I was beginning to think he was perfect for me, too. It was an unsettling thought when so many things were going crazy in my life, but I wanted this to work. The connection was there, mate or not.
His erection pressed against me, and I stopped thinking. Worries melted away as I lifted my hips and he slid slowly inside of me. I held my breath at the exquisite feeling. Once again, he filled me completely. The feel of his skin against mine drew a moan from my lips.
Jax leaned down and muffled the sound as he kissed me. Our breath and our bodies moved together. This time, he poured his emotions into his kiss. Frustration, protection, desire, and affection. He told me without words. My arms encircled his neck, and I let my fingers thread through his short hair. It was surprisingly soft.
Jax deepened the kiss as I massaged his scalp, then his shoulders. His tongue moved in time with his hips. It was an erotic combination. He pulled back and sucked in a ragged breath. “I crave your touch, little gem.”
I couldn’t answer. I pulled him back down. The feel of his chest hair rubbing against my nipples made me gasp. His hips moved faster. Sensations cascaded through my body as my climax hit. He thrust deep, and I heard my name on his lips as he cried out his release.
I slowly drifted back to reality, enjoying Jax’s comforting weight. I wrapped my arms around him and held him close. He rolled to my right side and threw an arm across his face. I snuggled close and glimpsed a small smile on his face before nestling my head against his shoulder. I tucked that image away for later, too.
“Sleep well, little gem.”
I yawned, and then kissed his chest, right above his heart. “I will. Promise you’ll be here when I wake up,” I murmured.
He was silent for a minute. Sleep was pulling at me and I was struggling to keep my eyes open when he finally said, “I promise. I will always be here for you.”
I smiled. Taking one thing at a time with Jax at my side was something I could handle. “How about we stick with something simple?”
“Simple?”
I could hear the confusion in his voice, so I elaborated, “For a nickname. Does ‘sweetie’ work? Or how about ‘babe’?”
He was silent for so long, I thought I might have offended him. I yawned again. “I don’t have to call you…”
“When you are ready,” he interrupted, “I would like you to call me ‘love.’ Until then, Jax is fine.”
Oh, he made it so easy. Loving him would be way too easy. “Jax,” I whispered, not sure what to say. I wasn’t ready, not yet. But if he kept it up, I’d be a puddle at his feet before the week was out.
“When you are ready,” he repeated.
I couldn’t say anything to that. So I snuggled closer and let my eyes drift shut. Tomorrow would be a new day with a new set of problems. I needed my sleep, and I needed Jax.
Thankfully, right now, I could have both.
Chapter Eight
I couldn’t help but wonder what the day would bring. To be honest, I was worried how the meeting with MacLean would go. Not only about the souls, but I was worried about him and Jax in the same place. Then again, it had been Jax’s idea to get him involved, so maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
A few hours later, I found out how foolish that thought had been.
Jax and I arrived at Pioneer Square a few minutes before eleven. The skies cooperated by staying partially sunny with no rain. For an October day, it was beautiful and balmy, and we’d decided to walk instead of taking the bus. It had taken forty-five minutes, but the fresh air and exercise had been worth it. I buttoned my light cotton blazer against the slight breeze. The temperature hovered around sixty degrees, but anxiety had me chilled. Tourists mingled with locals as they wandered through shops, art displays, and vendors.
Pioneer Square was one of my favorite places. I loved the ever-present flower carts and artwork. It was a vibrant display of some of the best Seattle had to offer, a place to sample new artists. Occasionally, I’d come here by myself to people watch. Older couples walking hand in hand, tourists snapping pictures, and locals sipping over-priced, indulgent lattes from one of the park’s many swanky coffee shops. Seattle coffee shops made some of the best java anywhere, in my humble opinion. Best of all? I could get lost in the crowds. It didn’t matter who or what I was. Here, I was just another woman, enjoying the day.
Jax took my hand, interlacing our fingers. His hand was warm and slightly calloused. We walked to the designated meeting spot by a corner café. People milled around or sat at small, metal tables outside. MacLean had suggested the area, hoping to avoid detection in the crowd. I was all for that idea.
