Knight Shift (48 page)

Taylor replied, “No. Razor gave him a ride into town.”

Penny sat up and asked, “Razor? When did he get here?”

“He and Jax arrived about an hour after you went to bed. Razor took Thorne into Portland and is going to stay with him for a while to see what their kind is up to. Jax is downstairs having breakfast.”

She hadn’t seen Jax in a couple of weeks and the thought that they were in the same house together made her pulse race. She crawled out of bed and said while trying to hide her longing, “I’ll get dressed and be right down.”

After the twins left the room, Penny cleaned up as best she could and put on the clothes she arrived in the evening before. She didn’t want him leaving before she got a chance to see him. As she hurried downstairs, she followed the voices to the kitchen where she found everyone, including Sam and Susi, discussing the previous night’s events.

All talking stopped abruptly the moment Penny stepped into the room. She was going to argue with them over leaving her out of the conversation, but all thoughts disappeared when her eyes locked on Jax. When she caught Ben’s grin out of the corner of her eye, she quickly looked away. Seeing Sam and Susi, she said, “The sun is up. Shouldn’t you two be in bed?”

Sam replied, “We were just about to head that way.”

As they stood to leave Penny said, “I’m sorry my presence caused you issues with your kind again.”

Susi kissed Penny’s forehead and said, “Everything is fine.”

Penny didn’t need her new inner voice to tell her that they were hiding from her the reality of the situation they now faced. She fixed herself a plate at the stove and when she turned to sit at the table, she found the only spot available was next to Jax. Seeing Ben avoiding her gaze, she assumed that he had somehow manipulated the situation. She took in a deep breath and sat down.

As she tried to eat, she found herself unconsciously leaning toward Jax and hoping to somehow touch him. To distract her inner voice, she turned to face him and asked, “I talked to Charlie a few nights ago and she said you were there. Did you go to see Razor?”

Jax replied, “I didn’t realize that you and Charlie were keeping in touch.”

Penny nodded and said, “I really like her. We video chat and I’ve also used it to give Van Gogh advice on his artwork.”

Jax chuckled and replied, “You’ve created a monster in that boy. He’s already painted several rooms and I saw no signs of him slowing.”

“But I still seem to be enemy number one for those that live there. I gave Charlie and Van Gogh permission to join in on Snack bashing so that no one will suspect that we’re friends.”

“Who’s Snack?” Taylor asked.

Penny replied, “Didn’t I tell you? The moment those at the Ice Castle saw me with Jax, they assumed that I was his walking talking snack and my street name was born.”

As soon as Jax heard the name Snack, his mouth instantly began to water. Since returning home, his darker side refused to feed from a vein other than Penny’s.

While the twins did a worthiness comparison of the nicknames Peanut versus Snack, Penny squirmed. She had sensed Jax’s need and her inner voice pleaded, “
Feed
.”

When breakfast was over, Penny decided to implement a plan. After announcing that it was time for her to go home, she gathered her things and surprised Jax when she asked, “Would you walk me to my car?” She then glanced over to Ben and said in her mind, “
If you can hear me, can you keep everyone busy for a few minutes?
” She then waited a moment to see if Ben would respond. Her answer was immediate when Ben challenged the twins to a round of Rock, Paper, Scissors. It was a game they often played and, to the twins’ frustration, Ben never lost. The twins took the bait and were determined to block their thoughts long enough to finally beat him.

When the overly loud battle began, Penny walked outside with Jax behind her. As soon as she was behind the Rover and blocked from view from the house, she turned and said, “I know that you and I are not a couple anymore, but you’re still my best friend. I felt your need during breakfast and would like to offer you a Penny snack.”

Jax shook his head and said, “You don’t have to do this. I’ll survive.”

“But I want to do this. I owe you my life and it’s a debt a million snacks wouldn’t cover. You told me that you would always be there for me if I ever needed you. Well the same thing applies to you. I want to be here whenever you need me.” Seeing his continued resistance, she added “But if you really don’t want it...”

