Stone Cold Seduction (28 page)

“Right before she left, she healed me and mouthed ‘you are the one.’”

I gave Teryl a look when he began to say something. “I’m too tired to debate this right now. I need to sleep this off. I hurt, and my body needs rest.”

Thankfully, they took the hint and let it drop.

Teryl gave me a quick hug, careful not to touch my head or sore shoulder. “Rest up. We’ll head home tomorrow and figure out what to do.”

MacLean also gave me a hug. “Now that your father offered you to me again, we should start planning the wedding.” He winked one gorgeous, copper-colored eye at me.

I smiled, like he expected. “Get out of here.”

MacLean stayed where he was. “I need one minute with Elle.”

Teryl nodded and left.

I watched MacLean as he sat on the bed and scooted closer. “This pill will knock me out in less than twenty minutes, just so you know.”

He laughed softly. “I’m not going to be here that long. Promise. I know you’re tired.” He smoothed a lock of hair out of my face. “Elle, honey, I’m sorry we were too late.”

I sighed and leaned against the palm of his hand, just for a second. “You said that already. It wasn’t your fault.”

“When those forty-five minutes hit, I lost about ten years off my life.”

“Then you wouldn’t make a good thief.”

“Probably not. But when Jax jumped out of the car and flew off—”

“Wait. He flew off?”

MacLean nodded. “That’s how he beat us there.”

I had wondered about that. Not that it mattered now.

“Because it was dark, I didn’t see which direction he went. Unlike Jax, Teryl and I had no idea your father had a house here.” He took a hold of my hand and squeezed gently. “I don’t have a good excuse. I’m sorry. I screwed up. You got hurt. It’s unforgivable.”

I shifted on the bed with a sigh. “Look, I appreciate the apology, but it wasn’t your fault. I’m pretty sure my father tracked me from the moment I left Seattle. It was only a matter of time.”

MacLean cupped the back of my head, careful to avoid the nasty goose egg. “I swore to protect you. And I failed.”

I felt a small tingle slide along my spine. “You did?”

His eyes were inches from mine. He had long, light brown lashes. And there were beautiful flecks of orange and gold in his irises. “You don’t remember?”

“No,” I whispered. I didn’t move as he touched his lips to mine.

Soft and slow, he explored my lips. It was the gentlest caress. With a sigh, I opened for him. MacLean made a low noise in his throat and pulled me close, still careful of my injuries.

I sat on the edge of my bed. Stunned.

I couldn’t marry MacLean. Father had said…he said I polluted the family line. He said the Douglas family would never want me. Flawed. Worthless. The engagement was over. They reneged on the contract.

I wrapped my arms around my middle, rocking slowly. I stared at the wall, unseeing. God, it hurt.

I was meant for MacLean. My seventeenth birthday celebration, two days past, had been wonderful. Like a fairy tale come true. An elaborate dinner to celebrate the engagement and the alliance between our families. Everyone had seemed happy. Cian had asked me to dance. Told me he couldn’t wait to welcome me as his daughter-in-law. He’d even hugged me.

Something my own father had never done.

I had been ecstatic. I loved MacLean and his family. And they loved me. When MacLean looked at me, I felt it all the way to my soul. I knew in my heart, we were meant to be together.

Not according to my father.

“Your children would be worthless. Like you. Let MacLean find the right wife.”

I was the right one!

With jerky movements, I wiped a tear from my face and stood. I didn’t have the shadow elf abilities. So what? I walked over to my dresser, where I’d hidden my one photo of MacLean and me, together. We sat on a small settee in his father’s living room. Before the flash of the camera, he’d tucked a yellow carnation behind my ear. My favorite flower. He’d sent me a bouquet of carnations each day this week. In every color.

Wasn’t that the sign of a man in love?

My father’s harsh words echoed in my head. “He needs someone worthy. You are a princess in name only. A mistake.”

The only mistake I’d made was being here. I had to leave. Had to tell my mom I was never coming back. I hated my father. I hated this place. I walked to my window. The view overlooked the gardens, which my father had three employees meticulously maintain.

The view from my prison cell. That’s all it had ever been.

I heard the creak of my door as it opened behind me. I tensed. He’d probably sent Luke.

“Elle?”

My heart stuttered to a stop when I recognized the whisper. I turned in disbelief. “MacLean?” I looked behind him. “What are you doing here?”

MacLean didn’t answer. Instead, he shut the door, and walked toward me. He pulled me close and kissed me. We had kissed before. Small, chaste kisses, stolen here and there. I wasn’t usually left alone with him for long. But this was different.

