William was a very young vampire, probably with less control than the others. “No Garrett. I’m hungry is all.” His fangs were partially out and he was shaking slightly. “I’ll follow your rules. I just need to feed every day. Eleanor left me hungry a lot. You saw how it was with her.”
Francois stood. “I’ve lined up some volunteers for tonight. They’re waiting in your rooms. Please remember the rules. Later we can discuss how it went. I’ll be available if you feel you need my help.“
They stood, nodded at Garrett, ignored me and left. I heard various doors opening and closing.
“Stay as long as you like. I’m going to see to the others. I will call you later, Garrett. Bonsoir, Jacqueline.”
I got up and sat in Garrett’s lap hugging him tightly and nestling into the comfort of his long arms. “I’m sorry if that upset you. I feel responsible for them.”
“Why is Francois helping you? He’s much older and more powerful but he’s acting like your assistant. And why didn’t he automatically take them on and make them part of his nest?”
“He feels a little responsible for Eleanor’s behavior. Also he gets bored easily. I think he’s having fun. He told me that running my own nest will be good for me. His nest is in Paris.”
He was staring into the fire. It had been a difficult evening for him. I had an idea. “Can I drive your car?”
“Well, okay. Where are we going?” His forehead furrowed with curiosity.
“It’s a surprise.” I yanked him out of the chair and out the door to the car. I drove up into the Cascades and pulled off the main road and parked. We both jumped out of the car and walked to the front.
“What now?” He was grinning like a cat with cream.
I grabbed him by his belt and pulled him closer. “My cheetah wants to play, Garrett. Let’s hunt.”
We undressed and shifted, spending the next two hours hunting, sharing kills and chasing each other. His handsome cheetah was stronger, so when he caught me he could pin me to the ground to nip at my nose, but he rarely caught me. We collapsed near the car and transitioned back, laughing and happy. Garrett was a little weak, so I let him feed from me, which led to other amazing moments. Finally we dressed and he drove us back to our home and to Samson our furry companion.
Chapter Forty-nine
I woke up around noon the next day to find Liam busy in the garden.
“Hello, Liam”
He seemed a little reserved as he said, “Good afternoon, Miss Jacqueline. You and Master Garrett did very well at the duel. We still have much to work on, however.”
“Did Kennet speak to you?”
“Lord Kennet did speak to me.” His violet eyes held mine as he waited to hear what I would say next.
“I swear to you, Liam that I didn’t tell him about you lending me the knife. He just seemed to know.” Liam nodded, seemingly satisfied with my response.
I stepped closer to him and sent, “He asked me to be his lover and give him an heir. I refused him as politely as I could and instead suggested that we could be powerful allies. Are Garrett and I in danger?” I’m not really sure why I told him this, but once I’d blurted it out, I felt better.
Liam stood silently for several moments, processing what I’d said. “It will depend on how much he desires you and how much he is willing to risk war to have you. If he kidnaps you, then shifters and vampires might declare war against the fae. The fae are powerful but your people are much more numerous and extremely determined. It could end in disaster for all of us. The Elders will not look kindly on Lord Kennet if he starts a war over a woman.”
I started to respond, but Liam continued. “He knows this, and yet he has no heir, despite the fact that he's had several wives over the centuries. No woman has given birth to a fae child in seventy-five mortal years. In a fae lord the desire for an heir surpasses most others.”
He went back to his work and I walked into the kitchen to pour myself a cup of coffee. I sat and thought about what he’d said. My life had changed so much since that first night on the island. I had real friends now who I’d never have to move away from, I had a home where I could stay forever, and I had a wonderful man who loved me, a mate for life. Samson came over and put his head in my lap. And an amazing dog too.
“Good boy!” I scratched him behind his ears and hugged him around the neck. He wagged his thick tail and licked my face.
The rest of the week passed quickly. I went shopping with Sinc on Tuesday and then spent some time modeling my purchases for Garrett. He approved each one with great enthusiasm.
Ethan challenged me to another backgammon tournament, so on Thursday I invited him over for lunch. He beat me, of course, and then we sat in the backyard and talked for awhile. I’d avoided asking him about his first change, and now seemed like the perfect time.
