She pushed a few pieces from her eyes, wishing she had a bandanna and cast a weary glance up at the figure towering over her. She inhaled sharply when her eyes met very familiar ones.
“Elder Coffer?” she asked in confusion. “What’s going on? Why am I here?” She pulled her knees to her chest and pulled at the robe until it completely covered her from neck to toe. “Where am I?”
The youthful - yet powerful - man chided her gently with the cluck of his tongue. He dropped the now empty water pail onto the cobblestone floor and pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket. He first mopped the few droplets of water that had managed to spatter in his face when he’d dowsed her and then used it to clean his hands thoroughly before replacing it in his right pants pocket.
“All in good time, my dear,” he murmured. “All in good time.” He hitched up his two pants legs until the hems rested way above his ankles and squatted in front of her. He reached forward and grabbed her by the chin, forcing her to meet him eye-to-eye.
“But for right now,” he murmured and twisted her face so he could study her from several different angels. His motions disturbed her much more than his touch.
It reminded her of the time she’d visited the small, family owned butcher shop in Negril, not long after Sera brought her to the island. She watched through the large glass window as a man studied a hanging piece of meat with large ribs. Armed with a cleaver, he’d plotted his course of action and set about quartering the carcass into edible portions.
“What’s the matter dear,” he asked with a smirk. “Does my touch bother you?” he whispered and rubbed his thumb back and forth across her chin. “I suggest you get used to,” he advised. “You and I will be much more acquainted after tonight’s ceremony.”
She sat ramrod straight at his declaration, her mouth gaping in shock.
“What are you talking about?” she demanded.
“Oh, did I forget to mention it?” Elder Coffer mocked, clearly enjoying this little game of cat and mouse. “I shall be taking you for my bride tonight,” he informed.
“I don’t understand,” Jazz claimed although she had an uncomfortable idea where this was headed.
Coffer’s eyebrows quirked and he tilted his head as he continued to study her. He jerked her head roughly to one side before releasing her. He stood back up and glowered down at her as if she were no more than an ant; a tiny, disgusting ant.
“Then allow me to explain,” he countered. “After all, I haven’t been able to boast of my plans. Who better than my intended mate to be the first?” He chuckled and she caught the maniacal hint in his laughter. Physically he appeared no older than thirty or so, but she knew that the Elders were much, much older than any other dragon. They were what some used to refer to as The Ancient Ones.
They were among the first of the race to occupy this planet. The Council maintained twelve members - three for each of the four factions. If one died, another was ready to take their place within hours.
She knew Sera was grooming Bridget to succeed her. Although the young woman had fought her mother fang and claw, she’d eventually had to step up and accept the responsibility. Since Jazz wasn’t a biological child, she could never fill Sera’s shoes, not that she’d wanted to.
“You need an heir,” she announced flatly as it all suddenly made sense.
“I do indeed,” he agreed with a pleased grin spreading across his face. He looked like a fox invading a hen house.
“Why me?” she asked. “I’m not exactly your type.” She tried to keep her voice conversational, with as much neutrality as possible. She understood that the other Factions had very few females left, which was the reason the Elders had decreed that all four Princes take a mate.
Prince Jaxen Monroe, leader of the Earth Elementals had taken one about four months ago and then Prince Axel Ashwind of the Wind Elementals had married shortly after. But as far as she knew, both men loved the women they’d married.
Prince Jax’s mate was a human/dragon hybrid and Axel’s was the last female Wind Elemental. Jazz’s own Water Elementals had quite a few more women that either of those. But what she couldn’t figure out, was why Elder Coffer of the Fire Elementals would try and take a Water Elemental for his mate.
The Factions weren’t interchangeable. They couldn’t successfully interbreed. They’d tried many centuries ago and the results had been gruesome and lethal. Every child born of an inter-elemental union had been rabid, ravenous, unintelligent monsters. The Elders had stepped in and killed the majority of them but a few escaped and created much havoc on the humans. They nearly wiped every being off the face of the earth before a secret sect of dragon hunters were hired to track them down and kill them.
The mated couples were separated and each re-mated with a fellow Faction member. It had been a very low point in the history of their species.
“But, we’re different Elementals,” Jazz insisted and gazed up at him. She wished with everything inside of her that this was all a mistake, that he’d mistaken her for someone else.
His eyes widened slightly and a small glimmer of hope slipped through her heart. Then he threw his head back and roared with laughter.
“Yes, my dear,” he admitted between gulping bellows. “Yes, we are.” And his expression suddenly shifted from maniacal joviality to sinister malevolence.
“You and I are going to create a new race of dragon-kind,” he announced and bent to wipe a tear from her cheek. She hadn’t known she was crying until his finger touched her face and she couldn’t stop from shrinking from his ministrations. “Together, you and I will sire the next generation. Just call it evolution dear.”
He lifted the finger holding her tear and studied the small drop almost like he’d never seen one before. Then with a shrug of his massive shoulders, he stuck his finger and the tear in his mouth and suckled.
“Tastes like surrender to me,” he announced triumphantly and brushed past her. “I shall see you again shortly my dear,” he called over his shoulder. “Please make yourself presentable.”
