Stone Cold Seduction (14 page)

“Thanks,” I whispered, and gave Teryl a quick, one-armed hug.

I smelled the flowers again, but reluctantly brought myself back to the purpose of the meeting. “Why would my father put a price on my head? Is that a common thing you people do?”

Teryl sighed. “Elle, we’re your people too. But no, it’s not a common thing. In fact, the last time I heard of a parent doing something like this was when the lines were mixing without the Council’s guidance.”

“Mixed children—like me—who get punished…” I thought about Luke, about my father’s punishment of me for just existing. “It’s like having a dozen Lukes after me…”

I looked up at the sky, hoping the vise around my chest would ease. I felt a gentle hand rub my back. Minutes passed in silence along with the clouds overhead, before my breath began to smooth out.

“Okay, guys,” I said, ignoring the raw feeling in my throat. “I don’t think I can do this. I can’t go to Scotland knowing people are hunting me.” Luke had…I squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn’t think about that.

“Elle.” Jax’s deep voice was soft as he gathered me close, careful not to crush my flowers or bump my drink. “You are no longer safe here.”

Stricken, I opened my eyes and watched the people walking through the square. Jax was right. Oh God, he was right. I hadn’t even considered that. My store, my apartment, all bought and paid for by the guy who wanted me dead. Had I ever really been safe here?

Another small child caught my attention as he hung on the fireman sculpture and giggled. The statue was always a favorite with the kids who visited the park. I envied that carefree, happy sound.

“Elle.” Jax touched my chin, drawing my attention back to him. “This is part of your fate. You are coming into your abilities, and whatever they are, you need to be strong enough to deal with them.”

I didn’t feel strong enough. I wished I had been born to normal parents who divorced and went on to live boring, middle-class lives. Until today, my desire to help Jedren’s victims had overridden my fear of him.

I’d been a fool. And I had seriously underestimated Jedren.

“I don’t know who you think I am, but I’m not that strong person. I’m just Elle.”

Teryl nudged me in the arm. “You’re Elle Fredricks. Defender against evil smells and novice thief. You’re hotter than Catwoman, and you smell like vanilla. That’s gotta count for something.”

An involuntary smile curved my lips. “Thanks, Teryl. You should think about starting a motivational greeting card company.”

Jax heaved a long suffering sigh. “Teryl is right on one account. You’re Elleodora Fredricks. Your name came from your grandmother. She was queen before Jedren took the throne. She was an amazing lady.”

I squared my shoulders and offered them a small smile. “Thanks.”

Jax pressed a kiss to my forehead and I inhaled his scent. It worked like a security blanket. I preferred it over the fragrant blossoms in my hand.

“Okay, let’s get this over with,” I said to Jax. Then I turned to MacLean. “Ready.”

MacLean held up the pictures of the mirror and books. “I’ll need to get these from you as soon as possible. The mirror belonged to Brenin’s father, Yale. It had been in their family for over two centuries, and he chose it to house his soul.” He pointed at the books in the next picture. “Seven sisters, all oracles, all fate readers. Those are their original fate journals.”

“The stones belong to the Walters family,” Jax added. He sounded almost sad.

“Did you know them?” I asked.

“They were my family.” His voice was so soft and low, I almost didn’t hear him. I wished I hadn’t.

“I stole your family? Wait, I thought your last name was West?”

“My mother’s maiden name was Walters. Can you tell us how you found them?”

I gestured toward Teryl. “He tracked the shipments with accounting records. He always knew what day they were coming in and what building, warehouse or third party the items would go to. I just had to show up and take them.” It sounded so ridiculous when I said it out loud. I seemed like the least competent cat burglar around.

“Why these shipments, Teryl?” MacLean asked. He’d taken my spot against the trunk of the maple tree. He gave the appearance of being relaxed, but he wasn’t missing a thing. He continually scanned the crowd. Leaning against the tree gave him a little better vantage point.

“I was looking for smaller items within a large shipment. A little something here and there, so it wouldn’t tip anyone off right away. I was also checking invoices to see how much Jedren had paid, so I had a better idea what we could get for it.”

“How many have you sold?” MacLean asked me.

I flinched at MacLean’s sharp tone. “Only a few pieces of jewelry. I usually wait at least three or four months before I sell.” I looked at the pictures in his hand and mentally calculated. “I’ve had the mirror about seven months, the book about five and the stones were from Saturday night.”

I noticed both MacLean and Jax relax. “Was the jewelry…?” I trailed off, not knowing quite how to word it.

“No,” MacLean replied with an impatient flick of his wrist. “What about the dagger and clock?”

“I haven’t seen a dagger or a clock.” And I didn’t want to. I sipped my latte and waited for the next question.

MacLean pushed away from the tree and took a few steps, tapping the pictures against his thigh as he thought. “No jewelry has been reported missing. The dagger belongs to the phoenix and the clock belongs to the light elves. If you don’t have them, they’re still unaccounted for.”

“Nothing from the shadow elves has been taken,” Jax said.

“Not yet. But I expect something will come up missing within the next few weeks. The thefts have been occurring every three to five weeks, the stones being the most recent.” MacLean rubbed his chin. “I still can’t figure out what Jedren’s motive might be.”

Teryl started pacing, scuffing his feet through the fallen leaves. They crackled beneath his tread. “If Elle had all the souls, I would think his motive would be clear. Set Elle up and let her take the fall. But if there are still souls unaccounted for, that’s a different issue entirely.”

