Finding evidence had been surprisingly easy; Maria's accomplice in the fire had kept her instructions hidden away in his personal belongings. It had been a simple matter to ask his sister to search through them, to arrange for the evidence to be discovered by the right people. It had been a foolish mistake on Maria's part, or perhaps an arrogant one.
When all three of them sat straight, listening intently, Libby knew the sentence had been passed.
Jackson pushed to his feet, his long strides eating up the distance to his friend. They looked at each other, Jackson's hand on Danny's shoulder.
Fifteen years.
She rose, crossed the room to press a kiss to his cheek.
"You're not alone in this, cousin."
He smiled briefly before turning to Kelly.
Jack caught her hand in his. Let's get out of here.
She drove in silence.
It was easy not to think, to relax in the comfort of feeling Jackson alongside her, his steady heart beating alongside her own. What had been so strange, so frightening, was now so much a part of her that she could hardly remember what had been before.
As she turned into the narrow lane, she felt his smile and flicked a glance his way.
"You said we could come back, but it's been a while."
"Well, we were a bit busy," he replied lightly. "Park up here."
She pulled over, killed the engine.
They sat for a few minutes. Libby let out an unsteady breath. There was so much she needed to say, and she wanted to say it, out loud. Without the talents and the ways in which they could be misread.
Opening the door, she climbed out and stretched. Although the clouds were heavy and rain threatened, the air was clear and fresh. She let Jackson lead the way, ducking under low branches that she didn't call being there the last time they were here.
When they reached the boulder she stepped up to it, placed her hands against the cool stone.
"Everything changed so quickly," she murmured. "When we were here last, I was a mess. So confused."
Jackson leaned back against the boulder beside her, his hands shoved in his pockets. She smiled briefly at the nervous gesture.
"What is it?"
He let out a quick laugh. "You only shield when you've something on your mind."
"Yeah, I've something on my mind." Libby rocked back on her heels, tucked her hands into her back pockets as she regarded him for a long moment.
"I've been a bit hard on you, haven't I?"
Frowning, Jackson shook his head. "I don't follow you."
She huffed out a breath and moved away a little.
"With the connection, I mean. Dragging things out, wondering if I wanted to be with you, or whether it was the connection talking. Putting the brakes on, all the time."
Jackson straightened up, clearly annoyed. "We've been over this. It's not an issue. You're not…I won't have you feeling pressured, Libs, not about any of it."
Warmth spread through her, hearing again what she already knew.
"I know." She reached out, placing a hand on his arm to still his agitation. "I know, Jack. But still."
His annoyance came at her, hot waves of it, ribboned with frustration.
"What exactly are you getting at?"
She laughed a little, threw her hands up in the air.
"Clearly I'm going at this all wrong, as annoying you wasn't my aim here." He waited, his arms crossed as she huffed out a breath and gathered her thoughts.
"It's you." As he opened his mouth to speak, she shot him a fierce look that had him closing it again. "You're patient, loyal. You gave me time, made me see how much fun this talent could be, and when it all changed…." Libby swallowed, still overwhelmed at the thought of what she was now able to do. "When my abilities changed, you were there, still the same. Always the same patience, humour…and you protect me. Everyday. At the expense of your link with your family."
She watched as he shifted, clearly uncomfortable. "And it's you."
"It's me," he repeated, confusion coloured with vague embarrassment. "Who else?"
"No one." She smiled, grasping his hands in hers. "There was always a part of me that wondered if it was the connection. But it isn't, is it? It's you."
A glimmer of a smile tugged at his lips.
"With or without the connection, it'll always be you and me." The conviction in his words made her heart stutter.
"Even with this talent?"
His eyes darkened, his hands tightened on hers.
"I'm proud of you Libby. Every day. Every time I see the amazing things that you can do. Never doubt that."
"Well then." She stepped into his arms, relieved. Complete. "I love you. No holding back."
His arms tightened, and she felt the chuckle of laughter vibrate through his chest.
"Should I be afraid?" He teased.
Tipping her head back to meet his gaze, Libby grinned. "Yes."
"Fat chance. Now drop the bloody shield, will you?"
Laughing, she did as requested. There was the moment of joining, the pure joy of sharing everything she was with this amazing soul.
Soulmate.
He kissed her, his lips warm and soft against hers. The truth of it traveled through her body, and she smiled.
Jack -
His grip eased, released. She met his regretful gaze, confused.
"What?”
This time his laughter was strained.
"You know what," he retorted, his hands running down her arms once, twice, before he put her away from him. "You’re not done. What else?”
Frustration warred with reason. It was an unusually slight victory for reason, but he was right; she had more to say.
"Right." Rubbing her temples, Libby paced away from him in the hope that distance would help settle her thoughts. "There’s just one more thing," she assured him. "I've been thinking about the family. I think we should tell them."
For a moment Jackson was speechless, then worried. She winced.
She had been thinking about this for some time, unhappy with keeping secrets from their families. Weren't they stronger together? She'd assumed Jackson would feel the same.
"Libby…" He took a steadying breath. "I know it’s been difficult, but the more people who know, the bigger the risk.”
“Jack, it’s our family.” She stepped towards him. “If we can’t trust them, then who can we trust? Think about it. We can work with this, understand it better, if they are with us. Added to that, I can see the toll that it’s taking on you, keeping this secret from your parents.”
He stared for a moment before he visibly relaxed, relief written all over his face. A smile touched his lips.
"There’s no hiding anything from you, I guess.” He took a deep breath. “If you’re certain then yes, we’ll tell them.”
“To be honest, I think they suspect anyway."
"They suspect something," he agreed reluctantly. "And they know it's serious, since they haven't questioned my shielding them. Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. I hate keeping this from my parents too." She smiled as he met her gaze. "I'm sure. But we're in this together, Jack, and I won't tell them if you're not happy about it."
He reached for her, his hands gentle as he framed her face.
"Then we'll tell them." He paused. "Although perhaps not today."
"They'll be late back after court anyway," Libby agreed. "And shattered too. We'll let the dust settle first."
Jackson leaned forward, his forehead resting against hers.
"I love you."
It was an amazing thing, feeling the warm glow of it streaming through her veins and knowing that it would always be that way.
"I love you."
When the rain fell, they laughed and ran for the car.
"Do you think it's a sign?" Jackson teased, buckling his seatbelt as she started the engine.
Her grin flashed.
"Absolutely."
nbsp; Annie B Matthews, Talent
Talent Page 25
