BirthStone (24 page)

Jacques grinned. “I like her. She’s got
spunk. Pity she only likes women, she’s a fine bitch.” He glanced
at Silas. “Who does Jasmine prefer?”

“Ask her.” Silas left the dining room.

<<<<>>>>

Jasmine couldn’t stop grinning. The
christening had been perfect. The children behaved admirably,
allowing Minister Jones to make a cross with his oiled finger on
their forehead. David balked initially, but calmed after Silas gave
him a look. They had just finished dinner and retired to the living
room for the presentations of gifts. The minister was on his way
back home. The twins, Rose, Cameron, and Lilly rounded out the
small gathering.

“Mark and I have checks for each of my
grandbabies,” Victoria said, handing Jasmine four envelopes. “It’s
the same as I did for the twins, no need in breaking
tradition.”

“Thanks, Mama,” Jasmine said, quieting
David, who sat on her lap. Tyrone held Adam, while Renee and
Jacques held their namesakes. She didn’t miss the quick glance her
mom sent Jacques before settling back next to Mark in their
seat.

Jacques stood and handed Jacqueline to
Victoria. Mark’s lips tightened but he remained quiet. “I have four
deeds of land in four different countries, one for each child.” He
handed Silas a brown envelope before looking at the children. “May
you always own a piece of earth to call your special place. A place
to reflect on the challenges of life and living. You are blessed
children of a phenomenal couple who I am honored to call friends.”
He bowed and then reclaimed Jacqueline, who nestled quite contently
against him.

“Wow, that was beautiful, Jacques. I hate to
come behind you,” Renee said, rising. She handed little Renee to
Tyrese and then picked up a box. “Okay, I have a titanium necklace
containing a gratitude stone for each of you.” She placed the first
one on little Renee. It was a highly polished mahogany-colored
granite stone. “My hope is that each day you rise, you will find at
least one thing to be grateful for.” She placed a silver stone
around Jacqueline. “And as you realize how special each day is, you
will speak words of gratitude aloud.” She placed a blue stone
around Adam. “And as your positive words enter the atmosphere, they
will attract good and positive things to you.” She placed an onyx
stone around David. Instead of allowing it to rest on his chest as
the others did, he held the stone and rubbed it for a moment before
releasing it. “My gift to you is a stone to remind you that every
day is a gift and you should always be grateful.”

Jasmine smiled at the beautiful
sentiment.

“Thank you, Renee,” Silas spoke before
Jasmine could. “Those are indeed precious gifts.”

Renee took little Renee from Tyrese.

“I want to hold a baby,” Victoria said,
pouting. Tyrone handed her Adam.

Jasmine took Silas' hand and squeezed. She
hoped he understood what having her family here today meant to her.
David stroked his stone as he looked around the room quietly. Adam
played with Mark and her mom now held Jackie again.

“
Happy?”

“
Yes, thank you for not fighting me on
this,”
she said, pouring love down their link.
“I know you
have a lot going on with…work. So thanks for stopping to do
this.”

“
You and my pups are my world, Jasmine.
This brings me pleasure seeing them honored from the heart of those
we know. It is a good tradition.”

She hugged his compliment tight. It was rare
that he saw anything good in human events, and that he liked the
christening pleased her greatly.

Chapter 20

“I want them out of here,” Silas yelled.

Jasmine closed her eyes as splotches of heat
danced across her skin. Counting to ten, she looked at his clenched
jaw and red face, and counted silently again. Her anger took on a
life of its own, rising to the top like cream.

When she could speak in a calm voice, she
opened her eyes. “I am not going to accuse my mom or sister of
making the kids sick. They have a fever, kids get fevers. It’s not
uncommon.”

His scowl deepened. “With the exception of
David, my pups have never been sick, not one day, until your family
entered my compound.” His nostrils flared as he stepped closer and
leaned forward. “Tell them to leave,” he growled.

Jasmine ground her teeth as her patience
snapped. “No. I will not. Do you think Rese or Rone would allow
their mates to tell
me
to leave their homes because their
children were sick? Worse, do you think they would suspect I was
the problem?” They both knew her sons would never do that.

“No. They know better. You’re twisting this
around.”

“That’s my mama you’re accusing, damn it.
I
know better than to accuse her of making my children
sick.” She inhaled and pointed at him. “They stay and you will not
say one fucking word to them or I will leave with them. Don’t test
me in this, Silas. That’s my mama, my sister. They had nothing to
do with our kids having temperatures and I will not accuse them of
anything.”

“Did I say accuse them? I said tell them to
leave, give them any damn reason you want, just get them the hell
out of this compound and don’t you dare threaten to leave me woman,
I won’t have you giving me ultimatums.”

She crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
“Ultimatum?” she scoffed. “That was a damned promise. I’m not your
servant. I am your mate, an equal partner. You don’t get to treat
me as some ignorant bitch who you give commands to…no sir. This is
not going to work like that.” She tilted her chin up meeting his
icy glare. “Is this my home?”

“What?” He eyed her suspiciously.

“Answer me. Is this my home or not?”

“Yes, it’s your home, you know that. But our
children are in danger. It’s my job to protect them.”

“And I don’t want to protect them?” She
exhaled. “Look Silas, if I thought for one moment that my family
had anything to do with the kids getting sick, I’d be on their
asses so fast you couldn’t blink. But I don’t. I’m asking you to
trust me on this.”

Silas met her gaze for another moment. They
were getting nowhere fast. His wolf howled with the knowledge that
someone had gotten to his pups beneath his nose. She had no idea
what that did to him. His failure to protect his den, his pups, ate
at his very essence. It tap-danced on who he was, what he did, and
he was within his rights to expel everyone new to his domain.

