I squared my shoulders and offered them a small smile. “Thanks.”
Jax pressed a kiss to my forehead and I inhaled his scent. It worked like a security blanket. I preferred it over the fragrant blossoms in my hand.
“Okay, let’s get this over with,” I said to Jax. Then I turned to MacLean. “Ready.”
MacLean held up the pictures of the mirror and books. “I’ll need to get these from you as soon as possible. The mirror belonged to Brenin’s father, Yale. It had been in their family for over two centuries, and he chose it to house his soul.” He pointed at the books in the next picture. “Seven sisters, all oracles, all fate readers. Those are their original fate journals.”
“The stones belong to the Walters family,” Jax added. He sounded almost sad.
“Did you know them?” I asked.
“They were my family.” His voice was so soft and low, I almost didn’t hear him. I wished I hadn’t.
“I stole your family? Wait, I thought your last name was West?”
“My mother’s maiden name was Walters. Can you tell us how you found them?”
I gestured toward Teryl. “He tracked the shipments with accounting records. He always knew what day they were coming in and what building, warehouse or third party the items would go to. I just had to show up and take them.” It sounded so ridiculous when I said it out loud. I seemed like the least competent cat burglar around.
“Why these shipments, Teryl?” MacLean asked. He’d taken my spot against the trunk of the maple tree. He gave the appearance of being relaxed, but he wasn’t missing a thing. He continually scanned the crowd. Leaning against the tree gave him a little better vantage point.
“I was looking for smaller items within a large shipment. A little something here and there, so it wouldn’t tip anyone off right away. I was also checking invoices to see how much Jedren had paid, so I had a better idea what we could get for it.”
“How many have you sold?” MacLean asked me.
I flinched at MacLean’s sharp tone. “Only a few pieces of jewelry. I usually wait at least three or four months before I sell.” I looked at the pictures in his hand and mentally calculated. “I’ve had the mirror about seven months, the book about five and the stones were from Saturday night.”
I noticed both MacLean and Jax relax. “Was the jewelry…?” I trailed off, not knowing quite how to word it.
“No,” MacLean replied with an impatient flick of his wrist. “What about the dagger and clock?”
“I haven’t seen a dagger or a clock.” And I didn’t want to. I sipped my latte and waited for the next question.
MacLean pushed away from the tree and took a few steps, tapping the pictures against his thigh as he thought. “No jewelry has been reported missing. The dagger belongs to the phoenix and the clock belongs to the light elves. If you don’t have them, they’re still unaccounted for.”
“Nothing from the shadow elves has been taken,” Jax said.
“Not yet. But I expect something will come up missing within the next few weeks. The thefts have been occurring every three to five weeks, the stones being the most recent.” MacLean rubbed his chin. “I still can’t figure out what Jedren’s motive might be.”
Teryl started pacing, scuffing his feet through the fallen leaves. They crackled beneath his tread. “If Elle had all the souls, I would think his motive would be clear. Set Elle up and let her take the fall. But if there are still souls unaccounted for, that’s a different issue entirely.”
A young woman jogged by, craning her neck to get a second look at Teryl. I didn’t blame her. His outfit was simple and slick. Black, flat-front slacks and a lightweight sweater. He didn’t even notice the attention, because he was too busy pacing.
I finished my drink as I watched them all.
“Can he use the souls?” Jax directed the question at MacLean.
MacLean thought about it. “I’m not sure,” he finally said. “Possibly, but I couldn’t say how. He could use them to start a war.”
One big question kept popping up in my head. “How did he know Teryl and I would go after the shipments…er…souls?”
“I don’t know. There are few oracles left with the ability to sense that, but it’s possible he’s using them.” MacLean’s eyes flickered at the idea, but his expression didn’t give much away.
I supposed it didn’t matter now. I moved on to my next question. “What other combination of lines would give me the mixed-blood magic the Council fears? Maybe what I have is a fluke.”
