“He’ll find him,” I reassured her. “They’ve been able to find one another since they were able to crawl. It doesn’t matter where one is, the other can always tell which way to go.” As tense as the situation was, I couldn’t help but laugh.
Jasper closed the front door and raised an eyebrow in my direction.
I shook my head. “Sorry…I just…” I took a few deep breaths to calm myself. “Good god, you’d almost think he was your son! I mean, come one! He’s you when I first crossed over!” I started laughing again.
“What are you talking about, Shlova?”
“You and your damn sense of duty.” I turned to Jenna to explain. “When I first crossed back Jasper was the one who found me. He knew we were fated but I couldn’t remember my dreams so I didn’t. He refused to kiss me because he said we had business to attend to and he had to get me to Melana. We couldn’t get distracted.” I shook my head. “Stubborn. If I hadn’t taken matters into my own hands we would still just be holding hands.”
Jasper smiled and shrugged.
“Anyway, the point of this little story is ‘don’t worry’. Trent will come around. They can only fight it for so long.”
Jasper took my hand and led me to the spare room. “You need some sleep, Shlova. Let’s go to bed.” I didn’t argue. I was exhausted.
We said our goodnights and left Mel and Luke with their son’s future mate.
Chapter Eight
Jasper awoke feeling empty and terrified. He looked out of the window and saw that it was still dark. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself. His heart was pounding in his chest. Hayden moved against him and he focused on her feelings. She was still asleep. She sighed and he felt her contentment. He was still unnerved, disoriented. Whatever he was feeling wasn’t coming from her. He rolled his shoulders, trying to get rid of the stiffness in his back.
He pressed his lips to her forehead and breathed in the smell of her hair. His skin crawled, like he was being watched.
“Jasper?” Hayden’s deep green eyes were looking at him, her brow creased. “What’s wrong?” She tightened her arms around him.
“Nothing.” Even as he said it, he knew it was the wrong answer. He had no idea what was wrong, but something definitely was.
“Did you have a nightmare?”
A small part of him relaxed. “I can’t remember. Maybe that’s it.” That made sense. He’d probably had a dream about her being taken again. He usually had one or two of those after such an event occurred.
He tried to think back to his dream, but couldn’t remember. Hayden’s fingers ran lightly over his back. He focused on that feeling. His skin tingled.
“What’s on the agenda for today?” Her hand trailed down his hip and along the back of his thigh.
“Hmm? Not much really. We’ve already appointed captains and separated everyone into packs. We’ll assign the stragglers coming in the next few days to the packs that need reinforcements. We’ll wait for Rainen. When she gets here, we’ll come up with a few strategies and back up plans.” His heart was still beating faster than usual, though he couldn’t tell if it was still from the dream or the way Hayden was kissing along his chest. Her fingers wrapped around him and stroked him softly. His breath caught in his throat.
“And Rainen should be in today?”
He groaned as her fist tightened around his now very hard erection. By the moons, she was expecting him to be able to hold a conversation while she did that to him!
“Today.” He tried to think of how many days it had been since they had left Howel. Hayden ran her tongue over his nipple and he lost count. “Or tomorrow.” He vaguely remembered talking with Luke about this yesterday. “No, today.”
Hayden brushed her lips over his stomach and his abdomen clenched as her tongue darted out and flicked over it. Her hand was still stroking, alternating between his member and his balls. She kissed along his shaft and flicked the head of it lightly.
“And we leave in three days for the Northern Regions?” She placed him in her mouth and sucked.
Jasper groaned. At this very moment he couldn’t tell her what his own name was, much less how their travel plans were going to go. Her tongue and lips teased and stroked causing another groan to rumble through him. She gently ran her teeth along the length of him and he jerked. She brushed the hair out of her face and looked up at him.
“You didn’t answer my question.” She chuckled as his eyes widened. Her hand continued what her mouth had started.
“What?”
“I asked what happens if we get there and Melana is late?”
