“And once you found out?”
“I spent the last week with River, being her mother.” Her voice softened. “It went really well, right up until the end.”
“Sierra didn’t take advantage of you, did he?” Mathias asked gruffly.
“Yes. No.” The tissue shredded in her hand. “I guess it was a mutual taking-advantage of.”
Jacq approached, surprisingly graceful in the fullness of her pregnancy. “Are you all right? What happened?”
JJ.’s mouth curved into a smile. “You would have been so proud of me.”
Jacq searched her sister’s face. And then her breath caught in total understanding. “You flew naked on the back of a butterfly,” she whispered. “Oh, Jill. I’m so thrilled for you.”
“Jill?” Mathias interrupted dryly.
J.J. groaned. “Dammit, Jacq. You promised not to tell! I still haven’t forgiven mother for naming us Jacq and Jill. It’s...embarrassing. Especially at our age.”
“Sorry. It just sort of slipped out.” She tugged at JJ.’s sleeve. “You still haven’t explained. What went wrong?”
“Raven doesn’t believe in dreams and fantasies. When River started taking them to heart, he went off the deep end.”
“River thought you really were a fairy?”
“Worse. I gave her a copy of your latest book. The one with Mathias as the dragon?”
Jacq exchanged a loving glance with her husband. “I remember it well.”
“Well, River started acting it out. Something to do with gifts and dragon wishes.”
“Why, of course. If she truly believed you were a fairy... That explains everything.”
“Not to me it doesn’t.”
Jacq’s eyes widened. “J.J., haven’t you read the book?”
“No. I—I couldn’t. Not after all that happened.” She frowned. “Why?”
“Read it, sister dear.” Jacq’s smile grew mysterious. “Read it and you’ll understand what River was trying to accomplish.”
“Hey, puss? You left Dolly in the car. Do you want me to get her for you?”
“No, thank you,” River responded. She answered politely. In the past two weeks she’d answered every single one of his questions with excruciating politeness, a fact that set his teeth on edge. “She’s not real. She’s just a doll.”
Raven’s mouth tightened. If he didn’t know better, he’d have suspected she was attempting to make him feel guilty. Unfortunately it was working. “We’re supposed to pick out your puppy today.”
“Okay.”
No enthusiasm. No excitement. Where had his little girl gone? The same place her dreams and fantasies had, apparently. “Would you like to color until it’s time to leave?” he asked out of sheer desperation.
She glanced listlessly at the wall behind her—a wall with a notable hole in the center, a hole where a magazine article about Jack Rabbitt used to hang. “No, thank you,” she said.
“Would you... Would you like Gem to read you a book? I could turn the computer on for a little while.” It was the ultimate sacrifice on his part.
For a brief moment, hope flickered to life within her bleak gaze. And then she shook her head. “No, thank you. They’re not real stories. They’re just make-believe.”
He closed his eyes, his mouth compressing into a tight line. This couldn’t continue. At first he’d thought it was a childish brand of revenge. But it went further than that. Deeper. When he’d taken her fantasies from her, he’d also extinguished some vital spark. He’d turned out her inner light and hadn’t discovered a way to turn it back on again.
“Activate computer,” he said.
“COMPUTER ACTIVATED.”
“Do you have copy of The Great Dragon Hunt in your memory banks?”
“AFFIRMATIVE.”
“Read it.”
“PLEASE VERIFY REQUEST.”
“Read the damn story, Gem!”
“REQUEST GRANTED.” A series of beeps followed and then in the softest voice he’d ever heard from the computer, Gem began, “ONCE UPON A TIME THERE LIVED A FAIRY NAMED JUSTICE. ON ONE THING ALL FAIRIES AGREED...JUSTICE WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF THEIR PEOPLE.”
Raven closed his eyes, remembering... Remembering a snowy night when he’d held a beautiful fairy in his arms.
“HER SKIN RIVALED THE COLOR OF FRESH MOONLIT SNOW, HER HAIR GLEAMED BLACKER THAN A DRAGON’S HIDE. AND HER EYES APPEARED AS DARK AS A MOONLESS NIGHT, YET GLITTERED WITH A FIERY PASSION.”