Jazz waited for the creaky hinges to announce his departure and then she dropped her forehead to her up-drawn knees, surrendering to the tears building within her. Even though her rational mind told her she had no hydration to spare, she let the tears build and fall until her chest heaved in great sobs. How could this be happening to her? She’d finally accepted the fact that her soul mate didn’t want her and tried to move on. Then he’d shown up in her literal backyard for one last encounter.
What would happen once Coffer realized she carried the Prince’s child? Would he kill her and the child both? What exactly were the Elders conspiring? She wouldn’t allow herself to wonder if Sera were involved. She knew her adopted mother well and refused to believe she’d be a part of such a heinous plan.
She wrapped her arms around her middle and leaned forward as if to shield the growing baby inside her.
“Don’t worry little one,” she murmured. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Chapter Five
Damien and Seraphina sat aboard the Prince’s private jet awaiting take off. The Prince’s mind whirled with thoughts. He knew a silent coup was in place, he’d rooted a few members of his own Faction out shortly after his father’s death. But what shocked him the most, was that half the Council of Elders was involved.
His eyes went to Sera and he merely studied her as she rambled instructions into her cellphone. She’d momentarily fallen apart over the news of Jazz’s kidnapping, but with a strength he could only admire, she’d quickly pulled herself together and rallied the Water Elementals. Each branch was forming a search party and making preparations for war. Between the two of them, they’d managed to put a few puzzle pieces together from the note.
Elder Coffer, along with five other Elders, felt that Dragon-kind needed new direction. They’d set their devious plans into motion many years ago and were now reaping the fruition of their labors. Damien scolded himself for not supporting his father with m
ore conviction. He’d wasted so many years being angry with the late Prince for taking his mate from him, that he hadn’t noticed the betrayal directly beneath their noses.
Draken had warned him and his court. He’d spent the last years of his life fighting to keep their faction united.
“You were right Father,” Damien murmured and crumpled the note in his fist. “I should have listened to you earlier. I shall not make the same mistake again.”
Sera snapped her little silver phone shut and glared up at him with a fire raging in her eyes.
“You know what this means?” she asked forcefully. “The Four Factions are at war with the High Council. They also have to clean their own houses - so to speak - and root out all opposition. Coffer and his supporters have been working on this for centuries so there’s no way to know just who you can trust.”
Damien’s lips tightened in anger and he clenched his jaws. He had a Faction - a kingdom - to run and protect, but he also had a mate to find. It didn’t surprise him that her safety ranked higher than his own people, but it did. She was the fire raging in his blood and the water soothing his soul. She lived in the core of his being and there was no way in hell he’d let anything happen to her. He’d loved her for as long as he could remember and they’d spent enough time apart. It was time they began their life together and nothing - including a war between Dragon-kind - was going to stop them.
“I still can’t believe Coffer managed to hide this from the rest of us for so long,” Sera ranted in disgust. “I can’t reach Elder Caroleena, so I don’t know of her involvement yet. So far, we only have that to go on.” She nodded her head at the now crumpled note.
Damien eased his fist open and took the note, smoothing it so he could read it again although he knew the message by heart:
“Elder Coffer wishes to convey his thanks to Elder Seraphina for her protection and tutelage of his intended mate, Jasmine Sandford. The time has come for the Chosen to take Dragon-kind’s reins and lead our people in our true direction. He also wishes to invite Elder Seraphina and her family to witness the mating ceremony between himself and his intended. However, the Council in its entirety is no longer required for this ritual.”
He crushed the note in his fisted hand yet again as fresh rage tore through his veins. He felt his dragon - barely restrained by sheer will - slithering beneath the surface. He couldn’t allow himself to shift, not on the jet. He calmed himself by promising to bathe in Coffer’s blood once Jazz was safely back in his arms.
His rear pants pocket started vibrating furiously and he shifted to his hip in order to free his phone. Seeing a familiar name on the caller I.D., he hit the accept button and raised it to his ear.
“Prince Axel,” he greeted the man on the other end. “To what do I owe the honor of your call?”
“I’ve just received Intel that Elder Coffer has kidnapped Jasmine Sandford, adopted daughter of Elder Seraphina,” his deep voice resonated over the tiny speaker. “I can’t seem to reach Elder Sera, so I called you. I’m available for any action you or Elder Sera wish to embark upon,” he stated matter-of-factly.
Damien couldn’t help but wonder if mated life had changed the Air Elemental Prince. From his last few encounters with the man, he remembered more crude language and less formal behavior. And yet, he felt the sincerity of the other man’s offer and wondered what brought on such a willingness to help a foreign Faction. Up until now, there had been no public friction between the Factions. They simply co-existed in harmony; each one sticking to their own.
Now, with the Elders divided, the four Factions couldn’t help but close their ranks for protection. Open trust no longer existed; everyone was a suspect.
“May I ask why you are so willing to assist in an outer-Faction issue?” Damien responded as diplomatically as possible. Although, he felt Axel’s sincerity, he knew deceit was an act easily hidden. Before he put his mate’s life in anyone else’s hands, he wanted to make damn sure they were worthy of his trust.
