Stone Cold Revenge (Set In Stone, Book Two) Read online

  Gwen’s violet eyes widened, standing out in stark contrast against her fair skin and platinum blonde pixie cut. Her cream-colored sweater and skinny jeans accentuated her tall, willowy figure. But it was the sour expression on her face that really caught my attention.

  Gwen repeated, “Why am I here?”

  Luna stepped forward. “Because Elle needs your help.”

  Gwen all but sneered. “Child of Danu, I already did my part. That’s all the help she’ll receive from me.”

  The lazy smile that spread across Luna’s red lips had me on high alert. “I’m so much more than that, little oracle. But for now you can call me…” She turned to me. “What was the phrase? Oh, I remember. A leprechaun on crack.”

  Elion choked on a laugh.

  “Shouldn’t you have known you’d be here, oracle?” Luna blinked with false innocence. The look didn’t work on her.

  Gwen’s lips pursed. “I’m a fate reader. I gave her the journal. My role is done.”

  The dagger appeared in Luna’s hands and she flipped it a few times. “Only a fate reader? Really, oracle, you insult us. Half-truths aside, Elle needs you. As a fate reader, maybe you should revisit your fate and do your part.”

  The tense undercurrents were hard to miss. And I couldn’t be more in the dark. Again. I waved a hand at them. “Anyone care to clue me in?”

  “Have you read the journal?” This from Elion.

  My headache worsened with each passing minute. “Not all of it. I’ve been a little busy. I haven’t had a lot of leisurely reading time lately.”

  “If she’s too busy to read the journal, I’m too busy to help her.” Gwen’s voice vibrated with fury.

  “There is nothing more important than this,” Luna fired back, gripping the dagger’s handle so the blade pointed at Gwen.

  “What do I need to do?” All three turned to look at me with equal parts disgust and exasperation. I wanted to wave a hand over the top of my head to check for the light bulb that obviously wasn’t turning on. “Give me a break, you guys. Elion just fried my brain. Someone throw me a bone. Otherwise, feel free to let yourselves out.”

  Luna laughed. “You’re so cute when you try to be tough.”

  I directed my words to all of them. “I am sick of you treating me like an idiot. I’m doing the best I can to learn about this screwed-up world you live in and the freaks that come with it. Including you.” I pointed at Luna.

  Luna pointed to herself. “Pot.” She pointed to me. “Kettle. You’re no different than I am. Don’t kid yourself. It’s not helpful.” She cocked one hip and waved the dagger at me. “You need to snap out of that ‘it’s all about me’ mentality.”

  My jaw dropped. “But I’m not…”

  Gwen frowned at me.

  “I didn’t mean…”

  Elion cleared his throat.

  Deflated, I sank into a chair. “I wasn’t trying to make it about me. I’m just trying to keep up.”

  “We’re sympathetic to that,” Elion replied. “However, our time is running out, and we need you to be present.”

  I opened my hands. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

  Luna walked over and smacked a hand down on the kitchen table. “Your mind isn’t. Your focus sucks. Someone should have trained you long before now. You’re like a toddler.”

  “I can’t believe you didn’t read the whole journal.” Gwen’s accent was heavy with irritation. She crossed her arms and regarded me with disdain.

  “Okay, okay. I get it. I screwed up. I’m being too emotional and I need to get with the program.” I rolled my shoulders a few times to loosen the knots. “Can you give me tonight? Let me sleep on the information Elion blasted me with. I’ll finish reading the journal first thing in the morning. I have time before I’m supposed to meet Falon.”

  Gwen’s shoulders jerked.

  “What?” I asked.

  Face impassive, eyes intense, she considered me. “Falon the hunter?”

  I nodded. “Jedren’s idea, not mine. One of the stipulations to being his heir.”

  “He’ll try to kill you.”

  Her words weren’t as shocking as she expected them to be. “Yeah, there’s a list for that particular task. Names are being added on a daily basis.”

  “Sounds like we need to start a betting pool to see who’ll get you first,” Luna quipped. “My bet’s on Falon at your birthday bash. What do you think, oracle?” She flashed a predatory smile at Gwen.

