He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Val. He’ll forgive you.”
****
His heart ached. Deep and searing, and impossible to ignore. His fated didn’t want him. She said as much. He hadn’t saved her, hadn’t even been there. She didn’t want him in her life, so he hadn’t known his fated was at risk.
All of it left him gutted.
Jacob hadn’t hid the hurt. He couldn’t have even if he tried. He didn’t think he needed further proof she wanted nothing to do with him, but that hit home.
She
didn’t
care about him, not even a tiny bit.
That left him helpless and losing hope.
His fault. He kept messing up with her, couldn’t do anything right.
When he found her, he’d thought his days of misery ended. He thought finally he’d been given a second chance—at life, at family, at love. Jacob had family with Annie, had life and love with her, too, but he wanted more. He wanted what was fated for him—Valerie.
He’d never dared to dream of his fated, never thought his fated wouldn’t want him. Even so, he knew had he allowed himself, it would’ve been inconceivable to imagine. He should’ve known, for him, it wouldn’t be easy. Nothing in his life had ever been.
Chapter 19
His thoughts a flurry all night, a Malum took advantage and stabbed Jacob from behind. Luckily, the knife was silver instead of copper, and Benjamin stepped in, saving his ass. He bled more than he’d like to admit, but the injury healed rapidly.
It had been nearly six hours since he’d seen Annie, and he couldn’t stop worrying. He worried about Valerie, too, for other reasons.
When she showed up that evening, he’d said goodbye to Annie and left quickly, avoiding her gaze in the process. He felt she wanted to talk to him, but he didn’t want to listen then. Too focused with a night of hunting ahead of him, he couldn’t take hearing again how she didn’t need or want him, so he left, but he knew she would say whatever she wanted when he arrived and that worried him. Right then, it would have to wait.
Lucas, his king, wanted to have a word with him.
Entering Lucas and Jenna’s apartment on the top floor of the demon compound, Jacob waited for Lucas to appear, knowing the king would sense him.
Lucas’s brows creased. “Jacob.”
“Lucas.”
“It’s about Annie.”
His heart dropped to the pit of his stomach. “Is she—”
“She’s fine. She’s sleeping.” He paused. “There’s been word from Treconomia. It seems you aren’t Annie’s only living relative. Her father’s brother, Samson, and his mate, Claudia, have gone to the counsel seeking custody.”
His mouth fell open. “What?” His voice came out hoarse.
“The will left her in your care, but her father’s brother and mate think they’re better suited.”
A deep ache enveloped his chest; he pressed his palm to it. Then, anger so fierce coursed through him, conjuring his demon. “Better suited than me? Why? Because I’m raising her by myself? Because they think—”
“Because you’re a warrior and have been for centuries.”
He heard what went unsaid. Jacob, the bitter, angry warrior unfit to care for a child, but Annie was his. His kid, his life, his everything. They couldn’t take her away.
His gut twisted. Bile rose in his throat. He shook his head, unable to fight the tears welling in his eyes. “They can’t. She’s mine. The will says—”
“Nothing has been decided, but the council will vote on the matter in two weeks.”
Two weeks?
The council would take her from him.
He had just weeks with her.
“But it’s in the will. They can’t.”
He swallowed. “Why would they go against her parents’ wishes?”
“They can, and will if they think it’s in Annie’s best interest.”
He felt wetness stain his cheeks, but made no attempt to wipe it away. The tears, emblems of anguish, he’d wear them with dignity and pride like he’d worn anger.
“But
I
can protect her better. I’m a warrior. No one can protect her better than I can,” he argued. “I…I…” Shaking his head, he reasoned, “What good would it do to move her again? She’s just getting comfortable living here. It’d only hurt her in the end. I’m…”
His words trailed off. He couldn’t bring himself to say it, what he so desperately wanted to believe—he was best for Annie.
Deep down, he believed Annie deserved better than him.
“I’m sorry, Jacob. I know you care for her as if she were your own.”
He fisted his palms. “She
is
mine. She’s mine. The will says it, and they can’t take my kid.”
Lucas held his stare.
“What if I resign? What if I leave the Guardians?” He couldn’t give Annie up. Living without her wasn’t possible. She’d filled him with purpose, filled his life with meaning and
love
.
