Stone Cold Seduction

Chapter Fourteen

Jax and MacLean moved Carys upstairs to her bedroom at Gwen’s request. I sat with Gwen and Teryl in the small living room while they cleaned the blood off the kitchen floor. In the light of the room, I could see Gwen’s brilliant eyes. They were purple—honest to God purple—and full of tears. Her features were soft and plain, but her eyes were beautiful. She stared at the wall, face slack with shock.

I felt the same way. I grasped for some sense of calm as awful memories wrestled with the horror of the present. Something inside me had cracked when I’d seen Carys on the floor. Gwen was living her grief while I relived mine.

My father had murdered Carys. I knew it. I also knew it was a message for me. He was in Scotland, regardless of what Teryl said. Carys was a warning, meant to play on my fear. I didn’t think my father knew about my growing magic. If he did, I was sure he would have found some way to take advantage of them. Or maybe he had, and that’s why he wanted me dead.

Regardless, I wouldn’t be underestimated again.

MacLean walked by, barking orders into his cell phone. He went out the front door as Jax walked downstairs toward us.

Cool, gray eyes stared down at me. “Why did you leave?” he asked simply.

Fortunately, Gwen wasn’t paying us the slightest bit of attention, and Teryl was busy doing his oracle thing. I stood and pulled Jax over to the other side of the room.

“I had to. It was something I needed and wanted to do on my own.” My gaze wandered toward the kitchen and the crimson stain on the floor, which was only feet away. “If it makes a difference, I wish I hadn’t.”

Jax didn’t say a word as he drew me in for a hug. The security of his arms was warm, but I still felt the wall between us. He hadn’t been honest about our history, and I didn’t know where that left us. Unfortunately, we now had bigger issues to deal with.

I stepped away. Jax let his arms fall to his sides, and I saw a flash of pain on his face before his usual, unreadable mask was back in place. I turned to Gwen and walked over to kneel in front of her.

“Gwen,” I said softly. “I’m so sorry.”

“She was fine when I left. She knew you were coming and sent me to pick you up.” Clear and direct, those purple eyes locked onto mine. She drew in a ragged breath, trying to gain her composure. “Mother asked me to hurry. She must have known.”

Jax walked over and held out a crumpled piece of paper. “We found this in her hand.”

Gwen stared at the paper for a few seconds before taking it. She smoothed it out and read it aloud. “Gwen, Elleodora seeks knowledge. Help her. This has gone too far.”

Gwen looked up from the page. “What did you want from my mother?”

My purse hung from my shoulder, so I reached inside and pulled out the small gift. Somehow, I knew it belonged to Gwen now. I offered it to her while I stayed kneeling in front of her chair. “A token. A scent to remind you of your mother. I’m searching for my fate. It was withheld from me and things are…”

I struggled to find the right word, but couldn’t. “I’m sorry about your mother. Souls have gone missing, my magic is confusing, and I only wanted to find my fate. I had no idea… My mother was killed, too. I wanted to prevent this from happening to anyone else. I’m so, so sorry.”

Gwen’s face turned white. “You’re the one.”

I wiped a hand across my cheek and looked at Jax in confusion. He wasn’t looking at me, though. He’d gone still in that predatory way, and I saw streaks of silver in his eyes.

Worried, I looked back at Gwen. “The one? What do you mean?”

She reached out a shaky hand and touched my shoulder. “She talked about you all the time. Never told me your name, but she said…she said you would come, and everything would change.”

I blanched. “This isn’t a Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader type of moment, is it? Where the fate of the galaxy is all in my hands?”

Teryl choked on a laugh, and even Gwen’s eyes briefly lit with humor. “No, but I do have something for you.” She went upstairs.

MacLean walked in and shoved his cell phone into his pocket.

“My father did this,” I said.

“I agree. But the Council needs proof. And a viable motive. We have neither.” His expression was grim. He looked at the kitchen floor, where the large crimson stain would always be a grim reminder. “Carys’ death is a tremendous loss for our world. Jedren would need a worthy motive to risk the wrath of the Council. Jedren may be many things, but stupid isn’t one of them.”

Gwen came down the stairs, holding a small box. She handed it to me. “Mother saved this for you.”

