Rune (26 page)

Jess peered out at the passing landscape; she wished her mother would take her foot off the accelerator. She wasn’t safe, didn’t concentrate, and held the opinion she owned the road. “This isn’t the way back to Northlands.”

“No, it isn’t.” Doreen continued to feed the wheel through her hands.

Jess eyed her with suspicion. There was something wrong. Why wasn’t she going into hysterics, why had she accepted her attack by werewolves and her saviour of a vampire? Nothing made sense. No questions had been hurled at her. “So, just where are we going?”

Doreen gave her a brief flash of scarlet lips that slid into a caricature of a smile. “You wanted to see your father, and that’s where I’m taking you.” The car screamed around a sharp bend, the scent of burning tyres lingered in the air. “It’s time I introduced you to your real one.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jess raised a hand to her head. This so wasn’t happening; no way did she want to meet her biological father, and as far as she was concerned, George was her real dad. “Mother, stop now, take me back.”

“No.” She swung down the gears and turned towards a hill, driving upwards over a dirt track.

“Well, you visit and I’ll stay in the car.”

“Stop being so childish.” Doreen spared her a scathing smirk of pure evil.

Jess wondered what it was, what she’d done in a previous life to be put through this. She’d had one hell of a birthday experience and, whatever else came, knew that nothing could ever bypass her thirtieth.

The car halted, and Jess searched around for signs of a house; there were plenty of trees and greenery, but not a building in sight.

Doreen stepped out; a smidgeon of disgust crested her face at her sinking heels. She slammed the door and waited. “Well, come on.”

“No,” sulked Jess and crossed her arms.

“Well, fine, but I can tell you that Frazer, he’s your father by the way, will be cross.” She turned and crossed on mincing steps to a huge tree. “And I promise you, no one ever annoys him.” Doreen tossed the words over her shoulder.

Jess blinked in shock as the bark appeared to move, swinging back, and her mother disappeared inside.

What the fuck?
She scrambled out; disbelief shimmied over her face at where her mother had gone. This was akin to going down the hole, as in Alice in Wonderland. Jess followed ‘Alice’ aka Doreen in disbelief. Jess couldn’t help but wonder why her life appeared to be turning into one giant illusion.

A twirling staircase led into the depths below, and she warily trod down the smooth stone steps; her hand clutched a wrought iron rail, and finally, she reached the bottom. Jess was curious yet dreaded to discover what or who Fraser was. And why did her father have to live in a tree for fuck’s sake? Was he some kind of hippie, worshipping Mother Earth?

Jess heard her mother’s strident echo. “Will you come on?”

She hissed through her clenched teeth and followed the sound of her voice.
Mother, this Frazer had better be normal,
then thought
, who the hell was she kidding? No one normal lived beneath ground.
Jess stumbled to a halt at the room she found herself in and glanced up; hell from the oak tree she’d been drawn into, an underground cathedral had evolved. Her footsteps echoed across the marble floor as she walked hesitantly towards a group of people.

She noticed her mother had stopped alongside a drop dead gorgeous hunk. One that was serious eye candy, not on Rune’s level, but not bad. Jess eyed the women that lounged on cushions, each one scantily clad. It looked like an orgy.

Doreen’s smile simpered over the stranger. “This is Frazer, your father.”

“What?” Shit, he looked hot enough to fuck, then felt a squirm of disgust that she wanted to screw her father. “You are kidding me.”

She homed her attention on the dark Adonis as he rose and slunk towards her. He stopped a short distance away and held both hands out. Jess examined his face; it was sculptured, beautiful, and she shivered at his strange coloured eyes that burned over her.

“Come to me, my daughter.” His presence commanded. Jess discovered her legs propelling her forward, and she walked towards him, her will taken over.

His arms coiled around her. “I have waited for this moment, when I finally greet my daughter and my grandson.”

Jess reared back.
How the frigging hell did he know she was pregnant?
“Whoa, what’s this about grandson?”

His hand touched her stomach. “You are carrying Rune’s child, and I approve.”

Doreen pursed her lips; a vivid red slash crossed her features. “Is this why you wanted to wait until she was thirty, so she’d be expecting a baby?”

“No, it just seemed a good number at the time, nothing special about it,” said Frazer.

