by R. A. Boyd
Before Emma could tell Jace that his brother was incapacitated, he grabbed the back end of her father’s car and threw it against the wall of the garage, knocking it out of his way. The sound of grinding metal and shattering glass filled the space, and the smell of burning tires singed her nose.
Jace hoisted Ronin up by his neck. Blood and solid parts that should be inside of Ronin’s body leaked onto the floor, dragging a trail of gore in his wake.
Emma jumped and went to stand next to Jace. “The last one to speak to me through those lips was your brother. Not Samiyah. He’s trying. Please don’t hurt him.”
Jace looked down at her, a line of confusion between his eyes as hatred seethed from his body in waves. He dropped his brother’s body on the ground, sending splats of blood and other stuff onto Emma’s legs.
“Really?” she squeaked out.
Jace pulled her in, crushing her to his body. Over and over, he kissed her as he ran his hands up and down her body. “Are you okay? You were so brave. So fucking brave.”
His heart thrummed in his chest, and she could hear it. She could sense his worry, his fear. His relief in having her in his arms again. The soft rumble of a growl in his throat tickled her eyeballs as she pushed her face into the bend of his neck and breathed him in.
Oh, his scent was so beautiful. Citrus and pinecones, fresh rain and fur, and all heady male. This was what he smelled like. Not that deodorant she liked so much. Well, she could still smell it, but that wasn’t him. This was him. And he was hers.
“So it worked,” Willow said as she strolled through the not-there garage door. “Emma’s dad is going to kill you.” She looked at Jace and winked.
He shook his head and pointed at Ronin’s crumpled body. “Nope. He did it. Don’t tell Shaun.”
A happy relief took over Emma’s chest. “Dude. What are you going to do to make me not tell my dad you’re the one who ruined his car?”
“Something completely different than what he’s going to have to do for me,” Willow sang, almond-shaped eyes teasing as she looked at him. “I’m thinking shoes. Or pastries. Tons of pastries.” She bent down and put her hands in the blood on the floor. When she stood, she held her hands above Ronin, closed her eyes, and started speaking in a language that sounded old. Latin? “There. It’s a binding spell. No magic from him.”
Well, that was easy.
Audra and Zeke walked into the garage. She held tight to her mate as they stepped over the mess of the small room. Audra handed Emma a bag with clothes, and it wasn’t until then that Emma realized she was naked.
Covering her ta-ta’s with her arms, Emma tried to hide behind Jace. “Thanks, Audra.”
“You’re welcome,” Audra replied, voice distracted as she looked down at Ronin. “Is this over?”
God, Emma hoped it was over. Her body ached in places she never even imagined could possibly hurt, and all she wanted to do was see Lily and her father. Holding them would be what made this real. Her beast wanted to see them, touch them, commit their scents to memory. But that would have to wait.
Caked beneath her nails and between her fingers was the blood of the man who she’d been sent here to help. Today was the second time Ronin had voiced he’d wanted to die. The evil being that was Samiyah had to have damaged him something terrible for him to want death. There had to be something Willow and Zeke could do to help him.
Part of Emma hurt for Ronin. He’d lost hope. He didn’t think his family could save him, and the only way he knew to keep them safe was to sacrifice himself. And he knew the clan better than she did. She may love Jace, but Ronin knew the inner workings of this family and still wanted to give in. He didn’t have the hope inside of him anymore that made him want to fight. There had to be a way to help him.
“What the hell was that?” Willow said, voice trembling and going higher with each word. “No. No, no, no.”
When Emma turned around to see Willow, she wasn’t sure what she was witnessing.
Ronin’s hand was clasped around Willow’s as she held her palm to his forehead. She looked down at him with horror, but the way he gazed at her showed something Emma had never seen in his eyes. And they were definitely Ronin’s eyes that looked upon Willow.
“Are you freaking serious?” Willow whispered.
Despite the blood loss that made Ronin’s tanned skin take on a blue pallor, he smiled up at her, and it was a genuine smile full of hope. “Hello, Willow,” he said as blood poured from the side of his mouth. He pulled her hand from his forehead and brought it to his lips. “You’re my mate.”
