KnightForce Tres (La Patron KnightForce Book 3) (4 page)

Chapter 6

“What?” Elyria screamed as she stalked to Mélange. “What the hell did you just say?” Color drained from her face, leaving a pasty canvas which made her blue eyes appear large and shiny, like marbles.

Mélange’s vision wavered beneath the heat of her despair. “I begged you to go to the island and live, to retire, but you wanted to do this last job. We didn’t need to come here, but you never listen to me!” Mélange scooted back on the sofa, dropped her head to her knees and wrapped her arms around them as loud, heart-breaking sobs escaped.

“Mélange…Mel…come on, it’s…I never thought…please, don’t cry.”

Heart pounding as if it would escape the confines of her chest, Mélange wiped her face with the back of her hand and snickered at the irony of fate. “Look what happened, the person you send me to set-up for the job turns out to be my mate.” Cold, empty, numb, she wrapped her arms around her waist and dug her nails into her skin to feel something.

Elyria shook her head. “Wait a minute. She’s human, how can she be your mate?”

“I don’t know.” Mélange sat still for a moment and met her gaze. “I don’t know,” she whispered.

Elyria stared at her as if she were unhinged. “Mates?” She laughed as color returned to her cheeks. “Impossible.”

Mélange wished she could laugh it off as easily as Elyria. But the unmistakable signs grew stronger each day she denied the bond. “The impossible has happened and I blame you! Goddess,” she mumbled. “Why the hell did I get attached to a human? Somebody please answer me that.”

Hand on one hip, Elyria stared at her a few moments, biting one long red fingernail. “Her sister is mated to La Patron, maybe there’s something in their line. They share a mother, not a father. I didn’t think there’d be a connection.”

Mélange’s mouth dried and her throat tightened as she continued to stare at Elyria. The attraction was still there, but it lacked the fire which normally burned in her gut when she and her lover were together. Her mouth didn’t water and she had no desire to touch Elyria.

She opened her mouth to tell Elyria she loved her, and couldn’t speak. Her hands shook as she thought of touching the woman who held her heart. When she couldn’t move, she closed her eyes as they filled with tears and then looked up.

Her life was over
.

“I want to spend my life with you, it’s all I’ve dreamed of the past 10 years…what the fuck am I going to do without you?” Mélange whispered raggedly.

Elyria jerked as if she hadn’t thought that far. “We aren’t separating; you’ll have to fight this. We’ve worked too hard and too long to get this far.” Her voice rose and she spoke faster and faster. “I’ll check my books, see what I can find to break the mating bond. What are the symptoms?” Her gaze flew over Mélange, and then she stopped in front of her, grabbed her by the arms and shook her. “Tell me, how do you know she’s your mate?”

Mélange tapped her chest. “It hurts when she leaves, my wolf cries for her mate.” Her hands covered her ears. “I can’t shut out her whining and longing for Renee. It’s driving me crazy.”

Elyria gasped and stumbled back. “You…you want someone else?”

“No…my wolf does. She’s not listening to me,” Mélange cried. Unbearable pain split her chest in half at the thought of life without Elyria, while her wolf demanded Renee.

“Make her listen, damn it. I’m not giving you up, I can’t…I can’t. We’re a team, you love me. I love you…fight this thing, whatever it is. She’s just a stupid human!”

Growling, Mélange jumped from her chair, her wolf bleeding through as her claws pierced her fingers.

Elyria jumped back, swallowing hard, and then covered her ears with her palms, shaking her head.

A few seconds later, Mélange re-gained control and extended a hand to Elyria, who hesitated before taking it. “Please help me. I don’t know how to stop this. I choose you, I’ll always choose you.”

Elyria wrapped Mélange in her arms and stroked her hair gently. Shaking with the effort it took to control her wolf, Mélange remained straight as a board, breathing heavily.

Her thoughts fought on the battlefield of her mind. Her wolf demanded she leave the shelter of Elyria’s arms, while her heart begged to remain. Her wolf howled in displeasure that another prowled her thoughts, while her heart detested Renee and everything she stood for.

“Shhh, don’t worry love. We’ll fix this, somehow we’ll figure a way to beat this, we’ve won every battle so far, we’ll win this. It’s just me and you against them all, we always win…” Elyria rocked her back and forth.

Mélange heard the words, but her wolf rejected them. “I don’t want a human mate, you’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a mate. Who’s doing this?”

“Someone once said the Goddess made the assignments, but I’m not sure.” Elyria paused. “We can program your necklace so that your wolf is silent.”

Excited over the prospect of outwitting her beast, Mélange looked up, an agreement on her lips until she saw Elyria’s frown. “What else?”

“The necklace already prevents La Patron from accessing your wolf, to silence it further may damage her beyond repair. Which means you’d lose all the benefits from your wolf.” The look of sorrow in her eyes underscored just how bad Mélange’s life would be if she made that choice.

