He had earned himself a slap and a very loud talking to from Brea for that one.
He had convinced the women that they needed to clean the house, which they were not very pleased with either. Over all, he found that he could get anyone to do anything he wanted. It was amazing and super scary.
It seemed that Samuel shared in at least part of his gifts. Samuel could make the protective shield, but only around himself. He stayed in his room most of the time. He was having a bit of trouble adjusting to his new life.
Samuel had to turn in his resignation at the police department. Although they were understanding and wished him the best, it was difficult for Samuel to leave behind the only life he knew.
Finally, it was time. With only two days left until the impending nuptials, Angel booked a flight for his entire family to Israel. It was the closest Gage could get on a map to where Serena was. The fey magic concealing the tribe was strong, but he knew once he was on that side of the world he would be able to mentally sense her again and therefore, he would find her.
Of course, they had left LA early in the evening, but in Israel it was still daylight. The band had traveled all over the world with their music and had connections everywhere, so it was no surprise that when they exited the plane, an Israeli wolf was waiting for them with a large tour bus with blacked out windows.
Jade thought it was amazing. She had never been on tour with her father and she was loving the rock star attention they were getting. They found her jumping on the bed in the back of the bus with all the soda she could drink, while her family sat in the long bench seats making plans.
“We will arrive at the hotel soon,” Angel said. “What are our plans from there?”
“We go in as inconspicuously as possible,” Gage said. “I fear if the fey are alerted to our presence it will not go well.”
“Why don’t you make a call, Sweetie,” Jessica said to Sebastian. “You always do when you arrive in a new city.”
Sebastian thought for a moment. It was true that he usually called ahead to the hotel or whatever venue they were visiting, but it was for publicity. He had never tried to keep it anonymous. His brain finally clicked. He fished his phone out of his pocket and searched the number for the hotel.
“Hello,” he said into the phone. “We have a reservation under the name Mark Shadow. I need to speak with the hotel manager.” He waited patiently while the front desk attendant looked up their reservations and got her manager. When he came on the line, Sebastian spoke again.
“I want to assure you that money is no object,” he began. “We have made reservations under an assumed name to protect our privacy. We have stayed at your lovely hotel in the past and were very satisfied with the accommodations we were afforded. I am representative for Angel Knight and his band. He is taking vacation with his family and wishes to do so without the prying eyes of the public for once. Can I trust that your staff will be as amicable as they have in the past? If not, I am certain that we can find a place to stay that is willing to keep our visit under the radar.”
Sebastian waited while the manager spoke. “Of course,” Sebastian answered. “We will be sending one woman to check in. She will have the necessary credit card and all the information needed. The band thanks you for your understanding and your discrepancy in this matter.”
“Man, you are good,” Rebel said with a grin, as Sebastian hung up the phone.
“Being famous does have its advantages,” he said back. “But I don’t know how long they can keep us a secret. The manager assured me that his staff would not even know we are there, and we can enter through the outside doors to avoid being seen. Eventually, someone is going to recognize us though.” “I suppose I will be the one to go inside and get the keys?” Brea said.
“No,” Sebastian answered. “You are too recognizable. I will be sending Jessica and Jade in. Jessica has managed to stay out of the limelight, and Jade can help her by fishing through people’s heads to make sure she is safe.”
“Oh that’s a good idea,” Brea replied.
“Thank you,” Gage said with the utmost sincerity. “I don’t know what I would do without you guys.”
Brea got up from her seat on the bus and sat down beside him. She tousled his hair on top of his head.
“That is something you never need to worry about,” she told him.
They arrived at the hotel and got checked in without trouble. Sebastian had reserved three suites on the same floor for his family. Each suite comfortably accommodated four to five people. They got settled and took a short nap before getting to work; they were all exhausted from the flight and needed some rest.
Leigh was beside herself for having left the baby behind in LA, but Jessica assured her that Cody and Marcus could be trusted with her. They were at least smart enough to know to feed her and to put out any fires that the baby might inadvertently start. Leigh knew that, but it did nothing to quell the nervous stomach that she developed over leaving her child.
Brea understood. She had felt the same way the first time she had to leave Jade behind. But it was for the baby’s protection. Leigh understood that as well, but it didn’t make her like it.
About two hours after sunset, the family gathered in Angel’s suite. It was small compared to the mansion they all lived in, but it was big enough so that they could all find a seat, even if it was on the arm of a chair or in someone’s lap.
“Let’s do this,” Gage said.
“Wait,” Frankie interrupted. “First we need to say a blessing.
“I want to help with that,” Jade said with a wide grin. “I am learning to be a witch, ya know.”
“Of course,” Frankie nodded. The family joined hands and Frankie and Jade both spoke. “Dearest Goddess, we ask for your guidance this night. Help Gage to sharpen his mind and find our lost sister.” “Amen,” they all said when the blessing was done.
“Now you can start,” she told Gage.
