Passions Recalled: Forbidden Passions, Book 2 (9 page)

She had to be a Messenger. Celeste knew a few of them—she grew up in werewolf land and the birds territory was right smack in the middle—but she didn’t know this one.

“I’m Ajax Petros,” the woman said. Frowning, Celeste poked Jason in the back until he let her step out. Why was the Messenger Commander coming to Jason? He didn’t respond to her, just waited her out in silence. The woman smiled just a little and Celeste caught a flash of amusement cross her face. Celeste got the impression, and she’d heard enough over the years, to know Ajax Petros was not a woman who could be intimidated. The birds she knew spoke of the eagle with a reverence reserved only for God.

“Do you have a message?” Celeste asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

Ajax turned that measuring glance on
her.
Celeste had to force herself to be still, to be calm. To stare the other woman down. If she’d learned one thing after the crash it was that she was a hell of a lot stronger than she’d ever given herself credit for. Or anyone else for that matter. She lifted her chin and met the wereeagle’s gaze. Ajax grinned.

“Spine. Good.” Then she turned to Jason. “I have a message for the Leonidas brothers from Tonina Guerra.”

She didn’t know the name, but Jason did. His reaction was subtle but immediate. He gently nudged her behind him, his muscles tensing as if to leap forward and grab the Messenger by throat. It alarmed her and she stroked his back, murmured soft encouragement and the tension eased a little from his body. Messengers were neutral. Messengers were off limits.

“What’s the message?” he asked.

“She apologizes for the assassination attempt on your brother’s mate and hopes you understand she knew nothing of it.”

Jason nodded.

“She also thought you’d like to know who paid her mate for it,” Ajax continued, pausing for effect.

Jason shrugged, but the bond between them pulsed. She knew he was desperate to know who had paid for the attack on his sister-in-law, who she’d discovered through the long night was her cousin, Lyra, mated to his younger brother, Zander. “Of course.”

Her gaze shifted to Celeste, softened. It was clear the woman knew more about Celeste than she knew about her.

“A werewolf named Derek. She doesn’t know his last name.”

Celeste was numb with shock. She couldn’t imagine why Derek would want to kill her cousin, but she was no longer surprised. Not by anything. The bird was waiting expectantly and Jason finally nodded.

“We won’t hold her mate’s actions against her.”

Ajax nodded. “I’ll let her know.” And with those words she shifted back to her bird form and took flight. Celeste held her breath until the bald eagle was gone from sight.

Jason didn’t move, didn’t look at her. She knew he was struggling with his leopard side for dominance and waited him out.

“How many Dereks are there?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I have no idea. But…it has to be him. Why, Jason? Me, I can understand, but why would he go after Lyra? She ran away from the clan years ago.”

“I don’t know, baby, but we’ll find out.” He finally hugged her, pulled her close.

“How?” she whispered.

“Nico. I’ll call Nico. This is the kind of thing he does.”

But he was estranged from his brothers. They hadn’t spoken of it, but she knew. He squeezed her shoulders.

“Don’t worry, this is family. And speaking of family. Tomas is waiting for us.”

That’s right, he was pushing her out of his life. Everything else seemed to pale in comparison. There was no point in delaying, so she got in the truck, quietly latching the seatbelt. The quick drive was made in an uncomfortable silence. She shuddered when they passed the empty beach lot and wondered where her car was, but the dismay was wiped away when they reached the entrance of the park a few minutes later and she saw Tomas waiting, leaning against the hood of his car. She reached for the door handle before they’d even come to a complete stop and launched herself from the cab. She didn’t make the gate before Jason stopped her, dragging her into his arms with a crushing kiss.

Sighing into him, she gripped his shirt in her fists and tried to take it over, tried to soften it. She’d miss him. She’d recover, but it would be hard and as goodbye kisses went, this was not what she had in mind. He didn’t let her have control though. His lips were bruising, his tongue demanding. If his intent was possession it was a rousing success. He let her go abruptly, and she staggered back, one hand coming up to cover her mouth as if she could hold the feel of him there.

“Two weeks, Celeste,” he said, breathing hard.

