Fletcher: The Cursed Clan: Book 4

by Schroeder, Melissa

  “Okay.”

  “Rena, how is Wick?”

  “Pretty. Romantic.”

  “Oh good.” The absentminded tone told Serena that Phoebe’s mind was on other matters. “Well, I found another passage that I think has to do with the ruby.”

  “You think it has to do with Fletcher and me?”

  “Yes. It said, ‘The key to retrieving the stone of love is not in passion, but in compassion. Absolute trust is paramount to succeeding. Abandoning a quest is not losing but winning if you do it for the right reasons.’ Does that mean anything to you?”

  “No. But you’re the professor.”

  “I just thought it might have something to do with what you are doing right now. I’ll text you if I come up with anything.”

  The phone jostled around before Maggie came back on the line. “Well, that was interesting. What do you think it means?”

  “Not sure. Why would I be giving up the quest for the ruby?”

  “Who knows?”

  “Your ancestors are annoying.”

  Maggie chuckled. “They are. So, I guess we aren’t going to talk any more about Fletcher?”

  Serena leaned her forehead against the window. “No. I have no idea what will happen.”

  “That’s not like you at all.”

  “I know.”

  Serena always had a plan, and she rarely lingered over lovers. She never wanted attachments, until now. When they had been out earlier, it was almost as if they were out on a date, just having fun. But when she saw the photographer, she realized that most of it was show.

  “Rena? Are you okay?”

  “Yes. I’m fine. Now tell me about where they keep the ruby.”

  “Okay. It isn’t going to be that easy, but it’s on display every now and then and will be for this big ta da she is doing next week. Lots of security, but from what my very handsome husband found, it is going to go back into storage after the dinner. She doesn’t leave it out that often and definitely not for very long.”

  “So, since Angus found this information, did he find me more information about the security?”

  “Yes. He’s going to send it to you over their super-secret server.”

  “Why?”

  “Because we don’t want it coming back onto us. If she sends her goons after us, we want to have plausible deniability.”

  She smiled. Maggie did have the Irish way of telling stories, and she tended to add flourishes at will. “Are you sure they’re goons?”

  “Yes. I wish we could just buy the ruby.”

  “But they have to be captured in some way.”

  It was that way with each of the stones. The idea of buying the stone seemed like a better one than going to a fundraiser and stealing it. Maggie’s ancestors had left them with an instructional code for breaking the curse, but it was not without its challenges. Since they had been cursed, they all agreed that the witches had wanted to make sure the McLennan’s proved themselves.

  “So, what kind of things are you up to tonight?”

  She heard a sound behind her and turned to find Fletcher smiling at her.

  “Not sure, but I have a feeling we’ll just be staying in tonight.”

  “Ohhhh, now I know what you mean by that. I want some kind of details about Fletcher.”

  She smiled as Fletcher stepped into her bedroom. “Does your husband know you’re preoccupied by his cousin?”

  Fletcher cocked his head.

  “I’m not preoccupied by Fletcher. I’m preoccupied by you and that you are in love with him.”

  Hoping he didn’t hear that, she smiled. “I’m sure Angus will understand if I call him right now.”

  “Sod off, you bloody faery. If you aren’t going to give me any details, I’m off. Jack and Angus were playing chess, so I better go save my husband from humiliation.”

  She laughed as Fletcher stepped up behind her and slipped his arms about her and started to kiss her neck.

  “Love to my boy.”

  “Of course.”

  They clicked off and she smiled.

  “Good information?”

  “Yes. Were you talking to Angus?”

  “Hmm,” he said as he nibbled at her earlobe. “Yes.”

  “So, he is getting us the schematics on the safe we have to break into.”

  She turned to face him. Before she could say anything, he slammed his mouth down on hers. She was falling, her brain dissolving as lust washed over her. The room around them sparked, but she was getting used to that. In fact, she thought nothing of it as she opened her mouth and let his tongue slip between her lips.

  He tore his mouth away, both of them breathing heavily. “Wow, I…” his voice faded as he looked at the room around them. It was a rainbow of colors, dancing around them like they were under special lighting.

  “Yes, wow.”

  “No,” he said. He held up a free hand. “This is wow. I mean…damn. Is this normal?”

  “Asks the immortal,” she said with a chuckle. Her voice wavered though, and she wasn’t that steady on her feet. Serena was afraid that if he stepped away from her, she might collapse into a puddle of lust at his feet.

  “I mean the lights,” he said as they started to dim.

  She wanted to lie and tell him they were normal. It scared her how much he was beginning to mean to her, but in this, she could be truthful.

  “No. I’ve had various experiences, but nothing like this.”

  “Hmm.” It was his only response.

  “I think it might be that you know who I am.”

  “Other men didn’t know who you were?”

  “They knew who I was. Not what.”

  “Ah, so I am your only lover who has known you are a faery?”

  She nodded.

  “And I only know because of our family association.”

  “Family association?”

  “The M and M’s are your family, right?”

  Her heart warmed, and she felt herself softening. He could be a charmer, but she sensed the bone deep honesty behind his comment.

  “Yes. They are my family.”

