Jacob's Ladder (String of Fate) (4 page)

“I’ll hand the phone to Dorian,” Ben replied.

A moment later Dorian’s voice came over the speaker. Ria hadn’t realized until that moment that she’d been holding her breath.

“Who’s there?” Dorian asked, his habitual suspicion making Ria smile, though he couldn’t see her.

“It’s me Dor. How are you guys?” Ria replied in a voice that was, surprisingly, a little choked up.

“We’re fine. Are you safe?” Dorian always put her safety first. It was just one of the reasons he was one of her elite Royal Guards.

“Safer than you at the moment. I’m in good hands, Dor. Don’t worry about me. Now, please, give me details. What happened after I was swept away from the action?”

“Milady, you scared the shi—heck—out of us, if you’ll pardon my saying so. One minute you were in the center of our formation, the next you were gone and all I saw was your foot disappearing through the window up top. How the heck did you get up there?”

“I had a little help,” she answered, though she was more interested in what had happened to her team after she’d left. “A friend came to my—our—rescue. I don’t think any of us would have made it out otherwise.”

“I hate to say it, but you’re right. The moment the attackers realized you were gone, they broke off. We did our best to delay them so you could get away, though next time, I really wish you’d tell us if you plan to take a scenic tour of the roof.”

Ria laughed. “I promise, Dor. If there’s time. Though this wasn’t planned. At least not on my part. We’re just lucky the cavalry arrived.”

“Luck had little to do with it,” Edvard broke into the conversation. “The man who rescued you is a seer. He knew where he had to be and he made it happen.” Edvard shifted around in his seat, as if uncomfortable with something, but he didn’t let it stop him from continuing to speak. “Dorian, this is Edvard,” he addressed the open phone line. “Are you still dropping your left when you move in to strike?”

“Ed?” Dorian’s voice held a hint of both disbelief and pleased surprise. “Oh, thank the Goddess she’s with you. You’ll keep her safe.”

“Yes, I will,” Edvard agreed, holding Ria’s gaze with a serious light in his blue eyes. “I’ve pledged to aid her in whatever way I can, and I’ve got the personnel to back that promise up. I don’t want you to worry.”

“Understood, sir. I know we’ll all feel better knowing that she’s in such good hands,” the usually taciturn Dorian replied. It was obvious to Ria that her Guard had a history with Edvard. From the comments going back and forth, she figured Edvard had had some hand in Dorian’s combat training.

“Now what about the rest of the team?” Ria asked, bringing the conversation back around to what she really wanted to know.

“Bronson went down hard. He’s got injuries to both legs, broken ribs, a punctured lung, and possible concussion. The healer’s with him now, but she says he’ll survive. He’s taking the treatment well and is already out of danger, though he’ll be laid up for a while, recovering.”

“Praise the Lady,” Ria breathed, both appalled at the extent of the young man’s injuries and glad that he was being cared for and would pull through. “What about the others?”

“Just minor injuries. We’re all fine. When can we rejoin you?” Dorian sounded eager to get back to his job.

“Um…” Ria looked around at Jake and Edvard, not sure what to say.

“Dorian, is it?” Jake asked rhetorically, breaking into the conversation. “My name is Jake. Ben is a friend of mine,” he explained. “Right now, we’re good. We have some planning to do and arrangements to make. When we get back to a place where you can meet up with us, we’ll call you in. Keep your team ready and alert the others of your kind. When the time comes, we’ll need your support and we’ll probably need it fast.”

“Milady?” Dorian asked, putting all his unwillingness to listen to anyone but the Nyx into his tone.

“He’s been right about everything so far, Dor. I think we’d better listen to him on this one.” She knew that was equivalent to giving Jake an unmitigated endorsement. Dorian would understand that as well.

“Are you the seer, Jake?” Dorian asked, still sounding a bit skeptical.

Jake chuckled. “Yeah, though I usually don’t go around advertising my abilities.”

“What Clan are you?” Dorian demanded, warming a bit.

“No Clan. No Tribe. No Pack. I’m human,” Jake admitted.

“Mage?” All of Dorian’s outrage came through in that single word.

“Not quite. Just a seer. No other magic. I don’t hang around with magic users. They make me itch. Mostly, I keep to myself, though I have connections to many different groups of shifters,” Jake explained.

