Chapter Thirty-three
Sinc and Kyle were arguing about him driving her car as Ethan shook his head in disgust. I was really glad to see them and hoped we could get through the rest of today without any serious temper tantrums, hurt feelings, or injuries. I considered what Liam had said, but shrugged it off. Today I was with the team, and that made it a good day.
We parked on a side road out of sight of the highway and walked deeply into the forest following a narrow trail. Kyle and I took the lead, Kyle carrying his duffle and me with my backpack slung over my shoulder. Bringing up the rear were Sinc and Ethan holding hands and whispering. For fun I pulled on the lines and reached out toward the couple just to see their auras. Ethan’s was a vibrant turquoise and Sinc’s was a clear red, slightly brighter than Kyle’s. Maybe that’s why she and Kyle fought a lot. They were so similar.
We came to a clearing and Kyle dropped his duffle with a loud thump, reminding me Kyle was very strong, despite his smaller frame. I sat on a stump and took a swig from my water bottle, then passed it around to everyone else, along with three of the four apples. Ethan helped Kyle set up his little experiment and Sinc strolled over to me and whispered, “So, how are things with you and Garrett? Has he bitten you yet? It’s supposed to be erotic.”
“Garrett and I are doing fine.” I ignored her other question. “How are things going with Ethan?”
She pouted and looked in his direction. “I’m trying to get him to move in with me. He’s very sweet and he makes me laugh.” She sighed dramatically. “I’m kind of falling for him.”
I laughed softly. “I’m pretty sure he’s falling for you too.”
Kyle’s voice broke into our conversation. “We’re good to go.” He’d assembled an elaborate crossbow with a power pack attached.
He looked at me. “I’m turning this sucker on and you need to tell me if you can mentally connect to the mechanism.”
I raised my eyebrows as he explained further. “I’m trying to create weapons that can be controlled through one person’s unique connection with the ley lines. Once it’s synchronized to your energy, you would be the only one who could fire this baby. You should be able to make the shaft go wherever you decide it should go, even if it’s pointed straight up in the air when it’s fired. Eventually I’m hoping I can develop a weapon all shifters can use, even if their connection to the magic only happens when we change forms. Some of us may be able to learn to use that part of our brains at other times too. Of course, it won’t be a crossbow, this was just the simplest weapon for us to program.”
My throat felt dry, so I swallowed to soothe it, feeling just a little nervous since I didn’t want to ruin all their hard work. “Okay, tell me what I need to do.”
“Since I can’t use the energy, I’ve had to research how it works. I did get a better feel for it when you touched me last night, so I’m pretty sure this is gonna be awesome. Open up to the lines and give me a signal when you’re ready.”
I tapped in to build my wall, and waved at Kyle. He flicked a switch and I immediately felt an oddly familiar pulsing vibration pushing out from the computerized pack. It wasn’t the same as an aura, but it was similar. No one else seemed to be feeling anything at all. I tentatively reached out with my mind, felt a sharp jab and heard a computer come online. Kyle, Sinc, and Ethan started jumping around, whooping and hollering.
“Don’t do anything yet. I’m going to load it and hand it to you. Ethan, you and Sinc go behind those trees to the right. Jackie, when I give you the go, aim it at the fir tree straight ahead. Try to make it hit where the bottom branch connects to the trunk. You don’t need to pull a trigger or anything. Your mind should do it all.”
At first I couldn’t figure out how to get it to release the bolt. Eventually I could get it to fire, but it didn’t go where I wanted it to go. After about seven or eight tries, and several lost bolts, I was getting tired, but I also knew I was close. I started visualizing the target instead of the bolt and amazingly that was all that was needed. The bolt flew home time and time again. Kyle and Ethan were dancing around and Sinc was laughing at them. I lowered the crossbow and sat down on the stump, exhausted beyond words from using the lines for almost an hour. I pulled out my granola bars, threw one to each of them and ate to get some of my energy back.