I took the wooden box from her. I was scared to open it. Ornate Celtic carvings decorated the top and a small metal latch secured the contents. “Is this my fate?”

“No. Your fate would be in the Library of Shadows.”

“That’s why I’m here. To get my fate. I need to know…”

Suddenly, Gwen’s eyes flickered and turned a ghostly shade of white. No color or pupil. I stepped back without thinking.

“Rest easy, Elleodora Fredricks. I am a fate reader,” Gwen intoned. Her voice had changed in pitch, but the Scottish accent was still there. She fell silent and stood, unmoving. Minutes passed, and we all remained still and silent. Her breathing was smooth and steady, and those chilling, white eyes stared off into space.

I nearly jumped when she blinked and her eyes returned to their normal hue. “I’m sorry. I cannot access your fate.”

Disappointment made my shoulders slump. I stared at the box, wishing it held all of the answers to my problems. I knew it didn’t. Life was never that easy.

“It’s not uncommon,” Gwen said, her tone gruff. “Many fate readers cannot access fates they have not read themselves. I wanted to try.”

“Thank you.” I appreciated it, although I was still disappointed. I stared at the latch on the box. “Can I open it now?”

Gwen nodded and sat on the couch. Nervous, I opened the lid carefully. Inside was a necklace.

Jax and MacLean cursed at the same time.

Teryl jumped closer. “Holy shit, Elle.”

Jax reached for the box. “Let me take that.”

“No.” I hugged the box to my chest and took a quick step back.

I turned toward MacLean, who was glowing faintly. I waited for the flames in his eyes to die down. When I had his full attention, I held up the necklace. “MacLean, what is this?”

“A soul,” he replied, watching the necklace sway as it dangled from my fingers.

I could have guessed that much. The gold necklace and the gleaming pendant vibrated with energy. The chain was simple, but heavy. The pendant held a cluster of light pink, almost clear stones that glittered in the light. “Is this one of the missing souls?”

“No,” MacLean said, “not even close.”

Teryl stepped forward, also mesmerized by the pendant. “It’s not one of us.”

“Not an oracle?” I asked. “Okay, is it a shadow elf? Light elf?”

“It’s a god,” Gwen said. “Technically, it’s only part of a god, but still, it’s a god.”

I dropped the pendant back into the box and set it on the small table beside the couch. I took a couple of big steps back. I stared at each of them. “Why me? Why can’t I get a lump of coal in my stocking, or a parking ticket? Something normal? I don’t want any souls.”

Gwen watched me with sad eyes. “It’s yours by birthright.”

“Birthright,” I repeated. “As in…?”

“It’s from your mother.”

All of the air left my lungs. “Is it…part of her?”

“No,” MacLean replied and walked over to the box, looking down at the contents. “It’s part of Rhys. Who I assume was her father.” He lifted a hand like he wanted to touch the stones, but he let it drop back to his side. “Your grandfather. Your magic signature is similar enough to the soul, I can see the resemblance.”

“You need to put it on.”

Gwen’s words made my stomach churn. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

She looked disgusted with me. “You don’t understand. You must wear it. It was gifted to you. It’s your birthright.”

“You keep saying that, but it doesn’t mean anything to me.”

Teryl cleared his throat. “It means, your heritage dictates you must wear it. If the gods gift you something, you must accept.”

“And if I don’t?” I asked softly.

“It varies, but inevitably, it ends badly. Please put it on. If you deny your birthright, especially one from the gods, who knows what will happen? Trust me, you don’t want to find out.”

I couldn’t. If I put the pendant on, there was no going back. It would be a declaration of acceptance, and I didn’t accept one damn thing about this situation. Not now. Not after being hunted, and finding another dead woman on the floor.

“Foolish,” Gwen spat out, grief and anger twisting her features. “My mother held that in trust for you.”

I flinched. Guilt ate at me. I felt horrible about her death. I really did. “I’m sorry, but this has nothing to do with your mother.”

“It has everything to do with her.” Gwen stood suddenly and stepped closer to me. MacLean and Jax moved forward on either side and Teryl hovered close by. She ignored them all. Fury etched harsh lines into her face. “She protected your secret for years. Tonight, she died for it. And you refuse to accept it?”

“How do you know that?” MacLean asked, his tone all business. “How do you know her death was related to the contents of the box?”

