Without Limits: A BWWM Collection of Passion and Desire, page 46
There were three comfortable reading chairs around a coffee table with a decorated shallow oval shaped bowl sitting in its center. Declan seated her in one of the chairs, his mother sat to her right, and Declan took the seat to her left. She’d have to turn her head slightly to address them directly. Around the room she noticed two cameramen as well as one of the producer/directors, there to ensure they got this from all angles.
“Thank you for joining us, Serissa,” Magaidh said. “I know this isn’t easy for you. Nor is it an easy decision for my son.”
“Thank you for having me.” Serissa turned to include Declan in her comment. “No, it’s not been easy, but I think worth it.”
“Hmm…”
At times Serissa felt like both were trying to probe her thoughts, she’d felt Jax try a few times too, but she was good at blocking and only smiled at them. Never once giving away she knew they tested each and every one of her answers, but she spoke truth. There was something between her and Jax, something powerful. On the one hand she wanted to explore it. On the other, he was a freaking vampire as was the rest of his family. Still, she would not deny the real emotion between them.
In truth, he might actually be able to understand her and the craft she practiced. Something few human males would accept and the reason she didn’t date much. Nor had she ever been interested in the one or two male witches she’d been out with. Pompous asses both.
After they’d wrapped up the interview, both Declan and Magaidh were smiling at her when she stood. They rose and first Declan then his mother hugged her. But when she stepped back Magaidh took her hand. The pentagram mark burned. That could only mean one thing. When they’d first met outside, Magaidh had used her right hand to shake Serissa’s. This time the woman used her left hand to grasp hers.
Serissa’s gaze flew to Magaidh’s, who only smiled as the director yelled, “Cut and wrap.” But her eyes never left Serissa’s. She merely raised one elegant eyebrow, letting Serissa know she felt the spark too. Serissa immediately glanced down at their joined hands and yes, for a split second, the pentagram appeared then disappeared from the inner part of Magaidh wrist. The illusion of unblemished skin had lifted just long enough for her to glimpse it.
Holy mother Goddess, Jax’s mother was also a witch and a bloody vampire! Serissa could see it now in her aura. What in the world was going on here? She had no time to ask her questions. Magaidh had already turned away from her, and Kevin was ushering her out the door.
Avery stood on the other side and squeezed her arm. “Serissa, everything go okay?”
Serissa looked at her friend then back into the room. She wanted to yell, hell no. But when she turned back to Avery, the frown on the other woman’s face decided for her. Serissa plastered on a smile and said, “Of course everything is fine. They’re going to love you.”
She continued back into the main room. Bridget still sat at the bar but Jax was nowhere around. Leaving her with a whole lot of unanswered questions.
Chapter Eight
Jax just wanted it over with. He’d left the room when Avery got called in to speak to his family and took a walk around the property, trying to clear his head. He couldn’t believe Serissa would put a spell on him and that what he felt for her wasn’t real, but his Ma could not be wrong. If she said someone had been using magic on him, well, she would know. He’d just try to stay away from Serissa as much as possible until his mother could lift whatever she’d done.
After three days at the manor, they were ready for another ceremony. He’d spent less time alone with Serissa but it was hard. Jax stood in the study and the cameras were on. The director motioned them to begin, bringing his thoughts back to the present. In a few moments he’d send one of the women home. He’d intended it to be Avery. Now he wasn’t so sure.
His Ma had been able to confirm Serissa was indeed a witch, but she sensed no thread of dark about her makeup. Nor could she tell if Serissa had cast a spell on him, but knew one had been cast. One meant to consume him with lust for the weaver. The only witch he’d been around was Serissa and even after his mother performed a cleansing, she was still the only woman he wanted.
