Tempting the Dragon (15 page)

When she did, Di’s baby kicked so roughly they all could see her bump move.

“She recognizes me,” Breena said, sounding pleased.

She?

Amber started to speak, but closed her mouth when Jade shook her head in warning.

“I’ll need to soothe her. And—” Breena looked from Jade to the two older women “—I’ll have to place the unborn child into a trance. Only if she sleeps will she stop fighting her human mother.”

“A trance?” Emerald gasped. “That doesn’t sound safe for an infant in utero.”

Breena shrugged. “It’s your choice. But please be aware, if I do not do this, your daughter will die. And most likely the infant, too. I don’t think she’s developed enough to survive on her own outside of the womb.”

Both Emerald and Amber gasped.

Meanwhile, Breena looked at Jade. “Can you lead me to the other pregnant women who are ill? If they have family with them, it will be their choice. If they do not, I will leave it up to you whatever you want me to do.”

“Wait!” Auntie Em stepped forward. “I don’t want my daughter to die. Please, do what you have to do in order to help her.”

Breena nodded. Moving swiftly, she crossed to the hospital bed and placed both hands on Di’s stomach. “I’ll need absolute silence.” Her gaze locked on Jade. “Do not allow anyone to disturb me. There could be disastrous consequences if that happens.”

Immediately, Rance moved to block the doorway. “In case any nurses or aides try to come in.”

Grateful, Jade nodded. With his large frame filling the doorway, he’d protect her cousin and the Fae princess. She smiled slightly at the knowledge of how much she liked having him at her back. Before, she’d enjoyed her independence. She still did. But there was something to be said for having someone around who you knew would never let you down.

As long as he was here, that is.

She pushed away the sobering thought. No matter how much she might wish it were different, it wasn’t meant to be. She had deep ties to Forestwood, to this land and this lake and her home. And to Libby, of course.

While Rance—she thought trying to tie him to one place might be akin to clipping the wings off an eagle. He’d survive, but he’d never be the same. She’d never want to be the one to cause a look of loss and yearning in his beautiful gray eyes.

Shaking off her thoughts, she watched as Breena continued chanting in an unintelligible language over Di’s unconscious form. Amber and Auntie Em stared, too, both wearing nearly identical wide-eyed expressions.

“There.” Straightening up, Breena smiled at the two older women. “All finished. Now when it comes time for her to deliver, you’ll need to contact me to wake the baby up. Other than that, Di should be able to enjoy a relatively normal pregnancy.”

“Will the baby—” Emerald cleared her throat “—will she still kick?”

“Yes. And her heartbeat will be normal. The accelerated growth rate will slow.”

“In other words,” Jade chimed in, “everything will go back to the way it’s supposed to be.”

“Correct.” Breena exhaled. “Now if you’ll take me to the others, I’ll see what I can do for them.”

Rance turned, glancing at Jade before directing his attention to Amber. “Do you want to lead the way?” he asked, his polite tone at odds with his shuttered expression. Jade understood he tried to rein in his impatience.

“Of course.” Gathering her belongings, Amber kissed her sister on the cheek. “Will you be all right here for a few minutes?”

Emerald never glanced up from her sleeping daughter. “Of course.”

“As a matter of fact,” Jade put in. “Breena, is it all right if Rance and I go now? He’s got another urgent matter he needs to tend to.”

“Of course.” Breena waved them away. “Amber and I will be fine with the others.” Her bright smile made her entire face glow. “And I certainly know my own way home.”

“How will we contact you?” Emerald asked, finally looking up from her daughter. “For when it’s time for Di to deliver?”

“They know.” Breena inclined her head toward Rance and Jade. “But in case they’re indisposed, ask Amber to show you the portal in the forest.”

“Okay.” Emerald returned her attention to Di, as if she could bring her awake by sheer strength of will.

At least Amber had the grace to look guilty. Suddenly, she wouldn’t meet Jade’s gaze.

“Mother? You know where it is?” Jade tried to keep the accusation from her tone.

“Of course. Oh, honey, don’t look at me like that,” Amber pleaded. “There’s so much that goes along with being the Guardian. Some things you have to learn for yourself.”

Though Jade didn’t buy Amber’s explanation, she also knew her flighty mother had hated being Guardian and couldn’t wait to pass that particular mantle off on Jade.

“It’s okay,” Jade said, even though it really wasn’t. Still, she saw no sense in holding a grudge for something that had already happened. Being upset wouldn’t change things.

