Chapter 30
JAX
Gods, I am the luckiest wolfman to walk the Labyrinth, I decide as I kiss Tippy farewell.
I wrap my arms around her, feel her heart against mine, beating strong. Giving me courage. “I love you,” I murmur softly.
‘I love you, too. Come back to me.”
“Always.”
I watch her hurry away, imagining her in full vixen form, scampering through the grass and flowers of Earth, her tail perky and inviting me to follow her.
To chase her.
Claim her.
I sigh and turn toward the sheriff’s office. It will happen, soon, I know.
As I walk, I recall all the things I’ve learned about my mate these past few days.
The way the tip of her little upturned nose turns velvet brown when she shifts.
I know the spot where her whiskers sprout, on either side of her mouth where her human smile forms dimples.
I remember how her claws make a pincushion of my chest as she comes down from her orgasm, and how her amber eyes turn dewy and soft.
The way her pretty ears twitch when she’s aroused.
Or angry. How they jiggle when she laughs.
And last but not least, her beautiful tail.
How she shivers with delight when I brush my fingers over it.
How it expresses every one of her emotions, and goes completely wild when she’s horny, reaching out to caress my body.
And how it takes the lead in in our lovemaking, teaching me to pleasure her better.
And now that I have three strands of that tail in the pocket next to my heart, I will have the very essence of my mate with me tomorrow.
Like a talisman.
Keeping me safe from harm.
When I walk inside the sheriff’s office and look around, I realize someone is missing.
Someone important.
“Where’s Mom?” I ask, brows scooting up.
“She’s not attending the meeting,” Otis says, his face serious.
“Is she… is she okay?” Fear grips my heart. Mom has been through so much these last couple days, it’s easy to take her quiet strength for granted and think she’s unshakeable.
“Yes, she’s fine, I’ve just been with her.” Silas stands up at the back of the room. “But she has requested that you go and meet her at the Vault.”
“What, now?”
“Yes.”
“What about the meeting?”
“We can hold off on the details until you get back,” Otis says firmly. “This is a priority, Jax.”
“Right, okay.” I turn around and leave. It’s barely five minutes’ walk to the Vault from here, but it feels further. My mind is churning, hoping to the gods that Mom is genuinely okay.
Who knows what fifteen years lying in a deep coma could have done to her. And although Felicia has examined her and proclaimed her in perfect health, I can’t help but worry.
When I get there, the new Vault guard who’s taken over from Brody, a griffin, says, “Hi Jax. Your mother is in the Cape Room waiting for you.”
Thanking him, I stride in.
Mom is standing next to the cape, as if she is communing with it silently. Her head lifts and she comes over and hugs me. “How was your time with Tippy?”
“Good. Great. Silas said you wanted to talk to me alone. Are you feeling alright, Mom?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I just need to talk to you in private.”
She gazes up into my eyes and straightens my collar, and it suddenly strikes me how much taller I am than her. It’s funny, really. I guess I always thought she was tall because that’s how I remember her from when I was a kid, but she’s really quite slight.
She looks tired too, I realize. There are dark rings under her green eyes. Fine lines edge her eyes and mouth.
My heart trips. “Mom, are you sick?”
“No, I’m most definitely not sick.” She smiles wanly. “But I am weary.” She takes a deep breath and her hands slide to my arms. “Which is why I won’t be coming on the mission tomorrow.”
I’m momentarily lost for words. “You won’t. W-why not?”
“Because I’m passing my title to you, Jax. It’s time for you to take on the role of High Priest of the Dawnwrought Coven.”
My jaw nearly hits the ground. “W-what?” I shake my head as the magnitude of her words sinks in. “No, Mom, no—I’m not up to this… no…” I try to pull away, but her grip on my arms tightens.
“This was always how it was going to be. The runes dictated that when you found me, I would hand over my title to you.”
I screw up my eyes. “No, Mom. You can’t just spring this on me the night before—I can’t do this. I’m nowhere near ready.”
“Yes. You are.” She reaches up and strokes my cheek, her eyes gentling.
“Look at me Jax.” Somehow, I meet her gaze.
“Do you think that I felt ready? When my time came? A young priestess, with no parents, no real experience of life, sent to live among humans, to marry, and infiltrate dark magic in a strange place. To have my children and then leave them. To place myself on the margins of death for fifteen years. I wasn’t ready for any of that, but I did it, because… because the Earth needed me to.”
I stay silent, my chest heaving. How can I argue? Mom’s sacrifices were huge.
“And now the Earth needs you, Jax. My duties are fulfilled, my powers are waning.” I let out a pained sound, but she halts me with a finger to my lips.
“It’s not a bad thing. I’m not dying. But I want to lead a normal life.
I want to be a citizen, a mother… a grandmother…
I do not have it in me to teach humans how to live on Earth. ”
“Shit, Mom, and you think I do?”
“Yes, without a single shadow of a doubt. And with Tippy by your side, I trust that even more. Together, and with Traggar as your teacher, you will make Earth a home for all. I know you will.”
“You’re wrong, Mom. I haven’t got anything to offer.”
She places both hands on my shoulders, then stares into my face with those unwavering green eyes.