“The ability to heal? Smell, see, move fast, morph? I’d lose it all?” She needed to say it, to hear it out loud, to make the consequences real.

Elyria nodded.

Mélange dropped her head and stared at her hands. Small, lethal, and covered with the blood of her victims. How would a human ever understand who she was? The things she’d done or choices she made? One couldn’t lie to a mate. She’d skated on the edge of truth so far, but if they ever mated, Renee would see her dark heart and soul. Was she doomed to live the rest of her life with someone who despised her? Who couldn’t ever understand the choices she made to survive? Or the way she chose to live?

Unable to put the overwhelming distress in words, she bent forward clutching her waist. A low keening sound ripped from her soul, filled her mouth and entered the atmosphere. Her breath shortened, but she kept crying and intermittently making that sound.

Elyria’s arms were around her again. This time the heaviness in the air reminded her of a wake, which seemed more appropriate. No matter what they wished, their relationship died the moment Mélange’s wolf recognized Renee.

Chapter 7

“Are you free for lunch,” Jasmine asked Rose. She hadn’t spent much time with her daughter-in-law lately. Preparing her small crew for school had been an all-consuming task. Silas’ reminder of how fast wolves grow spurred her into seeing her grandbabies today.

“Oh, please, please let’s have lunch and talk. I’ve missed the sound of adult conversation,” Rose said and then laughed.

Jasmine chuckled. “In that case, you want to bring the boys here and we can eat on the balcony?”

“Perfect, 30 minutes? An hour? How soon?” Rose asked and Jasmine felt bad she hadn’t offered to take the boys for a few hours so Rose and Tyrone could have a break. Jasmine frowned. Rose had a nurse for the boys, didn’t she use them?

“I’ve ordered lunch, so come whenever you’re ready.” She looked at the jeans and brown, loose blouse she wore.
[iii]
Should she change into something more kid friendly?

“I’m on my way. See you in a bit.”

She passed the large oval mirror in the dining area. Pulling her hair up away from her face she frowned, maybe she should secure it, might be too much of a temptation. Silas liked her hair down, and she planned to see him after lunch.

Jasmine opened the French doors that led to the veranda and allowed the cool breeze to flow inside as it brushed her cheeks. Stepping onto the terrazzo, she stared at the mountains in the distance, and then glanced at the courtyard below. The short basketball goal, small plastic tables, puzzles, and art supplies were situated in various spots. Normally, kids’ laughter filled the air as they chased each other. Now, blessed silence.

Rose knocked and then entered wearing blue jeans, an orange tank top, sandals, and her hair in a high pony tail. She looked more like a college student than La Patron’s super-efficient secretary. The food arrived at the same time and was set up in covered trays outside along with the high chairs.

Smiling, Jasmine walked over to the double carriage and picked up Ryder. He had given them all a scare when he was born, for several tense moments they were afraid he wouldn’t survive. Matt, the doctor who delivered the baby, worked hard to save Ryder’s life. For that Jasmine would always be grateful.

Toothless, with short, spiky dark hair, he grinned at her. Eyes the color of a new penny shined as he stared at her hair and tried to grab it. She shook it out the way and kissed him on the cheek. “Nana loves you.”

He giggled as his small hands made contact with her hair and yanked.

“No.” She stared at him.

His smile gradually disappeared. For a few seconds he held her gaze and then released her hair. “Good boy.” She placed another kiss on his cheek, handed him to Rose and picked up Ryan, who looked so much like Tyrone at this age, it was uncanny. Jasmine smiled into his dark eyes, and then kissed him on the cheek. “Nana loves you, too. Come on, let’s eat.” She turned and they headed outside.

Ryan grabbed her hair and looked at her.

Jasmine’s brow rose, and he released it with a wide grin. “Just like your daddy, always testing me.”

Rose laughed and placed Ryder in a high chair while Jasmine did the same with Ryan. “How’re the kids enjoying school?”

“Good so far.”

“Rone watched them on the monitor yesterday, said Sarita sat alone and the teachers kept trying to get her to interact with the other children.”

Jasmine placed some stuffing and sliced turkey in front of Ryan and smiled as he stuffed the meat in his mouth, chewing with his gums. Mirroring his happy grin, Jasmine cut another small piece and fed it to him.

“Yeah, Sarita…she was like that when she came last year at Christmas, remember? It takes her a while to open up and make friends. At least she likes the teacher. Ms. Trant spends time with her when the other kids are playing or busy. David mentioned Sarita’s behavior yesterday while they were eating snacks in the playroom. Sarita shrugged and said she liked the teacher. All the kids agreed, even David that Ms. Trant was really nice.”

Rose looked at her two. “Won’t be long before a whole football team will be in the tunnel headed to school in the mornings. Jacques didn’t go into the office yesterday or today because he’s expecting the babies any second now.” She looked at Jasmine. “His words to Rone, I swear.”

Jasmine wiped Ryan’s mouth with a napkin and gave him something to drink. “I received the same message twice a day, each morning and evening, the last four days.”

