Rebirth (Rogues Shifter Series)

by Gayle Parness

  He led me back up the path and we prepared the boat for the hour long sail back to Crescent City. Garrett sensed that something was upsetting me so he gave me some space and quietly set about the mundane tasks which put us out into the harbor.

  The sky was clear and the stars reflected in the ocean seemed to ripple and race with the currents. He stood by the wheel, guiding us home and looking thoughtful. “Will you talk to me, angel? I sense that you’re upset. Are you angry with me?”

  “Why would I be angry with you?” I sat on the starboard side bench, avoiding Garrett's face, not brave enough to answer his questions.

  “Several reasons perhaps. My duel with Eleanor was gruesome to watch. Also, I’ve taken on the responsibility of leading what's left of Eleanor’s nest. One of them is very young and doesn’t have much control. The older ones are more set in their ways and quite powerful. This is going to complicate our lives, but I had no choice.” He looked at me sheepishly. ”You didn’t sign on for this.”

  I got up and wrapped my arms around him. “But I did. When I said I’d be your mate, I signed up for a lifetime with you. And it’s made me happier than I could have ever imagined. Except,— I need to tell you something.”

  “Tell me.” He draped his free arm around me and squeezed.

  I told him about Lord Kennet’s strange proposition and my response. I saw minute changes in his eyes and the line of his mouth, but other than that he stood quietly and listened. “I’m afraid I screwed everything up.”

  “Kennet is an arrogant windbag. I’ve had dealings with him before, but if he’ll go to the Elders and ask that Liam be allowed to share his knowledge with us, and they agree, then it’s all good. Liam’s father is an Elder and an ally of mine, but I would never presume to ask him directly for Liam’s help. Liam stays with me of his own free will."

  He ran his hand through my hair and then down my bare arm to my injured hand. He lifted it to his lips and kissed gently, examining it for any remaining damage. I flexed my fingers and demonstrated their agility by walking behind him and massaging his back with firm motions.

  He hummed with pleasure as I worked on a knot. “Did Francois behave himself?”

  “Yes. He flirted with me a little but basically he was a gentleman. He’s rather charming.”

  “He’s over seven hundred years old and has had centuries to practice the art of seduction. Over the years, he’s helped me out many times and often treats me as a younger brother constantly in need of his guidance. But It appears that you have something extra that appeals to the fae as well.”

  “Whatever extra I have is only for the use of a particular vampire. In fact I seem to recall being asked to remind you about something...”

  He grabbed my uninjured hand and pulled me around to face him. “I haven’t forgotten.” His voice sent happy chills down my spine. I leaned in to kiss him but he pushed me gently away and winked. “We’ll be home in thirty minutes.”

  “Waiting is not my best thing,” When I pretended to pout, he laughed, a sound that rang through my heart, reminding me that complicated or not, we'd been given a chance to share a life together. I had no intention of wasting one minute of it.

  Chapter Forty-seven

  The next evening, Garrett and I drove into town for Carly’s funeral. The service was in a lovely chapel decorated with pink tulips and white roses, Carly’s favorite flowers. Various shifters stood and talked about her life with humor and sadness. Maya spoke about their first meeting. Carly was the headmistress at the girl’s school she attended and Maya had been sent to her office because she’d given her teacher attitude. She was seventeen and had been on edge and in pain all day, not realizing that it was the ley line power causing her grief. Carly recognized the situation instantly and got her the help and the training Maya needed to deal with her new found abilities. Carly also gave her extra homework just to make it clear that no matter what the circumstances, she was to respect the other members of her community, including her teachers.

  Other shifters told similar stories. I was surprised when Garrett got up to talk about some of their funnier childhood experiences together. His face was drawn and I knew that he felt badly that they’d never reconciled their differences. Rob told a story about a double date he’d been on with Carly and her boyfriend at the time and him and Lynette. They’d gone to a bowling alley and were all drinking beer. Carly’s boyfriend had way too much and wanted to show off so he threw the bowling ball too hard and it actually made a hole in the back of the pin machine. They all ducked out of the building pretty fast and ran over to the boyfriend’s car. Carly started reaming him out for getting drunk and not controlling himself around humans and then picked him up and threw him through his own windshield. They all walked home that night.