Doreen threw him a shot of anger and glared at Jess. “So, is this true, are you pregnant?”

Jess placed a hand protectively across her stomach. “I don’t know, guess I am.”

“You guess?” Doreen threw her arms up in the air. “I can’t believe this, how selfish are you? Don’t you know I’m too young to be a grandmother? Hell, even saying the word sends a shiver through me.”

“God, you’re really good parental material, aren’t you,” snapped Jess.

“Listen, I never wanted you, blame your father for that.”

Jess turned to the latest addition in her family. She had to admit he was an awesome specimen of masculinity. God, if she wasn’t his daughter and wasn’t already pregnant, then she’d want a baby with him. Did that make her sick? Yep, and closed her thoughts.

“Shut the hell up, Doris, or I’ll make you take a penance, one you won’t like.”

“The name’s Doreen,” she screamed.

Frazer took a step back and scrutinised Jess. “Your mother has a low tolerance of everything.” He indicated to the pillows and shooed the women away. “Sit, daughter, and tell me about yourself.”

Jess eyed him warily but did as he asked. “How do you know I’m pregnant and that I’m having a son?”
That was one hell of an intuition.

He tapped his nose and dropped to the cushion beside her. “All in good time, Jessalyn; first, let’s get to know each other.”

§§§

Kitty arrived home and sauntered into the kitchen; she halted when she saw the note. Then swore softly at the contents. She knew that Rune would go off. LeBron had told her how he’d charged him with her safety, and now, she’d taken off with the dizzy bitch of a mother from hell?

She read the note again and dialled Jess’s number, hearing the familiar tune, noticed that Jess had left her mobile phone on the worktop, just great. And then rang LeBron.

“What do you mean she’s gone, where?” He threaded a hand over his cropped hair.

“Apparently to stay with her father and Doreen has taken her.”

“Fucking great. Have you called her?”

“Yeah, but she’s left her mobile on the table; knowing Jess and her memory, she forgot it.”

“Shit. Do you have her father’s number? Can you call and find out if she’s there?”

Kitty shook her head. “I’m not sure, but hang on, I’ll check my phone. I may just have it stored in there. God I hope so.”

“So do I, Kit, so do I; ring me?”

§§§

LeBron didn’t look forward to telling Rune his dove had flown. He headed towards the study and stepped inside. Rune was immersed in a phone call, a heated one judging by the sound of raised voices and language. He held back, waiting; he didn’t have to wait long.

Rune killed the call. “Is Jess okay?”

LeBron shrugged. “I hope so; she’s gone.”

“What do you mean?”

“Her mother picked her up today; she’s moving in with her father George.”

“Fuck!” Rune rubbed a worried hand over his chin. “I needed her under protection, yours, and she’s taken off?”

“Didn’t see it coming, but Kit is checking out his number and calling.”

“Ring her; I need to know, now!”

LeBron rang Kitty, and his brow furrowed once the call ended. “George hasn’t seen them; no one knows where the hell they’ve gone. Regardless of when she left, she should be there by now.”

Rune slammed his fist down, hard. “I will find her, and when I do I’ll—” His words petered off. Because he knew what he’d do, kiss her senseless before giving her such a bollocking she wouldn’t leave him again.

§§§

Jess settled onto the cushion and glanced with curiosity at the entourage circling at the end of the vast room. “So, er, Fraser, er, I mean Dad, who are these women?” It felt surreal calling him dad, and she didn’t feel comfortable; a strange disloyalty towards George sifted over her.

“Don’t ask,” said Doreen with a sneer. “None of them have managed to give him a daughter.” She preened her hair, and a slither of a grin snuck across her gaunt features.

Frazer gave a not so nice smile. “On the contrary, I’ve had many a daughter and son, but none that I’d want to look upon.”

Jess knew she’d regret the question and was about to ask. Hell, what with everything coming at her, nothing else could take her breath away and shock her senseless.

And then it did.

“You see, Jess, all my children resemble me, apart from yourself.”

She cricked her neck; hell, she wouldn’t mind looking like him. Fraser obviously had good genes to look so young, no sign of aging evident. He was a seriously good-looking bastard. “So? I don’t get it.”

Doreen concentrated on smearing the red lippy across her mouth. “You soon will.”

