rogue shifter 06 - torn apart

by Gayle Parness

  "I look forward to hearing the tale. However, I think we'll let you rest now." He tried to usher everyone out, but Charlie pulled away.

  "I'm guarding her." He crawled onto the bed and propped some pillows up against the headboard. With a defiant glare in Liam's direction, he leaned back and crossed his arms.

  Liam placed a supportive hand on Garrett's shoulder. "It appears that your young son has inherited his mother's stubborn streak."

  Garrett smiled at Charlie, trying hard not to laugh. "You can stay as long as you allow Mommy to rest. I'll get you a book."

  "Is it okay for a guard to read while he's guarding?"

  Liam answered with a straight face and a serious tone. "Normally, I'd say no, but in this circumstance, with your mother confined to her bed, and other knights in the vicinity, I believe it will be acceptable."

  "Okay. Can you please get me Robin Hood and the third Harry Potter book?"

  "Both?"

  "I like to read my favorite parts." He looked at me warily. "This could take a while."

  "Am I—(yawn)—contagious?" I asked Liam.

  "Only to a werewolf or a human." He gave Charlie another stern look. "Feel you mom's cheek." He did as he was ordered. "When she wakes up, give her water. If she's in pain, or her cheek seems warmer than it does now, immediately inform your dad or one of the guards. With one of them in the room you may give her two sips of potion every four hours. No more."

  "Yes, sir." He nodded with wide eyes.

  "Broth and bread only." Then he turned toward me and winked. "I'm leaving you in good hands." He left through the lines as Garrett brought Charlie the two books and a book light. He turned off the lamp on my side of the bed, then kissed me gently on the lips. "Hungry?"

  "I can't."

  "When you wake later, I'll get you some broth. Rest now, my love." He straightened up and smiled at Charlie. "Take good care of your mother." He left the door slightly ajar so Samson could go in and out.

  I peeked at my little male. "Thank you for guarding me. I feel much safer." I snuggled into my pillows and closed my eyes.

  "I'm glad you're home."

  "Not as much as I am, honey."

  When I woke up next, Charlie was in the middle of the bed nestled against me sound asleep. Garrett was on the other side of him working on his laptop.

  He whispered, "It appears that your guard has gone off duty."

  "He's worried about me. I hate that he's so serious. I don't want him to miss out on being a kid."

  "We all worry about you." It was a fact, not an accusation, but it still made me feel guilty about what I was putting them through. He stroked our son's cheek. "Charlie's life will never be simple or carefree. I'll put him to bed."

  "He'll be upset if you do. He'll think he failed at his job."

  "Do you want to leave him here? I can sleep at the villa next door."

  "I don't ever want to wake up with you gone again. I'm so sorry I hurt you."

  He put the laptop on the night table and walked around to crouch by my side of the bed. He took my hands in his and whispered, "You've been pulled in so many directions since Charles was born. You've been braver and stronger than anyone could have imagined. I should have listened and not jumped down your throat. Forgive me. When you're gone, I feel a little lost, as if there's something I should be doing...but I can't remember what it is. You're my compass. My heart."

  "Your inner cave man came out."

  He grinned his beautiful grin, making me fall for him all over again. "I believe I did warn you about the territorial nature of vampires before I kissed for the first time."

  "You were already mine that day. You just didn't know it yet." The knot in my stomach loosened, replaced by a familiar warmth. Charlie squirmed behind me. "Can't we all fit? It's a king sized bed." He laughed, kissing me gently on the lips. "Whatever you want."

  "Can you help me sit up?." Garrett lifted my shoulders, and then propped pillows behind my head and back. Charlie stirred during the process and sat up too.

  "Are you better?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.

  "Yes, because I'm with my two favorite people." At that moment my lungs decided to prove me wrong. Garrett held me against him as I coughed while Charlie ran to the kitchen, coming back with a sports top water bottle that was easier for me to manage. I drank down half while he watched with a serious expression.