  I ignored her and looked at Elion. “Give me tonight to digest all of this. I’ll be ready tomorrow.” For whatever they might throw at me.

  He nodded once, and then they all disappeared. Though not as unnerving as the first time, it still gave my stomach a jolt. But they were gone, and that’s what I’d wanted.

  When I got to the bedroom, I gratefully stripped off the dress and hung it up. As I scrubbed my face, I imagined I was scrubbing the evening away. Just for tonight, I wanted to set it aside. My brain continued to buzz from the trauma of information overload.

  Normally, I’d head to my shop and soothe my nerves with scents. I’d sprinkle a few drops of lavender and chamomile in a warmer for instant calm. Then I’d make a body butter. Something rich and soothing and utterly indulgent. The scent would have a vanilla base with hints of amber and…

  I closed my eyes and sighed. I missed my shop. I missed my old life and its simplicity. What I wouldn’t give for a familiar routine. Being surrounded by bottles and jars full of essential oils and creamy lotion bases waiting to be blended was my version of heaven. I needed to check in with Cassie, Teryl’s sister. She was fresh out of college, and I’d hired her to run my shop while I dealt with the evil that was Jedren.

  No, I needed to eliminate Jedren and get home.

  I also had to remember that stopping my father from destroying more lives was priority number one. The rest could be dealt with later. And Teryl…My father had apparently not just removed Clio from Seattle to London, but had now taken her prisoner, all to ensure my cooperation.

  Tomorrow. I would deal with everything tomorrow. Tonight, I needed one thing.

  My mate. Jax. I’d finally made my choice, and my heart hummed with approval.

  I slipped into a cotton tank top and boy shorts, my no-fuss pajamas. The bed beckoned, and I sank into it. The soft, billowy down comforter wrapped around me like a cocoon, offering the illusion of security. Tonight, I’d take it. I released a deep sigh and closed my eyes.

  Tomorrow would be better. I’d be focused. While her approach needed work, Luna had a point. If I didn’t get my powers under control, quickly, more would pay the price.

  Like Jax, Teryl, or MacLean.

  Twenty minutes passed slowly as I stared at the ceiling. The newly implanted ideas, stories, and facts tumbled through my mind. Could I make sense of them by tomorrow? Elion had done more than give information—he’d also given me my memories back. And some of my mother’s. Sifting slowly through them, I realized I owed him a thank you.

  I heard the soft, steady tread of footsteps on the stairs. My heart smiled before my lips curved. I shifted to my side and waited.

  Jax paused at the doorway. “Everything go okay?”

  I nodded. I didn’t want to get into details now.

  He hesitated, then walked to the bed and stared down at me, silver streaking through his eyes. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded again and sat up. The bed dipped when Jax sat beside me. He tucked a few strands of hair behind my left ear. “It was hard to give you time to talk with Luna. I thought—”

  I cut off his words with a kiss. Leaning into his chest, I curled my hand around the back of his neck. His breath stuttered a split second before his hands tangled in my hair. I could taste a hint of peppermint on his mouth. I teased his lower lip, drawing a groan from deep in his chest. Instead of deepening the kiss, I caressed the corners of his mouth with my lips, enjoying the feel of his skin.

  I tugged on his shirt. “Off please,” I mumbled against his
lips. My hands slid along warm, bare skin almost immediately. I hummed my approval and leaned back to look my fill.

  He shifted to full gargoyle, lips drawn back in a silent moan. Leathery wings made a soft shushing sound as he folded them against his back.

  A fierce smile broke across my face. “Hello, gargoyle.”

  Our lips met and he kissed me with all the pent-up emotions of the last week. I could taste fear, fury, and desire. His tongue delved inside my mouth and I moaned.

  I met him, stroke for stroke. He sampled me as if memorizing my flavor. I slid my hands along his back, loving the feel of his muscles shifting. Whispering words I couldn’t understand, he pressed soft kisses to my cheek, trailing a path down my neck to the top of my right shoulder.

  Jax broke the kiss and his wild eyes regarded me. “You had a long day, and perhaps you should get some sleep.”

