Stalked (Rogues Shifter #2)

by Gayle Parness

  Stalked

  Book #2 Rogues Shifter Series

  Gayle Parness

  Copyright 2011 Gayle Parness

  Stalked is dedicated to my friends and family members who continue to support my efforts with their encouraging words and loving critiques.

  Chapter One

  This was one of those days when I had to keep telling myself that I was not hallucinating, even though I’d questioned my sanity several times in the last six weeks. I was truly riding in a white limousine, holding hands with an extremely attractive vampire, sitting across from two high-seelie fae on my way to celebrate the Midsummer Celebration with a group of ancient fae lords and ladies. Jackie Crawford, that’s me, a seventeen year old shape shifter, was staring out the tinted window as we drove through the Cascade Mountains in northern California while Garrett Cuvier, the aforementioned gorgeous vampire, was making lazy circles with his thumb on my palm as he discussed tonight's meeting with the other two passengers. Across from us sat Liam, an adorable half-fae/half human, my teacher and my friend, and Kaera a lovely but serious representative of the Fae Council of Elders.

  Spread out across my feet and cutting off my circulation in the process, sprawled Samson, a protective Rottweiler that Garrett and I had inherited after the death of our friend, Carly. Liam had insisted that he accompany us. I’d argued against bringing the dog at first, but I’d learned the hard way not to take Liam’s advice lightly.

  Samson grunted and stretched his huge body across the floor of the limo, taking up even more room and covering my feet completely with his black and tan belly. Garrett and I laughed out loud. Liam smiled good-naturedly. Kaera just continued to stare out the window, her expression bordering on glum.

  I sent to Liam mentally, “What’s up with her?

  “She is worried about a family matter, but it is her nature to be reserved around non fae.” Not having any blood relatives of my own, I could only guess at how family problems could mess with your head. I felt bad for her, but I wouldn’t let her gloomy mood ruin my happy one.

  I snuggled closer to Garrett and peeked again at Kaera, who seemed a million miles away. She tapped her foot impatiently, probably irritated that the trip was talking so long, this not being the usual mode of transportation for the fae. She and Liam could have transported us to Faerie instantly through the ley lines, but because it would have been my first time, they decided that a car trip would be a much gentler journey and that I’d arrive in a healthier state. Apparently, many non fae had trouble traveling directly through the magic, feeling nauseous and weak at the end. Hey, I’d been willing to give it a try, in fact I was kind of looking forward to it, but since they were all against it, I’d agreed.

  Thinking about traveling through magical rivers of energy to get from one place to another would've had me doubting my sanity just a couple of months ago. Back then, I’d thought of myself as a human girl with several extremely odd and uncomfortable abilities. I could run faster than any Olympic track star, and my senses were so acute that I could hear a baby cry ten houses down the block or see a bird dive for the ocean a mile away. I’d struggled daily to keep these talents hidden from the world and live as normal a life as possible, but it hadn't been easy.

  The year before, I’d been adopted by Maggie and Justin Crawford, a wonderful, supportive couple. I’d taken their name, and believed that finally my life was looking up, in a strictly limited kind of way. Two brutal attacks had left me with emotional scars and plenty of anger, and I’d pretty much accepted the fact that I’d never live a happily-ever-after kind of life. I would have gone off to college and then maybe one day, I might have been moderately happy.

  On the evening I was kidnapped, my life corkscrewed in a roller coaster ride of new experiences. Rob, a black leopard shape shifter, told me that I was not human and that he would help me transition into my animal for the first time. My initial reactions ran the gamut from disbelief to terror to fury, until I met another shifter, Ethan, a large cougar, who was also learning from Rob. In the end, being faced with the irrefutable evidence of seeing them shift in front of me, I had no choice but to agree to my own forced change. Turns out I’m a rare cheetah shifter and able to pull energy from the magic that courses through the earth in rivers of power. Since that first transition, my new life has moved forward at an amazing rate until I’ve felt at home with myself in a way I never had as a human.