Although it was only around three, it was getting much darker. Grey clouds moved through the sky and a strong breeze had picked up, making the leaves rustle on the surrounding trees. A potentially heavy storm was coming in, so Kyle and Ethan packed up quickly and we started back down the trail. I stumbled a few times, feeling dizzy, but Kyle tossed the duffle to Ethan and picked me up, throwing me onto his back. I started to protest, but he interrupted. “Relax, you worked hard. I forgot how draining the mental crap is. Just hold on.”
Carrying me didn’t seem to strain him at all, so I closed my eyes and rested my head against his shoulder. His lemony scent was pleasant and he moved with the same shifter powered grace I’d come to expect from most supernaturals. When a flash of lightning was followed by the usual distant rumble, we picked up the pace.
I smelled something and dug my nails into Kyle’s shoulders, my body growing tense. He’d felt my reaction put me down gently, his eyes instantly on the woods around us. “Something’s watching us,” I whispered. The familiar smell wasn’t human or shifter.
Garrett answered on the first ring. “Vampires,” I whispered into the phone.
“I’m coming, stay open to me,” he answered.
Ethan and Sinc had run up beside us as Kyle pulled weapons out of the duffle: long knives for Ethan and Sinc and a deadly katana for himself. To me he hissed, “Change and run.”
“Give me the freakin’ crossbow,” I insisted.
“We don’t have time to set it up,” he growled back.
“Then give me a knife.” I stared stubbornly at him refusing to budge—refusing to leave my teammates. He grimaced and handed me a long silver knife with an ivory hilt. It felt comfortable in my hand, but I had no experience using it. I remembered to reinforce my mental shield then crouched down and waited with the others.
A beautiful young woman appeared on the path ahead. She had lovely Asian features, dark eyes and looked to be around my age. As the wind grew stronger, her thick, straight black hair blew out in a silky cloud behind her. She wore a long purple tunic with a plunging neckline along with skintight black pants and boots.
Kyle stepped away from us and started down the path toward her. “Lily?” he called in a pleading tone. His sword hung useless by his side.
“Sweet Kyle, you and your friends look particularly delicious this evening.” Kyle stopped where he was. Her fangs showed when she spoke and her scent, which carried on the breeze, smelled rotten with old blood. Her skin was as pale as porcelain and looked just as brittle.
“I smell two new recruits.” She jabbed at me mentally but my wall was too strong for her to penetrate. The sound of dropping weapons chilled my blood faster than the sight of her fangs. To my left Ethan and Sinc stood unusually still. Dread filled my heart when I realized I was the only one not affected by her powerful glamour.
She moved closer to Kyle, using a speed too fast to track. Without thought for anything but protecting him, I rushed to position myself between them. Kyle was completely helpless, unable to defend himself. I clutched the knife a little harder, holding it up in front of me, realizing too late I was every bit as helpless as Kyle.
“So what are you?” Lily took a sniff and smiled. “Another cheetah? Eleanor will be so pleased.” She swayed the last few yards, as graceful and deadly as a viper. She took her time, convinced I couldn’t outrun her, and I was pretty sure, now that I’d seen her speed, she was right.
Lily could smell my terror, her eyes filling with silver as she fed from my fear.
She was next to me now, her horrid scent bringing up a taste of bile. Her delicate hand slowly reached out to touch my ponytail, pulling it toward the front, playing with my l
ong locks the way a cat might play with its prey before taking the first bite. I tried to take a step back, pointing my knife at her chest in a weak gesture of defiance, but she yanked hard on my hair and I clumsily dropped the knife.
I whimpered from the pain as she twisted my hair around her hand. Lily whispered in a tone so unnatural it sent shivers creeping over my skin. “You smell so delicious, pretty girl. Eleanor will want to eat you up. She’ll share you with me when she’s done. We’ll have such fun together, pretty girl. Tell me your name.” She’d used Influence in that command but it didn’t breech my defenses. When I didn’t answer, she hissed in frustration and dropped my hair.
“Give her a push with your mind. Aim it at her chest.” Garrett was here somewhere, but I didn’t let my relief show on my face. If I gave away his location she might go after him.
