Rebirth (Rogues Shifter Series)

by Gayle Parness

  “Your natural auras are congruent. Your emerald green and his sapphire blue are harmonious and blend naturally together. Yours is the aura of a healer, a lover, someone in perfect balance with nature while his signifies clarity, truthfulness and a loving nature. You balance each other beautifully.” She sent this to me in a straightforward way without any resentment or anger.

  “What does your orangey aura signify? I asked.

  “My aura demonstrates an intelligent scientific mind with a tendency toward perfectionism. All true I admit. Not really an easy personality to blend with. When you use your healing energies, your aura will turn a brighter green.

  To attack someone, you must draw the ley line power into yourself, shape it as a weapon and then, using your own unique pulse, push it toward your enemy. The difficult part at first is controlling the intensity.

  “99% of shapeshifters and weres use it magic unconsciously when they shift, but can’t control it in any other way. The powerful older undead can pull from the lines to some degree, and the fae are masters. Some sorcerers are quite adept as are a few witches, learning to connect when they twist a spell. You’ll need to learn everything you can about each of the races so that you can fight them efficiently if it becomes necessary."

  She sighed and relaxed into her chair, speaking out loud again. "There's evil in our supernatural world so learn quickly how to protect yourself. If you stay with us, you’ll be called upon to protect others who can’t protect themselves. If you’re not willing to do that, then there’s no place for you here.”

  Maya’s spring green eyes locked on mine, challenging me. I lifted my chin. “I’d like to help.”

  She nodded. “Please sit down again, Jackie.” I did as she asked. “Some scientists believe cheetahs are the most ancient of the big cats and so that perhaps explains our mystical connection to magic. Your aura is green, which as I mentioned is the aura of a healer. A healer is the rarest of all auras among the races. Cheetahs are natural warriors, which means that you will constantly have to work to balance between your urge to fight, to defend your loved ones, and your urge to heal, to repair the damage done by other warriors. Your healing abilities will take longer to completely manifest themselves so we don’t have to work on them for a while.

  I must have looked stunned because she continued, "This is all a little overwhelming so I’m letting you go for tonight and giving you homework to work on with Garrett. I need to decide how best to approach your special situation.”

  Relief washed over me. "Thank you."

  Her face grew curious. “Do you find yourself reaching out to touch people when you talk to them? “I nodded. “This is one way a new healer transfers her energy to someone. You may want to talk to Liam. He’s a fae healer, which is also very rare.”

  Maya spoke professionally but her tone remained cool. “I’m not your enemy, although I’ll most likely never be your friend. Please call me if you have any questions.” I guess her laying it all out like that was just her way, and I respected her for it, even though part of me thought she was a bitch.

  Garrett was instantly in the room standing by my chair. Maya wasn't fazed by his vamp speed, but continued to write on her legal pad. “Garrett, this is a list of what I want you to work on with her.” She handed him the top sheet of paper then turned back to me. “He’s done a fair job so far, so he may as well continue. Keep working because you’ll be coming back two weeks from today for a test. Control is our major concern. If you can demonstrate that you won’t be a danger to the shifters and others in this community, we’ll be happy to let you stay.”

  She turned to Garrett. “If this team of rogues can truly work together the way you and Rob say they can, I’ll be your strongest supporter.” She allowed herself a half smile and Garrett smiled back. “Go on, get out of here.” She turned away to her computer and began to type. Garrett and I headed out the door without a backward glance.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Rob and Garrett had decided that the team should meet to discuss our next move, so Garrett and I pulled up in front of Kyle and Peter’s house ten minutes later. Everyone was there, and since Peter had barbequed enough ribs to feed a pride of lions, we sat around in their backyard sucking on rib bones and licking our fingers while we talked. I’d noticed that Kyle was in a snit for most of the evening. He’d glare at Garrett and then look away when he saw me watching him. Ethan had volunteered to load the dishwasher and Sinc was clearing the table when Kyle started in on me.

  “So did Maya tell you about her and Garrett? From what I hear they had some wild affair. Half the town could hear them…”

  “Shut the hell up,” growled Sinc. Everyone was looking from me to Garrett to Kyle and then back to me again.

