Rebirth - Book 1 Rogues Shifter Series

by Gayle Parness

  Chapter Thirty-four

  I dreamed.

  I was in a doorway looking into a bedroom. Garrett was facing away from me standing in front of an exquisitely beautiful woman. Her golden blonde hair fell in long wavy tresses over voluptuous curves, and her striking gray eyes shone with a silver desire. She looked at me and smiled a wicked smile, her fangs extended as she bit into his neck. Garrett was groaning with pleasure as he raised her wrist to his lips, beginning to drink. With Garrett’s blood smeared on her mouth, she pulled away from his neck and said to me, “Jacqueline, come share with us. What belongs to Garrett is mine also. I will see you very soon.” Although the blood dripping from her mouth made me sick with fear, her magic pulled at me to join them. I took two hesitant steps forward.

  I bolted upright and cried out. Garrett appeared in a flash. “Jackie, what’s wrong?” I glanced at the clock. It was still two hours before dawn.

  “I dreamed you and a beautiful vampire were feeding from each other. What does Eleanor look like?” I described the dream and the female vampire who’d beckoned me to join them.

  He frowned. “We need to check your mental defenses before you fall asleep each night. Lily must have given Eleanor a full report, so now she’s intrigued. Surprise is really our best defense if she moves in to attack, so it’s probably best if we keep information regarding our more advanced powers under wraps.”

  He started to pace, thinking out loud. “She’ll leave the rest of you alone if I show up at her Carmel villa. Once I’m there, I can get into her mind and convince her to release me. I’ll have to be very subtle so she doesn’t know what I’m doing, but I’ve pulled it off a few times in the past.” He glanced at me, then away again. “I might have to spend a few days with her, but I’ll be fine.” He didn’t look as confident as he tried to sound, which worried me.

  “Can she force me to come, too?”

  “No, as long as you’re here in my house, you’re protected. Liam will make sure you’re guarded at all times. If she’s not patient and comes after you in person, I may have to kill her. I’ve already contacted my lawyer to add your name to the deed of the house. Don’t ever give her permission to enter under any circumstances. As part owner you can keep her out. And if your wall is up, she can’t glamour you.”

  I watched him carefully, surprised he’d thought so much of this through already. “Can you kill your maker? Are you strong enough?”

  “Yes. I think so. She’s over four hundred and has access to strong magic, but I’ve been working to strengthen my powers, which include my abilities as a cheetah.” His gaze grew wary. “I have a few friends in the nest. If I kill her, I’ll have to take them on as mine.”

  “Start your own nest?”

  “Yes. If I defeat her, I’d have to either kill them or create my own nest and take them in. I could never let any of them loose on the world the way they are now, but I’d like to give a few of them a chance to change. Some of us tried our best to watch each other’s backs, even under the worst circumstances.”

  At this point, we were sitting cross-legged on the bed, knee to knee. Wanting to get even closer, I leaned my forehead against his and whispered, “Tell me how I can help you.”

  Gentle fingers raked through my hair, stopping to hold my head in place so he could kiss me. It was sweet and needy. He was worried. “We’ll start working immediately on Maya’s list. The more you can use the lines, the safer you’ll be, and the safer the team will be.” His rich blue gaze burned into mine, pleading. “You have to promise me you won’t follow if I go to her.”

  “I can’t promise.” I shook my head stubbornly. “If you’re in danger, I’m coming to help you. The whole team will come.” I was sure they would, maybe even Aaron and his pack.

  His voice was soft, but a touch of real fear made it husky. “If you follow me, you’ll die. She’ll torture you in front of me and make it last as long as she can. She’s done it before. She has a nest of over ten vampires. I won’t be able to save you.” He tenderly brushed a strand of hair out of my face. “If she comes here, I can protect you.”

  “Then make her come here. Talk to Rob and Maya and all the shifter families. You’ve helped them out for years. Talk to Liam and your cousin Aaron and his pack. Kyle, Ethan, and Sinc will develop more weapons. We’ll fry her ass with the lines. Please, please don’t go to her. I can’t even think about her hurting you.” I scooted closer, wrapping my arms tightly around his chest and leaning against him, breathing him into my lungs and filling my heart with his steady presence.

  He held me quietly for a few moments. “I don’t believe the community would agree to put their families in such extreme danger. If we can draw her away from the town, they might send some of their better fighters.”

  “To solo Island?” It was the first place that popped into my head.

  He was kissing me before I had a chance to take a breath. “You’re remarkable.” He jumped up. “I’m calling Rob, then I have to get some rest, it’s almost dawn and I want to rise early today.” He leaned back and kissed my palms. “Je t’adore. I adore you.”

  After he’d shut the door behind him, I shivered. Eleanor was a much older and more experienced vampire. What chance did he really have against her? Sleep was hard to come by.