by Livia Quinn
“I’m glad I was able to help, Mr. Jackson.”
“Please, call me Phineas.”
Montana mouthed over his head, Please!
“Phineas.”
He took Jack’s offer to escort him to the drink table and Inez turned excitedly, “Isn’t he just bootilicious, Tempe? Oh, my, I think I’m in love.” Her lips quivered as a tear streaked down that pale pink skin. THE ring was nowhere in sight.
Inez looked over her shoulder toward the direction Jack and Phineas had taken. “You know I volunteer at the hospital as a candy striper.” I didn’t think they still called them that but I got her drift.
“Is that where you met Mr—Phineas?” I asked.
The joy was evident in her smile and the way her eyes lit up when she told me, “I think it was love at first sight. You know when I entered his room, his eyes locked on mine and we never looked back. That first night I asked him to the ball, and he said, ‘I’d go with you to the moon, if you get me out of here.’ Isn’t that romantic? Most people would be afraid of space travel, but for me he’d…” she teared up again. “Well, I was glad when he finally got off that morphine and was released so we could actually date. Trying to have normal relations in his hospital room was tricky.”
I coughed to cover the laugh that bubbled up. “I’m very happy for you both, Ms. Inez.” I was happy for her. It was just having dealt with Mr. Jackson for so long I wondered if it would last.
I couldn’t help but feel encouraged though. Unorthodox relationships could work, and one’s mate could truly come out of nowhere.
Jack came over and said, “It’s time to introduce the court, and I promised to escort the ladies to the stage.”
“Lucky ladies,” I said.
“Don’t go anywhere. Particularly, don’t go delving into the mystery of the swordsman.”
“Jealous?” I teased. It felt good to play with him. He’d been smiling more since finding out about Destiny’s other side. Who would have thought?
A dimple appeared in his cheek and in front of a full ballroom he leaned down and sealed his lips to mine. We barely touched, but his mouth was hot, his tongue exploring, briefly taking the kiss deeper, making all my thoughts disappear. My concentration was on the taste of his kiss, matching my tongue with his, his big hands on my shoulders as he pulled away. I moaned aloud, I think. “Yeah,” he muttered. He planted another brief peck on my lips, the expression on his face fierce when he squinted into my eyes, his voice husky. “I won’t be long.”
All I could do was nod as he walked away, making his way to the stage. My eyes followed him for a couple heartbeats then I went looking for Montana. It didn’t take long to spot her. She was standing at the end of the bar watching the knight like some fan girl, looking like she was desperate to get her hands on either his swords, or him. Or both.
* * *
The next two hours were filled with presentations of the court, dancing to Zydeco music, a whiskey tasting, and the costume contest. Someone suggested a yay or nay vote on the ‘samurai knight’ for first place but he nixed that with hardly a glance. He could be the sheriff of the world with looks like that.
The band played one of my favorites, “Lovesong” and Jack asked me to dance. It was wonderfully romantic, just to be in his arms. His hand trailed down my shoulder blades and settled in the small of my back. My heart raced. So far the night had been more than I’d dreamed and there were hours left to enjoy.
“Tired?” he asked, looking down at me.
“A little. But it’s a good kind of tired since things worked out like they did. I’m enjoying myself more than I expected.”
His face was so close I could see the pores in his rugged tan, and the flecks of green in the silver of his eyes. But I eventually settled on his lips, which I desperately wanted on mine, as soon as possible. “Thanks for inviting me, and, for the dress. It’s not something I would have chosen for myself.”
“You’re welcome. But I told you it was a selfish gesture. The night isn’t over yet. When you’ve taken in the whole Grand Ball experience, we’ll adjourn.” His sexy smile slanted to reveal a dimple. “This night is for you. You call the shots.” Then the music crescendoed and as the song ended, he dipped me over his arm and kissed me until I thought I’d melt off the end of his fingertips. The applause was probably my imagination.
