by Jaymin Eve
And as long as she was safe, we’d get to the rest.
I’d been busy at least, even if the days dragged. The vote had been almost unanimous for choice two, so in the months since the president's demands, we'd formed a task force, allowing that old bastard to assume he had us exactly where he wanted us. None of us were wising him up on the fact that his carefully constructed house of cards was going to fall down soon.
"The first fifty are being called," Braxton told us that night over dinner. "I just got the email."
"We stalled as long as we could," Jessa said with a sigh. "I kept hoping he'd have a heart attack in that time and save us all the trouble."
I had to laugh. "If you could kill him with the power of your mind, Jessa babe," I said, "he'd be six feet under for sure."
Her lips twitched. "He would have been the moment he tried to blackmail my family, taking my Jake away. No one touches my shit unless I say it's okay."
Grace and Mischa exchanged a look. "Thank fuck she likes us," Mischa murmured with a sigh. "Otherwise we'd be down some true mates."
Jessa shrugged, and we all waited for her to disagree, but apparently that wasn’t happening.
"Do you like Justice?" I asked, needing to know.
Jessa was family, and while there was no way she could stop me from pursuing my true mate—my obsession was very real—it would make life difficult.
Jessa's face softened and she even stopped eating, which was a huge deal. "Jake, seriously. I'm half joking.”
Behind her Braxton shook his head, mouthing No, she’s not.
Jessa didn’t even turn her head, choosing to just throw her arm out and punch her mate in the chest. “I am possessive of my family,” she continued like nothing had happened, “but I include Justice in that now. She's proven herself, and I feel the strength of her character when we’re near her. You don’t need it, of course, but for the record, you have my blessing."
She was right, I didn't need it, but it was still a relief.
"So back to the first fifty," Maximus said, scooping his potatoes neatly into his mouth. For a vamp, he was surprisingly fastidious with himself and his eating habits. "Did we get enough volunteers, and do they all know exactly what they signed up for?"
Braxton nodded. "Yeah, the council decided that using American supes for the first recruits was best. We’re hoping that we won’t ever need a second lot.”
The president had just been elected for his second four-year term, and we weren’t sure what information might be passed to the next president. So for now, we’d wait and see.
“I’ve briefed the fifty,” Braxton continued. “We have our few Guilds on the inside, already working to gather evidence against the president. The plan is that within the year, we’ll have him out of office."
"The Guild is actively maneuvering their members to get them into even higher positions among the White House staff," I added, having read the email this morning. "We've been too lax in pushing for that level of power and control. That's all going to change now."
Tyson shook his head. “No more letting the humans off their leash. From now on, we’ll be in control.”
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes on his mate as she ate. It was a hungry look, and since I'd just seen him hoover down enough food for two supes, it had nothing to do with food.
Fuck. I wasn't sure I could stay here around so many mated supes while mine was in another world.
"Ready for bed, love?" Tyson drawled, distracting Grace.
She snorted, waving her fork at him. "It's barely 8 P.M. Way too early for bed."
From the corner of my eyes I could see her smirk, and I loved that she was teasing him. Tyson needed someone to knock him down a few pegs, and no one was better at it than Grace.
"You need your rest," he replied, scooting his chair closer. "You're tired, I can feel it."
Before she could say anything else, he was on his feet, Grace up in his arms. "I'll carry you.”
She just shook her head and the rest of us went back to ignoring them. Especially me.
"Oh, wait!" Grace called, when they were almost out of the room. "I need to tell Jake something."
This got my attention. Information from Grace was most probably about Justice.
Before Tyson could even turn, I was out of my seat standing before them.
Grace chuckled at my lack of fucking chill when it came to her ruby sister. "Justice will take the final step to bond with the ruby stones in the next few days. Cam heard from the ruby queen." She beamed with pride for her sister. “It’s ruby fey only, but I can sneak you in. I know she wants you there.”
I nodded. "Yes."
There was nothing else to say. I’d stayed away as long as I could.
Over the past few months I’d learned to manage my newer, more volatile emotions, but right now the energy swirled strongly inside as I finally acknowledged that it was time to claim my mate.
I was finally fucking ready. Here’s hoping I wasn’t too late.
"Meet you in the forest around 3A.M," Grace said. “I think I’ve timed it right.”
I nodded. "I'll be there."
Tyson swept her away and I didn't even have to hate my brother, because tomorrow I'd see my girl. I hadn't been this damn excited in a long time.
18
Justice Winter
The power I controlled was unbelievable. I'd thought my powers before this day were impressive, but I’d had no idea just how much I was missing out on. When I bonded with the jewels, I could feel them like I was touching every single one in my world. They were ingrained into every part of my essence.
The full length of our city was lined with rubies, below, around, beyond, and above. Even the pinkish elements in our sky was made up of fragmented gems.
As I stood at Rubyhenge, alone, slightly shaken and beaten but growing stronger by the second, I threw my head back and screamed.
A scream of joy and exuberance.
A scream of release and fear.