She looked up to find Rance watching her, his expression understanding. “Are you ready?” he asked softly, though worry and frustration vibrated just underneath the surface of his calm tone. “I don’t want to waste any time.”

“Yes.” Jade gave Amber a quick hug, did the same for her aunt and then waved at Breena. “We’ll talk to you soon.”

“I have no doubt you will,” Breena responded. “I can tell you are the type of person who always keeps their promises.”

Dependable and boring. And that pretty much summed her up, Jade thought with a sense of fatality.

* * *

With his gut seriously twisted, Rance didn’t feel much like talking as they drove out to Libby’s. He’d been clenching his jaw so tightly his teeth ached. Though he knew he needed to relax it, he couldn’t even begin to try until he’d learned if Libby could find Eve.

“Are you all right?” Jade gave him a sidelong glance, concern shining in her green eyes.

Unbelievably, something stirred inside him as he met her gaze. Despite everything, he found himself wondering what she’d do if he kissed her again. Made love to her once more.

Damn. He felt a flash of anger at himself. Sure, he might be in need of a distraction, but Jade wasn’t the kind of woman who deserved to be hurt the way he would end up hurting her. Especially now, when as soon as Libby told him where to find Eve, he’d be leaving Forestwood. He didn’t figure he’d be back.

Again, his fingers itched for his camera. If possible, before he left, he’d have to get Jade to let him take some stills of her. He could picture exactly where they’d take them, and the time of the day—right before dusk, or soon after dawn, up on the cliffs overlooking the lake—when the light would be best. Even with his considerable photography skills, he doubted the camera could ever do her justice.

“Yes, I’m fine,” he answered, forcing his thoughts back on track.

Though they’d been driving over the speed limit, Jade eased off the gas pedal, slowing to slightly below. Rance glanced around, wondering if she’d seen a patrol car or if he’d missed the flashing lights of a school zone, but he saw neither.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Sorry.” She shot him a slightly embarrassed, apologetic smile. “See that house right there?” She pointed.

He followed the direction she indicated. A small stone house sat back among the trees. It looked, as far as he could tell, pretty old, though well-cared for. In front, an evergreen garden framed the front door, and he could see a lot of lilac bushes mixed with roses, though the flowers were now dormant. With the muted sunlight, the scene took on the feel of a Thomas Kincaid painting. “What about it?” he asked.

“That’s my dream house.” Once they’d gone past it, she sped up. “If I could live anywhere besides Burnett House, that’s where I would live. I always look at it when I go this way. Whoever owns it isn’t around much, and I think they might use it for a vacation rental. A place like that deserves more than to sit empty ninety percent of the time. It should have a family, someone who loves it the way it was meant to be loved.”

He wondered if she realized she was talking about an inanimate object, a structure. “The owners seem to take good care of it.”

“They do.”

“Burnett House is pretty awesome too,” he said.

“Yes, it is. It’s been in my family for generations. As Guardian, I have no choice but to live there.”

“And sometimes you wish things were different.”

She shrugged, clearly ready to change the subject. “So, are you curious?”

“Curious about what?”

“Libby. I know you have to be wondering if she’ll be able to help you.”

“Oh, I’m definitely curious about that.”

“There’s so much more to her, you know. She’s really special,” Jade continued. “Not only because of her ability to find things, but because she’s such a sweet person. I’ve gotten to know her well in the nine years I’ve been her Guardian, and she’s really fascinating.” Her earnest tone made him smile. “Despite being one of a kind, she’s also down to earth. And nice.”

“Nice, huh? That’s a bland adjective to use to describe a shape-shifting lake creature.”

Smiling back, she shrugged. “Well, it’s true.”

“Does she have magical abilities, too? I mean, besides being able to find things?”

“Probably, but I don’t really know. I was never able to do any of my little tricks until after I became her Guardian.”

Little tricks.
The odd bits of magical ability she occasionally used. Another subject for another time. Now he wanted to focus on Libby.

“About that,” he asked. “Why does she even need a Guardian? Even if she’s a rarity, I’ve never heard of a kind of shifter who needed a caretaker. I’ll admit I’m curious as to what species she is. I didn’t get a good enough look at her to really tell.”

“I think she needs a Guardian because she’s so alone. As to species, I actually believe she might be one of the last of her kind.” Jade’s voice contained a note of sadness. “That’s why she chooses to live out here completely isolated from others and possibly why she spends so much time in the water. She says it’s one of the few places she can find peace.”

