Blown Away (Rogues Shifter Series Book 4) (34 page)

"I'll be back and forth. I can't stay away for long. My mother is here."

I spoke up with an idea. "Why don't you two come and help us move Liam into his new house next week? Kellaine is coming too."

"I would love that!" Philladre was beaming, her eyes glittering excitedly."It will be a celebration...a party." Aedus pulled her closer with an indulgent smile, but she pushed herself away. "As future Fae Elders we should not isolate ourselves from other supernatural groups."

Aedus tilted his he
ad and kissed her cheek." The entire spectrum of supernaturals reside at Garrett's house. You'll get quite an education."

Garrett laughed and I giggled saying, "Phil
ladre, let me tell you about our team."

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Garrett and I stood on the cliff looking out over the Pacific, watching the pelicans dive dramatically for fish and mesmerized by the rainbow colors of the setting sun sparklin
g on the surface of the waves. It wasn't
my
cliff, my psychic sanctuary where I go to find my center. We were in Liam's new back yard and the whole crew, along with some unexpected guests, were there to warm his house, so to speak.

Ethan and Kyle were barbequing steaks while Peter, Sinc and her mom, Sharon, helped Liam in the ki
tchen with various side dishes.

As fae lights began to blink on around the property, I heard Ethan yell,
"That's too much hot sauce, Kyle. Everyone will be running for the beer."

"And that's a problem—
why? This is a party. A little extra beer is a given. I brought two cases myself. We'll make sure there's a designated driver. Or there's always the F.T.S."

"F
.T.S.?"

"Fae Transport Serv
ice. The billboard could read:
Travel with us for a Magical Encounter All Your Own
. We could dress Brina and Kaera in smokin' hot outfits and they could look at the camera, all sultry-like."

"You think
you could convince the warrior sisters to offer themselves up as flight attendants?"

"We'd make a fortune. Brina will definitely go for it. I'll talk to her. We could dress her as a pilot,
in a short skirt and maybe a halter top with that pin that has the wings and..."

"I think you've been drinking too much of your own beer. I'll drive, Kyle. I'm not drinking." Ethan was staying sober and I was proud of him.

His date was hanging out nearby, a little too intimidated to mingle with the group, so I went over to introduce myself. "Hi, I'm Jackie and this is Garrett."

She smiled gratefully and then stuck out her hand. I'd been told by Kyle, that she was a cougar shifter Ethan had met at "The Wild", the bar-slash-dance club that was currently being run by Bridgett's old pack. "Oh, hi. Ethan told me about you both. I'm Lauren."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lauren." Garrett answered as he shook her hand.

"I don't think I've ever seen so many supes together at one time and not fighting. This is like some
kind of miracle." She had wavy light brown hair, beautiful hazel eyes and a great smile.

I looked around and smiled too.
Shooting hoops in the driveway was a fae prince, (Aedus) two shifters, (Rob and Flynn), two vamps, (Rick and Sash), and an alpha werewolf, (Aaron). In the family room a Lady fae, (Philladre), a vampire, (William), and a sorcerer, (Angel), battled it out on the Wii. Philladre was apparently enthralled with video games and was giggling like a schoolgirl when she beat the others, which surprisingly, she did often.

Garrett w
ent to talk to Aaron who'd left the game to get a beer, so I played the hostess. "Can I get you anything? Would you like to play Mario Cart with Philladre?"

"I don't think I'd have much of a chance against her. Maybe the boys would let me join the game?" She looked to
ward the melee in the driveway.

"Are you kiddin
g? Go for it. They'd love it." I called out. "Sash, another player coming your way. " He grinned at Lauren, who was about 5'10", lean and lovely, and tossed her the ball. She dribbled down the court, jumped and dunked the ball with a graceful spin of her body that had all six pairs of male eyes glittering, no matter what their color. I sent to Sash and Rick,
"Behave yourselves, she's with Ethan."

Sasha answered,
"We hear and obey, Mistress."

"Are you ever going to
stop calling me Mistress?. It makes me feel old."

"Y
our warrior spirit is ancient."
He flew through the air and dunked the ball faster than I could track without pulling up some magic. He grinned in my direction.

"Gee, that
really helped."
I stuck out my tongue.

Brina was suddenly at my side,
she and Kaera having just arrived from Faerie. Her golden hair floated in the air around her as she spoke. "I've brought you two presents, Jacqueline. Whether you thank me or not will be determined later." She and Kaera nodded toward me and then went in search of Liam, whom I'd hardly seen at all.

Slender arms encircled me and I caught a whiff of cut grass before I was spun around and hugged tightly. "I've missed
you soooo much."

I returned her hug enthusiastically. "I've missed you too, Bridgett. L
ady D. gave you some time off?"

"Yeah, she felt bad that I couldn't go to the binding ceremony 'cause there was so much work, so she gave me today off to come to Liam
's party and see you. Where's Will?"

She was already looking around for him, so I nudged her in the direction of the family room. She grinned and started to leave, turning back at the last minute. "
How are you feeling? You look—um, plumper."

"Your nephew is
kicking so much I think he's either going to be a martial artist or an Irish step dancer."

"Let's hope it's the martial artist." There was a strangely muffled noise an
d Bridgett's eyes grew wider. "Oh my god, I almost forgot! Sorry, Sin." She unzipped the pocket of her jacket and out flew tiny Sinlae, angry as a hornet.

"Bree-Jet cheetahkin. You are a scatterbrain. You almost crushed me when you showed
Lady Jah-Kee affection!"

"Why don't you ever call me Lady?"

"You are an untrained scatterbrain and need to learn much discipline. Your sister is mated to Garrett Vampirelord and she is much honored in Faerie."