His mouth moved over mine, hot and a little wild. Heat streaked through me. My breasts felt achy and full. My stomach clenched. When his tongue touched mine, my knees gave out. MacLean picked me up and put me on the bed.

He knelt over me. Our mouths still fused, tongues dancing, hearts pounding. I had dreamt of this moment. When MacLean would take me in his arms, and kiss me silly. But I hadn’t known it could feel like this. I needed…I wanted…I didn’t know.

I ached. I moved against him. He pulled his head back and sucked in a deep breath. “I won’t do it.”

Time stopped. My desire evaporated. “You won’t…marry me?”

His eyes widened. “What? No. I won’t let your father break the contract. You’re supposed to be mine.” He put his forehead to mine, so I had a clear, perfect view of those gorgeous, flame-colored eyes. “We were made for each other. I’m going to have my father talk to yours. But I won’t lose you. I snuck in today because I had to tell you that.”

My eyes filled with tears. I’d known it! I’d known he loved me! “What can I do?”

MacLean rolled off me and held out his hand. I let him pull me up and toward him. He rested his chin on the top of my head and sighed. “I don’t know. Just let my dad talk to him. He’ll fix it.”

I shrugged out of his arms and stood, pacing. “What if he doesn’t?” I paused and turned to face him. I swallowed hard. “What if I am the wrong one for you?”

“You’re not.” He jumped up, and grabbed my arms. “Don’t believe a word he said. Got it? He’s wrong.”

I nodded. “Okay. But what’s next? You know how he is.”

MacLean’s flaming eyes locked with mine. I could feel heat rolling off of him. “No matter what happens, we’ll be together. I love you. I won’t let anything get in the way of that.”

Relief hit me, easing the pain in my heart. I threw my arms around his neck. I knew MacLean would make things right. My father would have to listen.

“I love you, too.”

The memory ended abruptly. The emotions from my seventeen-year-old self spilled over. MacLean’s mouth explored mine, and I wound my hands around his neck. I had always felt safe with him.

Heat flared between us. MacLean ended the kiss with a shaky laugh. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to let that get out of hand. You’ve always had that effect on me.”

“I remembered.”

He went still. His smile faded as he searched my gaze. “Remembered what?”

“After my seventeenth birthday. When my father tried to end the engagement. You came to my room and we…that is…” I paused to choose my next words with care. I could feel the pain pill beginning to kick in, which worked against me. “You were going to fight for us.”

Hope flashed in his eyes before he schooled his features. “Is that all you remember?”

“You didn’t give up on me. I remember that. But that’s about it.”

He couldn’t quite hide his disappointment. But he grinned, anyway. “That’s a good start. I’ll take it.” He saw my slow, sleepy blink and laughed. “You need to rest.”

I nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”

He pressed a kiss to my forehead and stood. “You’re welcome.”

I watched him walk to the door. All six-foot-four of him. He moved with a sexy confidence. I’d always loved that about him.

He smiled over his shoulder. “I never did give up on you. On us.”

He didn’t wait for my response. I watched the door close, confusion and heartbreak swirling in my head. I grabbed a pillow to hold while I cried myself to sleep.

Chapter Twenty-one

The trip back to Seattle could only be described as uneventful. Teryl dropped me off at my apartment with the offer to stay. I declined.

I wanted to be by myself. I now had five days to “tie up loose ends” and move back to my father’s house. I dumped my suitcase inside the front door and wandered down to my shop. There was a note from Cassie by the cash register. The store had done well and everything looked great. I’d have to give her a little bonus as a thank you.

Bottles and bars lined the full shelves. Cassie had even rearranged a few things, creating new displays. I loved it.

I’d created this place. It was my baby, and I couldn’t be prouder. How was I supposed to walk away from this? I loved the creative process of my soaps and lotions and such. I had notes and ideas about new product lines. I’d planned to expand and create a catalog and hire another full time employee and…

And nothing.

My father said I had to hand over day-to-day operations. I already knew I’d ask Cassie. I trusted her, and she’d do a great job for me. Teryl would help with the books.

Now I had to figure out the rest. My grand plan. I had a few days to decide what my stipulations would be. Where to start? How much should I push my father? My goals were simple: keep my friends safe and kill Jedren and Luke. Oh, and not get myself killed in the meantime. Easy. Ha!

In less than a week, I would move into the lion’s den. I would learn my father’s secrets. And I would kill him. The grand plan, in a nutshell. Sure, it sounded simple. And possibly suicidal. But I had an advantage. My father thought I was doing things on his terms, like I had in the past.

