ANGEL'S KISS (A Dark Angel's Novel) (40 page)

“Ah! The necklace and the stone.” I hadn’t noticed before, but the rope around her neck held a large stone. The image of Mrs. Janeck’s torso laid out with the lariat-style necklace in the shape of a bow shot into my mind. At the time I’d assumed the significance lay in the way the body had been positioned and that the stone was missing. But I hadn’t given it much thought since that day.

“Yes, the necklace and the stone. Did you kill the Janecks for the stone?” I just assumed he’d killed them. It just seemed logical. He seemed to know so much about Cooper, the lackey who’d attacked me at the request of the Janecks and Alan.

“No, I didn’t make it in time. I found them just as you saw them later that day. However, I was able to acquire this later.” He held out a long woven gold lariat-style chain with rubies woven into the tassels.

I immediately recognized it. He held it over his forearm as if he were a waiter showing me a bottle of wine. Before I could help myself, I reached out and touched it tenderly. It sparkled brightly, and I don’t think it was the sun.

Whoa! I pulled my hand back as little tingles warmed my hand.

“It recognizes you just as Annot did.” He shook his head. “I don’t understand how your Dark Angel heritage plays into this. But I know you are my Qadesh. There is no doubt.”

“Hey, Lexie. Having any trouble?” Ben came running up the beach.

“Ben…um, no, I’m okay.
Ellasar was just telling me stories.” I turned my attention back to Ellasar. “Thanks for the fairy tales.” I tried to give him back the paper, but he refused. And without a word he draped the heavy gold rope around my neck. As he stood he whispered in my ear.

“Beware! Whoever possesses the stone will come for you. Only you can use it.” He walked toward the surf. “Don’t lose my gifts. They will help you see the truth. And I’ll see you in your dreams, my Qadesh.”

Zeke barked. His muzzle was gone, and he was shaking slobber all over me. By the time I turned back to watch Ellasar walk away, he was gone.

“I agree, Zeke.”

“Where did he go?” Ben had missed Ellasar’s disappearing act, too. He shook his head and looked down at me. “So, what’s with the gifts? You want me to get them out of here?”

He reached for the necklace, and it hissed at him, hoisting itself up on one end like a cobra. Ben jumped back, and Zeke growled at the gold chain. But the necklace didn’t pay any attention to Zeke, and as Ben stepped away, it rested back against my skin.

‘Nah, I think I’m going to need them, and…” The dagger pulsed on my back, and the necklace nestled warmly against my skin. I knew.

“They’re mine. I might as well stop trying to pretend that none of this is real.”

“Ooookay?” He was confused, but to his credit, he didn’t question me.

“Ben, will you call Ottie? He’s probably going crazy. I had to order him not to come.”

Ben shook his head, but he took out his phone and dialed as I rolled up the old scroll. A larger version of the stone and beautiful old script on the back of the paper caught my eye. I turned it over to look. It was, of course, in a language that I would never be able to translate. But underneath in neat, modern handwriting, someone—I assumed Ellasar—had written: The Eye of Virtue.

“Virtue?” I yelled to no one and everyo
ne. “I hope you’re not talking about female virtue, because that ship has sailed.”

His laughter filled the morning air and caressed my skin.

“You are the key, my Qadesh.”

I was raised on a small farm in the
Midwest
, at a time when there we
re only 3 television stations.
Oh the horror!

Growing up miles away from any other families gave me the opportunity to hone my imagination and plenty of
time to read.

After earning a bachelor degree
in Criminology,
I married my college sweetheart and traded farm country for the sugar white beaches of the Florid
a Panhandle.

Now
I spend my time writing and taking care of my three children, two dogs, one guinea pig and a terrific husband.

Lynne Stevie