Meadow's Keep (The Gatekeepers Series) (31 page)

Eryk heard the sobs coming from the deepest part of her being.
“Bask, I need to go.” He was already walking after her when he heard the bedroom door slam.

“I’ll call you back about Lily. Go to her.” The connection ended.

Eryk pushed the phone into his pocket and went up the stairs, listening for her sobs. It was quiet. He opened the door. She lay on the bed, curled into a fetal position, her face buried in the pillow she hugged. There was no sound, just the quivering her body made.

He slipped around the other side and eased onto the bed,
curling his body around her, pulling her to him. He wrapped his arm around her waist and rested his head against hers, letting his energy flow into her, but not stopping the grief. She needed to release some of the anguish and the pain.

One thing he knew about himself, and surmised
it to be true about her, was that, because of the way they were, they felt more intensely than others. It was as if the energy fed the emotions, be it happiness or sorrow, joy or grief. Or lust. With Jasmine being new to her abilities, it was unlikely that she’d learned to dissipate the energy that surged when her emotions surged. The best he could do now was level it off a little, let her grieve without being overcome.

Her body
began to relax. He felt her muscles unbunch, one at a time. He was hoping maybe she’d drift off. She didn’t. Her energy began to tangle with his, her silken cords snaking around his strands, sending a warm current up his arm and through his body. He tried to ease away from around her, but she turned with the movement of his arm, like a long lanky cat, her limber body curved toward him. He felt her inside of him, her energy calling to him, pulsing with his, a dance that wouldn’t be denied. He tried to swallow but found his breath coming quicker as he looked into the watery black depths of her eyes.

Jasmine didn’t know when the comfort had shifted to desire
, when her body became hot and restless, wanting to be touched, stroked. She couldn’t get close enough. She lifted her gaze to his and found herself staring into swirling deep emerald pools. Looking into his eyes sent her heart racing, the blood pounding through her veins, to pool deep inside, spreading outward, exciting nerve endings as it went. She licked her lips.

His eyes riveted on her mouth. Slightly swollen from her crying, it pouted, begging to be kissed. He
felt her breath tease his mouth as her eyelids drifted half closed in invitation. He gently pulled her to him as his mouth took hers. He heard the sigh, then the soft moan as the kiss deepened.

Their energies swirled about them, wrapping them in a hot cocoon of
desire. She became pliant in his arms, arching against the hand that stroked her. The heat of her body called to him. He felt her arm move around him, kneading the muscles of his back, pulling him closer to her. She arched against his hard length, moving her hips against him. The blood pounded in his ears.

He came out of this daze of desire. The pounding wasn’t in his ears. It was the front door. He jerked back and stared into her gorgeous face, filled with desire.
She blinked, seemed to become aware of her body pressed against his, and pulled her hips back as her face flushed a delightful pink.

“The…,” his voice broke, “
...the door.”

Jasmine took a deep breath and looked around, trying to orient herself.
She swung around and sat up on the side of the bed. The pillow she’d held fell to the floor, its case still damp from her tears. She pushed her hands through her hair, leaving it sexily disheveled.

“I better get that,” he said and walk
ed around the bed. Before she could react, he leaned in and pressed a hard kiss on her mouth, turned and strode from the room, shouting, “Hang on. I’ll get there.”

She smiled, hearing his voice crack
again. Good. It wasn’t just her. What the hell had come over her? Had someone not pounded on the door, she was sure she wouldn’t have stopped before she’d had her way with him. All she wanted was to make love to him. It wasn’t a “want,” it was a “need.” She needed to become one with him. Almost as if it were her right. No guilt. No shame. Just need.

She looked around.
Was it this place? Like what happened in the lab. Was this whole place triggering their attraction? No, it was more than attraction. It felt different from anything she’d ever felt with any man in her life. Even Dorian. The scary part was that this was one itch that, once scratched, would bind her forever to one man. Was this what she really wanted? Was she ready? She pictured Eryk in her mind and a smile formed on her lips. He’d been so kind, so gentle with her. So receptive. Jasmine shook her head trying to clear it.