He felt a flicker of interest. “A mermaid-type creature?” he asked. “All I really saw was a flash of scales when I was underwater. I think it was her, but it was too murky to see, and then she disappeared.” He’d heard these beings existed, but had never met one. Of course, until recently, he’d never laid eyes on a Fae.

Jade laughed and shook her head. “I don’t think so. I’ve seen her when she’s in her creature form. She’s definitely not a mermaid.”

“Then what would you call her?”

Jade considered. “I don’t know,” she finally admitted. “If dragons existed, I’d have to say she was that.”

Dragons.
Her words sent a chill through his core. Not many in the paranormal world knew about the Drakkor, his people. They were a dying breed and they were also known as dragons. The existence of another Drakkor—another
female
Drakkor—would be akin to a miracle. This opened up an entire new realm of possibilities.

Why Libby might have chosen to stay hidden here, in a remote area of the Catskills, living among others who were not her kind, to begin with.

No doubt she had her reasons. Once he met her, he’d do his best to find out what they were.

Chapter 15

T
he possibility of Libby being a Drakkor had never occurred to Rance. But then, he’d only gotten a hint of this when she leaped out of the water. Not enough to see more than a few glistening scales. But that would explain the other abilities. Drakkors, especially the females, frequently had special gifts.

“You’re awfully quiet. Are you sure you’re okay?” Jade asked, making him aware he’d been lost in thought for several minutes. Damn good thing she was driving.

“Fine,” he answered, trying to pretend his mind wasn’t reeling. Of course, his first priority would be finding Eve. Once he’d done that, he’d return to unravel the mystery of Libby.

With a sense of relief, he understood this wouldn’t be the last he saw of Forestwood—and Jade—after all.

They pulled up to a cedar A-frame house, nestled back in the woods near the cliffs with a panoramic view of the lake. Rance whistled. “That’s some prime real estate,” he said.

Jade smiled. Again his insides twisted. He wasn’t sure how she had such a strong effect on him. He’d never been so aware of a woman, not even his wife.

“I think she bought the land and built that house several decades ago.”

This time, he didn’t hide his surprise. “Decades? Exactly how old is Libby, anyway?”

Unbuckling her seat belt, Jade shrugged. “No one really knows. But she’s pretty old, though she doesn’t look it. Before me, my mother was her Guardian. Before her, her mother. My family has taken care of her for as long as I can remember.”

Longevity. Another Drakkor trait. But still, it was a long shot. If this Libby had managed to survive the plague that had taken almost all of the Drakkor women and caused the Drakkor men to become sterile, was this why she’d gone into hiding?

“Come on.” Jade opened her car door. “She’s expecting you.”

Rance followed her up the sidewalk. He marveled at the beauty of the spot, the complete privacy and breathtaking views. As they approached the front door, he pushed away the strange reluctance that had come over him. As a journalist, he could honestly say he could count on one hand the times he’d been reluctant to cover a story. He didn’t understand why he felt that way now.

If Libby truly were one of his own kind, she would no longer be alone. And the world would have one more female Drakkor in it. The Drakkor council would have to be advised.

“Earth to Rance.” One hand on the doorknob, Jade tilted her head and frowned at him. “Are you sure you’re all right? Maybe we need to do this another time?”

“Eve doesn’t have time,” he said. He didn’t know why, but he almost hung back. This felt out of character for him, the investigative journalist, but he thought he understood the reason for his hesitation. Because Libby was his last hope of finding Eve. If she couldn’t help him, he’d have nowhere else to turn. Eve would be lost to him forever.

Which meant he needed to get over himself. Immediately.

So when Jade opened the door, he charged inside. And stopped short when he caught sight of the petite, doe-eyed woman standing near the fireplace.

Something about her... Whether the peace she radiated, or the ageless loveliness he saw in her face, he instantly felt at ease.

“Welcome,” she said. Even her voice washed over him, rich and soothing.

Drakkor. He knew instantly, though he had no idea how. Maybe something in her aura, or just the instant sense of familiarity he felt.

He opened his mouth, but found he couldn’t speak, unable to cover the awe filling him. The sure and steady knowledge that he had somehow found another of his own kind made him feel dizzy.

“Rance?” Jade took his arm. “I know I keep asking you, but are you sure you’re okay?” She glanced from him to Libby. “I know how important this meeting is.”

And just like that, urgency replaced the wonder. Eve. Would Libby be able to help him locate her?

“My apologies.” Mustering a smile, he faced the diminutive silver-haired woman who continued to study him.

“I’m so glad to finally meet you,” she said. “I admit to quite a bit of curiosity. You’ve always seemed very familiar to me, though I can’t understand why.”

