by Ciana Stone
“Hardly. It isn’t helpful if we can’t determine what it is.”
“You will, Ily. Just give it time.”
“Please don’t tell me to be patient,” she groused. “Patience is a virtue I’ve never possessed.”
She changed the subject. “Tell me about your brother Beau.”
John Luke smiled. “Beau’s a hell of a guy. He’s a little less than two years younger than I am. He’s the COO of the family business, is brilliant and a genuinely good guy.”
“So, he’s not into ranching?”
John Luke laughed. “Girl, none of us was ever into ranching except Logan. We just grew up on a ranch and were expected to learn about it. Everyone except me, Ravyn, and Jericho ended up working for the family business.”
“What do Ravyn and Jericho do?”
“Ravyn is a doctor and owns the clinic in town. She’s the next to the youngest in the family. Jericho is the baby, and at the moment, he’s at Quantico, finishing up his training. He was recruited for a special division of the Bureau and should be starting that in a couple of weeks.”
She thought about John Luke’s family and about him. “Are you going to be able to be happy away from the Bureau?”
“Sure.”
“You answered that too fast.” She cut him a look when he started to protest. “And you know it’s true. You miss it. Come on. You know everything about me there is to know. You can be honest with me.”
Her words hit home and made John Luke realize how much he’d missed having someone he could be completely honest with. He hadn’t had that since he was a boy and then he’d had it with Logan. Maybe he still did, but it wasn’t enough anymore.
“I do miss it. I loved it, especially undercover work. I know it was dangerous, but that was part of what made it exciting.”
“Then why did you quit?”
“Because it was either quit or tell the truth about what I am, what my family is, and their truth isn’t mine to tell. It would be one thing if it was just me, but it’s my entire family.”
“And you were concerned what would happen if your government discovered you were a Shifter? Well what about your brother, Jericho? Doesn’t he work for the Bureau?”
“He does, but for a kind of black book department that’s staffed only with psychics. I don’t think they care, or maybe they don’t know. And that’s up to him.
“Look, I’ve listened to what my father and Severin and the others have to say, and I know they are trying to build a bridge between humans and—hell, I don’t even know what to call us.”
“Fae. Our race is all part of the Fae.”
“Okay, the Fae. I know there are people working hard to try and build that bridge, but I know also how fear can make people do stupid things, and there’s no two ways around the fact that the Fae are superior to humans in a lot of ways. Most of them are not going to want to be governed by humans. And humans will be afraid of them and won’t want to the Fae to take over and reduce them to servants. It could turn nasty in a blink.”
“And you were afraid to be caught up in it?”
“I was afraid to endanger my family.” John Luke felt a huge relief speaking the words. “I was scared of what could happen to my son. What if he has latent Shifter abilities that just haven’t manifested? I’d lay down my life for my son, but I can’t fight the government if they decide he or any of my family is a threat. I felt that the best thing I could do was retire and walk away, pretend that I wanted to come back to Texas and back to ranching, to a more simple life.”
“What an admirable man you are.” Those softly spoken words had him looking over at her to find her eyes glistening.
“Tears from a warrior?” he teased, a little uncomfortable at having dumped his feelings out in the open.
“Tears from a warrior,” she said and smiled. “No shame in that.”
“Not at all and thank you.” He changed the subject. “Just so you know, I’ve only met this Heather lady once. She was hired to be Beau’s executive assistant, but it’s clear they’re becoming more than that.”
“Does that bother you?”
“Not at all. He’s a grown man and makes his own decisions. Besides, if he’s happy, then I’m happy for him.”
“That’s a great attitude. I’m excited to meet your brother.”
“You’ll like him.”
They spent the remainder of the drive chatting about things going on with the animals at the Wildlife Center. When they arrived at the restaurant, John Luke gave his name to the hostess, and she immediately led them to their table.
“Here you are, sir.” The hostess gave John Luke a smile and departed.
Ily could have picked Beau Legacy out of a crowd without an introduction. His relation to John Luke was clear. The same dark hair, smoky gray eyes, and stature bore testament to his Legacy heritage.
“Beau, this is Ily James.” John Luke made the introduction. “Ily, my brother Beau.”
“It’s an honor, Dr. James.” Beau took her hand. “I’m sorry I missed the opening of the center, but I’ve heard great things about it and you from my father—and John Luke.”
“It’s a pleasure and please, call me Ily. And I’ve heard some pretty nice things about you as well.”
Beau shot John Luke a smile and then gestured to his companion. “I’d like you to meet Heather Monroe, my—my associate.”
Heather stood and offered her hand, first to John Luke. “It’s a pleasure to meet more of the Legacy family.”
“Thank you, ma’am. It’s nice to meet you.”
“And the famous Dr. James.” Heather held out her hand.
Ily looked from Heather’s outstretched hand to her face. What was Beau Legacy doing with a Daemon? Moreover, to what side did Heather swear allegiance?
She took Heather’s hand and communicated a short message. Tread carefully, Daemon. The Legacy family is under my protection.
