rogue shifter 05 - caught between (28 page)

When they raised their swords I tried to wake myself up, terrified that I'd see my son die in front of me, but I remained asleep as the scene played out. Their swords clashed together over and over, the speed of their movements and the sheen of their magic becoming a colorful blur, perhaps beautiful under different conditions.

Isaiah drove Charlie backwards for a dozen yards, then Charlie shifted with surprising agility, gaining a slight advantage and forcing Isaiah in reverse. Magical energy swirled around the two of them, encasing each one in a bright bubble that blazed and charged their weapons with magical energy as the instruments passed through each one. As they fought, Isaiah shouted at my son in a guttural language which Charlie seemed to understand, sometimes answering in what sounded like Fae.

I grew more and more confused as I watched. Something was odd about this fight, and then it hit me. This was not a battle at all. Isaiah was training Charlie. But how had this happened? I looked once more at my dream-self standing by the enormous tree and suddenly everything was clear.

I woke up because Charlie was fussing loudly next door in the nursery.

"He needs his lady mother." Sinlae fluttered nearby.

"I think you're right. More than you know." I walked across the hall and picked him up, holding him against me to comfort us both. Maybe he'd sensed how the dream had affected me. I sung to him soothingly and he quieted, then I laid him in my lap and peeled away the blanket, turning him so I could see behind his tiny ear.

The perfect little ellipse-shaped birthmark stood out against his very pale skin. I flipped him over again and we stared at each other once more, me with overwhelming love and him with what I liked to perceive as intelligent curiosity.

Sinlae must have noticed my determined expression, because she spoke to me. "You will do what is right for your family. A mother should trust her instincts, because most often the Balance is served in this way."

"Will this little guy understand? Will Garrett?" I had no idea what the specifics would be, but I knew that I'd have to spend some time away from them.

"You love your two males above all others. They will understand."

I brushed my hand over Charlie's smooth cheek and he reached up with his tiny hand, grabbing my pinkie and holding on tightly, comforting me in his sweet way. "The war is imminent? There's no hope?"

"I have
seen
war between your grandmother and the Queen of Faerie and all races are brought into the fighting, but change is always possible."

"Thank you, Sinlae. Please stay with him when I finish feeding him and tell the others to keep away while I work."

"Of course."

She left to give me some privacy. I changed Charlie's diaper and nursed him back to sleep in the beautiful rocking chair that Aaron had made for him with his own hands. My son had already gained the weight he'd missed by arriving early, and more besides, his body longer as well. His hair was growing in, light blonde and silky soft and his tiny mouth turned into a sweet little pout that always made me smile. I wondered if he'd still be pouting when he hit his terrible teens. I could barely believe that I was able to cope with an infant. How would I ever handle a young teenaged warrior?

After laying my sweet son gently in his crib, I crept quietly into our bedroom where Garrett slept his frozen, dreamless sleep. Kissing his cheeks and his soft cool lips, I worried again about how he would react when he woke up this afternoon and I told him what I'd done. It wouldn't be pretty, but I'd made him angry before and somehow we'd gotten through it. By the time he found out, it would all be done and unchangeable, so I hoped his practical nature would win out over his more passionate side.

Sinlae reported that her males were out of the way, and that Aislin was now sleeping, with the help of a little demi-fey magic. I hoped that Liam wouldn't be too angry with her.

In the kitchen I made a phone call, apologizing over and over for the early hour. I wrote down his instructions and made him promise not to call Garrett. Knowing my mate, as soon as he found out about what I'd done, Angel would be getting an irate call of his own.

Then I summoned Marie. I told her what I was planning and what I needed her to do. She hesitated only a moment and then agreed, even though what I'd asked would put her in a certain amount of danger.

I gathered supplies from drawers and cupboards then left through the sliding glass doors, stopping in the grassy field behind our house. There I placed the candles and laid out a circle using a mixture of salt, marigold pollen and arrowroot. I cut my palm and then added fifteen drops of my blood as I walked the circle, careful not to tread directly on it. Taking a very deep breath, I trembled slightly, thinking about the explosive rage I'd probably have to face because of my actions. This was another one of those no-going-back-moments, but I was determined, and like Sinlae, I had
Seen
.

The sky was lightening as dawn approached, and I sensed the metallic odor of a coming storm, the wind picking up and urging me to hurry through the last part. I began to chant the ritual words, then as I neared the end, I evoked the circle with a burst of my magic, closing it with me safely on the outside. I touched my own birthmark and said the name three times, summoning my uncle, Isaiah, the demon I'd promised at least twice
never
to summon again.

I was so screwed.

******************************************************************************************

Other Books by Gayle Parness at Amazon.com

Next in the Rogues Shifter Series: 
Torn Apart
 
Book 6 Available now

Bridgett is raising an army, Isaiah is angry, Lord Kennet is back and five year old Charlie is already showing signs of becoming the most powerful supernatural on the planet. Could life get any crazier for Jackie and Garrett? 
Read chapter one here

I do recommend that you read the books in order, although they can stand on their own. If you haven't read the rest of the series, then here's the reading order.

Rebirth
: Book One - Sixteen year old Jackie discovers that she's not human, but instead part of a large supernatural community. She trains with a group of young shapeshifters who become her close friends, and also meets Garrett, the magically powerful vampire who teaches her to use her unique powers and then manages to steal her heart. Together they face off against his destructive maker, the 500 year old vampire, Eleanor Howard.