Not this time. I still didn’t know the extent of my abilities. Even better, neither did my father. I also had motivation. Luke had hurt me for the last time. Jedren had manipulated me for the last time.

But all that would have to wait. My brain felt foggy from the pain pills and the lingering exhaustion.

I walked over to the bath salts. A hot bath sounded fabulous. It would be my treat to myself, and a nice welcome home. Twenty minutes of indulgence and pretending things were okay. Forgetting about the violence to come. I snagged my favorite scent, “Serenity,” a lavender-vanilla blend that never failed to comfort me. God knew, I needed comfort right now. Revenge mission aside, I had a broken heart that needed some TLC.

I rubbed the back of my neck, and let my shoulders droop.

I’d managed to ignore the hole in my heart on the flight back. At least, I’d faked it. Looking around my shop, I could feel Jax. I could picture him moving boxes and preparing shipments. I was afraid there wasn’t enough TLC in the world to make my heart stop hurting.

“Hello, little gem.”

I closed my eyes. God, I could even hear his voice. Maybe I needed a glass of wine to go with my bath. Or a whole bottle. Instead of “Serenity,” I’d go for the ylang-ylang bath bomb. Anything to help me relax, sleep, and forget. At least for a night.

“Elle…”

I jumped with a startled squeak and whirled around. Jax stood a few feet away. “Were you…here the whole time?”

“I’ve been waiting for you. I didn’t get a chance to explain.”

“I think you did. I don’t—”

“No, I didn’t,” he interrupted, a flash of irritation sweeping across his normally solemn face. I noticed he was unshaven. His gorgeous gray eyes were tired. His hair was a mess. Jax looked as miserable as I felt.

Through the bond, I felt his sorrow. I wanted to hug him, then hit him, then kick him, then… I was such a sucker for those eyes. “Fine. Explain. I just got home and want to take a bath.”

His eyes melted to silver for a moment. “You are my life.”

Tears filled my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “That’s not an explanation, Jax.”

“I told you I was under contract to your father. As a hunter. What I didn’t get a chance to say is, I didn’t have a choice. When my parents died, I was thirteen. Too young to be on my own. I lived with my grandparents for two years before they passed away.”

I refused to give in to sympathy. I crossed my arms in front of my chest and waited.

“Your father took me in.”

Generosity wasn’t in my father’s vocabulary. He didn’t do anything unless it benefited him. Which Jax confirmed a moment later.

“I was, in essence, your father’s hired servant. I paid my room and board through my work for him. I didn’t have any other family. I was out of options and took what he offered.”

“He took you in and made you his slave?”

Jax crossed and uncrossed his arms, probably the most nervous thing I’d ever seen him do. “At the time, it didn’t seem that way. Now, I suppose so, yes. I know what your father is capable of. And over the last few years, I’ve seen proof of his depravity. But as a fifteen-year-old, being offered a position with the king of the shadow elves was almost unheard of. Many considered it an honor. At the time, I did, too.

“It’s…your father is powerful. Many people hate and fear him. A select few love him. But everyone respects him and the power he wields. Being sought out by him sealed my career as a hunter.”

Wow. That was the most I’d ever heard him say at one time. I walked back to the break room. I had to sit for this. “So, why are you still working for him?”

Jax followed and sat across from me at the little table. “I was foolish enough to sign a contract.”

“Get an attorney and break it.”

He sighed and folded his arms on the table. “It doesn’t work like that. I wish it were so simple.”

“It happens all the time.”

His voice was low. “Not in our world. A contract is magically binding when signed in blood. It ends when both parties have fulfilled their contractual obligations.”

Oh, ick. “And what’s your obligation to him?”

He didn’t answer.

After a moment passed, I raised my eyebrows in expectation.

“There were many sections to the contract. Some involved protection for Jedren at various functions. I also retrieved a few stolen pieces of art. Things like that. But the one thing I have yet to fulfill is my obligation to kill you.”

My heart, my breath, shuddered to a halt. Then I laughed, and the sound was nervous and shrill. “Good one, Jax.”
Please say you’re joking
, I thought miserably.

“I’m not joking, Elle.”

Well, hell. I felt the blood drain from my face. I snuck a peek at the door. If I distracted him, I could run and—

“Little gem.” He interrupted the frantic thoughts racing through my head. “I refused. Obviously.”

I struggled to find my voice. “I thought you said you knew I was your mate. I thought you’ve known for a long time. How could you…I mean why would you…” What do you say when your mate tells you he was hired to kill you?

“When the contract was drawn up, I knew my mate’s name was Elleodora Fredricks. Jedren’s contract specified the death of his daughter. He did not specifically name you. I suspect he knew my fate and purposefully kept the contract vague, yet ironclad. By the time I put two and two together, it was too late.”