The voices she heard downstairs helped. So did the sound of her phone ringing in the distance.
Glancing in the mirror, she ran her fingers through her hair, swiped at the smudges under her eyes, and adjusted her more than slightly wrinkled sweater before heading to the first floor. She found Eryk in the library talking to a man and a woman she didn’t recognize.

“
Martin and Stacy brought two vehicles, one for us. They’ll hang out here for a while, in case Lily returns.”

She nodded,
but knew Lily wasn’t coming back here. His eyes burning into hers, Eryk handed her the phone.

“You okay?” Bask’s voice was gentle.

“Yeah. I’ll be okay.”
Her voice sounded deeper, throaty.

If Bask noticed, he ignored it.
“We’ve got a bead on her. She’s heading toward Richmond. I figure she’s going toward those coordinates Eryk gave me. Can’t be certain until she gets there. She could turn off any time.”

“Why aren’t you having her stopped? Brought back?” She had an uneasy feeling building in her gut.

“Because something’s going on. Porter Greeson hasn’t been heard from for a couple of weeks. I don’t know who called her best friend. I had assumed it was Porter’s wife, but she denies it. She said her husband’s been in Europe and is in the hospital in Belgium—for food poisoning. That he was fine last she heard. She didn’t sound all that concerned. She sure as hell hadn’t rushed to his side.” There was disdain in his normally unemotional delivery.

“The weather’s getting worse.
” Bask cleared his throat and his voice was once again clip, directive. “Plane’s grounded. Can’t send a chopper. You two need to get on the road. I’ll keep you posted.”

With each word,
Bask was back to his controlling self. Jasmine was more comfortable with that. As long as he was strong, she could be strong.

“Martin
and Stacy will keep a lookout,” he said.

“The lab?”
Jasmine asked. “Are they going to…?” Afraid of being overheard, she didn’t finish.

“No. They work for John Davis. He sent them over.”

“I’ve never seen them at Safe Harbor.”

“Princess, Safe Harbor is only one of John’s concerns. You take care.” He hung up.

Eryk was coming down the stairs. “I threw some things in an overnighter. Yours, too
,” he added when she started to speak. “Let’s get going.”

Jasmine grew reflective as soon as they got on the road. The deep
gray mist didn’t help. She knew this was the right decision, but the idea of leaving Teresa alone at a time like this tore at her soul. She called Dorian only to find out that he and Morgan were already with Teresa. She was glad, but it should have been her. Teresa and Bill had gotten her through her grief. Now, she should be doing that for Teresa. She could just see Teresa, even in her pain, pushing it aside to make sure those staying at the bed and breakfast weren’t affected. As if her thoughts traversed time and space, she got a text message from her cousin.
I found this attached to some documents. I scanned it, knowing you’d want to read it. I’m fine. I promise. You take care of that girl. I love you. T

Jasmine opened the
attachment and blinked, read the first words and had to clear the tears from her eyes.

To My Darling Daughter (
because that’s what you’ve been since the day you slipped your small hand into mine at your parents’ funeral)—

I know I wasn’t always the best father. Sometimes my fear of people overrode my good sense, but I tried to be there for you, the best I could.

I want you to know how proud I am of you. You grew into a beautiful, smart, savvy, and loving woman, a true descendant. As I can attest, being a descendant isn’t always the easiest course to navigate, but in the end, it is a worthwhile endeavor. I know you were late coming into your own and it seemed to take the act of a mad man to bring it out, but that’s not true. We all come into our own when the time is right and not before. I didn’t come to my maturity until I returned to Ruthorford. It took Teresa to bring it out. Would that I could have done right by her…but I was obsessed with her from the time we were kids. It is only now that I can release her to be who she is and, with your encouragement, find the happiness she so rightly deserves.