It was Jax’s inner voice’s turn to scream within his mind. Penny couldn’t hear his thoughts, but his expression betrayed his desperate need. She loosened her shirt and said, “You’ll have to use a spot that I can easily cover with my clothes. I do want to apologize to the part of you that’s Ice for not being able to offer his preferred spot, but given where we are, I hope this selection will do.” She opened her shirt enough to expose her chest.

Jax stared at the softness of her exposed skin and watched as her breasts heaved with each breath. Seconds later he found himself kneeling in front of her with his cheek pressed against her, listening to her heart beat loud and steady. He breathed in the scent just before he penetrated her silky skin with his fangs. As he dank in rhythm with her pulse, Penny closed her eyes and ran her fingers through his short hair. She was completely lost in the much missed sensations he was causing inside her. Meanwhile Jax’s whole body moaned in relief as the fire of her blood now coursed through his own veins.

He knew that it wouldn’t be safe for her to drive home if he took too much so he forced himself to stop. Even after he healed her wound, he didn’t back away. Instead he wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed her tightly. She returned his embrace and kissed the top of his head.

After they finally separated and he stood, they silently stared into each other’s eyes for a few minutes. Jax wanted to kiss her so badly, but he knew if their lips touched he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from stripping her naked and pinning her to the back of the Rover.

Penny smiled at the look of desire now flaming in his eyes. Somehow it helped her to know that he was struggling to suppress the feelings he still had for her. She said, “Please call on me whenever you’re in need of another snack.” After he nodded, she got into her car and drove away without looking back.

She went to bed that night with her ice pack stuffed pillows. After having intimate dreams of Jax, she woke when she reached out and didn’t find her dream lover lying beside her. As she walked around the house, she sensed Jax’s presence outside and knew that he was in the woods watching over her. When she smiled at the thought, she realized that her feelings for him hadn’t faded at all. In fact they felt like they were actually getting stronger. Being in Jax’s arms the previous day had caused all of her feeling for him to burst to the surface again. As her body again longed for his touch, she feared that, without taking drastic measures, she was fighting a losing battle.

A few days later shortly after the sun set, Razor returned to Sam’s house. After his fellow Changelings quickly gathered together, he said, “They think I’m out hunting so I can’t stay long, but I need to talk to all of you.”

Ben, sensing Razor’s physical need, ran off and returned moments later with a bag of blood. As Razor quickly quenched his thirst and, like Penny, absentmindedly scratched Chad’s German Shepard form behind the ears, he scanned the room and asked, “Is Penny here?”

Taylor replied, “No, she’s working late tonight.”

Razor said, “Good. There are a few things that we need to talk about privately.”

Seeing the seriousness in Razor’s eyes, Jax asked, “What’s happened?”

Razor replied to his friend, “When I arrived in Portland, as I expected, I wasn’t welcomed in. They kept their distance and wouldn’t share anything with me. When I questioned them why, they finally admitted that it was because I had been seen several times with you. I told them that, after the incidents in Reno and then again in Estes park, I was trying to find out what was going on between you and your Human.”

Jax asked, “Did the excuse work?”

Razor nodded and said, “I think I was successful in convincing them that I’m spending time at your side so that I can spy on you.”

Taylor puffed out his chest and said proudly, “Cool! You’re a double agent.”

Razor chuckled and said, “I guess so, for now.”

Susi said, “Don’t laugh, because this isn’t funny. This is a dangerous game that you’re playing. If they find out what you’re up to, they’ll see you as a traitor and won’t hesitate to kill you.”

Seeing her genuine concern for his safety, Razor gave Susi a gentle smile and said, “I really appreciate you looking out for me, but I have to do this. There’s too much at stake and Logan is stirring up a heap of trouble.”

Jax asked anxiously, “Did you find Logan in Portland?”