He was reluctant. I touched his hand and he laughed. “The witchy woman wants to fix me?’
“There’s nothing to fix. You don’t have to explain…”
“You have a right to know who you’re working with, who you’re trusting your life to.”
He sighed and began. “I grew up a shifter, always knowing I’d be a cougar like my mom and dad and I was fine with it. But I didn’t change when everyone else did and it pissed me off. Things had always gone my way and I wasn’t used to being left out. My friends were off hunting and I was stuck at home. No one else seemed worried about it; they just shrugged and said I’d change eventually. I got kind of depressed and started hangin’ with some kids I knew who used.
At first, it was just pot and a lot of booze, no big deal, I thought. Then I started taking pills, like valium and oxy. My grades in school went down. I was seventeen and still hadn’t changed, but I was jittery and getting headaches, all the signs. I was just too wasted to realize it.”
Ethan looked down at his hands, not wanting to meet my eyes. “My parents were freaked of course, so we ended up fighting all the time. I quit school, left home, moved north to Portland and was living on the streets dealing, turning tricks, stealing, whatever I had to do to buy more drugs. They called Rob who knocked me out, threw me in the back of his truck and actually took me home to live with him. I was a freakin’ mess and he wanted me near a hospital just in case. He helped me clean up. Those were a couple of really bad weeks.” Ethan shuddered and ran a nervous hand through his hair.
“He fed me healthy food and made me exercise. He was pretty tough with me.” He smiled and rubbed his chin as if remembering a punch that Rob had landed. ”Mostly he talked to me about what he’d gone through and he listened when I talked to him. Rob saved my life. When I still hadn’t changed, he took me to the island a couple of weeks before he grabbed you, to shoot me up with the drug Sinc had developed. I was still being a pain in the ass. I didn’t want to be there. That’s why I tried to run away.“
He looked at me with his large amber eyes. “I bet you don’t think I’m such a great guy now, right?” I could see the pain and the fear in his expression as he waited for me to tell him to leave or that I wouldn’t work with him. Instead I leaned over and hugged him, pushing my love and my energy into him. He hugged me back and I could feel him relax. We moved apart and smiled at each other.
He said, “You being there on the island with me, made me feel useful. There was someone else who needed me. Someone I could help. I wasn’t the only fucked up one. And I liked that you kind of looked up to me.”
I laughed. “I still do. I was a mess on the island and I’d never have gotten through everything if you hadn’t been there with me. But Ethan, all that stuff from your past doesn’t have power over you unless you let it. Have you talked to Sinc about any of this?”
“Not a good idea.” He shook his head.
“She’s crazy about you.”
He grinned like a kid.” I’m crazy about her, that’s for sure. I mean she’s definitely high maintenance, but she can be really sweet and generous and funny. She’s so bright. I’m amazed everyday that she’s still
with me and hasn’t kicked me out.”
"Kicked you out?"
"I moved in with her a week ago."
"And you were going to tell me this, when?"
"We thought you had enough going on in your life. It just never came up. Anyway, she still wants me there."
“Let me tell you a secret about women like Sinc and me. We really like to feel needed by our partners rather than totally dependent on them. If you tell her what you told me, she’ll be there for you. She’ll be happy that you trusted her and she won’t turn away. Her love is going to heal you faster than anything I could ever do for you. It’s like Kyle and Peter and me and Garrett. Just tell her.”
He grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “You really are a witchy woman.” We laughed together. “Thanks, Speedy, for the food and the therapy.” I laughed again as he leaned over and kissed me on the forehead. I caught a whiff of eucalyptus as he winked and headed out the door.
Chapter Fifty
On the morning of our party, I took Samson out with me for a run. We ran along the main road and then turned into the woods on a path I wasn’t too familiar with. After a couple of miles, I saw a woman standing about twenty-five yards ahead of me under a huge oak. Samson started to bark and growl, but one glance from the woman silenced him, just like Liam was able to do. Startled, I was sure that she was fae. Her long dark hair blew around her body as she moved gracefully down the path. Her violet gaze took me in without a hint of emotion and I could smell the magic of Faerie all around her.