He could not agree to this.

The one thing his wolf knew was that one of
the five new people who'd entered his compound within the past two
days was guilty of harming his pups and Jasmine was too close to
sense it. Without another word he turned and left their suites,
heading for his pups.

“I’m changing your assignment,” he said to
Jarcee, who stood outside their suite. His primary responsibility
had been to shadow Jasmine, to keep her safe. “Follow me,” Silas
said without looking back. His mind flew in a whirlwind of anger,
pain, shame and embarrassment that his sanctuary had once again
been violated he strode to the nursery. “Wait here,” he said as he
walked inside.

Matt and his assistants were taking blood
samples and his pups were not happy at being poked with needles.
“Almost done,” Matt said, returning Renee to her bed. “David’s
temperature has normalized, but the other three, theirs is still
high and rising. What did the doctor say?”

Silas stroked Jacqueline’s warm cheek. It
pained him to see her lying listless in her crib making pitiful
small noises. “He’s baffled. He ran some tests, gave them something
to bring the temperatures down, but nothing has worked. That was
eight hours ago, which is why I wanted you to run some tests to see
if there’s something more going on. Too many damn strangers around
my pups,” he growled as he stroked Renee’s cheek.

“I understand. I’ll get started on this
right away.” Matt paused. “You have a beautiful litter, Sir.”

Silas glanced up at him and nodded before
turning to Adam, who whimpered while turning on his side. Silas
picked him up and rubbed his back. Jasmine entered the room and
checked the babies without speaking to him. He was in no mood to
argue with her and moved away.

She picked up David and kissed his cheek.
Silas turned and walked a few feet away as he sent healing energy
into Adam.

Renee whimpered.

He twisted slightly and watched as Jasmine
picked up the child. She rocked her on the balls of her feet until
the babe quieted a bit. Adam had fallen asleep on his shoulder and
he returned his son to the crib. Next he picked up Jacqueline and
sent healing energy into her body. Once she fell asleep, he laid
her down. Renee still whimpered, and he touched the child’s back
before lifting her.

“I’ve got her.” Jasmine tightened her
hold.

He didn’t speak as he took his daughter,
stepped aside, and sent healing energy through her body. He had
done this exact thing four hours ago. It brought his pups’
temporary relief, but eventually they woke screaming with high
temperatures.

“Why was Matt in here?” Jasmine asked to his
back.

Without turning he answered. “I want him to
run some tests to see if there is anything else going on.”

“They have temperatures, could be teething
or allergies, Silas. It happens with babies.”

He glanced at her. She had been wrong with
her own diagnosis. If he had listened to her then she’d probably
still be lying in bed. “If that’s the case, no problem. But my wolf
says you’re wrong, so I’m going to go with my gut on this one. No
one is allowed in the nursery other than me, you, or the twins.
Security will enforce my decree. Tell your family whatever you
want, but they will not be allowed in here.”

“Jacques too? You suspect Jacques?” she
asked incredulously.

“No. But he is one of the five new people to
interact with my pups in the last two days.”

“This is…I cannot believe you’re doing
this.” She released a breath. “Okay, if this is how you want to do
it, fine.”

He nodded and left. Jarcee stood in the same
position as before. Silas explained his new duties and left for his
office. Dark coldness burned his gut. Somehow his enemies had
crossed into his den and affected his pups. The thought slammed
against his mind. For that they would pay the highest price. His
wolf pressed against him, the desire to shift and destroy his
enemies had never been stronger. He stopped, leaned against the
wall and took in gulps of air. His wolf howled for freedom. It was
all he could do not to join his beast right then. Moving toward the
stairs he ran down to the basement level to the gym. Once there, he
ran to the door, sending a message to security to open it before he
reached it. The slight burn that flowed through his limbs as they
stretched and reconfigured melted the whips of ice buffeting him.
Shifting complete, he took off for the woods.

“
Sir
?” Tyrese called to him but he
refused to answer. His wolf had to release some energy so he could
think. Over grassy mounds of dirt his beast ran. The dirt beneath
the pads of his paws eased his spirit. Crisp mountain air cleansed
his nostril. The warmth of the mid-day sun warmed his back and
hindquarters. It came as no surprise when the twins and Cameron
caught up and ran behind him. In silence, they ran until they
reached the edge of the forest.

Silas slowed and then stopped. His wolf had
calmed but the underlying current of anger remained. He nosed the
ground, clearing his scent as he searched the area for prey. A
sound caught his attention and he took off tearing through the
woods. The footfalls of his pack were behind him as he sighted the
small wild boar. He scented the air for the sounder, or group of
pigs, and picked up nothing. This boor had somehow become
separated. Silas doubted the animal would survive alone, but he
would not be the one to kill the animal. With a howl, he took off
running toward the compound. There was work to be done.

“Sir?” Tyrone said once they sat in the
office after the run. “I missed one of Corrina Griggs marriages,
possibly because it wasn’t recorded through proper channels.” He
waved his hand dismissively. “She married Cornell Merriweather,
they had two sons—”

“Robert, who died in the cave, and Alfred,
the one who has been a pain in the ass. That explains a piece of
the puzzle. Since the truck was registered to one of her past names
it’s safe to say she is either running the shots or is heavily
vested in this scheme of a breeder world.”

“Yes,” Tyrone said.

“How are we coming in the search for the
Merriweathers?” Silas asked, although his thoughts were on his
pups. They should be resting. In a few hours he would return to the
nursery to give them more relief. His stomach clenched in disgust
with the knowledge that he could heal other wolves and not his own
pups. The deficiency galled him.