Chapter 14
“I whole-heartedly blame each and every single one of you.”
Jace sat, watching Willow as she paced the length of the community hall. She was infuriated. Her dark wavy hair was pulled in a high and messy bun, showing off the semiquaver tattoo behind her left ear. Her heeled boots clicked across the floor, the sound an echo of how utterly pissed she was. How she stayed upright in heels that high was beyond him.
“This is what you wanted, right?” Cass asked. A grin played at her lips as her head moved back and forth like a manual typewriter, watching Willow’s pacing form. She sat on Damon’s lap and kissed his temple. He leaned into her and kissed her chin. “This is a good thing. And it’s only one guy,” she said, waggling her eyebrows.
Willow stopped pacing long enough to point at Cass. “I wanted a boyfriend. I didn’t say I wanted a mate. That was a mistake!” she said, looking up at the ceiling. Was she talking to the Creator? Willow as funny. She looked back at Cass. “Why don’t you use chairs? You’re always sitting in one of your mate’s laps.”
“Don’t be jealous,” Cass said in a relaxed tone. She snickered as she tried to hold back the laugh that was slowly taking over her face.
Jace knew he should feel relief. Hell, after everything coming to a head today he should be fucking ecstatic. Emma was safe. Even before he’d claimed her, he knew that she would always be part of the Ghost shifter clan. But now, she had a saber-tooth in her middle to keep her safe. She was a fucking badass before he’d claimed her. Now, she would be downright lethal.
“Jace,” Willow said, irritation full in her voice. “Why are you smiling? This isn’t funny.”
Yeah, it kind of was.
Not only was Willow one of the most powerful witches that walked the planet, but now they just found out that she was Ronin’s mate. If there was anyone who could dispossess his brother of Samiyah’s parasitical spirit, it was her. And now she had a better incentive to free him. They belong to each other.
Instead of watching Willow pace, Jace went back to staring out of the window of the hall and looking at his house.
Their house. The house that now housed Emma and Lily. His family.
After he’d brought her back home, Emma snuck into the house before Lily could see her. She’d taken a shower, or three, to cleanse herself of the blood and gore that covered her body. Jace made sure that her father was resting in the guest room— if you could call it resting since Lily jumped on the bed, bouncing her grandfather as he sat with his eyes closed— before he came to meet with the rest of the Ghosts. They had a plan to make.
They’d already taken Ronin/Samiyah down to the cells below their common hall. The cells were magically warded to contain supernatural creatures. Even if Samiyah could come up with a spell to break free, it would bounce back off the barriers and knock him on his ass. But Willow had bound him. He wouldn’t be doing any magic until Willow released him.
Part of him wanted to be happy. His brother was back. They had him there with them where they could all work to free him, but what if he was still crazy as a fucking bedbug? That’s why he’d been put down in the first place. Ronin had been put under by the Coven of the Fallen seventy years ago, and they said he needed to be in the earth to be leeched of his rage and insanity for at least a century. Could Willow save him? She didn’t seem interested.
In fact, she’d now taken to cursing and stomping her foot li
ke a petulant child.
Finally, he was tired of listening to her complain.
“Damn-it, Willow. Don’t you see what’s happening?” Jace said, standing from the table. “You wanted a mate. You’re the one who said the Creator was setting up the Ghost clan to be powerful. Remember? And now, here you are, mated to a Ghost shifter. And he needs your help. Not just as the powerful witch you are, but as the mate who can give him back his grace and save him from his madness. You have to see that.”
Willow sucked in her bottom lip and then looked away from him. She was scared. He could see it now. For some reason, she was scared as hell. Maybe some kind of happiness lingered deep inside of her for finding someone, but something overshadowed her joy.
Before Jace could say anything else, Willow flipped him off and walked toward the door. “Fuck off.”
“That’s what I always say,” Simon said as he slapped one hand on the table. “I think that’s the first time I’ve heard Willow say ‘fuck’ since she got here.”
