JADE’S PARADOX
~ The Delacourt Saga Book 3 ~
Isabelle Hardesty
Jade’s Paradox
Delacourt Saga (Vol 3)
Copyright © 2018 by Isabelle Hardesty
All rights reserved (Vol. 3)
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Jade Delacourt is a half shapeshifter and a half fairy. She is now closer to stopping Bex, who is an evil fairy. That means Jade is also much closer to danger. To truly stop Bex, Jade must do something that she’s unsure of—become a fairy queen.
Seven, Jade’s true love, is called away to film a scene overseas. Now that her hot shapeshifter boyfriend is gone, Jade finds that dealing with a younger sister is not as easy as she had always imagined. Nyx is half Cloyn fairy and this causes dangerous problems that attract unwanted attention from NYC police.
Jade must now balance her new role as big sister while learning how to be a Fairy Enthrall, that is if she ever plans on stopping Bex's evil reign.
Jade is forced to confront her past, just as she is ready to move toward her future. She finds out who her birth mother is, and this knowledge changes everything. Her concept of family is shaken and she meets a handsome new friend who tries to help her as she strives to prepare for the fairy queen election.
Will her love for Seven be able to last, even though it's forbidden for a fairy queen to be in love with a shapeshifter?
Find out what happens to Jade in this third and final book of the Delacourt Saga series.
A Note From Isabelle
Thanks for joining me on this fun journey with Jade, Seven and the rest of the gang. I hope you enjoy this last book of the series. I am working on a new novel that will be out soon. Keep track of what’s new by signing up for my Newsletter that comes out about every month.
Happy reading!
One
It was the end of summer in New York City. The intense concrete-encased heat was occasionally broken by the promise of autumn with a touch of cooler weather and a kiss of a breeze. Although the moon was several days from being full, its bright light wrestled with the light of the city, and managed to cast a milky glow to the sky.
Jade was expecting Seven, her boyfriend, to pick her up for a date any minute. He had made reservations at one of NYC’s most popular restaurants. Between being the Alpha of the local shapeshifters and an actor, Seven was busy. But then again, so was Jade. She juggled being a Protector Fairy and learning about being a Fairy, all while applying to colleges. She planned to start college in the fall, that is, if becoming the Head of Fairies didn’t take over her life, first.
She barely recognized herself. She was dressed in a black dress with a pink floral design, which was accented by her soft, pink lipstick. Her appearance tonight was in big contrast to her usual no makeup, jeans, t-shirt and a hoodie. Tonight was special. Her brown skin was highlighted with the warm golden tones of her eyeshadow and blush. She spun once in her dress, the hem flaring out. She finally felt like she was back to normal. Well, as normal as she could expect, being half shapeshifter and half fairy.
She was about to grab her purse when she heard the shrill buzz of the lobby door downstairs. She walked to the intercom and saw a blurry green image that appeared to be a spray of feathers.
“No,” Jade said to herself. Could it be Bex?
“What do you want?” Jade asked.
“I come in peace,” the muffled voice said. “I have some important information about your past—who your mother is,” Bex said.
Jade remained silent. How dare Bex visit her home after everything she’d done to Jade, her family and friends? Her spine ached and she pressed her hand against her jaw, feeling it shift. Part of her wanted to shapeshift into a dragon right now and battle Bex to the end, once and for all. But, Jade was still searching for her biological mother. She hoped she wasn’t making a mistake trusting Bex. At the very least, she thought, she could hear what the evil fairy queen had to say.
“I can toss it in the trash, really.”
“Okay, come in and then leave. I don’t trust you,” Jade said. She pressed the little button on the intercom in her apartment, which unlocked the main door to her apartment building. The buzzing sound was followed by the scraping metal of the door opening.
“You shouldn’t,” Bex said as she walked into the building. She held her nose and carried the train of her dress as she walked up to Jade’s apartment door.
Jade pressed her face to the cold door, peering at Bex through the peep hole. She wondered if she should leave everything as-is – not find out who her mother was and tell Bex to leave. Maybe not knowing was best.
But… she really wanted to know. She loved her adoptive parents, but she wanted to know where she came from. Meanwhile, her nemesis stood on the other side of the door, possibly with the answer she’d been searching for.
Before unlocking her door, Jade paused. She had recently finished learning about the many ways a Cloyn fairy can kill. Added to that, Bex was the Fairy Enthrall. There was no greater power in the entire fairy world. The Order tried in vain to reel her in. This year there would be an election, despite Bex’s resistance.
Bex stood at Jade’s door and raised a hand. Her long, bright green finger nails were filed to sharp points. “Before you tell me to leave. I come bearing news that I must share. This is quite relevant to you, Jade. It will change your world.”
Two large fairies stood behind her. One was a woman, the other a man. They wore green, to match Bex, Jade assumed. The woman held a purple envelope.
The light in the hallway flickered as it buzzed its last hours of life away. The landlord recently mopped the floors with a scent that smelled like a mixture of pine, florals and subway.