“Jacqueline Crawford Cuvier, I am Keara, a representative of the Fae Council. You and your mate, Garrett Cuvier are invited to Faerie to be the guests of Lord Caelen and his family on the evening of June 19th. You are invited to dinner and then to a meeting of the Fae Elders where various topics will be discussed that are pertinent to our alliance. If you choose to accept, an escort will arrive at your home at dusk that same evening. You will stay with us until dusk on June 22nd. Liam, the son of Lord Caelen, will also be accompanying you.
"Both Lord Caelen and Lord Kennet have extended invitations for you and your mate to join them at Midsummer on the evening of June 20th.” She’d made a face when she’d said Kennet’s name, making it clear who she thought we should join. “Liam can get in touch with me if necessary.” She handed me an envelope. “Good journey, Jacqueline Crawford.” She bowed and then dissolved. Poof, again.
I ran right back home clutching the envelope. I handed it to Liam and he read the invitation.
“I will, of course accompany you. Don’t allow yourself to worry over Lord Kennet. My father can arrange it so you never have to see him the entire time you’re there.” I was relieved that I’d told Liam about my encounter with Kennet. I'd also confided in him about my fractured emotions regarding Antoine’s death. My healer/warrior nature was something that only he could relate to. We were becoming more than teacher and student. I felt a strong friendship growing between us.
He took my hand, smiling. ”Tonight you will enjoy your party. Tonight you will laugh and dance and take pleasure in the company of your friends. Tonight Master Garrett and you are sealed as lifemates in the eyes and the hearts of all the people who love you and whom you love.”
As Liam predicted, the party that night was a glorious event. It seemed that at least a third of the shifter population of Crescent City showed up along with quite a few of their human partners. The weres, Aaron, Catherine, Franklin, Tony from Sacramento and at least fifteen others, barbequed enormous amounts of ribs, steaks, chicken and burgers and then spent the rest of the night throwing each other in the Smith River and flirting with the shifters. Aaron managed to toss Garrett in the river, but Garrett got his revenge later when some of Sinc’s chocolate mousse cake ended up in Aaron’s face and down his shirt, which of course prompted another shove in the river.
We’d hired a local shifter DJ who kept the night hopping while Ethan and Sinc encouraged everyone to dance, showing off the latest moves. They managed to attract a large crowd when they danced, mostly because they were a spectacular couple and moved like professional dancers. Peter and Kyle were glued together all night and I couldn’t help but smile when I heard Kyle laugh heartily over something Peter had whispered in his ear. Kyle seemed so much happier these days. Aaron and Catherine tore up the dance floor with some ballroom salsa. Very hot stuff! I managed to get Garrett to dance some of the slower dances with me, the only kind of dancing I was any good at. He held me close and led me gracefully and people started to clap, like it was a wedding. I looked into his radiant blue eyes and I knew that he was all I needed. No fancy wedding would change anything. We were completely committed to each other and would be forever.
Maya, Brad and Sylvia arrived together and enjoyed themselves kayaking and socializing with friends. Rob showed up a little late, but insisted we follow him to a quiet table near the river. Sitting there were Maggie and Justin Crawford. At first I was shocked, but then I ran to them and we hugged and kissed. They apologized over and over and I forgave them over and over. Garrett knew them well, so we sat down and caught up on everything that had happened in the last month. They seemed so pleased for us and we promised to call often. Before they left, I asked them about my birth parents, but they could only give me the names of their lawyer who handled my adoption and the social worker who had represented the state.
I had a chance to meet Ethan’s parents who hugged me and thanked me for looking after their son. I told them what a great guy he was and they beamed with pride. Ethan and Sinc seemed closer than ever so I guessed that maybe he’d taken my advice and opened up to her. I saw Rob dancing with Maya and hoped that maybe that was the beginning of something good for both of them.
