“That’s how he found you and knew to bring you to Mildred,” Ruby said.
“Kind of. My father had been here for several weeks with my mother and me and my brother. They’d all seen us, held us even. So when Clarence found me, he knew right away who I was.”
“What happened?” Ruby asked softly.
“My mother took her family home to meet her father. Her father had been in a rage because not only had she ignored his directive that there was to be no fraternization with the town and the humans in it, she became pregnant by one of the humans and believed herself in love with him.”
“His directive… her father was the Most High Prime?!”
“He was. Is.”
“So you’re…”
“An heir.”
“Holy hell,” Ruby muttered.
“Exactly. But there’s more. As soon as my mother knew she was pregnant, she left the colony and moved in with my father. They married, had their kids, and even named both my brother and myself after her father, hoping he would think it an honor. His name is Rufussian Tyrise Ramses XXI. My name is Rufus Jamisey Claremont, my brother’s name is Julius Tyrisey Claremont. After our birth and some time away, she decided that upon presenting her sons and her husband to him, he’d forgive her and welcome them into the colony. The way I hear it, they said goodbye to everyone here, promised they would see them often and went on their way. Then about three days later Clarence was out in the desert, walking near the colony as he does when feeling homesick for his own family there, and heard a cry. He followed the noise thinking it some animal in distress and found me, near the colony, badly sunburned, starving and dehydrated, barely able to make more than a strangled cry. He gathered me up and rushed me to Mildred. They took me to the hospital and eventually I made enough of a recovery to come home with Mildred. She’s raised me ever since.”
Ruby sat there, confused, shaking her head. “But that makes no sense. Your parents loved you, they showed you off to their friends and your father’s family. Why would they just throw you out?”
“Don’t know. All I know is that Clarence hurried back as soon as he got me to Mildred and searched and searched to be sure that Tyrisey wasn’t there as well. He searched for days and nights. But there was only me.”
Ruby reached forward taking Jaime’s face in her hands. “Please can I burn them out?” she asked, with an eerily evil smile on her face.
Jaime laughed sadly. “No. Unfortunately, there are probably some nice people there, struggling under the tyranny of my grandfather. We can’t burn them all out.”
“Fine,” she pouted. “But wait. You never heard from either of your parents again? Your brother? No one?”
“My parents? No. And they aren’t my parents. Mildred is my mom as far as I’m concerned. She raised me. And Clarence is like an uncle to me. They’re my family.”
“Your brother?” Ruby asked again, since he’d not addressed that part of her question.
Jaime sighed. “My brother surfaces from time to time. Which leads me to believe that my biological parents are still alive living in their happy little family with my very demented, very insane brother. Happily ever after is different for everyone, I guess. And I wasn’t enough to be included in theirs.”
“You are always, ALWAYS, my happily ever after,” Ruby said emphatically.
Jaime leaned over and kissed her lips, smiling lovingly at her.
“What do you mean your brother surfaces?” Ruby asked.
“Remember the night we almost made love on the hood of your Jeep, watching the small colony leave their caves for their evening feeding?”
“Yeah, the night you were rude and hurt my feelings?!” she teased, play punching his shoulder.
“That night, yes. It was Tyrisey that was watching us. That’s why I had to get you out of there, be sure you were safe.”
“You think he’d hurt me?” Ruby asked, alarmed.
“I’m not sure. Either that, or steal you. But I’m more than sure that his first priority wouldn’t be to make you happy.”
“He’d steal me? Why? I don’t want him,” Ruby said.
Jaime took her hands in his again. “There’s a prophecy, Ruby. And don’t freak out, because it’s not fucking happening. No matter what, it will not fucking happen. I will not share you with any motherfucker, brother or not. It won’t happen.”
Ruby’s eyebrows rose almost to her hairline. “I’m sorry, what?”
“The prophecy says that two brothers share the flame and unite all the people.”