“I can vouch for him,” Edvard said unexpectedly. “My nephew counts him as a dear friend and trusted ally.”

That was news to Ria, though she supposed it shouldn’t have been. Jake had managed to get Sam to loan him his yacht and crew after all. Sam Kinkaid wasn’t a pushover by any means. If he trusted Jake enough to loan out his yacht, his Uncle Ed, a platoon of selkies and who knew how many other shifters, then that really
meant
something.

“And his sister is Cade’s mate,” Ria put in, knowing her Guard knew and respected Cade’s human mate. She had more than proved her worth—and her loyalties.

Everyone in her Guard knew Cade. He had been one of their most respected members until recently. He had retired from active duty when he found his mate.

Dorian kept quiet for a moment, foregoing the rest of his questions. Ria was glad. They had more important things to discuss.

They ended the call a short time later and resumed their dinner at a more leisurely pace. Ria’s initial hunger had been addressed and she was able to enjoy her dessert as the men talked about the weather forecast for the next few days. Being on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the weather forecast was important to watch, and sure enough, a tropical depression was beginning to churn off the coast of Africa. It could pose a problem for the yacht in the next few days.

Ria started to feel tired. She’d had a long day, after all. Edvard noticed and the men ended their discussion. The big selkie gave her a hug before leaving her to Jake’s guidance. It appeared Jake already knew his way around the ship—at least to the guest rooms—and was to be entrusted to escort her to the suite set aside for her use.

Chapter Three

Jake walked Ria to her stateroom, seeing her to her door. He was very protective of her—like one of her Guards—but with a somewhat more intimate twist that was hard to define.  But it was there, in his every gesture, in his words, even in his attitude toward her. He seemed to want to keep her safe for reasons known only to himself.

With her Guard, Ria knew why they risked their lives to keep her safe. She was the Nyx and there were generations of honor and duty standing between her position and the people who were sworn to keep the Nyx safe. They would have done the same for any Nyx. Not just her. Though she was sure most of them were very fond of her as a person, and she counted several of them as close friends. Some, like her cousin Cade, were even related to her, but none of them were there purely for her—just her, apart from her position. They were there for the Nyx, not Ria alone, but that was okay. Ria had become the Nyx, and the two were inseparable at this point. She just wished sometimes…that it could be different.

She wasn’t sure where Jake stood on the matter, but she sensed his motivations for protecting her were much more complex. The vibes she was getting off him were more…personal, somehow. As if he would be there, helping her, regardless of whether or not she was the queen of her species. As if he actually cared about her as a person, irrespective of her function in shifter society and the sacred duty that haunted her.

“You’ll be safe here for the night,” Jake was saying as they drew closer to her door. “I doubt anyone or anything could get on this vessel without twenty shifters coming down hard on them, and the magical protections surrounding this yacht are the finest a selkie can spin, which is to say, very fine indeed.” He smiled as they stopped in front of her door.

Jake didn’t hesitate, but opened the door and walked in ahead of her—just as one of her Guard would have done—checking behind each possible place of concealment, including the attached bathroom. He nodded to her once he had checked every last inch of the place and she walked farther into the cabin, with what she knew was a bemused expression on her face.

She took the scrunchie out of her hair and tossed it on a small coffee table set between a sofa and a comfortable-looking chair. The room was big for a ship and had a sitting area in addition to the luxurious-looking bed. She ran her hands through her hair as she went over to the small, mirrored bar and opened a can of soda, pouring it into a glass. As an afterthought, she splashed a bit of rum into the glass along with some ice and took a sip as she turned around. She leaned against the bar, looking at Jake. He hadn’t moved.

“Do you want a nightcap?” she asked in a quiet voice, slowly sipping her spiked soda.

“I’d better not.” But he didn’t move. His eyes followed her hand as she raised the glass to her lips and sipped at the cool, bubbly liquid.

She took her time, watching him just as closely. There was something in his eyes when he looked at her…something almost feral. Which was an odd thought, considering he wasn’t a shifter.

“Why are you here, Jake?” Her tone was both soft and challenging.

He surprised her by stepping closer, coming very near her personal space. She didn’t mind. There was something very soothing about his presence and he didn’t frighten her. On the contrary, he intrigued her beyond all expectations. Who knew a human could be so compelling?

