Chapter 29
JAX
As the three books are placed together in the Vault, I wonder if anything will happen.
One red, one silver and one small modest brown volume are laid side by side on the stone plinth that was crafted to hold them when the Vault itself was built, nearly four hundred years ago.
Silas and Brody step forward and place a domed glass case above the plinth, sealing the books inside.
And that seems to kickstart something.
The books begin to vibrate. I rub my eyes, wondering if fatigue is deceiving me, but they are definitely vibrating. Suddenly the covers fly open and their pages start to flip wildly.
Moments later, beams of light shoot from the center of each book, forming a complex intertwined pattern above them.
“The Dawnwrought Mandala,” Mom says.
We all watch, mesmerized, as the light reconfigures into a multitude of interwoven patterns, and the pages keep on flipping.
“They’re running through the runes,” Mom explains. “Ensuring the connections are strong.”
“How long will that take?” I ask.
“Several hours. We can leave them to it.”
After a few more minutes of gazing at the remarkable show in front of us, we all bow our heads.
Mom murmurs a few words of thanks to the books and then removes the cape from around her shoulders “Shree, ya dii,” she tells it quietly.
“Rest now, you need to replenish your magic, my friend.” And then she hands the cape to Brody.
It wilts into his big hands as he strides away to place it in its case in the adjacent room.
“We’ll need to convene this evening and go over the final plan,” Otis says. He puts his arm around Clem. “But for now, I think we should take some time to ourselves. We had an early start, and Clem, you are looking tired. And Aurora, I’m sure you could do with putting your feet up.”
“And I want to spend some time with my wife,” Bradley says, his arm encircling Sally, who has now joined us. She beams up at him with dewy red eyes.
“Let’s go home and I’ll make a nice pot of tea,” she says.
Bradley laughs. “That’s your answer to everything, Sal.”
“Yes, it is.” She smirks. “A nice cuppa is good for any occasion, whether humble or auspicious.”
I glance at Tippy, who’s been standing next to Clem. She gives me a little eyebrow waggle, and I see her tail swish from side to side. I’m learning to read her body language. She wants what I want—time alone together.
“If it’s okay with all of you, Tippy and I might just go for a stroll,” I say casually.
“You two youngsters go off and enjoy yourself,” Felicia says magnanimously.
Traggar nods, and they turn to leave together. Traggar’s hand rests lightly on the small of Felicia’s back, just as it did when I first saw them together. My lips twitch. It looks like they might be planning a little alone time too.
“Be back by five, Jax. There’s still strategy to work out,” Otis warns.
I mock salute. “Yes, boss.” And then, grabbing Tippy by the hand, I practically drag her out of the Vault.
TIPPY
Jax and I walk hand in hand like any other young couple in love. Any couple you might see on any normal day in the market square.
Except this isn’t any normal day.
This is the most momentous day of our lives.
Soon everything we know will change forever.
Tomorrow, Jax and Aurora and a group of warrior wolves and monster sheriffs will make their way up to the Labyrinth, and change the course of history for monsters and humans forever.
It’s scary. But it’s also exciting.
I have faith in our magic.
And most of all, I have faith in Jax.
And now, we have a couple hours to spend together before he must go and ready himself for the task ahead.
“Do you want to talk?” I ask. He looks at me sideways. “Do you?”
I shrug. “I don’t know if words can to do justice to everything that’s happened.”
He shakes his head. “Words can’t touch it.”
“I mean, it’s mind-blowing, reuniting with your mom, finding out about the Dawnwrought Coven, that the three books of runes are—” I stop, feeling suddenly teary.
Turning, I gaze up at him, unable to hide the anxiety on my face.
“Jax, what if something happens to you tomorrow? What if—”
He stops and places a finger to my lips, then he takes me by the shoulders. Fiercely, he says, “It won’t, Tippy.”
“How do you know?”
“I’m going to show you why it won’t. Right now.”
The next moment, Jax’s strong hands have propelled me down a nearby alley.
He presses me against the wall, between two carts and a small blue truck full of oranges.
“This is why,” he growls. And then he kisses me. The kiss is hot, frenzied, and demanding, and I moan pitifully as my bones turn to mush and my legs barely support me.
Sensing it, he lifts me up and my legs wind around his as he pins me against the wall.
We kiss and kiss. The feel of his tongue forking into my mouth, then withdrawing to rim my lips, is almost enough to make me come.
Frustration makes me whine softly.
His hand moves between our bodies and he pushes my skirt up and slides his fingers inside my drenched panties.
He strokes me with just the right pressure as I moan against his mouth and beg for more.
His touch on my clit becomes more urgent, then a finger eases into me and strokes that magic spot inside me.
Then, just as I’m about to break, he stops, removes his hand and licks my juices off his fingers.
“I need to remember you. Your taste. Your scent,” he growls.
I try to push his hand back down between my legs, needing him to ease the want inside me.
But he pulls back, eyes glinting. “I want you on a knife edge waiting for my return.”
“Don’t be so cruel.”
He slides me down his body then, stepping back, braces his legs wide. “Look,” he orders, his hand gesturing at his crotch. The huge bulge in the leather of his pants is testament to his own frustration. “You don’t think this is also cruel?”
My tongue tip licks my lips. “I could relieve you…”
“NO! No way. Don’t you see, Tippy? I have to feel this desperate need. And so do you. It’s what will connect us and bring me back to you.”
I mewl with frustration, but I know he’s right.
Jax looks at me sternly. “Don’t pleasure yourself while I’m gone. That is my privilege.”
“I won’t, I promise.”
My throbbing pussy would complain out loud if it could. But I know there is something to this knife edge of wanting, needing each other, that will keep our mate bond connected while we are apart.
“I need something of you to take with me,” Jax says.
“My panties?”
He chuckles. “Hmmm, tempting, but distracting.” Then his gaze lands on my tail, swishing softly between us.
Gently he takes hold of it and strokes it, sending little shock waves of lust zapping straight to my sex.
“Give me three strands.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’m taking them with me.”
I laugh. “That’s adorable.” I grasp a strand of fur and tug, wincing at the sharp little sting. Then another, and another. I wind them around my fingers then give them to him, curled up together.
“Where will you keep them?”
“Next to my heart,” he says, and pops them in the top pocket of his jacket.
I frown. “What happens when you shift? I mean, you will shift, won’t you, at some point tomorrow?”
“I guess that will be determined by the circumstances. But I’ll make sure these stay safe.”
“Please tell me you guys know what you’re doing.”
“Of course. The magic will guide us. And now I need one more kiss before we head back.”
I lift my mouth and happily oblige.