“I understand.” She said it softly, sadly. She understood she wouldn’t see him again. Why couldn’t he just say goodbye? He pulled her back into his arms, and this time the kiss was easy and slow. Lifting his head, he picked her up and put her down on the other side of the gate.

“You don’t understand shit. This is not an end.”

He met Tomas’s gaze.

“Take care of my mate, wolf.”

Then he spun around and strode back to the truck. She watched until he was out of sight and jumped when Tomas spoke.

“You look like hell, babe. What happened here? All Jason said was Derek is dead and y’all made it through the storm.”

Sighing, she walked to the car and got in. He joined her and cranked the engine before she answered.

“It’s a long story.”

He grinned. “We have a long drive.”

“Atlanta’s not that far.”

Would the drive fly by or drag? And how long would it take to slip back into her calm, ordered life?

Tomas snorted. “I don’t think so. I’m taking you
home.”

She glared at him. She wasn’t ready to face Michael yet, didn’t trust herself not to lose it when she saw him.

“Hey, Jason insisted. Said something about it being the last time we’d get to see you in a good long time. He’s seriously pissed at us.”

“I don’t blame him. I’m seriously pissed at y’all.” She sighed. “But you don’t have to worry about it. I doubt any of us will be seeing him again.”

He frowned at her. “You’re crazy if you believe that.”

She just shrugged and stared out the window. Maybe he would come but so much had happened. Too many lies, too much hurt. She wouldn’t blame him for disappearing. The ring was heavy on her finger, and she considered taking it off but couldn’t quite make herself do it. She’d cling to the fantasy for just a while longer.

It was a long drive, and the last couple of days had taken their toll, finally catching up to her. She slept most of the way, jerking awake when the hum of the car was silenced. She blinked at the front of her parents’ house, not sure she wanted to enter. It was the lure of a hot shower that got her moving in that direction.

The whole family was waiting when she walked in, but she just shook her head when one of her brothers opened his mouth to speak.

“Not now,” she said and went to her old room.

Jason watched her leave, watched until the car disappeared around a curve in the road, and still stood rooted in place. She thought he was letting her go and nothing other than his coming for her would convince her otherwise. Fine. He’d just work double-time. But first…

First he had to deal with family issues. The fact that the ocelot who’d tried to kill his sister-in-law, his baby brother’s mate and
his
mate’s cousin, was hired by Derek complicated the shit out of things. Maybe it was nothing more than Derek trying to weaken Michael’s position in the clan. Or maybe his brother Nico was right. Maybe something was seriously off in the shifter world and it started with the crash that was supposed to have taken the life not only of his mate, but also his father. The leopard clan leader.

He pulled out his cell phone as he turned to the truck, cranked it as he scrolled to the recorded address book. Pushed
send
as he put it in drive. Nico answered on the first ring.

“Jason. Make it through the storm okay?”

“Fine. Celeste is alive.”

There was a brief pause. “If Celeste is…”

Nico didn’t have to say anything more. If Celeste was alive, Hector’s, their father, chances had just improved. Jason filled Nico in on the bird visit and message, then hung up and got to work. He had a mate to claim.

The next week passed slowly. Eventually she spoke to everyone, listened to their apologies and justifications. Told her father about the message from the werebird. But Celeste wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to really forgive them, and an uneasy kind of peace fell over the household. She prowled the house in silence, going stir crazy and ready to bolt at any minute. Jason didn’t call—a fact she was positive of since she jumped every time the phone rang and refused to let anyone else answer it.

The more time passed, the angrier she became. He really was willing to let her go a second time. Fine. But she’d be damned if he got away unscathed. He’d made her love him again, had reawakened her body and made her hope. Damned if he was going to do that and just walk away.

She began to plot her escape. She couldn’t get beyond the porches without someone following her, and no one was willing to hand over their car keys even if she could. Of course they had to sleep sometime, and she decided she wasn’t above liberating a car from one of them in the middle of the night. She considered it small repayment for the lies they’d fed her. The best part by far though was planning what she would say to Jason. She was torn up with hurt and anger, and she wanted, needed, him to feel as badly as she did.

