"But will it still be suiting you come morning?"
"If not, then I’ll be happy to once again accept rabbit."
Jaeger couldn’t help but smile.
Vail glanced through their brushy enclosure at what was visible of the night sky. "I think we’re close. I think we’re very close to Rhiannon."
"How do you know? She could be anywhere on the coastline."
Vail shook his head. "No, she’s close. I can…feel her, sense her. Somehow."
Jaeger regarded him thoughtfully. "That was a nice bit of magic you played out on me earlier."
Vail brought his gaze back to Jaeger’s. "Magic?"
"Yes, you seduced me, Vail. Plain and simple. You made me feed on you despite my intentions not to."
"I did?" Vail seemed truly surprised.
"You did. And I suspect that when you return to your clan, Rachael will suddenly find you most attractive. But, then, so might a few dozen others. You’ll be hard-pressed to decide which of the lovely young ladies you wish to be with."
"I will?" Vail mumbled. He was quiet for a long time, then suddenly grinned. "I will! But, no, it’s Rachael I want. It’s Rachael I’ve always wanted. No other."
Jaeger smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "And I am sure she wants you as badly as you want her."
"Why do you think that?"
"Why? Because you are a gifted, sensitive, caring and compassionate young man, Vail. I am proud to call you friend."
Vail’s entire face lit up with delight. "Thank you, Jaeger, thank you so much. I am proud to call you friend, too. Or," he added with a teasing grin, "father."
Jaeger laughed, shook his head and sat back to wait out the night. He wished he had a plan formulated, something he could use with confidence. But he had nothing. He had no idea how he would find Rhiannon, let alone keep Celd away from her.
Where did Darius fit into this? Why had he not taken Rhiannon back to the Lair as he’d said? What were his plans for her? And what had Darius done at the Lair that other Vectors should now be hunting him?
Jaeger had always cared a great deal for Darius. He had considered the Vector more than a friend. But now… Jaeger wasn’t sure what to make of the whole situation. First, Darius’ lying to him about changing him back to a Vector. Then lying about returning Rhiannon to Celd. Now, holed up in some beach cave with her, waiting for her to give birth to Celd’s child. It just didn’t make sense. This wasn’t the Darius whom Jaeger knew and loved.
But, then, so much had changed in such a short time. He had come into his Growth. He had tasted human blood for the first time in his life. He had experienced sexual gratification with not just a woman, but with several men as well. And he had fallen desperately in love.
Yes, many things had changed, and if the events of the night before were any indication, much more was yet to change. Jaeger only hoped it was for the best.
Chapter 21
* * *
Jaeger carefully watched Vail’s face. The young man was beaded with sweat, his skin pale, his eyes glazed with fatigue. He was trembling, his entire body shuddering with concentration. Twice Jaeger had sensed a Vector nearby. With the shields around him, he couldn’t be sure of the identity, but he took an educated guess.
Celd.
It was only moments until daybreak. If only Vail could hold his magic until then, he and Jaeger could move on, get farther away, perhaps even find Rhiannon.
That thought, alone, sent chills through Jaeger. He could barely wait to see her again, to hold her, kiss her. But what really sent cold panic through him was her child. He didn’t know if he possessed the strength of will to kill it. He didn’t know if he should. He didn’t know if Rhiannon would even allow it. A mother’s love ran deep, even for a child that conceived outside of love.
And what about Darius? Would he be there to stop Jaeger? To deny him access to Rhiannon and the child?
"Oh, by the saints!" Vail suddenly breathed. He opened his eyes. "I can’t, Jaeger. I can’t keep the shields up any longer."
"You must. Just for a few minutes more."
Tears swam in Vail’s eyes, spilled over and ran down his pale cheeks. "I can’t," he repeated, his voice barely audible. "I’m sorry."
He crumpled at the same moment the shields did. Jaeger gasped and enveloped the young man in a tight embrace, halfway afraid Celd’s magic would claim him instantly. Please, Jaeger begged mentally of the sun, please rise.
He sat in stony silence, cradling Vail in his arms, very aware of his own pounding heart, of Vail’s tired breathing, of the intense scent of iron embracing them both. He knew Vail needed to be bled again, to be relieved of the excess iron that a full night of magic work had created, yet he was unwilling to do so until daylight was once more providing safe haven.
