Breaking Out (8 page)

Okay. I didn’t expect that. He was using
blood magic. With my blood.

We found ourselves somewhere
between
,
where no one existed but Finvarra and me. Here my body could live
without air or food because magic was the air I breathed, the food
I ate. It sang silently in my veins, warming my skin with a
peaceful hum, a world of glorious music, a symphony, a rave. It was
every dream fulfilled, every wish granted, a world of perfect
peace. When magic touched my shoulders, wings formed, allowing me a
freedom a lonely young boy had dreamed of for many years. The only
requirement was that I stay forever.

But we waited, Fin and I, gazing at each
other, wings unfurled, yet silent so that we might hear.

When the sounds and scents of reality smacked
into me again, I stumbled backwards. Samson was beside me, and I
clutched at his scruff to steady myself.

Fin glanced at the dagger still clutched in
his hand. I thought for a moment he might taste my blood again, a
part of me wanting that more than anything. Would we return to that
perfect place? Instead he wiped it on his sleeve and handed it
back.

My hands were shaking so badly, it took me
two tries to slide it back into its sheath. Fin began to circle me.
“Your blood spoke to us, young fae. Did you listen?”

“I tried,” I answered truthfully.

He nodded, satisfied. “Do you know what
Fionna had in mind for you?”

“Not really.”

“She would have chained you in iron and
drained you of blood, always leaving you with enough to keep you
alive so that you might heal. Your mixed blood would have provided
her with a magic she did not have access to.”

My eyes were angry slits. “Are you
considering the same thing? I wouldn’t go easily.”

Whack.
My head snapped back with
enormous force and I was on the ground, the King of Faerie’s now
booted foot on my neck. My uninjured eye was wide enough to see
Mars without a telescope. “I have observed that your mouth is not
often synchronized with your brain.”

Speaking was difficult, but I managed to
croak out, “I apologize.” He lifted the boot and I rubbed my neck
and my cheekbone. I’d have a black eye and a bruise on my neck and
should be happy he hadn’t thrown me against a tree. Fin had never
given me reason to believe he’d imprison me or use me. I’d been a
first class asshole suggesting it.

“I will not form an alliance with a child.
When you are ready, and I will determine when that is, you may
spill your blood for me again. For now, do not allow any other
creature a taste. If you do, you will end up as Fionna
envisioned.”

“I’ll be careful.”

“Show me your hand.” I knew right away which
hand he was interested in. He traced the scar. “What was your
crime?”

To lie or not to lie… Remembering the boot at
my neck, I decided to spill. “I tried to control Isaiah with my
mind. He gave me a taste of what it would be like if someone did it
to me. I was younger then,” I added, tasting some blood in my
mouth. I must have bitten my tongue when he hit me.

“You are not so much older now.” He released
my hand. “You could have healed the scar.”

“I was angry and stupid. The scar reminds me
of my—my mistake.”

“Your hubris. Do not think of it in any other
terms, Charles. It was my son’s undoing. I will not allow it to be
yours.”

That was the first time today he’d called me
by my name. “Where is my…? Where is Kennet?”

“He will never affect your life again, nor
your mother’s life. I have made certain of this.”

“But, he’s alive?”

“The Balance does not tolerate well the loss
of her children. I will protect my people at all costs,
particularly from those fae who have warped their magic and abused
the gifts they were given.” He lifted his head, turning toward the
way we’d come.

“Your friend searches for you. Go to him.” A
firm hand landed on my shoulder stopping me as I began to turn
away. “Despite your belief that you are not one of mine, you will
contact me if you have need.” He grinned, patting my sore cheek and
hopping a line to Faerie.

CHAPTER SEVEN

I pushed the
red circle on my cell phone and lowered my body into my usual chair
at the kitchen table. I’d eaten thousands of meals while seated in
this chair, yet for some reason, today it felt odd to be sitting
here.

Sash slid into the chair next to mine. “How
is he?” He spoke quietly, soothingly. Sash knew me so well.

“Something’s up. Fin’s with Charlie. Neither
one of them gave me any details.” I was shocked how calm I sounded.
Perhaps my head didn’t think it was a big deal that Charlie had
called Fin. But my gut…my gut was in a knot. Something was
definitely wrong.