Jacq Blackstone had done a wonderful job describing her sister. He could picture her effortlessly. Picture her honey brown eyes burning more brightly than the fire that had framed her. Feel the delicate silk of her hair sweep across his chest as she dropped a flurry of kisses there. Taste the sweetness of her mouth and breasts as she’d given herself to him.
“BUT IT WAS HER INNER BEAUTY, THE LIFE-LIGHT THAT SHONE BRIGHTER THAN A THOUSAND SUNS THAT MADE PEOPLE LOVE HER THE MOST....”
He longed for her, longed to have her back in his arms, just as he longed to have her back in his heart. Longed for the completion only she could offer. The fairy tale continued and he sat quietly, listening, his amazement and disbelief growing with each passing minute.
For the first time, he understood what his daughter had attempted to accomplish.
Why hadn’t he known? he wondered in despair. Why hadn’t he thought to ask? When the final words of the story came to an end, he didn’t move. Couldn’t move.
“Computer off,” he finally whispered.
“AFFIRMATIVE.”
Slowly he rose and crossed to where his daughter sat at the desk he’d bought—a desk he’d placed in his office so she could be close to him while he worked. And physically, they had been close. It was his daughter’s heart he’d lost touch with, her precious spirit he’d forgotten to nurture. He’d tried—so damned hard—to keep her from making Maise’s mistakes, from indulging in foolish fantasies. What he’d never realized was... Those fantasies were a vital part of her. They were what made her special. Perhaps one day, they’d be the spark that determined her future.
He dropped to his knees beside her and enfolded her in his arms. “I’m sorry, River. I was wrong.”
“What did you do wrong, Daddy?”
“I made a mistake, sweetheart.”
“Do you have to go sit on your bed?”
He laughed, a harsh painful sound. “That wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
She patted his cheek sympathetically. “Do you want me to sit with you?”
“No. I want you to help me.” He took a deep breath. “Do you still have your gifts for the dragon?”
A thousand emotions chased across his daughter’s face, each more painful than the last to watch. “Yes,” she whispered, practically quivering with excitement.
“Come on. Let’s go home and get them.” He held out his hands and she slipped into them, wrapping her arms around his neck. “And while we’re there, we’ll pick up our most prized possession. We’re going to need it. It’s time to go find that dragon and make our wish.”
“A pretend dragon, Daddy?”
“No, River. This one’s a real dragon. And if we’re very, very lucky, he’ll give us back our fairy.”
Raven clasped his daughter’s hand firmly in his and walked into Blackstone’s office. He glanced at River in concern, not certain how she’d react coming face-to-face with her “dragon.” But aside from clutching her rag doll more tightly to her chest, she didn’t appear frightened or nervous. Rather, she seemed elated.
She peered up at him and whispered, “Remember, Daddy. Don’t kill the dragon. ’Cuz we won’t get our wish if you do.”
“I’ll try to restrain myself,” he said dryly. At her questioning look, he clarified, “I won’t, I promise.”
“Good.”
Mathias stood as they entered and held out his hand. “Welcome to my lair,” he said dryly.
Raven leaned the package he’d brought against the leg of Blackstone’s desk. “Thanks for se
eing us,” he said, returning the handshake.
“I was... curious. I can’t imagine what we have to say to each other that hasn’t already been said.”
“Just one question.” Raven fought to keep his promise to River when what he’d really like to do was take Blackstone’s head off. “Was this whole scam planned from the beginning?”
“You mean the wish? Sending J.J.?”
“Yes.”
“No. She wasn’t involved.” He paused for a beat, holding Raven with direct green eyes. “And neither was I.”
Raven returned Blackstone’s regard, assessing his opponent’s expression and body language for any sign of deception. Finding none, he nodded. “Then whom do we have to thank for this mess?”
“I believe Nick Colter’s creation bears the brunt of the responsibility.”
“Gem.” He spat the name as if it were a curse. “I have one suggestion for you, Blackstone.”
“And what’s that?”
“Buy an ax.”
