Jasper Read online

  “A long time ago, a gypsy told Dom his mate would be a fair-haired witch. I thought it was just a term he was using because he felt she was vexing. I didn’t take it literally. I guess we’ll soon see.”

  When Dominic said his home was close to Tessa’s, he meant close in a relative way. It was several blocks away on one of the more affluent streets. As soon as they got close, Tessa felt the energy change around them. “Pretty sure she’s the real deal,” she whispered.

  “I feel it, too. It’s like…”

  “A summer breeze,” Tessa finished for him.

  They stepped through the wrought iron gate and walked along the cobblestone pathway. The lanterns on either side of the door were just that: oil lanterns hanging from posts. No electric lights for this pirate. Before they could knock, the door swung open, and Tessa could only stare. The gorgeous man before her looked like he stepped straight off the Jolly Roger. His long black hair was pulled back away from his face. A white shirt billowed at the sleeves. It was open showing most of his chest. His very fine, hairy chest. His pants were tucked into worn black boots. His ears sparkled with a diamond stud in each lobe. Silver rings adorned his fingers. All that was missing was the eyepatch. And parrot. He winked and said, “Hello, Lass. Welcome to Dubois Manor.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Tessa had never seen anything like it. The inside of Dominic’s home was as eccentric as the Goyle. Lilly exclaimed, “Tabitha!” as she descended the staircase dressed in a long flowing skirt topped with a colorful tunic. All she needed were gold earrings and castanets, and she’d make the perfect gypsy.

  Tessa held her arms open for her cousin and said, “Lilly, you’re looking well.”

  “As are you. Your aura is glowing, but there’s a darkness tainting the edge. What has happened?” Lilly held Tessa at arm’s length, studying the air around her.

  “Love, let them get settled, then you can cure the lass.” Dominic gestured for them to follow him. Where Gregor had a living room, Dominic had a parlor. He truly was old world. Once they were seated, Dominic poured them all a drink. He didn’t ask what they preferred. Instead he poured each a tall glass full of the best rum Tessa had ever tasted. No cola was needed for this brand.

  When he was seated, Dominic said, “What brings you back to my city?”

  Tessa said, “My next door neighbor, Gladys, passed away recently. I came for the reading of the will.”

  Lilly tilted her head to the side. “I’m so sorry about your friend, Tabitha.”

  “I need to tell you something. My name isn’t really Tabitha, it’s Tessa. I used Tabitha as an alias. Remember when I was here last time, I told you how I traveled around watching out for your siblings?” Lilly nodded. “I had an alias everywhere I went. It was more to keep my father from finding me than anything.”

  “Why would you hide from your father?” Dominic asked.

  “He wasn’t my real father. He was a tyrant. My mother met my biological father, a Gargoyle, after she married Gordon Flanagan. You may have heard of him.”

  “Your father was the bastard who created the Unholy?” Dominic had definitely heard of the man, but then again, so had most everyone living in the States.

  “He thought he was my father. My mother ran away with me when I was two. We went to live with my biological father. Gordon lost his mind when he couldn’t find us. He never stopped looking for me until a couple of months ago. Right after I visited you last time, one of his goons found me. There was a car crash, a helicopter fight, and we are hopeful he is dead.”

  “Tessa! That’s awful. But there has to be more to the story than that.” Lilly leaned into Dominic’s side, tucking her legs under her on the sofa.

  “There is, but it’s over. I’ll tell you the long version one day when we don’t have crazy Gargoyles targeting the family.”

  “I knew there was something else. Please, tell me what has happened. Your aura indicates pain and suffering, but not yours. Who are you worried about?”

  “She’s good,” Gregor mumbled.

  “Aye, she’s very good,” Dom growled into her ear. Lilly laughed and elbowed him.

  Gregor explained, “When I was here, I told you about Tessa not wanting to mate with me because I’m a full-blood.”

  Dominic nodded. “Yes, and after you left, I pursued my Lillian. Once we completed the bond, she confided in me what Tessa shared with her.”

  “And you mated with him anyway?” Tessa grinned as she asked Lilly.

