No one spoke.
“It’s okay, Lachelle,” Declan said in a gentle tone. “It’s my place to serve my people.”
“I’m so over the ‘my people,’ ‘my king,’ my this and that! All I know is that my sister is crying her eyes out. You care about all of them more than about her.”
“That’s not true. I would die for her and Bannon.”
“You say that.” Her tone dripped with disbelief.
Kelly of all people chose to defend Declan. “It’s true, Lachelle.”
“I don’t want to hear from you.”
“Well you’re going to hear from me. As of now, I am the new leader of the dragon shifters, that is, Gerard and I are the new king and queen.”
Chapter 12
Lachelle lost the ability to speak. She couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. Her throat closed, and her chest constricted so much it was hard to draw a breath. She wanted to vanish from the room, to hide from all the eyes that were on her. Everyone knew she was involved with Gerard before all this happened.
“Well good for you,” she muttered at last and rose from the floor.
It felt anti-climactic to return to her chair, so she just left, walked straight out the door.
“Lachelle,” Gerard called.
She ignored him, but he caught up with her in the hall and grabbed her arm.
“Go back in there to your wife.”
“I want to talk to you. I had no choice.”
She sneered at him. “Oh really? Okay. I believe that.”
“You don’t sound like you believe it.”
“Go away, Gerard.” She pulled one of his blunt numbers and spun away again. Stepping out of the house onto the front walk, she discovered the day had just turned dark. It reflected her mood with perfection.
“I can’t let you go.” He stood behind her, far too close. While he didn’t give off heat that a human would, his presence overwhelmed her. His big hands came down on her shoulders, and she shut her eyes.
The weakness that permeated every fiber of her being disgusted her. Why couldn’t she compartmentalize the love for him so that she could move on with ease? No, it pulsed along her nerve-endings, even seemed to stream through her veins.
I’m being romantic. Think logically, Lachelle.
Mental coaching did nothing to lessen the impact of his touch and his nearness.
His lips brushed the top of her head, probably by accident. “Don’t go,” he whispered. “I can’t do this without you.”
“You’re not serious.”
“I want you near.”
You and me both.
She managed to wrench away from him. A raindrop plopped down on her nose. Soon the sky would open up. At that moment, she wished it would drown her, or at least her sorrow.
Daring to look up at him, she saw the matching expression in his face. He appeared to be just as miserable. That was impossible since he chose Kelly. He should be happy. Instead, darkness haunted his eyes, and his pallid complexion confused her.
Curiosity drew her nearer to him, and she touched his skin. It was ice cold. She snatched her hand back. “What’s wrong with you, Gerard?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re not sick?”
“No.”
She didn’t know what to think. “Why, Gerard?” She didn’t mean for the question to slip out. It came of its own accord.
“He needs me.”
“You mean Declan?”
“I wanted to be alone—with you. I didn’t seek to heal.”
She understood where he was going. Declan’s heart healed with the touch of his mate. And because it healed, he was able to fly again. While Gerard could always fly, he kept away from all of his people even as he still loved them and wanted to protect them. His way of protecting his own heart was to remain separated.
“You can’t avoid them anymore,” she said. “You’re going to live here?”
“Yes.” He rolled tight shoulders and cracked his neck. She imagined tension and stress had already settled.
“Maybe Declan can help you to figure out what it is that will make staying here a happy thing.” Why the heck was she offering him hope when she had none?
“Happy.” He repeated the word like he had no idea what it meant.
She would have touched him again but Kelly appeared at his side and snaked an arm around his waist. Her triumphant grin balled Lachelle’s fist. Biting her tongue was the only way she didn’t act on the rapid-fire suggestions rolling through her head.
“Don’t worry about us shifters,” Kelly said. “You should go back to your own people, Lachelle. From now on, we should all live separately. Gerard and I will work to bring our people together as one, and we’ll be stronger than ever.”
“You’re trying to kick me out of the homestead?” Lachelle put a hand on her hip.
“No,” Gerard growled.
Kelly laughed and patted a comforting hand on Gerard’s chest. “She’s welcome to visit, but don’t you think it would be better if she didn’t live here? I mean it wouldn’t be easy to watch us marry and even have a bunch of little ones.”
Gerard tensed.
“And—I’m just being honest here—it’s risky having humans around. Security and all that. Who knows when the humans will find out about this place and try to invade. The fewer nonhumans who know of our location, the better.”
“Now you’re trying to throw my parents out,” Lachelle snapped.
“They don’t want to stay.” Kelly sounded matter-of-fact, pointing out the obvious. “Shifters scare them. After everything that’s been in the news, who could blame them? They were only moved back here because it was an emergency. No, I’m making an executive decision. They have to be found a place to live among their own kind.”
“You don’t decide anything about my family, lady!” Lachelle shouted. “I don’t care who you think you are. You’re not my queen—or my family’s.”
Kelly remained unruffled in the face of Lachelle’s anger. She turned to Gerard. “Tell her, Gerry. It’s for the best.”
