Chapter Twenty-Two
Nine hours of dreamless sleep left me rested and clear-headed the next morning. Normally, I’d appreciate that. Instead, all I could focus on were Gemma’s words, my father’s revelation, Luna’s connection to Gemma, and any number of catastrophic events that could and probably would happen at my birthday tomorrow.
With absolute clarity, I knew tomorrow would be a horrible day. I didn’t need a seer to tell me that.
Jax was a constant presence during my daily training with Falon and the acquisitions meeting I was forced to attend with Maxim. I didn’t listen to more than two words. Maxim noticed but didn’t say a word. In fact, he hadn’t said much of anything beyond rattling off numbers and business jargon.
Maybe he was afraid I would hit him in the nose again. He shouldn’t have worried—I’d let Teryl do the honors next time.
My father walked in just as the meeting wrapped up. “Come. We have to get your gown fitted.”
My hatred for him used to feel like a raging fire that ignited every time I saw him. Now it sat like a cold, hard lump in my stomach. “I have a dress to wear.”
“There’s no doubt it’s unsuitable for the occasion.” Today, he was dressed in a charcoal gray suit with a medium gray tie and lighter gray shirt. It had a strangely monochromatic effect that worked together, making him look like an urbane sociopath. Two years ago, he’d been named one of Seattle’s most eligible bachelors. At the age of fifty-four, he was considered quite the catch. Actually, it had a lot to do with his rankings on the millionaire’s list. Maxim had mentioned in one of our meetings that he was almost to the billionaire’s list now.
To my knowledge, Jedren had never dated. Unless you counted the occasional escort for a swanky function.
Jax had been lounging in the leather executive chair beside me, but my father’s quick dismissal had made him stir. Through the bond, I felt his growing anger. It had been at a slow simmer all day. I wasn’t the only one on edge.
“The gown Elle has chosen is appropriate. We have plans, so she can’t do a fitting.”
It was the first time I’d heard him directly defy Jedren. Maxim shuffled papers nervously, and my father’s eyes narrowed. I don’t know which of us was more shocked. My father recovered first and smoothed his tie. “Jaxon, I don’t believe I’ve officially welcomed you into the family.”
Dread snaked along my spine when I recognized his tone. It was the same one he’d used when he’d dropped his bombshell yesterday about the missing week. The same one he’d used when he’d announced I should be on the Council. I forced myself to stand, almost knocking over my chair. “I can assure you, the gown is appropriate. If you have someone who could do my hair and makeup, that would be lovely.” I had to force out the last few words, hating that I needed to kowtow to him.
He turned back to me, and I knew it had been the right thing to say. “The event requires you to look your best.” The once-over he gave me made it clear he thought I looked exactly the opposite now. Whatever it took to take his focus off of Jax.
He seemed to come to a conclusion, because he gave one curt nod. “Very well. I’ll cancel the tailor and have someone sent to the guesthouse tomorrow at noon. The party starts at three, so you’ll need ample time.”
I let the veiled insult roll off my shoulders. I’d heard those comments my entire life.
“Maxim, have more guests responded?”
Maxim seemed to wilt under that intense stare. After a few seconds, he composed himself. “I…ah…yes. Twenty-three more acceptances came in this morning. I’ve contacted the caterers to make sure we’ll have enough food.”
My father was already walking toward the door. He stopped and turned back with a false smile. “Elleodora, I almost forgot to ask. How is the oracle?”
I gripped the edge of the table to keep from launching myself at him. I could tell by the spark in his eyes, he knew it. “Teryl is g-grieving.” I couldn’t help the slight crack in my voice.
He gave me a chiding look. “No, not that one. The girl. I assume you worked on her soul, yes?”
Jax’s chair made a horrible noise as he shifted to stone in the blink of an eye. “Jedren…”
Suddenly, it became clear. I put a hand on Jax’s rock-hard arm. “Easy,” I said under my breath. To my father I said, “You left her for us, didn’t you?”