  “I was gonna say fighting.” Kyle scowled at Sinc.

  Garrett unfurled his body from the chair next to mine and looked straight at Kyle saying, “What’s between us should not affect how you treat Jackie. I expect you to apologize.” His voice was cold and those familiar silver flecks were dancing in his darkened eyes. Rob was also looking very angry.

  Peter came out carrying a tray of assorted desserts and coffee. After glancing around at everyone’s serious expression he put the tray down and walked to Kyle looking extremely annoyed with his mate. “You need to let her go, Kyle. Garrett can’t help her and you’re giving Eleanor the power to fuck up your life and your relationships.”

  Kyle winced at Peter’s words. Apparently, this was a bone of contention between them. I decided it was time to have a little discussion with a particularly annoying leopard. Standing up suddenly, I snatched at Kyle’s hand and said, “Is there someplace we can talk privately?”

  He glared at me defiantly at first, then shrugged, “Sure, sure…c’mon.” He led me into the woods behind his house and we walked in silence for a few minutes until we reached a small clearing. I sat on a downed tree branch and he sat across from me on a large rock, our knees almost touching.

  “So what’s really going on here, Kyle? Why are you so angry at Garrett and why are you freaking out at me?"

  “I’m sorry, but shit, Jackie. He’s a low life bloodsucker. How can you stand to let him touch you?” He shook his head. “I don’t want you to get hurt. What if he turns you?”

  I ignored him, sensing that there was much more that he wasn’t saying. “Do you hate all vampires or just Garrett?”

  “Mostly Garrett and Eleanor.” He didn’t hesitate at all, which surprised me. So this was personal.

  “What happened?” I touched his knee without thinking, sending a gentle probe into his mind. He looked at me, shocked at first, but when our eyes locked his expression changed. I felt the exact moment that he began to trust me. Heartbreak vibrated off of him in waves.

  “Eleanor took my adopted sister, Lily, and turned her. She wasn’t a shifter, she was human. She was the sweetest kid.” He smiled sadly as he remembered his little sister. A moment later, his expression grew grim. “The last time I saw her she almost killed Peter. Eleanor thinks it’s funny to watch me suffer."

  He rubbed his face in frustration. "It's my fault. I helped kill one of her nest four years ago. He'd been hunting and killing shifters in our territory. That's why Eleanor keeps trying to hurt me.”

  Kyle looked at me with pleading eyes.” I want Garrett to get her away from Eleanor and kill her, for real. I’m sure she doesn’t want to be like this. He won’t do it ‘cause he thinks Eleanor will kill me and Peter in retaliation. Can you talk to him, Jackie? I can’t… I can’t bring myself to kill her.”

  His emotional turmoil turned his vibrant red aura into a muddy swirl. I wanted to help him but wasn’t sure how, so I tried to do what Maya had suggested; to synchronize our energies. I was supposed to be a healer, so now was the time to prove it. Keeping my hand on his knee, I worked to make my emerald waves move to his red tempo and I gave a gentle push in his direction.

  His eyes widened in shock but he didn’t pull away. “What the shit is that?�
�

  I ignored the question and started speaking in a soothing tone. “Maybe Eleanor would release Lily and you could reconcile.” While I was speaking I was sending him strong waves of my energy, tuned perfectly to his. Slowly his aura brightened and began to clear. “It must be so hard to see the change in her. We’re all here for you Kyle, you’re not alone. The team's stuck together like velcro.” I was trying to make him laugh, but he was consumed with too much guilt. He thought he’d failed her by not having the courage to end her life himself.

  As the anger that he hid behind slowly left him, I watched Kyle’s lip tremble and saw two tears travel down his cheeks. I sent to Garrett, “Please send Peter out here.” I kept my energy flowing into him and in less than a minute Peter was there, holding Kyle as he cried softly. I walked back to the others who sat waiting. Garrett put his arm around me and led me toward a chair where he sat and pulled me into his lap.

  “Maya said her aura is green. She’s a healer isn’t she?” asked Rob. Garrett nodded and hugged me closer. “This is great news,” Rob continued. “The council will never banish a healer.”

  “A powerful healer can destroy with the same intensity that they use to heal. Maya may try to force her in that direction. It’s not an easy path.”