"Lady D. thinks I'm doing fine."

"Call her that again and I will bite your nose and leave an ugly scar. Lady Dinestri is Fae Elder and friend to all Pixiekin."

"Why don't you go fi
nd Will, Bridg? I've got this."

"Good luck
with that one," Bridgett grumbled."

Her anger having dissolved, t
he perfectly lovely, fragile little soul hovered near me looking frightened. "May Sinlae sit on Lady Jah-Kee's shoulder while I am in Lord Liam's other world ? I have not come before and am..."

"You're
disoriented, which is perfectly normal, Sinlae. I felt the same way when I was in Faerie for the first time."

"You did?"

"Yes, of course. You're very brave to come here."

She lifted her chin. "I am the bravest of my family." She settled herself on my shoulder and w
hispered in my ear, "Lady, is it true that you are having a seelie fae baby? Lord Snakekin's baby?"

I found myself smiling. "The baby will be mine and Garrett's
to raise. His name is Charles, but I call him Charlie. Lord
Snakekin
will not ever be a part of his life. Garrett and I love him already."

I felt her tiny hands press against the pulse in my neck. "May I look
, please?" I nodded, not really knowing what she meant, then gasped when a strange kind of magical energy began to flow through my body, pulsing like a quick heartbeat.

She spoke some words in her sweet musical language and then
sighed a long, "Oooooohhhhhh".

"Is there anything wrong?"
  Her expression worried me.

She spoke with a clear formality.
"Lady Jah-kee, I would ask Lady Philladre to translate, please."

Philladre appeared instan
tly, looking at Sinlae with fascination. "She says she has
Seen
and so must
Speak
and does not want to confuse you with her poor translation. I've called the others to witness, Sinlae." She looked again at me. "It is important that there are witnesses to this event, Jacqueline, as it is something that happens rarely. Try not to be afraid." She squeezed my hand.

I had no idea what she thought I might be afraid about until
I saw the faces of the others. Aedus, Liam, Kellaine, Kaera, and Brina appeared behind Philladre, looking worried and solemn. Garrett came up behind me to snake his arms around my waist and pull me closer.

"What's going on?"

Liam explained. "She's clairvoyant and has
Seen
something of Charles' future."

"Oh." I clutched at Garrett's
hand which was now resting over my belly; over our son. Now I was truly scared. The other fae made a circle around us.

Sinlae hovered before me and began to speak, her eyes still pulsing with a golde
n fire to the rhythm, I somehow sensed, of my tiny son's heart. When the demi-fey began to speak, Philladre translated smoothly, without expression or even much inflection in her voice, as if she were reading an unfamiliar text out loud for the first time. "I state now what I have
Seen
with nothing added or removed. By my life, my blood and my honor, I swear this before you all.

"T
here is a warrior leading an army: golden blonde hair, light violet eyes, dressed as in this shifter world. To his left stand many Cascade Fae: Lords Caelen, Liam and Aedus, Ladies Keara and Brina.

"His true father, Garrett V
ampirelord, stands to his right. You advise him and plan..."

Philladre turned to Aedus and asked him something in Fae.

"Strategy." Aedus replied.

Philladre
nodded, "...plan strategy. Although his fae and demon magic are strong, you remind him of his cheetahkin powers, which are different and yet vital to his survival. Lady Jacqueline has taught him to use his healing, and because of her he leads with compassion and not cruelty. Other beings stand to his right. Beings of enormous power who have chosen to follow rather than lead.

Sinlae shuddered in the air. Philladre reached out to hold her steady. The demi-fey continued. "His enemies are more numerous. Some
are demons in warrior form, some are fae, seelie and unseelie. Some are practitioners of blood and dark magic."

Sinlae whispered her next words directly to me. Philladre continued to translate. "It is true that he will struggle with what he has inherited. The temptation to control is strong. If he follows his heart and his teachings he will not succumb."

She spoke louder. "He will learn a truth which may destroy him and many others with him. If he can accept this sharp blade, allow it to enter him and purge him, he will regain the purpose he believed lost."

"In three worlds he is in danger always, but because of his essential self, he will face his destiny su
rrounded by those who would die to protect him. Some
will
die and he will be gravely injured more than once, fighting many hard battles, but also finding great joy."

She turned to the other fae. "He will remain part
of us still: Tuatha Dé Danann. He will bring Balance."

There were many seconds of complete silence, except for the sound of my quiet weeping against Garrett's chest. Sinlae was resting on Philladre's shoulder, the
Seeing
having drained her, but after a few moments, she flew once more into the air and hovered a foot away from my tear-streaked face. Philladre and Aedus, Liam and Kellaine and the sisters stood around us in a tighter circle, their eyes spinning with gold, drawn to this tiny seelie as witnesses to her Prophecy and now her Pledge.

She spoke for herself once more. "
Lady Jah-Kee, do not weep. Your son will be a male who many respect and love. His life will have difficult moments, great anguish but also great joys. Will you look at tiny Sinlae, please?" I wiped my eyes and twisted my body, Garrett's strong arms supporting me as he always did.

"Jah-k
ay-lyn Crah-ford Coo-vee-aa, Cheetahkin Healer and Demonspawn, I pledge myself as guardian to your son, Char-ulz Coo-vee-aa, Seelie Fae warrior of Cascade, Cheetahkin Healer and Demonspawn." She lifted her chin even higher. "Perhaps you hear my words and look at me and laugh inside because I am so small. But I am a strong warrior, a creature not meant to tend gardens, although it is my race's predetermined lot. I have today chosen another path. By my demi-fey blood, I swear to protect your precious son with my skills, my magic, my blood, my honor and my life. Please honor me by accepting my Pledge."