A scream of renewal and acceptance.
And in that scream, a new Justice was born.
The rubies around me glowed, and the six stones crumbled back into the ground, having done their jobs. Deciding that I’d call a beam of light to travel back to my family, I had no trouble finding the rays of energy large enough. If I allowed my power to flood my body, filling my eyes, I could see thousands of crisscrossing ruby beams in front of me.
A sense of home filled me. The strongest I’d ever had.
I was a princess and this was where I belonged.
But how did Jacob fit into that? How did we make it work?
Grace and Tyson…
My inner voice reminded me that they were from two different worlds, the same two worlds as Jacob and me, so there must be a way. And now I was finally strong enough to track him down and have the conversation. It was time to decide once and for all what our future held.
Stepping into the beam, I closed my eyes, as I always did when the rush of power surrounded me. It swept me across the water, depositing me gently on the sand, the crowd now ten times what it was when I left.
A roar went up, the evidence of my bonding to the stones obvious by my new mode of transportation. A royal gift.
"You did it!" my mother said, hurrying forward to throw her arms around me. My father was right behind her, and for the first time, they hugged me together.
And I didn't pull away. That darkness, it had stopped me from ever truly trusting a male, but as the stones expunged it from my soul, I was free to trust again.
I was free.
My mother wasn't the only one with shiny eyes when we finally separated.
"I feel different," I admitted, my voice barely able to be heard over the cheering and shouts around us. "I can sense the burning heart of the gems across our land. Their energy is filling me with heat.”
Jepati took my face in his hands, cradling it gently. "If you search, you can find us in that bond as well. We’re all connected to th
e same source of power."
He was right. Digging deeper, there was a shiny path connecting me to my parents; the warmth increased.
Today had been so much, and it wasn’t even over yet.
"Come, your fey are waiting to congratulate you," Deloria said, a sob escaping.
My fey.
That was about the last freaking thing I ever thought I’d hear. For most of my life I’d been lucky to have my own clothing, let alone fey. But hey, here we were, and while this was nothing like the life I thought I'd have, it was everything I didn’t know I needed.
As we got closer, the fey screamed even louder, until my ears were ringing with the fanfare.
"Fuck," I muttered.
Katerina, who had moved closer, laughed loudly. "You're well on your way to being my favorite cousin."
Simi just glared at her before shrugging. "I mean, we've all had a few little ventures across to Earth now, and I have to say, I love the way they speak. It's just ... real."
"I curse too much," I replied, trying to keep my smile in place. "But I grew up pretty rough. The fact that I have any manners at all is due to one person.” One incredibly important person that was nestled in my heart. The memory of our recent hug was both painful and a new moment to treasure.
"You think you have manners?"
I’d felt him a second before he spoke. Spinning so fast my hair flew out around me, I got a little dizzy trying to take in every inch of Jacob Compass.
He was here. He was wearing a suit.
Just stab me in the chest and leave me to die. Holy shit, I legit could not handle him looking like that and finally being here and…
"How? I mean … what—what are you doing here?" I stuttered out, wondering if he’d even be able to hear me over the roar of the crowd.
Especially since he was a good fifteen feet away.
His lips quirked up, that full pink bottom lip, the one that tantalized me with its plumpness, capturing my gaze. "I stayed away as long as I could," he said, walking toward me, striding in this slow sinful way that did things to me … things one should not be thinking of around their parents and family.
"Who. Is. That?" Katerina purred, moving closer, her eyes locked on my fey.
"Mine," Simi added, stepping up too.
My chest grew tight and it was only through pure self-control that I didn’t blast them into a million pieces with my new ruby power.
"That's Jacob Compass," I said, voice vibrating with all kinds of emotions. Some I didn't even have names for because they were slamming into me hard and fast. The darkness was gone, and in its place was so much light I wondered if I’d fizzle up and die from the intensity.
"Compass?" Simi repeated. "Like, those famous quads from Earth that everyone raves about?"
This world had caught up very quickly with everything they'd missed during their spelled time. "Isn't one of your jeweled sisters mated to him?" Katerina added.
"That would be my brother," Jacob said, having reached us.
My cousins looked like they were actually drooling, their gaze dragging up the long lengths of his body. I kinda wanted to drown them both.
Murder was avoided though, mostly due to the fact that he watched me like we were the only two beings that existed, despite the thousands around us.
"Hey," I said, breathlessly. “I never expected you to be here, but I looked for you anyway.”
I felt Katerina side-eyeing me and I wasn't surprised. I'd been brutally blunt with any man that came too close to me here. My reputation was already spreading far and wide—do not touch the princess without her permission or she will break your face.
Men … what can I say? They just have faces I want to punch.
But not this one.
This one I wanted to do … other things.
"You look fucking breathtaking," he said, and he meant it. No one could fake sincerity like that, especially not Jacob. One of the things I loved the most about him was his honesty. "And your soul feels lighter."
I stepped into him.
I couldn't help myself—it had been too long and I needed to feel his energy.