MacLean arrived at eleven o’clock sharp. He stood taller than most of the crowd, so it was easy to spot him coming. The natural, fiery highlights in his hair helped, too.
“Hi,” I said, taking in his casual attire. MacLean’s auburn hair was set off by a dark blue, button-down shirt and dark gray slacks. He stood in a casual, relaxed stance. I took that as a good sign.
“Shall we grab a table?” he asked, pointing to the café’s empty tables.
“No. I’d rather walk and talk, if that’s okay.” The idea of staying on the move made me feel better. Just in case. We could move with the crowd.
He seemed to sense my unease, and took a moment to look around. Satisfied with what he saw, he nodded and got right to business. “Where are the souls?”
Teryl ran up, cheeks red, breathing hard. “Hey, sorry. The parking sucks today. What’d I miss?”
“MacLean wants to know where the souls are,” I said.
Teryl snapped his fingers. “Got that covered.” He pulled out the small bag of Paraiba tourmaline gems he’d picked up at my apartment and handed them to MacLean. “I wasn’t going to lug the mirror and books here, but I took pictures so you can look them over.”
MacLean looked like he was going to argue, so Teryl quickly added, “They’re in a safe place.”
MacLean took the bag with care. He tucked it into an inside pocket in his jacket, then looked through the pictures Teryl had brought. I didn’t need to see the pictures to remember the items. The mirror was gorgeous. It was three feet tall and two feet wide, with an ornate, gilded frame that added an extra ten inches around. The books were obviously old. Bound in brown leather with yellowing pages, they were tied in a bundle of seven with a thin strap of leather. I’d been sure they’d disintegrate in my hands when I’d first seen them.
MacLean’s eyes widened. “Shit, Elle. You stole all of these?” He flinched and looked around to make sure no one had heard his outburst. A man in a business suit passed within feet of us, barking into his cell phone.
I looked back at MacLean and shrugged, feeling a little defensive. “These were from three occasions. You make it sound like I do three a week.”
Jax jumped in before I could say more. “What is the price on her head?”
MacLean stared at me a moment longer, speculation in his eyes. He turned back to Jax. “From which sector?”
“This is turning into a damn joke. Who?” Teryl asked, looking peeved.
“Jedren has offered one million. The light elves are at three hundred thousand, and the gargoyles have recently added two hundred and fifty thousand.”
My jaw dropped. “Dollars?”
“Yes, but it’s not just because of the souls. And the oracles are offering seventy-five thousand.” MacLean rubbed the back of his neck. “I might have inadvertently added to the problem.”
Jax scanned the faces of passersby before pointing toward Occidental Park. “Let’s head over there.”
We made our way to one of the large maples. I leaned against the trunk, needing the support. I watched a few tourists feeding pigeons and rubbed my arms. I couldn’t seem to shake my chill, despite the balmy temperature and the sun peeking through the trees.
“I told Brenin about you shifting me yesterday and—”
“You what?” Jax’s voice rose above its low volume as he took a step forward. I stepped in front o
f Jax, putting my back to him. I leaned back into him and silently willed him to relax.
“Jax, we’re in public. Please, let MacLean explain.” Seattle might be known for its diversity, but I had no idea how I’d explain a gargoyle in Pioneer Square.
“Brenin wanted a report after I left your store yesterday.” For my benefit, MacLean added, “He’s the king of the light elves and Jedren’s counterpart. I told him you shifted me, but the gargoyle had claimed you.”
“And why is that a big deal to the king of the light elves?” I asked.
“Teryl was right to be upset yesterday. You shouldn’t be able to shift us both. In the past, the children—” MacLean stopped abruptly.
“It’s okay,” Teryl said. “She knows about it.”
MacLean nodded and cast a quick glance around us before saying, “Some of the children showed a similar ability. Things went bad almost immediately after the ability manifested. Brenin was interested because of your age.”