Jade was glad her apartment building didn’t have many residents. Bex, even in NYC, would turn heads with her garish outfits. Especially when they were compiled of woodland creatures as this outfit appeared to be. Jade winced, looking at the feathers and fur pelts that made up Bex’s ensemble.
Bex was dressed for a formal event. Her bright green hat matched her nails and dress. Her hat was made of dyed hatata feathers from a rare bird fairies learned to domesticate centuries ago. And her dress was made from the fur of the cerebin, a mink-like creature celebrated for its emerald coloring.
Jade watched as Bex stepped inside of her apartment. This was a sight that Jade had never imagined. “You are not welcome here, so make this fast,” Jade said. Her heart raced. The last time she saw Bex face to face was when she battled Bex and saved her life, at the last minute, dropping her in the East River instead of letting Bex fall to her death. Jade knew better than to expect a ‘thank you’ from the evil fairy queen.
“Believe me, I don’t want to be in this place longer than I have to,” she said, looking around the apartment. “I’ll leave this for you to peruse. I’m off to a soirée. ”
“What do you want from me, Bex? Why can’t you find another enemy and leave me alone?”
“I want you gone from here,” Bex said, with her hand on the door frame. “Dead, gone, whatever. You’re a nuisance to every fiber of my being.”
“I mind my own business. You’re always coming after me. You followed me to New York City. You should have stayed in Atlanta, or wherever you’re from.”
“I have homes all over and I have every right to go wherever I please. You’re always getting in my way. And as a half shapeshifter and half fairy, you’re a rare combination that seems to attract lots of attention that should be on me, as the Fairy Enthrall. You’r
e a mistake that needs to be wiped out.”
Jade crossed her arms and stepped closer to Bex. “It’s a mistake that you’re still Fairy Enthrall. I know you’ve only managed to last this long because you kill off your competition until there’s no need for a new election. Fairies are scared to run against you. You could even bequeath the title to someone, but you’re too selfish to let go of your power. You’re the mistake.”
Bex cocked her head, causing the extravagant feathers on her head to graze her right shoulder. She smiled. “You know, once I found out who your mother was, I confess, I was quite impressed. But that still won’t qualify you to run against me and take my title from me. Hybrid fairies aren’t allowed.”
“What do you mean, impressed?”
“If my information is correct, your mother was briefly a Fairy Enthrall many moons ago. She then brought shame to her family when she bore you, a baby of a shapeshifter. That baby was hunted to cleanse our lineage as fairies. You, however, got away.”
“You disgust me. Just leave.”
“Anyway, she righted her ways and bore a child with a Cloyn, but by then, she had already fallen from grace and I had already snatched the title from her.”
“I wouldn’t want any part of that world that shunned my mother and hunted me down.”
“Don’t worry; fairies want no part of you, either.”
“Just go,” Jade said.
“Well, this was fun,” Bex said with a plastered smile. She smoothed her dress down. “I can’t wait to find out what you do once you realize who your real mother is. It’s a game changer, Jade.” She held out her right hand and her guard handed her the purple envelope.
Bex held the envelope and slid a dagger-like fingernail along its opening, slicing it open. She held it out to Jade.
Jade eyed the envelope. She didn’t want to read its contents in front of Bex, but she had to find out who her mother was, immediately.
“Aren’t you going to look?”
Jade reached for the envelope and slid the contents out onto the nearby table. She rifled through the items, which included papers and a folded baby blanket made of the softest fabric she had ever touched. She stopped going through the things when she found the fairy record of her birth. The paper was golden and shimmered with her birth mother’s name, Soraya, and another name, Rodrigo.
Jade inhaled sharply. “This can’t be.”
“Oh, but it is. Fairies don’t age the way those human bag of bones age.”
“How do I know this isn’t some crazy lie of yours, Bex?”
“Ask Soraya. She might be under some sort of enchantment to help her forget her pain, but once you reach out to her, break the spell. She’ll remember it all. Boy, do I wish I could be there. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to see Soraya in pain.”
“Just go,” said Jade. “You’ve done your damage.”
“Oh, and this fling you’re having with Seven. If you are serious about the throne, you can’t think having a shapeshifter as a boyfriend is what any Fairy Enthrall has done in the past. You would be crazy to believe that will be allowed.” Bex chuckled as she turned and walked away with her guards following in tow.
Jade turned and covered her face with her hands. She raced to the roof of her apartment building.
She was glad to be alone. She wept for the childhood she would never know with her biological mother and for not being raised with her sister.
She paced back and forth on the tar covered roof and kicked the empty beer cans. Neighbors’ laughter, conversations and dogs’ barking filled the air. Cars zoomed along the street far below.
Old feelings of abandonment surfaced and she ached with a longing that flamed into rage. She was angry that Soraya gave her up instead of fighting for her, angry that fairies pushed her mother away, angry that her father used her mother and then left her.
Her breathing quickened and she fell to her knees. She dug her fingernails into the tar and let out a low moan which blended in with the sound of the city.
Jade didn’t hear the sound of Seven’s footsteps approaching.
“Jade, what happened?” he asked.