  When the service ended, we moved outside where people were still gathered. Many of the shifters came over and spoke to Garrett and me about the duels. Most of them just wanted to say thank you because they knew that the killing wouldn’t have stopped with Carly’s death. Some actually hugged us and offered us a free dinner or a free oil change or whatever they could afford to give us. They all knew by now that my ley line magic had surpassed Maya’s, but it seemed more important to most of them that I was a healer. They were even more trusting of Garrett, asking him about his cheetah background and also for advice on how to better protect their homes and their families. Shifters were a peace loving race.

  This realization made me turn to Garrett and watch him as he spoke to Brad. Because of Eleanor, his playful cheetah was forced to turn violent and seek out blood daily from humans or shifters to survive. At first he must have been under her power completely, killing and possibly torturing them at her command. It must have taken him time to gather the strength to oppose her will and then survive his own torture. This went on for over one hundred and twenty years.

  I wondered how he felt about her death; she was his Maker and so they’d been connected psychically. His surface emotions were clear to me: sadness over Carly, relief over my safety and excitement and worry over heading his own nest. But I also knew that there were feelings he kept behind his wall, feelings too hard for him to share with me yet. He was very good at control and not so great at trust. I definitely had my hands full with this guy.

  As we were leaving, Sinc came over and gave me a huge hug saying, “So how about that shopping trip? Maybe Friday? Oh yeah and there’s a cool supernatural club that just opened fifty miles south of Crescent City. Maybe you, Garrett, Kyle, Peter, Ethan and I can go there together sometime? I mean I know we’ll be working together a lot so we’ll be seeing each other, but I like to get out once in awhile and just let loose.” She shook her head making her gorgeous dark hair fall in waves over her delicate shoulders while her bright blue eyes gleamed with excitement.

  I had to grin. Ethan had his hands full too. “You know I’m seventeen, right? They won’t let me into a club.”

  “You’re with Garrett. What you two did at the duels has spread up and down the west coast by now so no bouncer will mess with either of you.” She was grinning widely. “Anyway, they serve soda. Ethan can’t drink either. Really, none of us have to drink, I just want to dance. They have a live band there that’s supposed to be sick.”

  “Dancing…sounds great…I guess. But I can’t go shopping this Friday night. It’s our party, you’re coming right?”

  “Ohmygod…I forgot! Of course I’m coming. I’m bringing the most delicious chocolate mousse cake. You’ll just want to roll in it it’s so good.” Visions of her and Ethan doing just that made me laugh out loud. At least I didn’t blush this time.

  Garrett hung his arm loosely over my shoulder. “What’s so funny?”

  “It involves a chocolate mousse cake.” I said wiping a tear from my eye.

  Sinc gave me a mischievous look and said, “You two should try it.” and slinked away to Ethan.

  I grinned. “That snow leopard mojo is powerful stuff.”

  “Nothing’s bett
er than cheetah.” He kissed my forehead.

  Chapter Forty-eight

  Garrett wanted to drive me home and then go to Francois’ newly rented home to talk to his nest mates. I told him in no uncertain terms that I was coming with him, so we spent the hour long drive talking about the party on Friday. We’d decided to have it at the Smith River Campgrounds and were able to rent the western camp site for the night. We were setting up six large barbeque grills, which Garrett’s cousin Aaron and his pack had agreed to man, and were also catering in pasta, veggies, the works. Beer and wine would be provided but nothing stronger. Swimming was allowed in that section of the river so we’d also bought dozens of towels and blankets for drying off and spreading out under the stars. Desserts were being provided by several shifter volunteers who owned or worked in local bakeries.