Stalked
: Book Two - Jackie and Garrett travel to Faerie to celebrate the Midsummer Solstice Ceremony with their new fae allies, only to become the hunted enemies of a powerful fae lord who wants to claim Jackie as his own.  At the same time, Garrett's team of rogues go undercover to find a female fae warrior who's disappeared without a trace. What and who they find instead, turns everyone's life upside down, forcing Jackie to have to choose between family and friendship.

Twisted
: Book Three - Now a prisoner of a fae Lord, Jackie is faced with the impossible task of planning her escape, only to find help from an unlikely source. Meanwhile, Garrett is devastated by her kidnapping, but must force himself to keep his head clear and organize the search in the field and at home. He's joined by his fae allies who prove themselves to be more than just magical warriors.  Jackie's sister, Bridgett, is trying her best to fit in back at the house, but she feels tremendous guilt over Jackie's kidnapping. She's surprised by her growing attraction to William, a young vampire in Garrett's nest who also seems smitten by the same arrow. All three stories merge as Bridgett's connection to her twin sister strengthens and the aftermath of the kidnapping takes on a life of its own.

Blown Away
: Book Four

Jackie and Garrett and their team take on the difficult case of finding three teen boys who've gone missing  from the werewolf pack where Sinc was raised. Through their investigation, they discover that more is at stake here than simply getting the boys back home, finding themselves entangled in a dangerous power struggle, which culminates in a vicious attack.

At the same time, Jackie and Garrett are rocked by a discovery that may destroy their relationship as well as their status as allies of the fae.

!

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Torn Apart Book 6  Chapter One

For the third morning in a row, the loud chattering of two squirrels in the middle of a drawn out territorial dispute wrenched me out of a pleasant dream. The little vermin, programmed by their DNA to rise along with the sun, had no neighborly regard for my going to sleep less than four hours ago. I mean they were cute and all, but c'mon, Rocky, go duke it out somewhere else for a change.

Although it was way past dawn, my bedroom was in total darkness, an easy-to-live-with result of wanting to sleep in the same bed as my vampire lifemate, Garrett. This was totally not a hardship as far as I was concerned, since the obvious benefits outweighed the occasional stubbed toe or banged knee.

Feeling mischievous, I rolled over on my side so I could face him, deciding not to torture my pupils by turning on the light. Hoping not to poke him in the eye, I stretched out my hand until my fingertips brushed across his forehead then down along his hairline. Secure that I knew the terrain from that point, I ran a gentle hand over the line of his jaw, brushing light fingertips across his scrumptious lips.

He wouldn't wake up unless I contacted him mind to mind, or shook him vigorously. My two hundred thirty-nine year old lover rested every day from a little past dawn until mid afternoon, his body going into a kind of hibernation mode that cooled him to around 85°. That temperature sounds pretty warm, but believe me, with my body pumped up to 99°, it's an awful lot like cuddling with someone who's just come inside on a frosty cold day.

I pushed myself onto my elbows and kissed him hard on the lips, feeling impish and maybe even a little naughty, since he couldn't defend himself against my amorous assault. Not that he would've complained. Vampire libidos were strong, plus he had French ancestry—a delicious combination in my opinion.

Last night, after our son Charlie had fallen asleep, we'd spent some time cuddling on the couch, watching a movie with Sasha and Heinrich and discussing future jobs for the Rogues, Inc. team to tackle. Garrett had a few requests on his desk from supernatural groups who needed our help, some as far away as Montana, but he hadn't marked any of them as urgent. It was apparent that our reputation for taking down supernatural bad guys and finding missing people was growing, and Garrett was beaming with pride.

Sash and Rick had left around two, heading off to a local club and leaving us alone except for our sleeping son and his fae guard.

Garrett took advantage of the situation, twisting his body then pushing me down on the couch and leaning over me. Silver sparkles danced in his blue eyes as he spoke in his most seductive tone. "What shall we do with the rest of the night, Mrs. Cuvier?"

I sighed, pretending to be bored by the question. "Nothing comes to mind. You pick." We liked to play our little games.

"You may be sorry you said that. I have all kinds of interesting ideas." He allowed his fangs to graze my neck, drawing two thin lines of blood, then used his tongue to taste and then heal the tiny scratches. Warmth flooded my skin, encouraging him to take in a deep breath of my scent. His grin was full of heat and mischief.

I attempted to hold onto my bored tone. "I'm difficult to impress, Mr. Cuvier. It'll take some work on your part." I ran a finger over the sensuous lips that were expert at driving me crazy.

"Oh, Mrs. Cuvier, it's never a good idea to taunt a vampire. I'll have you begging me for mercy later tonight." His lips skimmed mine, a seductive invitation better than any words.

"Promises, promises." We smiled against each other's mouths.

In the space of a heartbeat, he'd jumped off the couch and pulled me into his arms, both of us laughing and enjoying our little charade. A moment later we were in the shower, and he was kissing me the way he knew would bring my body alive. That was when I knew I'd be begging for mercy
several
times that night.

I giggled at the memory, enjoying the fact that this morning my handsome mate was at
my
mercy. Of course I'd never considered using a sharpie marker on his beautiful body while he rested or the godawful orangey red lipstick I'd bought a year ago and then never applied to my lips. No, I was proud to say that even though I was still college-aged, I was above those kinds of "sophmoronic" games.

I
did
enjoy snuggling up against him while he rested, pretending that I was sending him erotic dreams. He'd told me several times that vampires rarely dreamed, but I didn't let that discourage me. I wiggled closer to his body, my back to his front, then lifted his relaxed arm, draping it over my waist. I yanked the puffy down comforter up so his cooler body wouldn't chill my warmer one, then took in a very deep breath of my favorite scent and closed my eyes. Now where did my dream leave off? I think Garrett was just about to kiss me...