The Promised One (The Turning Stone Chronicles) (21 page)

“I get why Alexi’s in danger, but why me?”

“Because a very evil shifter kens that ye have the power tae pull magic from rings without the incantation or possessing a ring.”

“How? Alexi’s the only shifter I know.”

“Because ye bedded her and shifted with her.”

“You’re nuts, old man. The only person I ever shifted with was Alexi.” He looked to Alexi for confirmation. Her lips drew tightly together and she shook her head. “Tell him, Alexi. It only happened twice and both times were with you.”

“Only once, Rhys. The time in the hotel wasn’t me.”

His heart roared against his ribs like a V-8 engine. He forced the image of the woman he’d seen after the shift back into his memory. Black hair, long like Lexi’s, but her eyes were different, slightly slanted and almond shaped, almost Oriental. Was that who they meant? Had he really been making love with her? He’d cheated on Alexi with her . . . double?

No, that couldn’t be right
.
It had to be Alexi.
He would have known if it wasn’t Alexi. But, there
was
something off.
How did I miss it?
You were supposed to know those sort of things if you were in love, weren’t you?
And he did love her.

“In the hotel, for a split second, I saw another woman after we shifted back. I didn’t think much about, thinking it was a hallucination. What caused that?”

“Ye pulled out her ego, and when ye went back Sylvia returned to her natural self image. She couldnae hold the shift after ye called out her ego.”

“You knew?” he whispered hoarsely.

“I knew,” she said.

“Why didn’t you say something?”

“You thought we were soul mates, and I want us to be soul mates. Eli says we are if you were thinking about me when it happened with Sylvia.”

“Of course I was thinking about you.”

“Besides, how could I say anything when you thought it was me? Would you have believed me if I’d told you it was someone else?”

“Probably not. Hell, I’m having trouble believing what you’re telling me now and I saw you change. Who is she?” he asked, unable to meet her gaze.

“Her name is Sylvia Jordan and she kens ye’re a potential Promised One, laddie.”

Stunned, he looked back at Alexi. “Jordan? She’s related to you?”

“Only by marriage, at least that’s what she told me,” Alexi said.

“That’s probably the only bit o’ truth the daughter o’ the moonless night gave ye, Alexi. She’s evil, Rhys, and she’ll stop at nothing tae bring you tae her side. That’s why ye need tae make yer allegiance with Alexi. Stand by her side as a shifter—”

“A shifter?” Rhys held up his hands and backed away. “No way.”

“As a shifter . . . and my mate,” Alexi said softly. “I love you, Rhys, and nothing is going to change that.”

But something had changed it. She wasn’t the person he’d fallen in love with. His Alexi was a tough cop, with a soft side, who wanted to make her part of the world better. Someone he could always cajole into laughter. Together they could have shared a career and a life. This new Alexi was a . . . shape shifter with some lofty, and dangerous, goal to save the world. He didn’t know her.

“I’m sorry, Lexi. I can’t do what you’re asking. I don’t want to be your Promised One. I don’t want any part of your magical world.”

Anguish swept across her face at his rejection. “I didn’t want it either, but I can’t escape my destiny now. I’m fighting for my life—”

“And for the world,” Eli added. “The Jordan rings are five o’ the original rings made by the druid priests. They come from the heart o’ the magic stone, the most powerful part. The rogues already hold three stolen from Alexi’s murdered family. If they get all the Jordan rings they’ll control more power than they’ve ever had. We canna let them do that, for all they ken is evil and destruction. She has tae stand and fight, laddie. We have tae stop them.”

Alexi swiped at a tear running down her cheek. “I have to do this, Rhys.”

“And I have to do what I have to do. I’ll ask for a new partner tomorrow.” He kissed her on the forehead. She trembled beneath his touch. He tried to harden his heart against her sorrow and his pain at losing her, but he couldn’t. “I’ll protect your secret because I want to protect you. But that’s as far as I can go.”

Her sobs ripped at him as he left, but he had no other choice. He couldn’t live with what she had become. And he sure as hell didn’t want to join her.

Eli swept Alexi into his arms, stroking her hair as she wept. “There, there, lassie. Dinna fret so. Mayhap I was wrong aboot him and he’s not for ye. After all, a heavy-handed joiner, a trembling-handed smith, and a soft-hearted leech, dinna suit.”

“Please, not another stupid proverb, Eli,” Alexi said through her tears. “I’ve lost Rhys. Really lost him.” A fresh set of sobs shook her and she collapsed against the older man’s chest.

Eli gently grasped her by the shoulders and eased her away. “Listen, lassie, I ken that yer heart is breaking, but ye have tae understand that a partnership, such as ye’ll need, canna stand on one leg. If he’s not willing tae join ye, ye have tae collect yerself and go on with the task ye’ve been destined for. Dun butter does guid for the sowen.”