“I’m here for you, milady.” His gaze held hers and she knew there was more to his words than their simple meaning.

She put her glass down on the tabletop behind her, the crystal clinking against the marble top of the bar. Her gaze never left his and something started to glow down deep inside her. A spark of attraction that had never quite been extinguished since the moment they had danced at that wedding all those months ago.

“There’s more to it than that,” she challenged. “You’re not like the members of my Guard. I can’t quite figure you out. What motivates you? Why do you look at me so differently than everyone else? You don’t seem intimidated by my position in the least, which is something I’m not used to. Every shifter fears my power. Even humans shy away from me. And yet, here you are.”

He moved right into her personal space then, standing directly in front of her, his hips aligned with hers, his warm body only inches from her. She had to tilt her head to meet his gaze and it felt good. Right.

“Here I am,” he agreed. “I’m here for
you
, Ria.” He repeated his earlier statement, emphasizing the words differently this time, making her breath catch. His eyes swirled with potent energy—a raw power that almost mesmerized her as his head dipped and his lips touched hers.

She was lost the moment he kissed her. Her eyes closed and she gave in to the sensation of his kiss, allowing herself to enjoy the feel of his firm mouth claiming her lips, her mouth, her tongue. His taste was welcome…almost familiar. He tasted like home. Like all that was good and right in the world. And then he put his arms around her and pulled her body into alignment with his.

She trembled as she felt his hard muscles shifting against her body, his warmth, his human heat. He smelled divine and felt even better to her starved senses. It had been so long since she had been this close to a man. Any man. And she had never been so close to a human—even a human with magic of his own.

Jake’s magic was of a different flavor than what she was used to. It wasn’t aggressive. It wasn’t scary in any way. It was comforting and accepting. Ancient and wise. Something about it called to her and made her feel at home with him.

This close, she could feel the tingle of his magic against her body. She had felt it before, when they had danced at the wedding, but it hadn’t been nearly this potent. And with him kissing her, the magic shivered inside her as well. It felt good. Pure and hot and as male as she was female. Complimentary to her own rare form of magic and perfectly aligned. She felt her chest vibrate with sensation—with sound. Sweet Mother of All! She was purring in human form.

Something clicked inside her and she broke the kiss, staring up into his eyes.

Dear Goddess. She had just found her mate.

“Now do you understand?” Jake’s gaze challenged her and she realized that somehow…he had known. Maybe he really was a seer.

“You knew?”

“Honey, did you doubt my abilities?” He read the truth in her eyes. “You did.” He seemed defeated with those two little words. He sighed as he rested his forehead against hers. He just held her for a few moments, saying nothing, until finally he let her go and moved away.

He didn’t go far. Just a foot to the side, where he could reach the bottle of hundred-year-old Scotch that stood on the bar. He poured himself a few fingers and swigged it back, savoring for a moment, before turning to face her again.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve had time to get used to the idea. You’ve only just discovered it. I didn’t mean to rush you or imply that I was disappointed. I know it’s got to take some getting used to for a shifter—especially a monarch—to find their destiny with a mere human.”

“You’re not a
mere
anything,” she objected. “Your magic tingles against mine. You’re powerful in your own right and if that little demonstration was anything to go by, magically, we seem pretty evenly matched. You might even have a bit more than I do, which I find…intriguing.”

He moved closer once again, reaching out to wrap his hands around her waist and pull her closer. She liked the little show of dominance. Her inner cat especially appreciated the male animal that dared touch her so familiarly. Nobody had
ever
dared such a bold thing without serious danger of getting their eyes scratched out, but the cat liked this man. Even if he was only human. There was something about his magic that stroked the cat’s fur in just the right way.

And wasn’t that surprising?

Her cat had never liked being touched by males. It had put up with a few in the past, but it had never welcomed one the way it welcomed Jake. It
liked
him.

No, it was way more than mere liking. It loved the way he made the cat purr.

“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, Ria,” he said in a low, seductive tone that shivered through her. “I’ve been seeing you in my visions for years now.”

