’re despicable.” I giggled.
“Vampire in love.” He kissed his way from my shoulder to my earlobe. It was getting warmer in the room.
“Even after all this?”
“More everyday.” Garrett removed his clothes, making a show of each reveal and teasing me as he stripped off every piece. By the time he stood naked before me, I wanted to tell him to forget about shifting, but it was too late.
The shift took only around twenty seconds, the agony of bones breaking and realigning, muscles stretching and contracting was something he’d mastered from the age of fifteen. The jutting of his snout and the sprouting of his tail was eclipsed by the vision of the beautifully spotted fur erupting from his skin. Fully transformed, my handsome cheetah shook his body like a wet dog and jumped onto the bed, nuzzling up my side until we brushed cheeks in a cheetah sign of great affection. He was so beautiful, his markings extraordinary, his eyes the same vibrant blue as in his human form.
He licked my face, teasing me. “I miss you,” I sent.
“Still with me. Not gone.” Garrett’s ability to mind speak was limited in cheetah form, but we’d always been able to make ourselves understood.
I hugged him tightly around the neck, burying my face in his soft ruff. My heart was breaking, but when he began to purr, I found some peace, allowing my mind to wander into the forest and remember the times we romped and hunted under the stars.
Rubbing my forehead against his, I whispered my greatest fear. “I’m afraid you’ll leave me. It would be the end of me if you did.” Sometimes, it was easier to bear my soul to his cheetah.
He jumped down from the bed and transitioned back. Naked once more, he crawled beside me and drew me into his arms, using my hair to tilt my head into position for a passionate kiss. I knew Garrett’s kisses as well as I knew the hours of the day: tender when we first greeted each other or when I needed reassurance, playful in the midst of a perfect evening, forceful to prove a point after an argument, languid and oh so sexy during his masterful seductions. But this kiss was a claiming, a marking of our lifelong commitment, exactly what I needed.
The kiss turned heated quickly and our bodies fell into their natural rhythms, enjoying a generous exchange of sensuality and deep affection. Garrett and I shared magic to increase our pleasure, my demon heat adding an exciting dimension to our lovemaking.
When we were spent and enjoying the afterglow, Garrett kissed my ear and whispered, his breath warming my sensitive skin in a delicious way. “Mon Coeur, I will never leave you. If you can believe anything in this crazy world, believe that one thing.”
“I do believe it. This fear is new and I’m trying to cope, but it’s so hard.”
“If I could take it from you, I would.”
“You’re too good to me.” I narrowed my eyes, then surprised him by flipping him onto his back and straddling his thighs. “Might as well make the most of it. Some advantages come to mind.”
He laughed. “I am at your mercy.”
“Ummmm. Say that again.” He did, and I spent the next hour making sure he meant it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Late in the afternoon of the next day, Isaiah decided to use Garrett in a little experiment. I was against it, but Garrett agreed enthusiastically. Males—ugh.
He’d created a large field where some of the garden used to exist, adding perimeter blocks so I couldn’t move outside the border. “In your visions, you have seen yourself in warrior form, correct?” Isaiah asked.
“Yes, but I don’t really see myself. There are no mirrors around. I’m just much larger, larger even than the fae steeds.”
Isaiah twisted his mouth in thought. “I believe the best way to proceed is for you to experience fully what it is to take on that form. I’d rather not have you running around screaming in terror when you change by accident.”
I ignored that last jibe. “I’ve seen you in warrior form, in a long ago vision.” I hugged my body with crisscrossed arms. “And I saw the warrior soldiers in the field in the DR.” I looked at my bare feet, not wanting to meet his gaze. “You’re going to make me change? Right here? Become one of those monsters, like I almost did with Sasha?” I hadn’t grown into my full size at the gym that day, but it had been close.
“Yes. And we’ll have Garrett stand before you unarmed. He’ll speak to you and try to coax you back into your true form.”
“That’s gotta be the stupidest idea you’ve ever had. I might kill him!”
“He’s perfectly capable of teleporting out of your way, even outside the perimeter. He can come and go as he pleases. And you are nowhere near as fast as he when he uses his vampire speed, especially when you have grown into a beast.”
Flies could have made a home in my mouth. “Nice way to talk to your loving niece, Uncle.”
Shush. This is important. Your size is the primary weakness of a demon in warrior form. A quicker creature can kill him, although it isn’t easy. Also, you forget. I’ll be right here to protect Garrett is he needs me, although I will hide in shadow so as not to distract your warrior.”
