Waterfall (Dragon's Fate) (16 page)

He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “You do. I know that once this marriage to Hudson is annulled, your mind and energy will clear, and you will feel all that is us.”

“I already feel that, Jordan. When we worked together to open the door and free your brothers, I felt the power of what we are. I also felt your protection and your love.” She pushed up onto her tippy-toes and placed her forehead to his. “Though I have only just met you, I am positive we are meant to be together.”

He pulled her body tight to his. “Oh, we have amazing things to teach each other, to discover and to enjoy. As soon as Hudson awakes, we will get the marriage annulled.”

Celeste pulled from his arms. “I shall see you tomorrow, then.”

He smiled down at her. “And for the rest of our lives.”

“You failed me. I should have known better than to trust a human with a task so delicate.”
The deep, dark voice crept through Hudson’s mind.

“I didn’t fail you. They were all there. All of them.”

“No. Air was missing.”

“I am certain he was behind them in the open doorway. Did you not see him?”

“If he was there, the elements would have joined and immobilized them for my taking. He was not present.”

“He was! I didn’t get a chance to finish the words. That is why!”

The voice laughed.
“Words are weak. Their power alone would have captured them.”

“Could you be wrong?”

“Never. There will be no second chances. You will fall asleep, and when you wake, you will remember me. I gave you this gift, and until you succeed, your manly pleasure is mine. When they ask you to nullify the marriage to the water’s mate…you may do as you wish.”

“You told me to wed her. You promised me if I did, you would take her and the brothers, and my involvement with her would end.”

“Promised?”
The voice laughed.
“Why would you believe me? You know what I am, as you searched me out.”

The madness in Hudson shook thin chills through him. He wanted to attack the being behind the voice. To show him that he could not deny a duke. He struggled in his bed, trying to move to no avail. Pain ripped through the roof of his mouth, and pointy teeth extended from his gums. He hissed and thrashed.

“Your transition will continue, and painfully, without my assistance. Such a shame, as I could have offered you pleasure like you have never known.”

“Air was there, I swear.”

“Air was missing. If he was there, you would be back in London and I would be enjoying my feast. We are through. Du er løsladt fra mig.”

“Wait. Wait! I did not fail.” Pain ripped through Hudson’s cock, and then nothing but silence met his ears. He blinked his eyes. No! His eyelids grew heavy. No! He fought to keep them open but failed. The black abyss met him.

Ilmir blew under the door and out of the room in which Hudson slept. Whatever Hudson had talked to in that room was aware of the Zir. To his delight, whatever that otherworldly creature was, it could not see him when in air form. He did so enjoy snooping. He floated down the hall toward his room.

Ferrous for certain would call a family meeting. But that needed to wait. Jordan needed time with his new mate without an air of chaos. All this new information he just learned would certainly cause a fuss. Ilmir’s lips curved up. But oh! Chaos… Now that would be fun.

He would give his brother a week. Or a month, depending on how much resentment the three held toward him for being the first to find his mate; then he would tell them what new information he had found…

Chapter Ten

The man they had called friend lay beyond this door. Jordan stood with his brothers, Madoc and Ferrous, before the burgundy room. They had all mistaken him. Hudson had become an unknown. The potion and elemental power Ferrous had cast was uncertain in its outcome.

Jordan turned the handle and pushed the door wide.

With the inward swing, the stench of sweat and sour stomach bile wafted out into the hall. Hudson lay on the bed in the same position he was left in last night. He thrashed and hissed.

Ferrous and Madoc rushed forward to the edge of the bed.

Jordan stood back, leaned a shoulder against the doorframe and watched.

“He’s burning up.” Ferrous’s dark hair slid over his shoulder as he reached down and touched Hudson’s face. “No. He is in the midst of full transition. He needs blood and a calming cast.”

“Help me.” Hudson lifted his head up and, with beady black eyes, stared directly at Jordan. “He betrayed me. I-I will do whatever you wish of me to make this pain and this overwhelming dark need stop.”

Jordan pushed from the doorframe and walked into the room. Sweat drizzled Hudson’s pasty white complexion. His cheekbones distended, and gray fangs protruded from his lips.

“We will help you only if you agree to a few things.” Ferrous leaned down so he was close to Hudson’s face.

“Anything. Please.” Hudson arched his back and cried out in pain.

His agony filled the room with its energy and jittered Jordan’s senses. “First you will annul your marriage to Celeste.”

“All right.”

Ferrous turned Hudson’s chin toward Jordan and inspected his neck. “Second, you will not come after this family. The authorities are in pursuit of Jordan. You will tell them it was your desire to disappear with us for a few days.”

“Anything.” His voice wheezed out.

“You will convince the queen that Ilmir had nothing to do with her niece’s death,” Jordan stated flatly.

“All right.”

“If only Ilmir was here to see we are helping him.” Jordan’s mouth straightened into a line, and he shook his head. Even if he were, Ilmir would not appreciate the gesture.

“Oh, but he is.” Hudson glanced to the ceiling. “Why am I the only one who sees him?” His black eyes widened, and then he closed them. Shaking his head, he mumbled something that Jordan did not understand.

They all stared up to the spot where Hudson had just glanced. Jordan tensed and reached out with his power. Warm tingles washed through his body. The air swirled and shifted. A purple haze appeared by the ceiling. “Ilmir.” Jordan ground his teeth together. How long had he been there?

The haze lowered to the floor bedside Jordan. Ilmir emerged, wearing an eggplant-colored, fitted jacket and a smile. “Good day, brothers.”

“I knew it. I knew it. I am not mad! I did not fail!” Hudson screamed into the room.

“A good day?” Madoc’s eyes narrowed. “How many times have you spied on us?”

