"Is there something I can help you with?"
"I'd like you to meet my twin sister, Bridgett."
She held out her hand and spoke in her formal way, "It is lovely to meet you, Bridgett."
Bridgett stood up to get a closer look, but I stopped her from taking Marie's hand. "Isaiah says it's not a good idea for anyone else to touch her."
"But she is like you, Jacqueline. She will not be harmed by my energy."
Before I could prevent her, my impulsive sister had taken hold of Marie's hand. "Jackie, shit, she feels strong, like Will does sometimes. But not creepy." She smiled and shook Marie's hand. "Hey Marie. It's cool to meet you too." Marie smiled back, looking a little confused.
Bridgett asked me, "Have you talked to other shades? Are they all like Marie?"
"No, she's the strongest I've seen. Most of them couldn't speak coherently."
Marie looked at Bridgett curiously. "You do not much resemble your sister." Bridgett was my fraternal twin. We had the same emerald green eyes and our smiles were similar, but she was petite with dark hair, a wiry body and a sharper bone structure.
"You sure look like Garrett. Wow, you're pretty." Marie smiled, making the resemblance even more obvious. "So Sis, when are you gonna teach me how to do this summoning spell thingy?"
I shrugged. "I learned from Isaiah, but I don't think I'm able to teach anyone. It takes an awful lot of energy." Bridgett pouted so I turned back to Marie. "Would you sit with us?"
"Yes. Thank you." In her solid form, her physical self was very much like anyone else's. Marie lowered herself gracefully into a chair while Bridgett scooted next to me on the couch.
I was already starting to feel a little worn out from the energy drain, so I knew I only had time for a couple of questions before I had to let go of the magic that made her visible to Bridgett.
"Marie, where do you go? When you're not here with us?"
"I stay nearby. I prefer to be close to you and Garrett. I do not wish to travel back to the dark place where the devils abide."
"Are you happier, now that you're out of the villa in Carmel?"
"I am at peace here, but until you came to Eleanor's prison, I was not truly aware. I did not exist as I do now, because the other shades that I came in contact with did not speak. It was as if I was in a constant dream state. My mind is much clearer now."
"I'm glad we found you."
"I also. Garrett is everything I knew he would become. Our mother and father must be very proud, as am I. I still wish to see my children and my mate again one day, if it is possible."
"We'll go to Louisiana as soon as we're able." She smiled and I felt a flash of warm pride that I'd learned the skill necessary to bring her out of that prison and give her a small chance to find some happiness. "I'll speak to you again soon, Marie."
"Goodbye, Jacqueline. Bridgett." I released my hold and with an exhausted sigh, sunk back into the couch to rest for a few minutes.
"That took a shitload of magic, huh?"
"Yes, but it's easier than it used to be. I passed out the first time."
"Whoa, that must've hurt."
"Isaiah caught me, but I was unconscious for fifteen minutes or so."
"Garrett must've been going bat shit." She chuckled as I rolled my eyes. "It's like she stepped out of a time machine. And what's up with her clothes? Can't you get her something that isn't all dirty and bloody?"
"Apparently not, although she's looking better. You should've seen her the first couple of times. Liam seems to think that the more we summon her, the more she sort of—repairs herself. I don't know."
"I hope I don't die stark naked."
"Me too." We both giggled. Bridgett, acting the part of the loving sister, got me a bottle of water and covered me with a blanket. We sat and chatted until my energy returned to normal.
I showed Bridgett the amazing mural in Charlie's room, never mentioning the hidden gateway to Faerie. She was in awe of the constantly changing scene, this time featuring a sparkling mountain stream flowing into a rainbow colored waterfall then ending in a crystalline pool. It made me itch to dive in and splash around with the other fae enjoying the perfect day.
"It's so incredibly beautiful." I whispered.
"On the outside, it is." She'd mumbled it so softly, I almost hadn't heard.
I grabbed her hand and made her look at me. "Tell me what's wrong."
Her eyes darkened suddenly. "My shields are a lot stronger, huh? You can't barge in anymore."