  My body aches were back, as was my fever, so Garrett had Charlie give me two sips of potion. When my attendant ran back to the kitchen to ask Noriene for half a cup of broth, I made a quick trip to the bathroom with Garrett's help. Back in bed, I only managed to swallow three or four sips of the broth before the coughing started again.

  Garrett sat next to me, wrapping an arm around my body and touching my hair with tender strokes. "The potion will kick in soon."

  "I've only been awake for fifteen minutes and I'm ready to conk out again."

  "Do you have the strength to tell me how you caught the flu?" Charlie was having a snack in the kitchen, having announced that guarding made him hungry.

  "Grandmother wanted to see Isaiah's new girlfriend, but I told him I wouldn't kiss him again. I suggested that he make me sick and then no one would expect us to be affectionate."

  He pulled me closer, kissing my head. "You should be furious with me. This is my fault."

  "Why? Because you love me so much that you don't want to share me with anyone else? I feel the same way about you, ya know. If you'd kissed one of your donors I'd be mad at you and plotting revenge on the witch who'd kissed you."

  "I said some cruel things."

  I yawned as the potion took effect. "Your punishment is to take care of your sick mate for another couple of days. Then I'll be able to heal myself."

  "I won't leave your side."

  "You have The Wild tonight."

  "I'll cancel."

  "Fred needs your help. And you might save a few lives. The team has to go."

  "I'll be here." Charlie was back with his sketch pad. "Mommy, if you get bored, you can draw pictures of the DR. That way I can know what it looks like."

  "That would be a good idea if I could draw. Maybe tomorrow I'll tell you what it looks like and you can draw it." Garrett and Charlie discussed sleeping arrangements and it was decided that a cot would be brought in for Charlie and put on my side of the bed. That way I'd be safe on both sides. I faded into slumber as Garrett was whispering to our son in French, the words a jumbled mess to my potion-numbed ears.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  A week later I was standing on the back patio with Charlie, Sinlae and Samson. It was an hour before dawn and my bout with the flu was only a bad memory, although my nerves were shattered. We were about to head off for our first meeting with Kennet.

  Aislin was arguing with Garrett. "They cannot be allowed to go without protection."

  "It's a blood agreement. He can't hurt them and she has no choice." He wasn't looking at me because he was worried and angry and didn't want me to see it on his face.

  Aislin scowled. "He betrayed all of Faerie when he kept our people prisoner. He is already forsworn and only lives because he has the protection of the queen. What difference will it make to him to kill your mate and the others and take his son to court?"

  I stepped closer to them. "Aislin, I'm capable of more than you know. He won't be able to take Charlie." My cheetah and my demon were in agreement on this occasion. There was no way Kennet would harm their little man or his mother. If he tried, they'd combine to show him magic he didn't know existed.

  I'd been practicing.

  Garrett, who'd watched some of my magical experiments with enthusiasm, folded me into his arms as Sinlae perched herself on Samson's back. "You'll come back at the first hint of trouble. Don't try to fight him."

  "I promise."

  "If you send Charlie back with Sinlae and you stay there yourself, I'm going to come for you and..."

  "We'll be safe. I feel it and so does Sinlae." He grunted in frustrati
on and then kissed me hard, not paying any attention to Charlie's giggles. I didn't push him away, needing his passionate touch as much as he needed mine.

  "Mommy. Daddy."

  "Mmm hmmm?"

  "We have to go now."

  "Yes, we do." I stroked my mate's perfect cheek. "Je t'aime."

  Je t'aime, my love." He hugged Charlie." Je t'aime, Charles. Look after your mother."

  "Oui, Papa. Je t'aime." I took my son's hand and we beamed out.

  We arrived in the clearing before Kennet did and made ourselves comfortable, setting out blankets along with books and a sketch pad to occupy Charlie. Since it was still dark, Sinlae set up some of her fae lights then went exploring with Samson. She came back with some herbs to use for tea and wild berries to have as a snack. At her suggestion, we'd attached small baskets to Samson's back so that she'd be able to bring back herbs and plants that she didn't already have growing in her garden. She seemed quite delighted by her newly gathered booty.

