Shifters Rule (Rule Series) Read online

  Jack was numbed by how beautiful Silver looked sitting on the edge of his bed. Her honey blond hair fell like a silky curtain, partially hiding her face from view. He reached for the hair and moved it aside long enough for her blue eyes to meet his. Something electric passed between them. In that moment Jack knew he wouldn’t find another girl like her, not if he lived a thousand years. The love he had for her was strong and true.

  They were meant to be; it was destiny.

  He came to a decision. Fear of the future disappeared. For the first time in his life he believed in destiny. He and Silver belonged together. It was a fact. And now he knew what he needed to do about it.

  “Marry me,” he blurted out before he could rethink his position.

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  “Before you go away to college, marry me.”

  “Are you serious? Or are you delirious again?”

  “Yes.” He grabbed her hand and held it firmly between both of his. “I’m serious. Forget the promise ring crap. We can do this. We can make it work.”

  Silver pulled away. She got off the bed and walked around the room before zeroing in on his dresser. One by one, she opened the drawers. She took all the clothes out of each and tossed them on top of the dresser. While she talked to him, she refolded each item with neat precision and returned them to the drawers.

  Jack noticed with amusement how she was separating the clothing by colors. She put black, white, and gray items in the top drawer. She used the second for blue and green stuff, red and brown in the third. Working diligently, she gave him a long list of reasons why they shouldn’t get married. It surprised him because she had told Trina she wanted them to get married before she went away. What had changed her mind?

  “Where would we live?” she asked. “How would we live? You just graduated from high school and hunting isn’t exactly a job you can list on your resume. I’ll be struggling with college courses, working hard to keep my head above water, and you aren’t the most understanding person when it comes to academics taking time away from us.

  “I won’t have more than a moment to spend with you during my first year or two. Just holidays. Maybe some weekends. And what if I got pregnant? What are we going to do with a baby? I love you more than anything, but I don’t want to give up my dreams. I can’t. I’m sorry. I can’t do it, not even for you.”

  Jack’s hope deflated. Rejection stung worse than the knife wound. He certainly hadn’t expected her to say no. She was willing to take the promise ring, but not willing to marry him. What did it mean? Maybe she didn’t have any intention of marrying him ever. She could be keeping her options open just in case she met a better guy.

  Silver finished rearranging his dresser. She returned to the bed and stood over him with thumbs locked in her jeans belt loops. “My head is screaming at me to be reasonable and logical and make you wait until I graduate. Trina was right. We are way too young to get serious. But… I love you.” A huge smile transformed her face. “Let’s do it. Let’s get married before classes begin.”

  Jack jerked upright, ready to jump out of bed and hold her close. For a moment he forgot he was seriously injured. A fresh wave of pain reminded him. He bit off a curse and collapsed onto the bed again. Her laughter mingled with his. Nothing could ruin the moment. Life was good. He had the girl. What could go wrong?

  “I can’t wait to call Trina. She’ll be my maid of honor, of course.” She faltered, and her smile died. “I can’t call her. What am I thinking? Your vampire friend just dumped her. She isn’t going to want to hear about our wedding.”

  “Wedding?” a voice squeaked from the doorway.

  They hadn’t heard the door open. Vanessa stood there, white faced. She turned on her heels and scurried away. Silver raced after her. Jack struggled to get up, but he was still too weak to make it across the room even if he could find the strength to stand. Giving up, he squeezed his eyes shut and rested his head against the pillow.

  A few seconds later he heard Vanessa’s high-pitched voice yelling something about Silver being too young. Silver fired back with how she was an adult and could make her own decisions. Vanessa told her she couldn’t possibly manage to get good grades and take care of a husband at the same time, not to mention how they still had to save the world from a psychotic werewolf.

  Jack settled the pillow on top of his head and pressed it down hard until he couldn’t hear anything. He hadn’t meant to start a war between mother and daughter. He should have waited until he was on his feet to propose.

