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The blanketing comfort of electric blue butterflies keeps me afloat from the ground. Although I can sense the coolness of the breeze blowing in the air, I find solace in the strumming sound of the butterfly wings as they hover around me. Tingling bright currents of electricity swarm through me, awakening my senses with each touch.
Like a newly discovered sixth sense, everything is heightened.
For the first time, I can detect the juniper and honey aroma of the golden leaves as well as the brown sugar glazed dust of the earth beneath me. Never before have I known the world to be so tantalizing!
Even my skin has a silkier texture than before. There is a blend of softness and strength to my touch I have never known. Warming rays of light protrude through my pores, mimicking the brightness of the butterflies, and I feel my muscles contract and strengthen within me.
The wind blows once more and my flickering companions douse their light, gently guiding me to the ground below. Golden leaves swirl at my backside, pushing me upright as the butterfly wings hold me steady at each wrist. A bright and iridescent light shimmer overhead and a dewy film covers my face, invading my pores, filling my lungs with a fresh wind, causing my chest to expand.
I exhale and a golden mist excretes through my mouth and nose, pushing the golden leaves back and away from me. My feet dig deep into the earth beneath me and vigor rises through me. The smell of fresh water from afar invades the atmosphere and the rushing symphonic sound of waterfalls strum through my hearing.
The sound is enchanting, leading me away from the comfort of the butterflies and even further from the Great White Oak and its golden leaves. Howling stirrings and menacing snarls grow stronger in the distance, but the cadence of the waterfalls carries me beyond the consolation of my winged cohorts.
Entranced, my leaf-like motion leads me farther from the meadow than I’ve ever been. Still one thing remains. I smell him. Cinnamon. He smells of cinnamon. His spicy and sweet aroma greets me before I spy his crystalline eyes gazing at me through the newfound darkness surrounding us. His comforting smell gives me relief, and the warmth of his presence fills me with peace.
Extending his hand toward me, he smiles, speaking my name so softly it tickles like feathers along my flesh. Slowly, I reach for him, hopeful once more to be in his embrace. But a strong wind blows between us and the wild floral scent of jasmine and lavender overtakes the spicy and sweet aroma filling the air.
Darkness again swathes my sight and coldness stirs within me. I can no longer see or smell him, nor can I hear the buzzing of butterfly wings or the rushing waves of waterfalls. In fact, I no longer see or smell anything.
Silence is deafening all around me and an all too familiar sensation overwhelms me.
Fear.
Jumping up from my bed, I land squarely on my feet and am back in front of the door once again. As flashes of Dalcour carting me to my suite, kicking and screaming replay in my mind, fury floods my thoughts.
Not only do I need to find Dacari, but I need to settle the score with Mr. Marchand. I barely care to know what he is keeping from me and why anymore. I am more interested in what makes him thinks his behavior acceptable. Lord and progenitor of vampires or not, he will soon learn I am not the one. Nor will I ever be the one to allow such treatment by him or anyone.
Flashes of electricity ripple inside me once more and the current zips me through my suite, washing and dressing with a speed akin to superheroes from Krypton. A small smile escapes me at the thought as I grab the doorknob, watching in both delight and dismay at the luminous white light glowing from my hand as I pull the door open.
Vonnie’s face is full of surprise and wonder as the door flies open, ripping from the hinge. “How? Impossible!” She exclaims, her mouth covered in shock.
“Good morning, Vonnie,” I reply softly. I want to assure her that I don’t hold her responsible for Dalcour’s lashing from last night. Slowly crossing the threshold, Vonnie steps back, holding the wall, fear laden in her eyes.
“Ms. Nicaud, you—you’re—”
“Yes, I am awake. Now, where is Dalcour?”
“He-he’s not here. I—I mean, I haven’t seen him. How did you break my barrier? That’s impossible!”
“I suppose anything is possible these days, Vonnie.”
A loud scream of expletives with the mixing of my name explodes through the hallway and Vonnie jumps in front of me, facing me head on.
“Vonnie, what was that?” I quickly question, peering around her shoulder.
“It’s you, my lady. It’s your light,” Vonnie mutters, with a firm hold now at my shoulders.
“What?”
“Look at yourself! You’re shining brighter than the sun, Damina!” Vonnie shouts at me, pushing me back inside my suite.