  Kennet arrived exactly at dawn. He was dressed in the practical breeches, tunic and boots most of his people favored and looked healthier than the last time I'd seen him. Samson growled, his hackles rising, but a whispered word from Sinlae settled him down. She flew to a branch above us so that she'd be able to see the entire clearing in case danger approached.

  He nodded toward me, but I didn't respond. He sat on the blanket beside Charlie in the graceful way of the fae and reached out to take his hand. Charlie scooted closer to me and I put my hand on his shoulder to soothe him.

  Knowing that an angry Kennet was no fun to hang out with, I said,."Give each other some time to adjust. You're strangers, so maybe it's best if you just talk for now.

  "What are you reading, son?"

  "I'm not your son and I don't like you." I hadn't expected this reaction from Charlie. Normally he was excited to meet new people. Inside I was jumping up and down and applauding, but at the same time I knew that these forced meetings would go a lot smoother if we could come to some kind of compromise.

  Kennet wisely decided not to argue the point. "I will call you Charles, if you prefer." Charlie nodded, trying not to look frightened by the tall stranger."I will treat you and your mother with respect, and ask that you give me the same." Kennet lifted the book and tilted his head.

  "Robin Hood." Charlie said.

  "I do not believe I know this story. Will you tell me about it?"

  Charlie looked at me, unsure as to what he should do. I nodded and tried to smile. "Go ahead."

  "It's the story of a human male who wants his king, Richard, to rule again. But his king is far away and the king's brother, John, has taken over the kingdom and he's mean to all the people. He's hired a sheriff who's also really bad and who makes the poor people pay him lots of money. Even if it means they have to starve. Robin Hood tries to protect the people until the true king comes home."

  "Why do you like this story?" He seemed genuinely curious.

  "Because he protects people who can't protect themselves. And he's a great archery guy and he has cool friends."

  "He's an archer. Would you like to learn to use a bow?" Charlie nodded, then Kennet asked him in Fae, "Will you read to me?"

  Charlie answered in the same language. "From the beginning?"

  Charlie read out loud for an hour, sometimes in Fae, but mostly in English. Kennet leaned against a tree trunk, correcting Charlie's Fae when he felt it was necessary, but mostly just listening to his son's voice. They looked at the illustrations together and Charlie explained what each one depicted.

  While Charlie was eating a snack, Kennet asked him, "You do not carry your blade?"

  "Mommy won't let me. I'm not old enough."

  "Bring it next time and I will teach you to use it. Then she will not worry."

  "He's five." I scowled.

  Charlie rolled his eyes. "She says that all the time."

  "Five is young, but not too young to learn to protect yourself." He glanced at me. "Do you believe I would allow him to injure himself?"

  "I don't have any idea what you'd allow or even why you're here at all, except to torture us." I hadn't meant to lose my cool while Charlie was nearby. I'd planned on holding onto my temper like a mature adult, but the more he and Charlie had shared the book, the same book that we'd shared together with Garrett, the more I hated Kennet. He'd weaseled his way into our lives and was doing everything he could to make Charlie like him.

  Why should he play a part in Charlie's life? Why couldn't he leave us alone? He'd done enough harm already. I was livid.

  Perhaps sensing that we needed some time alone, Sinlae suggested that Charlie accompany her to the stream to gather some water. He ran off with her, carrying the two canteens that had materialized fae-style on the ground by his feet. Samson stayed with me, growling a soft warning in Kennet's direction.

  After they'd disappeared into the woods, Kennet asked me, "Truly? You cannot see why I wish to spend time with my son, Jacqueline?"

  "You're acting like he matters to you. I know that's a lie. You're curious about him, that's all. When you get bored and decide not to come back, you'll hurt him. We both know you only give a shit about yourself."

  "Over the past five years, you've come to know many of the Cascade Fae. I would think that by now you would understand what we fae desire above all other things. Three thousand years is a long time to wait for a child. Perhaps you do not believe me, but I do care about my son and also his mother."