That he would have to bleed Vail as a mountain cat was a given. That he could control his cravings was not.
With Vail this weak and unable to project his own Vector magic, the control would be up to Jaeger. It was not something he wanted to think about at the moment. At the moment, all he could concentrate on was keeping Vail with him and away from Celd.
A sigh of relief rushed from him as the first rays of sun caressed the lands. He lay his head against Vail’s and closed his eyes. They had made it. At least, for one more night. Jaeger drew a quiet breath waiting for the shift.
Then, abruptly, Vector magic surrounded him. It sank dark, heavy claws into his mind and soul. It grabbed at him and tried to wrench him away from Vail. Jaeger bellowed in anger and held tighter, startling Vail to alertness.
The young man stared at him in terror; then, seeming to realize what was happening, he wrapped his arms about Jaeger’s chest in a fierce hold. They were both sucked up in one powerful spell and whisked through time and space to land on a wide ledge outside a dark cave. The ocean waves snarled and hissed on the rocks below, sending spray high into the air. Each drop that touched Jaeger’s skin stung like a nettle burn. He winced and got to his feet.
A voice hammered into his consciousness. A voice familiar and yet not what he expected. He turned, his eyes wide with disbelief. Darius stood on the ledge near the cave. He was motioning frantically to Jaeger.
"Inside! At once!" he snapped. "The boy, too!"
Jaeger helped Vail to his feet, and together they staggered into the cave. Rhiannon was lying on a cushion made of fir boughs and blankets. Her face was pale and sweaty, pain evident in her eyes. Jaeger gasped out a sob and fell to his knees beside her. She didn’t seem surprised to see him, though she did let out a loud gasp as Vail dropped down beside Jaeger.
"Rhia!" Vail cried. "Thank the saints and goddesses!"
Jaeger reached for her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it gently. His mind was muddled. He didn’t know what to make of anything.
He looked to Darius in question, but the Vector was watching the mouth of the cave. A second later, Celd appeared, shifting rapidly from the form of a hawk. He strode into the dim interior of the cave, rage darkening his face.
"What is the meaning of this?" he bellowed, his voice echoing from stone wall to stone wall.
Jaeger rose at once, his own anger seething forward. Vail scampered to the other side of Rhiannon’s bed and gripped her hand as if in reassurance. She looked up at Celd through eyes hazy with pain and fatigue.
"You’re too late," she whispered, then let out a moan as a contraction tightened her abdomen.
"I am never too late," Celd snapped, then swung his gaze to Darius. "I asked you a question, old man! What is the meaning of this? How dare you take my hostess! How dare you keep her shielded from me all of this time! You will pay dearly for your insolence."
Jaeger stepped forward as Darius stiffened in pain. Though the older Vector drew a quick breath, he did not cry out.
"Stop!" Jaeger demanded. "Leave him out of this!"
Celd whirled on him. "And you! You have written your own death warrant!" He spun out a magical attack sending Jaeger to his knees, gasping
in agony.
"If my death is imminent," he managed, "at the least I will go out fighting." He brought his own magic forward and formed a Spell; but before he could cast it, the first rays of morning light sliced the horizon open.
"No!" Jaeger bellowed in fury and disbelief. "Darius! Do something!"
Celd roared with self-satisfied laughter as Jaeger became the mountain cat.
"So, Jaeg," he said coldly. "You’ve gotten yourself into quite a predicament, haven’t you?"
Rhiannon let out a shriek of pain, drawing everyone’s attention.
Celd smiled coldly. "My child will be a strong one," he snarled. "It gives its mother much pain. That is the way it should be. I shall give her more."
The words sent rage spiraling through Jaeger; and without thinking, he launched his muscular cat body at Celd. He hit the Vector in the chest, throwing both of them to the hard ground. Celd’s breath rushed out with a grunt of surprise and pain. He quickly recovered and threw Jaeger off with a force fueled by magic.