Razor replied, “No, but I heard his voice on the phone many times. He’s gone underground and I couldn’t find anyone that knew where he’s hiding. But I do know that he didn’t disappear because he thought that we were trying to find him. It seems that he has no clue about that. He went under to help organize a fight. As I feared, the natives are very restless and Logan has become a big player. He’s building an army and they have their sights on eradicating the entire Human population. And he isn’t the only one. Others like him are setting up similar undergrounds across the world.”

Sam said, “They can’t win that battle. Even if they recruit every Night Walker in existence, they still won’t have enough to make much of a dent.”

Razor said, “They aren’t alone any more. They’ve started to recruit other Changelings and many are listening. I can’t condone starting a war but, knowing how our kind have been mistreated, I can understand their anger and need for revenge. They’re using everyone’s fears and anger to win them over to their cause.”

Susi asked, her eyes shining with tears, “Surely they realize how many of our own would die in the fight.”

Razor replied, “They know very well the price of war and there are many that are willing to step up and make the sacrifice. That number is growing rapidly every day. We may still be completely outnumbered, but Humans are in for a fight. We have many unique gifts that, if we learn to focus, can give us a great advantage. The biggest talent that almost all Changelings have in common is that we can sense a Human’s presence almost instantly. The opposite isn’t true. Assuming our looks don’t give us away, if we don’t give them a reason to suspect us, Humans are clueless. This allows many of us to walk among their kind undetected. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but Logan claims that the Humans are getting close to finding a way to identify us through scans. It’s another reason why people want to fight back now, before it’s too late.”

Sam said, “Not all Changelings will agree to go to war.”

Razor replied, “They’re very aware of that and are starting to weed them out. They also know that Ice would be a formidable threat if he became sympathetic to Humans. That’s one of the reasons that Thorne was sent to your house. He was assigned to check your loyalty, especially Ice.”

Ben said, “When Thorne was here I tried to read his thoughts, but I couldn’t get through. His mind was completely blank to me.”

Razor replied, “That’s why he was chosen. They know of your growing gifts with the mind and they wanted to block you out so that you wouldn’t realize the real reason for his visit.” He scanned the room and added, “All of you need to know that you’re being watched. When Thorne found Penny here, let’s just say that it didn’t help your cause any. He witnessed first-hand how you protect and treat her like one of the family. We’ve kept the secret that she may play a critical role in Changeling survival, so all he saw was you playing house with the enemy.”

Taylor’s shoulders slumped and said, “Then we flunked the test.”

Razor shook his head and said, “Not yet. I managed to convince them that Susi was so soft-hearted that she couldn’t stop herself from taking in Penny as a stray—like a cherished pet. And Sam’s longtime friendship and loyalty for Ice was the main reason for allowing Penny to stay. He basically gifted Penny as a play thing for his friend’s amusement. Penny being present while Thorne was here wasn’t completely a curse. He was taken by her unique aroma so he now believes my story that Ice put aside his hate for Humans long enough to enjoy what she offered.”

Taylor exclaimed, “Ha! Ice taking Penny as a Human toy… that’s a stretch. Anyone that knows him wouldn’t believe it.”

Razor replied, “But they already do. He traveled across country with her and fiercely protected her in front of many Changelings, so they know that she isn’t just another ordinary Human. I told them that Ice confided in me that he was growing more desperate with his inability to do more for our cause and was forced to try something drastic—to become one of the enemy and attack from within. He knows that he sticks out like a sore thumb, even among our own kind. To deal with this perceived weakness, he told me that he was spending time with Penny to learn how to better blend in. She was just the naïve woman that, without knowing it, was unwittingly teaching him how to infiltrate the enemy’s camp. His change in look and personality are all part of the ruse.”

Tadd asked, “And they bought it?”

To the group’s surprise, Jax answered, “Of course they did. My reputation as a Human hater and killer isn’t from made up stories. Many have seen what I was capable and willing to do for our kind.”

