Tempting the Dragon (12 page)

“Just go ahead and try one.”

Why not? Jade grabbed a napkin and reached for the smallest sandwich. If she didn’t like it, surely she could manage to choke it down.

To her surprise, it tasted good. The creamy texture melted in her mouth. She had a second, then a third, finally looking up to see Libby grinning at her as she ate.

“I love these,” Jade admitted. “Pimento cheese, you say?” At Libby’s nod, she snagged another one. “You need to give me the recipe. I’ll make them the next time there’s a family meeting.”

Helping herself to a couple of her own, Libby beamed and took her own bite. “How’s your cousin?” she asked, after she’d swallowed.

“Diamond?” Jade shrugged. “I haven’t seen her. But I haven’t heard anything, either, so that’s good. My mother would tell me if Auntie Em was having a problem with her.”

“And the baby? She’s doing well in her pregnancy? I only ask as sometimes carrying those Fae children can be...tricky.”

“Tricky?”

Slowly, Libby nodded. “There are inherent dangers in carrying a halfling-cross between Pack and Fae. Mostly health issues concerning the mother.”

Jade hadn’t considered that Di might be in danger. And with her stubborn nature... “I’ll have to make a point to stop in and check on her.”

“Please do that.” Libby sipped her tea. “And keep me posted. Your family is the only connection I have left to the outside world.”

Unable to keep from helping herself to another sandwich, Jade made a mental note to stop by and check on Diamond on the way home.

“Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, tell me what’s new with Rance.”

“I don’t know.” Jade tried not to show her despair. “I haven’t heard from him at all. Not one phone call or text or Tweet. It’s like he’s dropped off the face of the earth.”

“Well, it’s only been a week.”

Jade sighed. “True. But I’d think he’d have at least checked in by now.” Of course, he’d only do that if he ever intended on seeing her again. The way things stood now, she had a sneaking suspicion he had no plans to return to Forestwood.

Libby made a sympathetic face and took another sip of her tea. “I hope he’s all right.”

“Me, too.” She told Libby about his stepdaughter, omitting only their lovemaking in the woods. “He’s really grieving.”

“Oh, my goodness.” Libby set down her teacup. “That’s heartbreaking. She was five years old, you say?”

“Yes. Cancer.”

“So she isn’t a halfling, then?” Libby sighed.

“She is. Her mother was a shifter and her father human, I believe. It’s all so sad.”

When Jade glanced up, she realized Libby sat ramrod straight, staring ahead with that otherworldly expression that meant she’d gone into a trance. Jade knew better than to disturb her, so she continued sipping her tea. There were two halves of the sandwiches left and she decided to take one and leave the other in case Libby wanted it.

* * *

Slipping into a trance felt similar to slipping beneath the cool surface of the lake. One minute, she was talking to Jade, the next—nothing but the deep, dark waters of her abilities.

Danger lurked close by. Though startled, Libby couldn’t shake the sense of formless unease. She tried not to panic, aware her abilities could manifest themselves at any time.

But they did not. Instead, she twisted and turned, feeling blind and trapped in fear.

It had been decades since she’d felt darkness looming over her. Worse, for the first time in her life, her ability to foresee the future apparently failed her. Try as she might, she saw nothing. She had no idea from where the threat came.

She remembered what Jade had told her of her cousin Diamond and the Fae prince’s child. Could this be the source? Or was she looking in the wrong direction? She considered Jade’s man, Rance Sleighter, and wondered if she’d been wrong to feel a sense of kinship with one who’d left Forestwood without a second look.

Or could it be something else, something completely unrelated? It bothered her more that she had no idea.

The only thing she did know was that she needed to find out before something truly awful happened. Something like the last time she’d had this feeling and her entire family had been wiped out.

Terror zinged along her nerve endings, in her blood and in her veins. She blinked, suddenly desperate to break the trance. Trying to do so felt like trying to swim to the surface while tied to a large rock on the lake floor.

When she finally came to, her chest rose and fell from her rapid breathing.

“Are you all right?” Jade leaned close, her expression concerned.

“I think so,” Libby managed, still panting. Then, as she tried to collect herself, she shook her head. “No. No, I’m not.” Because the ominous dark cloud still overshadowed her, ruining the day.

Danger. She knew the feeling to be true. There could have been a hundred possible reasons, but her past told her there always was only one. She just needed to locate the source so she could put her anxiety to rest.

