rogue shifter 05 - caught between

by Gayle Parness

  One step, two steps. The boulder was only an arm length away so I continued forward. When I finally reached it, my fingertips running along the rough surface, he began to laugh at me.

  Instantly, I understood that he'd easily gotten past my shields and used glamour to force me to move closer. My eyes widened with fear. The last person who'd glamoured me had been Kennet. The gut-clenching fear disappeared with the music of his laughter, a sound that could call down the archangels from heaven to play music at his feet.

  His long ponytail was blowing in the breeze, moving closer to me with each gust. It looked like the softest velvet, the smoothest satin. Each strand shone as if angels wings had been gathered and woven together to make this perfect blanket of hair. Just one touch would give me more pleasure than a lifetime of Garrett's kisses. I reached for it with my fingertips.

  A teasing whisper traveled through my mind, warming my entire body. "Shield yourself from beauty, lovely one, because it can hide the worst corruption." I wanted so much for him to talk inside my head for longer, but with his urging and help I obeyed and built my demon and shifter-powered wall into an impenetrable fortress. When his mental touch disappeared, I felt empty. I was alone and bereft and began to weep.

  With a finger on my chin, he raised my face, smiling at me again, and suddenly the world was perfect. At some point he'd gotten off the boulder and was standing beside me. He tasted one of my tears by scooping it up with a finger and placing that finger in his mouth. He grinned, then wiped away the rest with his sleeve. He was Garrett's height, short for a fae, if that's what he was, but his aura was hidden from me so I couldn't know. He smelled of the salty sea, sunlight, lush forests and mountain streams. The combination, ambrosia, the nectar of the gods.

  I smiled back at him, the scent of the perfect day washing over me and filling me with hope. "Have you returned for a happy occasion?" I asked.

  ”Yes, Jacqueline. A very happy one."

  I stared back at the horizon, catching the distant glint of a fin slapping the water. A seal? I wasn't sure. It was so beautiful here in this spot. I hadn't really noticed it before today, although I'd walked this beach a hundred times. The temperature had dropped and the sky was filling with dark clouds, so I pulled up my hood, just in case it started to rain.

  I heard Samson barking and then Garrett appeared nearby looking worried. I expected him to scold me for just disappearing from the house, but instead he took my hand sweetly in his and stood beside me, looking at the view and not saying a word, giving me time to work through my thoughts. I adored this man.

  "Let's sit on that boulder." He helped me climb and then climbed up himself, looping an arm above my waist to hold me securely against him. It smelled so good up here, like the sea and the forest and the sky all rolled into one scent. The scent of a perfect day. As we took in the lovely view, I began to tell Garrett everything about the crime scene and my talk with Isaiah.

  "Charlie will be safe. Isaiah tries to stir up trouble wherever he is. It's his nature."

  I asked him what Isaiah had said in French.

  "It's a familiar saying. Roughly translated it's 'Revenge is a dish best served cold'."

  "It seems that Isaiah has a reason to dislike Grandmother enough to possibly act against her." I wrapped an arm across his waist and nestled against him, scared and needing the comfort of his arms around me. He obliged with a loving hug, then I leaned away so I could see his face.

  "I don't want either of my two men in the middle of a war between demon factions."

  "He stroked my cheeks with the back of his hand. "We cannot trust Isaiah or Naberia. We must believe that our friends in Faerie will do all that they can to protect Charlie. And we will protect each other, you and I."

  A little later, as we walked back along the beach, enjoying the sunset, he commented, "I've never seen the beach this deserted. Usually someone's here jogging or walking a dog, at least."

  "I know, it's strange. I didn't see a soul the entire time."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  The Shifter Council meeting was convened on a Saturday night and held in the local high school auditorium. I'd have thought this location was kind of strange if I didn't know that all the human residents of Crescent City knew about the various supernatural groups and still chose to live among us. Humans, shifters and even a dozen wolves attended this high school, so it was a logical place to meet.