Jaeger landed hard, rolled and came again to his feet. The hip that had taken the arrow wound so many weeks ago throbbed mercilessly. Still, he prepared himself for another attack on Celd even as Rhiannon once again screamed in pain. Jaeger dared a quick glance at her and Vail. The latter was white, his eyes enormous as he watched his sister prepare for birth.
Darius hadn’t moved. His eyes were glazed over as if his thoughts were far from what was happening in the cave before him. Jaeger returned his attention to Celd just in time.
The Vector had hoped to catch Jaeger off-guard and sent a powerful bolt of magic his way. Jaeger had just enough time to leap out of the way. He once again hurled himself at Celd, but the Vector was ready for him. He sidestepped and caught up Jaeger in a wicked web of magic, slamming him against the stone wall of the cave.
It took Jaeger a moment to get to his feet, to re-orient himself. He was tiring and in pain. His muscles ached, and old wounds reminded him of their presence. His limp was more pronounced as he stepped forward once again.
Celd seemed more in control, stronger than Jaeger had ever seen him. He wondered why, if it was a side benefit of being a Chosen. Then again, Celd had not just spent the last few months trekking across an inhospitable land. And Celd was not a halfling. A halfling distracted now as the woman he loved writhed in agony.
Her cries echoed shrilly in the caves, tearing into Jaeger’s heart. He wanted to be with her, to help her, comfort her. But, more than that, he wanted to remove Celd from the picture. He watched, still dazed, as Celd moved closer to Rhiannon. The thought of him touching her again drove insane jealousy and hate through Jaeger. A low growl escaped him as he crouched for another attack.
Water. The word drifted into Jaeger’s thoughts, and he turned his gaze on Darius. The Vector was watching him, but made no movement to help either him or Rhiannon. Water? Jaeger shook his head in confusion, even as Rhiannon cried out again.
Celd stood over her, a smirk on his face. Rhiannon glared up at him, gritting her teeth against the pain that wracked her body. Vail seemed paralyzed by both his fear of Celd and his empathy for what Rhiannon was going through. But, when Celd’s gaze moved to him, he caught his breath and backed away. Jaeger growled in warning.
Celd spun on him. "Don’t threaten me, Jaeger!" he seethed. "I could kill you with one touch! But I think I’ll let you witness the birth first. I want you to see what a wonderful hostess I picked. This woman will serve me well. And when I am done with her, this boy will take her place."
Jaeger roared in fury, but it was Vail who reacted. He bolted from his position, leapt over Rhiannon’s body and flung himself at Celd. The attack caught the Vector by surprise, and he staggered backward. Jaeger used the opportunity. He darted forward, placing himself behind Celd’s legs. The Vector fell over him, landing hard on the stone. He bellowed in pain, trying to right himself. Jaeger used his massive jaws, his wickedly sharp teeth, and tore into Celd’s neck.
Celd retaliated with a wild, random attack of magic. Jaeger heard Vail shriek and scuffle away, but he would not relax his grip on Celd’s neck. He finally understood what Darius meant. The water. The water crashing and snarling below the ledge. The water heavy with stinging salt, alive with full daylight.
Wicked bolts of magic slammed against him as he dragged Celd from the cave. Yet, at the same time, something enveloped Jaeger, keeping the agony at a bearable level. Jaeger wondered if it was Rhiannon or Vail shielding him, but he had little time to dwell on it.
Celd writhed in agony as the sunlight touched his hair, caught at his skin, tore into his senses. He struggled to free himself from Jaeger’s grasp. Jaeger held firm, though his strength was rapidly waning. His fur was singed completely off where Celd’s magic had ripped into him. His hip was alive with agony, hampering his movements. He knew he would never be able to push Celd over the cliff. He would have to drag him over.
Rhiannon’s screams turned from those of pain to those of terror, as she connected with Jaeger’s thoughts.
No, Jaeger! Don’t! Please, don’t!
The despair in the words cut into Jaeger’s concentration, and Celd wrested free, his blood dripping to the ground. His wound began to heal itself at once, though his skin was blistering from the sun’s touch. He staggered to his feet, gasping, and slammed Jaeger with a magic jolt so intense it sent him sprawling to the dirt. Jaeger attempted to rise but could not summon the strength to do so. Still, he would not give up. He dragged his battered body toward Celd, roaring as bolt after bolt tore into him, sending his muscles into spasms of pure agony.