  “So, otherwise I wouldn’t know.”

  She thought about their interactions.

  “Maybe. But, if I had time to get to know you, I would have told you.”

  “You’re sure of that?”

  Not really, but there was something telling her that it was important, very important to make this point.

  “There is something between us, something I haven’t felt for another lover in all my days. Is it because we had time to get to know each other better because of our families? Maybe. But I have never had this happen, and it has to do with the fact you know who and what I am. I only tell people I trust without question.”

  Desire and affection filled his gaze. “I trust you too. Outside of the family, I can’t say that I trust very many people.”

  “Then, I say we are equal.”

  He shook his head. “Love, I am nowhere equal to you.”

  The sincerity in his voice filled her with warm joy. “Is that a fact?”

  He nodded, nipping at her lower lip. “But, I’d like a chance to prove I am up to the challenge.”

  She laughed as he eased her onto the bed. She pushed aside her worries, just as she was sure he wanted her to do. Right now, pleasure was all the mattered.

  Chapter Twelve

  The next morning, they were having their coffee when there was a knock at the door. Fletcher was still wearing his PJ bottoms and she was wearing a robe.

  “Who the bloody hell could that be?” he asked to no one in particular. Serena glanced at the clock.

  “It is after ten.”

  “Well, we were up late last night.”

  She chuckled. “Yes, we were.”

  He shared a smile with her before the knocking started again. He didn’t move but continued to stare at her. Why did she even think it was important wearing a robe? The man gazed at her as if she were sitting there naked whil
e eating her breakfast.

  “Are you going to answer the door?” she asked. When he said nothing, she rose out of her chair.

  “Oh, sit down,” he said, gruffly. “I’ll get it.”

  “I’m perfectly capable of answering the door.”

  “True, but,” his gaze swept down her robe. She was completely covered, but somehow, he made her feel naked. “I’ll get the door.”

  She sighed as she watched him march to the door. He was definitely acting strange. Since their morning out yesterday, she had caught him stealing looks at her. They weren’t filled with lust. Instead, he looked like he was trying to figure out a puzzle.

  There was a muffle of voices. She complied with what he said for about three seconds after he left the room. She was rising from her chair when he walked in with Aileen McDougall. She was tiny in stature, with big blue eyes. Serena watched as Fletcher sent the new arrival a frown. He was not happy with the situation. When McDougall finally made eye contact with Serena, an icy chill swept over her, leaving her skin freezing and her soul shivering. There was no doubt this was the reincarnation of the bastard who killed her parents.

  “Love, this is Aileen McDougall.”

  Serena realized he was talking to her, since both of them were staring in her direction.

  “Oh? Sorry. I’m still a little fuzzy-headed from sleep. It’s very nice to meet you Mrs. McDougall.”

  She smiled, and while others would see the warmth, Serena just saw the calculating hate behind the facade. It oozed out of her pores.

  “Please, call me Aileen.”

  Her voice was soft, filled with warmth, but there was a tinge of evil around the edges. Was she imagining it? Maybe, but from the look Fletcher sent her, he didn’t like this pop-in visit any more than she did.

  “Of course. Is there a reason for your visit?”

  Behind McDougall, Fletcher smiled. “She thought to stop by and invite us over for a benefit this weekend.”

  “How nice. I’m not sure we have anything for that in the way of dress, but I’m sure we can manage.”

  “It’s for the Free Scotland Foundation.”

  “Ah, yes, you are interested in that.”

  Her smile dimmed. “Indeed.”

  Aileen stepped closer. The dark magick the bastard had used to survive all these years reached out to Serena. She did her best to hide her true nature from the slithering darkness, but it was difficult. It lashed through her soul as she pretended not to feel anything.

  “Do we know each other? I mean, have we met in the past?”

  She shook her head. “No, I don’t think so.”

  “But you seem to know so much about me.”

  Serena let a long beat of silence pass before she finally answered.

  “When we were looking for a place to go for a holiday, I ran across some articles about you and your crusade to free Scotland.”

  “I hope that I would be more successful than the crusades.”

  Serena smiled. “I’m sure you will be. A free Scotland would be a thing of beauty.”

  Aileen looked unsure of herself, then she smiled. The last tendrils of dark magick slipped away. “Yes, it would be. So, I can count on you and Mr. Lennon to attend?”

  “What day is it?”

  Aileen sighed. “I hate this, but it is tomorrow night. I would have sent an invite if I have known a Lennon was in our midst.”

  “We just arrived the day before yesterday, so you had no way of knowing. Besides, it sounds brilliant,” Fletcher said, layering on heaps of charm. He glanced at her. “Rena?”

  She nodded. “I agree.”

  “Good. I’ll have an invite sent over and get your names on the list. I know Mr. Lennon’s name, but do you mind if I ask your name?”

  “Fay. Serena Fay is my name.”

  “Good. Well, thank you for taking the time to see me. I’ll leave you to your breakfast. Good day.”

  “I’ll see you out,” Fletcher said. He waited for McDougall, then followed her, leaving Serena to stew about the odd visit. The door opened and closed but it took a few seconds for him to return.