“What gives, Vonnie! What is going on in here? Brae nearly got scorched coming down the hall!” Mark yells as he rounds the corner.
“I’m sorry, my lord. I—I didn’t know she could—well, at least not like this—not so soon.” Vonnie stutters, bowing back and away from Mark’s pensive stance.
“Damina, are you okay?” Mark questions, shielding his eyes with his forearm. “What’s with the sun coming out of you?”
Turning toward my mirror, I now see the brightness emanating from me.
“I’m sorry, Mark! Is Brae okay?” I shout back as thoughts of hurting Brae pain through me.
“She’ll be fine. Do you think you can douse your light some?” Mark adds, lowering his arm from his face, trying to smile through my luminous rays of light beaming at him.
“Vonnie! What can I do? I don’t know how to turn it off!”
“Maybe I can help,” I hear Jackson’s calming voice break through my cries.
“She just needs to calm down, my lord,” Vonnie says softly.
“Is that all? Now tell me baby, what’s got you in such a fluster so early in the morning?” Jackson lifts my chin with one hand while taking my hand with the other. “Just breathe baby. Breathe,” he whispers into my ear.
Taking in a deep breath, I exhale, leaning my head into Jackson’s shoulders, allowing the warmth of him to calm the shivering frenzy erupting through me. His scent implodes the space between us, comforting my senses with every gulp of air I intake.
“That’s it, baby. You’ve got it,” Jackson says with a reassuring kiss on the cheek, wrapping both his arms around me. Jackson’s touch is welcoming as my body relaxes in his embrace.
“It’s working,” Vonnie exclaims, the lilt of relief apparent in her tone.
“Well, I see somebody hasn’t lost their touch!” I hear Gregory’s voice croon from afar. A slight air of angst gnaws within me at the thought of my growing list of onlookers.
“Looks like we’ve got an audience,” I whisper in Jackson’s ear.
“Does it bother you? Because it doesn’t bother me in the least,” Jackson answers with a wide smile.
“My, how things have changed, Mr. Nash,” I reply softly.
“Not everything, Damina. Not everything.” Jackson counters, his gaze deepening into mine. Though I cannot read his mind, I know that’s his not-so-subtle reminder of his love for me.
“I’m glad to hear it,” I answer as he kisses my forehead.
“Ugh! Get a room people!” Mark shouts at us and he, Gregory and Vonnie laugh.
“Um—I’m in my room!” I tease, pointing around the suite.
“Fair point!” Mark exclaims.
“Okay that’s enough people watching for one day folks!” Jackson states, taking my hand in his. “Besides, now that we’ve got my lightning bug under control, I’d like her to enjoy a nice breakfast.”
“Breakfast?” I question. The thought of eating has not entered my mind. I want to find my cousin and follow up with Dalcour.
“Yes, breakfast, Damina. Look, you are still getting used to all of this newfound power, and being supernatural doesn’t mean you don’t need to eat. So before we get going for the day, I thought I’d whip up something for you. You know something like my famous three-layer spinach quiche!” Jackson says with a bright smile.
Before I can respond, my stomach growls loud and Jackson looks at me with assurance. “Okay, fine. I guess I can stand to eat a little something. But then all roads lead to Dacari!”
“Of course!” Jackson replies with his hands raised in submission.
“Well, I’ll go check on Brae. Hopefully, she is recouping,” Mark says.
“Please tell her I am sorry, Mark. I will certainly try to get this under wraps!”
“It’s fine Lady D. Maybe Big D can help you in that regard. I mean, he has been an Altrinion for almost a millennium!” Mark continues. His eyes shift to Jackson and the two exchange uneasy glances before Mark leaves down the hallway. It is still obvious Mark feels just as caught between Jackson and Dalcour as I am.
Interesting.
My nose scrunches at the thought of Dalcour, but I work hard to push thoughts of him aside, lest I light up like a firefly once more. Jackson’s expression turns tight as he stares back at me, but he forces another smile, squeezing my shoulders while bringing me in for a second hug. As he holds me, he takes a deep breath and I feel his chest expand against my face and the soothing rhythm of his steady heartbeat calms my remaining frenzy.
“So, baby, you think you’re ready for a little breakfast? Khalil has everything set up in the kitchen,” Jackson asks, lifting my face to meet his eyes.