“Libby?” Jade again, placing her slender hand over Libby’s. “Do you need to lie down and rest?”

Did she? Confused, Libby tried to think. Though she’d wanted to put this off for a bit longer, maybe the time had come to enlist Jade’s help. Once Jade knew how to connect with her to strengthen Libby’s powers, the two could join forces to vanquish whatever evil may threaten.

Of course, Jade had to agree. Libby wasn’t sure she would, but she had nothing to lose by asking.

She placed her other hand over Jade’s. “There’s something I need to discuss with you,” she began.

* * *

Rance tried every place Jim had mentioned. In two days of driving all around Houston, he learned Jim had quit his job, closed out all his bank accounts and virtually disappeared. Desperate to find him, Rance enlisted one of his buddies at the Houston Police Department. He learned Jim hadn’t used a single credit card since the day he’d called to tell Rance that Eve had died.

Why had he done this? And why had he lied? Rance couldn’t figure out what Jim would have to gain by claiming Eve was dead. Surely he’d understand such news would bring Rance back to Texas to attend her funeral.

Unless... The idea seemed so startling, Rance nearly discredited it. Unless Jim had wanted Rance to search for him.

If so, Jim certainly hadn’t made it easy. Short of hiring a private investigator, Rance had run out of options. Still, he spent another week searching for his friend and Eve. No one—not Jim’s friends nor his family—had any idea where he and his little girl had gone.

Rance spent close to two hours with Jim’s sister, Chloe. The older woman had dementia and resided in a memory care facility. Though he remembered Jim talking about her, Rance had never actually met Chloe before. But since Jim had said she had occasional moments of clarity, Rance figured it was worth a shot.

The instant Chloe met him, she decided Rance was her husband, a man who’d died ten years earlier. She chided him for taking so long to come and get her and insisted he take her out of this place right now.

Twenty minutes in, Rance knew she had no idea where her brother might have gone. Heck, he wasn’t sure she even knew she had a brother.

When the caretakers started rounding up the residents for lunch, Rance figured he’d slip away. But Chloe insisted he stay and eat with her, so he walked with her to the dining room. She introduced him to every person they passed as her husband, Hal. Guessing it’d be easier to play along, Rance smiled and nodded.

As soon as the food was delivered to the table, Rance excused himself. Despite the fact that he didn’t even know Chloe, his chest tightened when she begged him to be sure to come back.

When he hurried toward the door, his heart heavy, one of the attendants stopped him. “It’s all right,” she said. “Ten minutes from now, she won’t even remember you being here.”

Since that knowledge only made him feel marginally better, he nodded and waited for her to punch the code so he could get out.

Now what? He got in his truck and turned the ignition. He couldn’t think of a single place he might have missed looking for clues.

He’d tried talking to Eve’s doctor, but neither he nor his staff would tell Rance anything, citing privacy laws. During a second visit to the hospital, no one knew anything more than the fact that Jim had taken his daughter without saying why.

Which meant Rance was at a dead end. Nine days of searching and he was no closer at finding Jim and Eve than he’d been on day one.

And then he remembered something Jade had said. One of Libby’s abilities was the gift of being able to find anything or anyone who has gone missing.

Did he really believe this? Was such a crazy idea worth a shot?

Uncertainty pulled him in every direction. He wasn’t sure how much time he had, but then he realized he truly didn’t know Eve’s condition. If Jim had been willing to lie about his own daughter’s death, then every time Rance had spoken to him by phone might have been false. Was she even critical or had her disease gone into remission? The latter would be the best explanation Rance could figure out for Jim pulling her out of the hospital.

Unwilling to admit defeat, Rance spent another three days repeating the rounds he’d made before, with the same results. No sign of Jim or Eve. Not even a clue to tell Rance where they might have gone.

Finally, it came down to two choices. Rance could stay in Houston and continue spinning his wheels. Or he could fly back to New York and drive up to Forestwood to talk to Libby.

After all, Jade had promised he could meet her. Jade. At the thought, his heart squeezed and his breath hitched. He’d missed her, so much more than he’d imagined. With so much going on, every time he’d thought of her, he’d pushed it away.

He eyed his phone. He hadn’t made a single attempt to contact Jade. Granted, he’d only been gone just under two weeks. He doubted she’d even expect him to touch base so soon during such a trying time. However, they’d made love and he’d taken off. She probably was furious with him and he didn’t blame her. He’d been so focused on his own situation, he hadn’t been very considerate toward her. At all.