“I’m not going to need your protection.” The guys faced off for a few moments, chests out and eyes slitted. Ugh. “Don’t worry, my sweet. It will be fine. I know you won’t hurt me.”
“I wish I knew that. I kill in my visions.”
“You didn’t kill Brina or Keara.”
“Isaiah woke me early. I might have.”
“You woke yourself because you would not kill your friends. You’ve only killed strangers, people who probably never existed.”
I stalked
away. “I have no choice, do I?”
“None.”
“Okay,” I sighed. “Teach me how to shift to a demonic warrior.”
“It would take too long. I’m forcing the shift.”
“No…don’t…” But the pain had already knocked me to my hands and knees, my cry of agony growing deeper in pitch. I stared at the grass and groaned, but I was demon and not a sniveling creature to be sent away crying. Despite the pain and stiffness, I rose to my full height, searching the unfamiliar area for my next opponent, if you could honor them with that distinction. Truly, they were fortunate to die beneath my claws rather than a lesser species’ talons.
A male of a different species walked onto the field. A vampire. Unseelie. The day was drawing to an end, yet he’d placed his feet in a patch of sunlight and it did not seem to bother him. He must be an old one, but it would not matter. He did not ride a steed or carry a weapon, at least not one that I could see. I lengthened my claws. This would be fast work.
“Jackie. Look at me. It’s Garrett.”
Jackie. Jackie is my name in another form, in my smaller, more breakable form, but as a warrior I choose not to answer to that small name. I answer only to my blood and ancient instincts.
I moved with wide strides toward the vampire with the strangely familiar blue eyes and worried gaze. Did I know this male? No matter. In five more heartbeats he will lie on the ground, unable to defend himself. I will drink his rich blood and he will strengthen me.
When I was ten feet away from trapping him, he disappeared. Now he was behind me at the other end of the field. I turned and moved toward him once more.
“Jackie, you don’t want to hurt me. You want to change back to your true form.”
I laughed, my voice a bass viol in my chest. Why would I want to change to my small form when I have the advantage? I am demon. He whisked to another spot and smiled. Why does he smile? His life was about to end, yet he smiles. Is he mad?
“I’ll sing and play the guitar for you and you can choose every song. Or we’ll listen to music and dance on the terrace. I know you’ll complain about the dancing at first, but you’ve grown to enjoy it, admit it. We rogues are all dancers.” He whispered, a finger perched over his lips. “Your secret is safe with me.”
The smile had grown wider. I slowed my steps. Did I know that smile? Had I seen those blue eyes before? But no, I am a soldier. I am a warrior. I am a rogue.
A rogue? I glanced at my hands. My claws had disappeared.
He looked me over from head to toe. “You are beautiful in every form, mon ange. Je t’adore.”
Mon ange?
And I was in his arms, my warrior left behind. We didn’t kiss, that would come later. We simply held each other, sharing breaths and memories on a field that didn’t exist, in a world that had gone haywire but might soon be set back on its feet. Now we had hope and hope was always precious.
That night Garrett and I danced and Yvette and Isaiah joined us, which brought about a lot of laughter and some eye-rolling on Garrett’s part. Isaiah insisted on playing several songs from the 1970’s so he could ‘Do the hustle’, which he was actually quite good at. He insisted on dancing with me on and off and Garrett didn’t complain, since Yvette was also a willing partner. He and Yvette had suffered under Eleanor Howard for many years and it was wonderful to see them having some fun together.
I’d danced with Isaiah in the past when I’d worked with him in the Demon Realm and he’d taken me to the demon version of a fancy ball. It had been quite an experience, especially since Isaiah could waltz the pants off Strauss himself.
When we weren’t dancing, the four of us sipped champagne and chatted excitedly about what my progress meant. In between glasses, my genius uncle and I nibbled on an assortment of delicious goodies the chef had prepared for our rather unique celebration. Amazing how your appetite returns when the stress in your life takes a nosedive. Hey how many people could actually boast that they’d managed to control their demon warrior? How many people would even know what that meant?
When we’d had enough dancing, Isaiah insisted we play some silly board game that had us all laughing so hard we cried and couldn’t read the words on the cards. The game got even sillier when we decided to make up what the cards said. If Isaiah had been born human or shifter, I could have definitely envisioned him emceeing an afternoon game show. “And behind this door…”
At one point during the evening, while we were dancing a slower dance, Isaiah and I had locked gazes and smiled. What passed between us didn’t involve words, but feelings of gratitude, pride, encouragement and love can be conveyed in many ways. A squeeze of the hand, a kiss on the cheek, and a gentle hug can work wonders. I caught Garrett smiling at us out of the corner of my eye, reminding me of home and all the people I would be able to return to very soon.