Her eyes flicked to him for a moment before coming back to my face. “She knew how her life would end. She told me her death would be for a great cause, for a worthy individual.” She raked me with a contemptuous look. “You are not worthy. She was wrong about you.”

Weariness pulled down the corners of her mouth, and she sat heavily on the couch. All of the anger seemed to pour out of her in a single sigh. “Please leave. I have nothing more for you. I have to tend to my mother.”

MacLean stepped forward, blocking her from my view. “I’ve notified the Council. Someone will be here shortly.”

Teryl ushered me out the door, so I didn’t hear Gwen’s reply. Jax grabbed the box on his way out. In moments, we were back on the road. The silence on the drive back to the hotel was uncomfortable. Teryl drove, with MacLean in front and me and Jax in the back.

My eyelids were so heavy. I wanted to sleep for hours and hours, and magically wake up back home. I wished this were all a nightmare. When we pulled up in front of the hotel, I was reminded it was all very real. The cold air stung my skin and I shivered, though not just from the chill. No one said a word as we walked up the staircase toward our rooms. Jax held open the door to our room, and I moved past him and stared at the bed.

Teryl called out a soft “good night,” but I didn’t bother to turn around. I could easily picture the sorrow and concern on his face without looking at him. What I needed was a smile. A laugh. A positive word. Anything to let me know it would be okay.

The door closed behind us with a soft click. I didn’t move. My mind and body felt sluggish, while my emotions crashed into one another.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jax set the wooden box on the dresser. He turned to me. “Elle…”

“Please don’t,” I whispered, interrupting him. “Not tonight. Not now. I don’t need a lecture. I don’t need to hear what I should do or what I need to do or even how much I screwed up.” Tears filled my eyes. It was late; I was exhausted and on complete and utter emotional overload.

He gathered me in his arms and held me. Just held me. I was too tired to let my emotions go completely. I wouldn’t be able to handle them. So the tears made slow, steady paths down my cheeks as I rested my head on Jax’s chest.

“I need you tonight,” I said, and felt his arms tighten around me. I tipped my head back so I could look at him. “It doesn’t change anything between us. But for tonight, I want to forget. I need to forget. Please.”

I didn’t want words, and Jax seemed to understand that. He picked me up and laid me on the bed. He was gentle as he removed my clothes. I closed my eyes and resisted the unrelenting waves of exhaustion. I needed to feel something, anything, tonight. My heart beating. My breath flowing. Love and protection. I had that with Jax.

I heard the soft sounds of his clothes hitting the floor, and the bed dipped as he settled next to me. I opened my eyes and stared at him. The handsome angles of his face, the gorgeous, gray eyes. They were solemn as he stared down at me.

I placed my hand behind his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. His lips were soft and warm against mine. Instead of possession and heat, he offered comfort, desire, and love. Even exhausted, I recognized it for what it was.

Jax loved me. It was in his touch and his eyes. He kissed me with a tenderness that surprised me. His touch was so gentle, almost like he feared hurting me. I wanted to protest and tell him I wasn’t fragile. But in that second, I realized that tonight, I was. Jax knew me better than I knew myself. He was my other half.

The bond flared to life between us. I was startled by the intensity. I could feel his heart beat in tandem with mine. I could sense his worry, his frustration and his desire. I wondered again if he could feel my emotions, too. It felt like a living thread connecting us. Our breaths were in sync. Desire and need grew and swirled around us, until I could no longer tell his and mine apart.

Jax settled over me and something inside of me settled with him. I might not be at home, but with Jax, I came damn close.

He leaned forward and pressed a kiss right above my heart. He whispered words I couldn’t make out. But I didn’t need to. I closed my eyes as heat flared between us. A simple touch was all it took. The bond pulsed, and the heat Jax created consumed me.

Our mouths met as he slid inside of me. I forgot the horrors of the day. I forgot the disappointment of not getting my fate. I forgot the chasm of secrets between us. Jax tantalized each of my senses.

His lips tasted and teased my own and I surrendered. Opening for the kiss, his tongue delved inside, making me shiver. His hands braced on either side of my head. I embraced him, pulling him closer. The way Jax filled me made it hard to distinguish where he ended and I began. His thrusts were slow and deep. He lifted his head to watch my reaction. As he leaned back, he sank deeper inside of me.