In the end, he decided he’d simply go to her. Her and Libby both. The situation was too important to attempt to discuss over the phone. Plus, truth be told, he wanted to see Jade again.

Chapter 12

A
s Jade waited for Libby to speak, guessing the other woman had seen something important in her vision, once again her thoughts drifted to Rance. Maybe she should call him, just to see how he was doing. But no, everything inside her rebelled at the thought. If he didn’t care enough to keep her involved in what was going on with his life, then so be it. After all, he couldn’t have made it any clearer. No phone calls or texts... nothing. It shocked her how much it hurt. Even worse, despite all that, she couldn’t stop missing him.

“You’re thinking of him again,” Libby observed, her voice soft and her smile gentle. “You always get a dreamy look when you do.”

And her necklace always grew warm. Keeping that fact to herself, Jade blushed. “Sorry. I’m a sap. What is it you need to tell me?”

“I need your help.”

“That’s new,” Jade joked. “Usually I’m the one asking you for help. Of course I’ll do whatever you need me to do. Just say the word.”

Libby didn’t even crack a smile. “Perhaps you’d better find out what it is before you agree.”

“I trust you. Without hesitation.”

Libby’s eyes misted over. “Thank you. I have a sense of terrible danger, but I don’t know the origin. For once, my visions have failed me. This is why I need your assistance.”

Though puzzled, Jade nodded. “Of course. I’m not sure what I can do, but I’ll help in any way I can.”

Libby hugged her. “If I could have had a daughter, I’d wish for one exactly like you.”

Now Jade had to wipe at her eyes. While she loved her own mother, she often felt closer to Libby. “We have a wonderful bond.”

“Yes, we do.” Though Libby stepped away, her normally serene expression had gone serious, her face lined with worry. “I’ve had many Guardians over the years, but I have to say you’re one of my favorites. Only one time have I asked any other what I’m about to ask of you. And then, it happened by accident as I wasn’t even aware such a thing was possible.” She took a deep breath. “Please know you are free to decline, of course, and there will be no ill feelings.”

This was interesting. “Now I’m intrigued. Please continue.”

Libby smiled, though her gaze remained serious. “There is a process where we can form a...bond. Apparently, this ability is unique only to me. My own form of magic, if you will.”

“What kind of a bond?”

“Sort of a temporary joining of minds. This allows us to share each other’s thoughts. And abilities. When we each wanted, we could see the world through the other’s eyes.”

“Ouch.” Jade had to shake her head. “I’ll be honest. That makes my skin crawl. I don’t want anyone—even you—inside my head.”

“It could never happen without your agreement.”

“You mean it’s like a switch? It can be turned on and off? Or would you be there all the time?”

“More controlled,” Libby’s soft voice continued. “Your switch analogy is perfect. Most of the time, each of us would go about our normal lives, without anyone else aware of our thoughts or our actions.”

Still puzzled, Jade crossed her arms. “But why? Why would you ask me to do such a thing?”

“Good question.” Libby sighed. “Partly to help you if you needed it. I think it’s the only way to keep you from becoming ill if you travel to Fae again. And partly for my own selfish reasons. I’ll be blunt, Jade. I’m getting old. I’ve been alone the majority of my long life. I have regrets—a lot of them.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.” Jade swallowed. “I’m hoping we can change that.”

Libby gave her a sad smile. “While I appreciate the thought, some things never change. Before I die, I’d like to experience life through the eyes of someone young and vital. A person I trust. Someone like you.”

Stunned, Jade couldn’t find the right words. “Die?”

“One never knows when their time on earth is over.”

Libby’s cryptic words didn’t help. Still, she couldn’t wrap her mind around what Libby asked of her. The idea of allowing Libby—anyone, actually—inside her head made her feel ill.

Part of her felt selfish, denying Libby. As she opened her mouth to say no, she couldn’t deny the overwhelming feeling of relief.

“There would be a value to you also, of course,” Libby said, before Jade could speak. “When something necessitated it, like grave danger, we could join forces and amp up my abilities,” Libby continued. “Because of my strong sense that we are standing on the edge of a precipice, I have a feeling this will be sooner rather than later.”