  He kissed my head and I sighed. "Mmm."

  Nestling against his chest I closed my eyes, not really paying attention. I was feeling sleepy even though it was only around 9:00 PM. Garrett stroked my hair and sent, “How is Kyle?”

  “I think he’ll be ok. Don’t be mad at him. It’s so sad about Lily.” I breathed in a lungful of Garrett’s scent and smiled when I felt him bury his face in my hair, probably for the same reason.

  “Lily is lost. She’s Eleanor’s new pet. She tortures and kills as often as her maker and she enjoys those sessions just as much. There’s none of the innocent girl left in Lily.” He sighed. “Maybe if we'd taken her when she was first turned, she might have been able to join another nest. Kyle wants me to kill her, but I won’t endanger us all by attacking one of Eleanor’s progeny unless they attack us first.”

  Kyle and Peter reappeared from the woods. Kyle walked directly over to Garrett and me. He looked at Garrett. “Hey man, I know I’m a jerk. I can’t keep blaming you for what Eleanor did. I’m sorry.” He stuck out his hand and Garrett shook it solemnly.

  “It’s behind us now.” Garrett smiled and seemed genuinely relieved.

  Kyle turned to me next. “Thanks, witchy woman. I feel better.” He leaned over and kissed my forehead. I smiled back into his shining dark eyes, feeling much better myself.

  “Anytime you want to talk…” I offered. He nodded and then gasped as Sinc grabbed him from behind and hugged him tightly. As much as they fought, we all knew that they cared about each other.

  “Thank you.” Peter spoke quietly over the sound of Kyle’s laughter as he took my hand and squeezed it. I thought about how wonderful it was for Kyle, who always seemed to be at a high or a low, to have steady Peter in his life. I looked at Peter’s aura and saw a clear rich violet. I’d have to make a note to ask Maya about that particular color. I nestled into Garrett’s shoulder and yawned.

  “I’m taking you home, chatonne.” Garrett unfolded himself gracefully from the chair with me still in his arms, and then set me down next to him. “We’ll see you tomorrow. Jackie needs to rest.” They all said good night, Sinc running over to hug me and suggest that we go to see a movie together. Then she took a look at Garrett with his arm wrapped around me and gave me a discreet wink before she turned back to park herself in Ethan’s lap. She was sure Garrett and I were more than roommates. I sighed and indulged in a short little fantasy concerning the rest of the night. Unfortunately, once in the car, I only had enough energy left to lean against him as he drove.

  An hour later I was lying on my bed with Garrett propped up next to me, typing away on his laptop. I’d managed to stumble through a shower, dressed my exhausted body in PJ’s and dragged my sleepy ass into the bed. I turned onto my side, leaning on my bent elbow to face him, and noticed a curious combination of emotions rolling off of him. “What are you thinking?”I asked.

  “I’m thinking back to when I first saw you running down that dark deserted road at 1:00 AM; a 14 year old girl out by herself, but not afraid. When I saw your speed I suspected that you were a cheetah. When your permanent aura formed eighteen months ago I was concerned, because healers can easily turn into killers if they’re twisted by circumstances. You’ve had more than your share of rough times."

  “I’m too stubborn to let them win.”

  “I’m sorry that I wasn’t always with you when you needed me.” He stroked my hair and kissed my forehead.

  “You saved my life, Garrett. Those men would have killed me.” I reached for his hand. “Stay with me Garrett.” He started to say something, but I put my finger over his delicious lips.

  ”Just till I fall asleep. Curl up with me like shifters do.”

  He kissed my finger and whispered. “Roll over and face the other way.” I did and he scooted next to me in the perfect spoon position, his arm wrapping over my waist and coming to rest just below my breasts, our knees bent and nestled together. He felt cool so I asked, “Did you feed tonight?”

  “When you fall asleep I’ll go out, I have plenty of time.” He kissed my hair and my ear, sending serious shivers down my body. "I'll ask Liam to guard you."

  "He's gone home hasn't he?"

  "Liam travels the lines. He can be here in two seconds." He kissed my throat.

  “The bed is going to burst into flames in a minute.”

  “Sorry.” He chuckled softly.