“Sounds kind of plain for a prophecy. Aren’t they usually all poetic and crap?” Ruby asked.
Jaime sighed, looking at her. “I was paraphrasing. The actual prophecy is and I quote:
Two the brothers, the same.
One born of fire, and of flames.
A chasm to be spanned.
Or a people are banned.
Steal the flame, expose the shame.
Share the fire, become the same.”
“Oh, well, yeah, that does sound more like a prophecy. But, why do you think it has anything to do with me?”
“My mother knew she was carrying twins. She felt this prophecy had something to do with us. She tore the page from the ancient tomes the Most High Prime has always led the Chireop by and brought it here with her when she came to be with my father. Clarence, apparently, was a bit of an historian of our people before he left the colony. He’s always said it was only a matter of time before my brother and I united both peoples of our family. Since the fire and flames had nothing to do with either of us, he surmised that it would be a woman, one mate for both of us to share and therein would be the healing our people needed to become one and move the colony into the 21st century.”
“And I’ve got red hair.”
“Like the flames of a fire,” Jaime agreed.
“I hate to break it to you, but there will be no sharing of me with your brother, not even for the greater good of any people. And if that is what this has all been about — I’m out. I’m done. You’ve broken my heart and I’m walking away.”
Ruby made to get up from the bed and start shoving her clothes into her duffle, angry at herself for believing in Jaime and allowing him to hurt her. But Jaime reached out, grabbing her arm and pulling her back down to him.
“You’re right. It’s not gonna happen. That’s what I told you when I first started explaining, remember? You’re mine. That’s it, no negotiation. And I will whip anyone’s ass that thinks to try to convince me otherwise.”
Ruby just looked at Jaime. Wanting to believe every word, but afraid to leave herself open.
“I avoided you like the plague. I was an asshole to you. Trying to make you go away. But still in the very next breath I needed to be near you. I’d push you away, then hunt you down. I wanted you, Ruby, from the very moment that I saw you drive by my place and wave out of your sunroof, I was drawn to you. But I didn’t want to bring all the crap to your door. So I tried to stay away. Couldn’t do it though. So I did the next best thing. I mated you. Tied you to me, only me. Now it can’t be undone.”
“Does that matter?”
“Yeah, I think so. When triad’s mate, and there are some in the Chireop colony, they must all three mate together at the same time, or it excludes the one missing from the initial mating.”
“So you claimed me, knowing that now your brother can’t.”
“Exactly.”
“Do you think it’s enough?” Ruby asked.
“It’s enough to keep him from claiming you. And I think that’s enough to keep him away, but I still don’t trust him. That night, he said he sensed you the moment you entered his territory. He acted as though you were meant for him.” Jaime looked down at Ruby. “You’re not!” he snarled. “You are mine.”
Jaime stared into her eyes, waiting for confirmation of his words.
Ruby hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. I’m yours.”
“I’ll protect you, nobody will hurt you,” Jai
me promised.
“I don’t need protecting, I can take care of me.”
“Ruby, you can’t tell a man like me that he can’t take care of his woman.”
Ruby huffed, reaching for a compromise. “I know. And I know you’ll take care of me. But I’ll take care of you, too. I got you, just like you got me.”
Jaime smiled and kissed her lips.
“But if you hurt me, Jaime. If you make me regret this — this trust — I have in you. I won’t be the one running. You will be. And I’ll hunt your happy ass down and make you miserable for the rest of your life.”
Jaime grinned. “Counting on it, Ruby. Counting on you holding me accountable for as long as we live. Mine, baby. Nobody else’s.”
Hours later, after they were all talked out, and just moments from falling asleep, Jaime was curled around Ruby, his front to her back. He kissed the back of her neck. “I love you, Ruby. Loving don’t come easy to me, but you’ve got all of mine.”
“I love you, too, Jaime. I’m not the greatest at it either, but we’ll learn together,” she whispered back to him.