“You’d put your vengeance aside for her?”
“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “I’d give it up completely if it meant I got to keep her.”
Lucas nodded. “You are a good father. You deserve Annie.”
He gritted his teeth. “It doesn’t make a difference. They won’t care. I have a reputation…It won’t matter.”
“It’ll take more than your reputation to convince them to remove her from your care.”
The words of consolation didn’t soothe him. He’d already lost her, another piece wretched out of his soul. “I need time off. If I have two weeks with her, I’m making every second count.”
“Take all the time you need. You should tell your fated.”
He forced the words out of his mouth. “She hates me.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
“I have to go.” He dematerialized and appeared in his apartment. Valerie and Annie’s sleeping figures came into view, cuddled closely together on the couch. He stood motionless, watching them while the searing pain inside him deepened.
After Annie left, there would be no reason for Valerie to stay. As quickly as they’d been thrust into his life, they would slip away, leaving agony in their wake.
He neared, reaching for Annie. Valerie’s eyes snapped open, her palm forcefully pushed his away. A clear bubble appeared around Annie, illuminating her.
Sitting up, she rubbed her face. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize—”
“I’m glad you’re protective of her, even unconscious.”
When the bubble dissipated, he neared and lifted Annie into his arms. He then materialized in Annie’s room, tucked her into bed, and reappeared by Valerie.
“We’re taking a trip.”
Clearing her throat, she asked, “We?”
“Annie and me. I figured I’d take her to the beach…”
“Oh…” She looked away from him. “Why?”
“It’s—”
She stood. “Never mind. It’s none of my business. Have fun.”
He exhaled. When she walked past him, he summoned the courage to ask, “Would you like to come?”
She turned, then rushed to him. “Jake! You’re bleeding!” Her hands on him a second later, reaching for his shirt and lifting it to examine the injury.
When he turned to her, she was so close he felt her body heat. “Just a nick, I’m fine.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That’s a lot of blood for just a nick.”
Damn.
She caught the small lie and wasn’t happy about it. He didn’t like lying to her, but didn’t think she cared one way or another, so he gave her an out. But he realized then, looking at her annoyed expression, feeling her worry, she did care. Maybe not a lot, but some. He’d take it.
He smiled, feeling more confident when he asked again, “So, would you like to come?”
Her brows furrowed. She took a step away, and he felt it, fear. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ll see you when you guys get back.”
It would kill him being so far away, but he didn’t have another choice. He’d lost Annie and had just a couple of weeks with her. He wanted to enjoy every remaining second. Where better to do that than a hotel on a beach somewhere? She could play in the sand, be carefree…His parting gift to her, memories she could cherish. The throb in his chest deepened.
Valerie wrapped her arms around herself. “When are you coming back?”
“We won’t be gone longer than two weeks.”
Her face fell, and then she looked away from him. “Have a safe trip.”
He had the urge to tell her the truth—Annie would be gone after that. She’d come, he knew, but it felt like a form of manipulation, selfishly subjecting her to a type of torture, spending countless hours and days with him, living in fear. She may care, but she wanted nothing to do with him. She made it clear their interactions should be professional—for Annie. Sharing a hotel room, spending a vacation together would blur the lines. As much as the thought pleased him, it wouldn’t her.
He nodded.
She turned away, then suddenly faced him again. “I’m…I’m sorry about yesterday. I was—”
“You were being honest.”
“But it hurt—”
“You were honest.” He looked away from her. “If you were honest, there’s nothing to be sorry about.” He wanted her to be sorry because she hadn’t meant what she said, not because he’d been hurt. He wanted her to
need
him like he needed her.
“There is,” she insisted. “I hurt you, and I’m sorry. You went out of your way and…”
Getting the feeling she wouldn’t let it go, he said, “Apology accepted. No hard feelings.”
She held his gaze for several moments. Finally, she nodded.
It hit him at that moment; he wouldn’t see her the next day, or the day after. He didn’t know when he’d see her again. His fated would be separated from him by hundreds of miles. And yet, he couldn’t do anything but watch her walk away. He had to ensure her happiness above his own, even if it meant living without her.
Pure, undiluted agony tore through him. Torture, but he had no other choice. He had to let her go.