Even though I was exhausted, his voice caused adrenalin to pump through my system. I pulled in some extra energy from the lines, formed it into a brick and slammed it at her chest. She stumbled backwards, eyes wide, giving Garrett all the time he needed to grab her from behind and hold her immobile.
The action had cost me in energy. I swayed and stumbled backwards into Kyle who grabbed my arm at the elbow to steady me and keep me from falling. I was relieved to see my friends had come out of Lily’s spell as soon as Garrett had restrained her. They scrambled to pick up their weapons and the four of us hovered together away from the action.
“Lily, Lily.” His condescending tone, brought a harsh growl from the female in question. “Why are you here causing trouble?” Garrett whispered into her ear as she hissed and struggled. “I’m sure Eleanor has not approved this little side trip. You may not hunt in shifter territory, surely you know my rules.” To me he sent, “She’s probably not alone. Stay alert.” I nodded and scanned the trees, giving Ethan a sign he relayed to the others.
She pouted, her fun ruined. “My new playmates are outside their territory, as you well know, Garrett. They crossed over the highway. Maya’s pitiful bubble of protection doesn’t extend this far.” Lily’s tone turned harsh. “You’re slacking off. Has your juicy little cheetah distracted you?” She fixed her eyes on me. “I bet she’s yummy. I can smell you all over her.”
Her fangs had grown longer, saliva dripping from her mouth. Garrett twisted her arms in an unnatural way and she snarled at him. “Let me go Garrett, I’ll be good. I wasn’t really going to hurt them. I was going to bring them back to the villa as my guests.” Lily continued to stare only at me, silver streaks swirling in her black eyes. She licked her lips and I trembled.
“You-will-not-touch-them.” His voice held a deep resonance, using his Influence to control her. When he released Lily, she crossed her arms looking petulant and angry, but didn’t take another step in our direction. Because of his age, Garrett was near the top in the nest’s hierarchy and had some power over his younger nest mates. He leaned over to whisper in her ear. “If you touch them I’ll take great pleasure in ripping out your throat, Lily. Not even one little finger.” He held up her hand and started to bend her fingers back.
She snatched her hand away. “Fine, I’ll leave them for now. But you should know, Eleanor sent me here. She’s heard about your new toy and wants to play, too. You have one week to share with us. If you don’t show up with the new cheetah, Eleanor will come after her personally and you’ll end up locked in a box for ten years. But first you’ll watch her die like you watched the rest of your family die.” Lily looked at me with hunger, running her hand down Garrett’s chest and laughing. “He’s delicious isn’t he?” When I didn’t respond, she took an intimidating step toward me. I backed up automatically.
Garrett shoved her so hard she flew across the path and into a large fir tree. In a silent blur he took a protective stance in front of us, his darkened eyes flashing silver and his mouth curled up in a wicked snarl. “Leave now, Lily, or it will be only your head crashing into the next tree.”
Lily hissed at Garrett and turned to smile at me. “Sweet cheetah, enjoy your week. Goodbye, Kyle. Antoine, we’re leaving.” A male vampire appeared at her side just as the rain began to fall. He was bald, just under six feet, with lots of tattoos up and down his arms and around his neck. He turned back to me and smiled wickedly, his sharp fangs glistening and his mouth and clothing covered in fresh blood. I flashed on him feeding from a helpless human and retreated another step.
If these two were typical of the vampire race, I could live a long and happy life never coming into contact with another one, Garrett being the exception of course.
When they’d left, Garrett turned to us, his eyes still smoldering with anger. His voice was hoarse when he spoke. “You’ll drive back to my house immediately and we’ll discuss the stupidity of today’s adventure.” All four of us stared at the ground, ashamed we’d been so careless. We’d played into Lily’s hands like ignorant children. If Garrett hadn’t come…. We shivered, rubbing our arms and shuffling in place, trying to warm up our limbs. The wind had picked up.
Ethan spoke first. “It’s my fault, Garrett. I should have looked at the maps, made sure we stayed in our territory.” He pushed his dripping hair out of his face and pulled his collar up in a feeble attempt to protect his neck from the cold rain.