Still dubious, Jade shook her head. “But you’d be able to see through my eyes. That’s really invasive. Even though I trust you, I don’t think that I can...”

“I understand.” Libby got up and walked to the edge of the patio, where she gripped the rail. Back to Jade, she stared out over the lake, her expression inscrutable.

“Please don’t be upset,” Jade began.

“I’m not. I told you that you can refuse. No hard feelings, I assure you.” But still, Libby wouldn’t look at her. “Jade, I want you to understand I have had a strong premonition. Whatever is about to happen isn’t going to be good, I can tell.”

“As long as you aren’t going to die, I think we’ll survive.”

At this, Libby met her gaze. “I have no plans to die, dear one. I’m reasonably sure that whatever I feel doesn’t involve my death. I just have a sense of time rushing past.” Libby bowed her head, but not before Jade saw the sheen of unshed tears in the older woman’s violet eyes.

“I...” Jade didn’t know what to say. Suddenly, she saw quite clearly what she’d simply taken for granted. Forestwood—and especially the Burnett family—had treated Libby like an outcast, as if she truly was a beast rather than a living, breathing person.

“Why don’t you take some time to think about it?” Libby said, clearly mistaking Jade’s hesitation. “And please, if you don’t mind, stop in on the way home and visit your cousin. I need to make sure this feeling isn’t due to something that’s going on with her and her unborn child.”

The words sent a chill through Jade. “I will.” She felt uncomfortable, more uneasy than she’d ever been around Libby, even the first time they’d met, though part of it was her own guilt over the way Libby had been treated. No wonder she was lonely. “I should be going. I’ll stop and see her and then I’ll give you a call and let you know.”

“Sounds perfect.” Still Libby didn’t turn. “I’ll wait to hear from you. Oh, and, Jade? Tell no one about this conversation. Not even your family or Rance. There are some secrets that can never be shared.”

After murmuring her agreement, Jade left. She felt strangely hollow as she walked to her car. Once all this was over, she was going to make sure things changed. Libby would no longer be an outcast. Jade would make sure of that.

But this request? Was Libby right? Would doing this enable Jade to leave the immediate vicinity without becoming ill?

Climbing inside her vehicle, she sat in the driver’s seat and tried to think. Never once had a vision that Libby had seen in a trance been wrong. If she said danger lurked around the corner, it did. And if Libby was worried enough to ask Jade to help... How could Jade refuse? Not once had her charge asked anything of her, yet she’d given without complaint every single time Jade had asked for her assistance.

And all Libby really wanted to do was protect the people Jade loved. If Libby wanted to experience the world through Jade’s eyes, why not? As long as it was a temporary thing, and Jade could stop it if she felt uncomfortable.

In the end, Jade had to decide if she trusted Libby. Unequivocally, the answer was yes.

Just like that, Jade realized she’d been wrong. Selfish even. She got out of the car and headed back inside to tell Libby she’d changed her mind.

Tapping lightly on the door, she stepped inside without waiting for Libby to invite her. Which was good, because Libby still sat on the back patio, staring out over the lake. She looked up as Jade approached, her slight frown smoothing out into her normally serene expression. “Did you forget something?”

“No.” Jade took a deep breath. “I’ve decided I want to help you any way I can. Tell me what I need to do.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

Libby smiled. “Thank you. You don’t need to do anything. Your agreement is enough. Merely touch your necklace and say my name out loud three times when there’s something you think I should see. I’ll join you then.”

“Will anyone else be able to tell?” Jade shifted her weight from foot to foot. “I guess I’m asking if it will be obvious that you’re somehow inside my head?”

This made Libby laugh. Rising, she crossed to Jade and swiftly hugged her. “No one will know unless you tell them.”

“What about—” Jade swallowed “—if I decide I want privacy. Once you’re there, I mean. Is there a way for me to...?”

“Order me to leave?”

“Yes.”

Libby chuckled as she hugged her once again. “All you have to do is say so and I’ll be gone. I promise never to overstay my welcome.”

Relieved, Jade hugged her back. “What now?”

“Would you mind checking on your cousin? I’m worried about her. I don’t actually have a valid reason, but I’d feel better if you’d stop in and see her.”

“Sure.” Checking her watch, Jade nodded. “I can run by there right now. I don’t have to be back at Dogs Off Leash for a couple more hours, until closing time.”

“All right. Remember, if you need me, you only have to say my name.”