* * *
11:40pm
“Your life is about to get more complicated.”
* * *
I lost track of Montana around 10:30. Jack was escorting the ladies of the court to the stage so I went in search of Aurora who had left her end of the divining table and disappeared. I found her in the garden, communing with the garden spirits. “You don’t like parties?”
“I don’t like being a fifth wheel at these functions, but elder Rawlins is a dear friend, and I promised to do readings for Montana’s shelter.”
“I have a question for you. Jack said Jordie still had that rash on her leg and he accused her of getting a tattoo. Did she show it to you?”
Aurora nodded. “There’s nothing that will fix what ails Jordie.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” I cast a glance at the door. Aurora’s shoulders slumped a bit as she sat down on the concrete bench. Her eyes held a hint of pity. Uh-oh.
“I’m afraid your life is about to get more complicated.”
Again? I braced myself. “How?”
“The mark on Jordie’s thigh is no tattoo, but a prophetic deremelei of the Quantus.”
I was stunned speechless. “But that means she… she’s—”
“—a brand new Paramortal.”
“Get out!” I exclaimed. “Jack Lang’s daughter is a Paramortal?”
“Interesting development, wouldn’t you say?” Aurora watched me as the possibilities and ramifications buzzed through my mind like a band of mosquitoes, none of them lighting for long.
“But how is that possible?” Footsteps sounded on the stone walkway.
“That’s the easy answer.” Aurora rose, “One or both of her parents is a Paramortal.”
“Jack? Zeus’ nebulous newborn! I can’t believe it. Jordie, a Paramortal.”
“Paramortal, my ass!”
Chapter 23
Tempe
This is why they call it the pumpkin hour
* * *
Jack’s voice cracked the night in the quiet garden. He marched up to Aurora, hands on his hips towering over her, eyes blazing in his angry face. Why did he have to find out like this? I watched, aching for him as he whirled back toward the entrance, pressing his fist to his close eyes, then spun back toward Aurora. He looked… terrified.
Of course. As caring and responsible a father as he was, he had to be. He’d only been in this new, enlightened place for a couple of days. Before that he’d been determined to find the safest most unadventurous place to raise his “baby girl”. This was a blow to say the least.
“Jack, it’s not like she’s going to turn into a Djinni or… something like me.”
“I should hope not.”
My heart shrank back, stunned at his words. He stared at me, then his shoulders sagged and he started pacing. “I’m sorry, Tempe. But this Paramortal shit is dangerous, and she’s my baby girl, and…” his anguished voice cracked, as he looked from me to Aurora. “This has to be a mistake.”
He stopped pacing, his eyes concerned. “What can I do? What if we leave here, get away from that… super pulse thing. I could take her anywhere. Just tell me where it’s safe.”
Aurora sighed, compassion clear on her face. “I’m sorry, my friend. Becoming a Paramortal is a matter of heredity, not proximity to leylines.”
Jack spun suddenly in a half circle, his leg extended with a thwack, as he karate-kicked the trunk of a giant oak tree. “That bitch!” The sight of our sheriff, a respected Navy officer in dress tails, kicking a tree was so incongruous I nearly laughed. “I should have known something weird was wrong with her.”
I raised my eyebrows at Aurora. She shr
ugged as if saying, now’s not the time to bring up the alternative. If his ex being a bitch because she was a Paramortal was bad, then what did that make me?
He let out a pained sigh, “Isn’t there some kind of…s-spell you can do to reverse it? Better yet, send us all back to eight months ago… before I ran for election…”
He finally—thankfully—shut his mouth. Hallelujah.
A long uncomfortable silence ensued while Aurora and I watched Jack struggle with this new threat to his sanity, and his family.
”Tempe,” his agonized gaze locked with mine. Poor guy. It was impossible not to feel sorry for him. “Do you mind if we go?”