Ily was not the only one to see Heather’s face pale. Beau quickly took her arm. “Are you okay?”
“Oh yes, yes.” Heather waved his concern aside. “I just forgot to eat lunch.”
“Then let’s order,” Beau suggested.
“Sure.” John Luke held Ily’s chair for her and then took a seat and picked up his menu
As he and Beau discussed the menu and what was good, Ily kept her eyes on Heather. It could not be a coincidence that a Daemon had applied for the job with Beau. Had Severin sent her as a means of protecting Beau? Ily didn’t think so. If that was Heather’s purpose, she would have communicated that to Ily after Ily delivered her challenge.
That led to one conclusion. Heather was not aligned with the Light. That complicated things on several levels. First, there was the matter of how to reveal to Beau that he was being played and second, Heather now knew there was a Scythe watching the Legacy family.
Any way she sliced it, this pie was rotten and would lead to only one thing. The Dark Fae would come, seeking to stop her from helping find a cure for the Weres and to try and force her to open a Portal. The question was, where would they strike? At her directly, or at the people she cared about?
Chapter Eleven
“This is driving me mad,” Ily said as she peeled off her gloves. She disposed of them in the Biohazard waste disposal and left the lab containment area.
“Perhaps you merely need to take a break.” Severin’s voice came through the Bluetooth inserted in her right ear.
“No, I don’t need a break. I need a breakthrough. I’ve been at this for a week and still can’t figure out what it is.” Ily turned off lights as she made her way to the exit.
“The researcher I mentioned has not be able to get away to come here but is willing to study the same in his lab, if you are willing.”
“Yes, please!” Ily wasn’t ashamed to admit she’d hit a wall, and she couldn’t let pride get in the way of helping people who were sick.
“Then I shall contact him and will be back in touch as soon as I’ve spoken with him.
”
“Thank you so much.”
“No need for thanks.
“There’s always need for that. By the way, have you found out anything about Heather Monroe? The woman Beau Legacy hired?”
“I have investigators assigned to that and will let you know when I have information. In the meantime, be on your guard in case your suspicions are correct.”
“I will. Thank you again for the help.”
“You’re welcome, Ily. Now, have you cleared tomorrow’s trip with John Luke?”
“Cleared?”
“Will it be convenience for him to accompany you?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent. Lucan will arrive at the airfield at five in the morning.”
“We’ll be there.”
“Call me when you reach Michael’s house.”
“I will. ‘Bye.”
She had just stepped outside when a big, white, pickup truck pulled up. A smile took control of her face as John Luke climbed out of the truck.
“Hey, you.” She started toward him.
“Hey, gorgeous.” He reached her, grabbed her around the waist with one arm and swung her into him and then turned a circle, lifting her off her feet. His lips claimed hers in a kiss that had desire singing through her.
She couldn’t remember a man ever exciting her the way John Luke did. Not even Severin. With Severin, she was young and inexperienced. With John Luke, she was on an equal footing and no longer an inexperienced young girl. He not only matched her in passion, but in vigor and stamina. In fact, she’d quickly come to realize that even in full-out warrior mode, she would have a difficult time besting him.
There was a time that would have annoyed her to no end. Not today. She loved that he was powerful. She loved everything about him, to be honest. For the first time in her adult life, she was crazy about someone.
When he let her feet touch the ground again, she smiled up at him. “I didn’t think you’d be here until after seven.”
“I worked really fast today so I could come early. Have you been in the lab all day?”
“A big part of it, yeah.”
“Any progress?”
She shook her head, took his hand, and started toward her cabin. “There’s definitely a common factor between the serum I got from you and the blood samples of the infected, but I can’t identify it. It’s driving me nuts. Severin is getting a researcher he trusts to take a look at the serum and blood samples to try and help.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” He gave her hand a squeeze.
“I have to.” She stopped to face him. “Two of the infected died this week, and more than a dozen more have become infected. No one can even figure out how they’re contracting this thing and if we can’t figure out where it comes from, how they’re becoming infected, then our only chance is to figure out what it is and come up with a cure.”
“Sounds like a tall order.”
Ily gave voice to the fear that had been gnawing at her. “I’m afraid, John Luke. I think this thing can jump species, so to speak, and infect more than Weres. I’m afraid Shifters might be vulnerable as well.”
“Have there been any reports of Shifters being infected?”
“Not yet.”
“Then don’t borrow trouble, as my dad always says. All you can do is keep trying.”
“I know.” She resumed walking. “Hey, are you still on for the trip to Florida tomorrow?”
“You know it.”
“Thanks. I appreciate you going with me.”
“You sure about that?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know. I just don’t want to force myself on you.”
“Hmm, that might be fun,” she teased and then added. “Since you’re here early, would you go somewhere with me?”
“Sure, where?”
“Just for a short ride, maybe down by the lake.”
“I’m all yours until 5:00 a.m., so whatever you want, gorgeous.”
“If only. Let’s take my Jeep. So, tell me more about your son, Michael,” she said as she started the engine.
