Leaning over, Enlil placed a paternal kiss to Jess’s forehead and whispered, “Stay strong, little Jess. Your family loves you.” He nodded once more to Sara and ported before his first tear rolled down his face. The Fates could be so cruel.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Seventeen days, ten hours, forty-two minutes. Forty-three minutes. Forty-four minutes. Shane sat alone in the silence of his home. Jess’s oleander scent had already faded away. He buried his nose in the pillow where she had laid her head, trying to survive on even just the memory of the scent it had once held. The passage of time on the clock was his sole companion. Seventeen days, eleven hours had now passed since he’d last seen her.
He’d held it together the first five days. The Volaticus, Tellus, and Aquaties had flattened the two breeding sites in Australia. The Volaticus had wired the buildings with less than a third of the required C4 for total destruction. Upon detonation, the Aquaties had sent out a high frequency sound wave while the Tellus emitted ultrasound vibrations. The entire compound seemed to turn to liquid and melt. The Volaticus, Tellus, or the Aquaties could have destroyed the compound using only their own method, but the chances of them initiating either a volcanic eruption or at the very least an earthquake, due to the geographic placement of the sites, was extremely high. By working together, they had accomplished what needed to be done with absolutely no risk of calamity. Shane felt honored to have been a part of this historic event that demonstrated the value of a symbiosis with other species. This entire operation had firmly solidified the value of the SOSC’s existence in a way that nothing before ever had.
The African site had a steady flow of Fualth’s soldiers, farmers, computer operators, and healers. In some instances entire colonies would show up and surrender to the warriors who remained in Africa for that very reason. True to Innanna’s word, at the end of the seven days, the chortal that had been created to the site was removed and the compound suffered the same fate as the two Australian locations. To their best estimation, they figured roughly two thirds of the total population of Fualth’s organization globally had surrendered or been captured. Not bad for a night’s work, and it was only possible working with their Tellus and Aquaties contingents.
The highest casualty rate had happened at the personal headquarters Fualth held in Maine. While breaching the target, the soldiers had tripped a silent alarm wired to blow up the entire structure. The trip had set off an old-type clock countdown, and the sweeper device did not pick up the non-technical type of trigger. The place was deemed clear. Three hours later it blew to pieces, taking out members of all three species and all of Fualth’s personal staff that had been detained. The explosion was so large, there was no way to keep it out of the world media. The official cause was blamed on a natural buildup of methane gas, since the small peninsula was thought to have been uninhabited. No casualties were listed in the media. That had kept the story from being big news for more than a day or so.
For five days he’d worked though the echo of Jess’s pain, pain that was at times so bad, it would double him over. He raged at his impotence in comforting her. He’d breathe through it the way he knew she would want him to, the way she’d shown him the last time he saw her. He’d dug latrines. He’d dug graves. He’d wired explosives at the first two sites. He thought he’d handled the separation with strength and dignity.
Then Jess had gone into full estrus, and the bond created a fire of pain and lust in Shane that was undeniable. It took every member of his family to finally get him locked into the secured room at Gregor and Teya’s home. They lived in Alaska, which wasn’t far enough away from Jess to keep Shane from raging for her, calling out to her. The lead and platinum of the room was the only thing that had kept him from violating his promise and connecting to her in any way he could have. His brothers had finally chained him down, keeping him that way day after day. He’d gone completely mad.
It had fallen to Conlon and Gregor to care for him. Teya and Irsu couldn’t take it. He’d seen tears fall from the eyes of his brothers during that period. They hooked IVs into his arms, forcing blood and fluids into him, toweling the buckets of sweat off him. He could still hear his own voice screaming at them, begging, pleading, raging, and crying for them to free him. He’d gone hoarse, and still he’d wailed. At one point he’d broken his own wrist straining against the chains.
It was only when Jess’s estrus had started to ebb and her pain began to ease that Shane had finally been able to regain some semblance of control. Even then they had kept him chained, IVs hung from him. He lay there feeling what he hoped was the last of Jess’s pain fading away yesterday. The door to the secure room had opened. Gregor and Conlon walked in, with Miguel right behind them.