“Well if either of you think I’m waiting for you to kiss again while we stand here starving, you’ve got it all wrong! Come on little Miss Bulwark, let’s go get some grub while these two do whatever it is, they do—or don’t do,” Gregory says, pulling Vonnie by the arm. She doesn’t have time to respond before Jackson walks to the door and closes it, preventing our exit.
“Now, Damina, do you want to tell me what’s really going on with you this morning?” Jackson asks sternly, yet his face remains relaxed.
“What do you mean, Jack?” I shrug, turning toward the mirror to ensure my lightning effect is under control. “I’m fine, just trying to keep a lid on all this energy of mine is all.”
“Damina, please baby, I know you better than that. Give me a little credit. Did something happen this morning? Last night? Vonnie’s stood watch at your doorpost like a gargoyle all night. She wouldn’t even let me in to see you when I got back from running post with Mark and the pack. Even when I saw Dalcour in the hall, he seemed jumpy—like something was off.”
“You saw him? What did he say?” I snap, curious if Dalcour shed any light on the reason for his behavior last night.
“He didn’t say anything, Damina. Why? What’s going on with you two?”
“Jack—I—I—it’s nothing,” I stutter, returning my attention to the mirror and away from his pensive glare.
“The truth please Damina. Please. I’m a big boy I can handle it.”
“Handle what, Jackson? There’s not much to tell, really.”
“Damina, I’m not a simpleton. I know what’s at stake here. As much as I hate to admit it, I know you feel caught in between us. And I know—I know I promised Delia I wouldn’t put any demands on you, at least until you were ready, and we found Dacari, but if you’ve made your choice—”
“My choice? Jackson, please! I can’t even begin to choose anything at this point. How can I?” I reply, frustration filling me up from the inside.
“Well, Damina, we can’t keep ignoring the elephant in the room. I am sure you think it changes the way I feel about you, but I can assure you it does not change anything for me. I meant what I said earlier. Nothing has changed for me.”
“I’m sorry, Jackson, but yes so much has changed for me—but not my love for you. That hasn’t changed one bit. So I don’t know what other elephant there could be.”
“I know you love me. I have never doubted your love for me for a minute. But of course things have changed for you—and possibly for us—well, that is since you and him—you know since you two—”
“Oh goodness, Jackson! Is that what you’re thinking? You think Dalcour and I—you think we—?”
Confusion laced with relief fill Jackson’s eyes as he stammers toward me. “What are you saying, Damina? Are you saying that you and Dalcour didn’t—sleep together?”
“Jackson! Of course not! That’s what I wanted to tell you that first night you came to see me here. What I wanted to tell you since then. Jack—I—I never with Dalcour, or anyone else for that matter.”
“You mean to tell me you’re still a virgin?”
“Well, of course I am, Jackson! That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“But Dalcour—he said that you’d seen his face! How is it possible to have seen his face without—”
“I know what the legends say but I can tell you with all surety we never had sex! Yes, I saw his big red beast. And yes, I was able to assuage the monster within him. But I did so fully dressed!”
“Damina! Do you know how happy this makes me!” Jackson shrieks, lifting me up in the air and twirling me around! “Don’t get me wrong, baby. Even if you and Dalcour had been intimate, it would not change the way I feel about you or the way I see you. In fact, for everything I’ve done and even for what you thought I had done, I wouldn’t blame you if you had—”
“Oh, really?”
“No, no—believe me, I’m glad you didn’t. And look, I don’t need to know the details. I still know you care for him and I still will respect your decision either way, but this makes me happy. At least Marchand hasn’t taken everything from me,” Jackson says softly, as he twines his fingers through my hair. “Please, Damina, say he hasn’t taken you away from me—at least not completely.”
Lowering my gaze, I don’t want to spoil Jackson’s merriment, but I know I am still unsure where life takes us from here.
“It’s okay, baby. You don’t have to answer me now. Just know that I am here for you. Always, baby.”
“I’m gonna hold you to that, Jack.”
Jackson’s gleeful expression fades as he lowers me to the ground, and he steps back, folding his arms at his waist. Turning away from me, he paces the floor before suddenly ramming his fist through the wall near the armoire, narrowly missing the window. “That son of a—”
“Jack!” I shout, rushing to his side. “What’s wrong? I told you we didn’t do anything.”
“I know and that’s the problem!”
“Okay, now I don’t follow,” I answer confused.