  The pillow was snatched from his face. Ian hovered over him, twisting the pillow in his hands as if he was imagining it was Jack’s neck. “Unbelievable. You are awake for less than thirty minutes and you already have the house in an uproar.” Ian tossed the pillow aside and sat next to Jack on the bed. “You look better, more color in your cheeks. How do you feel?”

  “What do you care?”

  “Stop behaving like a child for five minutes and maybe I’ll tell you.” His gaze went to the open doorway. He lowered his voice and leaned closer. “You almost died. Vanessa and Silver took good care of you, and they worked hard to reassure each other constantly, but they couldn’t hide how worried they both were.”

  Jack blinked. “So?”

  “I was just thinking that anyone who could inspire such passion in two women as remarkable as the Reign women can’t be totally evil.”

  “You don’t think I’m a monster anymore?” It was quite a change in attitude. Jack considered the possibility he was either dreaming or delirious.

  Ian sighed. “No, I don’t think you are a monster. You’ve shown me where your loyalties lie. However, I still think these abilities you have are unnatural.”

  “Says the man who burns people with a simple touch.”

  “Not people,” Ian corrected. “Werewolves. Sometimes vampires. I do not kill people. If I did, you would have been a pile of ashes a very long time ago.”

  A disturbing image sprang to life in Jack’s mind. Anything but comforting, the picture made Jack ask, “Would you really kill your brother’s son?”

  “In a heartbeat. I may have changed my mind about you, but I am still going to stop Billy.” He stood. “Get some rest.”

  Vanessa stepped into the room. Her deep scowl enveloped Ian first. “Please leave. I have a few things to say to my future son-in-law.”

  A large lump formed in Jack’s throat. He tried to swallow but couldn’t. He’d never seen Vanessa so angry. The fact it was directed at him set his teeth on edge. Even Ian seemed to be afraid of Vanessa’s wrath. He quickly exited, giving Jack an apologetic look before he went.

  Once they were alone, Vanessa closed the door. She turned slowly. Her eyes pinned Jack to the bed like a bug on a wall. She folded her arms over her chest. “Silver tells me you want to marry her before she leaves for college. Do you really think that’s the best move for the two of you? My daughter has worked toward one specific goal her whole life. She decided she wanted to be a lawyer when she was around six, and she hasn’t wavered from the path in all these years.”

  It took a great deal of effort, but Jack managed to pull himself into a sitting position, back against the headboard. He took a couple of slow breaths. Beads of sweat made him feel like he needed a shower. Every muscle he owned quivered at the slightest use.

  He wanted to make Vanessa understand, but he didn’t know what to say. There probably wasn’t anything he could say. Vanessa was afraid she was losing her daughter. She was afraid he was going to ruin Silver’s life. She had every right to rant. So he clenched his muscles to the point of snapping and prepared himself to listen for as long as she wanted to unload on him.

  Vanessa threw her hands up in the air. “What were you thinking when you asked my daughter to marry you? Are the two of you out of your minds? You can wait until she’s graduated from college. I know it seems like a long time from now, but the years will pass a lot faster than you think they will.”

  “I love
her.” It was the only thing he could think of to say.

  “I know you do. She loves you, too. That’s the only reason I’m not killing you right now. The two of you will still love each other in a few years... unless one of you falls in love with someone else. Is that why you want to marry Silver now? Are you afraid of losing her to another guy? Because if you are, that is no reason to get married in a rush. If your love is real, it will still be real after she graduates. If it isn’t real, nothing you can do will save it.”

  Was she right?

  Vanessa added, “I’ll leave you to think about it. I’ve come to care for you, Jack. I think of you as part of the family already, but don’t push it. You and Silver have years ahead of you, years to make bad decisions.”

  She left the room, and Silver hurried back in. She dropped the ring, chain and all, onto his stomach. Sorrow clouded her eyes. She said, “You can have it back if you want.”

  “Your mom talked you out of marrying me?”

  “No way. I still want to do it… if you do.”

  Jack grunted in pain as he swung his legs off the bed. He struggled to his feet, ignoring Silver’s protests. Adrenaline gave him power. The chain dangled from his clutched hand. He held onto the side of the bed as he lowered himself onto one knee. He took her hand and said, “Silver Reign, will you be my wife?”