“By the moons, Shlova, how do you expect me to think of that when you’re doing this?” He sucked in a breath as her hand squeezed and her teeth nipped over his stomach. He felt her smile.
She gave a surprised shriek as he pulled her up and flipped them over so that he lying over her, her petite frame hidden under his. He bent his head and took her breast in his mouth, suckling on it. Hayden arched under him with a gasp. He nudged her legs apart with his knees and settled his hips down so that he could feel her wetness against the tip of his shaft. His mouth moved on to her other breast.
“So how is Emelly’s herbal training coming?” Jasper ran his tongue over her collar bone and Hayden moaned.
“Good. She’s a quick learner.” She squirmed under him then arched against him.
His tongue ran along the curve of her breasts and followed the line between them down to her belly button.
“Well, that’s good. I noticed her sparring has improved quite a bit also.” He pushed her up to the head of the bed and hooked her legs over his shoulders. He let his tongue rub along the hot flesh then pushed a finger into her. He smiled as she gasped. He quickly added another finger and pushed down with his other arm over her waist to keep her from arching into his strokes. He hooked his fingers and rubbed against the small spot he knew would have her begging for release. She clenched around his fingers involuntarily and he knew he was stroking the right spot.
“What was that? I couldn’t hear you.” He looked past her breast to her face and flashed a crooked grin. Hayden opened her mouth to say something. He bent his head and sucked on her sensitive nub. All she could manage was a groan that vibrated through her all the way into his loins.
He released her and got on his knees, turned her over and pulled her toward him. Hayden grabbed the simple wooden headboard with both hands and thrust her hips back toward him. He kissed each cheek of her bottom reverently. He was rewarded with a giggle. He got closer to her and bent over her back, reaching around and fondling her breast. She pushed back against him and let her shield drop ever so slightly so he could tell how she wanted him.
He groaned and obliged her. With one slow thrust he buried himself to the root. His head reeled. Her groan matched his and was followed by a simple sigh at the pleasure of having him fill her. She pushed against the headboard and wiggled her hips so that he slid ever so slightly deeper still. He pulled out and thrust back in, both of them gasping. With each thrust he could feel her getting tighter around him. He pushed her to the brink and stopped, fully sheathed. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her still.
Hayden gave a strangled moan and tried to move.
He kissed along her back and shoulders. “Not yet, Shlova. I want to watch when I shatter you.” He pulled out and rolled her so that she was on her back. She laid still, legs spread, her body quivering. By the moons, she was beautiful.
Jasper settled himself between her legs and thrust in with one hard motion. Hayden gasped. Her back arched and her hips rose to meet his. He pushed in hard and deep, the rhythm fast and steady. She groaned and he thrust harder and faster still. He could hear their damp skin slapping together. He could feel Hayden squirming beneath him, struggling to get closer. He groaned and lay fully over her, his tongue conquering hers. She whimpered and wrapped her legs around him. He felt her tense and rejoiced in the way she groaned his name as she bucked under him. Her flesh str
oked him in quivering waves and as Hayden dropped her shield he gave a final thrust that sent him over the edge.
He lay over her until their breathing had slowed before rolling over and pulling her to his chest. She looked up into his eyes, smiling, and he had to remind himself to breathe.
“A shlova yan,” she whispered softly.
“A shova yan jer.” He closed his eyes and kissed her. For some reason he couldn’t pinpoint, beneath the exhaustion and boneless contentment he was feeling, a touch of the uneasiness was coming back and with it, a hollow, almost painful feeling in his chest. He looked onto her soft features as she drifted back to sleep with a small smile on her lips and suddenly, he realised where and when he had felt this before. His heart beat faster in his chest as he thought about the day Hayden had died trying to save Damian. How he had felt when the presence he was used to feeling had simply disappeared. Of course, thankfully, there had been the knee buckling jolt he had felt when she had jerked back to life in his arms.