  Maya, Brad and his wife Sylvia sat at the central table, smiling and chatting, looking as if this meeting was anything but serious. The new law prohibiting faes from living in Crescent City had been brought before and passed by the three council members. A day later, Peter had filed a legal objection which was why we were here tonight.

  Every seat in the auditorium was filled, but that really didn't matter, because a table and three chairs had been set up for us on stage. Unfortunately, we'd be the only ones speaking out against the passing of the law, but our case was strong. Peter had also filed an Order of Public Vote, so it was mandatory for the Council and the attendants to listen to our side so they could all vote later with a show of hands. We had an hour tops to present our argument, but we were fairly confident.

  Ethan and Kyle met us in the hall outside the door. They offered us a few words of encouragement and then returned to their seats in the front row, held for them by Ethan's current girlfriend, Lauren. She was a sports-minded cougar with a great smile and a laid-back personality. They made an awesome couple.

  Maya gave us a smug smile when she saw Garrett, Peter and me entering through the door, but her eyebrows shot up a moment later in shock, making all heads turn in our direction. I'd been through this kind of hearing before. Garrett and Rob had helped me then, but I wasn't taking any chances with Charlie's future, so this time we'd brought along a ringer.

  Liam stood in the doorway looking around the auditorium, dressed in his usual jeans and button down shirt. Although he'd lived in Faerie for most of his life, he knew quite a lot of the shifters, humans and wolves seated in the audience. As we walked down the center aisle, he waved at a few, stopping to talk to the manager of the local supermarket and then hugging the grandmotherly owner of the bakery where he bought our bread every other day.

  Although he could just make our supplies appear magically, Liam enjoyed shopping in town for our groceries and so many of the residents of Crescent City knew him well. Some thought that he was human, because he usually disguised his eye color when he went into town, but the ones he dealt with on a regular basis knew that he was fae.

  "Why is there a fae here?" Maya looked furious, but her rudeness pissed me off just as much. She'd known Liam for at least eighty years and could have damn well used his name and not treated him like a stranger.

  As we'd planned, Garrett spoke first, all of us assuming that Maya would give us a hard time. "Liam should have a say in the proceedings. He's a resident now, having closed on a home a few weeks ago. He's a taxpayer, just like the rest of us."

  "He has no vote." Maya's cold gaze was inscrutable.

  "According to the town charter, homeowners who live in town are considered residents, like me, a vampire, and John, our human mail carrier, and Stan, a werewolf who's also our butcher. Liam is a resident now and it shouldn't matter whether he's full fae or half fae or not fae at all. He gets to vote." I took hold of Garrett's hand when I saw a few silver dots pop to life in his irises. We'd both be relying on each other tonight to keep our cool.

  She lifted her chin and smirked. "I will not allow it."

  Peter stepped forward. "You are one third of the council. Do the other two council members agree that Liam should not have a vote?"

  The icy look she gave Brad and Silvia sent a shiver down my spine. Maya was a cheetah like me, with mental abilities that other shifters didn't possess. I was shocked to see Brad and Sylvia wince as she used Influence on them. What the fuck was going on? What she'd just done was illegal.

  I sent to Liam, "She used..."

  "Yes. Use your
senses when we go up on stage. I fear she's been compromised."

  Sylvia looked down at her hands, but still spoke clearly. "We agree with her. Liam should not vote at tonight's meeting." Many members of the audience began to grumble, but no one spoke up against the decision.

  I started to argue with them, but Peter took hold of my arm, caught my gaze and whispered. "We'll pick our battles. It's much more important for Liam to speak to everyone than it is for him to cast one vote." I nodded, not able to hold back a frustrated sigh.

  Peter continued, his voice carrying easily over the crowd. "As you know, we've asked for a public vote tonight on the law recently passed by only the Council regarding the banning of fae residents in Crescent City. May we plead our case before everyone present?"

  "As you wish." Maya gestured to the table and chairs. When Liam followed us up onto the stage, Maya stood.

  "Why hasn't he left?"