Frazer rose; his good looks faded, and he morphed into his true form. Towering above her, his red skin scaled his face, it held eyes that glowed like embers. Tiny horns pricked out from a domed head, and large bat wings quivered behind him.

This was daddy?
The blood drained from her face and her heart began an erratic thudding in her chest, she was dreaming, had to be. Why her? Why did her ordeal at meeting her biological father have to be taken a step further? A demon for fuck’s sake, and darkness blasted over her.

§§§

She didn’t know how long she’d been unconscious for, but when she awoke, it was to the sound of groaning. Her eyes flickered open, then blinked shut, fast.

The sight of her mother riding her father was almost as bad as seeing the real Frazer. She waited for the sounds to stop, for her mother to cease her tortured screams.
Hell, what was he doing to her?
Finally, silence fell, and she inched her lids open. Relieved to see they were dressed and appeared in a conversation.

Frazer, seated cross legged a short distance away, studied her. “Are you over your shock?”

Shock? Fuck, that was putting it mildly.
Shakily, she sat up and swallowed down a bout of nausea. “Not really, no.” Doreen, she noticed, appeared intent on her makeup, as usual. “Er, what are you?”
Why was it she had to ask what species her parent was?
Not the normal, what part of the world do you come from. No, hers had to live in a tree and come from frigging Hades.

“An incubus; your incredible urge for sex comes from me.” His teeth flashed white against his tanned skin. “Which is why you can take Rune.”

She flushed;
how the hell did he know the size of his prick?
Instead, swiftly changed the subject and asked, needing to know. Forget the usual family tree or St Catherine’s House, she’d be checking mythology online for her roots. “What is an incubus?”

“I’m a demon. I was human once, but that’s another story. Now, I make love to countless women, usually when they are asleep. As an incubus, I come to you as an illusion. This is what you see, the real Frazer remains hidden, until I chose to reveal him.”

“Okaaay.” Had she just heard right? “And, er, do you have any magical qualities?” Jess flinched; please, she wasn’t really having this conversation. Any moment she’d wake up and discover this was all a dream. A frigging nightmare.

“I have a certain power of course, but mainly, my duties consist of love making.” He flashed a wink. “It’s a hard life.” His hand swept over the women that remained at the end of the room. Their attention focused on Frazer. “And, of course, these ladies are for my pleasure, along with their own.”

“Yeah, I bet; so, what am I?”

“You, daughter, are a cambion, the union of a mortal and an incubus. You’re really very special.”

“I am?” Heck, she didn’t think so because her life was falling apart and dissolving into fantasy land.

“Yes, and so was your long-distant cousin Merlin; now, he excelled in magic,” said Frazer.

Jess closed her eyes; she was hallucinating, drunk, or drugged, she had to be. She blew out, holding her nose, and tried to stop from hyperventilating.

“Would you like to meet any of your siblings?”

She stopped. “What do they look like?” Her voice drizzled out nasally, and then she unpinned her nostril.

“Much as I did.”

“Then no.” Jess didn’t need to think about that.

“As you wish,” he rose and crossed to her, his hand cradled her stomach. “This will be my first grandson.”

“Is it because of what you are that you know I’m having a boy?”

Frazer nodded. “Of course. I do have certain powers, limited, but they can be useful.” His eyes burned. “And I intend to take a keen interest in my grandson.”

Oh shit.
She hoped he’d stay away from the christening, assuming she’d have one. The way her life was going, she didn’t know what was going to happen next.

“I rather like Gabriel as a name, Gabriel Frazer has a ring to it.”

Jess cricked a brow, she liked it, but with George in it instead. “Yes, Gabriel George.”

“No!” Frazer’s roar echoed around the room, the lights shook, flickers glimmered across the floor.

Jess clutched her throat and changed her thoughts, she wasn’t that stupid. “Nah, I much prefer your name.”

“Sensible answer. I’m pleased that Rune saved you, he’ll make a good mate.”

“Hmmm.” Frazer might think he knew everything, but she wasn’t telling him her vamp lover was now her ex. It was strange that Rune could read her thoughts, yet demon daddy couldn’t.

“Yes, it was the fact she was responsible for almost killing you that made me end her life.”