Reika bit her lip. “There’s something that’s bothered me. I know we’re marked, but… shouldn’t you have known ahead of time that I was your mate? Aren’t werewolves able to scent their mates like other shapeshifters?”
“Some can, but not all of us seem to have that ability. I felt drawn to you, felt the mating pull, but I didn’t realize what it was. I briefly wondered if you could be my mate, but there was no way for me to be sure. If we’d spent more time together, before becoming intimate, I’m sure I would’ve come to the conclusion that we were mates. You have to admit things moved rather swiftly for us. I’m guessing you don’t always sleep with a guy on your first date.”
She felt her cheeks heat. “Actually, you’re only the second man I’ve ever been with.”
Jax looked more than a little surprised.
“In case you’ve forgotten, my dates tend to not end so well. Most men don’t want to stick around after my magick has attacked them. Turrin is the only man I’ve ever been with, and it was just the one time.”
He kissed her hungrily. “The only thing that could make me happier is if I’d been the only man you’d been with.”
“You should probably go eat before the others wipe out the platter. I bought one for fifteen, but maybe I should’ve bought more.”
“You’re going to have to stop feeding us. We’re going to come to expect it.”
“I enjoy taking care of you.” She smiled.
“Come on. I’ll take you back to your friend. I’m guessing the two of you have plans.”
“We’re going to the mall in Elk Ridge. I didn’t want to sit home alone all day, not after having you with me the past two days. The house was lonely.”
He kissed the back of her hand. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know my job is going to be hard on you.”
“I’ll be okay. It isn’t like I don’t have a job, too.”
They made their way back to the others, and sure enough, the platter was almost gone. Jax grabbed a few sandwiches and kissed Reika once more. She watched him join Bevin and Rafael at the table and went to drag Maya away from Lucas. The poor human looked like he didn’t know what had hit him. Her friend could be rather overpowering when it came to the opposite sex.
“Come on, Maya. It’s time to go.”
Her friend pouted and gave Lucas a flirty look. Poor guy didn’t stand a chance. Grabbing a pen out of her purse, she quickly wrote her name and number on his hand, then blew him a kiss before she sashayed out the door. Reika rolled her eyes and followed the frisky fairy.
* * *
“I now know what you see in firemen,” Maya said with a smile. “Lucas was rather yummy.”
“And also completely human, so go easy on him.”
Maya shrugged a shoulder. “Human, fae, shapeshifter… they all fall the same. Can I help it if I’m irresistible?”
“You could tone down that fairy charm a bit. Although, I think in your case, it’s more the Maya charm. I certainly don’t affect men that way.”
Maya gave her a sly look. “You certainly affect one man that way. So, how did the conversation with Jax go? Did he plead his case?”
“There wasn’t anything to plead. He simply told me what happened and I believed him. There’s no reason for him to lie. If he wanted to be with another woman, there’s nothing holding him back. Just because we’re mated doesn’t mean either of us has to accept it. Plenty of shapeshifters pair up with people who aren’t their true mates.”
“Yeah, and that always works out so well for them.” Maya snorted. “Do you really think he’d condemn himself to a life without love?”
Reika fiddled with the hem of her shirt. “Actually, he said he doesn’t believe in love.”
Maya stomped on the brakes and pulled the car onto the shoulder of the road. “Say that again?”
“He doesn’t believe in love.”
Her friend stared at her, as if unable to grasp what Reika had just said.
“You were with Turrin, that slime, because you thought yourself in love with him. You went out with one loser after another in the pursuit of love.”
“Hey! Those men weren’t losers.”
“I wouldn’t exactly rate any of them a ten either. My point is that you’ve spent more than a year of your life wanting and needing to be loved, and now that you’ve finally found the one man you’re destined to be with, you’re trying to tell me that he doesn’t believe in love? That he’ll never love you?”
“That’s what he said,” Reika said softly. “But maybe… maybe he’ll come to love me anyway.”