“Brother.” Miguel came to sit at the edge of the bed. Conlon and Gregor stood on the opposite side.
Shane couldn’t help it; the tears began to roll from his eyes, saturating his hair. “I can’t feel her, Miguel. I don’t think she made it,” Shane whispered through his wrecked voice box. He felt like an elephant was sitting on his chest. He couldn’t get a full breath through the ache.
Gregor released the chains from one wrist, while Conlon released his ankles. Miguel released the other wrist, speaking softly. “She’s fine, Shane. She is finally resting. It’s almost over, my brother.”
Overwhelming relief swamped Shane. He pulled Miguel into a bear hug, weeping into his brother’s shoulder. Conlon and Gregor joined the huddle. The four of them held each other, giving comfort in the same manner they had the day their parents had died. Teya, Irsu, and Jerika joined them. Shane had no idea how long he cried into the loving support of his family’s bond before he could finally take a full breath again. Then the inevitable awkwardness followed, broken when Jerika announced, “We all love you, Shane, but you kinda reek.” Shane chuckled for the first time in over two weeks.
Shane sat on the bed that had been his prison, rubbing his wrists where the chains had been. He looked up into the loving, concerned, relieved faces of his family. “Thank you. All of you.”
Teya was tucked securely to Gregor’s side. Irsu had her arms around Jerika, and the mother-daughter image was beyond beautiful. Conlon and Miguel stood on either side of them. This was what life was about. Family. He’d always known it. It was time for Jess to learn it too. He’d been lucky enough to have these wonderful people care for him, people who knew him and loved him. Jess was at Moira’s, but he knew she didn’t really feel a strong connection to anyone except him. She’d felt alone through it all. Hell, probably since her mother had died. Shane vowed to himself that Jess would know how this kind of family love felt.
“I promise to do the same for any of you should you ever need it,” Shane offered, teasing.
“Don’t even think about that shit,” Conlon warned. “I promise you I will never be unselfish enough to go through what you just did. No way, no how.”
“Well, you know the worst is truly over when someone can finally make a joke about it. Let’s not go there, Mr. Congeniality,” Irsu said. Conlon had the courtesy to look apologetic for his blunt evaluation.
“No, he’s right.” Shane agreed. “That was bad. I’m sure it wasn’t great to be around either.” He nodded at Conlon and finally dared to look at Miguel. As the pre-cog and Oracle in training, he was the closest to a director of this fiasco at the moment. “What now? Can I …” Shane’s voice caught with emotion. “Can I go to Jess now?”
Miguel shook his head, and Shane felt the sting of broken hope, hope that had reared up in him just from posing the question to Miguel.
“Innanna says that only Jess will know when the last of the energy is released from her psyche. She may still carry some. It appears that it is no longer causing her pain.” Miguel sighed before continuing. “There is nothing stopping you from going to Jess now, but Innanna says it would be best if you waited for Jess to call you to her.”
Shane dropped his head into his hands. “You’re sure she is just resting?” he as
ked Miguel one more time.
“I am positive. She must be completely exhausted after this. You must be too,” Miguel assured him.
Teya piped in an offer. “Shane, you know you are welcome to wait here for her. Take a shower. Get some sleep.”
Shane stood clutching the sheet around his waist, hiding his nakedness. “No.” He leaned over to place a brotherly kiss on Teya’s forehead. “You are too good for Gregor. I have always told you that,” he teased her, the way he had for years.
“You also said I should run away with you instead.” Teya returned the old banter. “You are officially off the market, little brother-in-law.”
A true smile spread across Shane’s face. “You better believe it, sister.” Conlon and Irsu looked at each other and rolled their eyes. “I am going home.” Shane squeezed Miguel’s shoulder with his free hand. “Tell Innanna that I will wait for Jess to call to me. Let her know that once I am with Jess again, I will never again leave her side. Don’t even ask.” Miguel returned the shoulder squeeze with a smile and a nod.