“Interested why? I can’t believe I’m the only late bloomer.” I wasn’t that old, despite my upcoming birthday. I hadn’t even hit my prime yet. I bent down to pick up a leaf off of the ground. The tree had shed about half of its orange-gold leaves. I twirled it absently in my left hand, watching the delicate points shiver with each tiny movement.
MacLean flashed a wicked smile. “You’ve bloomed just fine. But I’ve never heard of anyone coming into their magic this late.”
I looked up from the leaf. “If I’ve bloomed just fine, why did you cancel the engagement?”
That got his attention, and the smile fell from his face.
“It was between our fathers. I had nothing to do with it.” MacLean tilted his head and considered me. “I would have married you, regardless. I wasn’t given a choice.”
Before I could respond, an older couple walked over and held up a camera, asking if I’d take their picture next to the fallen firefighter’s memorial sculpture. I let the leaf float to the ground. I tried to be gracious as I took a few pictures, and then hurried back to the guys. I resumed my place against the tree trunk. The solid feel against my back was reassuring. “Let’s get back to the souls. Are you going to turn me in?”
MacLean’s gaze became shuttered, and he didn’t say anything. I panicked and spoke in a rush, “I didn’t know they were souls. I swear, I didn’t.”
“I believe you.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. A young guy with beaded dreads walked past, dancing a little with each step to the music playing in his headphones. The way his hair wobbled and wiggled brought an involuntary smile to my face for a second.
“But the problem isn’t just the souls. You have abilities that have never been seen. What else can you do?”
Teryl shrugged one shoulder. “We’re not sure yet.”
MacLean frowned as his cell phone beeped. He pulled it out and checked the screen before pocketing it again. “That’s a problem.”
“Why?” I asked. “Maybe I won’t get any more abilities. Maybe I can only shadow and shift gargoyles and phoenix. That can’t be so bad.”
MacLean looked at me like I’d sprouted two heads. “You’re Jedren’s daughter. That’s bad enough. When you didn’t show any abilities, Jedren blamed it on your mother’s blood.”
“Yeah, about that,” Teryl said, earning himself a sharp look from MacLean. “We suspect she might not have been just human.”
“Son of a bitch. Who was her mother?”
Jax interrupted before Teryl could answer. “We must find Elle’s fate. We are leaving to visit Carys tomorrow.” He took my hand again.
I suspected he didn’t want MacLean learning anything about my mother before we did. It was clear Jax didn’t trust MacLean, so I wondered how much I was supposed to trust my former fiancé, too. Teryl seemed to trust him, though. Apparently, it had been his idea to call him in the first place.
Jax’s hand was relaxed in mine. I was even more relieved to note his eyes only had a hint of silver streaking through them.
MacLean was staring at our joined hands with an indecipherable expression.
“I’m nothing like Jedren,” I reiterated
“I figured that out years ago.” He gave me a rueful smile. “The problem is what I’m going to tell Brenin.”
“We need you to come with us to Scotland,” Jax said.
Guess that answered my question about trust. Or did it? What was that phrase about keeping enemies close?
“Why?” MacLean asked, although he seemed less surprised than I was.
“If other hunters are after her, we need an extra set of eyes and ears.”
I got hung up on one word. “Hunters? I though you said they were investigators.” I turned to Teryl in confusion. “What does he mean, hunters?”
Teryl pointed to Jax. “I’m going to defer to Jax and go grab you a hot drink. You want leaded or unleaded?”
“Leaded.” I turned to Jax. “Explain.”
“When a price is put on your head, the investigators become hunters,” Jax replied, as Teryl jogged over to a café across the street. I watched him go, wishing I could escape for a few minutes, too.
“For the record, I’m not hunting you,” MacLean added. His phone beeped again, but this time, he ignored it.
“Surprisingly, that doesn’t make me feel better,” I said, sarcasm dripping from my tone. “Do they want me dead or alive? There’s a big difference there, you know.”
“No, they haven’t issued a kill order yet.”
I should be thankful for that, but I wasn’t feeling very lucky. “How many hunters are there?”