“For your sake, I hope so. Just promise me something.”
“What?”
“If, after six months, he still doesn’t love you, you’ll walk away. Destiny, fate, whatever, isn’t always right. Sometimes you have to take a stand for what you believe in, and in your case, that’s love. I don’t want to see you wither and die because the man you love can’t love you in return. And you can argue all you like, but you can’t sit there and tell me you aren’t already falling for him.”
Reika sighed. “You’re right, I’m already falling for him, which means I won’t be able to walk away. Even if he never comes to love me, I’d never be able just walk out and never look back. Seeing him with another woman today, it hurt more than I can express. I only would’ve walked away if it had been what he wanted, what he needed in order to be happy. I know mates are supposed to be for life, but what if the marks were wrong this time?”
“And yet you don’t think you deserve the same treatment? To be happy?”
Reika shook her head. “Just forget we ever had this conversation, Maya. I’m happy with Jax, really.”
“Are you sure?”
Reika took her hand. “I’m sure.”
“All right. Well, in that case, let’s go get you a sexy wardrobe, all the better to tempt the big bad wolf.”
With a smile, Reika squeezed Maya’s hand before letting go. She knew her friend was just worried about her, and she couldn’t blame her. If their roles were reversed, she’d feel the same way. And Maya did have a point, to an extent. Yes, she’d spent the past year pursuing love, but it went back farther than that. Having parents who wanted to spend as little time in Moonspell as possible had left her with a gaping hole in her life.
She’d tried to fill it with good friends and laughter, but that only went so far. When she’d met Turrin, everything had changed. He’d seemed so full of life, so outgoing. Yes, his facial features were a little on the sharp side, but his eyes were a beautiful gold and his long hair always shone brightly. She’d been enthralled from the first moment she’d laid eyes on him. And then something remarkable happened -- he began paying attention to her. It had taken six months before he asked her out on a date, and after that they went out occasionally. It had only been two years ago that he became serious about her. They’d dated for six months before becoming intimate, and then it had only happened the one time.
She’d wondered if she’d done something wrong, had disappointed him in some way. Eventually he’d stopped calling and she’d tried to move on with her life. But the encounter had left her emotionally damaged, to the point that her magick now went haywire whenever she was interested in a guy. By the time Turrin had gotten around to calling her once more, she’d avoided him, having seen his true colors.
As they drove down the two-lane highway, the breeze blowing in her hair, Reika thought about the past year and realized she wouldn’t do anything differently. Changing even one thing might have meant not meeting Jax. So yes, she’d had heartache and more than a few embarrassing moments, but it had all been worth it.
“You’re thinking awfully hard over there,” Maya said.
“It’s nothing.” She tapped her fingers against her knee. “Did I tell you who I saw the other day?”
“No, you started to say something when you were telling me about the fire, but Jax dragged you away for dinner. Why? Who did you see? It wasn’t Lee, was it? Did his hair ever gr
ow back?”
Reika snickered. “No, it wasn’t Lee. It was Turrin.”
“What did that little weasel want?”
“He claimed he was checking on me, wanting to make sure I was okay. But I don’t know. It seems awfully fishy that he just happened to be walking or driving by at the exact moment the M.F.D. is called to my store to put out a fire. I’ve seen him around town several times, and I didn’t mention it before, but every single time he’s been watching me. You don’t think he set the fire do you?”
“The guy’s creepy, but I don’t think he’d endanger you like that. He was always so… possessive, I guess is the word I want to use. He needed to know where you were and what you were doing, as if he didn’t trust you. Or maybe he just couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else being close to you. I always thought it odd that he just quit calling the way he did.”
“I just thought he was watching out for me.”
“No, sweetie. He was controlling you.”
“Maybe you’re right. I was just too blind to see it. So, should I worry -- about Turrin, I mean? Should I tell Jax about him? He knows we dated, but he doesn’t know that I’ve caught him watching me.”
