Stone Cold Seduction (10 page)

I wanted to crumple the paper and stuff it where he’d have no use for it ever again. Yes, it was a bad time to make googly eyes at Jax, but damn if I didn’t need the pick me up. Damn it more that Teryl was right. “Okay. What do I need to do?”

“Jax is going to leave, and we’re going to go to your apartment and talk,” Teryl replied. When Jax turned a frosty stare his way, Teryl sighed. “Look, I want to give Elle a better idea of what she’s getting into. It might sound better coming from her best friend.”

The men went silent.

“Manversation,” I muttered under my breath. They ignored me.

After a few moments, Jax tilted his head in Teryl’s direction in acquiescence. He scooted out from the booth and bent over to kiss me. It was a long, leisurely kiss. He took his time, and he made two things very clear. One, he was an amazing kisser. And two, I belonged to him. By the time he ended the kiss, I was perfectly happy with both.

Jax brushed the back of his finger along my cheek. “Until tomorrow.”

And he walked away. The muffled sound of his deep voice drifted our way as he went to the register to pay Mrs. Li for the meal. He managed to draw a pleased smile from the tiny woman, much like Teryl had. These guys had a way with women, that was for sure.

I wasn’t sure what I’d gotten myself into, but I wasn’t about to complain on this front.

“Ahem.” Teryl coughed into his hand.

I smiled at him. I’m sure the smile looked ridiculous and sappy, but I didn’t care. “What did you want to talk about?”

His expression was serious. “If you’re done, we can head upstairs. There are a few things we need to go over, starting with what it means to be a mate.”

And that burst my bubble. His tone was solemn, and it made me uneasy, so I deflected the only way I knew how. “Don’t tell me. On a full moon, we’ll turn into wolves, he’ll be stone, I’ll be a shadow, and we’ll have to sacrifice a deer to show our devotion and commitment for all eternity.”

His mouth twitched, but he didn’t laugh. “No. But you’re close.”

“What?”

“Ha!” He pointed a finger at me. “Gotcha. You need to take this seriously. It is a commitment for eternity. And whether it’s in the fates or not, you need to know about it. Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

I slid out of the booth and waited until we hit the street. “Okay, what does it mean to be or have a mate? And if it’s fated, do I even have a choice?”

“You always have a choice. But if it’s written in his fate
and
your fate, it will happen eventually. You just get to choose how.”

I couldn’t stop the goofy grin that curved my lips. I unlocked the door to my building, and we made our way up to my apartment.

Teryl waited for me to lock the door behind us. “If MacLean hadn’t shown up today, I would have said ‘go for it’ and given my blessing. But Elle, you shouldn’t have been able to shift the phoenix. And you did it so fast and effortlessly…”

I remained quiet. Teryl might be a smart ass, but he was also great at seeing the big picture. I always knew when he was turning over a puzzle in his head. I just had to sit back and wait for him to work it out.

A minute later, he rubbed a hand through his hair, causing it to stick up at odd angles. The tousled look worked for him. He looked like a handsome, absent-minded professor when he was in critical thinking mode. “I don’t understand. If your father signed the engagement contract with the Douglas family, you should already be married. You’re almost twenty-eight.”

“Yeah, I am getting a little long in the tooth,” I said, with just a hint of sarcasm.

“That’s not what I mean. You would have known about it and been married by twenty-five, at the latest. If there’s an engagement contract, there are usually stipulations about when and where the wedding will take place.”

Stipulations? It sounded so cold when he put it like that. I wrinkled my nose. “So what happened?”

“I’m not sure. Something ended the contract, but it would have to have been pretty serious.” Teryl dropped onto my couch and leaned back into the cushions. “When a contract is made between two lines to secure an alliance, both sides take it very seriously. If the contract was made null and void, it means something major happened.”

“Like what?”

“There could have been a disagreement between Jedren and MacLean’s father, Cian. The contract could have been tied to a business deal, and if that fell through, both would fall through. Or maybe because your abilities never surfaced, MacLean’s family could have used that as grounds to be released from the contract.”