“I’m sure Di is fine,” Jade muttered to herself as she drove to her aunt’s house. Alone in the car, she found herself missing Rance with a visceral ache. The passion that had flared between them had burned hot and fast. It hadn’t yet burned out.

At least for her.

She wondered if Di had heard from Prince Cai, the father of her unborn child. Somehow, she doubted it. If not, she knew her cousin wouldn’t take it well.

Jade couldn’t blame her. She struggled hourly with the desire to call Rance. But she didn’t, mainly because she’d already called twice to check on him, and he hadn’t answered or returned her call.

Maybe she and Di would finally have something in common, after all. She could certainly commiserate if Di hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Cai. Of course, Jade privately thought the Fae prince was pompous and narcissistic. All he had going for him were his good looks.

Ah, but Rance had seemed different. She remembered how he’d reacted to her temporary fascination with the handsome Fae prince and how she’d thought he had to feel something for her. Clearly, she’d been wrong.

Twelve days had passed since he left to return to Texas to bury his stepdaughter. Almost two weeks, and despite the fact that she’d given him her cell phone number, he hadn’t bothered to call or text.

Again the familiar ache. She’d been foolish to think a man like him could ever be interested in her. He roamed the world, reporting on interesting events while she was a small-town, stuck-at-home sort of woman.

Her cell phone rang, making her jump. For one tiny second she allowed herself to hope...but no. Caller ID showed her mother.

“Hi, Mom. I’m on my way to see...”

“There’s an emergency,” her mother cut her off. “How quickly can you make it to the hospital in Kingston?”

“Are you okay? What’s happened?”

“It’s your cousin Diamond. I’m here with my sister. We’ve just learned two of her friends are also pregnant and are seriously ill. Now it appears that whatever they have, Di has it, too. They’re both in comas on life support. As of right now, Di is still conscious. But we’re afraid it won’t be long until she’s in the same state as them.”

“What?” Stunned, Jade pulled into a gas station, aware she needed to focus on the phone call rather than drive. “What’s causing this? What do the doctors have to say?”

“No one seems to know anything.” Amber’s voice contained both anger and sorrow. “Emerald is beside herself. She and I have talked and, besides Libby, she knows you’re the only one who can help. Please, how quickly can you get here?”

Help?
“I’m on my way,” Jade answered. “Um, Mom? I can lend support, but you do know there’s little else I can do, right?”

“Oh, that’s where you’re wrong, my darling daughter.” The grim note in Amber’s tone sent a chill down Jade’s spine. “With Libby’s assistance, you have a few other abilities as Guardian. So far Libby has never saw fit to bestow them on any of her Guardians. Maybe this time, she will.”

A chill snaked down Jade’s spine. How did her mother know? On top of that, she’d just given her word to Libby not to reveal anything they’d just discussed.

“Where did you hear this, Mother?” Wary, Jade rubbed her suddenly aching temples.

Silence. Then Amber sighed. “There are books. I swear, I put them away and forgot about them, until recently. That’s why I’ve never shared them with you. These books are a history of our family’s role as Guardian, dating back to when Libby first appeared in Forestwood Lake.”

“Mother, I’ve been Guardian for nine years. How could you not have given me them then?” Stunned and outraged, Jade gripped her phone.

When Amber spoke again, her tone was quieter. “Honestly, I didn’t think about it. I only skimmed through them once or twice, several years before you took over as Guardian.”

Deep breaths. “Ok. I’ll try to let that go, Mom. I will never understand, but I can’t dwell on it now.”

“You’re right and I’m sorry.” Amber sighed. “But you and Libby seemed so close, while she and I... well, we never clicked. I was jealous, so I put the books away. I know I was childish, but over time, I convinced myself that you didn’t need to see them. The two of you clearly connected, so I assumed you had everything under control already.”

“Under control?” A wave of sadness choked Jade up. She gave herself a mental shake. “This is crazy.”

“I agree. I hope you can forgive me someday, but right now we’ve got bigger worries,” Amber said, a pleading note in her voice. “Your cousin is in trouble. I need you to use your extra abilities to save Di.”

Aware of her oath, Jade swallowed. Libby hadn’t granted her any healing powers. Heck, she didn’t even think Libby could heal herself.

“Well, if I have any extra abilities, Libby hasn’t told me about them.” Unless she counted Libby being able to go inside her head. Jade didn’t think that would count as an ability.