He cleared his mind and thought only of Serena. He first thought of her lovely hair and how it flowed around her face like a river of silk. He thought of her brilliant blue eyes that shined like stars in the night. He thought of her smooth, luminescent skin and how it felt under his hands. He felt his groin growing tight and ignored it. He envisioned her the way he had seen her in his mind before, sitting and brushing her hair.
He thought of her laughter and her smile. He thought of every memory of her that he had. When he thought of the first time he saw her face, while he was healing from injuries that she helped to heal, it was as if an invisible string rose from his chest and began to move outward.
The string grew from his chest and out the window of the hotel room. He followed it with his mind, over the sand and through the night. It wound around the few trees he saw, and through a small forest that was very out of place in the desert.
It took him to the same palace he had seen before and into an open window. Inside he saw her. She was curled up on the bed and sniffling softly. He hated knowing that she was crying. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her tears away. He wanted to kill the person responsible for her pain.
Which meant he was ready to cut his own head off, because he knew that on some level, this was all his fault. He did the only thing he could do and reached out to her mind. She was blocking everyone and everything from her mind. He didn’t want to force himself in and hurt her, so instead he sent her all the thoughts of love and devotion he could muster.
And then she was gone and he was back in the hotel room.
“Well?” Jade asked with her hands on her hips. “Did you find her?”
Gage nodded and swallowed the tears that were threatening to break free. At first he thought she was gone, but once he got his emotions in check, he realized that the invisible thread was still there.
“I can feel her,” he said.
“Can you find her when the time comes?” Angel asked.
“I know exactly how to get there,” he answered. “They have a glamo
ur over their community, but I can see my way through it.”
“Then we will leave tomorrow,” Angel said.
Tomorrow wasn’t soon enough in Gage’s mind, but he also knew it was the one chance they had of getting her back peacefully. He was just going to have to be patient for a little longer.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The day had arrived all too quickly as far as Serena was concerned. She stood in front of the full length mirror and studied her reflection. The servants the prince had sent to her room to aid in her dressing were insistent on the flowers in her hair and the ridiculous train on her dress. She twisted around so that she could almost see the back of the dress. It was pompous and ugly. She reached around behind her and felt for the clasp that held the train. After some wiggling, she was able to get her fingers around it.
She smiled with a small amount of satisfaction when the train hit the floor. She already felt about ten pounds lighter. She then went to work on plucking the tiny flowers out of her hair. She then removed the pin that held it piled high on her head and let her trusses flow freely around her shoulder.
She knew she was being childish, but even that small victory helped her to feel the smallest amount of control. She had been feeling like her life was not her own and like she was the puppet in someone’s sick play.
But that was what she was, wasn’t it? She was her mother’s puppet.
There had been a couple of times that she thought she felt Gage near her, but she was never able to contact him. Her mother had seen to it that the magic surrounding the palace was strong enough to block him from trying to contact her or find her. But still, she was certain that she had felt his presence with her more than once. It comforted her and gave her strength that she would not have otherwise had.
It was what kept her from doing the unthinkable.
The night before, she had been lying in her bed, crying her eyes out, as she did every night. She had all but decided that if she couldn’t live her own life, she didn’t want to live at all. She had considered making a potion that would end her pitiful existence.
But that was one of the times she felt him near. It was because deep down, she knew that he was looking for her. He may not find her before the wedding, but he would find her. Even if she had to escape and run away with him, she would eventually be with him. Even if that meant she would spend the rest of her life in hiding.
Someone knocked on her door and Serena did her best to pretend she didn’t hear it. Of course, they knocked again and again, until finally, they just opened the door.
“It’s time,” her mother said. “What has happened to your dress?” she exclaimed as she ran to her daughter’s side. “Oh let me just put that back on,” she muttered when she saw the train abandoned on the floor.
“I’m not wearing that, Mother,” Serena said.
“And just why not?” Anora demanded.
“Because I don’t want to!” Serena answered. “You may be forcing me into a marriage, but I don’t have to wear that ridiculous thing! You should be happy that I am even walking on my own two feet!” Serena turned her back on her mother. “I will never forgive you for this,” she said. Venom dripped from her words.
“It does not matter how you feel about it,” Anora said. She linked her arm in Serena’s and pulled. “You are getting married, and you are doing it right now.”
As dusk settled, Gage and his family stood outside the palace. No one could see it, but Gage could.
There was a mist surrounding it and he knew it was a spell meant to hide the small city from human view. But he could see it. He could see the people milling into the palace. They were all dressed to the nines, with gifts in hand. Of course they were; their prince was getting married today.
Not if he could help it though. Serena would be leaving with him, one way or the other.
“Are you sure it’s here?” Brea asked. Gage shot her a look that said, “Really?”
She shrugged and straightened her back. “Ok, let’s do this then,” she said.
Gage pulled Jade on his arm toward the palace and the rest of his family blindly followed him. Once they were past the barrier of the spell, the palace became visible to everyone.
“Mon dieu,” Jacque muttered under his breath.