Willow paused, hand reaching for the door. With her head hung low and her shoulders heaving as she breathed, she turned around to face them. There were tears in her eyes. “Remember, Ezeqeel, when you were worried about what Audra’s madness would do to you?”
“Yeah,” Zeke said. A flash of recognition widening his eyes.
When Zeke found out he was Audra’s mate, he flipped and almost ran out on her. He’d dealt with his own demons. If Audra’s insanity had taken over Zeke’s mind, New Rose might have been wiped from the map. Zeke was powerful, and he’d been locked away by the Creator for what he’d done before the time of the Great Flood.
Zeke had the power to control the weather, and if Zeke’s storm was enough to level a town, Jace didn’t even want to imagine what Willow’s power could wreak if she lost it.
Willow sighed and shook her head. “I’m not even talking of what Ronin’s lunacy could do to me if I let it. I’m talking about Samiyah. What if he gets into my head? He may be a spirit, but do not underestimate him. We did before and look where that got us.” Slowly, she shook her head and turned back to them. “I have to leave, but I’ll be back by the end of the week. My best spell books are at the coven house. I’ll speak with Sariel to see if she can help me find a way to exercise an angel from an angel’s body. How fucking crazy does that sound?”
Audra raised her hand. “Crazier than the man you’re mated to.”
Jace could tell his sister was trying to be helpful, but all it did was seem to take Willow lower.
Willow tsked and let out a deep breath. “Zeke,” she said over her shoulder, “Once I find out what we need I’ll start sending you a list of fresh ingredients for you to collect for me to work this spell.”
“Absolutely,” Zeke said, right before he kissed Audra to keep her from talking.
“Bye.” Willow walked out the door and didn’t stop until she reached her car. She didn’t even bother to pack a bag. She got into her SUV and drove off.
Everything was quiet for a few moments until Aiden broke the silence. “Anyone heard from Cole?”
“Yeah,” Jax said, walking up to stand behind Cass and Damon. “He’s going to be staying with the Salvatore Ghosts. It’s the only thing that’s keeping him level right now.”
If that’s what worked for Cole, that’s exactly what he needed to do. Before he left, he considered going to the Coven of the Fallen and being put down voluntarily. He was tired of this life and wanted to take a break. It didn’t matter that they were all getting paired up and finding their mates. He was convinced it wouldn’t happen for him. If staying locked away from the rest of the world with the Salvatore clan helped Cole, so be it.
Audra cleared her throat and clasped her hands in front of her on the table. “I know I’m the designated food giver to the people we keep down in the cells, but I can’t go down there with Ronin. Someone else is going to have to do it.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Audra and Ronin had a volatile past. There were things they needed to work through.
Jace stood and took his empty glass to the kitchen sink. “Well, I can say one thing. Samiyah may not be thrilled to be here, but I get the notion that Ronin couldn’t be happier. Oh, and just so we’re clear. Ronin was the one who trashed Shaun’s Pontiac. Not me.”
Chapter 15
“Do you feel different?” Paddie sipped from her coffee cup. She stared at Emma and then smiled when Audra brought their food to the table. “You don’t look different.”
Emma shrugged and thanked Audra for the burger and fries. “I don’t feel different. Everything is the same. I’ve been a shifter for like two days, Paddie. Give me some time.”
Truth was, she did feel different. She just didn’t know how to put it into words. It wasn’t the fact that she now had a saber-tooth inside of her or that she was stronger than she’d ever been. It was more than that. For a brief moment, she thought of telling Paddie it was the possible adventure of her new life. But that still wasn’t quite right.
Emma picked up a leftover hush puppy and broke it in half. “Is your mom upset with me? I told her I’d be gone for a few weeks.”
“But instead, I’m here bringing you your stuff from your cubicle.” Paddie took one of the hush puppy halves from Emma’s hand and ate it. “No, she’s not upset. Someone trashed your house and set your car on fire. She just wants you to be safe. I didn’t tell her that the guy I dated was actually stalking you. Did the police find him yet?”