Lachelle could have told the stupid woman Gerard hated nicknames, especially any for him.
“She stays,” he said, and Kelly reddened.
Lachelle left them both standing there. Gerard was just as bad as Kelly, demanding she stay when his mate demanded she leave. They could order the entire shifter population around, but she wasn’t the one.
Back at the cabin she stood before her meager things, wondering what to do. After a few moments, it came to her. She would power through until Janessa was stronger. Then she would go back to the city. When they knew if the authorities intended to drag out Declan’s case, she would decide again her next steps.
“I’m a strong woman. I can face anything, even Kelly married to Gerard. I’ve been hurt before, and I got over it. I’ll get over this. Period.”
Declaration made, she sat on the side of the bed and cried her eyes out for the last time.
Somehow the day passed without her noticing. Early evening rolled around. One of Declan’s men came to inform her that they were having a goodbye-for-now dinner at the main hall for Declan. Lachelle wasn’t hungry, but she made herself go. This was the first opportunity to exercise her new resolve.
Shadows stretched all around her as she strolled over to the main hall. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves high in the trees. The rain that threatened earlier had come and gone. Now everything smelled fresh and renewed.
As she neared the main hall, the sound of music drifted on the air. Dread washed over her. Smiling and laughing felt like a bit much. How were they celebrating at a time like this?
She walked inside the building and found most of the shifters crammed inside. Some danced and seemed to be having a great old time. Others appeared to be forcing it. The upbeat music and bright streamers someone had hung from the rafters covered up their broken hearts.
At the head of several tables, Lachelle spotted her sister, sitting beside Declan
. Bannon was perched on his daddy’s lap and hugged his neck so tight Lachelle wondered how he could breathe. Declan and Janessa’s heads were together, and they stared into each other’s eyes. Even from the doorway, Lachelle felt their love. Her heart broke anew.
A glass shattered. Lachelle scanned the room to see where it came from and found Gerard watching her. The pieces of his glass sat at his feet, and he didn’t notice. Kelly gave his arm a playful smack and snapped her fingers to one of the women.
“Clean this up before someone gets hurt,” Kelly ordered.
The woman rushed to do her bidding. Already acting the part of queen, Lachelle noted. At first she was going to try to control the pain in her heart for Gerard’s sanity, but she decided to let it beat on. His emotional state wasn’t her responsibility anymore. Hers was. Besides, why should he feel anything for her now that he had Kelly?
“Would you like to dance, miss?”
Lachelle started in surprise at the offer and at the man standing before her. Tall and gorgeous, he did nothing at all for her. Seeing one dragon shifter was seeing them all—if it wasn’t Gerard.
She started to turn the guy down and changed her mind. “Sure.”
His cool touch at her waist and the other at her hand didn’t stir desire. They moved well together. Someone must have taught him how to dance. “You’re a good dancer,” she said. “What’s your name?”
Her mind wandered before she heard his answer.
“I used to love going to the clubs every chance I got.”
He nodded, smiling. “Me too. I liked living in the city with the humans. I wish I still could.”
His sentiments surprised her. “You could.”
“Not right now.” He glanced over at Kelly and Gerard. “But I might go back some day.”
“I hear you.”
While they danced, Gerard’s gaze never shifted away from her. The frown of displeasure at finding her in another man’s arms settled on his handsome face. Kelly tried to distract him, but he didn’t appear to notice her. Lachelle let the fact soothe her a bit.
Janessa appeared beside her. “I want to talk to you.”
Lachelle stopped dancing. “I’m so sorry, Nessa. I should have come right over to you when I got here.”
“Don’t worry about it. Come on.” Janessa took her hand and pulled her outside. They walked as far as the light allowed, and Janessa stopped to face her. “Lachelle, I love you so much, and I’m so glad to have you here.”
“Of course. You know I have your back.” Lachelle hugged her.
“But you should go.”
“Huh? Why are you talking like Kelly?”
“Please, I don’t care what that woman says! This is about your heart. I’m going to be fine. I promise you I will. But you need time. You’re not going to get that here. Kelly is just going to keep throwing her relationship with Gerard in your face. And Gerard…”
“He’ll keep staring at me like I’m the steak dinner he’s missing out on.”
Janessa laughed. “I wouldn’t have put it like that.”
For a few moments, neither of them spoke.
“I’m scared to be alone here without Declan, but they honestly seem to accept me as one of them now. My servants—God, I feel embarrassed saying that—have always been nice. They’re even more protective and sweet now that Declan and I did that bonding thing. It’s real.”
“I know. I felt it.”
“They’ll all look out for me and Bannon. And Patrick’s dead, so there’s no attack coming from that direction. Declan said he had some things to investigate further with Patrick.”
“Like not being able to track Bannon?”
“Yeah, among other things he’s not talking about. He said everything is kind of on hold until he can straighten out this mess with the law.”
“I’m sure it won’t be long.”
“Oh, it won’t. I have a feeling I’m going to be making some serious demands if they keep me waiting for my husband. I never thought I’d think like this, but the shifters wear off on you.”