“And because of the screwed up kids we’d have,” I added with sarcasm. I sat in the armchair next to the couch. The smaller frame fit my body perfectly. The cheerful print fabric usually put me in a happy mood. Not today.

“Exactly.” He noticed my dirty look and shrugged. “You know what I mean. Because the lines have been weakening, strong abilities are a requirement. That’s one of the reasons marriage contracts are so carefully made and entered into. To ensure the continued success and strength of the families.”

From a logical standpoint, what he said made sense. But what about love and partnership? “Okay, let’s say that’s what it was. I didn’t show any abilities, the engagement was called off and…?”

“And that might be why Jedren wiped your memories. If you had no abilities, you would be a liability to him.”

I cringed. I couldn’t help it. From what I could remember, I had always been nothing more than a liability to him. It wasn’t something a child wanted or needed to hear.

Teryl grimaced as he realized what he’d said. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know you didn’t. I know exactly what you mean. You’re probably right. But if it’s okay with you, I’d like to get back to the whole mate concept. Talking about Jedren isn’t going to help right now.” Any time my father was brought up in conversation, fury simmered just below the surface. I didn’t need to be on an emotional roller coaster right now. I was having enough trouble keeping up with the rest of it.

“Like I said before, when you find your mate, you make a commitment. You’re bound forever. It’s like a marriage, only more.”

“More, how?” I was genuinely curious. I wasn’t ready for marriage, and I wasn’t ready to take eternal vows. However, I did want to know why Jax was so adamant to “claim” me.

“There’s a ceremony. The details differ from line to line, but the type of ceremony is determined by the magic involved.”

“The magic? Meaning the abilities?”

“Yes, exactly. To be honest, I don’t know much about them. Oracles only marry oracles, so Jax would have to tell you more about what his line requires.”

“I don’t have to drink blood or anything weird like that, do I?”

Teryl smirked at me. “You really need to stop watching those vampire shows.”

“What?” I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “Like there’s anything normal about having a mate and the ceremony that goes with it?”

“It’s normal for our world,” Teryl said, in a quiet voice.

I let my hands drop to my lap. I would have to start considering it my world, too, now. “Right. So, Jax is supposed to be my mate, and there’s a ceremony, and what happens depends on our lines.”

“Yes.”

“And Jedren is the king of shadow elves, and I’m his heir.” I refused to use the title of princess. Not even Teryl knew why. Luke did.

Teryl watched and waited for me to finish.

“And I can shadow and shift Jax, but shouldn’t be able to shift MacLean. Therefore, my mother might have been more than just human. If my father did wipe my memories and void the marriage contract because I didn’t have any abilities then, why are they showing up now? Is there a certain age they should appear?”

“Yes, by age eleven the abilities have matured. Right around the time a child is presented their fate. For some it’s earlier, and for some it’s a little later, but if they haven’t shown up by fifteen or sixteen, you start to worry.”

“Am I considered a late bloomer?” My twenty-eighth birthday was only a few weeks away, but I thought that was still young.

“I’ve never heard of someone coming into their abilities this late.” He pulled the piece of paper from his pocket and put it on my coffee table so he could scribble a few more notes. A minute later, he looked up at me with a slight frown. “Obviously it’s not impossible, but I don’t know anyone who would believe it could happen.”

“Do they all just,” I waved my hand in a pantomime of a fairy wand, “poof into place?”

“Poof? No. It can take a few years, a few weeks, or a few days for them to develop. Some lines develop more slowly than others. Gargoyles usually take a few years. Oracles develop their magic within days. The shadow and light elves can vary, but I would say a few weeks to a few months on the average. It’s largely based on your line and your genetics. If your parents came into their magic within a month, you should, too, give or take a week.”

I rolled my eyes. “I won’t be calling Daddy Dearest to ask. Besides, it sounds like I’m already not following the typical pattern.”