Still, after Kevin went over the rules once again for the women in front of the camera, Jax found himself calling Bridget forward and asking her to stay. In truth, all three had been troopers, walking for miles, hiking across rugged terrain, camping near lochs at times when the temperature had dropped a time or two. And even though the sleep tents were pretty nice, they were still ‘roughing’ it while visiting some beautiful locations in his homeland. They were all three strong sturdy women capable of being the mate of a vampire.
The next week would see him and the last two women in the city and living a more sedate lifestyle before the final show in the castle. The final two would be wined, dined, and they’d have one night each with him without the cameras in their faces, a departure of the normal show but Jax made sure of it. Then at the end of the week, he’d make his choice.
What had been an easy one a few days ago, not so much today.
This time instead of the backpacks they’d been carrying around for the last month, he handed Bridget the suitcase she’d arrived with. All three of the women’s suitcases were lined up behind him. They held their backpacks in their hands.
At first Bridget appeared confused, thinking he was sending her home, but then he smiled. “Bridget, you’re going to need this I’m sure. You see, I’d like you to continue this trip with me out of the Highlands and into the city. A black limo is waiting on us outside to take us to the airport. Would you join me for a few days in Glasgow?”
Bridget squealed and threw her arms around his neck. For a moment Jax felt regret that he couldn’t really return the full extent of her feelings for him. They were clear for him to read. Perhaps it was the result of this damn spell. Frustrated he couldn’t tell if his emotions were his own or not, he forced a smile on his lips and hugged her back, giving her a quick kiss as he pulled away. He waited while she went over to Serissa and Avery. All three women hugged. Serissa and Avery each kissed Bridget’s cheek before she walked out of the house dragging her suitcase behind her.
Turning around, he faced the remaining women. It was on the tip of his tongue to call Serissa forward and send her home. Instead, he called Avery and took her hands. They were soft and warm with her blood. Jax looked into her smiling eyes and she winked as though they were sharing a secret. They had been friends on this journey and could never be anything more. They both knew that. Avery didn’t expect to stay. Jax inhaled and then exhaled going on instinct as he’d done all of his existence that had kept him and his family alive. Then he spoke the words to send her home.
Regardless of what had happened during the show, he’d been attracted to Serissa long before they’d actually met.
They’d arrived at the hotel. Both Serissa and Bridget would meet him downstairs in the restaurant where a room had been reserved for the three of them to have an intimate dinner. There was a band for the evening. He’d have desert alone with one woman, and then he’d dance with the other.
Jax could still remember the frown on his brother’s face when he’d gotten rid of Avery, leaving Serissa to continue. From the anger radiating off his brother, Jax knew their mother must have told Declan, Serissa was a witch she suspected might have spelled his brother. Declan wouldn’t like that news at all.
He wasn’t overly found of the idea himself, but he’d be damned if he’d allow her to continue the farce. If she hexed him, she could damn well undo it. It was one of the reasons he hadn’t sent her packing. Truth be told, he couldn’t, his mother didn’t think her cleansing worked. The witch had cast her brew well. He was halfway in love with Serissa. Had been from the day he’d read her unguarded stray thoughts on the streets of New York and been drawn to her vivaciousness.
But wait, how could that be? That day there had been no darkness to her. Only sheer joy radiated from her heart. Joy that reached out and touched him, drawing him to follow her.
Something was off here and one way or another, he’d find out what the hell she had done to him.
He’d just stepped off the elevator when Kevin met him in the hallway outside of the restaurant and stopped him. From the grin on the younger man’s face, Jax knew he wasn’t going to like whatever the producers had cooked up now.
“Hey, Jax,” Kevin said, shaking his hand. “How you holding up?”
“Not bad.”
“Well, Serissa and Bridget aren’t done quite yet. They’re going to come down in a few minutes. We needed you to come down a little earlier because we’ve got a little surprise. A chance for you to reconsider, if you will. The marketing team has been following the viewer polls and, well, we have another room set up for you. We’d like you to have a cocktail first with the surprise waiting for you in there.”
