Rebirth (Rogues Shifter Series) (38 page)

In desperation
I was sending out waves of calming energy, hoping he wouldn’t notice, hoping it would be enough to send him away content. His eyes narrowed and he tilted his head in curiosity, then threw it back laughing heartily. I jumped, a little shocked by his reaction.

“Jacqueline, I am a Fae Lord of the Seelie Court. Your use of magic on me, even healing magic, is considered co
nfrontational in fae society.” His expression turned serious. “You are an ignorant child. You should have proper training if you wish to have dealings with us.” I waited for him to speak again, not wanting to say anything that could dig my grave any deeper.

“I will recommend to the Elders that Liam instruct you. You will hear from me again, J
acqueline Crawford.” He nodded, turned away and disappeared. Like poof.

T
hat last comment had sounded too much like a threat. I shuddered and searched for Garrett, finally spying him talking to Rob and Maya, dressed in sweatpants and a tee shirt.

“How do you feel?”
Maya asked me in her cool, professional way.

“I’m ok
ay. A little shaky, but not in pain.”

Rob gave me a
gentle bear hug “You were amazing. Antoine was an experienced killer. We’re all proud of you.”

H
earing Antoine's name again made reality sink in big time. Tonight I’d killed. Although Antoine deserved everything that he'd gotten and more, I still felt dirty. Garrett must have picked up on my emotions because he pulled me into his arms and sent, “
It doesn’t ever get easy. It shouldn’t.”

Rob could sense our need for some alone time. “I’ll take the rest of the team in my boat.”
He left to gather up the others.

“Let’s go home.”
I’d prayed to hear those exact words all night, but now that Garrett spoke them, I was afraid. He’d killed his maker and was now the master of his own nest. Would that change things between us? Had I handled Lord Kennet competently or had I made more trouble for him? I'd thought that winning against Antoine and Eleanor would be the end of our problems, but it seemed that life just kept getting more complicated.

He led me back up the path and we prepared the boat for the hour long sail back to Crescent City. Garrett sensed that something was upsetting me so he gave me some space and quietly set about the mundane tasks which put us out into the harbor.

The sky was clear and the stars reflected in the ocean seemed to ripple and race with the currents. He stood by the wheel, guiding us home and looking thoughtful. “Will you talk to me, angel? I sense that you’re upset. Are you angry with me?”

“Why would I be angry with you?”
I sat on the starboard side bench, avoiding Garrett's face, not brave enough to answer his questions.

“Severa
l reasons perhaps. My duel with Eleanor was gruesome to watch. Also, I’ve taken on the responsibility of leading what's left of Eleanor’s nest. One of them is very young and doesn’t have much control. The older ones are more set in their ways and quite powerful. This is going to complicate our lives, but I had no choice.” He looked at me sheepishly. ”You didn’t sign on for this.”

I got up and wrapped my arms around him. “But I did. When I said I’d be your mate, I signed up for a lifetime with you. And it’s made me happier than I c
ould have ever imagined. Except,— I need to tell you something.”

“Tell me.”
He draped his free arm around me and squeezed.

I told him about Lord Kennet’s strange proposition and my response. I saw minute changes in his eyes and the line of his mouth, but other than that he stood quietly and listened
. “I’m afraid I screwed everything up.”

“Kennet is an arrogant windbag. I’ve had dealings with him before, but if he’ll go to the Elders and ask that Liam be allowed to share his knowledge with us, and they agree, t
hen it’s all good. Liam’s father is an Elder and an ally of mine, but I would never presume to ask him directly for Liam’s help. Liam stays with me of his own free will."

He ran his hand through my hair and then down my bare arm to my injured hand. He lifted it to his lips and kissed gently, examining it for any remaining damage. I flexed my fingers and demonstrated their agility by walking behind him and massaging his back with firm motions.

He hummed with pleasure as I worked on a knot. “Did Francois behave himself?”