  "Liam will be speaking tonight to everyone regarding the policy of the elders of the Cascade Sidhe toward interaction with other supernatural groups."

  Maya snorted derisively. "We can't believe what a fae says."

  "The High Seelie don't lie." I blurted out.

  Liam walked closer to Maya. "Perhaps you would prefer that I ask my father, Lord Caelen, the senior elder of our sidhe to attend the meeting? Or my brother, Aedus, third in line to the throne of all Faerie. Either of them could be here in only a few seconds." He smiled at her so pleasantly, not a hint of a threat in his manner or the tone of his voice. Yet the message was clear. Maya's little campaign against the fae would not be ignored by his people, not so much because of Liam, but because of Charlie and his future security.

  Sylvia grabbed Brad's arm and shook her head, looking a little frightened. In fact many of the audience members were squirming in their seats, while others whispered excitedly. Very few had ever met a full-blood fae, but they all grew up hearing stories about their incredible power and startling beauty.

  Before Maya could argue with Liam, Brad answered. "Liam may stay and speak. I'm sure that everyone would like to hear what he has to tell us. There's no need for him to call in his relatives." Maya glared at him, but didn't argue. "Please proceed, Peter."

  Peter stood. "Crescent City is a diverse community and I hope, like me and the others at this table, that you all take pride in this fact. Each group has much to offer the other, including our human neighbors who accepted us so readily when other communities may have ousted us or worse.

  "Liam has been a part of our Crescent City mix for over one hundred years. Many of you do business with him on a regular basis. He is well-respected by the business owners I've interviewed, as well as many of the doctors at Crescent City Hospital where he's helped in his capacity as a healer on several occasions. I have transcripts of those interviews and I'd like to offer them to the council for their deliberation. I have additional copies if anyone here would care to look them over." He handed some papers to Kyle who distributed them to some of the shifters in the auditorium. They were read carefully and passed around.

  "For those of you who don't know him, I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce my friend, Liam, a High Seelie Fae of the Cascade Sidhe."

  Liam laughed and stood up, speaking in his lovely musical voice, drawing everyone's attention like the pied piper. It wasn't magical Influence. It was just the way of the fae.

  "Thank you for letting me speak to you. I've just purchased a home here, because I've grown extremely fond of this town and many of its residents over the years. Tonight I'm here as a representative of Faerie, because I thought that perhaps you'd feel more comfortable accepting a fae resident if you understood our policy toward other supernatural groups. It will also give you the opportunity to know a little more about me.

  "First of all I'm half-human, born of a human mother over fifteen hundred years ago in the Court of Faerie. My father is the twin brother of the Queen of Faerie, and is an elder on our own council. Like you, we have laws that we live by and there are consequences if we break those laws. One of our laws states that we are not to abuse our power with humans or other supernatural groups. In fact we are encouraged to avoid contact completely.

  "You may feel more comfortable knowing that it's unlikely that any other fae from my Sidhe will ever settle here in Crescent City. However, I will pledge to you here and now, that if other fae do desire to settle here, that they will never cause you or your families any harm. Like you, we are a peaceful people, interested only in the continued balance of life on our shared planet.

  "I've spent almost every day for the last one hundred years working at Garrett's house and doing business in your lovely town. However you vote, I'll continue to work for Garrett. But my residency isn't the primary reason I wanted to speak to you.

  "Garrett and Jackie's son will be born half-fae. I'm certain that most of you have heard what Jackie endured under Lord Kennet, and you may be concerned that he will cause problems here in your city. Rest assured that he's been imprisoned and will be executed very soon, for he's broken many of our laws.

  "I've also heard that someone has suggested that the child will become like the birth father, and will therefore be dangerous when he reaches adulthood." Liam glared at Maya with unbridled hostility, making her lean back and look away. I almost felt sorry for her, since I've been on the receiving end of some of Liam's looks. It isn't a fun experience.