Teryl shook his head. “No. It’s not a fluke. And I think Jedren knows that. I bet that’s why he’s so eager to get you before the Council. If you are a combination of lines that had been previously proven dangerous and you’ve made it to your late twenties without going crazy, you’ll become one of two things. First option, you’ll become a human lab experiment. They will test you in every way imaginable to figure you out. Second option, you’ll be deemed too much of a threat and killed. End of story.”
I could see worry lines around his eyes. I was scared to death. The picture he painted wasn’t a pretty one. “Can you guys think of any other possibilities?”
Jax didn’t say anything, which I took to mean no. MacLean was watching Teryl pace. After a moment, he said, “It would be helpful to know your mother’s line. I know her name, of course, but there was no information beyond the fact that she was human in the betrothal agreement.”
“Emmaline Fredricks.”
“Fredricks. Hmm…”
Teryl stopped pacing and watched people walking by. He shoved his hands in his pockets. MacLean was deep in thought as well. I was ready to explode. Emotions tangled inside, and I fought to stay calm and steady with my breathing. Another businessman walked past, talking into one cell phone and texting on another. Life went on around me, but I felt like my situation had screeched to a shuddering halt.
“No…” Jax whispered. He stiffened, but thankfully remained human.
“What, Jax?”
His voice had an edge to it. “We are looking at this all wrong. What if Elle’s mother wasn’t any of those things?”
I smiled as relief swept through me. “Right, that’s what I’ve been saying all along. She was human. Period.”
“No,” Jax replied, as his eyes streaked with silver. “No, I don’t believe she was. I think she was a demigod.”
“Demigod? What is that?”
“The child of a human and god or goddess,” Teryl said. He patted his pants’ pockets before retrieving a piece of paper and pen, then began to scribble furiously.
“No, I don’t think so. She couldn’t have hidden something like that.” I’d found her dead in her home. A single gunshot wound straight through the head. If she was a demigod, she wouldn’t be dead. She would be here, lecturing me for stealing from my father. But she wouldn’t be dead.
“If she was a demigod, how could he have killed her?” I stared down at the flowers in my hand, needing the cheer their bright colors could offer. I tossed my empty cup in the trash bin next to the tree, wanting to free up one of my hands.
“They are immortal, but not invincible. They can be killed. We all can. I’m sorry.”
I drew in a deep breath. I was sorry, too, for all of it. But that didn’t change the fact that it was happening, and I had to deal with it.
“Guys, you’ll have to forgive me. I hope I’ll get at least some of my memories back, but until then, just assume I have no clue what you’re talking about. I don’t know what my mom was…” My voice hitched, and I cleared my throat. “I don’t know what she was, but I know you’re right. There are a lot of things we need to consider, and I need to talk to Carys.”
I leveled my gaze at MacLean. “Thank you for offering to come with us. I appreciate any help you can give.”
He nodded.
I shifted my gaze to Teryl. “If you could get me one of those history books you were talking about, that describes the lines? I can read it on the flight and mayb
e clear up a few questions I have.”
“Sure, I’ll put it in my carry-on.”
I nodded my thanks. “My last question is, am I safe from the hunters until we leave for Scotland?”
The men exchanged a look, then Jax said, “You should be, but that’s why you’re going to stay with me. We don’t want to take chances.”
“Will Cassie be okay with the store? Because I’d rather close it down for a week than put her in danger.”
“No, she’ll be fine,” Teryl said. “The hunters won’t go after her. Once they see you’re not here, they’ll move on. Despite their title, they don’t cause murder and mayhem everywhere they go. Especially when there’s no kill order.”
Well, that was something, at least. “I’m going to stretch my legs and let you guys talk. Jax can fill me in on anything else.”
MacLean pocketed the pictures. “I think we’re done. I’ll call Teryl if I have any questions.”
“I’ll walk with you for a few blocks.”
Jax began to protest, and I turned to him with a scowl.