A moment of total understanding passed between the two men and the tension eased. “So tell me, Sierra. Why are you here?”
“My daughter has a request.”
“Ah.” Mathias looked down at River. “You wanted to see me?”
She lifted Dolly higher, peering at him over the doll’s head. Solemnly she nodded. “Are you the dragon?”
“Some say I am,” he said with a smile. “What do you think?”
“I think you look just like Nemesis.” Her gaze transferred from him to his desk and her face lit up. The entire surface had been painted with characters from Jack Rabbitt’s storybooks. “Look, Daddy,” she exclaimed. “There he is! See Nemesis? And there’s Justice, too.”
Raven glanced down, his brows snapping together as he realized that his “wife” cavorted naked across the surface of Mathias’s glass-protected desk. “Just great,” he muttered, his hands clenching.
“Isn’t it?” Mathias asked cheerfully. “Jacq has a unique sense of humor. I’ve found this particular artwork provides quite a conversation piece.”
“Try a plant,” Raven suggested, indicating the exact placement for it—squarely over a row of frolicking fairies. “You’ll find it covers a multitude of sins.”
“Oh, but I wouldn’t dream of it. My wife is crushed if I dare put so much as a single sheet of paper on my desk.”
Amusement eased Raven’s expression. “Must be awkward when you’re trying to work.”
“Extremely.” Mathias switched his regard to River. “So. Tell me why you’ve come.”
River pulled out her silk purse and carefully placed it on his desk. “I’ve brought you seven gifts.”
“And what do you want in exchange for these gifts?”
“I want a wish.”
“Ah. A wish.” Carefully he opened the purse and emptied it. “Let’s see what you’ve brought me.”
Cuff links, a lighter and her locket rolled onto the glass surface. There was also the fan she’d made for their special night out, the small bottle of melted snow and a baggy full of shale and clay. Raven closed his eyes. For the first time, he fully comprehended the scope of the task River had set for herself. Clever. When had his daughter become so clever? he wondered in dismay. Apparently he hadn’t been watching.
“Cuff links for love,” River was busily explaining. “See the hearts on them? That’s ’cuz I love my daddy. And this is fire.” She picked up the lighter and put it down again, before snatching up the fan and waving it at him. “And this is wind. I even drew your picture on it. And this...” She shook the bottle of water. “It’s from the first time we had snow. So it’s special water just like I was supposed to get.”
“And this?” Mathias picked up the baggy.
“That’s earth that’s a cajillion years old. If it hadn’t fallen out of a mountain you’d have to dig very deep to find it. Right, Daddy?”
“Right.” He managed to choke out the word.
“And the locket?” Mathias asked gently.
“That has hair in it. Some for Daddy and some for Mommy.”
He lifted an eyebrow at that. “Mommy?” he murmured. “Interesting development. Something I should know, Sierra?”
“Stay out of it, Blackstone,” Raven snarled. “Just do your dragon stuff and keep your nose out of the rest.”
“I don’t have a sword like the prince,” River prattled on, oblivious to the byplay. “Or magic like Justice gave you. But everybody’s hair is special, right? Since it only grows on them.” Her logic was flawless..
“The gift that is of him and her alone,” Mathias murmured in perfect understanding. “You’ve done very well, River. Everything’s here. But to grant your wish, there’s one last gift you must offer. You must give me your most prized possession.” He’d quoted the book exactly.
River stared at him apprehensively. “And if I choose wrong, you’ll kill me?”
“You won’t choose wrong,” Mathias assured with a smile.
“My turn, I believe.” Raven lifted the portfolio he’d brought and unzipped it, removing the painting of Justice riding the butterfly. “I think this is what you’re after. But just out of curiosity...why did you want it so badly?”
“I never wanted it. My wife did.” Mathias thrust a hand through his hair. “She got it into her head that J.J. needed to have it. That it would help her learn to fly or some such thing. Go figure.”
“I think I understand.” Raven grinned. “How far - along is she?”
Mathias snorted. “Due at Thanksgiving, and let me tell you. It’s not a minute too soon.”
“So now you have your gifts.” Raven handed over the painting. “Including our most prized possession.”