"Bridgett, I wasn't going to..."
"I know, you wouldn't have done it to hurt me. But you're worried, and that's all the excuse you need, right? Well, my thoughts are just that. My thoughts. And they're private."
"Bridgett..."
"Think about it, Jackie. It's mind rape. No matter what the reason, going into someone's head against their will is just as wrong as what Kennet did to you."
I was dismayed that she felt that way. "I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you when I did it in the past. I needed information to save lives. "
"Fae lives."
I scowled. "No matter what you think, it's not the same as what Kennet did to me. He forced me to move closer and kiss him. He forced my body to enjoy it and to want more. That's mind rape. I go in to get information, not force someone to do something against their will."
She must've seen how shocked I looked, because she smiled suddenly, trying to dispel some of the tension between us. "Look, I'm sorry too. I'm really fine, just too busy to eat. I'll make a point of stuffing my face more often, so stop worrying."
I let it go, because if I started to dig, I figured she'd leave, and I really wanted to find out what was going on. We went back into the kitchen, grabbed some iced tea and then sat in the shade on the patio. We talked about our birth parents and our archdemon Grandmother.
"Grandmother said a fae killed Adele. But Simon said she died in a house fire."
"So a fae set the fire."
"No, I don't believe that. It was probably..."
"Anyone but a fae, right?"
"Look, Bridgett, I don't know what's going on, but you can talk to me. I won't discuss it with anyone else."
"Not Garrett?"
"No."
"Or Liam?"
"I said I wouldn't."
"And you mean it now, but you'd change your mind later. Just let it go and trust me to handle it on my own."
Bridgett seemed older, more mature somehow, which normally I'd have said was a very good thing. But she was also harder, almost cold at times. Working with the Cascade Sidhe had changed her. My instincts were on full alert. Something had happened, and it wasn't something good. "I do trust you. Just promise that you'll come to me if you need me."
"I will. I promise." She reached out and squeezed my hand, just as Isaiah appeared around the bend of the garden.
"Ah, I see we are honored with the presence of little demon number two."
"Bridgett, this is Isaiah. Isaiah, this is my sister, Bridgett Br..."
"Bridgett Violet Brownlow Carlyle. Yes, I know." He grinned, allowing his eyes to flash orange. "Your shields are very strong, number two. But not strong enough."
She narrowed her eyes in anger. "I suppose you can teach me to make them stronger?"
"Yes."
"And will you?"
Isaiah sat down on the fountain's ledge. "What will you give me in exchange?"
"What do...?"
"Isaiah, stop!" I looked at Bridgett, thoroughly annoyed with both of them. "Don't go making any bargains with this one. He's tricky." I looked around. "Where's Flynn?"
"He has a slight hangover and an upset stomach. Poor boy."
"You're letting him drink alcohol? He's just turned seventeen."
"He's so much bigger than me, how can I stop him?" He said dramatically.
"I can have you moved into this house. We'll put you in the basement, after we remove the TV."
He narrowed his eyes and glared at me. "I did not give him the alc
ohol. The girls did."
"The girls?"
"Sasha and Heinrich brought home four female shifters from The Wild, all over twenty-one of course. It was a birthday gift for the young man. The party got slightly out of hand when two of them started challenging Flynn with shots of tequila. Sasha was up in his room with the brunette snow leopard at the time.
"I don't think any of the girls knew that Flynn was under twenty-one, so try not to be too angry with them. We didn't really mention his age, and he is enormous. They were actually very sweet and quite accommodating." He smiled a Cheshire cat smile. "It was certainly a memorable night for Flynn. I was particularly fond of the cute little blonde cougar, myself. Unfortunately, the evening came to a close when the blonde leopard vomited on Rick's motorcycle helmet."
I was speechless, so he kept talking. "Rick and William got them home safely and glamoured them so they will not remember where they were or with whom. You did not know about the party? You did not hear the music?" He smiled innocently, then looked at Bridgett. "Your mate, William, was not interested in hooking up, as they say, and he behaved like a perfect gentleman, only having one beer the entire evening. He was the designated driver."