  “Yes.” She giggled. “Put the ring on my finger, please.”

  Jack didn’t know how much longer he could bear the pain. Dizziness ate at the edges of his consciousness. He tried to take easy, slow breaths while he fumbled with the chain’s clasp. Damn thing was stuck. It finally opened, and he removed the ring. Taking her hand again, he pushed the ring onto her finger.

  “Now kiss me,” she said.

  Silver helped him to his feet. She held onto him as he weaved a bit. His legs were like rubber, barely able to hold his weight. Any second they would buckle. He was sure of it. His lips brushed over hers in a quick kiss before he moved to the bed. He tried to go down easy, but his strength was sapped.

  Silver lay down next to him and rested her head against his chest. She lifted her hand and moved it around in the air. The ring sparkled. Her soft, dreamy voice followed him into the darkness. The last thing he heard was her saying, “I am going to be your wife. I can’t wait. There’s so much to do. Do you want a big wedding or a small one? Where do you want to do it? A church or maybe a garden somewhere would be nice.”

  He drifted away, a smile on his face.

  He had the girl, and no one was going to take her away from him. Not her mother. Not another guy. Not even Jersey Clifford.

  .

  *****

  Chapter Twelve:

  THE TROUBLE WITH FAERIES

  .

  .

  For the first time since his transformation back to mortal status, Jack sensed Cowboy’s presence. He thought he’d lost that connection forever, so it surprised him when his insides began to tingle with awareness. His eyes snapped open in the dark bedroom. He half-expected to see his old friend hovering over him. But, he reminded himself, Cowboy was a vampire and couldn’t come in uninvited. Jack turned his head on the pillow, looked at the clock next to his bed. It was an hour from sunrise. Cowboy was cutting it close.

  With a tired sigh Jack climbed out of bed and went to the window. It didn’t take long to spot his former friend. Cowboy leaned against the corral fence, his eyes on the house. What could he possibly want now?

  During his illness Jack had lost track of time. If asked what day it was, he would have to throw a dart at the calendar. All he knew for sure was sometimes it was dark when he opened his eyes and sometimes it was light. He looked at the empty bed. After his fever had passed, Vanessa insisted Silver sleep in her own room. Once in a while Silver would sneak back in after everyone else was asleep. Fortunately, she hadn’t done that last night. He didn’t want her to know about Cowboy’s visit. She had enough to deal with already.

  Jack abandoned the safety of his room and carefully picked his way down the stairs. He stepped over the third step from the bottom because it creaked loud enough to wake the dead. It was smooth sailing after that. He crossed the foyer, opened the door, and went outside. Cowboy had moved. No longer leaning against the fence, he was sitting in a porch chair.

  Cowboy lifted a bottle of beer. “Want a brew?”

  Jack grimaced. Vampires and alcohol did not mix. Two swallows of booze and most vampires were drunk. The effects of the alcohol also lasted longer with vampires than with humans. It made them deathly ill. Some vampires died after downing a single shot. This was self-destructive behavior even for Cowboy

  Jack shook his head. “It’s a little early for me, thanks.”

  Cowboy chuckled. “That’s right. I keep forgetting you sleep at night now. So what’s it like being human again? Is it everything you ever dreamed?”

  The question was meant to provoke. Cowboy seemed to be looking for a fight. Jack had no intention of giving him one. Instead, Jack took the seat next to him and forced a smile. “Being human has its advantages.”

  “Like what?”

  Tongue in cheek, Jack said, “I don’t burst into flames when the sun comes up. Stick around for a while and you’ll see exactly what I mean.”

  Cowboy made a rude noise. “Big deal. I’ll be young and pretty forever. You’ll dry up and turn to dust someday. Sucks to be you.”

  “I can get married and have kids.”

  “But you can’t car surf anymore. You can’t jump off cliffs and hit the rocks below without dying. You can’t fight with a grizzly bear or leap out of a window thirty-six stories up just to freak people out. You can’t live without fear anymore.”