Not sure what to do, I stood and walked to the coffee maker. I needed the simple routine. “Why didn’t you kill me?”

“You’re my mate,” he said. “Your life comes before mine. Always. I could no more kill you than I could kill our children.”

Oh, not fair. Mentioning children was hitting below the belt. I carefully spooned coffee into the filter. I poured in water and flipped the switch on. I waited for the smell of steaming coffee to scent the air before I turned around. “That didn’t stop you from lying to me.”

Pain flickered across his face. “And that’s my biggest regret. I had no idea how to tell you. How would you have responded if I’d told you your father had contracted me to kill you?”

“We’ll never know. You didn’t give the opportunity to respond. Instead, you led me right to him. And Luke.” My voice cracked, and he surged to his feet.

“Elle, please. I had no idea they were there. I wanted to help you find your fate. I never…I didn’t know your history with Luke. I didn’t know they were in Scotland.” His hands cupped my face.

I pulled away. I believed him, but I needed space. I poured myself a cup of coffee and sat down. I fiddled with the handle of the coffee mug while I thought about what to say. “I’m moving back to my father’s.”

“I know. I heard what he asked of you.”

“I have to do it.”

“Do you really believe that?”

His soft question brought tears to my eyes. “What I believe is that he’s a ruthless bastard who will kill anyone and everything I love.” I paused to take a breath. “He’ll push the marriage with MacLean. Fate or no fate.”

The wood chair Jax sat in cracked as he shifted to stone. A low growl reverberated from his chest. “No. You are my mate.”

“My fate says…”

“Fates be damned!” he roared, standing up.

“Concussion,” I whispered, as I held my aching head.

“I’m sorry. I won’t let you go. You are my mate. I will not stand by as you marry the phoenix. You are not meant for him.” His voice was lower, but it still echoed in deep waves.

I stood up with a grimace. “I’m going to grab a pain pill and my fate. It’s upstairs and I want you to read it.”

Three minutes later, I handed him the parchment. Gargoyle Jax was gone, shirtless Jax was back. The streaks of silver told me to tread carefully. My head ached as I waited.

He read it. Then read it again. “You were meant for me.”

I met those silver-gray eyes straight on. “How do I know that? It says I was fated for two, meant for one. How do I know who that is?”

“My fate specified you.”

I couldn’t miss the sincerity in his tone.

“So did mine.”

I jerked at the unexpected male voice, sloshing coffee on my hand and the table. “Damn! MacLean, what are you doing here? And why do you always sneak up on me when I’m holding hot coffee?”

MacLean didn’t answer. I noticed his copper eyes were streaked with flame.

“Guys, can we tone it down? Please? Can we have one conversation where no one loses a shirt, is on fire, turns to stone, or growls uncontrollably?”

MacLean walked all the way into the break room, but stayed standing. He wore clean, black slacks and a white oxford shirt. Auburn hair brushed the edges of his collar, like usual. Business casual looked great on him.

“The front door was unlocked,” he said. “I came to check on you. I wanted to make sure you had everything you needed, and that you were okay.”

“So did I,” Jax said, his deep voice a little less of a growl, but no less menacing.

“I’m fine, thanks. We were talking about the fates.” I doubted redirection would work, but I tried.

“My fate specified you,” MacLean said.

“As a mate?” Jax challenged.

MacLean didn’t answer Jax. He watched me instead. I took a deep breath. There are women who enjoy men fighting over them. I would never be one of them. In fact, I was losing my temper. Fast.

“Guys, I have five days to wrap up the life I’ve created for myself before I step into the role of daughter to the devil himself. I do
not
need this right now. Let me lay it out for you.

“I have no idea who I am. In the last week, I found out I’m a shadow elf, daughter of a demigod, granddaughter to a god, a ward thief, and I can manipulate minds and flame. I saw a dead woman, was hunted and kidnapped, and then beaten and stabbed by a psychopath. All while traveling around the world. I got my fate, which was a glorified riddle that provided more questions than answers, and now I’m expected to choose between the man I loved ten years ago and the man I love now, while you two fight.”

Oops.
I slapped a hand over my mouth. They both went eerily still at my unintended declaration.

Crap, crap, crap.
I’d wanted to keep that information to myself. I hadn’t said those three little words to anyone in the last ten years. I’d always felt they needed to be meaningful and special and damn it…this was all wrong.

Tears welled as my emotions spilled over. I took a deep breath as I stepped onto the emotional landmine I’d created. “Okay, let me back track. I need space. I don’t know what to do.”