Chapter 20
Val barely slept, but her eyes snapped open before six the next morning. Her rambling thoughts wouldn’t give her a break.
As the night died and sunlight shone through the large windows, it hit her like a ton of bricks—Jake and Annie would be gone for weeks. She already missed them, both. A part of the reason she had a hard time falling asleep, knowing they’d be gone.
“Val?”
She walked out of her room, tightly wrapping her robe around her. Ashley and Clyde stood in the living room. “Morning.”
“Do you know where Jake and Annie are?”
Her eyes widened. Jake left so hastily, he hadn’t bothered telling Ashley? Unease crawled up her spine. “You don’t know?”
She shook her head.
“He and Annie were going on vacation.”
Ashley’s mouth fell open. “He left without you?”
Her brow furrowed. “Why would he take me?”
Ashley flushed. “Um…because you’re Annie’s nanny.”
“Yeah, but they’re on vacation. He doesn’t need a nanny. I mean he asked if I wanted to go, but I didn’t think it was a good idea.”
Clyde shook his head.
“You agree?”
“No, I
don’t
agree. You should’ve gone.” His tone clipped, making her feel like a scolded child. Before she could say a word, he turned to Ashley. “She doesn’t know.”
Her stomach turned. “Know what?”
“Oh,” Ashley mumbled. “Jake may lose custody of Annie.”
“W-what?” It came as such a shock she couldn’t help her voice rising. Taking a breath, she more calmly asked, “Why?”
“He’s not her only living relative. Annie’s uncle on her father’s side and his mate want custody.”
“Why?”
“Because they think they’re better suited as guardians than a…” Ashley’s voice trailed off.
Valerie didn’t miss the Elemental’s eyes watering, and it didn’t stop her from asking impatiently, “Than a what?”
“A warrior,” Clyde finished for her.
“Bullshit.” She couldn’t help that either.
Ashley gaped. Clyde’s eyes narrowed. “The demon council will decide in two weeks.”
“What does that…” She bit the side of her lip.
Jake couldn’t lose Annie. It would destroy him. He loved her so much, more than anything. Anyone could see it clearly in his eyes every time he looked at Annie. Annie eased his anger and pain. Around her, he was so much more than an angry, bitter man. He was a loving father, a caring guardian, and he was
everything
to Annie. If she was taken from him, her world would crumble.
She paced in circles trying to gather her thoughts. “They can’t take her away. She’s been with him for weeks. Moving her to a new environment would affect her, negatively…She’s just started to adjust and…the nightmares aren’t as bad or frequent.” She stopped, her gaze shot to Ashley then Clyde. “No, they won’t take her, right?”
“Her parents drafted a will leaving her in Jake’s care should anything happen to them. Regardless, other relatives seem to believe he’s a bad—”
“Because he’s angry. He’s not angry when she’s around. She’s the only one who calms him. He changes whenever she’s around. I mean…you’ve seen it.” She fisted her hands in frustration.
“She’s not the only one,” Clyde mumbled under his breath, his gaze dead on her.
“Oh, well, I guess he’s not angry when Ash is around either, but that’s not the point.”
Her gaze narrowed on Clyde. “No one wants to hear about your insecurities right now. This is about Annie.”
His eyes softened, fighting a smile. It only proved to infuriate her.
Ignoring him completely, she headed past them, straight for the elevator.
“Where are you going?”
The elevator doors parted, and she strode inside. “To talk to the king and queen, of course.”
Ashley and Clyde followed behind her. The glint of humor in his gaze started to irritate her. Intent on avoiding him, she stared straight ahead, impatiently tapping her foot. The elevator ascended. The doors parted, she waltzed through and met Jenna’s gaze.
“Hi, Valerie. Is everything okay?”
“Jake.”
Jenna’s expression saddened. “I figured he’d tell you. I also figured you would’ve left with him.”
No, he hadn’t told her. He trusted her to watch Annie, but he didn’t trust her with this. Not that she could blame him; she insisted their relationship remain professional. A personal family matter didn’t involve her. He’d only done what she asked, respected her wishes, but it hurt.
“No, I…didn’t leave with him.” A rush of tears choked her. She fought them back. “I know you don’t owe me any favors. Actually, it’s quite the opposite; I owe you and Lucas, and the Guardians, but I’ve come for one.”