Garrett directed his glare toward Ethan and spoke, his voice as icy as the wind. “As you are the team leader, I could put the blame entirely on you, but I won’t. Each one of you acted irresponsibly.” He paced, maybe trying to keep himself from going ballistic. “What worries me the most is you never thought to call Rob. This could have happened even inside our territory. Vampires don’t always pay attention to boundaries set by shifters or even other vampires.”
In the silence that followed, he locked gazes with each one of us, holding mine the longest. He was right, we were idiots who could all be dead or worse right now. “I’m going to make sure they’ve gone. I’ll see you at my house in forty-five minutes.” He left before I knew he’d even moved.
My friends stared at me, probably wondering why Garrett hadn’t taken me with him. He knew I was exhausted and that the trek back to the car would be rough in the cold rain. I sighed, put on my hooded sweatshirt and started walking. Payback’s a bitch. Halfway there, Ethan picked me up and threw me on his back the way Kyle had. I’m not sure I would have made it on my own. By the time we crawled into the car, we were soaked, cold and miserable.
When we arrived back at the house, the door was unlocked and a fire was blazing in the fireplace. Pizza and hot coffee was laid out along with a stack of towels. We dried off as best we could and dug in, grateful for the food and the fact Garrett wasn’t glaring at us while we ate. Despite the warmth of the flames, the mood was somber. We knew he was pissed and none of us were looking forward to facing him, especially me.
He entered the room after we’d finished eating and sat in an armchair facing us. “How did this stupid plan unfold?”
Ethan and Kyle took turns explaining their idea of testing out Kyle and Sinc’s invention as a surprise. They told him I was able to make the weapon work using my psychic abilities after only a few tries. They were getting very excited as they rattled on about how accurate my shots had been and what this could mean in the future, when Garrett raised his hand to stop them.
He turned to Sinc. “And why were you there?” he asked.
“I did a lot of the programming. I wanted to be there to see if it would work.” She was nervous around Garrett, probably more in tune than the guys were with what might be coming.
He turned to me. “And so Ethan called you, and you simply agreed to go? It didn’t occur to you Rob should know where you were?” Our emotional connection was in full swing, his disappointment, anger and concern making me squirm. “I know that Liam tried to discourage you.” Another well-deserved jab.
I nodded and stared at the floor, remembering my reaction when Liam had objected to my leaving. “Liam thought it was a dangerous idea. When I told him I’d be safe with the team, he said
I was being arrogant and should tell Rob. But I was sure nothing could happen if we were all together.” I lifted my chin, watching the anger glow in his eyes. I was ashamed I’d played a part in putting us all in danger, including him.
Garrett wasn’t yelling. That would have been easier to take. Instead his voice was calm with an intensity that made the hair stand up on my arms. “You foolishly put yourselves in danger. You’ve been told previously these two vampires had been seen in the area causing trouble.” “Lily likes to drain her victims slowly as they scream and struggle. She particularly likes to torture shifters because your life force is so strong. You usually take a long time to die. Your deaths would not have been easy.”
He looked back at the others, and I let out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “I know how Eleanor trains her nest. Lily would have drained Ethan on the spot and given Sinc to Antoine, since he likes to rape his female victims as he feeds.” He looked at me and Kyle. “You two would have been forced to watch them die. Afterwards, they would have taken you to Eleanor. There you would have wished you could have died like the other two.”
We sat in silence, our faces pale, while he watched us. Kyle made a move to protest how Garrett had described Lily, but when those silver-streaked eyes met his, Kyle thought better of it. Ethan and Sinc were holding hands in support while I thought seriously about crawling under the rug and hiding there for about a month.
Garrett continued. “I don’t doubt you would have put up a fight today. One of you might even have escaped, but over time, living with the memory of your friends dying because of your stupidity would have been a worse fate.
“Rob and I saw great potential in all four of you. Were we mistaken?” No one spoke. Really, what could we say? We all felt we’d let Rob, Garrett, and each other down. “Go home and rest. I’ll see you here tomorrow night at eight. Bring the crossbow.”
