Tempting the Dragon (7 page)

Tilting her head, Libby sighed. “If you feel this way, why do you want me to seek?”

Seek
was the word Libby used when she sought to use her psychic abilities to find a person or a thing.

Slightly embarrassed, Jade swallowed. “Because I promised my mother and aunt.”

“Amber! How is she doing these days?” No rancor colored Libby’s voice, despite Amber’s claims that the two had never gotten along. Much of that might be due to the fact that Amber had wished to marry Jade’s father, but the caretaker’s inability to leave Burnett House had nixed that idea. Jake had taken off soon after Amber became pregnant. He came back a few years later, which resulted in Amber having Pearl and Sapphire. The idea of twins had so horrified Jake that he’d hightailed it out of Forestwood and no one had seen him since.

Despite this, Jade had grown up blissfully unaware of her future. Libby had always chosen who would be her caregiver and when. Since Amber had been only eighteen when Jade had been born, Jade had figured the honor (or curse, depending how you looked at it) would go to one of the twins.

Instead, Amber had come to Jade on her twentieth birthday and told her Libby had requested her and that her time had come to take on the mantle of caregiver. Despite Jade’s shock, Amber had been unable to hide her glee at the potential of again being able to have a life outside of Forestwood.

And so, with very little training or ceremony, Jade had taken over Libby’s care from her mother. Since then, to her knowledge, her mother had never come back to visit.

“She’s fine. She stays busy with my younger sisters, the twins.”

While they chatted, Libby made them each a second cup of tea. She never could be rushed—Jade knew this and understood she had to exercise patience. She figured this one trait of Libby’s had been the thing that had gotten under Amber’s skin. Amber had zero patience for anything or anyone. Waiting for Libby must have driven her crazy.

Only when they’d both drained their second cup of tea did Libby rise and cross over to the yoga mat she kept near the window that looked out over the lake. Jade excused herself while Libby got comfortable. She headed to the restroom, planning to take her time before returning. Watching Libby enter a trance felt uncomfortably intimate, and Jade hated to intrude.

In fact, after emerging a few minutes later, Jade took a detour to avoid the kitchen and went outside to sit on the deck. The breathtaking view never failed to soothe her spirits and today was no exception.

Below, on the narrow ribbon of road encircling the lake, she saw a flash of red. Heart skipping a beat, she leaned forward, waiting for it to emerge from under the tree canopy. A moment later, she saw it again. The bright red Mustang that meant Rance was headed this way.

Aware he’d recognize her vehicle parked near the hiking trails, she hoped this would be enough of a distraction to keep him from coming here. Just in case, it would be better if she left as soon as possible.

Fidgeting, she hesitated. She still needed to find out what Libby had been able to learn about Di. If she failed to do this, Amber and Auntie Em would be upset. And even though Rance was a bit pushy, she hoped the remnants of what was left of his Southern manners wouldn’t allow him to knock on the door of a stranger’s house, especially if he wasn’t sure she was inside.

Since she didn’t want him to spot her, Jade got up and headed back in. Hopefully, Libby wouldn’t be too much longer.

To her relief, when Jade returned to the kitchen, Libby had gotten up from her yoga mat. Back to the room, she stared outside with a look of such total concentration that Jade knew not to interrupt her.

“I see your man approaches,” Libby said, not turning from the window.

“He’s not mine,” Jade corrected automatically, flushing.

“Not yet. But he will be. He aches to claim you as his.”

His.
Jade’s throat inexplicably closed. “You know better than anyone how impossible that would be. My father left because my mother could not abandon her duties.”

“Your father left because he was a selfish man who couldn’t face responsibility,” Libby drawled. “And Amber is well aware of that fact.”

Jade swallowed hard and remained silent. It would be pointless to argue. Still, she couldn’t stop thinking about what Libby had said, especially since she had the gift of prophecy. She hadn’t been wrong as long as Jade had known her.

Closing her eyes, Jade allowed herself to envision what it would be like to be claimed by a man like Rance. Despite his sexy Southern drawl and his kind way, the intensity in his gaze told her if he claimed her she’d never have any doubts that she belonged to him.

His.
Ah, the thought made her entire body tingle.

“Have you had many dealings with the Fae?” Libby asked, breaking into her admittedly erotic thoughts. Jade colored, glad Libby couldn’t read minds.

“The Fae?” Confused, Jade tried to figure out what Libby meant. Had she missed something while she was daydreaming about Rance? “Are you saying Rance is Fae? I don’t think he is, mostly because he has an aura like a shifter, and...”