“Very good. Maybe you’re more intelligent than I’ve given you credit for. I left her for you to practice on. Did she live?” He said it with such indifference, I felt the flare of fire in my palms. I made fists but remained where I was. He didn’t spare my hands the slightest glance. His posture was relaxed as he waited for my answer.
I wondered if he could feel fear, or only arrogance and evil. Maybe he couldn’t feel anything. “She’ll live.” I said it with more conviction than I felt.
He took this in stride. “Interesting. She was quite damaged, from what they told me.” He sounded more curious than upset. I tried to keep my face expressionless as emotions churned in the pit of my stomach.
“You broke Gemma just so Elle would fix her?” Jax’s voice echoed in the room at a low, dangerous tone.
“No. She was actually a talented seer and oracle. Sadly, the lines have become so diluted, they no longer last a year.” The skin around his eyes tightened for a fraction of a second before his face smoothed. “No matter. Elleodora’s abilities will serve the family well.”
Silence followed his departure. Maxim scrambled to his feet while grabbing papers. “I’ve got things to get to.”
“Maxim.” Jax’s dark rumble stopped him cold. “Why did you give us the list?”
I could see the whites of his eyes as Maxim scanned the room, probably looking for an escape. “I told you, they were things we forgot to go over.” He jerked his head once toward the door, reminding us we might have an audience.
Jax must not have cared, because he leaned against the table, his stone body looming over Maxim’s, wings tucked behind him, though they were no less threatening. I tried not to wince when I heard wood cracking. “You need to decide which side you’re on before tomorrow. If there’s anything my mate needs to know in anticipation of the party, I suggest you tell her.”
Maxim’s eyes shifted again, and for a second, I thought he’d spill some great secret. “I have to go check my messages and see if the florists got back to me.” He all but ran out the door, and a few loose papers floated to the floor in his wake.
Jax and I stood in silence, each digesting the horror of what Jedren had revealed. Gemma had been an experiment and trap for me. I’d fallen for it, hook, line, and sinker. We all had. How did he always manage to stay one step ahead? And how many more innocents would he throw in the line of fire?
I picked up the tattered remains of Jax’s shirt, needing to get the hell out of here. “Let’s find you a change of clothes.”
Jax took my hand without a word and walked me out of the house, unconcerned with the stares he received in gargoyle form. When we closed the front door behind us, he wrapped his arms around my waist and launched us into the air.
“Jax!” I grabbed his neck as the ground moved farther away at an alarming speed. “What are you doing?”
He didn’t answer. The day had been overcast and the higher we moved, the more moisture I felt on my skin. “We’re getting wet.” I could feel his roiling emotions. He’d lost control of them, finally. I tried again. “We have to go back. I’m nervous about tomorrow and I want to relax.” Or at least try.
I caught glimpses of downtown Seattle through the clouds—he’d been moving faster than I thought. Jax landed on the rooftop of a building at least twenty stories tall. After letting me go, he refused to meet my gaze. “Little gem, I have to get you away from here.”
“We can’t leave. Not now.” No matter how much I desperately wanted to.
“Yes, we can. I cannot sit by while that sick fuck manipulates you.”
I took a step back. Jax rarely cursed, but now his stone fac
e was filled with rage. “I…we can’t leave. He might hurt Teryl or MacLean or—”
“Their lives mean little to me if you’re gone.”
It was the wrong time to smile, but I couldn’t help it. I shortened the distance between us and wrapped my arms around his neck. He held himself rigid. “I’m not going anywhere. I know you’ll protect me if I can’t protect myself.” I had to believe that. For some strange reason, his fear and fury caused the knot of worry in my stomach to loosen a little. I put a hand on each stone cheek. “We’re going to stop him.”
“Letting you walk into that party tomorrow will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
“Mine, too,” I admitted in a soft voice. “Knowing I have you, Teryl, Luna, MacLean, and Elion on my side sure helps, though.”
He sighed, and his stone shoulders relaxed a fraction, but not enough. “You have more allies than that.”
I pulled his head down so I could rest my forehead against it. “How do you know?”
