Jasper (31 page)

If
Jasper wasn’t getting ready to go into battle, Trevor would have dropped to his
knees then and there. Seeing his lover wearing the plaid of the O’Donnell was
the sexiest fucking thing he’d ever seen in his life. Jasper was already sexy,
but the kilt with his claymore strapped to his side pushed Trevor’s desire to
an almost unbearable limit. He had to get away from Jasper and let him
concentrate without sensing what Trevor was feeling. He put all his love into
one last kiss and left the bedroom.

Downstairs,
the mood was eerie. Trevor had been around death, but never had he felt such a
charge in the atmosphere. It must have something to do with all the Gargoyle
testosterone. Travis was looking out the back door, so Trevor went and stood
beside his brother. Several of the Clan were stationed around Jasper’s
property. He was certain more were in the woods, but he just couldn’t see them.
Travis asked, “How are you holding up?”

“Actually,
I’m good. When Dante followed me into Rafael’s garden, he shared one of
Connor’s visions with me. He wouldn’t give me all the details, but he said the
outcome is favorable to our side.”

“You
believe in a six year-old’s psychic ability?” Travis asked skeptically.

“I
do. Hang on.” Trevor went into one of the spare bedrooms and found the drawing
Connor had made of them and Molly. When this was over, he was going to have it
framed for Travis. He returned to the back door and handed it to his brother.
“Take a look at this. Connor drew this and gave it to me for Christmas.” Travis’s
eyes widened when he studied the detail. “Connor had never seen you or Molly.
Not even a picture. So yes, I believe in his abilities.”

“How
can he draw what he’s never seen?” Travis asked, rolling the picture up and
handing it back.

“He’s
special. He drew a picture of him and Dante together before he met him. When
Connor was kidnapped, he would draw pictures of where he was being held and
show them to Dante in his mind. A man he’d never met before in his life. I
can’t explain it other than to say he’s gifted.”

Trevor
felt the air in the room change. It was even more charged than before. Jasper.
He turned as his love strode purposefully down the stairs. Their eyes met, and
Jasper closed the distance between them. In a voice so deeply Irish, Jasper
said, “Trevor McKenzie, you are my love, my life. I vow to you upon the
O’Donnell’s plaid and his name that I will win this fight.” Jasper fisted his
heart and bowed his head to his mate before heading out the back door.

“Wow,”
Travis uttered.

Trevor
was speechless. He had seen the Goyles honor the other mates with the sacred
vow, but never had he seen one honor their own mate. He assumed it was a given,
but seeing Jasper bow to him stirred something so primal that he was ready to
don his own kilt and head into battle alongside his man. A hand on his shoulder
stirred him from his crazy thought. The King of the Stone Society was standing
next to Trevor. No longer was Rafael the handsome architect. He was dressed
like the other Gargoyles, wearing a tight black t-shirt and black fatigues
tucked into a pair of leather boots. He remembered the night Jasper and Dante
had made a late night visit to the morgue dressed exactly the way Rafael was
now, less all the blood splatter. Rafael’s long hair was pulled back into a leather
thong. He looked as lethal as the rest of the Clan.

Rafael
told Trevor, “It’s been over two hundred years since I had to fight another
Gargoyle, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was fighting to avenge my
father who’d just been slain. I was fighting for my Clan. Jasper is fighting
for you, Trevor. There is no stronger motivation for a Gargoyle than the need
to protect one’s mate. In winning this fight, he is protecting you. If
something were to happen to Jasper, he would be leaving you defenseless. It’s
one of the reasons his shifter was so angry when he woke up from being
poisoned. It knew you were out here without it to protect you. The Stone
Society would always have your back, because you are family, but it isn’t the
same as having your mate watching over you. Theron might be larger than Jasper,
but he doesn’t have the same motivation Jasper does. He
will
win this
for you. Oh, and one more thing… he misses the purple streak in your hair.”  

Trevor
didn’t speak. Instead he inclined his head to the King. He appreciated Rafael’s
belief in Jasper. Instead of joining the others, Rafael stood sentry at the
door, legs spread, hands behind his back. It made sense the King would remain
indoors away from the threat of an enemy. Theron was a huge Gargoyle. Frey was
the only one Trevor had seen who matched his size. Still, he had every faith in
Jasper that he would take down his enemy.

Jasper
stood in the middle of the open area that led to the woods. He didn’t pull his
claymore from its sheath. He stood stone still, eyes closed as if he were
meditating. Trevor closed his own eyes, and a vision of the two of them side by
side looking out over a calm sea as the Aurora Borealis flashed its heavenly
light show above them invaded his mind. Jasper said next October was when they
would get married. Trevor couldn’t wait. He opened his eyes when he felt
Jasper’s presence in his soul. He looked outside to where his mate was staring
intently at him. He nodded slightly, letting Jasper know he felt it, too.

Jasper
was more than ready to get the fight over with. They had assumed Theron would
come straight to Jasper’s home as soon as he arrived in New Atlanta, but he was
still a no-show. A few hours had passed, and the day was giving way to
twilight. Jasper didn’t mind fighting at night; he just wanted this whole
ordeal over with. He allowed himself a moment to meditate, to bring to mind the
future with Trevor, their wedding in Ireland. He reached out to Trevor with his
mind, hoping his mate would feel his emotions. When Trevor nodded, Jasper knew
he’d been successful.

Someone’s
cell phone rang, and Jasper knew in his heart it was Nik or Julian letting them
know Theron had been spotted. Dante stepped into the area where Jasper was
waiting. “That was Nik. Theron’s SUV is headed this way. He’s about ten minutes
out.” Jasper nodded, and Dante returned to his spot in the woods. The Clan had
agreed to stay hidden, not because Theron wouldn’t know they were there, but to
give Jasper as much room as he needed to fight his enemy.