“No.” Libby smiled gently. “I’m talking about your cousin Diamond. As you asked, I’ve located her. She’s traveled to the realm of the Fae.”

“The land of the Fae?” Jade wasn’t sure how to respond. “Why would she go there? I’m not sure anyone in our family has even ever seen a faerie.”

“You might not know if you did.” Libby seemed unconcerned. “Anyway, Diamond has gone there willingly. Apparently so have several of her friends. There is nothing you or I—or anyone for that matter—can do.”

“But why? Why would they want to go there?”

“Fae men are graced with an uncommon virility, as well as an exceptional masculine beauty. Throughout time they have used this to lure unsuspecting females to their realm for trysts.”

“Unsuspecting? Are you saying Di might not be aware of what she’s doing?”

“She’s aware,” Libby immediately responded. “Well aware. What she hasn’t thought through are the ramifications of her actions.”

“She has to know she’s making her mother sick with worry. Di and my auntie Em are really close.”

“Time passes differently there. To her, she will believe she’s been gone a mere hour or two, when in fact it will have been days or weeks, maybe even a month.”

“Did you happen to see when she plans on coming back?” Jade asked.

“No. But wisps of the trance still cling to me. Let me see if I can envision the answer.”

“Okay.” Jade waited, wishing her cousin would just come to her senses and stop taking foolish risks. At least she’d be able to tell Di’s mother that Libby had seen her and she was safe. That had to count for something.

But then, Libby gasped and her body jerked. “No. Oh, no.”

Before Jade could ask, Libby met her gaze, her eyes wide with terror. “Your cousin Di is in grave danger, though she doesn’t know it. Evil plans are afoot there. You must travel to the land of the Fae and save her.”

“Me? But I can’t leave. I’ll get sick.” Not only that, but Jade had never saved anybody in her life. She wasn’t trained in martial arts, didn’t own a gun or know how to shoot, and her magical skills were dismal at best.

“Not this time. Since you’ll be in another realm, the tie between us will remain unbroken. I think.”

“You think?” Jade peered at her. “Don’t you think you should actually know?”

“I’m relatively certain,” Libby allowed. “And this is important enough for us to take a chance.”

“What could I do?”

“You must hurry,” Libby responded, conveniently avoiding the question.

“Hurry where? I have no idea how to get to Fae.” She had a sneaking suspicion Libby was about to tell her.

“There’s a portal in the forest, up near the ancient burial mound.” Libby fixed her with that no-nonsense stare she’d begun to recognize. “You’ve got to go there and find it. You will be able to sense the energy it puts off. And bring your man with you. Otherwise, you may find yourself in need of saving, too.”

“And then do what?”

“You’ll know.”

Great. Libby had slipped in and out of the trance, and Jade didn’t know what else to say. Clearly, any specific questions weren’t going to be answered. On edge, she watched Libby for the telltale sway that always followed her trances. If she wasn’t quick enough to grab her, Libby would fall to the floor.

The instant Libby staggered, Jade grabbed her arm and helped the older woman over to a chair. Though her mind raced with the news about her cousin, she needed to focus on the more immediate need to care for Libby. “What can I get you? I know how draining your trances are for you.”

“I’m fine.” Libby gave her a wobbly smile. “Now you’d best go. Your young man awaits you. He’s sitting in his car outside.”

Jade started to protest, but a sharp look from Libby silenced her. “Remember, you have to take him with you,” she said. “Otherwise, you might end up as lost as your cousin.”

Aware he’d think her nuts and wondering if she could even convince him to go, Jade nodded. “I’ll try my best,” she said, ducking her chin in parting. “I’ll see you soon.”

Libby didn’t respond. When Jade glanced at her again, she saw the other woman had fallen fast asleep.

Jade braced herself and swallowed hard before heading outside to face the man she couldn’t seem to shake, even in her thoughts.

* * *

Rance had just rounded the curve when Jade appeared, heading straight for him, her long hair swinging and her hips swaying. The second he caught sight of her, his inner beast stirred.

Mine.

Again the primal need to claim her. He rolled down the car window, wondering if she needed a ride back to where she’d left her own vehicle, a bit down the winding road. Judging by her determined stride, she was seriously annoyed to find him there.

He couldn’t blame her, even if he had gotten lucky in spotting her. After seeing her car, he’d decided against hiking after her and had decided to drive up to the cliffs.

“Following me?” she asked, her green eyes blazing as she stopped about five feet from his open car window.

He had to fight to keep himself from jumping out of his car and hauling her up against him. Gripping the steering wheel to keep from touching her, he pushed back the rush of desire and swallowed.