I want you to know that you
’re exactly what you’re supposed to be. You are the bravest woman I’ve ever known and I’m proud to have been allowed to share a part of your life. Take your steps as YOU see fit, be it slow and cautious, or fast, throwing that caution to the wind. Know that I love you and want only for you and Teresa to have long and happy lives.

Do not mourn me, for I’
m doing what I must.

Uncle Bill

(p.s. Don’t worry about furthering your talent in the kitchen. Although you can cook better than you think, that isn’t where your talent lies. I love you.)

With t
ears flowing and a smile on her lips, Jasmine saved the document and put the phone away.

****

“Come on, honey. We’re gonna be late.” Teresa’s voice was soft, yet held a note of urgency.

“It’s not like they’re going to start without me,”
Jasmine said with a bit more vinegar than was necessary. It wasn’t Teresa’s fault that all the people were standing around in the cold, waiting for a twelve-year-old. It wasn’t like her parents were even in the damn graves. Why they bothered to dig up the dirt and make mounds in front of the granite markers was beyond her. So, if they were going to have the service, and she was going to be there, she was going to wear things her parents would have liked. She turned to Teresa, standing patiently in the doorway. “You go on. I want to put on the blue sweater my dad gave me and the boots mom bought. I’ll meet you there.”

Teresa didn’t move
—just frowned. “I can wait.”

“It’s next door. I promise I’ll be right there.” She walked over to Teresa and put her arms around her, kissing her on the cheek. Even at twelve, Jasmine was already taller than Teresa. Still all legs and arms, she hated the fact that she didn’t have enough curves to fill out clothes
the way she wanted.

Not waiting for an answer, she unzipped the dark brown dress she said she’d wear. It wasn’t right. It was ugly and not what her parents would have wanted to see her in, even if it was their funeral. Especially, if it was their funeral. When she turned around Teresa was gone.

She let herself sink onto the side of the bed. This wasn’t happening. They hadn’t been found. Presumed dead wasn’t dead dead. They weren’t even having a ceremony at the second, private cemetery. Because there weren’t any bodies. She tightened her hands into fists.

All descendants got two graves—one in the pretty cemetery next to the Chapel and one in the private cemetery in the woods behind The Shoppe of Spells. That’s where the bodies were, in the private cemetery. Except her parents—their bodies wouldn’t be anywhere—except under tons of snow and ice that would never melt.

She stood and pulled on the black skirt and the periwinkle sweater that made her skin glow. She slipped on the kid boots that had been a present from her mom and zipped them up. Standing, she slipped on a beret over her long black hair, cocking it just so, and put the blue tartan plaid around her shoulder, her fathers. Now, she was ready.

She slipped out of the side door of the B & B and made her way around the back of the Chapel to the side. She could see people gathered around, but couldn’t see the heads
tones. Her stomach lurched. The nausea spread. Then she saw him. Bill. Standing off the side, under an old pecan tree, apart from the crowd, but just close enough. She took a deep breath, swallowed the bile rising in her throat and walked over to him. Tall and large, like the tree, he never turned. She stood beside him, slipped her hand into his, and felt the warmth course through her body, giving her strength.

****

Looking over at her, Eryk wasn’t sure he wanted to wake her. But, she was frowning and he felt the sadness rolling off of her in waves. He didn’t need a repeat of what had happened at the hotel, not in a moving vehicle. Eryk saw a sign and pulled up to a drive-through. “Jasmine,” he said softly, “do you want something?”

She started. Blinking at the glare of the harsh lights, she tried to focus
, straightening in the seat. “Diet Coke. Thanks.”

“You want anything to eat?”

Not sure if the nausea was just a memory, she shook her head. “No. I’m fine.”

They drove
in silence for a time, until Eryk felt Jasmine’s focus had returned to him. Only then did he ask her about her life with Bill and Teresa. She started slow, haltingly, but as the memories surfaced, she began reminiscing, even laughing. He let her express her grief in her own way. She finally mentioned the letter and the funeral. She left out the part about the dual cemeteries. Bask could explain that one.