I gasped and arched against him. He continued his teasing pace, sliding in and out. I cupped my breasts, and he bent down to taste me. I felt his hot breath a moment before his lips closed around one sensitive peak. His tongue flicked against my flesh, wringing a cry from my throat.

He turned his attention to the other one, drawing my nipple into his mouth. The pull of his lips created a raw heat low in my stomach, and I moved restlessly against him. My skin was too hot. My muscles began to tighten as Jax drove me closer to orgasm. I moved again, urging him to go faster.

Jax ignored my need to hurry, and took his sweet time sampling my flesh. I felt the bond pulse between us. I sensed his worries and frustration fading as his need grew. It was the same for me.

I pressed against his shoulders until he rolled so I was on top. Silver eyes glittered up at me as I straddled his hips. He was deep inside, and I closed my eyes for a moment, to savor the feeling.

He was my mate.

I leaned over him, my hands braced on his chest. I could feel the corded muscles beneath my palms. A smile tilted the corners of my mouth as I stroked my hands down his chest and abdomen. His body was extraordinary. The dusting of silky hair tickled my hands as I tried to memorize every angle, every plane of his torso.

I drew a low growl from him when I experimented with moving my hips. I leaned closer, and he lifted his head to capture one of my nipples in his mouth. I slid along his erection, causing him to drop his head back and suck in a deep breath.

He grabbed my hips and thrust deep. My head dropped back and I shuddered with pleasure. He thrust again and again. The orgasm hit, and I moaned his name as wave after wave of ecstasy crashed over me.

He joined me seconds later, whispering simply, “Mate.”

§

We’d fallen asleep wrapped together in a lover’s embrace, but after only a couple of hours of sleep, something woke me. I opened my eyes and surveyed the dark room. I saw nothing out of the ordinary. I heard nothing. I untangled my limbs from Jax and sat up.

Must be my nerves.

Shaking off my unease, I yawned and blinked, trying to clear my blurry vision.

Despite my exhaustion, I was uncomfortably awake. Light was trickling in through the curtains, and I knew morning was here. It was far too early, but I needed to think. All of the brutal details of the previous night would be easier to work out in the light of day. Or so I hoped.

As quietly as I could, I slid from the bed. I took a quick, hot shower and felt a tad better.

I applied a bit of makeup in an attempt to hide the dark circles under my eyes. There wasn’t anything I could do about their bloodshot look. Being hunted and having serious jet lag had me looking less than perky. I pulled on a pair of slim, dark-wash jeans and a fitted, feminine, flannel shirt. The outfit highlighted my curves, but wouldn’t attract unwanted attention. The burgundy plaid shirt enhanced the blue of my eyes and matched the bloodshot effect. Lovely, I thought.

I left my hair loose, so it hung halfway down my back. I didn’t want to turn on the blow dryer and wake Jax. I heard a quiet snore when I stepped out of the bathroom. I smiled at Jax’s sleeping form. His face softened in sleep and there wasn’t a worry line on his forehead. That would change when he woke, I knew. We would all have worry lines today. Hopefully, we could come up with a plan B before the lines became permanent.

I grabbed my purse and shoes and slipped out of the room. Dinner had been the furthest thing from my mind last night, but this morning, I was starving. The front desk clerk directed me to the breakfast area, and I followed the faint scent of coffee. Before I could reach the dining room, a hand stopped me.

“Why are you wandering around by yourself?”

Despite MacLean’s terse tone, I offer him a tired smile. “Hey, good morning to you, too.”

“Where are you going?”

I pointed toward the dining hall. “Breakfast. I missed dinner last night. I’m not leaving the hotel by myself again.” I stared straight into his copper eyes. It had been a dumb mistake. One I wasn’t going to repeat.

I could tell he was judging my sincerity. He nodded after a moment, satisfied. “I’ll join you for breakfast, if that’s okay.”

Company would be nice. I hadn’t expected any of them to be up and about this early, but I was thankful. Being alone after last night didn’t seem all that appealing.

My stomach rumbled as I surveyed the breakfast spread. I dished up a waffle, two eggs, bacon, and a hefty dose of syrup. I would deal with the sugar crash later.