“I found out who my real mother is.” She wiped her tears with her hand. “Oh, God, I was ready for our big date, now I look a mess.” She fell into his arms.
“You’re beautiful.” He hugged her and caressed her hair and kissed her. “What’s this about your real mother?” he asked.
“It’s Soraya, and the worst part of it is she doesn’t remember any of it because of some crappy fairy spell.” She wished he could stay and not catch that flight tomorrow, but she knew he had to.
“How do you know all this?”
“Bex came by to—”
“Wait, you let Bex into your apartment?”
Jade frowned, “Why is that an issue? I know she’s evil, but she didn’t have a chance to do anything.”
“I hope not. I don’t know everything about fairies, but I know they do strong magic with their enemies’ belongings. I hope she didn’t take anything of yours. “
“She didn’t have a chance to. I was watching her and she wasn’t inside for more than a minute, maybe.”
Seven held her, looking grim, but then smiled. “I’m overreacting. I’m sure everything is fine. I am so sorry about you finding out about your mother like this.”
“Me too. I thought it would be something magical and beautiful.”
“Soraya’s your mother. I can’t believe it, yet it makes so much sense. You do look like her, you know,” he said, leaning back and tilting his head to the left.
She looked up at him and said, “I don’t know how I feel about all this. It’s so much to digest.” She didn’t dare tell him about what Bex said about a Fairy Enthrall not being allowed to be with a shapeshifter. She would cross that bridge when she had to.
“Speaking of digesting, I decided to change our plans when I realized I was running late. I can cancel if you want, no pressure.”
“What do you mean?” she watched as Seven walked to the door that led to the stairs. He whipped it open, and three waiters walked onto the roof.
The waiters carried boxes, a folding table and two chairs. They quickly transformed the uninspiring roof into a romantic dinner for two with candles, music and a meal from Jade’s favorite restaurant.
“This is beautiful, Seven.”
“You are beautiful, inside and out. I hate that I’m leaving tomorrow. I wish I could stay, but I’ll be back before the elections on Friday.”
“I’ll miss you, but this is exciting for you. Your first overseas film shoot.”
“You are far more exciting to me than any of that,” he said, scooping her up in his arms and twirling her around once.
Jade loved how Seven could make the worst day better, just by loving her. She felt a warmth in her heart that she knew was love.
She clasped her arms around his neck and sighed. She breathed in deeply and relished in his leathery scent.
Seven pulled his head back from her and said, “Dinner is ready, my love.”
Jade smiled as Seven pulled a chair out for her, waiting for her to sit. He then sat before her and took her hands, pulling them to his lips. “I’m here for you during this difficult time with finding out who your mother is, no matter how many miles may separate us.”
“I know,” Jade said, feeling his warm lips against her fingers.
The waiters served them and then disappeared down the stairs.
“I insisted on a private meal tonight, just us.”
“I love being alone with you on the rooftop. It reminds me of that time we were on the rooftop of the Empire State Building.”
“I remember that night. You saved my life,” he said.
***
Jade scraped the mud from her jeans. It had been a week since she found out who her mother was. She hadn’t told anyone, except for Seven. He had convinced her to tell Nina, who knew more about fairy spells.
This was not what she expected when sh
e agreed to meet Soraya at her second home nestled north of Westchester, miles from the hustle and bustle of the city. She expected a small hippie apartment. Maybe there would be incense, curtains and a lava lamp or two.
Instead, Jade was surprised at the opulence of Soraya's home. Jade now knew how such a young-appearing person could afford a home like that.
"I prefer my tiny studio apartment in the city. This reminds me of my past,” Soraya said. Her suede boots and faded jeans seemed to clash with the opulence around her.
"Why don't you sell it and move on?" Jade asked.
"It's a fairy thing. I can't sell it due to the Proxy Promise I made. It’s a lifelong promise," Soraya said with a soft smile. Her long brown hair was parted down the center and her two braids fell to her waist. She walked to the large window overlooking the forest.
“Wait, I remember. That’s the rite of passage celebration every fairy goes through when they turn five.”
“Very good, Jade. I see you’ve been listening and learning.”
“It’s a lot to learn so fast. But I’m trying.”
“So, after I made the Proxy Promise, which had a list of things added to it, I am bound to this home.”
“Was it you or your parents’ oath?” Nyx asked. “I just can’t imagine a kid caring about a house. I didn’t.”
“You’re right. It’s a combination of both. The child and parent create the oath together.”
“Sounds weird.”
“It is. But for fairies, it’s part of life.”
Jade shrugged her shoulders, imagining that it couldn't be that bad to be stuck with a beautiful home like this. It was more opulent than Seven’s home in Washington State. She smiled to herself remembering her reaction to his home.
“This is way cooler than our apartment in the East Village,” Nyx said, looking up at the multicolored crystal chandelier above the foyer.
Jade turned and asked Nyx, "Crazy, huh?"
“This place is nice. Like, ‘I’m moving in here tonight’ nice. Yeah, this is the life." Nyx plopped down on the cream-colored couch and sighed.
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