“Coffer had my mate kidnapped shortly before our ritual,” Axel responded simply and truthfully. “His goons tried to traumatize her and were she not the fiercely strong woman she is, they would have been successful.” He paused and Damien waited for the rest of the story. “She defended herself quite nicely before I managed to track them down and when I learned of Coffer’s involvement, I promised her I would make him pay. I keep my promises.”
Damien nodded his head in complete understanding. He wanted to rip the Elder’s throat out with his bare, blunt, human teeth.
“There’s more,” Axel admitted. “I believe there’s more at play here than a mere Elder going mad. I’ve had to squash several uprisings recently and even kill a few of my own Faction when they betrayed me. They’d joined Coffer and were working within the Faction to overthrow me. I think the Elder is planning a coup against the entirety of our leaders,” his voice trailed off.
“I believe you’re right,” Damien admitted. “My own father severed an uprising about a century ago and struggled every day after to maintain control of our own ranks. It seems that many of Dragon-kind aren’t happy with the royal houses and wish to see a different governing body. I exiled a few dragons myself before flying out here to Jamaica,” Damien admitted and stopped short in hopes of Axel not hearing the last part.
“What do you suggest we do?” Axel asked and Damien almost sighed in relief. He wasn’t ready for anyone to question him about Jazz just yet. He had to find her first. He had to first, make her understand and then, believe that he wanted no other. That he’d wanted no other since the first moment he’d laid eyes on her. He needed her to believe with every fiber of her being that she was “it” for him. There would never be another.
After a few moments to contemplate the entire situation, Damien’s mind shifted from his personal feelings to politics. He couldn’t do anything for her right this very second, so the least he could do was try and make amends among the royalty.
“I suggest you and I contact the other Princes and formulate a treaty between the Factions. If we can secure the thrones through solidarity, then that’s one step toward thwarting whatever Coffer has planned,” he proposed.
“I like the way you think Damien,” Axel praised. “I’ll call Jaxen immediately. Do you have Wesley’s number?” he asked, referring to the Fire Prince.
“Yes,” Damien confirmed and hit end on his phone screen. His thumb moved across the screen, hovering just over his contacts icon when a sudden, fierce pain ripped through his body. The phone tumbled from his hand and he clenched his stomach as he doubled over and vomited on the blue carpeted floor.
A stewardess immediately rushed toward him, towel and bucket in hand.
“My Prince, are you alright,” she asked breathlessly. “Should I tell the Captain to delay takeoff?”
“No!” he roared. “The sooner we get in the air, the better.” He took the bucket from her and asked for another once she’d mopped up the worst of his waste. Cradling the bucket, his head swiveled to where Sera sat, watching him intently.
“You formed a connection with her, didn’t you?” The Elder asked and his eyes widened in surprise. His mind went back to their brief interlude by the pool. He had indeed bitten her and drank from her. Since she didn’t reciprocate, the mating bond wasn’t mutual, but by the small, passionate action, he had claimed her for his own. No other Dragon could take her without perishing in a most unpleasant death.
He also knew that if he could pull on their connection strongly enough, he would be able to hear her thoughts and maybe determine her location. It would certainly be easier than flying all over the world looking for her. It would save time they didn’t have.
“Didn’t you?” Sera repeated a bit more forcefully and slapped him across his already flushed face. He hadn’t seen her move, but he felt the ferocity of her anger. “You couldn’t wait for a proper ceremony, you had to rut with her like a wild beast? She deserves better than that you fool,” she accused and raised
her hand to deliver another blow.
Damien dropped bucket on the floor and rose to face the enraged woman. He caught her hand before she hit him again. As gently as he could manage with his stomach feeling like it was being ripped apart from the inside, he guided her back to her seat and shoved her back into it.
Leaning forward, he pulled her seat-belt around her and buckled it before turning back to his own seat and repeating the action.
She opened her mouth, no doubt to curse him, but stopped short when he whirled back to glare at her.
“Not now Sera,” he warned forcefully. “I need to concentrate.”
Her eyes widened owlishly when she realized his intent and clamped her lips together.
“No, not right now,” she conceded reluctantly. “But you and I have much to discuss.”
Damien smiled and nodded at his soon-to-be mother-in-law.
“Yes, yes, we do,” he agreed and closed his eyes in order to focus better. “Oh, by the way,” he added as an afterthought. “Axel is calling Jaxen and I need to speak with Wesley, do you think you can get him on the phone and explain the situation to him? I need to find Jazz while I can.”
“Of course,” Sera answered and motioned for the stewardess to hand over the Prince’s phone. “I’ll take care of it.”
Chapter Six
Jazz scowled at the two strange women who’d come to bathe her. She’d fought them, but they managed to lead her through a long tunnel and into another, smaller cavern housing nothing but a huge bathing pool at its center. She watched the steam rise from the water, mixing with the cool cavern air and knew it was a natural hot spring.
She’d studied the Dragon-hewn cave and noticed that it had been retrofitted with a few modern necessities; like doors, plush carpets and many, many candles and lanterns.
Fake Fiancé Next Door_A Small Town Romance Page 58