“I wouldn’t even call it a pattern.” Teryl began drumming his fingers on the glass table top. “And you’re right. You’re not anything like you should be.”

I decided to take that as a compliment. As he continued to tap his fingers, I made a mental note to get him a set of drum sticks for Christmas. I knew it was a nervous habit, but it sure wasn’t helping my nerves. One of us needed to be calm and levelheaded.

Finally, he said, “I’m worried about what else will develop.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t think your magic is done manifesting. and it scares the hell out of me.”

“Why?”

He tugged at the hem of his shirt as he leaned back into the cushions once more.

“Why, Teryl?” I pressed. “Or maybe I should ask, what scares you?”

“You do.” And he couldn’t quite meet my gaze when he said it. “Look, I’ve gotta go get my own stuff in order so we can go to Scotland. I’ll see you soon.”

Great. I was trying not to freak out, but how was I supposed to react when my best friend tells me I scare him?

Chapter Six

It’s amazing how two days can change a life. My employee was now claiming to be my mate. My best friend was scared of me. My mother was possibly not who or what I thought she’d been. And when it came down to it, I was freaked out.

Who, in their right mind, wouldn’t be? I didn’t ask to be a shadow elf or, even worse, my father’s heir, his
royal
heir. I didn’t want any crazy abilities. I didn’t want to travel to Scotland, at least not for the purpose of seeing an oracle. And I didn’t want MacLean around, antagonizing Jax.

A sudden thought hit me.
Oh, crap, the stones!

I hurried back to my bedroom. I uncovered the gems and stared at them. My hands were shaking as I slowly touched one. Without taking my eyes off of them, I backed up to my dresser and grabbed the phone. I dialed and waited for Teryl to pick up his cell.

“Hey,” he answered. “That was fast. I just left. What’s up?”

“Teryl,” I croaked. “The gems. What if they’re souls?”

His curse was muffled by static on the line. Then I heard him say, “You need to tell Jax about them.”

“Are you crazy?” It was a long, convoluted story.

“Damn,. I’ll call you back in a minute. I have to find someplace to park.” He hung up.

I’ve been stealing from my father for a little over a year. To date, I’ve skimmed an antique mirror, artwork, jewelry, first edition books, and the gemstones. Jedren likes to collect things. His house is like a museum. I’ve never understood why he needs to be surrounded by priceless things, inanimate objects worth a ridiculous amount of money. But now, knowing he’s a king, it makes more sense.

Teryl has been able to track shipments—via the accounting records, or so I’ve assumed—of the occasional item we knew we could sell with little problem. Like I’ve said, the money went to families affected by my father’s greed or anger. I’ll give you a few examples.

Robert Sheridan had been my father’s tax attorney for fifteen years when he decided he was ready to retire and spend more time with his wife and grandkids. Jedren wasn’t ready for him to retire, because Robert knew too much. Within three months, Robert’s investments had tanked in value and he’d had a stroke. Sure, it could have been coincidence, but I don’t believe it.

Then, there was Marybeth Chandler. She’d been my father’s housekeeper when I was a child and teen. She’d kept my secrets and had even helped me a time or two. Shortly after I turned sixteen, the cook found her at the bottom of the winding staircase, her neck broken. Not one person voiced their suspicions. It was months before a maid let it slip she’d gone to my father to confront him about how he treated me.

Jedren had killed her to make a statement. As if that weren’t bad enough, Marybeth’s husband is disabled. Confined to a wheelchair, caught in the vicious grip of multiple sclerosis. He had needed her in more ways than one, and in an instant, Jedren had forever ruined two lives.

Those are only two of the victims I secretly help to support. There are a dozen more, and I expect the list to continue to grow. I help them with medical bills and whatever I can. It’s never enough. How do you compensate someone for an irreversible medical condition? For a life?

You can’t. But that doesn’t stop me from trying. Every time I see their faces, their gratitude, I’m even more motivated to stop him.