  We passed yet another glorious view of the sun setting over the forest which spread out west of the mountains in gorgeous shades of gold and pink and purple. Contented, I stretched my arm across Garrett's slim waist as I took in a deep breath of his delicious scent, something I did to combat my nerves, but also as a reminder of how lucky I felt.

  Garrett, my sexy vampire, has been the main reason for my unrestrained happiness. Two years before, he’d saved me from a vicious attack by giving me blood to heal my extremely serious injuries. Six weeks ago I’d battled with the painful physical effects of the ley line magic. He’d taught me how to build a shield to protect myself and then how to use the power that the lines offered up. He defended me to Maya and the rest of the Shifter Council when they threatened me with exile and then he defeated his maker, Eleanor, in a duel to protect me and the community from her violent attacks. But these actions, although important, were not the glue that fused our spirits together.

  Garrett was a cheetah shifter before he was made a vampire against his will. Through the energy of the lines, we connected to each other on a primal level. We live in each other's minds and emotions in such an intimate way, bonded together in love by ritual, but also by magic.

  Kaera’s musical voice broke into my thoughts. “We will be there soon. You must agree to be blinded, Jacqueline.”

  “Do you mean blindfolded?” I asked, sitting up in the seat.

  “No, it is a temporary blinding that only lasts a few minutes. There is no pain.”

  “I’ve had it done, it’s nothing. I’ll be right here holding you.” Garrett tightened his embrace.

  “I can just close my eyes.” I turned quickly toward Garrett and said in a slightly annoyed tone, “Wait a minute. She’s not doing it to you?”

  Kaera answered, frowning. “Garrett is an ally of an Elder, Lord Caelen, Liam’s father, and blinding is not necessary in his case.” She spoke with a sharp edge to her voice, seemingly annoyed that I didn’t already understand the rules.

  I twisted my mouth. “I’m his mate. His lifemate.”

  “There are no exceptions.” I gave her another appraising look. She was at least three inches taller than my 5’9” with long dark wavy hair and lovely amethyst eyes which were currently flashing with gold, a sign of strong emotions. Yep, she was pissed.

  ”You will not be allowed in unless you consent.”

  I looked at Liam who nodded his agreement and held up a hand in a calming gesture. “Fine, get it over with.” I shrugged, not happy, but willing to grin and bear it. Liam looked relieved. I have a tendency to be stubborn on occasion, well, maybe more often than that, but I wanted into Faerie in the worst way. I couldn’t wait to see all the amazing colors and the magical landscapes and people. My heart was pounding with excited anticipation.

  Kaera reached over and placed a smooth hand on my forehead. Samson growled a warning, but a look from Liam quieted him. I felt a sharp jolt of energy then my vision faded slowly to black. In reaction I drew on the magic and reached out with my mental senses to see if I would be able to see in that way. In my mind I was on my familiar rugged cliff with waves of ley line power crashing against the rocks below me. I attempted to stretch my senses out in sneaky tendrils to discern shapes or shadows, but the outside world remained dark.

  “It’s o
nly for a few minutes.” Garrett sent to me mentally. “I won’t let go, my lovely cheetah.”

  I smiled and leaned against him once more. “I’m just a little nervous about meeting the fae, especially seeing Lord Kennet again.”

  “You will enchant them all."

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Lord Kennet, the judge at the duels, had actually proposed that I leave Garrett and become his consort, giving him an heir. "I really didn’t want to be doing any enchanting in his direction."

  Garrett laughed and hugged me tighter. “Caelen and I will protect you from that pretentious jerk."

  My vision cleared as Liam announced. “Garrett, Jackie we are here." I glanced at Liam curiously. “I will not be addressing you as I do in your home. I am the son of an Elder and must behave as such.” Liam had pledged his service to Garrett after Garrett had saved his brother, Aedus from some kind of undisclosed danger, so at home he referred to us as Miss Jacqueline and Master Garrett.