  "You kidnapped me, then you whipped and raped me. But even that wasn't enough. When I was weak, right after I'd given birth, you showed up and blackmailed me into this arrangement."

  "I did what was necessary."

  "You're the king of the ends justifying the means." I spat out.

  He had the nerve to laugh. "I did all that you say, but will apologize only for the pain that I caused you, which I know was great. I could have employed a more circuitous route to achieve the same ends."

  "You're delusional if you think there was anything you could have done that would've sent me willingly into your arms."

  His dark purple eyes met mine without remorse. "I could have kidnapped your mate and threatened to kill him. You would have come to me to save his life."

  "You're disgusting." I turned away, feeling queasy.

  "Your mate is not safe even now. The queen resents Caelen's show of disrespect when she was in Cascade. She may want revenge. Attacking Caelen's allies would be a logical step. The agreement between them is vague on this point."

  "She can't do that."

  "Garrett is only an ally of the Cascade Fae. Not of Queen Fionna."

  I swallowed down my terror and asked, "Has she said...?"

  "No, but she changes her mind as the tides roll in and out from the shore. Her consort has her ear and does not like Caelen, fearing his claim to the throne." Kennet reached out for my hand, but I snatched it away. "Love makes us vulnerable."

  "Stronger. The people we love make us stronger." I stuck out my chin and met his gaze again. "You've done enough harm. Please, leave us alone."

  "I will not release you from our agreement. Two days every year is little enough time to spend with the two beings who make me vulnerable and stronger."

  Charlie was back with Sinlae, so I couldn't respond to his startling comment.

  "Mommy. There were three frogs. Sinlae said I couldn't bring one home...that they were a family. Do you think there are any orphan frogs near our house? I could name him Oliver after the kid in the story." Sinlae motioned for him to pour the water into a pot hanging over a small fire that she'd just conjured up.

  "Frogs don't do well out of water. It is better to leave them in the wild. Would you like a dog?" Kennet asked.

  Was he really going to bribe Charlie with a pet? What was next, Disneyland? "We have Samson." I rubbed my Rottweiler's head and scratched him behind the ears.

  "Samson's yours." Charlie spoke up, excited by the idea of getting his own dog.

  "We
'll discuss this with Daddy when we get home." I watched his shoulders sag, but he didn't argue.

  "Okay." Charlie's eyes suddenly grew wider. Kennet was concentrating on Charlie with an expression I knew only too well.

  "No!" I grabbed my son and pushed him behind me. "You won't get into his head. You won't..."

  "I will not hurt him. I swore to this." He let out a long frustrated breath. Suddenly he was in my mind. "Jacqueline, he has my gift."

  "Not yet...he's too young."

  "He must learn how to use it soon, before he harms someone."

  "He's never going to use it to hurt people. To rape their minds..."

  "He will use it to protect himself and his family. War is coming. Don't you want him well armed?"

  "What's wrong, Mommy?" Charlie's face was scrunched up in anger, his gaze locked only on Kennet. "Is he hurting you?"

  "No honey. We're discussing what Kennet will teach you."

  "He'll teach me everything he knows so I can keep you safe." Kennet grinned more widely than I'd ever seen him smile. He almost looked handsome. "And then he'll go away."

  Charlie's last words had been whispered, his voice icy with a barely contained rage. Kennet's only response had been an eyebrow arched in curiosity, but this was a side of my son I'd never seen. A darker side. A part of him he'd have to call on often if he was to lead people into battle. As a shiver ripped down my spine, I looked to Sinlae for answers. Her eyes were on Charlie, her pink aura darkening as her fangs extended. Yes. This would be a sign she'd waited for. Samson's deep growl vibrated strongly enough to rustle the leaves of a nearby patch of sword fern.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  "The news is bleak." Isaiah sat beside me on the metal bench in the garden.

  "In what way?"

  "Your twin moves with great speed, more determined than ever to attack before Charles is a threat. Mother has already notified all the noble families of an impending attack. First on your household, and then on Faerie itself."

  "How should we prepare for this?"

  He hesitated. "I've thought of a way."