Then, just before he drifted off he heard her voice again. “Hey, can you like sprout wings or something? Or like make your ears turn into tiny little points? ‘Cause if you can, that would totally be cool.”
Jaime didn’t open his eyes. “Or maybe make little tiny fangs drop to mark my mate’s neck with, or sprout pointed claws to mark her ass with? Or maybe dilate my eyes and see better in the dark when I need to?”
She tried to pull out of his hold to see. “Show me!”
“I’m trying to sleep, woman!” he groused.
“Show me! You can’t say that and then not show me.”
“Fine.” He held up a hand and forced the sharp claws from his nail beds, then he opened his mouth and showed her his fangs right before he opened his eyes and let her watch while he dilated his pupils, causing his eyes to eerily reflect the moonlight coming in the window. While she watched in wonder, running her finger over his claws, he crossed his eyes at her, sending her into a fit of laughter.
“Go to sleep,” he instructed.
Ruby snuggled into his arms and threw her leg over his hip. “Love you, Rufus.”
“Me, or the toy?” he asked.
“Both,” she answered, planting a kiss on his chest.
Chapter 12
In the wee hours of the morning, just as sunlight began streaming through the windows, Jaime woke Ruby. “I’m gonna run home and get some clean clothes. I’ll be back for breakfast, okay?”
Ruby, not a morning person, just growled at him.
As she heard him opening the door, she called out to him. “Bring extras so you don’t have to wake me up so early tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered, chuckling.
An hour later Ruby walked into the diner, via the back door. She’d dressed, pulled her hair into a high ponytail and was wearing her hiking boots.
“Morning, Clarence! Francis!” she singsonged as she headed to the front counter.
“Morning, Ruby. You’re mighty happy today,” Clarence observed, grinning.
“Yes, I am!” she grinned as she went by.
She stood at the front counter playing a steady drum beat on the counter top while she waited for Mildred to turn around and look at her.
Finally, she did. “Ruby,” Mildred greeted.
“Morning, Mildred. You’re a wonderful person, you know that?” she asked, blinking her eyes dramatically and tilting her head slightly to the side with a firm smile in place.
“Yes, I do. But how do you know that?” Mildred asked.
The door behind Ruby opened and somehow she just knew, her man, her mate, her Jaime — was walking up behind her. He walked right up to her, pressed his body against hers, slipped an arm around her waist and nuzzled the mating mark she was trying desperately to show off to Mildred.
“Morning, baby,” he said, playfully nibbling on her neck.
“He told me,” Ruby said to Mildred, tilting her head more to give him more access.
Mildred watched the two of them for a few moments before looking at Jaime. “You tell her all of it?”
“I did. Also told her it ain’t fucking happening. She’s mine. And today, we’re going to get a marriage license. Make it all official.”
“Yep!” Ruby agreed. Then his words sank in. “Wait, what? We’re doing what?”
“Getting a license. Just giving the office a chance to open and we’ll be all set.”
“But we haven’t talked about…”
“You took my mark, gave me one of your own, on your own without prompting, I might add. We already married, bound for life. Just need to make it legal so everybody else knows it, too.”
“You bit me! I bit you back! How is that married?” she asked.
“Just is,” Jaime said, going in to nuzzle her neck again.
“Anything else I need to remind you of, baby? Maybe you need some more convincing,” Jaime said.
Ruby closed her eyes and let Jaime kiss her neck, felt the strength of his body as he pulled her against him. Yeah, in the light of day, she preferred to be asked, rather than told, but if anyone was going to tell her, it would be this man.
“No, I remember,” she murmured, holding him to her. “But, you can convince me again if you like, because I might feel a change of mind coming on,” she snickered.
Jaime popped her on the ass, making her squeal. “Is that so?” he teased. “Ain’t no mind changing happening here, Ruby!” he said shaking his finger playfully at her.
Ruby bit the end of his finger, making Jaime snap his jaws at her as though he’d bite her back.