“Yes. H
e flirted with me a little but basically he was a gentleman. He’s rather charming.”

“He’s over seven hu
ndred years old and has had centuries to practice the art of seduction. Over the years, he’s helped me out many times and often treats me as a younger brother constantly in need of his guidance. But It appears that you have something extra that appeals to the fae as well.”

“Whatever
extra
I have is only for the use of a particular vampire. In fact I seem to recall being asked to remind you about something...”

He grabbed my uninjured hand and pulled me around to face him. “I haven’t forgotten.” His voice sent happy chills down my spine. I leaned in to kiss him but he pushed me gently away and winked. “We’ll be home in thirty minutes.”

“Waiting is not my best thing,” When I pretended to pout, he laughed, a sound that rang through my heart, reminding me that complicated or not, we'd been given a chance to share a life together. I had no intention of wasting one minute of it.

Chapter Forty-seven

The next evening, Garrett and I drove into town for Carly’s funeral. The service was in a lovely chapel decorated with pink tulips and white roses, Carly’s favorite flowers. Various shifters stood and talked about her life with humor and sadness. Maya spoke about their first meeting. Carly was the headmistress at the girl’s school she attended and Maya had been sent to her office because she’d given her teacher attitude. She was seventeen and had been on edge and in pain all day, not realizing that it was the ley line power causing her grief. Carly recognized the situation instantly and got her the help and the training Maya needed to deal with her new found abilities. Carly also gave her extra homework just to make it clear that no matter what the circumstances, she was to respect the other members of her community, including her teachers.

Other shifters told similar stories. I was surprised when Garrett got up to talk about some of their funnier childhood experiences together. His face was drawn and I knew that he felt badly that they’d never reconciled their differences. Rob told a story about a double date he’d been on with Carly and her boyfriend at the time and him and Lynette.  They’d gone to a bowling alley and were all drinking beer. Carly’s boyfriend had way too much and wanted to show off so he threw the bowling ball too hard and it actually made a hole in the back of the pin machine. They all ducked out of the building pretty fast and ran over to the boyfriend’s car.  Carly started reaming him out for getting drunk and not controlling himself around humans and then picked him up and threw him through his own windshield. They all walked home that night.

When the service ended, we moved outside where people were still gathered. Many of the shifters came over and spoke to Garrett and me about the duels. Most of them just wanted to say thank you because they knew that the killing wouldn’t have stopped with Carly’s death. Some actually hugged us and offered us a free dinner or a free oil change or whatever they could afford to give us. They all knew by now that my ley line magic had surpassed Maya’s, but it seemed more important to most of them that I was a healer. They were even more trusting of Garrett, asking him about his cheetah background and also for advice on how to better protect their homes and their families. Shifters were a peace loving race.

This realization made me turn to Garrett and watch him as he spoke to Brad. Because of Eleanor, his playful cheetah was forced to turn violent and seek out blood daily from humans or shifters to survive.  At first he must have been under her power completely, killing and possibly torturing them at her command. It must have taken him time to gather the strength to oppose her will and then survive his own torture. This went on for over one hundred and twenty years. 

I wondered how he felt about her death; she was his Maker and so they
’d been connected psychically. His surface emotions were clear to me: sadness over Carly, relief over my safety and excitement and worry over heading his own nest. But I also knew that there were feelings he kept behind his wall, feelings too hard for him to share with me yet. He was very good at control and not so great at trust. I definitely had my hands full with this guy.

As we were leaving, Sinc came over and gave me a huge hug saying, “So how about that shopping trip? Maybe Friday? Oh yeah and there’s a cool supernatural club that just opened fifty
miles south of Crescent City. Maybe you, Garrett, Kyle, Peter, Ethan and I can go there together sometime? I mean I know we’ll be working together a lot so we’ll be seeing each other, but I like to get out once in awhile and just let loose.” She shook her head making her gorgeous dark hair fall in waves over her delicate shoulders while her bright blue eyes gleamed with excitement.