"I've grown a lot in the time I've been here," I admitted, part of me wishing our audience would disappear. We were well overdue this conversation, and it would be nice to have it alone. "How long are you staying?"
He lifted his hand and brushed his thumb down my cheek, caressing it slowly, and I swear I felt that glide all the way along my body.
"As long as you want me," he replied.
My eyes jerked open. "Seriously?"
He nodded, his expression solemn, but his irises sparkled with mirth. He'd said that my soul felt lighter … well, his did as well.
"Justice?" my mom called out to me, sounding confused. "Are you going to give thanks to your people? They all came out to see you."
I turned to find my parents looking this way, disapproving expressions on their faces as their gazes shifted between Jacob and me. He took it in his stride though, showing no discomfort as he stepped away and nodded. "Go," he murmured. "Shine bright, Princess."
I hesitated, desperate to spend some time with him. “Go,” he said again, before he shocked the shit out of me, moving closer again and leaning down to kiss me gently on the forehead.
There was nothing overtly sexual about that, but my body responded like he’d just put his face between my legs.
“And stop thinking that,” he murmured, his pupils dilating. “Or all your people are going to see is me hauling your delectable ass over my shoulder and walking out of here.”
Je-Sus…
“Jake,” I choked out. “You can’t … my lord.”
I wanted to fan my face. Instead I spun on my heel and hurried over to my parents, all the while praying that my dark ruby skin wasn’t suddenly fire-engine red. If the heat in my cheeks were any indication…
The crowds thankfully distracted me, and with my parents by my side, I met hundreds of fey. Names I would never remember coming at me hard and fast, I focused mostly on smiling and trying not to miss anyone in the crowd.
By the time we were done, my brain was pounding and my jaw hurt from keeping that smile in place. "You did so well," Deloria said, linking her arm through mine as we stood on the beach.
I was only half listening of course, most of my attention on Jacob, who was off to the side, waiting as he’d promised.
“I'm still not sure if I’m the right fit for a princess," I admitted, giving my mother a sliver of attention. "I know nothing about leading, but I’m so happy that I bonded with the gems. I feel at peace now … complete in a way I never did before.”
My father's hearty laughter boomed out around us. "Peace is what we strive for above all else. And now we have a huge feast prepared at the house, so let's make our way there."
I dragged my feet. "I want you both to meet Jacob. He'll be coming with us and staying at home."
They stared at me. Long, measured stares, and I felt a beat of unease. "Is there an issue with that?"
Deloria took a second to look over at him, and then back to me. "No issue at all. We don't have time to meet him right now, but he's more than welcome at the feast." She squeezed my hand. "We'll see you back home shortly."
I nodded, returning that gesture, before they turned and walked away. My father was joined by his brother, Jestoph—Katerina's father.
Unease circled through my stomach, crushing the high I'd been on all day. There was something in my parents’ gaze that made me uneasy, and I had a feeling that some of my happiness was about to crash down on my head.
Fuck.
I looked at Jacob. He remained as he was, dying light behind him, highlighting how truly stunning he was. Taller and more muscled than most fey, he was built like an elite athlete. Strong and capable, smart and kind. He was arrogant, for sure, but we all had our flaws.
What was it about him my parents didn't like?
19
Jacob Compass
All it took was one dark
stare from Justice's father and a measured glare from her mother and I knew that they were going to make this difficult.
The pair looked like Justice, and when they got upset they had the same eyes as my mate, boring into you with an intensity that would make most supes squirm.
Luckily, I wasn’t most supes.
Justice walked toward me, waving to the last of the fey around. Even when she wasn’t trying to stand out, she did. My pride in her had fucking wings it was so huge … everything she’d wanted to accomplish when she left me in the Stratford forest, she’d achieved: bonding with the stones, claiming her crown, releasing the darkness in her energy—embracing her destiny.
Fuck, I needed to touch my mate; we’d been apart too long. In that time, the intensity of this energy between us had only grown, to the point where now it was a tangible connection, visible in the air.
We might not have taken the final steps to secure a true mate connection, but the universe wanted everyone to know it was a sure thing.
She finally made her way back to me, weariness tugging at the edges of her stunning face.
"Ready to see my house?" she asked with a yawn. “Damn, that was a long day … peopling is exhausting.”
Lifting her arms, she stretched her long, curvy body, and I shifted just a little so that my raging fucking erection wasn't hugely obvious. I was usually better than this at controlling myself, but with Justice all rules went out the window
"Jake…?" she asked, and I realized I hadn't answered her.
"I'm ready to see whatever you want to show me," I told her honestly. "It's been a long few months without you."
Her eyes grew shiny as her cheeks reddened. "It's only been a month for me, but … it felt longer."
Fuck. She was killing me with her vulnerability. This was a side of her very few ever saw, and the fact she showed me her heart had my own slamming hard in my chest.
We started to walk and she let out a low sigh, almost inaudible, but I felt her relax with the release of that sound.
"You achieved a lot today,” I told her. “You should be proud of yourself.”