Bridgett laughed. "Yeah, I'm not worried, but thanks."
At this point, my face was probably turning red, or maybe my eyes were acquiring an orangey glow, because Isaiah stood quickly, saying, "Jackie, take the day off from our lessons. You look like you and Charlie could use a nice peaceful nap. I will take Bridgett on a tour of the other house and the grounds." He looked at her. "Would you like that?"
"Yeah, that would be cool."
"You behave yourself with my sister." I'd practically growled the order.
"It is a condition of our agreement. She is perfectly safe with me."
"And I want you to send over Flynn the minute he's able to walk. And Sasha too, as soon as he gets up."
"My pleasure. Can I watch while you flay into them?"
"No. Go on your walk, Isaiah."
"And lunch?"
"Order a freakin' pizza."
"That is fine. I will put it on your account." He stretched out his hand to Bridgett, helping her out of the chair, then offered her his arm. She accepted, giggling. "And what kind of crust do you prefer, number two? I like the thinner variety..." They walked along the pathway and around the bend.
I called out to Liam mind to mind and he showed up fifteen seconds later.
"I heard, but what do you expect? They're vampires, unattached except for William. The girls gave Flynn the alcohol, not Rick or Sasha or Will. They got home safely and will remember nothing."
"He's seventeen and doesn't have the best control over his lion."
Liam grinned. "What bothers you more; the alcohol or the sex?"
I felt my face flame up, but didn't answer, making Liam laugh out loud. "In Faerie, males are expected to do their part to continue the race beginning at age fifteen. Nothing is wasted. Females choose when they feel they're ready."
I covered my ears. "I didn't need to know that!"
"He's a seventeen year old supernatural being. It's a rite of passage. He shouldn't have been drinking and probably would have enjoyed his first experience more if he hadn't been. And I seem to recall that you had just turned seventeen when you and Garrett..."
"Okay, Okay. As usual you're right. I just don't want to deal with any other unexpected pregnancies."
"If the idiot didn't use a condom, I'll wring his bloody neck." Sasha had whisked into the garden silently. "We gave him a whole box when he first moved in."
He smiled at me in his devastating way, "Mistress, Garrett told me to let you know, he's gone to feed."
I was angry enough that if I'd been in cheetah form I might have whacked him with my paw, probably drawing some blood. "Isaiah told me about last night. Please, no more parties involving alcohol if Flynn is there. He can have one beer at a barbecue or a special event, but that's it until he's twenty-one."
"Flynn is always there."
Sasha was smiling, but I knew that throwing Flynn at them had spoiled some of his and Heinrich's plans for the house. Liam was right, they were vampires and vampires had—needs, blood being the major one with sex coming in a close second. After all, I was mated to one, so I did get it. It wasn't really fair to expect them to act like Flynn's parents.
"Can you send him over here on party nights?"
"He'll hate that. He's an adult."
I looked at Liam, who said, shrugging, "I'd prefer not getting in the middle of this debate. It's really up to Garrett."
"Fine. We'll throw it in his lap when he gets back."
"Flynn's a little large for that." Sasha stretched out in the shade-covered lounge chair next to mine.
"Don't you have to feed?"
"Not after last night." He grinned at me in his sexiest way, sensuous memories making his light blue eyes sparkle seductively. I felt my face heat up in a blush, making both males laugh at me.
"I'm so glad that the two of you find me so entertaining." I didn't try to hide my sarcasm.
"You have no idea how delightful you are, and that makes you even more so." Sash took a glance at my enormous baby bump. "How do you feel today?"
"Fine. The same."
"You need to come in for another sitting."
"Sash. I'm huge. You can't possibly paint me pre-baby, looking like this."
"I'm not simply painting a likeness of your body. There's a gleam in your eye that's more pronounced and I wish to capture it exactly."
"A gleam? Probably more like a terrified flicker."
The two of them laughed again and then Liam held up his hand and whispered with amusement."Flynn is stumbling this way."