“Why don’t you call Garrett?”

“I don’t want to bother him. The meeting
probably just ended and they’ll be eating dinner.” Garrett was at
Aaron’s house in the Greenway Pack Territory. He’d been invited to
a Western Pack Council meeting along with three other vampires who
oversaw territory in southern California, Oregon and Washington
State. Garrett had inherited his territory from his psycho maker,
Eleanor, and it covered most of Northern California.

“Jackie…”

“I know, I know.” Garrett would never make me
feel like I was bothering him.

“He’d want to know.” Sasha had known Garrett
for over a hundred years and had become Garrett’s second in command
a few weeks after Garrett had destroyed Eleanor and taken over her
nest. He was right. Garrett would want me to call him.

“Do you think I should try to find Charlie?
On my own? He might need some help.”

“No.” He placed his hand over mine. “Charlie
is an asshole for leaving the way he did, and I’m going to wring
his neck when he gets back, but no. Now that he’s gone, you have to
give him his space.”

“But…”

“He’ll find his way or he’ll come home. He
and Jay won’t do anything too stupid. The fact that he called Fin
is a good sign. He’s smart, your boy, he knows when to ask for
help.”

“Five minutes ago you wanted to ream him
out.”

“Because he hadn’t called, not because he’s a
bad kid or a stupid kid.”

“Better tell Sinlae. She’s been worried
too.”

“Sure. We all worry about him.” He squeezed
my palm. “I’ll go find her.”

I was relieved when he left, not because I
didn’t like hanging out with Sash, but because I wasn’t in the mood
to talk.

I’d pretty much resigned myself to the fact
that I wasn’t going to be seeing Charlie around for a while, but
the house still felt like a black hole. Empty nest syndrome they
called it. More like chunk missing from heart, syndrome.

A section of the kitchen shimmered and
Finvarra appeared. I’d never been happier to see him.

“Little mother, how are you?”

“What’s wrong? Is Charlie hurt?”

Fin draped himself over a chair, conjuring up
a large cup of honey wine. “As long as you overlook the black eye I
gave him, he is in perfect health.”

“You hit him?”

“He deserved it.”

“What did he do?” I asked.

“Nothing you need concern yourself with.”

“I’m also pretty good at doling out black
eyes.” I fisted my hands and scowled to let him know I meant
business, but instead of getting angry, he laughed at me. Looks
like I wasn’t getting any info from the King of Faerie, at least
not today. “I’m sick of asking questions and hearing a bunch of non
answers. Charlie won’t talk. You won’t talk. Maybe I should call
Kyle. See if he can get some info out of Jay.”

“Jay is a loyal friend who will not divulge
Charlie’s secrets.”

I straightened up, resigned to my fate. “Can
I get you something to eat?” I found I wanted Fin to stick around.
After a phone call from Charlie, I tended to get depressed. Maybe
having someone with me would help.

Fin waved his hand and a platter of breads,
meats and cheeses appeared along with another filled with ripe
fruits. “You look thin.” Fin said, his expression concerned.
“Please share my meal.” I nodded a thank you and dug in. I was
suddenly starving, a part of my mind wondering if this powerful fae
could control even my appetite. But the food tasted so good,
bringing a comfortable warmth to my belly, that I decided I
couldn’t yell at him for being kind, even if he was withholding
information.

We ate, chatting about what was going on at
the Faerie Court as if we were discussing the last high school PTA
meeting. But it was like that with Fin. When he was off duty, he
seemed to fit in anywhere.

After a glass of honey wine I felt brave
enough to ask, “What happened to Kennet and Fionna?”

His eyebrows rose at my audacity, but no one
had a better right to the answer than I did. “They will never be in
a position to bring harm to your family again.” I opened my mouth
to respond, but he raised his hand. “I will not speak of them again
tonight.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You need never feel that way. They did you
great harm.” I nodded and continued to pick at my food. “Your son
tried to make a blood alliance with me. He sees himself as my
equal.”

I finished chewing a delicious morsel of
cheese and freshly baked bread, swallowing before I answered so I
wouldn’t choke. It also gave me time to think up an appropriate
answer. “He’s certainly unique. I don’t think he knows where he
fits in.”