Alexi blinked her tears away and frowned at him in confusion. Couldn’t the man talk straight just once? “Dun butter? We’re not talking about food here, Eli. This is my life.”

“Like-tae-like, lassie. ‘Tis what it means. You need someone who’s willing tae stand next tae ye as a shifter. A strong shifter. A man who has the same means as ye and the same end in mind.”

“And just where am I supposed to find someone like that?”

Eli straightened his shoulders. “I’ll stand by ye. Fight side-by-side with ye.”

She smiled at him and lovingly stroked his graying beard. “That’s sweet, Eli, but you don’t quite measure up to Rhys.”

He straightened into a regal stance. “Ye might think I’m auld, but I can hold my own agin anyone yer age. The older the buck, the harder his horns.” A wild, fierce expression crossed his face. “A Scotsman never lets his clan down and yer my clan now. Besides, a friend is a guid thing tae have on the day of the battle.”

“Another proverb?”

“Aye, and a verra guid one at that.”

“I can’t argue with that.” Stepping away from him, she wrapped her arms around her chest. She felt so unprepared for what lay ahead. “It’s going to be a big battle, isn’t it?”

“That it will. I canna lie tae ye. There are those who won’t want ye tae have yer rightful place.”

She went to the window and gazed out into the black night. The houses were darkened, her neighbors tucked safely in their beds while she struggled with a magnitude of problems they had no idea even existed. Promised One. It sounded like a lonely job. She was so tired of being alone.

“How am I supposed to pull two warring factions together, Eli? I’m having trouble finding Baron’s ring. If I can’t do that, how can I possibly lead an entire Society to peace?”

“Great gaps may be filled with small stones. Ye take it one step at a time, lassie. One step at a time. And our first step is tae figure out why Sylvia tried tae have ye killed.”

“She knows who has Baron’s ring. She described him, the bright blue eyes.”

“Did ye let on that ye ken him, too?”

“I don’t know him,” Alexi snapped. She whirled toward Eli. “That’s why I went, hoping he’d be there.”

“Instead, ye nearly got killed. Daring often leads tae—”

“Death. I know. You already told me.”

“Ye should have waited on me, lassie.”

“There wasn’t time. Sylvia set things in motion too quickly.”

“She has the halter, and she’ll get the horse. Ye were set up for certain.”

Eli was right, even though she didn’t like being compared to horseflesh. Sylvia had played her. The question now was whether or not she had Baron’s ring. “I think it’s time we pay another visit to our friendly bartender.”

“I’m thinking his tongue is in his purse, lassie. Have ye enough tae purchase him?”

“We’re not offering money this time.”

“If ye canna bite, lassie, dinna show yer teeth.”

“Oh, I can bite. And if he doesn’t hand over something good, half his ass will be missing by the time I’m done with him.”

Eli roared in laughter. “That I canna wait tae see.”

Chapter 35

Shaw jumped when the payphone rang, answering it before the second jangle. He glanced at his watch. Five a.m. This had to be his call.

“Who’s there?” asked a man with an Irish brogue.

“Who’s asking?” Shaw replied.

“I’m looking for a Danny? Is that ya?”

“Yes.” It’s about time he called. He was getting tired of hanging around this phone every morning. Robbing and mugging all night and getting up so early was killing him. “Johnny?”

“Aye, it’s me.”

“I’ve been waiting for your call for two days. What kept you?”

“I’m just the lackey here, Danny. Ya don’t get an audience with the queen unless yer invited.”

“So you talked to her?”

“Aye.”

He breathed a sigh of relief. This beard and limp had become a real bitch. He couldn’t wait to get rid of them. “How much does she want?”

“Ten thousand and the ring. And don’t forget my fee.”

Ten thousand, plus ten percent. That’s eleven thousand dollars.
Bunch of crooks.
“Does she want a pint of blood thrown in, too?”

“I’d not be joking about that, if I were ya.”

“It’s highway robbery.”

Johnny guffawed. “That’s a bit like the pot calling the kettle black, isn’t it, Danny?”

“It’s a lot more than I expected.”

“Take it or leave it, man. It’s no skin off her nose if ya want to drag a leg around the rest of yer life.”

He sure as hell didn’t want that. Lulu had already postponed the wedding until he could walk down the aisle properly. Made him swear he’d visit a leg doctor and get it fixed. No way could he back down now. “She promises she can fix me?”

“Aye, she said she’d fix ya real good.”

No matter the price, he’d have to pay it. “I’m going to need a couple of days to get the rest of the money. Is she okay with that?”

“She figured ya might. Ya got till the 31
st
. That’s when she wants to meet with ya.”