“Years, huh?” she was both impressed and breathless. She had never expected to find her mate in such a way, but she knew shifters often knew the moment they met their perfect match. “I knew there was something different about you at the wedding, but we didn’t get much time alone. I’ve thought about you a lot since then, though. A lot more than I should have been thinking about a human I’d met only once. I probably should have realized you were something special.”

She leaned in, placing her ear over his heart, allowing herself to soak in the feel of his strength, and the warm scent of his embrace. He felt so good. And his heart beat a steady, reassuring rhythm against her ear.

“You thought about me?” She heard the uncertainty in his voice and was warmed by it. He might be a seer, but he didn’t know everything, it seemed. She smiled.

“Yeah, I did. Did you think about me?” Her voice dropped low, the cat’s purr breaking through. It had never done that before, but she recognized the sign for what it was. The cat wanted its mate. For that matter, so did Ria. Only, her human half was feeling a bit shy.

He was human. What if he didn’t understand what mating meant among her kind? Sure his sister was mated to her cousin, but how much had Ellie told him about shifter mating? Did Jake understand what it meant to her? Was he taking this as seriously as she was?

So many questions jumbled through her mind, but it all came back to one thing. Jake was her mate and she was in his arms. Where she belonged. The cat understood it on the most basic level and her human heart, though scared, felt the same. She prayed to the Goddess that he would realize the import of what they were to each other in time, if he didn’t understand it already.

“I’ve dreamed of you waking and sleeping, Ria.”

Now that sounded promising. She began to take heart. Maybe he did understand, after all.

“You’re my mate, Jake,” she whispered. “Do you understand what that means?”

He drew back, lifting away so he could meet her gaze once more. “Not completely, but I promise to spend the rest of my life trying to figure it out.” He smiled and she felt a lightness fill her heart.

“The rest of your life, huh?” She reached up, cupping his cheeks, then moving her hands around to draw his head down toward hers. “I really like the sound of that,” she whispered against his lips. “Mating is forever, Jake. Now that I have you, I’ll never let you go.”

“I’ll hold you to that, milady,” he replied before taking her lips with his again.

His kiss this time was spiced with the bite of the Scotch he had drunk. She liked it on him, though she didn’t generally enjoy the flavor of hard liquor. Mixed with Jake, though, it tasted divine. Of course, that could just be Jake.

She wanted to get closer. She wanted…to get naked with him and spend the rest of the night learning all about how her mate made love. Was it too soon?

Among shifters, it wouldn’t be. It was natural for mates to come together as soon as they recognized each other and stay together for a lifetime thereafter. There was no doubt when two shifters mated. At least, not in the normal course of things.

But Jake was human. Magical, to be sure, but still human. That skewed the equation.

Didn’t it?

Jake didn’t seem to care. He took the kiss deeper, wrapping his arms around her and moving toward the bed on the far side of the room. She didn’t object. In fact, she helped as best she could while under the drugging influence of his kiss. He touched her skin, revealing it with hasty actions, tugging on her clothes and pulling on zippers and buttons that blocked his path.

She broke away briefly to do the same for him, but she didn’t get very far. Before she knew it, she was naked and he was only partly so. His chest was heavily muscled and full of interesting contours she wanted to explore with her fingers…and her tongue. But he was driving her wild and she couldn’t really concentrate when he broke the kiss and lowered his mouth to her neck, then lower.

When his lips closed over the tight point of her breast, she nearly screeched in satisfaction. She held onto his head, running her fingers through his silky hair in approval. He seemed to know just how to touch her, using the perfect amount of pressure wherever their skin met.

He turned to lower her to the bed and she didn’t want to let him go. Not even for a moment, but she also wanted his pants gone. If they weren’t gone soon, the cat might come out and shred the fabric, but Ria tried to calm her animal instincts. She didn’t want to scare him off. Not when things were just about to get really interesting.

She focused instead on finding the button and zipper of his pants, sliding it down while he was bent over her body, his strong arms caging her torso as his lips tasted hers again. She strained to push his pants down over his hip, glad when she could feel skin under her fingertips.

She wanted more.

Purring almost non-stop, she turned the tables on her mate, rolling them both so that she was on top. Jake didn’t resist. In fact, he smiled, his eyes flashing hot when she took him by surprise. He liked that she let her inner sex kitten out to play. Until him, she didn’t know she even had one.