“No. But I have been looking for you,” he managed, trying to push away the erotic images that ran through his mind any time he got near her. “I went by the house, then by your grandmother’s shop, and finally the dog day care. When I couldn’t find you, I decided to head out to the lake. That’s how I wound up here.”

She stepped closer. For one heady moment, he thought she might lean in the car window as if she, too, felt compelled to be as close to him as possible.

“What do you need?” she asked, her tone as frigid as the ice in her green eyes.

“You.” Startled, he realized he’d spoken out loud.

She didn’t even crack a smile. “I got that the first time. You came looking for me. You found me. Now tell me what you want.”

“Darlin’, will you please get in?” He indicated the passenger seat with a jerk of his head.

To his surprise, she stomped around to the other side of the car and slid into the seat. “I’m in. Now what’s up? Why are you searching for me?”

Befuddled, bemused and aroused, he let his gaze rake over her. Damn.

“I want you.” Once said, he couldn’t take the words back. Hell, he didn’t even want to.

She stared at him, her lush lips slightly parted, her chest heaving. “You...” she began.

Before she could finish, he knew he couldn’t resist the temptation she presented.

Leaning over, he cupped his hand around the back of her head, slanted his mouth over hers and kissed her.

Chapter 7

T
he kiss felt like falling into the deep, dark depths of the lake. Even more fiercely aroused, Rance sank into the kiss, grateful that she didn’t push him away and reject his raw act of possession.

Incredibly, she made a sound, low in the back of her throat, a moan of pleasure, as he deepened the kiss. Mindless with need, he damn near pulled her over the console to nestle in his lap, but he didn’t want their first time to be in the front seat of a rental car, near the road where anyone could happen along and see.

Their first time. As if he knew there would be others. What the hell?

When he broke it off, they were both breathing hard.

“What the...?” Green eyes blazing, she stared at him, clearly furious, even more gorgeous in her anger.

Despite that, or because of it, he only wanted more. With every fiber of every cell in his body, he wanted more. Instead, he managed to take a deep breath so he could attempt a semblance of calm.

But then, his inner beast roared, fighting to break free. Dimly he realized he warred against himself. If he wouldn’t claim Jade as his while human, his dragon intended to.

Mate.

“No,” he growled, gritting his teeth, aware of Jade eyeing him as he struggled to subjugate the other half of himself. Not many were strong enough to meet the fierceness of his beast. For this reason, Drakkor had to be extremely careful when they chose their mates.

Mates?
Again that word. Seriously? He’d already had a mate, and lost her. The chance of finding another was unbelievably small.

While he fought to get himself back under control, he saw that Jade had her own inner battle. Her beast—whatever kind that might be—had sensed his conflict and reacted.

Rance used a technique he’d learned when photographing in war zones. He’d had to learn not to give in to the fear, or his photos would be no good. One, two, three...focus on his breathing and regain control.

“Are you...?” Raspy voiced, Jade sounded as if she’d swallowed a handful of rusty nails. “Are you all right?”

Mates.
He met her gaze and knew he’d do whatever he had to do in order to make her his. It was a foolish thought. He didn’t need a mate. He didn’t want a mate. What he needed was a lover, nothing more.

“I am now.” Gaze still locked, again he felt that incredible pull of attraction. “How about you?”

Instead of answering, she shook her head and pushed the car door open. “Don’t ever—and I mean
ever
—do that again.”

And then, her back ramrod straight, she strode off. Not in the direction of the trails that would lead back to her car, but simply up the road, as if she felt the need for a brisk walk to clear her head.

He waited for a moment, just in case she reconsidered and came back. But she didn’t, so he started his engine and turned around, driving in the opposite direction, back toward her parked SUV.

While he didn’t have a plan, he figured he’d wait for her there, so they could have that talk he’d wanted before the kiss.

* * *

Furious, Jade took off, not caring or even thinking about where she would go. Aroused, confused, but most of all angry, she walked as if someone was chasing her, her Guardian necklace warm against her skin.

Her inner wolf snarled, still wanting out. Maybe that was what she should do. Head up to the forest, past the trails, into the deep thicket where people never went, and change.

But what about her cousin? She stopped, even more agitated.

“Go after him,” Libby urged, startling Jade. How she’d found Jade and come up right behind her undetected, Jade had no idea.

Spinning around to face Libby, Jade swallowed hard. “I thought you were resting.” In the dappled sunlight, Libby’s amethyst eyes had a soft glow. The yoga pants and cream colored tunic she wore fit her well, giving her an elegant appearance without even trying. She looked serene and wise and achingly beautiful.