  Jumping out of a window didn’t appeal to him anymore, not after Billy threw him through one. The pain was still fresh in his mind. Then there was the night Jersey had tossed him (Tobias) off a tall building. If he’d been a vampire, the fall wouldn’t have killed him.

  “The advantages to being human far outweigh the disadvantages.”

  “Traitor.” Cowboy finished his beer and tossed the empty bottle into the yard. He stood but seemed a little crooked for a moment. When he walked, he weaved as if he was trying to avoid invisible obstacles. When he spoke, his speech was a bit slurred.

  Cowboy wagged a finger at him. “You are a traitor. Summer, Lily, and I saved your miserable life, and you repaid us by running back home the first chance you got. I should have known you were a waste of time.” He shook his head and there were actual tears in his eyes. “We were like brothers. What happened? Summer and Lily are dead, and you might as well be because you sure aren’t Jackpot anymore.”

  Jack sat quiet, thinking about Cowboy’s accusations. Maybe he was right. They’d been good friends. Cowboy had taught him how to survive as a vampire. If it hadn’t been for Cowboy, Jack wouldn’t have made it through a week let alone an entire decade. He owed him.

  Cowboy half-walked, half-stumbled down the porch steps. He was leaving. Jack didn’t want him to go, not like this. There were too many things left unsaid. Jack vacated his chair. He followed Cowboy to the beginning of the long driveway, hands thrust deep into his back pockets.

  “I didn’t ask for this to happen.”

  Cowboy turned and glared at him. “Yeah, well, you sure didn’t fight it either. It was way too easy for you to bury your past with us and return to your old life.”

  “Is that what you think? That it was easy for me? I’m still feeling my way around. I wake up some days and wish I hadn’t changed at all, but it happened.”

  A slow grin spread across Cowboy’s face. “We can fix it if you aren’t happy. You can become my vampire buddy again. The two of us will find a couple of cute chicks and turn them. It will almost be like the good old days.”

  “I can’t do that.”

  An angry scowl replaced the smile. Cowboy instantly became a child, demanding to have his way. “Why not? What’s stopping you?” A trace of whine entered his voice. He gestured to the house.
“Your brother is tearing up the country-side, all werewolfy. That girl you like so much is going away to college. Yeah, Trina told me about Silver’s grand plans. What’s keeping you here in this ridiculous situation? You were never meant to be a normal guy. It isn’t you.”

  Hearing Trina’s name reminded Jack of what Silver wanted to know most. “Did you do it? Did you break up with Trina?”

  “I sure did. You were right about her. After I stopped gazing into those lovely blue-green eyes and actually listened to her for a while, I realized she talks way too much. If I turn a girl into a vampire, she’s going to have to be more independent.”

  “How did she take the news?”

  Cowboy snorted. “She was pissed until I told her about the vampire council and how we needed to get their permission before I turn her. I told her if any of them saw a single thing they didn’t like about her, they would kill her on the spot. After that she was happy to back out of the deal.”

  “There is no vampire council.”

  Cowboy laid a finger against his lips. “Shh. She doesn’t know that. Don’t tell her or she’ll hunt me down. The girl is kind of scary when she gets all worked up.”

  Jack turned his face and hid the grin. This was what he missed most, conversations with his best friend. Now that he wasn’t a vampire anymore Silver had taken over the role, but sometimes Jack missed having a guy friend to hang with, especially with Billy gone.

  Although the sun hadn’t made an appearance yet, the horizon was bathed in color. It was light enough for a human to see them standing in the driveway talking. Jack gestured to the sky. “Don’t you think you should be getting inside?”

  Cowboy opened a second bottle of beer. Jack fought the urge to snatch it from his hand. Was the tough-talking vampire trying to kill himself? Cowboy was on a downhill spiral. It was hard to watch.

  “No worries,” Cowboy said. “I’m staying somewhere close.” He snapped his fingers. “I can get there like that.” Snapping his fingers apparently threw him off balance because he stumbled. Jack reached out to steady him. Cowboy knocked his hand away with a throaty growl. “Don’t need you.”