“Where?”

“At the place where ya got the ring.”

He hadn’t visited the scene of the crime since he’d killed Jordan. He wasn’t sure he wanted to go back. “I didn’t read the inscription there.”

“That don’t matter, according to her. She needs to know the location.”

“There’s an alley about two doors down from the Dew Drop Inn. That’s where I got the ring.”

“When ya get the money, bring mine to the Rogueman’s Bar, and then I’ll tell ya what time to meet her.”

“Sure. Anything else?”

“Don’t stand her up, Danny. She’s not the kind of woman ya want to cross.”

Shaw hung up the phone and limped away. He had three days to fence the rest of the jewels and figure out an excuse to get away from Lulu until he got back to normal. The damned beard wouldn’t stay off, and she harped on it every time they were together. He’d scraped his face raw trying to shave. He ran his hand over his chin. He’d try giving it a buzz cut before he visited her. Maybe if he left some of it on, like a five o’clock shadow, it wouldn’t come back.

Lulu opened the door and frowned the minute she saw him. “I said clean shaven, Danny.” She brushed her hand over his chin. “I can still see, and feel, this beard.”

Shaw limped into the entry and gave her a quick squeeze. “My face hurts from shaving. I promise I won’t have this on the wedding day.”

She clapped her hands on her hips. “I should hope not.” Her gaze swept over him. “Did you make that doctor appointment for your leg?”

“Yeah.” He pointed into the living room and then rubbed his lame leg. “Can we sit?”

“I’m sorry, Danny. Is your leg hurting?”

“A little.”

She ushered him onto the couch, rearranged the coffee table, and dropped a couch pillow on the top. “Let me help.” She gently lifted his leg and laid it on the pillow. Then she perched on the edge of the table, massaging his thigh.

“Lower, babe,” he said, as he eased back into the couch. “It’s my calf.”

“I’m worried about you, Danny.” She moved her hands down his leg, massaging his calf muscles with her thumbs.

“Damn, that feels good.” He let her touch relax him. This whole ring business had him so tense.

“Maybe I should go to the doctor with you.”

“No!” He bolted upright, the motion sending a cramp through his thigh.
Hell, he didn’t want her doing that.

Her hands stopped moving. “Did I hurt you?”

“No. I mean, yeah.” He brushed her hands away. “That’s what I came to talk about. I got the doctor’s appointment, but he’s in Milwaukee. I gotta drive over there.”

“I can take off work.”

“I’m gonna be gone four, maybe five days. You can’t afford to take off. You won’t have any time for the honeymoon if you do.”

Her bottom lip poked out. “But I want to be there for you.”

He pulled her off the coffee table onto the couch beside him. “I know you do, babe,” he said as he snuggled her into the crook of his arm. “But I want that honeymoon. Every single freaking minute of it.” He bent down and nuzzled her earlobe. “I’m so damned horny from you making us wait a whole month before we get married,” he whispered. “I won’t let you waste a single second of our time on my doctor appointment.”

She giggled. “Me, too, Danny. I can’t wait.”

He drew back. Was he hearing her right? “Do you mean we can . . . now?”

“No, silly. We’re gonna wait.” She gave him a shy smile. “But we could do other stuff.”

Damn! She never offered that before. All this waiting must be getting to her, too.
He tightened his hold on her and kissed her, angling his mouth over hers. His tongue eased between her lips and his hand roamed over her soft hips. She felt so freaking good.

She grunted and leaned away, rubbing her chin. “Ow, Danny. That hurts. You gotta get rid of that, now, if you want anything.”

One chance, and this freaking beard had to screw him. He punched the couch arm.

“Please, don’t be mad, Danny. Your beard really hurts me.”

“I’m not mad, babe.”
Not at you.
He fingered the ring on his finger. The metal was cold, despite the heat of his hand.
Damn
, he said to the ring.
You have screwed up everything. I’ll be so freaking glad to get rid of you!
He dropped his leg off the pillow and stood. “I just want you so bad, babe. I don’t think I could stop.”

“Really?” Her face shone with adoration. “That’s so sweet of you, Danny, to think of me like that. You’re my hero,” she crooned.

He moved out of the living room to the front door, with Lulu trailing. Yeah, he was a real hero. A robbing, murdering, lying sweetheart. Damn, but she made him feel guilty.

She threw herself at him as he opened the door and hugged him. “I love you, Danny Shaw, and I do want you.”

“Me, too, Lulu. More than you’ll ever know.” Careful not to rub his whiskers on her face, he kissed her. As soon as he was rid of this ring and its damn curse, he’d make everything up to her. They’d screw until they were both exhausted. Then do it again and again. He gave her a goodbye kiss on her cheek. Married life was gonna be great
.