Jax had to school his features. He knew what was coming. He’d plucked it right out of the man’s thoughts. Kevin had been broadcasting them at him loudly, he should have known. But he’d been so preoccupied with Serissa, and he hadn’t been paying attention to anyone else’s thoughts.
“Karen’s waiting for you, Jax.” Kevin raised his hands to stop Jax from speaking. “I know, I know, but she’d like another chance and we thought it only fair for you to talk to her one last time. In exchange, tonight you can send one of the women home and continue on as planned, and that woman does not have to be Karen, should you decide you’d like her to stay. And we’ll add another $100,000 as incentive.”
Jax shook his head. “Unfuckingbelievable!” He wanted to add not even for another million. He didn’t need the damn money. It was on the tip of his tongue to cancel the damn thing but apparently they’d been building up this surprise meeting to the fans.
The cameras were positioned right beside him and in front of him. It made it more difficult to control a situation when two different cameramen were recording his reaction. He’d have to wipe everyone’s minds as well as delete what’s on the cameras, as well as delete the video feed. The digital recordings were on the camera and also on the database. Not to mention the media build up about a surprise event. So he had to be careful. He had no choice but to reluctantly agree to this crap.
“Okay,” he said to Kevin after taking a deep breath. “Lead the way.”
They stopped at the entrance to the restaurant, in front of darkly stained glass French doors. Kevin opened the door for him and said, “Good luck. I’ll go get the other women and bring them here in a few minutes. Then after your drink we’ll have a quick meeting and set up another elimination. Then move onto dinner and desert as planned.”
As soon as Jax entered the dimly lit small lounge area, he found Karen seated on a sofa. The place was set for a romantic tête-à-tête with no ambient lights other than the candles throughout the room. Soft instrumental music played in the background, just loud enough not to disturb conversation. The only other occupants were Davis and the cameraman who stood in one corner. Another cameraman trailed behind Jax. Karen rose from the sofa, dressed in a strapless red dress clinging to all the right places. Yeah, the woman was dressed for sex.
“I’m sorry,” were the first words out of her mouth. Her hands folded demurely in front of her, but demure was not the vibe her dress gave off.
Jax read nothing but regret from her—surface emotions. She was taking great pains to project that for the camera. This woman made a damn fine actress. He’d never really been able to go deeper than the surface with Karen. Serissa was just blocked. Only once in a while could he pierce her surface emotions. Usually when she was in his arms, but now was not the time to ponder Serissa.
“What’s going on, Karen? What’s this about?”
“Come join me,” Karen said, waving her hand toward the sofa and sitting back down.
Jax still hesitated to join her, but she patted the seat next to her. He moved to do as she asked since he’d agreed to this damned farce.
“First of all,” she said. “I’d just like to apologize to you for how I reacted when you let me go. I think I just came off all wrong. I felt such a connection to you from the very beginning. You can’t deny that. But something just held me back from really being myself around you.” She paused to pick up the two glasses of red wine sitting on the table in front of them, and raised one toward him. “Here. Please accept my apology and say you’ll give me a second chance. Get to know the real me.”
She bit her lower lip as she waited for his reply. Jax got a strong sense of nervousness from her, as well as anticipation. He took the wine she offered him and took a sip. The sense of nerves he had picked up a moment ago from her immediately vanished.
Then something strange happened. For the first time in years, his head felt like it weighed too much for his body. His hunger rose to the surface along with his need to feed. Karen raised her glass to her lips and took a sip of her wine, now a sense of triumph radiated about her.
That made no sense. But he had a hard time concentrating. The blood flowing through her veins sounded like a river rushing past him as he stood on the banks. He did his damnedest to not inhale her scent. He glanced over her shoulder and saw Davis grinning.
He blinked, his head hurt the hunger rose strongly in him as it hadn’t done since he’d been first turned. He needed to get out of there and back to his room. He’d left his flask of blood there, just in case, although since they’d begun to feed on the serum-infused blood they didn’t require blood as often. And felt nothing like this gripping hunger, in fact, he should not have hungered for at least another two weeks. Something was very wrong.