  We drove down a curving driveway and stopped in front of the double doors of a very large two story brick house.“I need to tell you something before we go in. We’ve only spared the four who we felt could be trusted to give up Eleanor’s—methods. They have to live by my rules now. They’ve pledged loyalty to me and we shared a few drops of blood, so I’m connected to each of them more strongly than before.

  "However, they’re in a dangerous state. Their nest mates have been executed and their maker is dead. Please don’t speak to them or make any moves toward them. They have a lot of adjusting to do and it’ll be a very difficult path. They’ll probably ignore you if you’re quiet.

  “Talk to me mentally if you need me to do anything. Otherwise I’ll stay quiet and out of the way.”

  “Thank you.” He kissed my hand then led me up the front stairs and through the unlocked double doors.

  Francois was there, looking elegant in a dark designer suit and rich purple silk shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He gave Garrett a friendly hug and took my formerly injured hand in his and kissed it gently looking into my eyes as he did. I wondered how he was feeling about Eleanor’s death. She was his progeny and so it must have some effect on him too.

  “Bonsoir, Jacqueline. I’m so pleased to see you again.” I felt a mild tingle run down my spine and I heard Garrett laugh softly. Eleanor must have gotten her seductive powers from her maker, Francois. She'd used hers to lure in the innocent, but Francois seemed to use his as any charismatic, attractive man would.

  “Thank you Francois.” I smiled. “I see you’re as charming as ever.” Francois smiled widely in response and winked; his eyes sparkling mischievously. Garrett, never one to be outdone, arched an eyebrow and snaked his arm around my waist. I glanced at his adorable turned up smile and breathed in his delicious scent. It occurred to me that Garrett had plenty of his own inherited seductive powers, which I’d willingly fallen prey to. I should make sure to thank Francois for that as well.

  He led us across the foyer, down a short hall and through an elaborate archway on the right. The room was quite large with two enormous couches, several plush arm chairs and a grand piano near a picture window overlooking the ocean. The fireplace crackled and the sweet scent of vampire filled the room.

  Silently seated on one of the couches were a male and a female, their expressions neutral, only their eyes moving as Garrett led me to an arm chair indicating with a tilt of his head that I should sit. I did, never taking my eyes away from the couple. Garrett sat gracefully in the chair next to mine and took my hand.

  He spoke with his usual tone of authority, the one he used when the team trained together. “Sasha, Yvette, this is Jacqueline Crawford Cuvier, my mate. Jackie this is Sasha Vodinski and Yvette Blanc.” I recognized them now from the duel, picturing them hissing and snarling. I was happy to see that they wore very different expressions tonight. They’d glanced at me, uncertain as to why I was present, but then returned their attention to Garrett.

  Sasha was blonde with deep set light blue eyes, sculpted cheekbones and a strong jaw. He wore a dark brown well fitted suit, and a tan shirt, unbuttoned to mid chest. He was barefoot and very handsome. Yvette wore a low cut black silk dress with spike heels. She was lovely with thick dark curly hair and light mahogany shaded skin and very dark eyes. These two felt old to me, near Garrett’s age, so the three of them must have been nest mates for a long time.

  Two more vampires entered and sat on the second couch, two males. Garrett introduced them as William Carlyle and Heinrich Schultz. William had red hair and blue eyes and very pale skin and wore jeans and a button down navy blue shirt. He was very thin and had a slightly desperate look about him. I guessed that he’d been turned fairly recently. Heinrich was a huge man, very tall, perhaps weighing over 250 lbs, with light brown hair and brown eyes. He wore a tight black muscle shirt, black jeans and a leather jacket. He was definitely older than William but not as old as the other two.

  Francois joined us, seating himself elegantly on a third chair, and Garrett began.

  “As you know, Eleanor and the rest of our nest here in California have attained final death. The four of you remain because Francois and I believe that you have the strength to change your behavior and follow my rules which are quite different than Eleanor’s. I’ll state what they are and then you can ask any question you like.” They glanced at each other and then nodded.