A
vehicle approaching the area sounded in the distance. The engine shut off and a
door slammed. Jasper was ready for Theron when he flew over the trees and
landed in front of him, wearing only a pair of worn blue jeans. Jasper’s
adrenaline surged at the sight of his old lover. Memories of his torment from
long ago along with the bastard injecting him with poison had his shifter
roaring for release. “Phelam, I always did love you in a kilt. You surprise me
yet again. How is it you’re alive?”

“My
mate. His love saved me from your deranged plan. You should have faced me like
any respectable Gargoyle would have instead of trying to poison me.”

“Your
young lover cannot be your mate. He is human.” Theron looked around and froze
when his eyes found both Trevor and Travis standing side by side on the deck.

“You
failed there as well,” Jasper said, referring to Travis.

“Where
is Kallisto?” Theron asked, his surprise quickly turning to anger.

“Somewhere
safe, but you needn’t worry about her.” Jasper pulled his claymore from the
sheath and swung it a couple of times. “Are you ready to die?”

“If
you think you can best me, Lover, bring it on.” Theron retracted his wings, drew
his own sword, and lunged at Jasper. Instinct took over, and Jasper easily
knocked the blade away.

Jasper
called forth his shifter and allowed its strength and rage to take over his
body. He didn’t phase, knowing he would be faster with his wings tucked away.
Jasper blocked out everything around him except for the Goyle in front of him.

Theron
stepped foot over foot, circling, assessing. Jasper mimicked Theron, waiting
for the perfect opening. In a battle, it was kill or be killed. The only
difference here was there were only two combatants. Jasper didn’t have to worry
about someone coming at him from behind. He could focus his concentration
solely on the Goyle in front of him. He was tired of waiting for Theron to make
another strike, so Jasper swung his sword in front of him. It was met with Theron’s,
and the fight was on.

He
was good, Jasper would give him that. But he wasn’t nearly as good as Urijah.
Jasper went on the offensive, driving the larger Goyle back. With both of them
being shifters, he wouldn’t be able to wear his opponent out. Their stamina
would allow them to last all night. Jasper would have to be patient and study
Theron’s moves, looking for weaknesses.

The
twilight had faded into the night, and the full moon was now shining down
brightly. He had fought plenty of battles having only the moon lighting his
way. Jasper continued his assault with Theron parrying the strikes. After what
seemed like an hour, Theron surprised Jasper by rushing him, their swords
caught between their bodies. Jasper was being pushed back, and he needed to
regain control. Faster than Theron realized, Jasper twirled away clockwise,
bringing his sword around to meet Theron’s back. The tip of the blade sliced
into Theron’s skin. The wound immediately began to heal, but the damage had
been done. The special coating of the blade would seep into Theron’s blood.

When
the blade sliced through his skin, Theron roared and brought his sword around
swiftly, catching Jasper on the chest. Jasper didn’t flinch. If Theron’s blade
was also coated, Jasper needed to end this as soon as possible. Once again,
they were meeting each other strike for strike. He had no idea how much time
had passed. The moon was still high overhead, so it must not have been as long
as it felt like.

“Is
that the best you have, Phelam? I remember the last time you tried to kill me.
I should have ended you then, Lover. But I always thought you’d come back to me
for more of what only I could give you.” Theron was circling Jasper again,
taunting with his words. “I see from the picture of Kallisto you are still into
Kinbaku. Tell me, Phelam, who ties you up now? Who ravages your body? Makes you
feel alive?”

Jasper
didn’t feel any effects from the cut to his chest, but Theron’s movements were
slowing down, if minimally. “My mate doesn’t need to tie me up. I freely offer
myself to him.” Anger flashed in Theron’s eyes as he swung for Jasper’s throat.
Jasper was able to roll out of the way, coming up behind the other Goyle. He
swung his claymore, slicing through Theron’s jeans at the back of his knees.
There was enough force in the blow to knock Theron to the ground. Before he
could stand, Jasper swung his sword at Theron’s neck, but not close enough to
make the fatal blow. He sliced open the jugular before coming around to face
his enemy.

When
Theron touched his empty hand to his neck, it came away soaked with blood.
Gargoyles couldn’t die from blood loss, but he was at a great disadvantage on
his knees. Jasper didn’t give Theron time to recover. He plunged his sword into
Theron’s chest and twisted. “That is for Travis,” he growled. He pulled the
sword from Theron’s body and said, “This is for my mate.” Holding his sword in
both hands, Jasper swung it at Theron’s neck like a boy of summer swinging for
the fences.

Right
before it made contact, Theron said, “Phelam…”

Jasper
was vaguely aware of his Clan surrounding them. He needed to get away and calm
his beast. There were no cheers of victory. It was serious business to take a
life, especially one of a Goyle from an opposing clan. He knew Trevor had been
watching, and even though Trevor dealt with death on a daily basis, Jasper
wished his mate hadn’t seen him take Theron’s head. He handed his sword off to
Uri who was now standing next to him. Trevor called his name, but he needed to
get his beast under control before he talked to him. Jasper unfurled his wings
and took to the sky.

He
wouldn’t go far, just far enough to get away from the body of his former lover
and the serious eyes of his new lover. Jasper flew to Frey’s, retracting his
wings as he dove into the lake. He wanted to wash the blood off of his body. He
didn’t want to touch Trevor with bloody hands, especially the tainted blood of
Theron. Jasper swam underwater from one end of the lake to the other. He
stopped in the shallow waters and wiped his arms, face, and chest the best he
could. When he felt as clean as he would get without a shower, he launched
himself into the air and headed back home to face his mate.