It was one of the best nights I’d had in a very long time.
The next afternoon I worked again with Isaiah and Garrett. Isaiah had actually come up with a great idea—surprisingly simple really.
“What if we train your beast to return to human form when she hears a certain word? A word that reminds her of home and what’s truly important?”
“Rogue,” I said. “Rogue was the first word Garrett spoke that meant something to me. It struck home.”
“So it wasn’t the dancing?” Garrett teased.
“The dancing was lovely. But the idea of dancing sometimes stresses me out.”
“We’ll use the word rogue and see what we can do,” Isaiah announced, rising from the chair then marching out to the field. We followed, although I was definitely dragging my heels. A tiny part of me was rebelling at being brought to heel like some supernatural Pavlovian creature.
Garrett didn’t use the word at first. Instead he tried others, but nothing worked. Finally, after I’d chased him around for three or four minutes, he threw it out there, hoping for the best. “You are a rogue, a member of our team, Rogues Incorporated. We love you and want you back with us.” And it instantly flipped a switch inside me. I envisioned the original team—my friends Sinc, Kyle and Ethan, who were joined by Garrett’s nest—Sash, Rick and Will. Sinc had moved away and Will had passed—murdered by Queen Fionna—but he was still with us in spirit.
Afterward, Isaiah and Garrett huddled together to discuss how they should proceed with my little problem. I huffed out an exasperated breath and walked toward the fence at the cliff’s edge. The view was spectacular but my mind was on the two males behind me. All this work and I was still a project, with them the project managers. Part of me hated it, but if it kept people safe, then I’d have to swallow my pride. The scary thing was, we’d only been dealing with my demon warrior form, a part of me that had never existed until Naberia shot me up with her own blood. She was a simple creature, a creature programed to kill and kill again, but what about me in human form? My magic was still roarin’ like a motorcycle on rocket fuel. If I lost control of my emotions I could hurt someone simply by throwing a heavy object at their head or using a kitchen knife. Would the word rogue stop me then? Somehow I doubted it.
They decided to use Yvette next. She wasn’t a close friend or family member, so her shouting out, “You’re a rogue,” might not have the same effect. She tried other phrases first, as Isaiah and Garrett had suggested, but when she began to urge me back to human by talking about my old Rogues, Inc. team, the vision of my friends and I working with Garrett calmed me. Funny how certain memories have such power: the power to heal and the power to tear you limb from limb.
A maid was next, then the poor chef—both of them vampires but not particularly enthused to be used as guinea pigs. The experiments were successful and Isaiah and I ate leftovers the next day and gave them both the day off.
“When can I go home?” I asked, as I had every day.
“When the training is finished,” he would always answer, patient but firm.
The next evening, Sash showed up to tell us the male who’d been rescued from t
he field had died. I gave him a welcoming hug and asked, “How are the females doing? Do they forgive me for what happened? Do you forgive me?”
“They’re well and learning quickly. The one you called Ami is the fiercest, although all of them are formidable.” He took my hand and squeezed it. “No one blames you. You can’t help what the witches and Naberia did to you. You’re here working hard to come to terms with it. We miss you, but we all understand.”
“Hmmm. Elle’s a good influence on you.” I grinned.
“She is indeed, Mistress.”
I’d given up asking him to stop with the Mistress thing. Garrett had explained that Eleanor had insisted on everyone using it when addressing her, but because it was a title of respect, Sasha had often refused. Those days he’d been tortured or told to torture someone he cared about.
Garrett took care of that bitch and I had one of my own to take out.
Sasha took a step back. “What were you just thinking about? Your eyes flashed orange.”
“Naberia.”
Isaiah sauntered over. “Is my little demon thinking about killing her grandmother?”
“I’m not your little demon, but yes.”
“Good. We’ll use that thought to get you riled up and then find something to calm you down.”
“Rogue isn’t gonna work, I can tell you that right now. In fact, calling me angel, little demon, or Mistress definitely isn’t going to help either. I need… They waited. “I need to fight someone, hurt someone—someone who can heal quickly.” I looked Sash over. “He’ll do.”
“Fighting is what you want. It’s challenging and can be most enjoyable, at least to your demon. What you need is to release the energy that rears up with your strong emotions. There are much healthier ways to accomplish that goal than by the shedding of blood.”
“You look disappointed,” Garrett teased. “I’ve never seen you as bloodthirsty as I have this past week. Quite a revelation.”
“It’s not the real me,” I snapped.
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