“About a half dozen,” MacLean said, his voice subdued. “Jax is right. I should go with you. I know them, and I know their habits. I have the best chance of keeping them off your trail.”
“Why would you help us?” His easy acquiescence bothered me. How many people just up and agreed to fly to Scotland?
“If Jedren set you up to steal the souls, I need to find out why. And I need to recover the others. Whatever he’s planning, he wants you out of the way. He never does anything without a really good reason.”
“He doesn’t need a reason. He enjoys torturing people just for the fun of it. He and Luke used to—” I clamped my mouth shut before I said too much in front of Jax. I was breathing hard, and I could feel my heart racing. There were some memories Jedren hadn’t tried to take from me, the bastard. The one I’d reclaimed when I’d first touched MacLean meant my former fiancé knew about Luke, too, but Jax didn’t.
If a girl like me wanted to avoid violence, she wouldn’t let her gargoyle know about Luke. I focused my attention on a tourist taking pictures of his wife and three young children hanging on the firefighter’s statue. The children giggled and made faces at the camera.
“He and Luke used to what?” Jax asked, in a low, deadly voice.
I looked away from the family when Teryl walked up and handed me a paper cup and a bouquet of fresh cut flowers from one of the floral cart vendors. “Here you go. Drink up, warm up, cheer up.”
The thoughtful gesture helped me shake away the nasty feeling Luke’s memory always brought. I sent Teryl a grateful look. His timing was impeccable. I buried my nose in the fragrant bouquet of lilies, roses, daisies, and pompons. The heady, floral scent brought instant calm. The cheerful pinks and yellows were perfect. The floral vendors were some of my favorite businesses to support in Seattle. I loved fresh flowers.
“Thanks,” I whispered, and gave Teryl a quick, one-armed hug.
I smelled the flowers again, but reluctantly brought myself back to the purpose of the meeting. “Why would my father put a price on my head? Is that a common thing you people do?”
Teryl sighed. “Elle, we’re your people too. But no, it’s not a common thing. In fact, the last time I heard of a parent doing something like this was when the lines were mixing without the Council’s guidance.”
“Mixed children—like me—who get punished…” I thought about Luke, about my fath
er’s punishment of me for just existing. “It’s like having a dozen Lukes after me…”
I looked up at the sky, hoping the vise around my chest would ease. I felt a gentle hand rub my back. Minutes passed in silence along with the clouds overhead, before my breath began to smooth out.
“Okay, guys,” I said, ignoring the raw feeling in my throat. “I don’t think I can do this. I can’t go to Scotland knowing people are hunting me.” Luke had…I squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn’t think about that.
“Elle.” Jax’s deep voice was soft as he gathered me close, careful not to crush my flowers or bump my drink. “You are no longer safe here.”
Stricken, I opened my eyes and watched the people walking through the square. Jax was right. Oh God, he was right. I hadn’t even considered that. My store, my apartment, all bought and paid for by the guy who wanted me dead. Had I ever really been safe here?
Another small child caught my attention as he hung on the fireman sculpture and giggled. The statue was always a favorite with the kids who visited the park. I envied that carefree, happy sound.
“Elle.” Jax touched my chin, drawing my attention back to him. “This is part of your fate. You are coming into your abilities, and whatever they are, you need to be strong enough to deal with them.”
I didn’t feel strong enough. I wished I had been born to normal parents who divorced and went on to live boring, middle-class lives. Until today, my desire to help Jedren’s victims had overridden my fear of him.
I’d been a fool. And I had seriously underestimated Jedren.
“I don’t know who you think I am, but I’m not that strong person. I’m just Elle.”
Teryl nudged me in the arm. “You’re Elle Fredricks. Defender against evil smells and novice thief. You’re hotter than Catwoman, and you smell like vanilla. That’s gotta count for something.”
An involuntary smile curved my lips. “Thanks, Teryl. You should think about starting a motivational greeting card company.”
Jax heaved a long suffering sigh. “Teryl is right on one account. You’re Elleodora Fredricks. Your name came from your grandmother. She was queen before Jedren took the throne. She was an amazing lady.”
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