My favorite part of the evening was when Garrett grabbed me away from a conversation with Catherine and sat both of us down near the dance floor. He whispered in my ear. “This is for you, mon amant. My lover.” He kissed me sweetly on the lips.
The DJ was on a break and there was a drum set already put together with one of Aaron’s pack seated on the stool behind it. I was very excited to see Garrett walk out carrying his violin and Aaron appear holding a small accordion. Peter showed up last with an acoustic guitar. All of our guests were gathered around, some of them forming couples and moving out onto the dance floor, ready to move with the music when it started. I saw Garrett tap his foot and bob his head in four rhythmic beats and then they began to play…Cajun music!
When I’d first seen the violin, I assumed he played classical music, but this was so much fun. Peter sang with a strong voice in a language kind of like French but not exactly: the meaning always clear in the music. Kyle ran over to me and pulled me out onto the dance floor, telling me that Peter had taught him how to do the Cajun two-step. After looking like an idiot through the first song, I started to really get into it, turning under his arm and dancing side by side. Ethan was dancing with Sinc, so the four of us switched partners a few times, bumping into each other and giggling hysterically. I guess if any of our enemies had seen us this night on the dance floor laughing together, they wouldn’t have thought us to be much of a threat. They’d have been wrong. It was more obvious to me than ever before that our team of rogues was going to kick ass…just not tonight.
According to Kyle, Peter, Aaron and Garrett had spent many years in Lafayette, Louisiana which was a Cajun stronghold in the south. They’d learned to play this warmhearted soulful zydeco music when they were fairly young, in shifter years, and continued to get together to play whenever there was a nearby gathering of shifters or weres. After four songs, the drummer left and Peter handed Aaron his guitar. Garrett and Aaron played an amazing Irish reel as a tribute to their mothers who were sisters, off the boat from Ireland, when they’d met their respective French and Canadian husbands. The music started slowly and then got faster and faster and soon the whole crowd was hollering and clapping. Garrett watched me enjoying the upbeat music, clapping along with everyone else and then running to hug him when he finished. H
e grabbed me up and kissed me in front of everyone, which brought on another cheer from the crowd.
Around 2:00 AM the party started breaking up. Garrett and I spoke to everyone we could and thanked them for coming and for supporting us in our battle with Eleanor and Antoine. The weres and some of the shifters had already cleaned up all of the mess, but we stayed until everyone had left. As we were pulling away in the car I caught a whiff of fae magic so I hoped that it was Liam and not Lord Kennet who'd been observing the festivities. We'd invited Liam of course, but he felt that having a fae present would put a damper on the festivities, since so many shifters feared the fae. Francois declined the invitation because someone had to keep an eye on Garrett's nest. I put aside all thoughts of Kennet and the new nest and leaned against my handsome vampire for the ride home.
As we walked hand in hand up the path to the front door of the home we shared, I asked, “How do you feel?”
“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, because of you, mon ange.” He played with my hair, then ran his hand down my arm to come to rest on my hip. “How do you feel tonight?”
“Deliriously happy,” I sighed as he unlocked the front door, “and a little excited to see what’s coming next.”
“What would you like to happen next?” He pulled me into the foyer, kicked the door closed behind us and kissed my ear, which he knew would send tiny shockwaves down my body and get me thinking about where else I wanted him to kiss me.
I decided to start with something serious that had been on my mind for a long time. I took his hands in mine and stared into the eyes that had worked their magic on me all those weeks ago. “Someday I’d like to look for my birth parents.”
“I’ll do anything for you, Jacqueline. We’ll find them together.” He buried his nose in my hair and took a long deep breath, then pulled away to raise my hand and kiss the mark that Francois had cut into my wrist. Our matching symbols had healed well, taking on a rich luster that was more like a tattoo than a simple carved outline. We’d chosen the shape of a cheetah’s eye with its black tear stripe weaving its way down our hand to disappear beneath our index fingers. When we’d shared our magic that evening, mine had taken on my rich green hue and Garrett’s his sapphire blue, mimicking our eyes when we shifted. We’d both agreed that unusually powerful magic was definitely at work here.
Rebirth (Rogues Shifter Series) Page 30