  “He was very persuasive,” her cousin said, smiling up at Dominic. He kissed her passionately, not caring if they had company. She knew that feeling. She and Gregor sipped their rum, waiting for their host to get his fill of his mate.

  When they finally unlocked their lips, Tessa told them, “Since we were last here, several Gargoyles have found their mates. Some are human, and some are half-bloods, like us. Gregor’s uncle, the one who ostracized your father, has decided to target not only Jonas’s offspring, but the King’s family as well.” Tessa explained everything that had happened since they were last together.

  “Shite. It seems madness runs in the Gianopoulos bloodline. Where is Theron now?” Dominic asked as he refilled everyone’s glass.

  “We don’t know. Urijah and Sixx went after his sister. Hopefully they have forced her to talk by now,” Gregor said.

  “And this poison, do you know what it is?” Lilly asked.

  “We assumed it was hellebore root, but Julian tested Jasper’s blood and found something entirely different. It contained wolfsbane and hemlock. There was a third element, but he hadn’t been able to figure it out last time I spoke to him.”

  Lilly stood and began pacing. “Can you find out? Dom, remember the box of books I asked you to bring? Will you please show me where those are? I need to look at something.”

  “Of course, Love. We’ll return in a moment.” Dominic led Lilly upstairs while Gregor called Julian.

  Tessa didn’t listen in on the conversation. Instead she studied the decorations scattered around the parlor. Two swords were hanging above the fireplace, crossed with the tips pointing up. The hilts were at the perfect level to grab one and twist around swinging. Even though she had her own sword, Urijah had made specifically for her size, she would love to hold one of these old world swords in her hand. She knew she was looking at authentic pirate weaponry. How many men had Dominic slain with those swords? Had he pillaged and plundered? Did he know Blackbeard? Oil lanterns adorned the walls, casting soft glows and long shadows. She glanced at the ceiling looking for electric light. There was a fixture, but it was not turned on.

  There was no television, no video games, no stereo that she could see. Did Dominic live now as he did all those years ago? And how did Lilly put up with going back in time? Her art studio was full of bright light and color, as vibrant as the woman. She and Dom were like night and day.

  “Here we are,” Lilly said. Dominic carried a heavy book for her. When he placed it on the chest, she opened it, waiting on Gregor to get off the phone.

  When he hung up, he said, “They have taken Jasper home, but there has been no change for better or worse. Julian determined the third item was a small trace of crushed feline bone.”

  “Oh, crap.” Lilly started flipping through the pages of the book until she found what she was looking for. She ran her finger along the text as she read. “Oh, crap,” she said again. “This is dark magic.”

  Dominic downed his rum and poured more. “Why would Theron use dark magic? He could have taken Jasper’s head and been done with it.”

  “Lilly, what does this mixture do to a body exactly? He was paralyzed when Dante found him.”

  “It was originally used to keep werewolves from being able to turn.”

  “Werewolves? There are no werewolves,” Tessa said. “Are there?”

  Lilly explained, “According to the grimoire, the gypsies ran across men who were able to shift into something other than human. Because wolfsbane was the main ingr
edient used to halt the process, the shifters were given the name wolf shifter, or werewolf. The passage doesn’t describe the shifter’s appearance though. It could have been a Gargoyle for all I know.”

  “Does the grimoire tell how to reverse the spell?” Gregor asked.

  Everyone remained quiet while Lilly searched the book for an answer. “Not exactly. That particular spell, once cast, was thought to be irreversible. I wish we knew if Theron had someone cast a spell or if he just injected the mixture into Jasper’s system.”

  “What would be the difference?”

  “If he injected the poison into Jasper himself, I doubt he said a spell as he did it. If that’s the case, we need to find an antidote. If someone else cast a spell, it’s possible there is no way to reverse or remove it. Hold on…” Lilly scanned the next few pages of the old tome. “Here! Here’s a similar spell, and it has a reversal.”

  “What does the other spell do?” Tessa asked.

  “It calls forth demons,” Lilly whispered.

  “Well, hell.” Tessa downed the rest of her rum and poured herself another glassful. “Sorry, may I?” She asked after the fact.

  Dominic held his hands open at his sides. “By all means, Lass. We are family.”