  “What were you doing?” she asked.

  “Watching her. I don’t trust her.”

  “You shouldn’t. Or, I guess I should say that I shouldn’t.”

  “Why?”

  “She has designs on you.” And she murdered my family. There was no doubt in her mind now that her information had been correct, but she couldn’t tell Fletcher. If she did, he would question her loyalty.

  He sat down. “Doesna matter.”

  She studied him as he buttered his toast.

  “What do you mean?”

  He looked up. “I’ll be honest with you. A woman like her is usually my type. Seems sweet, would probably be happy if I were here on a holiday by myself. She’d have a little fun with me and send me on my way.”

  Irritation swept through her that had her clutching her butter knife. She could feel the familiar anger start to take over her body. It was something she had fought in her younger days, when she had been just learning about her abilities. It would often fester and explode, hurting anyone around her in some way. The lights dimmed.

  Fletcher looked up at the light. Then, his gaze settled on her. “What’s going on?”

  She blinked. “What do you mean?”

  “You know I notice a lot of things, and when you get irritated, things seem to come to life around you. Or they die. The lights,” he said using his butter knife to point to the ceiling.

  Serena thought about lying to him, but she just couldn’t. Some of her anger dissolved. “I’m not sure.”

  “No, you do know.”

  Her emotions tumbled through her as she tried to get them under control. This horrible feeling of wanting to stab McDougall had nothing to do with her family. It had to do with the man sitting across the table from her. His mouth curved.

  “You’re jealous.”

  “I am not.”

  Even as the words left her mouth, she knew they were false. She was. For the first time in her life she was jealous. Over a man. She had suffered from envy when she would see families out when she was younger. And, while she was happy for her friends, she admitted there were a lot of times she was jealous of the lives they were building with their mates. She knew that was never going to be her life.

  But she had never been jealous because of a man. Ever.

  “Ooch, you are,” he said with a chuckle.

  She wanted to deny it again, but she couldn’t. Lying to Fletcher was almost impossible. Not that she was a deliberate liar with people she loved, but she would often evade the truth.

  Then it hit her what her thoughts had been. Loved. She loved the damned man.

  “Rena?”

  She said nothing. This was not good. Not for either of them. But it explained her actions, the way she had avoided him. Faeries knew their mates by feelings, and something in her knew he had been the one for her. That’s why making love with him had been even more amazing than she had imagined.

  “You’re scaring me.”

  She blinked. “What? Oh, sorry. I...bloody hell.”

  “What?”

  She sighed. She couldn’t tell him. She had seen how Angus and Logan had become possessive. Not in a bad way, but Fletcher would never let her take on the task of avenging her family’s murders. He would either try to persuade her to give up her quest, or worse, be by her side. He might be immortal, but there was no telling what the demon had up his sleeve.

  “You’re right.”

  “What?”

  “I was jealous.”

  He studied her for a second, then his mouth curved up. “Is that a fact?”

  “Yes, and I don’t like it.”

  He finished his toast, then stood. He took her hand and yanked her out of the chair.

  “Fletcher,” she said with a squeak as he lifted her into his arms.

  “What?”

  “What are you doing?”

  �
�I say that we accomplished the first bit of our work. We got invited to the party. Now, it’s time to show you just how not jealous you should be of any woman.”

  “Fletcher,” she said.

  He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked at her. “I am a man who can charm just about any woman, but I want to do more with you. I know how to talk you into bed, but this is different. I want to show you.”

  The seriousness of his voice told her he was earnest. She could feel everything he was feeling as hope unfurled within her. She wanted this. For once in her life, she wanted to be the woman for a man...this man. Her entire life had been about vengeance. She had never been THE woman for a man. Her soul shivered with hunger. She cupped his cheek, then closed her eyes. When she opened them, they were up in the room.

  “Bloody hell, woman. Warn a man.”

  She laughed, her soul lighter than it had been just a few moments earlier.

  “You can deal with it, Immortal.”

  He smiled at her repeated comment from their first night together. “I can, and now I can do more than that.”

  He placed her on top of the bed, then covered her with his body. It was as if they had spent decades together. The rightness touched her heart as her body was already warming beneath his.

  “Have I said how much I like the scent of you?”

  She shook her head. The heat in his eyes caught her off guard. This wasn’t just lust, this was tender…romantic. She wasn’t built for romance. Or she had never thought she was. But here, with this man, this insanely gorgeous immortal, she was. He made her want to believe in happily ever after. While her heart might yearn for it, she knew better. But for this moment, like those yesterday, she would make sure to enjoy the moment.

  “You do?”

  He closed his eyes and drew in a long, deep breath. When his lids rose, his eyes were deeper, almost sapphire in appearance. “Like heaven on earth.”

  He bent his head and brushed his mouth over hers. It was sweet in nature, but it sunk down deep into her soul, revving up her desire. He shifted his weight so that he could undo her robe sash, all the while, he nuzzled her neck just beneath her ear. God, he was undoing her in small measures, but with each one, she felt her grip on reality slipping from her grasp.

  “You taste like a treat...scrumptious, sweet.”