The right side of Ilmir’s lips quirked up. “Me? Never.” Ilmir ran his hand down his lapel and met Madoc’s gaze.

The crescent on Madoc’s cheek glowed a hot red. Ilmir’s secret obviously vexed him.

Ferrous shook his head. “You have not lost your powers at all.”
 

“Oh, brothers. I had, but as you can see, we all have gained power with the finding of the dear Celeste.” Ilmir walked over to Hudson. “I believe we have this man to thank for that, and I know for certain I shall renew my search for my futter partner with vigor. Just look at how powerful Jordan and his chit are.”

Jordan fisted his hands. “Celeste.” He wanted to punch him. To hell with restraint. He would.

Ilmir winked at him. “What are you going to do? Lecture me?” He laughed.

Jordan raised his fist and slammed it straight into Ilmir’s jaw. Ilmir’s head knocked back, and blood slid from his lower lip down his chin. Pain shot through Jordan’s knuckles but, damn, that felt spectacular. Ilmir grinned even bigger and wiped his chin with the back of his gloved hand.

“Enough, both of you.” Ferrous leaned down and ran his fingers across Hudson’s forehead once more. Then he turned and walked to the servants’ pull and yanked it.

A few moments later, Astrid emerged in the doorway. “May I be of help?”

Ilmir turned toward her, and his expression softened. “You are always of help, dear.”

Ferrous strode to her and whispered in her ear. She turned and quickly left the room.

“I asked her to bring a live pig from the stocks to Hudson. It will quench his thirst and help with his transition. But before we allow him to feed… Jordan?” Ferrous held out his hand to him.

Jordan pulled a scroll from his breast pocket and handed it to Ferrous.

“Hudson, you must sign this and use your ring to seal it.” Ferrous pivoted on his heel to the small desk in the room and pulled out a quill and ink. He dipped the quill and turned back to Hudson.

Hudson raised a shaking hand, grasped the quill and signed the bottom. Ferrous rolled the scroll, then dripped a pool of wax from a candle and pressed Hudson’s ring emblem into it.

He handed the parchment back to Jordan. “We will do everything we know of to ease this transition for you, Hudson. Though, not knowing what you are transitioning into will make this harder. Do you know what you are becoming?”

Hudson turned his head to him. “I fear the worst. I trusted Havanis.”

Jordan’s stomach tingled, and dread pitched through him.

“Who is Havanis, friend?” Madoc turned and paced in the room.

Hudson chuckled. “The most powerful otherworldly being I know. When I found you through my connections, I had no idea there was something more powerful than you. He is.”

A breeze touched Jordan’s neck, and he spun about. Ilmir was gone. Jordan turned back. There was a depth to this deception he was certain not even Hudson was aware of.

A pig’s squeal echoed down the hall.

Astrid would bring Hudson his meal; then Ferrous would use the elements to calm Hudson’s transition. In the end, Hudson would not suffer…much. They would teach him. He would still be in their lives. That was capital for Madoc. Madoc and Hudson had formed a bond over the past six years. Though Jordan would never trust him again.

“I have heard enough. Celeste needs me.” Jordan turned from the room.

Chapter Eleven

Celeste rolled over in bed and studied Jordan as he slept. His breath slowly moved his chest in and out, brushing against her. The white hair that she’d first found so odd fit him perfectly. Her mate. She grinned, and her heart seemed to float in her chest. The last two weeks had been the happiest of her life. Hudson had agreed to the annulment, and she and Jordan had been inseparable ever since.

There was a knock at the door.

Jordan didn’t move.

A frown curved her lips. She did not want to leave the warmth of his embrace. Celeste slipped from the sheets and pulled on one of Jordan’s silk robes, then walked to the door.

She cracked it open.

Astrid’s childlike face appeared in the crack. “Good day, miss.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I have news that I must share with you. Can we speak in private?”

“Certainly.” Celeste opened the door wider to allow her in.

“Please come with me.” She stepped to the side, out of the doorway.

“All right.“ Celeste slipped through the crack in the door and closed it softly. She followed Astrid down the hall toward Grandmum’s rooms. “Is my grandmum well?”

“She is.” Astrid stopped in front of a small door to the right of Grandmum’s chamber and opened it. A thin corridor lay beyond. “Come.”

They stepped in, and Astrid grabbed one of the candles that lined the walls.

Astrid closed the door behind them. “Shhh. We must be quiet. But she wants you to know.”

“Know what?” Celeste whispered.

“You shall see.” Astrid lifted a small flap against the wall. Dim light poured through into the space in which they resided. She put her eyes to the small opening, then turned to her. “Your vision of your grandmum was true. Hudson did bite her. Though he did not kill her. I don’t believe he knew what he was doing. He was driven by the need to feed. She lived and transitioned so much easier than he has. I’ve been helping her find suitable food. Take a peek.” She motioned to Celeste to look through the wall.

Celeste walked to the light streaming into the space and pressed her eyes to the opening. She sucked in a startled breath. Oh! Grandmum sat on the floor, her nightshift covered in blood. To her mouth she held a small pig.

The pig didn’t struggle or squeak.

Her grandmum cooed to it, then licked its neck. A moan came from her and echoed through the room.

The hairs Celeste’s neck rose, and her stomach roiled. Oh no. She turned away, trembling. Oh no. No. No. This could not be the truth.

Astrid touched her arm. “She wanted you to know but couldn’t find a way to tell you. She told me she now lives free. She cannot hide how happy she is. You will see that when you speak to her of it.”

Tears streaked down Celeste’s face as she processed this new information. Grandmum was not different. She would be the same woman Celeste loved.

“She is not in pain. She is powerful. I have no idea how or why. But she is one of the most amazing women I have known in this otherworldly world we live in. She adores you, Celeste.”

She looked up at Astrid. “She wants this?”