Razor added, “None of them would argue that Ice has fought fiercely for our survival and, by the time I was done sharing my insight, many were again ready to sing praises for Ice’s sacrifice.”

Ben’s face fell when he caught mental flashes of arguments Razor had and he said, “Not everyone was convinced.”

Razor shook his head. “There are those that think that if my story is true, Ice lost himself in his role. Penny’s blood was too much of a draw and she became more to Ice than a snack. After some prodding, Thorne admitted to me that he has his doubts, just like Logan. Thorne also said that he regretted that, while he was here, he didn’t get the opportunity to taste her for himself first hand. In an attempt to convince him that she isn’t special, I told him that I’ve had the privilege and that, although it was quite pleasant, she really wasn’t unique. I said she was way too sweet—an acquired taste.”

Knowing the effect of Penny’s blood, Jax’s eyes opened wide and asked, “He believed you that Penny is ordinary?”

Razor replied, “He, like every other Changeling on the planet, doesn’t think that there’s any Human that’s special, so yes they believe me. He now thinks that Logan’s hatred for Ice caused his mind to exaggerate the effect of Penny’s blood.”

Susi exclaimed excitedly, “That’s great! Then they have no idea of her gift and no longer believe that Ice switched sides.”

Razor put up his hand to tell her to slow down. “Don’t celebrate yet. Logan has his followers convinced that Ice would have attacked his kind in Estes park to protect his little plaything. That fact along with Ice’s previous lethal corrections to other Night Walkers has them furious. They think that he crossed the line as the self-appointed Changeling police and are screaming to have him punished. Logan knows that no one can fight him and live to tell the tale, but he sees Penny as an easy way to slap Ice in the face. He wants her so that he can use her to punish Ice for his inappropriate behavior and to remind him of his place within the Changeling community.”

Taylor rolled his eyes and exclaimed, “This is all ridiculous! They may have traveled together, but they aren’t a couple.”

Realizing that Jax hadn’t confessed his full feelings for Penny to Sam’s family, Razor said, “You may know that, but others saw it differently. As long as she remains an integral part of this family, it undermines my story.”

Sam knew that Razor was avoiding telling them something so he asked, “What exactly are you asking us to do?”

Razor said as calmly as he could, “I’ll find a way to bring Thorne back here and, while he’s here, Ice needs to show that Penny means nothing to him and that her death would be meaningless.” He scanned those assembled and added, “You’ll all need to convince him that Penny is no longer a welcome member of this family. I know this will be hard for you, but she must be forced to stay far away until they’re convinced of your loyalty and we deal with Logan.” He added warningly, “They’re serious about taking out anyone that blocks their plans, so not just Penny’s life depends on making this ruse work.”

While Chad growled menacingly, Susi shook her head adamantly and said, “But that means we’ll have to lure Penny here and then kick her out. She’s like a daughter to me; I can’t do this. We might as well let Logan kill her. She just lost her entire family and, if she loses us as well, she won’t survive.”

Razor replied sympathetically, “Logan won’t kill her quickly. He’ll torture her just to hurt Ice. So, even if we do this, we need to find a way to continue to secretly protect her—she’s too important. But if we don’t do this, I can guarantee that her days are numbered.”

Sam’s shoulders drooped and said, “Then we have no choice.”

Jax said while forcing back his real emotions, “To make this believable, I’ll have to say and do things that will rip Penny’s heart out and I can’t hurt her that way. I’ll agree to do this plan only if Penny is in on it. She must know that this is all fake.”

Razor asked, “Do you think you can convince her to play along? There is no half way. It has to look real or Thorne will see right through the attempt at deception. Failure will condemn us all.”

Jax replied, “She’s the most selfless person I know and would be willing to give up her own life if it meant keeping us, her family, safe. I’ll send her a text to stop by after work so that we can plan the scene very carefully.”

After Jax sent his message, the group debated on the most realistic ways to rip Penny from their lives.