Shane said his goodbyes, went home, took a shower, and slept for a solid ten hours. He’d now been sitting, his face buried in this pillow, watching the clock waiting for Jess to call.
****
Shane. Jess opened her eyes to the morning sun filtering through the curtains of the unfamiliar room. Lying on her belly, she lifted to her elbows to look around the room. Modestly decorated, it was comfortable though impersonal, probably a guest bedroom. Taking a deep breath, she smelled coffee and bacon, and her belly immediately rumbled. Shane would tease her about her noisy tummy. Shane? Where was he? Had he been hurt? She reached to the bond. He was anxious but not in pain.
Rising out of the bed, she noticed the cotton nightgown she wore. It wasn’t like any thing she ever worn or had even seen. It was haltered, leaving her back and wings—yep, wings—exposed. Elastic at the waist, it flowed down to her bare feet. Someone had cleaned her up and braided her hair. The cotton gown was clean.
She vaguely remembered being in a softly lit, stone-walled room without windows, cozy and impenetrable. She’d been chained, always on her stomach. The smell of her blood coated her scent glands. There had been an IV hanging to the floor from her arm. Her blood flowed from her into bag after bag. She’d alternated between feeling like she was on fire and feeling like she was freezing. The pain in her head had been horrific. She hadn’t been able to hear correctly, nor could she see clearly. There was only pain and the ache of her sex. Maddening.
She stepped into the attached bathroom, flipping the wall switch to flood the room with light. Jess peered into the mirror, pivoting to see her wings as she waved them back and forth gently. I wonder how they tuck away? They did just that with her thought, disappearing into her new back flaps. Cool. A smile lit her face, and her attention was caught by the dentes in her mouth. Sliding her tongue against them, she almost moaned. Shane had never told her that they had sensation. The feel was erotic, like the tender flesh of her nipples. Nipples. Where was Shane? Oh, shit. Was her estrus over? She didn’t feel out of control. She simply wanted her mate, right now.
Stripping out of the gown, she stepped under the spray of the shower, washing and quickly toweling off, giving her hair and teeth a quick brush. Her dentes were ticklish. That was weird. She stepped back into the bedroom, the nightgown clutched to her chest, hoping that someone had thought to bring her bag. Lying on the bed was a new outfit with the halter-type top that Jess was quickly recognizing to be the standard dress for Volaticus females, coupled with a matching sarong skirt and flip-flops. The style was simple, casual, and comfortable, but the material and print were spectacular. Multihued pastels shimmered in layer upon layer of shining, thin, silken material. It was flowing decadence. Jess was helpless from reaching out to stroke the brilliant fabric.
“A fitting mating gown, wouldn’t you say?” Innanna’s voice floated to Jess. She sat in the corner of the room, her body swallowed by the oversize chair.
Not in any way deceived by the smallness of Innanna’s size, Jess nodded at the powerful Elven. “It’s extraordinary.”
Innanna stood and walked over to her. “Let me help you.” Standing a few inches shorter than Jess, it wasn’t as dramatic of a size difference between them now that they weren’t surround by all the tall people.
Grinning like a girl going to prom, Jess quickly turned and dropped the nightgown, then lifted her hair. “Where did this come from?”
“The females you helped to save. The Aquaties are teaching them to create fabrics from underwater plants. They wanted to thank you. They designed and made this piece for you. Every thread and stitch was made by grateful hands.” Innana finished tying the sarong. “There you are. Beautiful.”
Jess turned back, tears in her eyes. She was overwhelmed by the victims’ generosity. After all they had been through, to go to the effort to make something so exquisite for her mating was beyond appreciation.
“Don’t start that, girl. That male of yours is already holding on by a thread. He feels you crying and nothing will keep him from you,” Innanna teased, touching a finger to the tip of Jess’s nose.
“Why isn’t he here?” Jess finally brought herself to ask.
“He is waiting for you to call to him.” Innanna gently cupped Jess’s cheek. “Make your reunion special. You both deserve it.” Her wings fluttered, and she floated in her fairy way back over to sit in the chair. “Invite me to the wedding. I’d love to come.” With that she was gone.