  I put a finger to his lips. “Are you really going to try and talk me out of this?” Incredulity warred with amusement as I waited for his response.

  His jaw clenched a few times. “I’m trying to do what’s right for you. You need to rest.”

  A bubble of laughter tickled my throat. His fluctuating shape belied his words. I removed the covers and straddled his thighs. He didn’t resist when I pushed him onto his back. Leaning over him, I pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, and then along his cheek. The muscles of his jaw clenched again. I smiled and whispered in his ear, “I don’t want rest. I don’t want gentle. I want you. Get over it.”

  Jax tensed. “I will never get over you, little gem.”

  I sat up and frowned. “That’s not what I meant.”

  He lifted me off him, stood, and started pacing. “I know you didn’t. But today, tonight, was difficult.” He stopped with his back to me, head down, fists clenched.

  “Jax?”

  In a low, soft voice he said, “I am your mate. My first priority is your safety. Your well-being. To stand by quietly…” He released a heavy breath and finally turned to look at me. His features had sharpened. Skin shimmered gray as he fought to stay in control. His voice deepened further, the gravelly tone sending shivers along my skin. “I want to kill them all. I want to hide you somewhere they’ll never find you. You deserve to know everything, to learn everything, but I am fighting my instincts to protect you. Right now, I’m losing.”

  I walked to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. Resting my head on his chest, I closed my eyes. “I wouldn’t want to do this alone. Part of me wishes you could save the day. It would be the easy way out.”

  “I’m waiting for the ‘but’ in the sentence, where you give me a good reason why I can’t.”

  “But we both know I can’t do that. If I don’t go through with this, more souls will be stolen, more people will be hurt. It would only solve our issues temporarily.”

  I leaned back enough to look up at him. “I remember everything.”

  He tensed. “Everything?”

  I shook my head wryly. “Well, not everything yet. Elion dumped it all on me, but I have to sort it out, a little bit at a time.” I rubbed my temple with two fingers. “I still have a headache. Thankfully, it was worth it.”

  “You should rest,” he repeated, voice stiff.

  I hit his chest with my fist. Fortunately, I connected with flesh, not stone. “Enough with the rest thing. Tell me what’s really bothering you. Trust me that much.”

  Strong hands wrapped around my arms and gently pushed me until my back pressed against the wall. The sharp angles of his face filled my view, and he appeared to be seconds from shifting. “I trust you. Never doubt that. I don’t trust that you remember everything. I don’t trust Jedren. I don’t trust myself. My control is slipping.”

  “Your control? Control over what? We can’t control this situation.”

  “That’s not what I mean. I can’t control myself. Sitting on the sidelines goes against everything I am. I am a hunter. I am your mate. I am not a passive bystander. I can’t sit back and wait. I need your trust. I need you.”

  The raw edge of anguish in his voice twisted my stomach. The bond shifted and coiled between us from the force of his agitation. My nerve endings nearly hummed with energy. The uncomfortable sensation forced me to move. I pushed him back with equal intensity. “I trust you. And I don’t want you on the sidelines. I remember everything I need to when it comes to you. To us. What will it take to convince you?”

  I realized in that instant I didn’t need him to answer that. I knew. I brushed a hand down his back and said, “I accept you as you are. I accept you as my mate. Our journey to eternity will start with protection, trust, and love. Jaxon West, I name you as my mate.”

  The silence was almost painful. I wondered if I’d made a mistake. After a few raw seconds, he repeated in a low, strained voice, “I accept you as you are. I accept you as my mate. Our journey to eternity will begin with protection, trust, and love. Elleodora Fredricks, I name you as my mate.”

  “Jax, I want you to know—”

  His lips cut off anything I would have said. He grabbed my legs and wrapped them around his waist. His weight pressed me back into the wall, and the force of his kiss took me by surprise. “Jax,” I barely managed to mumble.

  His lips warmed against mine, but he didn’t break the embrace. I tightened my legs around his waist and kissed him back. He was strong and safe and mine. Desire heightened my senses as his lips devoured me. The bond pulled tight between us. Through it, I felt his frustration and need. I also felt the edge of his fear.