Jade loved her as much as she loved her own mother.

While she stared, trying to formulate a reply, Libby smiled gently. “You need his help to save your cousin, remember? He’s gone to wait by your parked car for when you return.”

“Stalker much?” Jade huffed. “These days I can’t even turn around without him showing up.”

“Oh, stop, child. You want him as much as he wants you,” Libby pointed out. “And don’t try to deny it.”

Jade swallowed back her instinctive retort. “Wanting someone isn’t possible for me now. You know that better than anyone.”

Because she was the Guardian. Libby’s Guardian, who couldn’t leave. Which should have gone without saying.

Shaking her head, Libby sighed. “You’re wrong, you know. The right man will be willing to stay.”

Jade deliberated for a moment before responding. “But in the meantime, I’d run the risk of a lot of heartache.”

Libby shook her head. “Sometimes, the pleasure is worth the pain.”

Finally, Jade laughed. “You sound like some mystical guru, dispensing sound bites of platitudes.”

Just like that, Libby’s smile vanished and Jade realized she’d hurt her.

“I’m sorry,” Jade said, giving Libby a quick hug. “This is all new and confusing. I didn’t mean anything by my careless choice of words.”

Leaning forward, she gave Libby a quick—and impulsive—kiss on her cheek. “And please, stay here. He’s gone looking for another glimpse of you jumping out of the water.”

The other woman froze. She turned her head away, but not before Jade saw the shine of tears in her amethyst eyes.

“I’m sorry.” Jade wrapped her in a hug. Still, Libby held herself rigid, as if she thought she might break.

“You’d better hurry.” Stepping away, Libby awkwardly patted her shoulder, avoiding direct eye contact. “Go find your young man.”

Though Rance Sleighter certainly wasn’t hers, Jade couldn’t suppress a quick thrill at the notion. Aware Libby often revealed veiled messages of what she saw, Jade briefly wondered what such a thing would be like, to truly belong to someone, like a mate, before pushing the notion away. She couldn’t afford to waste time speculating on impossibilities. Libby was right. Her cousin needed her help.

“I’ll see you later,” Jade said, taking to the trails and heading toward her car. She turned back and waved at Libby, all the while hoping her face wasn’t as red as it felt.

As she hiked down in the direction Rance had gone, she took deep breaths and willed her heartbeat to slow. Though she had to be on guard when around him, she also enjoyed his company.

Which should have frightened the hell out of her.

Libby was right. She found the bright red sports car parked next to hers at the end of the hiking trail. Another trail took off heading up, to more cliffs overlooking the lake. Since Rance’s car was empty, Jade could only assume he’d decided to hike up and check out the scenery. Familiar with the territory around the lake, she favored this particular trail, which afforded spectacular views of the clear blue water.

Due to several steep climbs, a sign warned it was not for the beginning hiker. Thinking of Rance’s old sneakers, she wondered if he had the right footwear, then shrugged off her concern. A seasoned photojournalist like him most likely would be prepared.

* * *

For the first time in his life, Rance had no idea what the hell he was doing. For a man with his drive and sense of purpose, this came as a shock. Originally, he’d come to fulfill a promise he’d made to a dying child, despite the fact that he knew she’d probably never live to see her wish fulfilled. He’d always chased down amazing photographs, loved the stories they told. Some were significant, others pure fluff, but as strange as the idea of a lake monster might seem to his colleagues, he considered this story one of his most important. Because of Eve, the five-year-old girl who wanted nothing more than to see a lake monster.

Again, the familiar pain punched him in the gut.

From the time she could walk, his stepdaughter Eve had been fascinated by the story of the Loch Ness monster. She’d insisted she’d one day meet her. When she’d fallen ill, Rance had hoped she hadn’t gotten the illness that had not only killed her mother, but decimated most of his kind. Her human half might be the only thing that could save her. For only the second time in his life—the first being when Violet had fallen ill—Rance had prayed.

Despite not being related to her by blood, Rance had visited with her during her hospital stays. He always made sure he had time to visit. Finally, Jim had tearfully revealed Eve had leukemia, though Rance knew the truth. Even though she was a halfling, she had the plague, the same one that had killed her mother.

Since Jim was human, Rance couldn’t tell him the truth. Still, he’d made sure to notify Pack specialists, and one had immediately converged on Houston to try and save the little girl.