Always? He wondered how that could be, since this was their first meeting. “I’m pleased to meet you, ma’am,” he said, and held out his hand.

When she slid her cool fingers into his, he felt that connection, the magic all Drakkors shared. Her eyes widened and he knew she felt it, too.

“You’re...” Appearing overcome by emotion, she couldn’t finish whatever she’d been about to say.

He nodded. “Yes. And you are no longer alone.”

Jade glanced from one to the other, frowning. “What exactly are you two talking about?”

The sweetness of the joy in Libby’s smile had Jade smiling back at her charge.

“Libby and I need to talk,” Rance said. “Do you mind giving us a few minutes of privacy?”

Jade’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Seriously?”

“It’s all right.” Libby placed her hand on Jade’s shoulder. “She can stay. She’s my Guardian. She’s earned the right to hear whatever you have to say.”

Eve, he thought again, forcing himself to remain patient. This moment had to be earth-shattering to Libby. Yet what she was asking him to do, to reveal what type of shifter he was to someone who was not his mate... This would mean breaking ancient laws.

He debated whether or not to tell Libby about them, since clearly she wasn’t aware. He considered the risk, especially since he had a favor of his own to ask.

And heaven help him, he also took into consideration the bewildered hurt in Jade’s emerald eyes as she looked from one to the other.

“Before I start, there’s a bit of urgency to my visit.” And he outlined what had happened with Eve and his fruitless search to find her.

The joy lighting Libby’s face vanished. “Of course. You know I’ve tried, several times, since we were at the hospital, with no luck.”

“Can you try again?”

Libby looked down. When she lifted her head, she smiled. “Let me see what I can do.” She glanced from one to the other, heaving a sigh. “But I warn you, I don’t do as well when I’m distracted.”

“It’s worth a shot,” Rance persisted.

“Wait.” Jade’s hand on his arm stopped him. “She has to go into a trance to use her abilities. Whatever information you might give her is important, too. As is her state of mind. A few more minutes won’t hurt. Please. Tell her what she needs to hear.”

Never before had her love for her charge been so plain. He understood, and she was right. He’d spent days searching for Eve. Jade had given him a choice earlier and she’d been willing to put off helping her cousin for him. Surely he could rein in his impatience for a few more minutes.

“You’re right,” he finally said. “Jade, Libby and I are family. After all these years, Libby is no longer alone.”

Libby beamed hearing his words. “We are,” she happily agreed, her eyes glowing with joy again. “After so many years of believing I was the only one.”

“I still don’t understand.” Jade looked from Rance to Libby and back again. “How are you related?”

He waited to see if Libby would elaborate. When she did not, he tried. “We are both the same species of shape-shifter. Our kind is extremely rare, so it’s easy to understand how Libby could think she was the last of her kind. She nearly is.”

Slowly, Jade shook her head, as if trying to negate his words. “That’s not possible. Libby is a lake creature. While you... Are you telling me you’re a lake creature, too?”

“The proper name is Drakkor,” Rance said. “And there are so few of us left, most other shifters have no idea we exist.”

“Drakkor is a word I’d thought I’d never hear again.” Tears shone in Libby’s eyes. “My people, they’re all gone. I need you to tell me your story, your truth. How many survived the illness?”

“That’s a long story.” He glanced at Libby. “Is there someplace we can sit and talk?”

“Of course.” Libby’s voice still rang with joy. “Let me get some lemonade and we can sit on the deck. Jade, why don’t you show him where. I’ll join you both in just a minute.”

“Follow me.” Back uncharacteristically stiff, Jade led the way through the house to a back door. She opened it and they stepped outside onto a beautiful wooden deck that overlooked the lake.

“Rance.” Her determined tone told him she had something serious to say. “I don’t know what it is you’re trying to pull, but I won’t let you hurt Libby. As her Guardian, I take her well-being very seriously.”

Again, he fought the urge to kiss her, to loosen the tight line of her lips with his passion. Instead, he swallowed hard and forced his unruly libido under control. Maybe all of that could come later, once he’d found Eve and made sure she was all right.

“Jade, I’m telling the truth. I didn’t get a good enough look at Libby the one time I saw her in the lake, but once you started describing her to me, I knew.”

“You’re telling me you’re a...dragon?”

“Yes. As is Libby. We’re called the Drakkor.”

“What about Eve, your stepdaughter? You said she’s a halfling. Is she half-Drakkor?”

“Yes. Her mother, Violet, was killed by the illness, too.”