I smiled, encouragingly, I hoped. “I’m not sure I could stand in these heels much longer anyway.” I looked at Aurora. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Good night. And Jack, remember, Jordie is still your teenage daughter, and… you might consider talking to your parents about this.”
Distracted, Jack just nodded and called Ryan on his cell phone. I waved goodbye to Montana as Jack dragged me outside to the waiting limo, where he collapsed against the seat and reached for the open bottle of champagne.
* * *
It was a testament to how well Ryan knew his friend that he made no comment when we met him at the curb, before midnight. I’d halfway expected a joke or two.
He left the music off in the rear of the limo, though I could hear the hard rock playing in the cab, perhaps chosen out of habit from his years in the Navy, or to give us a buffer so we could discuss whatever had gone wrong. But so far Jack had been quiet, his posture military straight in the seat, hands gripping his knees. He stared through the window at passing scenery but I knew he saw none of it.
Ryan stopped at a light when a long stream of revelers who had brought their Mardi Gras party to the downtown streets were slow to cross.
Jack blew out a breath, his head sinking to his chest. I took a chance and placed my hand on his sleeve. He tensed but when I started to remove it, he covered it with his and looked at me. “I’m really sorry, Tempe. I wanted this to be a special night for you.”
I tilted my head and smiled at him, “It was one of the best nights of my life, Jack. I mean it. Do you want to talk about it? I know it was a shock.”
A short, hard bark escaped him, not one of real mirth. “You could say that.” He patted my hand absently, “It’s… well, after everything that’s happened in the last two days, you’d think nothing could surprise me. I was ready to accept just about anything.” His fingers squeezed the bridge of his nose.
“But that was when it was about us people, not your own flesh and blood,” I offered.
He sighed, not looking at me, “Yes.” His head bounced against the seat back and I felt a wave of tenderness and compassion for him—along with my frustration over his inability to accept us.
But the man had stepped up. He’d jumped in fearlessly, ignorantly perhaps, but he’d kept going after everything he’d seen until we’d saved River. And he’d confronted Paige knowing the strange and inexplicable from the days before might be superseded by something far worse. He’d been right.
I admired him more every day. I wished I could ease some of the fear and stress he was experiencing with a touch. Aurora probably could, but not me, not one of my talents.
He pushed the intercom button and said, “Ryan, swing by my parents’ house. I want to check on Jordie.” With a “Roger that,” Ryan didn’t question why his friend would want to check on his daughter, at midnight with a hot date by his side.
Jack took my hand and rubbed his thumb across my fingers. “I have to see her.”
He needed to make sure his little girl was okay, that she hadn’t turned into something he wouldn’t recognize. “That’s understandable. Do you want to drop me at Harmony?”
“No.” He hesitated only briefly. “I don’t want our evening to end like this, Tempe. Would you come home with me? After we check on Jordie?”
Was this a good idea, after everything that had happened? There was only one answer I could give, however, “If you want me…”
“Sweetheart, I’ve been wanting you since the 17th of February, at about 9:50 am. My world changed then, and that was before any of this other…”
“Bizarre, crazy, unbelievable…”
“Yeah, pick any of those. The morning you delivered that package, I knew my life wouldn’t be the same.”
“That’s a good thing?” I asked.
For a second he didn’t answer. “A very good thing.” He punctuated that sentiment by pulling me to him and kissing me. The kiss was slow and thorough and had my heart pounding. When it ended, he was leaning toward me, looking at my eyes. “You’re eyes change, you know.”
I blinked.
His head tilted as he stared at me. “Like that. When the emotion is high, or passion, they have this vortex looking thing going on, like one of those time lapsed videos of stars moving through space. Then they go back to simmering cloudy blue.”
“I’m sorry I’m such an aberration.” I said, feeling insecure suddenly.
He tipped my chin up so he could stare into my eyes. “Right now, they are as blue as the stratosphere at 30,000 feet.” His voice dropped.