Jim had been grateful and they talked frequently. Especially when Eve had taken a sudden turn for the worse. Rance had calmed Jim’s fears, and after hanging up the phone, he’d cursed and raged alone in his empty apartment, begging the universe to let him trade places with Eve. The one thing he hadn’t done was drink. He felt both angry and proud of this. He knew how close he was to unraveling. He’d worried what Eve’s death would do to him and hoped he wasn’t close to finding out.

Despite all the doctors’ attempts to help her, Eve’s illness had marched through her tiny body with all the fierceness of an approaching hurricane. Rance had dropped everything to be by her side, taking turns sleeping in the chair by her bed in the hospital room as Eve drifted in and out of consciousness.

And then one day Eve, bald and wan with blue-black circles under her brown eyes, had come to and asked him to make her a promise. She wanted him to find a lake monster, write a story and take pictures and bring them to her so she could see.

He could deny her nothing, even if it meant briefly leaving her side. So superjournalist Rance Sleighter had gone in search of the elusive lake monster, not even certain one truly existed.

He’d traveled first to Scotland. After multiple trips to Loch Ness in hopes of seeing Nessie with nothing to show for it, he’d even taken to changing late at night and diving down into the cold depths of the water.

While in Scotland, he’d run into an American from upstate New York who, after a few pints of ale in a local pub, regaled Rance with stories of the Forestwood Lake monster.

Since the clock kept ticking and Eve showed no signs of improvement, Rance decided what the hell and flew to New York.

His unexpected sight of the creature had brought hope to his heart for the first time in forever. Hope was something he’d never thought he’d feel again.

Despite understanding all too well what Jade and her family—heck, the entire town—wanted, his promise to Eve took precedence over anything and everyone else.

Even Jade.

A sound behind him made him turn. Speak of the devil. He watched silently as Jade came into view, her curvy hips swinging as she hiked up the path toward him. His fingers itched to pull out his Nikon and capture a few images of her, but he resisted the urge and watched her with only his eyes.

Gorgeous. He couldn’t help but marvel at her sensual beauty, the tightness in his chest mimicking the way he’d felt the first time he’d seen the lake creature rise from the water.

“Hey,” she said when she reached him, her greeting brusque. “It turns out I need your help.”

He hid a quick flare of interest. Finally, maybe she would give him a bargaining tool. “Help with what?”

She swallowed. “My cousin is missing. I need you to go with me to bring her back.”

“Back from where?”

Instead of immediately answering, she looked away, apparently trying to figure out how to frame her answer. As she shifted her weight from foot to foot, he realized she truly was uncomfortable.

“Is this some kind of a trick?” he asked, suddenly suspicious.

Her gaze flashed to his, startled. “No. It’s just...awkward. I don’t really know where to begin.”

“The beginning.” And then, when she still hesitated, he smiled. “Try me. I’m a journalist. We’re resilient.”

This earned a tiny smile. “Okay.” She took a deep breath. “How familiar are you with the Fae?”

Whatever he’d been expecting, it hadn’t been this. “Faeries? I can’t say I’ve ever met any.”

She nodded, lifting her chin and continuing. “If you agree to help me, you will. I need to travel into their realm and rescue my cousin.”

His first impulse—to mock even the idea of such a thing—he immediately squashed. After all, he was a shape-shifting Drakkor talking to another shape-shifter, type unknown, though most likely wolf. He’d met vampires and even one being who’d claimed to be an angel. Just because he personally had never seen a faerie didn’t mean they didn’t exist.

“How do you know your cousin is there?” he asked.

“Libby told me.”

“What?” Staring at her, he let her see he was even more incredulous. “You speak to the lake beast?”

“Of course. She has certain...abilities. One of them is the gift of being able to find anything or anyone who has gone missing.”

“I see.” But he didn’t. The matter-of-fact way she answered told him she clearly believed every word she uttered. She didn’t seem to think she’d just asked him to take a giant leap of faith.

She watched him closely while he considered, her marvelous eyes narrowed.

When he still didn’t respond, she sighed. “Never mind. I’ll find someone else to help me. I suppose any man will work.”

He took care not to reveal his instant visceral reaction to the thought of her with another man. “I’ll be happy to help, but you’ve got to do something for me in return. I want you to take me to meet Libby.”

He had to give her credit. She received his request stone-faced, with only the slight hitch in her breath as her reaction. He didn’t elaborate, aware this had to be her choice, though he couldn’t keep his heart rate from speeding up at the thought he might be this close to his goal. He could only imagine Eve’s reaction. Since time definitely wasn’t on her side, the sooner he got what he needed, the better.