  “What’s a chatonne?”

  “A kitten.” I closed my eyes and drifted off, purring contentedly.

  Chapter Thirty-two

  The next day I got up around 11 AM, showered, dressed and hunted through the house looking for Liam. I had quite a few questions I wanted to ask him and was slightly annoyed that he seemed to be nowhere around. My mood was greatly improved, however, when I saw the fresh pot of coffee, so I took a mug out to the back patio and sat in the sunshine. He popped up about ten minutes later to ask me if I’d like some breakfast. Instead I asked him to sit.

  “Do you know Maya? “I asked.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “She told me that the fae are masters at using the magic of the ley lines. Is this true?”

  “Yes. We are practically made of magic and so can drift in and out of the lines as you would step in and out of a gentle rain shower.”

  “Can you help me learn to use magic?”

  He sat silently for a few moments. “The fae are many races, all of them powerful, some much more so than others. There are many in the Seelie or Unseelie Court who would kill us both if I tried to teach you our ways. Secrecy is essential to our survival.”

  I could see the strain in his expression. “I understand. I’m sorry if I asked for something I shouldn’t have.” I nodded my head slightly, the way I’d seen Rob greet Liam, and he acknowledged the courtesy with an amused smile and nod of his own. There was something about Liam that made me switch into a more formal mode of address, whether it was the way he spoke or the fact that he'd been around for 1500 years and would possibly live for many millennium.

  Liam continued, “What I can do is come to your aid when you need me. I am much more than I seem—a trained warrior at your disposal. This I pledge to you, Jacqueline Crawford.” He bowed his head again and I acknowledged his generosity saying, “I accept your kind offer, Liam, of the Seelie Court.” His laugh was musical and so infectious that I joined him. When he asked again if there was something I’d like to eat, I requested french toast and orange juice and moved inside to relax into the kitchen chair and watch him cook.

  My cell phone rang. It was Ethan.

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “Hi Speedy! Sinc, Kyle and I are doing some impromptu training. Can you meet us at Route 204 and Longview Road in about an hour?�
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  “Sure, sounds like fun. Does Rob know?”

  He hesitated. “No. We want to try out a weapon that Kyle and Sinc have been working on in the lab. It’s not perfected yet. Once we know it works, we’ll surprise Garrett and Rob.”

  The idea that Rob should probably be told about our little excursion swirled around in my head for a few seconds and then was quashed by my excitement over doing something cool on our own, without ‘teacher supervision’. We were smart and we’d be careful. “I’m in. See you soon.”

  Liam was bringing out my breakfast as I was hanging up. He put the plates on the table and then looked at me with a worried expression. I had a few bites of food, hoping he would leave. When he didn’t, I asked, “Okay, what did you hear?”

  “Master Garrett will not be happy if he hears that you four went off on your own. You must call Robert.”

  “We’re going into the woods to train, what could happen? Kyle will have his weapons, Ethan is as strong as any werewolf, Sinc is a genius and can camouflage herself like a ghost and no one can run me down.” I crossed my arms smugly and met his violet eyes.

  He scowled at me and spoke sharply. “Miss Jacqueline, I believe that in your very limited experience you have only encountered humans, underfed werewolves and shapeshifters. Master Garrett is the only vampire you have met and I am the only fae you have come in contact with. There are deadly creatures that roam the woods and many of them are your enemies. Your ignorance and your arrogant attitude is dangerous to you and the rest of your team.” I think my mouth was hanging open. "And no, you would not be able to outrun even a newly made vampire or the weakest of the fae."

  Whoa, well that was unexpected. Liam was starting to piss me off. “Liam I appreciate your concern. I’ll leave Garrett a note; I’ll take my cell phone and call here if there’s any trouble at all. We’ll be back before dusk. We’ll be fine.” I glared at him.

  He frowned and left the patio without comment while I ate for another ten minutes and then carried my plates to the sink. I got my backpack and threw in two sports sized water bottles, four apples, four granola bars, my cell phone and a hooded sweatshirt and took off walking down the road to the intersection about half a mile away. Clouds were beginning to roll in from the ocean and the wind was picking up slightly. I hoped that the approaching storm would hold off until dark.