“Yes, definitely tell Jax!”
“I’ll talk to him when he’s off work again, which won’t be for two more days. I don’t want to distract him with something like this while he’s working.”
Maya parked near the front of the mall and turned off the car. She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel and then turned to Reika.
“You need to tell him sooner than that. Turrin knows you’re seeing someone now, someone permanent. If he’s really been watching you this whole past year, keeping dibs on your whereabouts, he isn’t going to like losing you to the werewolf.”
“You think he’s stalking me?” Reika asked.
“Yeah, I think he is, and now that the game has changed, there’s no telling what he’ll do. Do I think he set that fire? No. But I think he’s capable of much, much worse.”
“Tomorrow. I’ll talk to Jax tomorrow.”
Chapter Seven
“So, do you think Lucas will call me?” Maya asked.
Reika smiled. “He probably will, if the awestruck look on his face was anything to go by. You’d think a celebrity had given him her digits instead of just plain, ordinary you.”
Maya stuck out her tongue. “I’m far from ordinary. I’m fabulous.”
With a shake of her head, Reika pointed toward the mall entrance. “Are you ready to call it quits? I think you’ll need to grow another hand if you buy anything else.”
“Ha, ha. You’re just so funny.”
“Seriously, we’ve been here for like three hours now. By the time we get home and I unload my packages, it will be time for me to figure out something for dinner.”
“I’d offer to eat with you, but I already promised Rhidurian that I’d have dinner with him.”
Reika’s brows lifted. “You’re going on a date with one of the queen’s guards? When did this come about?”
“We met during my last visit home to see Mom and Dad, and one thing just led to another. We dated while I was in Fairy and I’d thought things were over now that I’m back in Moonspell, but he got a message to me last week. Anyway, it’s not like we’re exclusive or anything.”
“Just don’t lead Lucas on if you’re serious about Rhi.”
Maya smiled and nodded. “I promise not to break his heart.”
Reika would’ve laughed if she didn’t know Maya was being serious. Men had a tendency to fall all over themselves for a chance to date her, and then she broke things off after a few dates, crushing them. It wasn’t that Maya was being a bitch, she just liked to have fun and flirt. Reika figured there was a guy out there for her friend, someone who would sweep Maya off her feet. For the sake of the male population of Moonspell, Reika hoped he came along sooner rather than later.
As they approached the car, Reika noticed someone leaning against it. No, not just someone, Turrin. Her skin began to crawl. Was he here on purpose? Or was this merely a coincidence? Whatever the case, he had apparently recognized Maya’s car and was now waiting for them. But then, if he hadn’t been following them, how did he know Reika was with Maya? Since Turrin detested Maya, she knew he wasn’t there waiting on her friend.
A feeling of unease settled over Reika as they walked toward the little convertible. The thought of Turrin stalking her left her feeling unsettled and a little sick to her stomach. She just didn’t understand why he was doing it. He’d let her go so easily. Surely if he’d been interested in her, had wanted her still, he wouldn’t have let her walk away, he would’ve fought to keep her by his side. But he hadn’t done any of those things. He’d merely sat back and let her drift away. When he’d stopped calling and she hadn’t pursued him, he’d just faded into the background. He never came by, begging to see her, never approached her in the street. Something wasn’t right. It just didn’t make sense. Surely if he’d been fixated on her this whole time, she would’ve noticed before now.
Maya glanced at her. “You’re looking a little green.”
“We have company.”
Maya looked around. “Where?”
“Your car.”
Her friend gazed down the row of cars at the little convertible, and the jerk leaning against it.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Maya asked. “Twice in one week? I mean, what are the odds?”
“Exactly. I think you were right. I think he’s stalking me, and I just never realized it before now. See what I get for walking around with blinders on, only ever looking straight ahead? Granted, if my scenery includes Turrin, I’m quite happy to miss out on it.”