It was a warm breezy summer day, and she’d put on what she often joked was her flower child outfit, a long flowing skirt and tank top. She was lying in her favorite place, in the hammock on the back porch, in the middle of planning her tirade when she heard a vehicle pull into the drive. Pushing her foot against the porch rail, she set the hammock lightly swaying and idly wondered who the new arrival was. Another clan member coming to gawk under the guise of worry for her no doubt. She closed her eyes and pretended to sleep as footsteps came down the back hall. She just wasn’t up to being the center of attention today.

The door creaked. She ignored it but jerked when a light stroke glided down her jaw to her neck. Of all the presumptuous nerve. Her eyes flew wide open, and she opened her mouth to give whoever it was a piece of her mind, but the words froze in her throat.

Jason loomed over her in tight jeans and a tighter shirt. Her mouth watered at the sight, and her brain finally reengaged. She was beyond mad at him. She swung out of the hammock and shoved past him. When she felt as if she had enough distance, she spun around.

“What are you doing here?”

He arched an eyebrow. “Not quite the reception I had in mind.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You sent me away, remember?”

“And I told you it would only be for a couple of weeks. I didn’t have anywhere for you to stay.”

She huffed. “Oh, please. I made it through a hurricane and a madman. I don’t think the lack of four walls and roof was that big a deal in retrospect.”

His eyes gleamed at the sarcasm, and he took a step toward her. She retreated with one of her own, but not out of fear. She felt gloriously alive for the first time in days.

“Well, I did. Next time you can stay and sleep in the bed of the truck with me. I’m sure we can find a better use for your smart mouth there.”

She gasped, glaring at him and ignoring the tingle of lust that strummed through her at the crude suggestion. He rubbed a hand over his face and sighed.

“I’m sorry. That was rude and uncalled for.”

The apology surprised her, and she nodded agreement.

“Yeah, it was.”

He grinned. “Not that the idea doesn’t have appeal, you understand.”

Her body was keyed up, ready. Desperate. But she wanted to vent her anger and frustration before giving into the craving for him. She smiled sweetly. “Not in this lifetime.”

Laughing, he shook his head. “I can see that. Why are you so pissed? I told you I’d come, and I’m here. A week early.”

“I…”

She let the answer trail off into nothing. Why was she pissed? She hadn’t believed he still wanted her and had spent a week getting good and angry over that, but he was here now. He knew when he sent her off she believed that, too, and didn’t try to contact her during the last week to convince her otherwise.

“You could have called,” she grumbled.

He grunted. “I would have if I hadn’t been working twenty hours a day. So I could bring you home sooner.”

When he put it that way, she felt a little bitchy. Not too much though. Surely he could have managed a phone call somewhere.

“I don’t think this is really anger here,” he said gesturing between the two of them. “I think it’s fear.”

“Fear? No way.”

He smiled and sauntered closer to her, smoothly, easily as if he knew she’d run at any minute. He cupped her face in his palms and looked into her eyes. She felt as if he could see into her soul, see all of her deepest secrets, and she realized why he thought her anger was born of fear.
He may even be right.
She saw it all reflected in his gaze.

“I’m scared, too, baby. I lost you a year ago, and I’m terrified of going through that again.” He kissed her, a quick featherlike brush against her lips. “But I love you, and we’re going to make this work. Hell, I’ll even learn to live with your family.”

Cheers erupted from the open doorway behind them. They turned to look, and Celeste wished she could sink into the floor. The whole family crowded in the small space.

Michael grinned at Jason and offered him a jaunty salute. “We heard that, and we’ll be holding you to it.”

Jason groaned and dropped his forehead to rest on top of hers. “Great. What have I done?” he complained.

Laughter bubbled from her throat, and she shook her head in mock sadness.

“You invited a wolf—no a family of wolves—into your home. So much for that old leopard-wolf rivalry, eh? ”

He straightened, turning serious. “They won’t visit unless you’re there.”

“Guess you’ll have to get used to them then, huh?”

He released a gusty sigh. “You didn’t have to make me sweat so long.”