My mother, Robert, and Marybeth deserve that much.

I’m stealing. I know I have a good reason, but I also know not everyone will see it that way.

My phone rang and I picked it up. “I can’t tell him. If Jax knew what we were doing, he might try to stop us.”

There was silence on the other end of the line.

“Hello?” I didn’t hear any static, so I didn’t think Teryl’s reception was bad.

“I think you do need to tell me.”

I closed my eyes in shame.
Dumb, dumb, dumb
. “Jax. Hey. I, uh, thought you were Teryl.”

“I gathered that. We’ll have time to talk on our flight. I was calling to tell you it leaves at seven, tomorrow morning. I’ll pick you up at five o’clock.” His cool tone made my shoulders slump. We had a long flight ahead.

“Great,” I mumbled. “See you then.”

A few seconds after I hung up, Teryl called back. “Sorry, I had to park the car so we could talk. I really think you should tell Jax. He might have ideas and—”

“Teryl,” I interrupted his rant. “He knows something’s going on.”

“What?” I could hear the confusion in Teryl’s voice.

“Yeah, he just called. I thought it was you and…” I needed to start using my caller ID.

Teryl laughed. “I haven’t even been gone fifteen minutes, and you’ve already got yourself into more trouble.”

“It’s a talent,” I muttered. A talent I seemed to perfect at every turn.

“Well, that solves one problem.” He sounded cheerful.

“Speak for yourself. How am I going to explain the stealing, Teryl?”

His voice was gentle when he replied, “Try the truth. Give Jax more credit and tell him the truth.”

I sighed. He was right. I knew he was, but it was still going to be an uncomfortable conversation. “Okay. By the way, our flight leaves at seven and Jax is picking me up at five, if you want to just come here.”

“That works for me. I’ll call Cassie tonight. She’ll be grateful for the hours.”

Crap. I’d completely forgotten about the shop. “That’d be great, thanks. And Teryl, Jax said I could make a custom scent for the token. Is that really a good idea?”

“It’s as good as any. Once you meet Carys, you’ll understand. She’s something else.”

“What would she like?”

“Ah, something that smells good?”

I rolled my eyes. Men. They have no clue when it comes to the power of the right scent.

“Can you at least give me a clue about her personality?” I could develop the scent using her personality as a reference point. And working might help get my mind off of everything, even for an hour.

“In a word? Intense. Carys is very intense.”

I frowned, mentally running through my recipes. “Like flowery intense? Spicy intense?”

Teryl made a sound between a cough and laugh. “No, she’s scary, powerful intense.”

Okay. That would be a challenge. But I could figure something out. “Well, that gives me something to start with, thanks. I’ll let you go. I have to pack and make the token.”

“It’s going to be okay.”

“Famous last words, Teryl. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I set the phone back, carefully wrapped the gems up, and tucked them away. My shop was calling, and I was more than willing to get to work. The creative process of making bath products had helped me get through my mother’s death, and it was a great escape now. The comfort of my normal routine was exactly what I needed.

I trudged down the stairs, unlocked the door, and went straight to the radio and flipped it on. The sound of thumping dance beats filled the air. My hips automatically began swaying. Humming to myself, I shimmied my way over to my mixing counter in the back. Two bamboo screens blocked the view from prying eyes. The foot traffic outside my shop was busy in this neighborhood, and the huge window in front didn’t give me much privacy on the days I was closed and in creative mode. The counter was full of bowls, beakers, fragrance, and mixing tools. It looked like a workstation belonging to the Iron Chef, Martha Stewart, and the mad scientist from
Frankenstein
.

I snagged the apron hanging on the edge of the closest bamboo screen and twirled around before tying it behind me. I picked up a bowl and began setting out my spoons, measuring utensils, and spatulas. I figured I’d make a fragrance and matching body cream. It seemed like a safe bet. And I could go wild with the scent.