She saw the smile that came on his face. “He’s a great kid, really great,” John Luke said. “Smart and funny and a real athlete. He’s into soccer right now, but said this summer when he comes to stay with me he wants to learn to rope because he has a friend who has entered some junior rodeos and he thinks he’d like to give it a try.”
“Do you know how to rope?”
“Why, yes I do, ma’am. Want me to lasso you and prove it?”
Ily cut a look at him. “You sure know how to sweet-talk a girl, John Luke.”
He laughed. “I do my best, ma’am.”
She smiled at him. “Do you and Michael’s mother get along okay?”
“Yes, actually we do. We’re a lot better friends than we were a couple.”
“That’s lucky—especially for Michael. Does he look like you?”
“Yeah. He’s tall for his age, has dark hair, and the same color eyes.”
“So, in other words, he’s another Legacy heartbreaker.”
“Heartbreaker? I don’t think so.”
“Oh come on, I bet you’ve left a string of broken hearts in your wake.”
“You wound me, Ily.”
She blew a raspberry and then slowed. When she stopped and turned off the engine, John Luke looked around. “Okay, now what?”
Ily angled in her seat toward him. “The night I tranked you, I didn’t see you shift from wolf to man, but I knew it had happened. Later, when I took Steve back to the center, I watched him change. At the time, it freaked me out. But that was before I knew who I was and where I come from.”
“So it doesn’t freak you out anymore?”
“I’d like to say that it doesn’t. I mean, I know it’s nothing unusual for our people. So, I shouldn’t feel afraid of it or uncomfortable. But the truth is, I kind of do. But…“ She hesitated for a moment. “I’m telling you that I don’t want you to be uncomfortable about that aspect of your nature.”
“So you don’t see me as some aberration of nature?”
“No, why would I?”
“Well, it’s not exactly normal here.” He looked away, and she put a hand on his arm.
“I know, but it doesn’t make you an aberration, it just means you have something extra.”
His gaze returned to her. “That’s one way of putting it.”
She was quiet for a few seconds, trying to come to terms with everything and reconcile who she had been with who she was now. Finally, she made up her mind. It was time for complete honesty.
“Well, if it makes you feel better, my people also have some shifting abilities.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. When Scythians go into full warrior mode, a physiological change occurs.”
“What kind of change?”
“Remember mentioning the tattoo on my back?”
“Yeah, the wings? Those are truly wicked. Like dragon wings all folded against your skin.”
“They are more than just tattoos. When I change, they become real and my skin changes. I develop a kind of armor.”
“Armor?”
“Scaled armor.”
“And dragon wings? Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“Can I see?”
“Yes. That’s why we’re here.”
Ily got out of the Jeep and walked around to lower the tailgate. John Luke slid out and sat on the tailgate as she removed her clothing. Once she was naked, she looked at him. “Are you sure you want to see this?” She wasn’t entirely sure she was ready, but she was committed so if he said yes, she would go through with it.
“I am.”
“Okay.” She knelt on one knee and lowered her head, positioning herself so that she was in profile to John Luke.
It had been awhile since she’d shifted into warrior mode and she’d forgotten the power that surged through her as she released the restraints and allowed herse
lf to be taken by the transformation.
John Luke felt shock rip through him as the skin on Ily’s back rippled; the part bearing the wings tattoo pulsed, and then started to swell. The skin stretched and contorted into shape and to his amazement, lifted and spread. Ily raised her head, and he nearly gasped.
Scales were forming on her forehead. Scales the color of her skin, but tinged with gold, as if infused with metal. The scales grew and spread, covering her forehead and forming a ridge over her nose. Within moments, her face was framed with scales, glistening golden scales.
And it wasn’t just her face. Scales covered her body, accenting her musculature. When she stood to face him with those magnificent dragon wings unfurled, he gaped at her in amazement.
“Wow. Do you have any idea how amazing you are?” He wasn’t lying. If this was a Scythian warrior, then they could take prisoners simply by virtue of their looks. She was one of the most exotic females he’d ever seen.
“I don’t frighten you?”
He slid off the tailgate and took her hand, moving it to his pants. “Does that feel frightened?”
“You surprise me.”
“Sometimes I surprise myself. Hey, I have an idea. You said that Shifters could change into multiple forms, right? I’ve taken on the shape of a wolf, a cat, and a bear. Do you think I can become a human dragon like you?”
“Only one way to find out.”
With a grin on his face, he made short order of removing his clothing. Then he felt a pang of indecision and inhibition.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of.” She reached out and placed one hand on his chest. He looked down at her hand, at the scales that had formed a kind of gauntlet over her hand and forearm. He put his hand on top of hers, feeling the difference in the rigidity and flexibility of the skin that was void of scales versus that bearing scales.
It was amazing and oddly beautiful.
You’re beautiful.
His gaze went to her as surprise rocketed through him. “Was that you?”
“It was.”
“You’re telepathic?”
“As are you.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Wanna bet?”
“Yeah.”