“Too many people want to see Jedren dead. They’ll be on your side for that reason alone.”
“If you say so, I believe you.” I had no desire to talk about allies and enemies tonight. I looked at the city, trying to figure out where we were. “How close are we to your apartment?”
His grip tightened for a fraction of a second before he answered, “It’s about fifteen minutes from here.”
Which meant we’d be close to my shop. I trailed a finger down his chest, following the groove of his muscles in the stone. “Can we take a detour before heading to the shop?” I wanted time alone with him. No secrets, no threats, no one popping in unexpectedly. Just the two of us.
“Yes, but if you’re using it to distract me, it won’t work.”
I smiled up at him, knowing he could feel the twinge of sadness through the bond. “No, I’m using it to distract me. And because I don’t know how tomorrow will play out.”
Without another word, he gathered me up, and we were airborne. True to his word, we arrived at his apartment fifteen minutes later. How he managed to get us on the street without being noticed is beyond me. He shifted back to flesh, and we only encountered one little old lady on the way up to his apartment. Judging by the look she gave him, she wasn’t in the least bit offended. Seeing Jax blush made it worth it.
He unlocked his door and flipped on the lights. I could tell he hadn’t been there all week. Newspapers were stacked up outside of his door and he had a pile of mail from his mailbox downstairs tucked under his arm.
He dumped it on the entry table and led me into the kitchen. “Are you thirsty? I’d offer you food, but the fridge is empty.”
“No, thanks.” I watched him down a glass of water, taking his time putting the empty cup in the dishwasher. Through the bond, I could tell he was contemplating something, but he seemed unsure.
“Jax?”
He must have come to a decision, because he turned to me with a determined expression. “I have something for you.”
“A good luck kiss?” I asked, half joking and half hopeful.
That earned me a small smile. “No, but I’m happy to give you one of those anytime. This is more important.”
“I don’t know what’s more important than that.” My teasing didn’t erase the serious light in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, little gem.” He tugged on my hand, so I followed him back to his bedroom. I loved his king-size bed. His room was a wash of cool blues and grays. It fit him perfectly.
He let go of my hand and walked over to one of his dressers. “I wanted to have this conversation before your birthday.” He had his back to me, so he didn’t see me freeze a few steps behind him.
When he turned around, he held a little box in his hands. Oh boy. Ohboyohboyohboy. My hands started to shake. Jax closed the distance between us. I couldn’t speak or move. He seemed to know I was frozen in shock, because he smiled—that slow smile that drew out a dimple in his right cheek and caused my already wobbly knees to shake in earnest. “I love you, Elle.”
It took three tries before I could say, “I love you, too.”
“You asked about the ceremony a few days ago.”
Had it been that recent? It felt like months had passed. I stared at the black box in his hands. His skin wavered between stone and flesh. Or maybe I imagined that.
“The ceremony is simple, but the significance is not.” He opened the box, and I stopped breathing for a few seconds. “This was my grandmother’s ring. When she died, she left it to me. The first time I saw you, I knew it now belonged to you.”
My vision blurred. I blinked to clear the moisture gathering in my eyes. I couldn’t look away from the ring nestled in the black velvet. The band was gold with delicate filigree scrollwork. A large emerald-cut diamond sat in the center, with a few small sapphires on each side. It was stunning.
I don’t know how long I stood there staring, but it was long enough to make Jax shift nervously from foot to foot. “Ah, little gem? Will you accept it?”
I couldn’t manage words, so I nodded. He carefully pulled the ring out and slid it onto my finger with a smile. “It’s a perfect fit.” He didn’t let go of my hand.
“I…Jax…” I swallowed my emotions and took a breath. “Is this an engagement?”
Silver swirled through his eyes. “Similar. The ring is the formal token for the ceremony, but the ceremony itself doesn’t involve the pomp and circumstance of a traditional wedding.”
“Right, sorry. I think you mentioned that before. Um…am I supposed to give you a ring as a token, or something else?”