He pulled her closer. Why in the world he would dream of that was beyond him. He took a deep breath. Maybe it was to remind him to fight harder; keep her safer. He let out his breath slowly. Not that he needed to be reminded. Above all else, he would make sure never to feel that feeling again. If he had to sacrifice himself to keep her alive, he would.
Hayden sighed. He brushed the hair out of her face and pushed the painful feeling down, but wasn’t able to fall back to sleep.
*****
The first thing I heard was the sound of steel on steel. I jumped out of bed and ran to the window, wondering who in the world was fighting this early in the morning. The sound rang again and I found myself looking at Jenna lunging at Tyler with her dagger. He countered and managed to push her back a few steps. Jenna grunted and swiped a leg against his. Tyler fell to the ground, rolled and was standing in time to block her next lunge. She tripped and fell backwards, a small cry escaping her lips as his dagger slipped across her forearm.
Tyler’s mouth twitched slightly before he bent and helped her to her feet.
“Sorry about that.”
Jenna shrugged. Tyler pulled her sleeve up and looked at the small cut on her arm. He took his own tunic and put pressure on it.
I noticed how he refused to look her in the eye. She looked up at him, a frown on her face.
“It wasn’t my fault.”
His eyes met hers briefly before focusing on her arm once again. “I never said it was.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“Look. Things are what they are. Trent refuses to come back and has decided to make me your guardian until all of this is done and over with.”
“I don’t need a guardian.”
“I really don’t care what you think.” His dark eyes smouldered with anger and I knew that even if he hadn’t said it, he was blaming Jenna for his brother leaving. “I gave my word to Trent and so until we defeat Braw and my brother comes back, you will not leave my sight.”
“Maybe I don’t feel like being a part of this. Maybe I’ll just head home.” She glared at him defiantly.
“Well, now, that’s not going to happen. I’m bound to watch over you and I’ll be damned if I feel like traveling back to Howel. Not to mention that Aunt Hayden needs me here. I swear to you, Jenna, if you even have an inkling of love for my brother, you’ll stay here willingly or I will tie you up.” He lifted the end of his tunic off of her arm and looked at the cut. She started to pull away and he tightened his hold on her.
“That’s just it, though, isn’t it? I don’t know if I love him! I know I’m fated to him, but I’ve seen plenty of fated couples who hated each other.”
Tyler’s gaze sharpened even more and his eyes blazed into hers.
“Hi, Tyler!” Bree came walking out of the woods toward them. “I thought we could go to the clearing to see who we run into.” She stopped short, her eyes wide as she witnessed this battle of wills.
“I already told you. You’re not leaving.” A low growl made its way up Tyler’s throat.
“Tyler?” Bree took a step closer and stopped short as my nephew turned to look at her.
“Go along, Tyler. Go play with your girlfriend.”
The killer look honed in on Jenna again and this time she took a step back.
“Go, Bree. Jenna and I are working on our sparring. I know you don’t like practicing.”
“Fighting is useless,’ argued Bree, her voice almost reaching a whinny tone. “I don’t understand why you insist on wasting time practicing when we could be having fun.” I remembered how Mel had commented on Bree’s lack of ambition or work ethic. She had been spoiled her whole life, thought it should continue that way, and had decided Tyler was the one who should be doing the spoiling.
“Fighting is necessary. By the moons, Bree, when are you going to wake up? Life isn’t all trips to town and bonfires! Don’t you even know why your father brought you here? We are going to war; a war that if we lose, will kill us all. Not just the shifters going north to help Aunt Hayden fight, but all of you who are staying behind as well. All it will take is for Braw to touch Auntie with his staff and we will all be obliterated! So don’t tell me that fighting is useless!”
Bree’s face blanched. This was obviously a side of Tyler she hadn’t seen before. She shifted and trotted off in the direction of the clearing. His glare followed after her.”
“Tyler.” Jenna’s voice was just a whisper. “You’re hurting me.”
He jerked and let go of her arm which she hugged to her chest. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he looked at her again, the fury was gone, replaced by concern and embarrassment.
“I’m sorry. Can I see?”