He smelled his own burning fur and flesh, knew he bled from dozens of wounds. Still, he crawled forward.
"You’ll pay, Jaeger!’ Celd screamed. "You’ll pay for everything!" He delivered one last searing bolt of magic.
Jaeger collapsed, his breathing rasping in his chest. Rhiannon’s screams reached a new intensity, and he knew that she had given birth to the child. As did Celd.
The Vector spun toward the cave, abandoning his attack on Jaeger. He took two steps forward, then gasped as Vail abruptly bolted from the cave, his scream of rage and defiance shattering the morning chill.
The young man caught Celd with both arms, never breaking his forward momentum.
They disappeared over the cliff.
Chapter 22
* * *
Jaeger stared at the empty space where the two men had been. Then, his roar of disbelief and despair spun into the air. He closed his eyes and sprawled on the hard ground, willing death to claim him as well. But it was not death that touched at him. It was Darius’ magic. It surrounded him, stroked him, caressed him with love. It swept him up in its powerful embrace and transported him to a place of peace and healing. He felt safe and secure. And loved. More so than he had felt since he was a small child. Images of his parents were strong and constantly present. They comforted him, brought him a sense of peace, easing the turmoil in his shattered spirit.
How long he stayed in the healing trance, he didn’t know. But, finally, he shuddered and opened his eyes to find that he was once more in Vector form, lying in the cool darkness of the cave. Rhiannon lay within arms’ reach, holding the baby well wrapped and suckling at her breast.
Jaeger stared at her, at the child, his mind dully registering that the child was drinking human milk.
"Jaeger?" The voice was soft and familiar.
Jaeger sat up so fast his head spun. Vail was sitting near a small fire, tending to a piece of roasting meat. He looked whole and healthy, unscathed by his plunge into the rocky surf. Jaeger frowned, shaking his head. He closed his eyes, opened them again. Nothing had changed.
Rhiannon smiled at him as Vail approached them. "Jaeger?" he said again. "How are you feeling?"
"How am I…me…" Jaeger stared at him in shock. "Me? You! How did you… I mean, you went over the cliff!"
Vail chuckled. "I did, didn’t I? Well, thank the saints I can swim fairly well."
"But
the rocks," Jaeger said. "You couldn’t have survived the fall."
"Not on my own, no," Vail replied. "But I had a little help."
"Help?"
"From you. From your blood. And from Darius." He gestured.
Jaeger turned, startled. Darius approached from the gloom of the caves. He wore a small smile, and he gestured toward the baby. "He’s a handsome boy, Jaeger. You should be proud."
"Proud?" Jaeger looked again at Rhiannon and the child. "Proud?"
"Here." Rhiannon took the child from her breast and held him out to Jaeger. "Hold your son, Jaeger."
The words took several moments to register. Jaeger shook his head. "No. The child is—"
"Is yours," Rhiannon interrupted. "I was already with child when Celd tried to implant the embryo. This is your son, Jaeger, not his. And your son has had breast milk. He has no Vector tendencies now. He will not need blood to survive. Here, hold your son."
"Go on," Darius encouraged, smiling.
Jaeger took the small child in his arms, staring at the wide-open, trusting eyes. He gently traced the baby’s round face, touched the tiny fingers. They curled about his in a grip that surprised him.
"But how?" he whispered. "I don’t understand."
"I suspected. Darius knew," Rhiannon said. "When I told him that I believed I carried your child, he took me away to keep me safe from Celd. You couldn’t know, else Celd would be able to follow, to track you, to read your thoughts. It was enough of a strain for Darius just to keep this place hidden from Celd."
Jaeger looked up at Darius. "Is this why you were being sought? Celd said you had done something in the Lair. Darius, are you in trouble because you helped me?"
At that, Darius chuckled. "Trouble? I am far too old to get into trouble."
Jaeger paused, his gaze back on the child. "Why did you deceive me?" he finally asked. "Why did you promise Rhiannon that I would return to my Vector form in exchange for her returning to Celd? Why did you trap me in an animal’s body like that?"
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