Ethan, Kyle and Sinc quietly filed out the door, mumbling their apologies to Garrett. Their eyes were sympathetic when they said goodnight to me, since I’d have to face him alone. He closed and locked the door behind them and turned, but all I could do was stare at the rug I wanted to climb under. Or maybe I’d fit under the couch. One thing I knew I couldn’t do, was see the look of disgust he was probably wearing.
He touched my cheek, turning my face, and I was quickly drowning in the depths of those incredible eyes. Tonight they were filled with pain and concern. I’d done that to him.
“I’m so sorry. I made things worse for you.” My voice could only conjure up a whisper of volume.
“It would only have been worse if you’d been hurt. Eleanor’s plans mean nothing to me.” He sighed and released my chin. “But now she knows you exist and I care for you. You’ve become a target. This was my greatest fear.”
“I’m sorry….” Was he going to send me away?
“You ask me to treat you as an adult, but today, by refusing to listen to Liam’s advice, you behaved as a child.”
“I did. I’m an idiot.” I rubbed my head where Lily had yanked on my hair. It still hurt, but I’d deserved it.
“Not an idiot, but you should have used caution. The other three knew better.” He slid a quick glance toward the front door, frowning. “They’ve all encountered vampires in the past.”
“They were excited about the invention.”
“Which is not an excuse to endanger your life.” He trapped my chin firmly between his thumb and index finger keeping my gaze locked with his. “In the future, I must insist that you take Liam’s advice seriously. A fifteen hundred year old fae knows when a situation is dangerous.” He stood, pacing. “Your ridiculous stubborn streak could have gotten you killed.”
He stopped when he saw my wide eyes, rubbing his face and huffing in exasperation. “I haven’t felt this protective toward anyone since I was with my family.” He sat beside me and grasped my hand. “I’m trying not to overreact, but it’s impossible when I think you’re in danger. Today the entire team was in severe danger.” He pulled me closer again, not able to make up his mind if he needed some space or more contact. “It’s imperative I be able to trust you to make intelligent decisions regarding your safety.” He rested his chin on my head, taking in my scent, squeezing me a little too tightly.
I felt awful that he was so upset, but I was happy as a clam in his arms. “Why didn’t Liam wake you up and rat us out?”
“He waited as long as he could, hoping you’d change your mind, but when he sensed vampires might be in the area, he woke me and took off after you. He would have killed Lily if she’d attacked before I got there. For me, he would have protected only you. You might’ve been the only survivor. The Fae Council of Elders has allowed him to remain with me as long as he doesn’t interfere in the affairs of other races. Killing a vampire who is not an enemy of the Fae race would go against their laws. He’d be forced to return to Faerie.”
I shivered, hugging him tighter, wondering how I would have coped if my three friends had died violent deaths—deaths that possibly could have been prevented by me. “Should I thank him or apologize, or what? I don’t really know much about the fae.”
“Tell him his actions were appreciated and his advice will be heeded the next time he offers it. And mean it, Jackie. He can smell a lie as well as I can. I’m inviting him to tomorrow night’s meeting. I think he’ll be interested to see the crossbow.” I wasn’t looking forward to seeing Liam tomorrow, although I owed him the apology.
He offered me a gentle smile so I reached for his hand and kissed his palm. His skin felt much colder than usual. “Have you fed?” My meaning was clear.
“No.” He didn’t pull his hand away, but his smile curled up crookedly. “I’ll go out later, after you’re asleep.”
“Feed from me, Garrett. I’m feeling fine now I’ve eaten. You can curl up next to me and feed and I’ll just fall asleep and be fine in the morning.”
He was blocking me from his mind, but his eyes couldn’t hide his desire. I was certain my blood was just what the doctor ordered. “We’ll see.” He kissed my cheek and turned me toward my bedroom, patting my behind playfully
I showered quickly, threw on a pair of PJ pants and a tank top and got into bed. Garrett crawled in next to me, barefoot, dressed in dark sweatpants and a tee shirt.
Sitting on the bed, I smoothed my hand down his arm, feeling how cool he was. He hadn’t fed because of me. I could do this for him. My cheetah purred deep in my core. I could do this for me too.