“Well, prepare yourself. He’s seen us coming.”
Reika looked toward the car again. Sure enough, Turrin had changed from his relaxed posture, to standing straight and tall. Well, maybe tall wasn’t the right word. His shoulders were back, a smile played upon his lips, but his eyes were focused on her with the intensity of a hawk seeking prey.
He met them a few feet away from the vehicle and took Reika’s bags from her. Stunned, she relinquished them without a fight. It had been so long since she’d seen Turrin act like a gentleman that she was more than slightly surprised by the move. He smiled at her, but it wasn’t the charming smile she’d once loved. Or maybe she’d just never seen him with clear eyes before and his smile hadn’t changed at all. Whatever the case, it made her shiver, and not in a good way. Turrin’s smile reminded her of a shark’s and she wondered if he planned to take a bite out of her.
As Maya and Turrin stashed the shopping bags in the trunk, Reika fidgeted. He hadn’t said so much as a word to her yet, and that creeped her out more than anything. What did he want?
“Now that you ladies are finished shopping, I thought I’d take Reika out for a bite to eat,” Turrin said, the smile still lurking on his lips.
Reika glanced at Maya before returning her gaze to Turrin. “That’s very nice of you, Turrin, but we already have plans.”
Turrin lifted a brow. “Indeed? So you’re going on Maya’s date with her, is that what you’re trying to say?”
She blanched. How had he known about that? There was no way he could have known about Maya’s date, not unless he’d heard their conversation in the mall. And he couldn’t have heard it unless he’d been spying on them, stalking them.
“No, I’m not going on her date with her. I have plans on my own.”
Turrin narrowed his eyes and clenched his hands into fists. “Fine. I hope you enjoy your dinner.”
Without another glance at either of them, he stormed off across the parking lot. When he was six parking spaces away, he just vanished. Reika looked around, but there was no sign of him. She knew he had the ability to teleport, but he’d never used it with her before. Was that how he’d honed in on her whereabouts? Had he sought her out specifically and his powers had dumped him beside Maya’s car? Reika didn’t like that idea at all. It meant
he could always find her no matter where she was or who she was with.
Maya tugged on her hand. “Come on. Let’s get you home. Maybe you can pick up Chinese food or something and go have dinner with Jax.”
“Yeah, dinner with Jax sounds good. If he isn’t out on a call.”
* * *
Jax was on a call all right. He stared at the charred interior of Reika’s garage. By some miracle, she’d parked in the driveway so all that had burned were some boxes of Christmas ornaments, her fake tree, and a stack of firewood she’d obviously begun collecting for the winter.
He’d tried to call her when he received word that a fire had broken out at her house, but she hadn’t answered. Since it hadn’t gone straight to voicemail, he knew the phone was on, but maybe it was just too noisy for her to hear it. Regardless, she was going to come home to a mess.
The men were heading back to the truck and he was just about to follow them when he heard music coming from around the corner. He paused and looked for the sound and spotted Maya’s convertible heading his way. The moment Reika saw the fire truck, her face paled.
The sporty little car pulled to a stop at the bottom of the driveway and Reika bounced out, running for him. When she launched herself into his arms, he held her tight.
“We got the call in time to save the house, but your garage is toast,” he told her. “I tried to call you, but --”
“What started the fire?” she interrupted.
“I smelled gasoline in the garage, but that isn’t unusual.”
“I don’t keep any on hand and I haven’t parked in the garage in over a week. So if there was gasoline in there, it had to be used to start the fire.”
He stiffened and called for Bevin.
“Everything okay?” the wood elf asked.
“No. Reika said she hasn’t had gasoline in her garage and hasn’t parked there in over a week. Which means that’s the scent of an accelerant and not just something that would normally be stored in there. The fire was set on purpose.”
Bevin rubbed the back of his neck. “So was the one at the shop. I don’t like this, Jax.”
Romance in Moonspell Page 13