Jax glanced at the wine glass in his hand and blinked. “Okay, Karen. You’re forgiven. Let me think about this.” He carefully placed the glass down and by shear willpower walked out of the room without stumbling. He didn’t care what the others thought. But as he made it to the exit, the elevator opened and Kevin stepped out with Serissa and Bridget.
“Think you’re going the wrong way, Jax,” Kevin said grinning.
“Sorry, forgot something in my room. Be right back.”
Kevin frowned at him. Jax didn’t even bother to say anything to the two women or give the man a chance to stop him. He simply jumped on the elevator they’d just stepped out of before the doors shut, getting away from the cameramen who weren’t fast enough.
Finally, he was alone. He hit the button for his floor but before it arrived his incisors had lengthened two inches, and he had to bend over as his stomach cramped. What the fuck was going on?
Once the elevator doors opened, he used his inhuman speed to make it to his room and the flask hidden in his belongings. Jax had to drain it to quench the fire burning in his gut. His fangs receded and he felt almost human again. This was not normal. And without the special blood his mother had created, anyone near him, if he reached that stage again, was in danger. He picked up his phone and called his brother, explaining what happened, and instructed Declan to get him another couple of flasks by morning. He hoped what he’d taken would sustain him until then.
Chapter Nine
When Jax rushed past them on the elevator, a cold wind blew down Serissa’s back. His aura before the elevator doors shut on him shone bright red with an inner thread of purple. Someone had cast on him. A strong spell, something he might have ingested. Only a witch could do that, but did she know Jax was a vampire? Whatever the witch sought to accomplish, their brews didn’t work as well on the night creatures. They had to be adjusted. Whatever had been done to him had invoked his most base desire, his hunger. Perhaps that’s what they wanted to expose him, but why? Didn’t make sense. No one wanted the night worlds exposed to humans.
Something told her the spell had been cast for a human. Jax was not human. Perhaps he’d taken something by accident. But what could she do? He’d been in pain and had been running away from them. Serissa had been right about him. No darkness lay in him. She’d have to be very careful and see if she could find the witch that cast the spell. If Serissa could do that, perhaps she could figure out what the spell was supposed to do and unravel it.
Kevin guided them to a door that was not the entrance to the restaurant but as soon as they crossed the threshold, she spotted Karen chatting up the director Davis. What the hell was she doing here?
But it was Bridget who voiced the question aloud. “What’s she doing here?”
“Ladies,” Kevin said. “Please come in and have a seat. There’s been another change of plans.”
Davis joined him as they both took seats on the sofa. There were two wine glasses half full on the table in front of them. The one with the red lipstick on it and near her was clearly Karen’s. The other one had to be Jax’s. Serissa’s gaze flew to Karen, but this time she used a tad of her power to touch the woman’s psyche to see if she was what she claimed to be. She’d never had cause to try before, but her instincts were screaming at her, the other woman wasn’t all she seemed to be.
Hmm…interesting. The woman’s mind was locked tighter than the CIA’s firewalls.
Clearly Karen could block her. Some humans had that as a natural ability, it didn’t make her a witch. However, all witches, once they gave themselves to the craft, were marked in some way. Karen had no visible markings or tattoos but her markings could be hidden on her body, or hidden from normal sight, the way Jax’s mother’s was. But Karen couldn’t hide the dark thread running through her aura. She had been casting some strong mojo for the thread to be that pronounced. The woman was bad news period.
Davis continued to talk. Serissa turned her attention to him. “Yes, as Kevin said, there’s been a change of plans. The first couple weeks’ ratings for the show have already gone sky high, but we wanted to ramp the tension up a little more toward the end. So we brought Karen back to plead her case to Jax. See if he’d give her another shot.”
“What!” Serissa exclaimed before she could stop herself.