Intense, Teryl had said. Scary, powerful intense. I tilted my head to one side as I considered my scents. Patchouli was considered to be an intense scent. It was a good seller, but I’d never liked it. The smell burned my nose, and I’d always been tentative to use it. Too pungent for my tastes.

I let my fingers glide over the small, amber bottles. Rose, lavender, cinnamon…I grabbed cloves, anise, and vanilla. Twisting the lids, I took a careful sniff of each.

Nope. Too spicy.

I put them back and tried again. Jasmine, vanilla, and a hint of sandalwood. I took a test sniff. “Hmm…” I grabbed a dropper and carefully measured a few drops of each into a beaker. I sniffed again and added more vanilla and sandalwood. Kneeling under the counter, I opened the cupboard and grabbed a bottle of distilled alcohol base. Humming along with the music, I stood and swayed my hips as I carefully measured and mixed the ingredients before slowly pouring them into an atomizer.

I gave it a test squirt on my wrist. I danced around, letting my spine relax and move with my hips. After a few minutes, I smelled my wrist and a smile of pleasure curved my lips. Perfect. It was smooth, mysterious and a little intense, without being overwhelming. I took another sniff and decided I’d make this a new line and call it “Fate.” I scribbled the final recipe down on an index card and tucked it in my recipe file.

I loved my job.

Next, I had to make the cream. I debated about the base, but knowing she was in Scotland made it easier. Lots of moisture there, so I opted for the lighter base. I pulled out the silky lotion, scooped some into a mixing bowl, and began adding essential oils until the scent was just right. I took a small, plastic spatula and smeared a bit on my arm.

The beat of the music changed, and I twirled around, rubbing the lotion into my skin. I closed my eyes and let the soft scent swirl around me as I moved to the music. My shoulders softened, and I released a breath. What a weekend. What a day. Getting back to my simple routine, even for a moment, was exactly what I needed. I let my feet carry me around the store as I stopped to rearrange a few bottles on one shelf and adjust price tags on another.

I brought my arm close to my nose to see if the scent still worked with the base. The fragrance had softened, which was typical in a lotion base, but it was just right. I loved it, and I hoped Carys would appreciate it.

The song changed as I slowly danced my way to the front of the store, engrossed with checking shelves and making sure everything was stocked. I didn’t want to leave Cassie with empty shelves. Little tasks like this comforted me and reminded me why I did what I did. I stopped at the basket of soaps by the front door and knelt down. I made a mental note to grab a few more “Serenity” and “Sweet Cheeks” from the back, when a movement caught my attention. Still kneeling, I turned my head and cried out when a large shadow shifted on the other side of the frosted glass door.

I landed hard on my butt as I fell back and tried to scramble away from the door.

The lock clicked, and the door opened.

“It’s me.”

I stopped the ridiculous crab walk and let my hips drop to the ground. “Jax? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

He stepped in and shut the door behind him. “Sorry. I couldn’t leave you alone today.”

My panic began to subside, and my breath slowed down. He was dressed in black jeans and a white T-shirt. His hair was a little damp, so I guessed he’d just gotten out of the shower. My fingers curled, because I really wanted to run my hands through that damp hair. His scent enfolded me, and I felt my heartbeat slow. I wondered if all mates found instant calm with each other. Somehow, Jax had that effect on me.

“You could have called. You can’t go sneaking around like that.” There was no heat in my words. I was happy he was here.

“I wasn’t sneaking.” He held up his key. “I work here.”

“Not on Sunday nights,” I muttered. I let him help me to my feet.

He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed. “I wanted to check on you.”

I snaked my arms around his waist and squeezed back. “We need to clarify a few things.”

He pressed a kiss to my lips. “Like what?”

“This is a relationship.” I made it a statement and tried to stay relaxed. I needed to get this out in the open. There were too many unanswered questions in my life right now, so I needed to be certain about him and about us.

Jax went very still. Finally, he stepped away, so he could look at me. “This is a relationship. You are my mate.”