The scent of worry wafted from Paddie. Emma put her hand on her friends arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. No one outside of the Ghost clan knew that Ronin was in a cell in their community, waiting to be freed of Samiyah.
Emma reached for the ketchup and shook the red and white bottle, readying herself to lie to her best friend. “Yeah. They got him. You don’t have to worry about him coming after you.”
“Are you kidding me?” Flitting her hand in the air to dismiss Emma’s statement, Paddie blew a raspberry and shrugged. “I’m not worried about me. We already figured out it was you. Besides, the only thing I’ll miss about him is his skilled mouth. And fingers. And teeth. I need a man.”
“Barf. Please stop sharing.” Emma cut her burger in half. “So, are you staying for a few days?”
“No. I just wanted to come to drop off your stuff and see where you were staying now. I’m heading back this afternoon. It’s so nice here in New Rose. I think I might come back later this year and spend a few weeks with you. You never know. Maybe I’ll find a reason to stay here in New Rose with you.”
Emma sat outside of Lily’s school and listened to the birds play in the tree next to her. She could hear things like that now. The flapping of bird wings, the skittering of little animals in the grass. Her vision was near perfect at best. It was crazy.
While Lily slept last night, Audra and Zeke came over so that Emma could wander through the woods in her saber-tooth form. It was like being allowed to go outside for the first time in her life. The stars in the sky showed off, lighting up and twinkling just for her. The crickets were louder than they’d ever been. Jace was patient as she sniffed and walked and got to know the world all over again.
The familiar heartbeat of the man she loved came closer and closer until he stood behind the wooden bench she sat on. That was another thing. Heartbeats. Everyone’s heartbeat was like a fingerprint. Each person had their own unique signature, and Jace’s was so close that if she focused she could write a love song to it. Lily’s heartbeat played the loveliest tune Emma had ever heard in her entire life.
“School doesn’t let out for another hour and a half,” Jace said. He bent down and kissed her behind her ear, and it sent a shiver up her spine.
A low purr started in her throat. Emma coughed a few times to make it go away. It was embarrassing.
She shrugged and lifted her head to accept a kiss on the lips. “I know. I just need to be near Lily. She felt so comfortable this morning when we came into the classroom. She asked me to
leave like three times.” Emma laughed and pictured the excited little face of her daughter. “When she started pre-school back in September, I was late almost every day for over a month. She never wanted to leave. Now, she wants me to leave her be.”
That’s one of the reasons Emma knew she’d made the right choice. Lily fell in love with New Rose and the people who lived here instantly. Her Pop-pop living here was an added bonus.
Jace moved around the bench and sat down next to Emma. Pulling her feet into his lap, he said, “Did Lily tell you about calling me DJ?”
His voice dipped, and when Emma looked up at him, she could see his ears were turning red. She leaned forward to look in his eyes, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze. He was tearing up.
“Yeah,” she said, reaching forward to grab Jace’s chin and gently turning his ice blue gaze to hers. “She asked me. I told her it was okay to ask you.”
Oh, her man was happy and embarrassed. He wasn’t the type to cry easily, but over the past few weeks Lily had been the one to make tears appear in his eyes the most. Now, Emma’s tears burned the backs of her eyes as she watched him.
Blinking away the tears, he cleared his throat and turned his adoring attention to her. “Is that okay with you? I’d like it if she called me that. I’m fucking amazed that she wants to.”
Daddy Jace. DJ.
Lily didn’t want to keep calling him Jace. She said it didn’t feel right, and that Daddy Jace was the best name for him. ‘He’s what a daddy should be. Right, Momma?’ she’d asked during their afternoon walk. Yeah. He was what a daddy should be like. His protective and caring ways reminded Emma of the way her father treated her when she was growing up. The way he still did.
Emma nodded, leaned forward, and kissed Jace on the cheek. “Yeah. I’m okay with it. You will be her stepdad soon.” She rubbed her face along the hair of his beard. There was that damn purring again.