“No, Daddy,” River interrupted. “That’s not it.”
Raven’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, sweetheart?”
“I like the painting a whole lot, but that’s not my most prized possession.”
Ever so gently she laid her rag doll on the desk.
“No!” Raven scooped up Dolly and knelt down beside his daughter. “No, honey. You don’t need to give this away.”
“Yes, I do.” She took the doll and returned it to Mathias’s desk. “I have to if I want to get my wish.”
“Not Dolly, pumpkin. She means everything to you.”
A momentary sadness touched her expressive face. “She’s my very favorite. That’s why I have to give her to the dragon. I love Dolly best. But... But I want Mommy most of all. Even more than my doll.”
“River—” His voice cracked, and he couldn’t continue.
“It’s okay, Daddy.” For a brief instant, she fingered the yarn hair, clearly a gesture of farewell. And then she reached into her pocket and removed a crumpled pair of wings, holding them out to Mathias. “My great-grandma sewed these for her. But you have to be careful if you let her wear them.”
“Be careful of what?” Mathias asked gruffly.
“Make sure you close all the windows and all the doors. Because if you don’t Dolly might fly away.”
“I’ll be very careful.”
River fixed him with serious blue eyes. “Do I get my wish now?”
Mathias inclined his head. “So be it.” He quoted the book again. “I accept your gifts. Now tell me your wish. If I can give it to you, it’s yours.”
“Please, make Justice a real person so she can marry Daddy and be my mommy. We want to live happily-ever-after.”
“I’m afraid I can’t give you that.” Mathias said regretfully. “Only Justice can.”
“She flew away,” River explained sadly.
“Now that I can help you with. But first you have to promise me something.”
“What?”
Mathias’s fierce gaze settled on Raven. “You have to promise you won’t hurt her,” he said, sounding exactly like a dragon. “Because if you do, I’ll be very, very angry. And trust me. You don’t want to make me angry.”
“We promise,” River said. “Right, Daddy?”
“Right.” Raven held the dragon with a ferocious look of his own. “‘For I love her more than I thirst for revenge,’” he quoted softly. “‘She is my life and my light, my heart and my soul.”’
“You, too?” Mathias’s anger faded and a slow smile spread across his face. “Welcome to the world of fantasy, my friend. I think you’ll find it a pleasant place to live.”
J.J. pushed open the door to Mathias’s office. “You wanted to see me, boss?”
“Yes,” Raven answered, his voice unexpectedly rough. “We did.”
She caught her breath, the sound almost painful. “What are you doing here?” she demanded. And then she saw River.
“Justice?” the little girl asked, for the first time showing a shy hesitation.
More than anything, JJ. wanted to bend down and gather her up. To know again one of those precious hugs and kisses. How odd that she’d fallen so deeply in love with both father and daughter. “It’s just J.J. now, remember? I’m not a fairy anymore.”
An expression of wonder crossed River’s face. “It worked? My wish worked?”
“What wish?” J.J. looked at Raven, drinking him in with an unquenchable thirst. There. That wasn’t so difficult. She could still speak, still think, despite the crippling pain. “What’s she talking about?”
“River collected seven gifts for the dragon.” He indicated the pile cluttering Mathias’s desk. “Cuff links for love. Earth, wind, fire and water. Or rather...clay, a fan, my lighter and a bottle of winter’s first snow. And a locket that contains both your hair and mine.”
“A gift that is of the fairy and her prince alone,” J.J. marveled.
His black gaze intensified. “You read the book.”
“When Jacq heard about River and the gifts, she insisted.” She stared at him. Hopelessly. Helplessly. Lovingly. “What about her most prized possession?” And then she saw it, the painting Raven had purchased at the auction. “Oh, no. Not that. Raven, I’m so sorry. I swear this wasn’t part of some nefarious plan to get it back.”
“I know. The painting isn’t her most prized possession. Look on Blackstone’s desk.”
J.J. caught sight of Dolly and lifted a trembling hand to her mouth. Speech deserted her. Utterly.
The Miracle Wife (Harlequin Romance) Page 16