“So recently? Libby lost her family decades ago. I would think by now someone would have come up with a cure.”

“I wish. But this sickness, this plague, it’s like cancer. One moment, a woman can be whole and healthy, and the next...”

Jade turned to stare out over the sparkling expanse of lake. When she turned back to face him, the sorrow darkening her eyes made his insides clench.

“What are you so afraid of?” he asked, reaching out to wrap a tendril of her hair around his finger.

She sighed, but didn’t move away. “That Libby won’t need me anymore. Truth be told, she hasn’t needed me to be anything more than a friend, and I could do better at that. But she’s always been the Lake Creature of Forestwood Lake. I don’t begrudge her happiness, not for one second, but now that she has a family, she’ll leave Forestwood and go to them. I’ll never see her again.” Her voice caught on that last statement.

“That will never happen.” Libby appeared in the doorway, holding a tray with a pitcher of lemonade and three glasses. “This is my home. I also consider you my family. Please, Jade, sit down and let me tell you my story. When I’ve finished, I’d like to let Rance tell his.”

Again, Rance felt the constraints of time. He struggled not to panic, even though part of him wanted to ask Libby to find Eve before she shared her history with Jade.

He met Jade’s gaze and knew she was aware of his thoughts. “Patience,” she whispered. In that instant, drowning in her eyes, he thought he might do anything she asked. Anything but put his stepdaughter in more danger.

“She’s with her father,” Jade said, stroking his arm. “Surely he will do what’s best for her. He loves her, too.”

Oh, how much he wanted to believe this. He thought this tiny sliver of truth might have been all that kept him sane through the worry of his fruitless search.

Finally Rance nodded. “Okay.”

“Thank you.” Jade kissed his cheek. “Come on.” She followed Libby to a round, teak wood table and took a seat. After a moment, Rance did the same. Libby set down the pitcher and the glasses and poured the lemonade.

When Rance reached for his glass, he saw his fingers were shaking. Jade apparently noticed, too, because she covered her hand with his, squeezing to let him know everything was going to be all right.

“Libby, I know you’ve got a lot on your mind and I’m dying to hear your story,” Jade said. “But Rance is really worried about his little girl. Maybe you should go ahead and try again to locate her first.”

Stunned and grateful, he sat up straight and met Libby’s curious gaze.

“What happened?” she asked, her soft voice full of sympathy.

Trying to stick to the facts, Rance told her everything that had happened.

“She’s with her father, whom you were friends with until she disappeared, and now he won’t take your calls?”

He supposed her calm tone should make him feel better, but it didn’t. “Yes.” He felt his expression slip, revealing some of the starkness of his worry and pain. Though he instantly composed himself, he knew both women had seen.

“Of course I’ll help you,” Libby told him, leaning forward and patting his arm reassuringly. “But I need time to process this. Do you mind if Jade and I talk for a bit first? I promise not to take too much time.”

Swallowing, he jerked his head in a nod. He didn’t actually have a choice. Though everyone kept advising him to have patience, that wasn’t possible when he wasn’t sure if Eve might be in danger.

“She has to be in a certain state of mind to use her gift,” Jade told him, almost as if she was aware of his thoughts. “I promise, she’s not trying to delay. But if you’ll just give us ten more minutes—let her tell me her story—it would give her a much higher chance of success.”

“Of course.” His smooth answer didn’t fool her, but he saw from her sympathetic expression that she understood.

“All right.” Libby sounded relieved. “I promise not to take too long.”

“And this should be interesting.” Jade glanced at Rance. “Though I’ve always wondered, you should know this is something I would never have dared to ask before you showed up in town.”

“You already know part of it,” Libby said. “Not the personal details, but the general history.”

“No. No, I don’t.”

Libby stared, one perfectly arched brow raised. “I know your family kept some kind of written history of me. Have you never bothered to read it?”

“I never knew about it. I just now learned there were books,” Jade answered. “When Mother passed the Guardianship on to me, she never said anything about them. She only told me when Di got sick and she needed our help.”

“Of course she didn’t,” Libby muttered. “Not that there was anything in them but history.” She took a deep breath. “All right, then. What would you like to know?”

“Everything. Start at the beginning.”

Again Libby glanced at Rance. “I’m going to tell my version of it, based on my history. You may know more or something different, so if you do, please feel free to jump in.”

Rance nodded.

“Once, my kind were as numerous as your Pack. These days we’d be considered an endangered species. The few females who survived were sent to live in remote locations, all near lakes. Something about the cold, deep water keeping the disease at bay.”