“All this time he could have told me the truth, but he stayed silent. He knew full well that I thought you two slept together, yet he said nothing! Don’t you see? Dalcour wanted me to think you’d given yourself to him, knowing that I’d blame myself. And if I felt guilty enough, I would stand by his side, biding my time on pins and needles until you made your choice!”
“Jackson, please! Don’t let it get to you!”
“Don’t let it get to me? Damina, he’s stolen so much from me! All under the guise that we both just wanted what was best for you. He’s known the entire time about Kyra—the changeling—everything. But still he kept the truth away from me. Dalcour knew if I’d known the truth—”
“Well then you should know the full truth, Jackson.”
“What is that?”
“On that night, when I saw his face, he was the one who refused me, not the other way around. I’m telling you because I don’t want you thinking I’m some porcelain doll or something. That’s the truth. Now, in hindsight, I’m glad he refused me because even he knew that night my thoughts were of you.”
“They were?” Jackson’s face softens at my admission and I watch a glimmer of hopefulness flicker in his eyes.
“When I called you and asked you to bring me home, I wanted to be back in your arms. But when I heard Kyra, I was furious. I suppose a part of me wanted to get back at you because of what I thought you were doing to me with Kyra. Still, Dalcour knew the truth. So he is the one who turned me down. In his words, he didn’t want three people in the bed when we—”
“Okay, I get it,” Jackson says, raising his hands in protest. “I don’t need to hear anymore. Besides, none of it changes my position. I am not erecting any statues of sainthood to the guy for refusing you. That’s his loss. But I will never forgive him for letting me and everyone else think otherwise. Never.”
Jackson saunters across the room, folding his arms once more and leans on the closet door, keeping his sight set on me.
“Are we good now, Jack? You mentioned there was breakfast,” I say softly, inching closer to him.
“Sure, baby. We are good. You and I are just fine.” Jackson tries to smile, but I know for sure the bartered veil of truce he and Dalcour once shared is all but gone. “Just one more question,” he adds with a raised brow, curiosity filling his face. I nod and he continues, “Are you going to tell me why you were out of sorts earlier? Does it have something to do with him?”
Jackson’s expression remains tight, although he’s eager for my response. As much as I want to tell him what happened, I know now isn’t the time.
“My dreams. They’re just getting really vivid is all.” It’s not a complete lie, but certainly a diversion. “Ever since I started changing into this—it’s been one crazy dream after another. I mean, I actually flooded my room at Bessie’s Tavern on my first night in New Orleans. I’ve got to get a handle on this.”
Jackson laughs, relieved. “You know, I think Ms. Melvina told me about your first night. Not to worry though, I think it’s all part of the supernatural package. Especially for Altrinions. You should talk to your aunt about it if you are concerned. But us wolves dream pretty vividly, too. When you were gone, I dreamt all the time. But if I can give you a little advice, here’s what I know. Treat the dreams like one big painting. Each dream is telling one big story. It’s like a supernatural road map of sorts,” Jackson says with a gentle gaze as he takes my hand in his. “Come on, baby, let’s go get something to eat.”
While my diversion has thrown Jackson off the true reason behind my earlier frenzy, I am more thankful for his guidance. It’s been so long since Jack and I have just talked, I’d forgotten how much I value his input. Just talking with him sets me at ease.
“Jack,” I whisper his name, tugging his forearm as he leads us out of my suite.
“Yes, babe. What is it?” He responds softly, his eyes searching my face with a hint of concern.
“Nothing’s wrong. I—I just wanted to say thank you.”
“For what, baby? You haven’t even tasted breakfast yet,” he laughs with a slight smirk.
“No, Jack, not for breakfast,” I add, resting my hand on his sculpted chest piercing through his black Under Armor tee. I am still not accustomed to seeing him in such relaxed gear, but I more than appreciate how he looks in it. “For you. I just want to thank you for being you. Before everything, you have always been my best friend. And well, despite everything going on, you remain the one person who I can really talk to—who knows me. So yeah, Jackson, I just want to say thanks.”
“You are more than welcome, baby. But know this, I’ll be whatever you need me to be if it means keeping you in my life. I love you, Damina.”
As Jackson pulls me once more into his arms, planting a soft and lingering kiss between my brow, everything in me wants to match his sentiment. While I cannot form the words in reply, I am comforted by the peace I feel in his embrace and I know with all certainty: this is love.