He lifted a bare shoulder in a shrug. “A token is necessary, but what that is can be up to you. Something with significance, but it doesn’t have to be big or expensive, as long as it is meaningful to you. I’m not picky, and neither is the magic of the ceremony. The intention behind the token is of the most importance.”
I knew without a doubt I’d finally make his fragrance. Whether he wore it or not would be up to him. I only knew I needed to create it for him. That seemed to be my token of choice, though I hadn’t been able to give Carys her fragrance. The reminder of her death dimmed my momentary joy, but I tried to push it aside. I only had a few moments to steal with Jax before we had to get back.
Jax must have seen it in my face, because he tipped up my chin. “It’s not a big deal.”
I wrapped my hands around his neck. “I know what your token will be. I was just thinking about tomorrow. The ceremony is important and something I’m looking forward to. I don’t want my birthday to overshadow it.”
His lips quirked. “I think your birthday is important.”
That drew a reluctant laugh out of me. “What I meant is, I don’t want the circus my father is turning it into to overshadow anything positive.” I rubbed a hand along his shoulder and halfway down his back. His bare skin was warm and smooth. “Jax, we don’t have much time.”
In a quick movement, he grabbed my legs and swung me up into his arms. “Then let’s not waste it.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
I had no idea what tomorrow would bring. A hundred things could go wrong, and in the back of my mind, I’d run through them all at least a dozen times. I was sure there were a hundred more problems I hadn’t thought about yet.
When Jax set me down on his bed and stared at me with those swirling silver eyes, none of it mattered. “I love you,” I said.
He didn’t smile. Though he was still flesh, his face was etched in harsh lines. “And I love you. Tomorrow night, after the party, we’ll complete the ceremony.” He said it with the confidence I wished I had.
“I’ll hold you to that.” I knew it was ridiculous, but I was afraid my father would follow through on his word. That tomorrow, he’d force me to thread souls. And that it would cost me Jax and my friends. Even worse, I was afraid my father would reveal the monstrosity I’d created ten years ago. Jedren was a monster, and he’d been recreated by a skilled weaver. What had
an unskilled weaver like myself created?
Jax must have seen the fear in my eyes, but he misread it. He pressed me back onto the bed, trapping me between his arms. “I won’t let anyone harm you.”
I placed a hand on his chest, taking strength from the solid, steady beat of his heart. “I know.” I took a breath and, knowing he’d understand, I voiced my greatest fear. “Jax, what if I hurt someone?”
“Do you want to hurt someone?”
“No, not at all,” I hurried to say, and then stopped. “Actually, yes, I do. My father. And Luke.”
He leaned down to kiss me, a fleeting brush of his lips that had me craving more. His breath teased my skin when he whispered, “Elle, he can’t force you to hurt anyone.”
I closed my eyes, knowing that wasn’t true. Ten years ago, my father had done exactly that. I couldn’t remember, but in my gut, I knew.
The mattress dipped and shifted as Jax pushed away and sat up on the edge of the bed. He ran a hand through his short hair as he looked at the floor, an uncharacteristically nervous gesture for a normally stoic man. “I’ll make sure he won’t. I know I didn’t—”
“Jax.” I sat up and gently shushed him. I smoothed my hand along his shoulder to comfort both of us. “I shouldn’t have brought it up. We’ll go over the ugly stuff later.” I had a feeling we’d discuss it in great detail, whether I liked it or not. I stood up and moved to stand between his legs. Cupping his cheeks, I forced his gaze up to mine. “I need you, mate.”
That one word erased most of the worry in his eyes. Not all, but enough.
“I’ll have your token tomorrow.” I ran my thumb across his lower lip when he would have argued. “I want to give it to you. But right now is just for us.”
He watched as I pulled my shirt off, then shimmied out of my pants.
“You are so beautiful.” His voice was a deep rumble.
I blushed. I’d never had a man stare at me with such frank appraisal and admiration. I tried not to squirm with embarrassment.
Stone Cold Revenge (Set In Stone, Book Two) Page 20