"And Garrett will be here soon." Sasha added. Garrett always had a mental link open with his nest. It came in handy.
Flynn looked absolutely miserable when he wandered over to the patio two minutes later. His skin was as pale as a sheet and he kept wincing and holding his head. As soon as I saw Garrett, I kissed his cheek and then, in a cowardly fashion, beat a hasty retreat. I'd nap for half an hour or so and leave the young lion's fate in the hands of my mate.
I found out later that as soon as I'd left, Flynn had dramatically sworn off liquor for all time. Garrett brought him back to reality, telling him sternly that swearing oaths he probably couldn't live up to was useless and often dangerous.
He was told that there'd be consequences if he continued to behave like a 'moron'. He'd be taken out of the villa and moved back in with Rob if it happened again. Moderation was the key and drunkenness would not be tolerated, especially since he was new at shifting. If he lost control and transitioned into his lion while he was inebriated, then someone could get hurt.
As far as the girls went, that was another story. Garrett and Liam made sure he knew the facts, then made him promise to treat any woman he dated with respect, honesty and kindness, and that also included one-night stands. Garrett said he'd kill him himself if he heard that Flynn had been abusive to any female.
Garrett had given Sash and Rick and Will their own place with the freedom to live their lives without his constant supervision. This included the right to invite females to their house as long as they treated them by the same standards he'd laid out for Flynn and as long as the girls agreed to be glamoured into forgetting the evening afterward.
They were never to bring their female 'friends' to our house, however, without Garrett or Liam's okay. Because of our stringent security, I had to go along with the glamour rule, although I didn't like the idea of changing someone's memories. Still, Charlie's safety was always going to be our top priority.
Basically, I was informed that as long as Flynn lived there, he'd be exposed to parties, probably participating in most of them. Will handled Sash and Rick's mischief with good humor, so Flynn would have to grow up and learn to deal with it like a man, and hopefully not a man-whore.
After Garrett gave me the news, I stuck my head under the covers and groaned.
One thing was certain. When Charlie hit puberty, Garrett was dealing with him.
Aislin and Noriene made their appearance after dinner. Rick and Sash were there as well, while Isaiah and Flynn stayed back at the vamp villa watching TV for now. Bridgett had ditched my demonic trainer to be with William as soon as he woke from his rest. I didn't expect to see either of them until later.
The prospective guards were lovely, tall and slim, typical fae females. They bowed formally to me and to Garrett and pledged their service to Charles with the usual solemn vow. We introduced them to the others and then showed them the nursery and the rest of the house, including the outside area where Sinlae and her males would be living.
Liam had stayed later than usual to inform them of their shift assignments and also point out the security we already had in place, like magical wards and high tech alarms. Other than the ceremony, they'd remained unusually quiet, so I invited them to sit at the kitchen table and have some of Liam's amazing tiramisu and a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. They thanked me and sat.
As they ate, we asked them a few questions, all of us trying to get them to open up a little bit. Sasha and Rick were practically drooling, so Rick asked the first question.
"Which one of you is Brina's cousin?" He and Sash had enjoyed an "encounter of the fae kind" with Brina and her sister, Kaera, while we were in Los Altos. I guess he was hoping for a similar outcome somewhere down the line with one of these fae beauties.
"I have that honor." Noriene had lovely golden brown hair and enormous light violet eyes which met his dark brown eyes directly. "Do you know my cousin well?"
"Fairly well. We've worked together." He smirked.
"And what work do you do...?"
"Heinrich. Call me Rick. I work for Garrett's team. And Sash and I have started our own security company. We only have two clients, but we're just getting it off the ground. "
"You are both vampires?" He nodded. "What do you do when someone needs you to work during daylight hours?"
"We've hired several werewolves."
She made a face. "I suppose they can protect humans or shifters, but..."
"The weres we've hired are not what you're used to." Aaron had recommended two giants with combat training and Fred sent another amazing fighter who used to be a Navy Seal.
rogue shifter 05 - caught between Page 13