“Jax, enough. It’s fine, okay?” I had a few questions for MacLean, and I didn’t need a jealous gargoyle breathing down my neck.
Jax was watching MacLean with a clear warning in his silver eyes. MacLean was ignoring him and smiling at me. The smug expression wasn’t helping. I barely repressed the urge to roll my eyes. Instead, I started walking in the direction he’d arrived, hoping he’d take the hint and follow.
When we had walked a block, MacLean turned to me. “While I’d like to believe you wanted a little alone time, I know you’ve got other things on your mind.”
Ground rules. We needed to start with ground rules. “Jax and I are in a relationship.”
MacLean smiled, showing his white teeth. “I could tell. But you and I have history.”
“I don’t remember it.”
He gave a soft whistle. “Harsh, but I suppose I have to give you that one.”
I side-stepped a woman with a jogging stroller. “Look, I remember a tiny bit, but not enough to help. And if you’re coming with us, you have to stop antagonizing Jax.”
I saw a speculative gleam in his eyes. “You’re going to take away all my fun, Princess.”
I flinched. I hated that name and the horrible memories it brought up. “Don’t call me that.”
He blinked at the vehemence in my tone. “Sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just a nickname I used to call you.”
I willed the tension in my shoulders to ease. “I just…please don’t call me that. Elle is fine. And that leads me to my next question. Why are you doing this? Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the help, but I need to know why.”
I saw his expression change, and he transformed into the hunter. The grin and teasing demeanor were gone. I saw banked fire in his eyes, but they were surprisingly cold and cunning. His face was serious, and there was an aura of danger around him. I figured that was better than a ring of fire, but the change was dramatic. He was all business. “You’re trusting me to help keep you safe?”
“Yes.” I didn’t have much of a choice.
“Then you need to know I’m not only working this case as a hunter. I’ve been hired to investigate your father. I can’t tell you more than that, but I wanted to warn you. You’ve been implicated as well.
“I know you’re not involved. Not in that way. But I need you to know this is much bigger than you realize. It goes beyond your new abilities. Beyond Jedren, even. So I will help you find your fate, and I will protect you from Jedren, but I also have to do my job.”
“Which is what, exactly?”
He flashed that disarming grin. “I can’t tell you that. But I can tell you this.” He rubbed a lock of my hair between his fingers as he held my gaze. “We have unfinished business.”
His eyes flickered, and I felt heat building around him.
I stepped back so he had to let go. “No, MacLean, we don’t.”
If I hadn’t known any better, I’d swear I saw hurt in his eyes, before his smile grew a little wider. “Yes, we do. I hope you get your memories back soon.”
He turned around and walked down the street, leaving that unsettling comment hanging between us. I watched him go. Jax moved with a silent, easy grace, but MacLean…MacLean’s movements were efficient and controlled.
Deadly, my mind whispered. I’d also have to be dead not to notice how attractive he was. Too bad he had the wrong time, wrong place, and wrong girl. As I stared after him, an ache bloomed behind my left temple, a sure sign that there were more missing memories. Maybe he was right, and we did have unfinished business.
Speaking of complications, I thought, as I trudged back up the block toward the park, I have a gargoyle to deal with.
Teryl met me first. “Everything okay?”
I smiled wearily. “Just peachy.”
Teryl wrote a few more words on the paper, and then pocketed it. “I have to head home, finish packing and stuff.”
Jax was standing where I’d left him, and his posture relaxed when he saw me. I smiled with a lot less weariness.
“So, you and Jax, huh?” Teryl obviously hadn’t missed that little exchange.
“Yeah,” I replied, keeping my voice soft. “Me and Jax.”
Teryl looked worried, but he smiled, anyway. “Should I give him the over-protective, best friend speech?”
I snorted. “Do I even want to know what that speech is?”
“Probably not. Because I don’t think I could kick his ass if I tried.”
“Let’s skip that speech. I don’t want you to get hurt,” I teased.