Jenna hesitated before handing her arm over to him again. Even from my view in the window I could see the finger shaped bruises forming on her forearm. He shook his head.
“I’m so sorry.”
She put a hand on his. “Me too. I didn’t really mean it when I said I would leave. I came here to help your Aunt and I mean to stay to do just that. Finding Trent was a shock. Having him leave was an even bigger one.” She took a deep breath. “My brother and I came together. He was killed by a pack of humans in the Blue Woods. He died to give me time to get away. When I saw Trent and realized he was the one I was dreaming of… well… I guess I was relieved I wouldn’t be alone anymore.” She looked up into Tyler’s eyes. “But then he left.” Her gaze shifted to the ground at their feet.
“You’re not alone, Jenna. You’re Trent’s mate, or will be. You just became a part of one of the oddest families around.” He gave a small smile. “I have a feeling you’ll fit right in.”
Jenna looked up at him. She frowned. “Did I do that?” Her free hand moved up to trace a bruise on his cheek which was causing his eye to start swelling.
He shrugged. “Let’s go see if Auntie is awake and she can fix up your arm.”
I turned away from the window and got dressed. Jasper kissed me as I sat beside him at the table. He already had a coffee ready for me.
“Aunt Hayden?” Tyler came to stand beside me. “Could you have a look at Jenna’s arm?”
“By the moons, Tyler! You’re supposed to be sparring, not cutting her to bits!” Mel came around to see the damage. “Your brother will have a fit if he finds out you hurt her!”
“I’m fine, really.” I noticed how Jenna was hiding the bruises on her arm with her sleeve.
“I love how you didn’t notice that my eye is swelling shut, mom.”
Jenna blushed. I ran a green wave over her arm, healed the cut and covered the bruises with my hand before healing them. Jenna’s eyes widened a bit.
“There you are, Jenna. Your turn, Tyler.” I made him kneel. Facial injuries always hurt the worst when healing. Jenna stood beside him and put a hand on his shoulder.
“So any big plans for you today?” I inspected Tyler’s face and gave him a pat on the cheek when I was sure there was no further damage.
“I was t
hinking of going fishing.” Tyler turned to Jenna. “How do you feel about fishing?”
She smiled. “Love it.”
Luke nodded. “Be sure to be back for supper at Tara’s. If Rainen makes it in today we’ll be having a meeting with the captains of the packs. You’ll need to tell Trent of our plans. I’m assuming you’re to go see him tonight?”
Tyler nodded. He got up off of the floor and went to the room he shared with Trent then reappeared holding two fishing poles and a bag containing all of their fishing things. He handed one of the poles to Jenna.
“I’m sure Trent won’t mind if you use his.”
The two of them left.
I looked at Mel. “What time did he get home last night?”
“It was early this morning. He came in, let me know he was back and that Trent was alright then made a bed in front of their room where Jenna was sleeping.”
It occurred to me that Jenna had a guardian just as devoted to her as Jasper was to me. If Tyler had told her she wouldn’t leave his sight then that was the way it would be. A promise made between the two brothers wasn’t one to be taken lightly.
“Should we head to Sageden so we can be there when Rainen arrives?” Jasper asked.
I nodded, a tweak of nervousness making its way through me. With Rainen here, things were that much closer to coming to an end. We were one step closer to our final confrontation. Or what I hoped would be our final confrontation.
Jasper took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Breathe, Shlova. We’re not there yet.”
I nodded. “I know. You know me and fighting.”
He smiled. “I know.”
I helped Mel clean up and the four of us started back into town. We ran into Matthew and Emelly who were coming in our direction along the path. I gave them a hug.
“Just the woman I wanted to see.” Matthew smiled.
I laughed. “And why is that?”
“Well it has been two days since I last saw you. It’s been a while since you’ve been taken…” Matthew’s dark green eyes didn’t hide any of the humour he was feeling. “I was just thinking I should be around, that’s all.”
Destiny (The Chosen One Trilogy:Book Three) Page 18