Grinning, Jess slipped her feet into the flip-flops and opened the bedroom door to the familiar hallway, following the smell of coffee. She passed by Moira’s office at the top of the stairs and descended to the bright and cheery kitchen. Napoleon was tickling Jorie. He stopped the minute he saw Jess in the doorway, and Jorie’s giggles faded to silence.
Following her father’s gaze, Jorie finally saw Jess too. “Jess!” Jorie threw herself into Jess’s arms.
Catching the girl, Jess chuckled. “I missed you too, JorJor.” She didn’t know why she called the girl that, but it felt right. “That coffee better be for me.” She resumed where Napoleon had left off, tickling the child until she squirmed away.
Napoleon was pouring Jess a coffee when the kitchen door opened. Sara, Moira, and Nathan walked in. “The permanent housing should be done by then …” Sara was saying.
“Jessica,” Moira whispered. Her face still had light, fading scars, the only outward sign that she’d been hurt. Jess stepped into the open arms of her aunt. She could feel where her tiny wings were healing.
“Will they grow back, Aunt Moira?” Jess asked, stepping back from the embrace to look up at the mirror image of her mother.
“They were never really much to begin with. In time they will be fully healed.” Moira shrugged, looking at Jess’s clothing. “You look beautiful. Where did this come from?”
“Innanna.” She told them what had just taken place between herself and Innanna before she came downstairs. Taking the cup of heaven Napoleon held out to her, Jess sat down at the table. They brought her up to speed on what had happened with the operation while she ate breakfast.
Once they’d finished eating, Sara took Jorie and Nathan out to work in the farm, leaving Jess alone with Napoleon and Moira. “Thank you for taking care of me. I didn’t know where else to go. I wish I could have asked before just showing up on your doorstep.”
Moira took Jess’s face in her hands. “You are family, Jess. You are loved. You should know that to the best of my ability, I have always looked out for you, watched over you. You have never been alone.”
Jess swallowed her tears, turning her face from Moira’s grasp. It would take time and understanding before she would truly believe that. “Did you know I killed a man?”
“I found out about it after. Over the years I have broken into every secure system necessary to remove or modify your records with the State, the Court’s, and the hospital’s. I even modified your business and Jeep loans t
o keep you a phantom. I promised your mother I’d help you grow up free of all of this. In keeping that promise, I have protected you from discovery by the Volaticus, all of them, whether good or evil. But I couldn’t help you nearly enough with the humans. I read the details of the police report on the man’s death, including the parts that weren’t made public. I am proud of you. You saved those girls. So many times over the years I wanted to send for you, wanted to claim you and raise you, but life with my ‘causes,’ as your mother put it, was not what she wanted for you. She wanted you to live as a human for as long as you could. I knew once you’d Become, I would have no choice but to bring you into this world.”
“How did Jorie connect to me, then?”
Moira smiled. “Jorie was able to link to you through a blood-bond your mother and I created between you as infants before your mother took you to the U.S. to find Ben. We wanted you two to be able to find each other should anything ever happen to your mother or me.” She sighed, the smile fading. “You are smart, Jess, always have been. I am committed to answer any question you have for me, openly and honesty. I’m aware that you must feel some level of betrayal after all you have come to know. Honesty is the only hope I have of building the bridge between us now.”
Jess was far from done asking her aunt questions, but she was satisfied for the moment. It would take time for her to feel like she was not alone and dreaming when in her aunt’s presence. The reality of family had not yet sunk in. Right now the only person who completely filled the lonely void in her was waiting for her call. During breakfast she’d been thinking of how to make it a special reunion.
“I need a favor, if I could.” She glanced from Moira to Napoleon.
“Name it,” Napoleon answered.
Blushing, Jess plunged ahead. “Shane and I bonded at the spring.”
Moira and Napoleon glanced at one another, sharing a secret smile. Napoleon pulled Moira so that her injured back was gently leaning on his chest and wrapped his arms around her. “It’s a perfect place,” Moira said. “So did we. Three days ago.”
Immortal Becoming Page 26