  He turned back to the audience and smiled his most adorable smile. "This is completely false. Charles will be raised by his mother, Jacqueline, and by her lifemate, Garrett. Both of them have risked their lives many times to protect you. A child is the product of the love that envelopes them throughout their lives, and this child will be blessed with many who love him. One of our Demi-fey has predicted that Charles will also be a healer, and so your community will benefit yet again.

  "If you vote not to allow fae to settle in Crescent City, then I will sell my home. I will not be angry or seek revenge of any kind. This is your community and you have the right to govern it as you see fit. However, you should know that because of your decision, Jackie and Garrett will be forced to leave and I will follow them. You will be losing three healers and many powerful allies who've protected you in the past, whether you've realized it or not. I caution you not to allow your fear to leave you vulnerable."

  Liam sat down to the sound of quiet breathing and an occasional cough. The truth of his words had shaken them.

  After allowing Liam's speech to sink in, Peter stood up. "Thank you, Liam." He turned to Maya. "Is there anything you'd like to ask him before we bring up other people to speak against the restriction on fae?"

  "Who else have you brought?" asked Sylvia.

  "We have the chief of staff at Crescent City Hospital, Dr. Flemming. Also Kyle Daro will discuss instances where Liam and several other fae have stepped in to help not only our community but several others. I have a list of speakers if you'd like a copy."

  All eyes in the room were once more on Maya as she allowed her hard gaze to skim over the faces in the audience. She knew she'd lost the battle to bar the fae, but she could still make our lives extremely difficult. She turned and whispered a few words to Brad and Sylvia then swung back to face the crowd.

  "The council has agreed to reverse our vote. We are shelving the law to ban the fae from settling in Crescent City. However, for everyone's safety we are going to take each case individually to decide whether or not to restrict them from participation in certain activities. Because of his service to our community, there will be no restrictions placed on Liam. However, when Charles is four years old he'll be evaluated by me personally to determine if he poses any threat to our people."

  I jumped up, but Liam stood and grabbed my shoulder. "She's wants you to overreact. Leave her to me." I sat down very slowly, my glare shooting daggers in her direction.

  "Maya," Liam began, smiling again. "My father will not allow Charles to meet with anyone without his mother and a fae guard present."
r />   "Excuse me? A guard?"

  "Yes. He'll be guarded by a fae warrior twenty-four hours a day from the moment he's born."

  "Why is this necessary?"

  "Because Charles is a nephew of the queen and therefore must be treated like a royal prince and protected at all times. Lord Kennet is the Queen's half-brother." Her jaw couldn't have dropped any lower. "And I would caution you that insisting on an examination of any kind could be insulting to Her Grace."

  Hmmm. Insulting the Queen of Faerie? Not such a good idea.

  Her tone could have frozen Lake Tahoe. "We'll take your suggestion under advisement. This meeting is now closed." Maya stood and walked offstage in a very controlled and dignified manner, but her aura was dark red with rage.

  After asking Peter to talk to Brad and Sylvia about Maya's unusual behavior, Liam, Garrett and I dissolved into the lines and met Maya in the parking lot. Fortunately, she was still ten feet from her car.

  "I have nothing left to discuss with you." She moved toward the SUV, but Garrett blocked her.

  He took her arm and forced her to look into his eyes. "You've turned your back on everything you believed in. You've broken the law."

  "You can all go to hell."

  "We saw you use Influence on your fellow council members. You need to be questioned.

  "Who's going to question me, Garrett? You? Liam? Maybe your little whore?"

  Garrett's mouth had thinned out in anger. "Brad or Sylvia will question you."

  She started to laugh, a loud but scornful sound, and that's when I knew. I sent out a call to Isaiah and he appeared instantly by my side.

  "Field trip?" Smiling he turned toward Maya, curious as to what this woman thought was so funny. A moment later he was snarling and grabbing her shoulders, holding her in place as she snarled back at him. His eyes flashed orange and he began whispering in a guttural language. Maya started to shake violently, her eyes closing tightly and her breath becoming ragged.