He leaned over, smiling his very sexy smile, and whispered in my ear, sending shivers down my body. “It’s not too late to change your mind.” I shook my head. “I can still take energy like I do with my donors.”
“I want to give you blood tonight, not just energy.” I ran my hand more firmly over his biceps and he shivered too. “My blood is strong, isn’t it? Let me do this for you.”
He arched an eyebrow, slightly wary. “Because you feel guilty?”
“No, because I love you.”
He grinned, looking younger again. “And I love you, my sweet. But the saliva from my bite will make you feel slightly...euphoric.”
“Sinc said it’s erotic.” Whoa. That just popped out of my mouth. Oh, boy.
He laughed full-out this time. “So you’ve decided to run your own little experiment?” My face heated to record temperatures. “Your blushes are so beautiful. I’m very tempted to take you up on your offer.”
“I want this.”
Trailing his knuckles along my jaw and down my throat, his expression turned serious. “We’ve shared two parts of the mating ritual. Giving me blood, enough to revive me, will be a sensual experience. More than you might imagine.”
“I want you to need me. To rely on me. To trust me. I messed up today. I won’t mess up like that again.” I kissed him deeply to seal the deal and we were lost in each other for a few delicious moments.
Garrett leaned against me, forehead to forehead, his eyes beginning to sparkle. His s
weet breath warmed my face as he spoke. “I was terrified I might have lost you.” The kiss he gave my nose was playful. “I need you more than life, my love and I trust you completely. My concerns are only for your safety.”
He urged me to lie back on the bed then turn on our sides to face each other. He lifted my wrist to his mouth.
“Don’t you want to take blood from my neck?”
“I want to watch your face. Tonight we’re going to play.” He kissed my palm. “When you feel it, open your mind to the lines.”
My heart beat in record time as he pressed his nose under my wrist, smelling my skin. I trembled as he licked at my pulse, biting down swiftly, attaching his lips and sucking rhythmically. The pain was sharp at first, but my wrist grew numb and the pain was followed by a comfortable warmth which spread up my arm, down my chest and over every inch of my skin. I floated as if rafting on a peaceful stream under a sunny sky. We stared into each other’s eyes—his a swirling silver pool, mine an emerald forest, each of us full of love and desire for the other.
The warmth from his bite changed to a tingling heat, traveling everywhere over my already sensitized body. My skin craved his touch in an almost painful way, my shields dropping without hesitation to take in his magic, hoping for relief. Power looped between us, the rhythm of each wave matching the pull of blood from my wrist. His free hand slid to my waist, finding my skin under the hem of my shirt, the touch of each finger sending lightning to my center. As his feeding grew stronger and more urgent, my free hand moved up his arm, my fingernails digging into his skin.
I couldn’t kiss his mouth, because he was feeding, but I wanted to taste him, so badly.
The magic between us moved in tangible waves, the pleasure in our bodies building until we reached the peak, exploding in exquisite release. In my mind, Garrett’s pleasure had wrapped around mine, his eyes glittering with warmth and need. His mouth on my wrist had become a connection not simply to my blood, but also to my heart. In that moment we were one creature, one soul.
We returned to reality cushioned in a blanket of ley line magic, sharing breaths, sharing sighs, sharing smiles.
Garrett pulled away from my wrist, licking the last of the blood that had beaded on the surface. He kissed me deeply as the pulses slowed and we let go of the lines. When our kisses ended, I nestled into him and sighed out loud against the warmth of his chest.
Eventually I found the strength to speak. “If that’s what your donors feel when you feed from them, I’m mad jealous.” I wasn’t really. I felt so loved at that moment it would have taken a naked woman crawling out from under him to make me even the tiniest bit jealous.
Okay, so that’s an exaggeration.
He kissed my head. “I don’t take blood from them. Taking blood is a hundred times more intimate and I only want that experience with you. Tu es mon coeur. You are my heart.” He licked my wrist once more to close the wound. “Sleep, my love.”
I closed my eyes and snuggled even closer, obeying without argument.
Rebirth - Book 1 Rogues Shifter Series Page 33