“Isn’t that supposed to be my line?” He elbowed me playfully.
I gave him a quick hug. “I love you for being my best friend and big brother, all in one. Now get out of here. I know you’ve got things to do. And thanks for the flowers.”
He ruffled my hair just to be irritating. “See you tomorrow.”
I walked back to Jax, where he stood under a maple tree. “Let’s head back to my apartment. It’ll take me ten minutes to pack.”
Chapter Nine
Jax cupped the back of my head in his hand. His kiss was gentle and searching. I relaxed against him, winding my arms around his neck. With a growl, he pulled me closer, and the kiss changed. His mouth became hot and possessive. When he pulled back a moment later, we were both breathing hard.
“I will keep you safe.”
I leaned my forehead against his shoulder, wanting to ignore the people and sounds around us. “I know, Jax.”
“You are my mate, my life.” His voice was quiet and hoarse.
I blinked back the moisture in my eyes. “You have to stop saying stuff like that. You have to give me time to catch up. I’ve only had a couple days to get used to the idea. You’ve had a lot longer.”
He drew in a breath to speak, but this time I stopped him with a finger to his lips. I leaned back and looked into those silver, gray eyes. “Whenever you say things like that, I go mushy inside. I don’t think I can afford to be mushy right now. And anyway, we need to get going.” I tugged on his hand, forced a smile for the people who’d stopped to watch our kiss, and started walking in the direction of my apartment.
After a block had passed, he said, “I’m sorry. I can’t help it. But you’re right. I need to give you time, and I will.”
“Thanks.” I smiled up at him and gave his hand a quick squeeze. “When we get back to my apartment, I need to look over the shop, check the cash register to make sure Cassie has enough change, and pull a little more stock.”
Jax let go of my hand so he could wrap an arm around my shoulders. “I’ll do that while you pack.”
He scanned the sidewalk and streets continually. His arm was relaxed, but the stance was deceptive. He studied each face we passed, not missing a single detail. I felt safe with him in bodyguard mode.
“What will I need in Scotland?”
“Warm clothes.” The corners of his eyes crinkled in
amusement before he resumed his watchful vigil. “Carys lives outside of Inverness. Since it’s October, I believe it’s a little cold and wet right now.”
“How’s that different from Seattle?”
“It’s not much different, just colder. Pack warm. Think wool sweaters.” Jax pulled me to a stop at an intersection, and we waited for the pedestrian signal to change.
Wool sweaters? They definitely weren’t a wardrobe staple of mine.
We walked the rest of the blocks in silence. I didn’t want to distract him, and I didn’t mind the quiet. When we arrived at my building, I locked us inside by throwing every rusty deadbolt my street-level door had. Jax stayed in the shop while I trudged upstairs.
I opened the hall closet and grabbed my small suitcase. There wasn’t a single wool sweater in my closet, so I’d have to make do without. I let my mind wander aimlessly while I packed the necessities. I am a big fan of packing light. The less I take, the less I have to pack home. And I was hoping this would be a quick trip.
Rummaging around my bathroom, I grabbed my toiletries and makeup. I piled everything into the suitcase and stared at it, just knowing I’d forgotten something important.
The token.
I ran down the stairs and found Jax stocking the soaps.
“Hey, I need to grab the token, then I’m ready.”
Famous last words.
By the time we made it to Jax’s apartment, it was almost four o’clock, and I was exhausted and starving.
He unlocked the door and ushered me inside. Curiosity overrode my exhaustion. This was the first time I’d seen his apartment, and it didn’t disappoint. There were few furnishings in the living room. A big leather couch, a recliner, and a big screen television. Typical bachelor pad. Rich, dark brown paint covered the walls, making the white crown molding really stand out. It gave the room a sophisticated feel, despite the lack of personal décor.
I wandered into the kitchen, where Jax was flipping through take-out menus.
“You must have heard my stomach growling. That’s a serious stack of menus. I take it you don’t cook much.”
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