  Liam was my height, with delicate, almost feminine features and shoulder length golden hair. However, the power emanating from him was all male and quite seductive as I’d learned in the past. His violet eyes sparkled with excitement and his whole body seemed to relax as the car slowed.

  “Sure, Lord Liam,” I teased. Liam laughed gently, a musical sound that made us all smile, except for Kaera.

  The car had come to a stop so Garrett vamp-speeded it over to my side to help me out in his usual gentlemanly way, adding a sweet kiss on the cheek as an extra bonus. Samson hopped out after me with a grunt and a vigorous shake of his head. I snatched up his leash and took a look around.

  We were in a large field in a narrow valley surrounded by mountains cloaked in thick forests. I pictured Garrett and myself hunting together under those trees in our cheetah forms, possibly taking down something large and then feasting on the fresh kill. Standing next to me, he caught a taste of my hunger and squeezed my hand in agreement.

  We stood in a large field without buildings or even a pathway. Instead, tall grass and fragrant wildflowers spread out for hundreds of yards in every direction. A heavy buzz throbbed in my chest, marking this as a hot spot of ley line magic.

  Garrett pulled me in front of him and wrapped his arms around me, pressing his chest into my back. “Watch this, “ he whispered in my ear. I leaned back against him, loving the feel of his warm breath on my neck. Samson obediently sat by my feet as I watched, enthralled.

  Liam and Kaera walked twenty yards into the field and stopped at exactly the same moment as if there were some unseen barrier blocking their way. They stretched out their arms with their palms facing down and I felt a pure burst of energy flow from their hands into the heart of the earth and then an enormous tugging sensation as the power rebounded, bringing enormous amounts of magical energy up through their bodies and out through their outstretched hands. Their physical forms almost disappeared in a shimmering golden haze, as shafts of magic in dazzling golds and purples and reds exploded outward, bouncing from mountain peak to mountain peak, then surging into the heavens. A towering white stone archway appeared in front of the two fae, brilliantly reflecting the colors of Liam and Kaera's magic. As their bodies reformed and became visible to my eyes once more, they turned and motioned for us to follow them inside.

  Garrett had to nudge me to get me moving, ‘cause I was pretty much blown away by what they’d done. That amount of power would have burned me to a crisp, but Liam and Kaera seemed unfazed by their effort. A little shaky, I picked up Samson’s leash and clutched at Garrett’s hand as we followed them through the archway.

  Chapter Two

  As I passed underneath, I noticed symbols burnt into the arch in a language I didn’t recognize. They were beautifully detailed, etched in shining purples, golds, blues and teals framed by vibrant pictures of the earth and the sun, various wildlife and what might have been astrological symbols. I wondered what stories they told and decided to ask Liam about them later when I had the chance.

  Once we’d walked another few yards, Liam turned to us and said. “I’ll be leaving you now to meet with my father. I’ll stop by later tonight before you dine with my family.” Liam grasped Garrett’s hand and then turned and bowed his head to me, his violet eyes glittering with golden streaks of magical energy, probably some kind of spillover from the amazing feat I’d witnessed. I took in a deep breath to scent of the fae magic wafting around from him and he smiled, amused as always by my impudence.

  “Jacqueline, in three more steps you’ll be bathed in the scent. Hopefully that will hold you for a while.” We smiled at each other with affection. Liam and I had recently become friends, both of us blessed, or cursed, with the rare aura of a healer.

  As he walked away, his body faded before my eyes as if he'd never been there at all. Samson whined, so I crouched down to give him a reassuring scratch behind the ears. I might have whined too, if I didn't know that we were in Faerie, the most magical of places.

  “Please follow me.” Keara’s tone was all business, as usual. Still holding hands, Garrett and I tagged along right behind her, not wanting to slow her down.

  I felt like I was walking through some kind of strange dream. There didn’t seem to be a floor beneath my feet and yet they touched down on something solid with every step. There were no walls beside us, only muted swirling colors, constantly in motion and emitting a pleasant warmth which gently kissed my skin. I would catch a fleeting scent of flowers or pungent spices in the air or the noise of someone walking nearby, but in my small reality there was only a fae, a vampire, a shifter and a dog moving through a warm colorful fog. I felt disoriented and moved closer to Garrett, managing to awkwardly bump his shoulder, drawing a reassuring smile.