“I, uh, don’t know what I look like when it happens.”
“It is pretty strange—” I hit him “—and mind-boggling.” He looked at me intently, remembering. “At the Inn, when you were fighting with your dad, there were waves in your hair and ships.” I gasped, and he nodded, brows expressive. “Uh-huh. It looked like the ocean revealing an entire history of powerful storms, and then you went cyclone, the wind swirling around you so fast it was impossible to distinguish your features. When the boulders started sailing through the air, I had to step in. I was afraid someone would be hurt.”
I fiddled with the material in my lap. “The first time, you don’t have a lot of control. I remember when River—” Jack’s face went white. “It doesn’t have to be that way with Jordie. She’ll have us to guide her through it. She’ll be ready.”
“Ready for what?” he muttered. “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready.”
Probably more than you know, I thought.
“I wonder what Aurora meant about talking to my parents.”
Zeus, Hera and Hades! I wasn’t going to touch that one.
Chapter 24
Tempe
I’m not a total moron…
* * *
He didn’t want me to stay in the car when we arrived at his parents’. No doubt he needed moral support. He must have expected the worst. Beffie met us at the door and we followed him to Jordie’s room. She looked like a normal teenager having a restful night sleep. Jack stared at her for several long minutes, his eyes moist when he rose from kissing Jordie on the forehead, whispering, “I love you, baby.”
He took my hand and led me back down the hallway, in more of a hurry now that he’d assured himself of his daughter’s safety.
I wondered what to expect when we got to his house. Had he changed his mind about the promise to get me out of my gown, or did he just want a friend?
“What’s it like to be a Paramortal?” he asked.
The question caught me off guard. Was I equipped to answer? “I might not be the best one to ask, you know. I went twenty-nine years without owning my heritage, no matter the reason. And I didn’t have my family to—what’s the best word—to acculturate me to life as a Paramortal. It might be better to ask Dylan or Aurora.”
He increased the interior light, listening intently. “I have mixed emotions now, knowing what I do, and I can’t help but resent that the truth was kept from me.” I turned to him. “No matter what, Jack, no matter what reality holds for Jordie, be truthful with her.”
He exhaled. “I’m afraid for her. All I ever wanted was for her to be safe, and loved.”
“She is loved, Jack. She feels it, and everyone can see the relationship between you is special.”
His jaw clenched. “That was
n’t always true though. Her mother,” he shivered dramatically, “talk about freaks.”
“You never talk about…”
“Georgeanne,” he sighed. “I don’t even like to say her name for fear of conjuring her or something. But back to my question, will this put Jordie in danger?”
I ran the answer through my head before verbalizing it. “I’m not a parent, but I meet a lot of teenagers, and so does Aurora. Jordie seems very mature and well grounded. I understand that to you, she’s your ‘baby girl’ but she really isn’t a little girl anymore, Jack. Think about it this way. In about two years, she may decide to follow in your footsteps and enter the military.”
“Oh, God.” He scrubbed his hands down his face.
“Think of Paramortals as protectors with varying skill sets, many of them are just extra-mortal, not supernatural. We’re like the Paramortal Service, except we don’t get to retire. Our entire purpose from the time we’re born is to defend defenseless humans and others from outside threats. Is that so different from what you’ve spent all your adult life doing?” The furrows in his forehead deepened. “She might just be a sentinel, or a watcher…”
He held his hand up, “Okay, TMI, as Jordie would say.” He sighed, “I get it.”
“Right. So you’re okay with her being a freak like me?”
He smiled, “This is a test, right? I’m not a total moron.”
“It’s important, Jack,” I said, holding his gaze while he considered his answer.
* * *
Jack
After Midnight We’re gonna let it all hang out.
* * *
She wanted my acceptance. I thought I’d already embraced Tempe’s supernatural abilities, but the things I’d said had made her question me. I’d been focused on Jordie and not how my comments might hurt Tempe’s feelings.