I had to grin. Ethan had his hands full too. “
You know I’m seventeen, right? They won’t let me into a club.”

“You’re with Garrett. What you two did at the duels has spread up and down the west coast by now so no bouncer will mess with either of you.” She was grinning widely.   “Anyway, they serve soda. Ethan can’t drink either. Really, none of us have to drink, I just want to dance. They have a live band there that’s supposed to be sick.”

“Dancing…sounds great…I guess. But I can’t go shopping this Friday night. It’s our party, you’re coming right?”

“Ohmygod…I forgot! Of course I’m coming. I’m bringing the most delicious chocolate mousse cake. You’ll just want to roll in it it’s so good.” Visions of her and Ethan doing just that made me laugh out loud. At least I didn’t blush this time.

Garrett hung his arm loosely over my shoulder. “What’s so funny?”

“It involves a chocolate mousse cake.” I said wiping a tear from my eye.

Sinc gave me a mischievous look and said, “You two should try it.” and slinked away to Ethan.

I grinned.  “That snow l
eopard mojo is powerful stuff.”

“Nothing’s better than c
heetah.” He kissed my forehead.

Chapter Forty-eight

Garrett wanted to drive me home and then go to Francois’
newly rented home to talk to his nest mates. I told him in no uncertain terms that I was coming with him, so we spent the hour long drive talking about the party on Friday. We’d decided to have it at the Smith River Campgrounds and were able to rent the western camp site for the night. We were setting up six large barbeque grills, which Garrett’s cousin Aaron and his pack had agreed to man, and were also catering in pasta, veggies, the works. Beer and wine would be provided but nothing stronger. Swimming was allowed in that section of the river so we’d also bought dozens of towels and blankets for drying off and spreading out under the stars. Desserts were being provided by several shifter volunteers who owned or worked in local bakeries.

We drove down a
curving driveway and stopped in front of the double doors of a very large two story brick house.“I need to tell you something before we go in. We’ve only spared the four who we felt could be trusted to give up Eleanor’s—methods. They have to live by my rules now. They’ve pledged loyalty to me and we shared a few drops of blood, so I’m connected to each of them more strongly than before.

"
However, they’re in a dangerous state. Their nest mates have been executed and their maker is dead. Please don’t speak to them or make any moves toward them. They have a lot of adjusting to do and it’ll be a very difficult path. They’ll probably ignore you if you’re quiet.

“Talk to me mentally if you need me to do anything. Otherwise I’ll stay quiet and out of the way.”

“Thank you.” He kissed my hand then led me up the front stairs and through the unlocked double doors.

Francois was there, looking elegant in a dark designer suit and rich purple silk shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He gave Garrett a friendly hug and took my formerly injured hand in his and kissed it gently looking into my eyes as he did. I wondered how he was feeling about Eleanor’s death. She was his progeny and so
it must have some effect on him too.

“Bonsoir
, Jacqueline. I’m so pleased to see you again.” I felt a mild tingle run down my spine and I heard Garrett laugh softly. Eleanor must have gotten her seductive powers from her maker, Francois.  She'd used hers to lure in the innocent, but Francois seemed to use his as any charismatic, attractive man would.

“Thank you Fra
ncois.” I smiled. “I see you’re as charming as ever.” Francois smiled widely in response and winked; his eyes sparkling mischievously. Garrett, never one to be outdone, arched an eyebrow and snaked his arm around my waist. I glanced at his adorable turned up smile and breathed in his delicious scent. It occurred to me that Garrett had plenty of his own inherited seductive powers, which I’d willingly fallen prey to. I should make sure to thank Francois for that as well.

He led us across the foyer, down a short hall and through an elaborate archway on the right. The room was quite large with two enormous couches, several plush arm chairs and a grand piano near a picture window overlooking the ocean.  The fireplace crackled and the sweet scent of vampire filled the room.