“Yeah,” Frankie agreed. The palace was breath-taking. It stood in the center of the little community with towers that reached high into the sky. It was surrounded by guards that were watching everyone who entered with scrutiny.
“Azerial, if you really are watching, we could sure use some protection right about now,” Frankie said aloud. The others silently agreed and moved forward.
As they approached the guards, Gage felt their stares single them out from the crowd of guests. It was obvious they were not Fey. He reached to the guards with his mind. Of course they were invited, he planted in their heads. Angel Knight is famous and friends of Serena’s family. Do not cause a scene and let them pass.
Gage had to make himself slow down so that Angel could go first. He nodded at the first guard in acknowledgement and the guard nodded back. His gaze seemed to just glance over the party of wedding crashers as if he had seen them a hundred times. They passed without incident.
As soon as they were in the door, Gage let his breath out. “Man, I didn’t know if that would work,” he whispered.
He felt Jade tighten her grip on his arm and knew she was reassuring him. He could do this. He had to. There was no other choice.
They entered the main hall of the palace in pairs of two. Frankie and Jessica walked side by side in their matching gold gowns, Jacque and Sebastian on their arms. Gage thought it was proper to say that the women were on the arms of the men, but that wasn’t really how it was. From the moment they walked inside the palace, the women owned the place. There wasn’t an eye that was not drawn to their beauty; there wasn’t a woman who could contain her envy. Brea walked in with Angel in her stunning black dress, with her gorgeous hair hanging down her back, and Gage knew he heard Angel growl a warning at any man who dared look at her for more than a moment. Leigh led Rebel in behind them, radiating beauty and power even though her dress was simple and almost plain in comparison to the other women’s dresses. It was her immense dragon power that captivated every soul in attendance. No one could keep their eyes off of her or her mate. They were stunned by her simple beauty, intrigued by her power, and fascinated with her vampire mate.
Gage strolled in behind them with Jade on his arm. He entered, virtually unnoticed, as they had hoped. The fey community was familiar with his family. They knew of the band, but also knew of Angel’s status as a political figure among the vampire community. Gage led Jade to a seat in the back of the room and took a seat with her, while Angel and Brea worked their magic on the other guests.
Brea had no problem making nice and smiling as Angel shook hands and made small talk. Sebastian and Jacque did the same, but on a much smaller scale. All of the men were stunning in their matching tuxedos and the women in the room noticed. Gage watched it all unfold and Jade took his much larger hand into her own. “It’s going to be okay,” she whispered to him. Gage nodded.
His family joined them in the back of the room as the guests began to take their seats. “I brought you a glass of champagne,” Frankie told him, handing him a delicate glass. Gage raised a brow at her in question. “Liquid courage,” she told him, drinking her own glass in one graceful swallow.
Gage downed the sweet liquid and handed the glass back to Frankie. He didn’t want to risk dropping it and drawing attention to himself. He took mental stock of his own body. His heart was hammering in his chest, but the feel of his Glocks tucked securely in his belt gave him some measure of comfort. They had just walked into the lion’s den, and they intended to make a stink. He looked over at Leigh. She turned her head just as he did, as if she felt him questioning her in her mind. She nodded. Leigh knew that at the first sign of trouble, she was to fly Jade to safety. She could come back if necessary, but Jade wa
s the first order of business.
The guests were finally all seated and soft music began to fill the air. Gage watched as the fey men who would stand by the prince’s side gathered in the front of the room. There was an arch there, made of vines and flowers. It was gorgeous, and it made Gage sick in his stomach.
Then, Prince Rakimesh Adeer walked in. He was dressed in ceremonial robes and his huge crown sat heavily on his head. Gage guessed that he was probably considered good looking, for a dude, and he instantly hated him even more. If, of course, that was even possible. The prince walked slowly down the aisle; two servant girls behind him. They each had a corner of his robes, holding them just high enough so that they didn’t touch the ground.
When Prince Adeer was standing in place at the arch, the music changed. It wasn’t the traditional wedding march, but something soft and pretty, played on a harp. The entire room stood as the doors behind them opened.
Gage didn’t want to look, but like any train wreck, and that was what this was as far as he was concerned, he had to look. Serena was there. He could feel her more than he could see her. He could feel the pain pouring off her in palatable waves as she took her first step on the carpet that led down the aisle.
She was breath-takingly beautiful. Her hair hung down around her shoulders in loose curls and reminded him of the burnt auburn leaves in the fall. Her eyes had been traced in black kohl, making them stand out even more than before. They sparkled like diamonds that had been tossed into the night sky, and glistened with tears.
She stopped after that first step and hung her head. Gage knew that she was fighting the urge to run, but that would get her nowhere. It would only embarrass and enrage her mother and likely, her fiancé as well. Gage couldn’t bear to see her struggling. He reached out to her mind. I am here, Love. I am here for you and no matter what happens today, you will be leaving with me.
Serena’s head snapped up and her eyes searched the guests for his face. When she finally found him, a smile lit her face, and she held her head high as she walked down the aisle to meet the prince.
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