  “Thanks,” she said before downing the entire glass in one go. She wiped her mouth on the back of her hand before asking, “Lilly, can you reverse what has been done to Jasper?”

  “I honestly don’t know. I’ve never come up against dark magic.” Lilly studied the grimoire for a few minutes. “Let’s assume Theron injected Jasper. If I had all the ingredients, it’s possible I could reverse what has been done.”

  Dominic rubbed his temples. Gargoyles didn’t get headaches, but it was something she’d seen Gregor do when she had one of her crazy ideas. Lilly grabbed his wrists. “Dom, I have to try this. Jasper is family. I cannot let him live in this tormented limbo.”

  “Jasper is being tormented?” Gregor asked.

  “Yes. According to the book, the person cannot shift. Whatever form they are in when poisoned is the form they retain until they lose their mind or eventually give up. I imagine Jasper’s shifter is begging to be turned loose. It is taking over his body, trying to claw its way out. If we do not hurry, he will lose his mind. At that point, Jasper would be better off dead.”

  Tessa sucked in a breath. She couldn’t imagine the pain Jasper was in, nor the turmoil Trevor felt watching his mate and not being able to help. “What ingredients do you need? I will help you find them.” Tessa said. She set the glass down and wrapped her arms around her waist. Gregor was there immediately, pulling her to his side.

  “I need hellebore root and sabina.”

  “Depending on how much hellebore you need, I have that.”

  “Good, it will only take a pinch. The sabina, however, will be much harder to come by. Let me make a phone call. If my source doesn’t have any, I will need to take a trip.”

  Dominic asked his mate, “Where will we need to go, Love?”

  “The Alps.”

  “I hate the bloody mountains,” he grumbled.

  “I never realized you were a witch.” Tessa told her cousin.

  “I don’t share this side of me with many people. You know I was adopted as a baby, but I was raised by my adoptive mother’s mother. When I was a toddler, she knew I had a gift. It was a miracle I was adopted by a family whose ancestors had the same inclinations I do, or I might never have realized the powers I possess.”

  Tessa thought back to what Dominic said about her wielding a wand. Instead of asking if she really had one, Tessa let it go. They had more urgent matters to attend. “How much time before Jasper’s mind starts losing lucidity?”

  “It depends on the amount of poison he was given, best case scenario, a month. He’s a Gargoyle and strong.”

  “Worst case?” Gregor asked.

  “A week. Let me go make that phone call.”

  When Lilly left the room, Dominic turned to Gregor. “We’ll do anything we can to help, Brother. Whether we go to Europe or New Atlanta, I also need to place a few calls. If you’ll both excuse me.” Dominic left them alone.

  Gregor held Tessa while they waited. There was nothing to do but wait, and pray Lilly really had the answer to helping Jasper. When Lilly returned, she was smiling. “Good news. My source has some sabina. She is willing to meet me tonight. When will we leave for New Atlanta?”

  Dominic said, “We can leave as soon as you get the ingredient you need. I have put Sully on alert; he is to take over in my absence.”

  “What about your friend, Tessa. You came here because of her death, right?”

  Tessa smiled at her cousin. “Yes, I did. But there isn’t going to be a funeral. She wants her ashes spread over the river, but we won’t have them for a few days. There is nothing to do that cannot wait until we have Jasper whole and back with us again.”

  “Then it is settled. Once you’re packed and ready to go, let us know, and we’ll pick you up. We need to go back to Tessa’s and gather our belongings,” Gregor instructed.

  “Aye. We will be ready,” Dominic said as he walked them to the front door.

  Tessa grabbed Gregor’s arm as they made their way to the trolley stop. “I was hoping to spend more time here, but Jasper needs us. Maybe when he’s better and we come back for Gladys’s ashes, we can stay a few days.”

  “We can stay as long as you like, Red. The only thing pressing is the wedding. Once Rafe and Kaya are married, our duties will be fulfilled, and we can come back and stay for a while.”

  “We have four days. Let’s pray Lilly can help Jasper, or the wedding will be postponed. Again.”

  “I’m going to remain positive. I want to see you in a dress.”