“Ouch.” Rose made a face.

Jasmine nodded, accepting the sympathy. “Maybe today will be the day and we can all exhale.” At 62, her mom, Victoria, was ridiculously healthy and capable of bearing her mate, Jacques, quadruplets. For a man well over 200 years to have his first litter of pups, Jacques was over the moon and treated her mom like a queen who couldn’t do anything. Her mom reveled in the attention and drove everyone else crazy.

Rose lifted her glass of sweet tea. “Today is the day.”

Jasmine tapped the glass with hers. “Hear, hear. My brothers and sisters arrive today, preferably before my crew returns from school.” She drank her tea and sighed. “Otherwise, I’ll have to split my time and mom will hunt me down.”

Rose chuckled but offered no opinion.

“Silas has decided the kids can go to sleepovers.”

Rose’s hand flew to her mouth to stop the tea from flying everywhere. She grabbed a napkin and mopped the table, and then her mouth. Coughing, she looked at Jasmine. “What?” she croaked out and coughed again.

“You heard me; he said they can go to sleepovers.” Jasmine fed Ryan more turkey and glanced at the stunned look on Rose’s face.

“No way.”

“Yes, after they are able to shift, know self-defense, and can communicate mind to mind, they can go.” She waited, and joined Rose in laughing.

“Jasmine
?” Silas called.

“
Yes, babe?”

“Babe? Never mind, Victoria’s water just broke. Matt’s there with her and says these are coming fast. She’s calling for you and Renee.”

“Oh shit. We just…never mind. Thanks.”
Wide-eyed, she looked at Rose. “Mom’s having the babies.”

Rose stared a few seconds and then looked at her glass. “That must’ve been a powerful toast. Go on up, I’ll pack up these two and head home. If you need me to tend the masses when they come home from school, I’ll be happy to.”

Jasmine stood, covered the serving dishes, and wiped Ryan’s hands and mouth with a napkin. “Thanks, I’ll let you know. By the time I get to mom’s they may be here.”

“Is that wishful thinking?” Rose asked as she put Ryder in the carriage.

“Maybe. I don’t know.” She placed Ryan next to Ryder and headed for the door. Rose followed. “I’ll let you know when they arrive.” She placed a kiss on Rose’s cheek and then on each of her grandsons, and headed down the hall to the elevator.

When she stepped inside her mom’s main living room, the wailing of several voices she’d never heard before reached her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she covered her mouth. Tears filled her eyes as she walked slowly toward her mom’s bedroom.

“And that’s the last one,” Matt said, sounding both happy and tired.

“Jacques, four? One boy, three girls?” her mom said, her voice stronger than it had been in days.

“Yes, my love. You’ve filled our den with four beautiful pups, my heart is full with pride and gratitude.”

Jasmine closed her eyes and said a prayer of thanksgiving, and then tapped on the door. “Mama?”

“Jazz, come in, come meet your brother and sisters. They’re finally here, thank the Lord. I don’t think I could’ve gone another day. Look at them, so beautiful…I’m so very tired,” Victoria said. She was lying beneath the covers as the nurses scurried around the room, cleaning and changing linens. Jacques stood between the bed and four small bassinets, beaming as he held his mate’s hand.

“
Silas, the babies are beautiful. Each has a head full of black hair, and are so tiny.”

“Jacques has waited a long time for his pups, I’m happy for him. I’m on my way.”

“They’re beautiful, have you named them?” Jasmine looked at her mom and then Jacques.

“We have some names we talked about and will decide that later, for now I just need to rest,” Victoria said.

Jacques kissed her on the cheek and then the back of her hand. Silas walked into the room and headed directly to Jasmine. He wrapped his arm around her waist, turned and looked at the new babies.

“Well done, Jacques, old man.” He glanced at Victoria, whose eyes were closed. “Congratulations Victoria, they are as beautiful and healthy as my mate said.”

Victoria raised her hand and then allowed it to drop back to the bed without responding. Jasmine suffered with the exhaustion her mom experienced now that the babies were delivered and started to leave with Silas.

“Jasmine, please stay, I need to talk to you, in private,” her mom said.

Frowning, Jasmine looked at Jacques. He shrugged and left with Silas. “Mama, we can’t mind link, so how do you think anything we say will be private?”

Victoria pulled a tablet from beneath her pillow, tapped a few keys, and then passed it to Jasmine.

“Oh, God, I never want to experience that again. How do I keep from getting pregnant?”

Understanding completely, Jasmine typed the answer
. “Tell your body no pregnancies. Command it to not accept his seed or to not release an egg.”

Her mom’s brow rose as she read it, and then she nodded. She replaced the tablet under the pillow. “Thanks, Sweetie. Call Renee for me, I promised we’d let her know when the babies arrived. Send Jacques in to watch them with the nurses while I sleep.”

Jasmine smiled. “Yes, Ma’am, I’ll take care of it.” She took one more look at the small bundles and left the room.