“Unique indeed. I tasted his blood.”

Good thing I’d already swallowed. “You
what?”

“It is like nothing I have ever tasted
before. Its magic took us
between.
”

I’d been
between
. It was glorious—and
addictive. “A lot of dangerous people will want him if they find
out what his blood can do.”

“This is true.” He noticed me pushing the
plate away. “Don’t despair, Jacqueline. He is your son. I see none
of Kennet’s rot. Every young male feels anger and frustration, but
he is never cruel nor often impulsive.”

This time I laughed. “If he’s not impulsive
he’s not like me, thank goodness.” I shook my head and met Fin’s
gaze.

His lips had curled up at the corners, his
entire focus suddenly directed at me, as if I’d become much more
interesting. In that instant I understood how so many females had
wanted him to father their children. Finvarra was much more than
his incredible magic or his exalted position.

Those dark eyes and full lips were an
invitation few unattached females would walk away from. Like his
son Caelen and his grandson Aedus, he was devastatingly handsome,
but his appeal went much farther. Finvarra was perceptive when he
chose to be, intuitive. With one glance I understood that Fin knew
what a female wanted, what she needed, what she dreamed of, and I
had no doubts he could deliver on every score.

I cleared my throat, but my mouth had become
a dune in the Sahara. “It’s a good thing I’m mated to a guy who
plans ahead,” I blurted out, my nerves showing.

He remained cool, calm and collected.
“Spontaneity can lead to great pleasure.” His seductive voice
traveled down my spine and lodged itself in my belly.

Holy hells, was the King of Faerie flirting
with me? Should I be afraid? Would he force…? But I pulled the plug
fast on that thought. As scary as I’d seen him, I knew to my bones
I was safe alone with him. In fact he was doing an amazing job at
taking my mind off of Charlie—the scoundrel.

“I believe you have a touch of the charlatan
in your blood, King Finvarra.”

“You are a delightful creature, my lady
Jacqueline, and I enjoy your company very much. How does that make
me a fraud?”

“You pretended to flirt, all to get my mind
off of Charlie.”

“Did it work?”

“Yes.”

“Then half of me will admit to that being my
plan.”

“And the other half?”

“Will bow gracefully and admit defeat.
Garrett is a fortunate male.” He was grinning from ear to ear,
amused by the game.

“Your kids are nothing like you, are
they?”

“If you are referring to my penchant for
mischief, I would have to agree that none of my sons follow in my
footsteps. Jorrenn and Dinestri have lighthearted spirits, and
there is hope for some of my grandchildren.”

“That’s true.” Kellaine loved a good laugh,
and Brina was full of mischief. “Charlie’s on the serious side.
Sometimes I wish he laughed more.”

“Your son will laugh more as he gains
confidence.” He took a moment to clear the plates away with magic,
leaving the kitchen spotless. “I think it is possible that the
healer in him, the healer he inherited from you, is what gives the
mixture of races stability. I cannot imagine he would have survived
without it.

“He almost didn’t. He was ill all the time
when he was young. It wasn’t until he was four that he seemed to
get truly healthy.”

Imagine what a powerful healer will
accomplish with his powerful fae and demon magic?”

“But I’m afraid for him. He’s in constant
danger.”

Fin took my hand. “He is, but he can handle
more than he imagines.”

“I hope you’re right.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

I kept my hood
up so Jay wouldn’t see my eye right away. “You weren’t here a
minute ago. I looked.” Jay complained. He was growling, pacing back
and forth. In bear form he’d be showing fangs.

“I’m sorry. Fin showed up and he took me to
some other place where we could talk in private. He said it wasn’t
Faerie, but it was looking that way to me.”

“What did he say about this Ammon dude?”

“Not much. He told me the guy wasn’t using
his real name and that I should keep away from him.”

“Duh.”

“Yeah, he didn’t look happy about me being
contacted. He wanted me to swear allegiance to him as my King, but
I’m not gonna be bullied into taking sides.”

“Seventeen and you’ve already got a bad track
record with powerful supes.” Jay said, smiling.