MacLean grabbed a spoonful of everything, and we wandered to a small table. There were only five people in the room aside from us, so I relaxed a little.

“Is there a plan B?” Might as well cut to the chase. I was tired of keeping my worries to myself. I knew I’d feel better if there was a plan of attack, so to speak.

MacLean stared at me, a heaping forkful of hash browns inches from his mouth. Lowering his fork, he sighed. “If you mean to get your fate, yes.”

At my hopeful expression, he shook his head, effectively squelching my small bubble of optimism.

“Plan B is a bad idea. Still in the early planning stages. Teryl and I discussed it last night. It’s the only option. I just wish it weren’t such a dangerous one.”

I cut my waffle and drizzled syrup over it. It was heavenly. I might have moaned a little, because MacLean’s gaze zeroed in on my mouth. I finished chewing with a blush. “Sorry, I was hungry. Okay, so what is it? And why is it dumb?”

MacLean ate his food with stiff movements, and I had a feeling he was stalling. Finally, he replied, “We have to break in to the oracle’s library. The Library of Shadows.”

The flavor of the waffle dissolved, and I might as well have been eating cardboard. “Break in?”

“Mm-hmm.” MacLean stabbed a piece of sausage.

I swallowed hard.

It might seem ridiculous that I’m suddenly squeamish about breaking in after what I’ve done to my father’s business, but this would be different. I’d be entering property that doesn’t belong to my father. I’d be stealing something that doesn’t belong to my father. And I’d be stealing from people who are freaking psychic, while being hunted. Can you say “death wish”? No, thanks.

“How, exactly, am I supposed to pull that off?”

MacLean pointed his fork at me. “That’s why it’s a bad idea. No one has ever done it. I don’t think there’s ever been a need. Everyone else receives their fate.”

“Can’t I just walk in and ask for my fate? Give them my ID and prove I am who I say I am? Fill out some paperwork or whatever? If we can avoid the breaking in part, I’d appreciate it.”

The waffle lost all flavor as I considered the ramifications of his suggestion. The last few days had had enough excitement to last me at least three lifetimes.

“I doubt they’ll hand over your fate, with or without ID. It doesn’t work like that. If you haven’t earned it, they won’t give it to you. And they don’t determine if you’ve earned it. Your parents, guardian, and the original oracle decide that.”

Great. My mom and Carys were dead, shot by the only other person who could have deemed me worthy. Which he obviously hadn’t.

I decided to voice my fears aloud. “Maybe I’m not supposed to know my fate. Maybe I should stop running and…”

MacLean reached across the table and took my hand, his eyes flaming. “No. You deserve to know your fate, and you don’t want the hunters to catch up. The Council wants you brought in, dead or alive. Your fate might be your only saving grace.”

I stared down at his hand on mine. The mounting pile of unanswered questions needed to stop. I had another fear I needed to address. “MacLean, what happened with our engagement? The real reason it ended, not the politics or family alliance BS. Why didn’t we get married? I thought, that is, I… Oh, crap.”

How do you ask someone what happened to the love between you? Especially when you’re with someone else?

I thought it would give me closure. To have something in my past explained so I could move forward and maybe, just maybe, understand.

He didn’t let go of my hand. “I can sense the bond you’ve started with Jax.” His voice was tight with tension.

That didn’t answer my question. I met his eyes, which were still flaming.

“I never broke our engagement. Your father offered to let me out. When you turned seventeen, something happened.”

“Something with me?”

“He didn’t specify. Two days after your seventeenth birthday, he showed up at our house and said you were no longer suitable. He offered to tear up the contract. I declined. I was…I had feelings for you.”

My heart raced as anxiety crept in. I had the feeling he’d been about to say he was in love with me. I loved him. Or rather, my sixteen-year-old self had loved him. Now? I didn’t know him. And I had Jax.

Confusion made my head hurt. If nothing else, I needed my fate to clear up this one issue. The phoenix or the gargoyle? Wouldn’t that make for an interesting reality show?

“Release her hand,” a deep, furious voice interrupted.

My stomach bottomed out, and I pulled my hand back as if scalded.

I stared up at Jax’s bright, silver eyes, which were fixed on MacLean.

Damn, damn, double damn ran through my head.

What I said was, “We all need to talk.”