Mildred watched them again. Saw the happiness in Jaime’s eyes. The love they both couldn’t help but let out into the rest of the world. Her Jaime was happy. He’d found the acceptance he’d always dreamed of. He’d found a woman to love who he was, not who he appeared to be. “I’m happy for you both. Come here,” she said, holding her arms out for both of them to come closer for her to hug across the counter. She grabbed Jaime’s face and kissed him on the cheek, then repeated the gesture for Ruby. “Knew you were special the minute you bounced into here. Glad you two finally got on the same page.”
“Thank you, Mildred.”
“Aunt Mildred, Ruby. I’m your aunt now. Family’s family.”
“Yes, ma’am. It is.”
“Now, what’ll you have for breakfast?”
“I want some coffee, iced,” Ruby started.
“I got it!” Jaime said, holding up a plastic shopping bag from the gas station on the other side of town.
Mildred eyed it with a not-too-impressed look on her face. “Guess I’m gonna have to start carrying that stuff, now.”
“Please!” Ruby asked, grinning, already digging in the bag to take one out, while bestowing a bright smile on her man.
“And what else?” Mildred asked.
“Waffles?” Ruby asked.
“We got pancakes,” Mildred said, dryly.
“Can you make them into waffles?” Ruby asked.
“I don’t have a waffle iron. I can make them into pancakes.”
“Fine. And bacon?” she asked hopefully.
“Bacon it is,” Mildred answered, “Go have a seat, and I’ll bring it to ya.”
“Thank you, Mildred, I mean, Aunt Mildred,” she corrected when Mildred raised an eyebrow at her.
“You're welcome. Now, go away,” she grumbled, turning to the griddle to start their bacon and pancakes.
“Can I have eggs, too?” Jaime asked.
“Yep. I was gonna bring ya some.”
After breakfast they headed toward town. Jaime planned to take her to the small courthouse and apply for their marriage license, but the closer they got to the deed, the more nervous Ruby got. In fact, she’d gone into an almost full blown panic. He was beginning to think she might make a break for it and run. So instead, they walked over to the jewelry store, which was right nex
t door to the nail salon, and window shopped for some jewelry for a while.
She looked at earrings, necklaces, watches, even belly button rings and toe rings. But the more he called her over to look at wedding rings, the more she resisted.
She looked at everything he showed her, but the only thing she seemed to truly not have a complaint about was anything that was not standard, traditional wedding ring style.
Watching her across the small store, hold up a pair of earrings with tiny sterling silver bats on them, he finally decided he was making a huge mistake. She wasn’t ready. She’d accepted him, but she’d not overcome all her own issues enough to consider marriage, not only to him, but to anyone.
“You like those, Ruby?” he asked.
Ruby looked over at him, a nervous smile on her face. “Yeah, I do. My style, you know?”
He turned to the jeweler who was standing just behind him at the counter. Jaime tapped the top of the glass display case. “Wrap that ruby solitaire up for me — the one in silver. And ring up those earrings, too, please.”
“Yes, sir. She going to want to wear the ring out?”
“No, it’ll be a surprise later. But I’m sure she’ll wear the earrings.”
A few minutes later they were standing outside. Ruby shaking her head to make her new earrings jiggle and sparkle as the little bats dangled from her ears.
Jaime stood beside her, smiling. Knowing the morning didn’t end quite the way he wanted it to, but secure in the knowledge that she was as much his as any other married couple. He grinned at her as she shook her head like a bobble head again, making her earrings sparkle.
“Thank you for my earrings.”
“You’re welcome. When I saw how much you loved them, had to buy them.”
“I saw you buy that ring, too.”
“What ring?” he teased.
“The one in your pocket that you’re pretending like you don’t have.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“Well, you know, if you prefer one night stands, it’s not too late. We can just chalk it up to a one night thing. We don’t have to get married,” Ruby teased.
Wings Page 10