  “There will be no killing unless I order you to kill or you’re attacked by someone of equal or greater strength who intends to kill you. There will be no torture except during interrogations to save innocent lives, and then only if I'm present. You’ll feed from volunteers and may not put their lives in danger or injure them seriously. Sex is fine, you're adults and I have no desire to police your private lives, but rape won't be tolerated. You can glamour them to protect them from the pain of the bite, but not to force them to do something against their will. After you’ve fed, I expect you to heal the wound and ensure that they're left in a healthy state and that their memories are scrubbed when necessary.

  “I know that Eleanor kept you with her at all times unless you were hunting for victims but I’ll allow you out if you show me you can be trusted. At vamp bars and clubs you’ll find humans, shifters and weres more than willing to volunteer as donors. You will let either Francois or me know where you are at all times. You’ll rest during the day here in this house with Francois. When our grandsire goes back to Paris, you can petition me to leave and join his nest. I’ll allow it as long as you don’t return to my territory—ever.

  “You’ll live by my rules or you’ll be executed. This isn't negotiable, although I promise to give you a fair hearing before making a decision. Ask your questions."

  Heinrich spoke first. He had a slight German accent. “Master, I don’t have a problem feeding from willing donors but how do I control my cravings for violence?”

  I sent to Garrett, "Master, huh?"

  "Quiet, lowly shifter." His mouth twitched.

  “Please call me Garrett, Rick. The craving will lessen with time, but I’d be happy to train you to fight with me and my team. You could put those violent urges to good use.”

  Heinrich nodded and looked a little relieved. “I was a soldier before I was changed and did well in battle. I accept your leadership.” The big one seemed really polite.

  “Will you torture and execute us if we slip up and harm a human? In the heat of feeding, I may—forget the new rules.” Sasha smiled, leaning forward and speaking softly with the hint of a Slavic accent.

  “I remember what she did to you, Sasha.” Sasha frowned, turning a shade paler. “I remember what she forced you to do to others in the nest. I’ll never torture you. I’ll never starve you or burn you or poison you to teach you a lesson. I’ll never force you to harm one of the others. That goes for all of you. I’m not Eleanor. If I decide to execute you, it will be fast and clean. I know you’ll make some mistakes. If your control is weak, ask Francois to stay with you when you feed. He can stop you if it goes too far.” Sasha nodded and relaxed back into the couch.

  “Garrett, when you killed Eleanor and the connection was severed, it was painful and is
olating. I feel empty now.” Yvette leaned back on the couch trying to seem relaxed but the tension in her shoulders and jaw was obvious. “She’s all we’ve known for so long. I'd like to go home again to France. I need—I simply don't know if I can survive in this small town.”

  “I killed her to avenge many deaths, including some of your own family members, Yvette.” There was a flash of silver anger in his eyes. “I felt the same agony when Eleanor died but I won't ever regret killing her." He looked out the window at the tree lined yard lit brightly by the moonlight. "This is where I live, where I'm happy." He squeezed my hand. "If he'll accept you, I will release you to Francois' nest in Paris. He and I believe you can adjust, so I’m following my instincts.” His mouth turned up at the corners as he glanced in my direction.

  All four heads turned to look at me. I tapped into the lines for security and looked back at each of them. They turned away when they saw they had no ability to glamour me. I guess it’s something automatic with a vampire. I checked out their auras which were all a nasty looking shade of gray. I’d have to mention that to Garrett later.

  Yvette asked. “Is the shifter above us?” Her voice bordered on contempt.

  “Yes.” He didn’t hesitate. “Jackie is my lifemate and is under my protection. She killed Antoine who was above all of you in age and power. You won’t be able to glamour her, and I’m warning you now, she is more than capable of helping you meet final death, so I suggest that you don’t fuck with her. You'll treat her with the same respect that you show to me or Francois.” Garrett rarely cursed, but him talking me up to his nest made me feel pretty awesome.

  “Who is your second in the nest: me or Sasha?” Yvette was a piece of work, I could tell already.

  “Let's get through the next couple of weeks and then we’ll see.” Garrett turned to William. “Do you have any questions, William?”