A young woman jogged by, craning her neck to get a second look at Teryl. I didn’t blame her. His outfit was simple and slick. Black, flat-front slacks and a lightweight sweater. He didn’t even notice the attention, because he was too busy pacing.

I finished my drink as I watched them all.

“Can he use the souls?” Jax directed the question at MacLean.

MacLean thought about it. “I’m not sure,” he finally said. “Possibly, but I couldn’t say how. He could use them to start a war.”

One big question kept popping up in my head. “How did he know Teryl and I would go after the shipments…er…souls?”

“I don’t know. There are few oracles left with the ability to sense that, but it’s possible he’s using them.” MacLean’s eyes flickered at the idea, but his expression didn’t give much away.

I supposed it didn’t matter now. I moved on to my next question. “What other combination of lines would give me the mixed-blood magic the Council fears? Maybe what I have is a fluke.”

Teryl shook his head. “No. It’s not a fluke. And I think Jedren knows that. I bet that’s why he’s so eager to get you before the Council. If you are a combination of lines that had been previously proven dangerous and you’ve made it to your late twenties without going crazy, you’ll become one of two things. First option, you’ll become a human lab experiment. They will test you in every way imaginable to figure you out. Second option, you’ll be deemed too much of a threat and killed. End of story.”

I could see worry lines around his eyes. I was scared to death. The picture he painted wasn’t a pretty one. “Can you guys think of any other possibilities?”

Jax didn’t say anything, which I took to mean no. MacLean was watching Teryl pace. After a moment, he said, “It would be helpful to know your mother’s line. I know her name, of course, but there was no information beyond the fact that she was human in the betrothal agreement.”

“Emmaline Fredricks.”

“Fredricks. Hmm…”

Teryl stopped pacing and watched people walking by. He shoved his hands in his pockets. MacLean was deep in thought as well. I was ready to explode. Emotions tangled inside, and I fought to stay calm and steady with my breathing. Another businessman walked past, talking into one cell phone and texting on another. Life went on around me, but I felt like my situation had screeched to a shuddering halt.

“No…” Jax whispered. He stiffened, but thankfully remained human.

“What, Jax?”

His voice had an edge to it. “We are looking at this all wrong. What if Elle’s mother wasn’t any of those things?”

I smiled as relief swept through me. “Right, that’s what I’ve been saying all along. She was human. Period.”

“No,” Jax replied, as his eyes streaked with silver. “No, I don’t believe she was. I think she was a demigod.”

“Demigod? What is that?”

“The child of a human and god or goddess,” Teryl said. He patted his pants’ pockets before retrieving a piece of paper and pen, then began to scribble furiously.

“No, I don’t think so. She couldn’t have hidden something like that.” I’d found her dead in her home. A single gunshot wound straight through the head. If she was a demigod, she wouldn’t be dead. She would be here, lecturing me for stealing from my father. But she wouldn’t be dead.

“If she was a demigod, how could he have killed her?” I stared down at the flowers in my hand, needing the cheer their bright colors could offer. I tossed my empty cup in the trash bin next to the tree, wanting to free up one of my hands.

“They are immortal, but not invincible. They can be killed. We all can. I’m sorry.”

I drew in a deep breath. I was sorry, too, for all of it. But that didn’t change the fact that it was happening, and I had to deal with it.

“Guys, you’ll have to forgive me. I hope I’ll get at least some of my memories back, but until then, just assume I have no clue what you’re talking about. I don’t know what my mom was…” My voice hitched, and I cleared my throat. “I don’t know what she was, but I know you’re right. There are a lot of things we need to consider, and I need to talk to Carys.”

I leveled my gaze at MacLean. “Thank you for offering to come with us. I appreciate any help you can give.”

He nodded.

I shifted my gaze to Teryl. “If you could get me one of those history books you were talking about, that describes the lines? I can read it on the flight and maybe clear up a few questions I have.”

“Sure, I’ll put it in my carry-on.”

I nodded my thanks. “My last question is, am I safe from the hunters until we leave for Scotland?”

The men exchanged a look, then Jax said, “You should be, but that’s why you’re going to stay with me. We don’t want to take chances.”

“Will Cassie be okay with the store? Because I’d rather close it down for a week than put her in danger.”

“No, she’ll be fine,” Teryl said. “The hunters won’t go after her. Once they see you’re not here, they’ll move on. Despite their title, they don’t cause murder and mayhem everywhere they go. Especially when there’s no kill order.”

Well, that was something, at least. “I’m going to stretch my legs and let you guys talk. Jax can fill me in on anything else.”

MacLean pocketed the pictures. “I think we’re done. I’ll call Teryl if I have any questions.”

“I’ll walk with you for a few blocks.”

Jax began to protest, and I turned to him with a scowl.

“Jax, enough. It’s fine, okay?” I had a few questions for MacLean, and I didn’t need a jealous gargoyle breathing down my neck.

Jax was watching MacLean with a clear warning in his silver eyes. MacLean was ignoring him and smiling at me. The smug expression wasn’t helping. I barely repressed the urge to roll my eyes. Instead, I started walking in the direction he’d arrived, hoping he’d take the hint and follow.

When we had walked a block, MacLean turned to me. “While I’d like to believe you wanted a little alone time, I know you’ve got other things on your mind.”

Ground rules. We needed to start with ground rules. “Jax and I are in a relationship.”

MacLean smiled, showing his white teeth. “I could tell. But you and I have history.”