“A coup?”
“Shush.” Janessa took her hand and squeezed it. “Get away, Lachelle. Take some time. Heal. When you’re ready, come back. But keep in touch meanwhile. Let me know where you are. K?”
“Okay, I’ll do that. Thanks, sis. And if you find out you can’t stand being here alone, call me. I’ll come running. Heck, we can both run off with Bannon.”
They laughed together, hugging, and crying a little. Lachelle had no idea where she would go. She supposed it would depend on money, since she had so little. Well, it didn’t matter. She would land on her feet, and with any luck, in a few months time, the love she felt for Gerard will have faded to nothing more than a bittersweet memory.
Chapter 13
Lachelle stood outside her little cottage amazed that it belonged to her. Not only did she have a sweet home of her own, it sat on a good sized plot of land and was backed with woods. Her nearest neighbor was close enough to see but not so close as to make them feel like they were on top of each other.
Her heart swelled with both loneliness and peace. In this quiet out of the way place, she discovered no one knew her by sight. She could walk around with minimal disguise and be fine. Well, if one wanted to call getting rid of her braids for a straight perm and wearing cosmetic glasses a disguise, then she was incognito.
She chuckled to herself at her good fortune.
“Good morning.”
She jumped a mile, and the African American man who had just walked up held his hands in apology.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought you saw me coming.”
“No problem. My mind was a million miles away. I was thinking about how blessed I am to have this place.”
He smiled and glanced up at the cottage. “I knew the woman who owned it before you. She was like a grandmother to me and baked me cookies, but she passed away.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was told it was on the market for a long time.”
“Because of disrepair. Unfortunately, I’m not that good at that sort of thing, and she didn’t have the finances. If you find some jury-rigged repairs in there, uh, it wasn’t me.”
She snorted. “Yeah, okay.”
“I don’t suppose you bake cookies?”
“Not any more than you DIY.”
“Touché.”
He held a hand out, and she shook it. “I’m Malcolm Stokes.”
“La—um—Lisa Williams.” She lied. She hadn’t officially changed her name. No one around there needed to know her background. She could purchase all she needed online and just get money out of the bank before buying locally. Or that was her plan anyway.
Before long, she hoped the situation with the shifters would blow over. They would go their way, and the humans could go theirs. Then no war and no conflict. It might be wishful thinking, but she wouldn’t focus on them. Her plan was to heal and build a new life for herself.
As she gazed at Malcolm, guessing that he must be about thirty-five, she wondered if getting involved with someone new would be a way to drive out her feelings for Gerard. Malcolm looked good with his strong build and sitting at maybe six feet. With warm and intelligent brown eyes and an easy smile, he might be someone to get to know. At least he seemed to be available. That comment about cookies was a pickup line if ever she heard one—a poor line, but still a line.
“So repairs aside,” she said. “What do you do?”
“Accountant. I have a small office in town. If you ever need an accountant, please feel free to give me a call. At the very least, I can give you some advice.”
“Thanks. I might need one soon. I’m starting a new venture online. I came into some money from a friend recently, and I thought if not now, when.”
She mentally thanked Declan for the millionth time. If he hadn’t given her such a big sum to fund going away and buying her cottage, she didn’t know what she would have done.
Declan’s money allowed he
r to delay trying to find a job and revealing her identity to a potential employer. If she could make a go of an online business, then she never had to face anyone looking at her in disgust because she was a “dragon lover.”
Focusing along those lines made her think about Gerard, and her heart constricted. She studied Malcolm and tilted her head to the side with a smile. Pushing the fake glasses up her nose with the tips of her fingers, she said, “So what’s fun to do around here?”
Malcolm perked up. “Not much. There’s a bowling alley, a movie theatre—it plays Bollywood movies more than the new stuff—and then there’s the lake. But the nearest city is not more than thirty miles away, and it has a lot more choices.”
She laughed. “I’ve seen a Bollywood movie or two, and I thought they were interesting. I’m terrible at bowling. I’m more of a dancing girl. Any clubs?”
“Not here, but I could show you a couple of good ones in the city.”
“Um. Maybe.” She was reminded of why she hid in a small town. “Thanks for the offer, Malcolm. I better get inside and get to work. My stuff won’t unpack itself.”
He appeared disappointed. “I hear you. Listen, I’m that way, three houses down. The one with the red mailbox is me. If you need anything, stop by or call.” He handed her his card, and she took it.
“Thanks. I will.”
After he was gone, she walked inside the cottage. In the middle of the living room, which was mostly empty, sat the few boxes that fit in her car. She’d brought nothing more, preferring not to have anything shipped there.
She sat down on the threadbare carpet and stripped the tape off one of the boxes. Toiletries, these were things she had brought from her bathroom—perfumes, lotions, and tampons. Come to think of it, wasn’t she due? She frowned, trying to calculate the time. Her mouth dried when she realized her period was a week and a half late.
“Impossible,” she rasped. “Not after all this time. I can’t be pregnant.”
Mate For Hire: For Hire Series - Book 3 Page 7