  “I’m not wearing a dress. When have you seen my ass in a dress, Stone?”

  “I haven’t. That’s why I’m looking forward to it. You, in a dress with no panties, think about the possibilities,” Gregor whispered against her ear.

  Tessa moaned. “Stop it. We don’t have time to play around.”

  “Yes, Love,” Gregor said in his best pirate voice. They both laughed and Tessa shook her head.

  “A pirate and a witch. They seem happy.”

  “That they do.” Gregor pulled Tessa close. She knew exactly what they were feeling. She couldn’t imagine her life without her mate.

  Three hours later, the Stone Society jet was landing in New Atlanta. Gregor had called Julian, letting him know they were on their way. They immediately drove to Jasper’s home where they were met with a houseful of Clan members.

  Gregor was introducing Dominic and Lilly when Trevor came downstairs. Lilly walked over to him and introduced herself. Once they’d shaken hands, she said, “I would like to meet Jasper.”

  “I’ll take you to him.” Trevor turned to lead Lilly upstairs.

  “If you don’t mind, I’d like to see him alone.”

  Trevor didn’t know Lilly. He looked to Gregor who nodded his approval. Trevor turned back to Lilly. “Top of the stairs, first door on the left.”

  Surprisingly, Dominic stayed put, allowing her to go upstairs alone. When Lilly came back downstairs, she approached Trevor, placing her hands on his face. When she closed her eyes and began humming, everyone got quiet. Trevor closed his eyes as a couple of tears rolled down his cheeks. When Lilly stepped back, Trevor whispered, “Thank you.”

  Lilly turned to the room. “I would like everyone to clear out.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Even though Jasper was basically in a coma and probably dying, Trevor felt lighter than he ever had. When Lilly placed her hands on him, she was able to show him Jasper’s aura. It was bright yellow. He couldn’t see colors with his eyes, but somehow he had known what color he was seeing in his mind. Somehow, he knew that meant Jasper was hanging on. When Julian called and told him Lilly was on her way to help, Trevor had been skeptical. He knew witches existed, but he thought they were nothing more than old crones who scared ki
ds. Lilly had shown him how wrong he was in the few moments she touched his face.

  He had no idea what to do, so he waited for instructions. When she asked the room to clear out, Dante approached Gregor. “Can I speak to you, Brother?” Dante glanced at Trevor before going outside with the warden. For some reason, Dante was avoiding Trevor. At first it hurt his feelings, then it pissed him off. Now, he ignored his boss. Whatever Dante had going on was on him.

  Lilly waited until most everyone was outside. With the exception of Julian, Dominic, and Tessa, Lilly shooed everyone out the door.

  “What do you need me to do?” Trevor asked the pretty witch.

  “I need you to stay with Jasper. Talk to him. Let him know you’re with him.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I need to prepare the house. Evil has been here, and I need to purify the air. It’s going to take a while for the antidote to simmer. Julian, I need some of Trevor’s blood.”

  “Why do you need mine?” he wasn’t opposed to needles, but he was curious as to what she was going to do with it.

  “You are his mate, correct?”

  “No. We haven’t completed the bond.”

  “Still, you are his intended. He is connected to you on a level deeper than you realize. His aura is already mixed with yours. I will need your blood to strengthen the antidote.”

  “Cool,” he said and rolled up his sleeves.

  Julian laughed. “I don’t have the necessary equipment with me. I’ll need to go the lab. Lilly, what else do you need?”

  Lilly found the kitchen and began opening cabinets. “I believe I have everything I need. Once the antidote is ready, I would appreciate if you administer it.”

  “I can do that. If you think of anything else, have Trevor call me.”

  “Thank you, Julian.”

  “Tessa, I want you and Dominic to open all the windows and doors so I can begin cleansing the house.”

  Lilly opened the large bag she had brought with her and removed what looked like clumps of dried grass. Trevor was curious how they were going to get rid of the evil with grass. She lit the ends of the short bundle, smoke rising and giving off an earthy aroma. “Dom, you take the downstairs, and Tessa you take upstairs. Once you are finished, please wait outside. Trevor, please go to Jasper’s room now.”