  "It's strange, I know, but you're safe."

  I took in a calming breath and realized that Liam hadn’t lied. The smell of magic was everywhere and I was breathing it into my lungs with each inhalation. I noticed that Garrett wasn’t breathing at all and I wondered if he was purposely avoiding taking in the magic. I looked down at Samson who was trotting along with a spring in his step, obviously enjoying his experience, tongue out and stubby tail wagging steadily.

  We came to a door which Kaera opened by pushing down on an ornately carved wooden handle. It opened into a suite of rooms, decorated in lovely shades of greens and blues. There was a large common area, a bedroom with a king sized bed and two baths, one attached to the bedroom and the other off the common area. The furnishings were all hand carved in exquisite detail in a light toned wood that shimmered with a golden hue. There were flower arrangements and live plants in both rooms which filled the room with a lovely bouquet. A table in the main room was laden with fruit, cheeses, cold meats, breads and various other spreads and jams. My mouth watered and my stomach growled loudly, embarrassing me and announcing to my two companions that I was famished.

  “You will be dining with Liam’s family in three hours. Someone will be back to get you at that time. I will be present at the meeting tonight, sitting with my family. Is there anything else that I can do for you?” Her face was expressionless, just an official envoy doing her job, yet I could see tiny threads of gold spinning inside her large violet eyes. Perhaps Kaera hadn’t enjoyed her assignment? I figured I'd keep a wary eye on this one. Something was up.

  Garrett nodded formally. “Thank you, Lady Kaera, for your excellent assistance. Jacqueline and I look forward to seeing you again later.”

  She nodded her head slightly to Garrett and then left the room, not acknowledging me at all. I hoped that this wouldn’t be typical of my reception here.

  “Lady Kaera?” I plopped myself down on the couch.

  “She is Lord Argon’s oldest daughter. He’s an Elder along with Liam’s father, Lord Caelen, and two others, both female. There are always two women and two men on the Fae Council.”

  “So she and Liam are equals?”

  “Yes, absolutely. She’s younger, though.”

  “What, like only 1200?”
I giggled. Liam was 1500 years old, give or take 50 years.

  He grinned. “Closer to 300, I believe.”

  “Wow, a baby. Why would she be given a crappy job like escorting us here?”

  Garrett laughed. “Escorting us here would be considered an important task. The council would send one of their best warriors, familiar with shifter and vampire customs. Remember also, that she was escorting Liam, another council member’s son. If anything had happened to us on the way here, there could be political repercussions. She was probably proud to have been chosen for the task.”

  “Oh yeah, she looked really proud.” Garrett took my hand and led me to the table, indicating that I should sit. When I did, he playfully shook out the silk napkin and laid it in my lap like a waiter in an upscale restaurant.

  He grinned at me. “Eat, my love. It will improve your mood and restore your energy. Tonight you will need to be your usual charming self.”

  Garrett prepared a plate for Samson which he put down on the floor next to the wall, while I dished some food out for myself. After pouring himself a glass of red wine, Garrett sat across from me, stretching out his long legs and leaning back in the chair to watch me eat. The food was delicious, and I savored every single bite, yet I was careful not to fill myself up. We were eating again in a few hours. Samson was finished in three gulps and then made himself comfortable, stretching out next to my feet with a satisfied rumble.

  There was a knock on the door so Garrett motioned for me to continue eating while he got up to open it. A lovely young female shifter stood in the doorway dressed in a long flowing yellow print skirt and a white button down blouse, ruffled at the cuffs and collar. To my surprise Garrett smiled warmly at her and she smiled back.

  “It’s wonderful to see you, Serena. Please come in.” He gestured for her to enter and she did, looking extremely relaxed and happy. He turned to me, “Jackie this is Serena, Serena this is Jackie, my mate.”