  His teeth lightly grazed the skin. “Elle,” he murmured. “I have dreamt of your skin.”

  Sensitive to his slightest touch, I arched against him, and I swear I felt him smile against the skin across my collarbone. The heat of his breath followed by the touch of his lips. He slowly drove me insane with need. Before I could protest, his hand swept down along the curve of my hip to the juncture at my thighs. Talented hands drew a moan from my throat.

  His lips nibbled their way to one breast. My breath hitched when he drew my nipple into his mouth.

  When I could catch my breath, I asked, “Can you carry me?”

  His eyes flashed silver with lust. “I’m a little busy right now.” He leaned in to capture my lips, but I turned my head so he brushed my cheek.

  “Can you carry me while you fly?” I pressed.

  Confusion streaked his eyes with gray and his grip on me loosened. “You want to fly? Right now?”

  Was that disappointment in his voice? I smiled, slowly and surely. “Yes. Let’s go somewhere else. Away from…this.” I gestured a hand toward the main house. “I want it to be just you and me.”

  Comprehension dawned, and his arms tightened around me. He rested his head against the curve of my neck and sucked in a deep, shuddering breath. “Little gem,” he mumbled in a voice a full octave deeper, “you are testing my control.”

  Exhilaration and desire swirled through me. “Then let’s hurry.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jax kept me firmly in his arms while he strode to the closet. Grabbing a jacket, he said, “Put this on.”

  “I’m not cold.” Though going out in my pajamas probably wasn’t a great idea. Especially since there were a number of people on the property at any given time.

  “It’s for my benefit,” he growled.

  Laughing again, I shrugged it over my shoulders.

  He walked us down to the front door. “You’re sure? The bed would be easier. And closer.”

  I leaned into him, licked his lower lip, and then dipped my tongue inside the heat of his mouth. I took my time as I stroked his tongue with mine. I drew in his taste, until our bond hummed with energy. I could get addicted to the feeling. Maybe I already was.

  Finally, I pulled back and stared into his eyes. “I’m sure. I want to experience what you’ve got to offer.” I ran the pad of my thumb along his cheek, loving the feel of the slight scruff of his five o’clock shadow.

  He shifted to stone befor
e I finished the sentence. The scruff disappeared beneath my thumb. “Shadow,” he requested of me.

  Shadowing was one of the powers I’d inherited from my father. It was the first one that I’d used, quite accidentally, on that fateful mocha frappe day two weeks ago.

  Jax grabbed the door handle. “We don’t want anyone to see us leaving. You need to shadow now. Please, trust me,” he added in a rough whisper. “I’ll help.”

  I liked the sound of that. Gargoyles could enhance shadow elf abilities. It was just one more reason I knew Jax was my perfect mate.

  I closed my eyes and imagined wrapping the shadows around us, protecting and obscuring. The subtle shift in energy felt natural as the shadows settled in and we moved to the front porch. I gripped Jax’s arms tightly when he launched us into the air. The thrilling, slightly sickening lurch of defying gravity brought a silly grin to my face. I kept my eyes closed, just in case. “Tell me when I can stop.”

  Cool air swept along my skin. I could hear the odd hum of his wings. Unlike the soft shushing sound a bird’s wings create, I heard a muted snap each time his wings beat through the air.

  “Release the shadows and open your eyes.” Amusement laced his gravelly voice.

  I opened one eye. “You’re sure it’s safe?”

  The rumble of laughter from his stone chest rippled through me, all the way to my toes. “Define safe.”

  I took his teasing as a good sign and dared to look around. The view stopped my breath. Holy hell. Inky blue night sky seemed to go on forever above us. Dark clouds covered most of the stars, but I could see a few pop through here and there. The moon was almost full and skimmed over the top of a cloud. I wanted to reach out for it.

  I looked over Jax’s shoulder and watched his wings as they extended into the air, then folded. The movement was quick, fluid, and powerful. How did stone move like that? His body had the texture and hardness of stone but moved and flexed like he normally did. I could see corded muscles shift as he propelled us forward.

  “You’re like a stone ninja.”

  I yelped when he suddenly dipped. Laughter rumbled through his chest. “A what?”