“Jax. You will defeat Marsha Winters. And don’t you dare say otherwise.
Because I know how you fought to find me, when even your own father gave up.
How you defied her, until the very last moment.
Even when she put that chip in your neck, she never owned you, Jax.
Never. It is the courage in you, and the white magic working alongside you, that will vanquish her once and for all. ”
I gulp, emotion blocking my throat. “I’m—not good enough—not worthy of this.”
“Yes, you are. You are my son, and the magic of the Dawnwrought is in your blood.” Mom’s voice is fierce, passionate.
“Now, no more arguing. The runes have decreed it. The cape is ready to transfer its allegiance. And just remember, I am your mother, and I would never entrust a task to you that you are not able to fulfil.”
She turns to the cabinet and removes the cape.
It chitters and moves toward her, but she holds out a hand, halting it.
“Taket da,” she orders, pointing at me. “Taket da. Tek a Jax.”
For a moment it hesitates. “Taket da. Tek a Jax,” she repeats, then flicks her hand dismissively, her face haughty.
The cape rears up into the air, billows around me, then fixes itself firmly around my shoulders.
And settles.
“There,” Mom says, arranging its thick velvet fabric around me. “It fits you perfectly. Tomorrow, it will have your back. It may behave in ways you don’t expect. But trust it, Jax. Later tonight I will teach you the commands you must learn off by heart.”
With the cape on my shoulders, something strange and wonderful starts to happen. There’s a warm glow in the region of my heart that seems to spread outward, through my whole being.
I don’t understand why, but the fear has left me. At least for now.
“Here, let me show you something.” Mom delves inside the cape’s lining and shows me a tiny little pocket.
“I don’t remember this being here,” I say, perplexed.
“It’s a secret. Only the High Priestess—or Priest—can locate it.”
She undoes the tiny catch that holds it closed.
“I used to keep a lock of your and Clem’s hair in there, but now,” she touches the locket at her throat, “they are in here. But if you have anything you want to place in there, something special, to bring you luck, pop it in, and the cape will multiply its energy.”
I think of the three strands from Tippy’s beautiful tail, and for the first time since I arrived here, I manage a smile.
“Actually Mom, I do have something…”
TIPPY
Later that night, Jax comes to my little cottage.
I’d gone home to be alone and just take in the magnitude of everything that has happened this past week. I knew the team of sheriffs would be planning well into the night for tomorrow’s invasion of Sparkle.
And truthfully, my afternoon with Jax had been so sublimely beautiful, his promise to come back to me, and me giving him the talisman from my tail, it felt enough for now.
My sexual frustration at him edging me is a small price to pay to keep our connection strong on this dangerous venture.
Which is why, when I hear Jax’s motorbike outside my window, then his swift footsteps and a sharp rap on the door, I am surprised, but also delighted as I run to welcome him.
We hug tightly and when I pull away, I know immediately that he has something on his mind. Something big. His energy is a strange mix of troubled and elated.
“What’s up, Jax?” I scan his face anxiously. His eyes are burning bright emerald.
“Tippy, I need to talk to you. Something big has happened, really fucking big.”
Worried, I lead him into my little sitting room and we sit on the sofa in the glow of the soft lumen lamps.
He takes my hand in his, plays with my fingers, silent for long moments.
Finally, he says quietly, “Mom has appointed me High Priest of the Dawnwrought Coven.” His eyes meet mine, and I get the sense he desperately needs my approval. Right now, I’m just trying to process.
“Jax, that’s incredible. I mean, is she… is she still going to be the Priestess?”
“No, she’s stepping down.”
“Oh, so what happens with the mission?” My heart tightens.
His jaw works. “Mom will not be coming. She’s told me I’ll be the one to lead the mission to overthrow Marsha.”
“Oh, Jax.” My voice breaks a little. “That’s such a humongous task—but also such a privilege that she trusts you.”
“It’s decreed in the runes. That I would find Mom, and that she would pass her title to me.
She—she believes in me, Tippy, but more than that, she believes in us.
You and me together. She says that we will help all the monsters to live on Earth again.
I need to know, will you be beside me, Tip? Will you help me to do this? Together?”
“Yes,” I say, without hesitation. “Yes, Jax, I will be at your side wherever this leads us. Always. How could you doubt that for one moment?”
He sighs with relief. “That’s all I needed to hear. That you will be stand by me, as my mate. Now I feel strong enough, worthy.” He leans forward and our lips fuse for long moments.
It feels like a pact that we are making for the future. Our future, and the Earth’s future. And strangely, I am not afraid, I realize. I am ready for this.
When we pull away, Jax says, “I have to go now. Mom is going to teach me the incantations I have to learn by heart before tomorrow.”
I nod, and we walk together to the door.
“I will be with you tomorrow Jax, nestled against your heart,” I say softly.
“Yes, those strands from your tail are in a little pocket in the cape. You’ll be with me to keep me strong.” At the door, we embrace once more. It’s hard to let him go, but eventually we part and I watch him stride toward his motorbike and mount it in one easy move.
He waves, the engine revs and then he rides away in a plume of smoke. I watch him sitting on the bike, tall and confident, broad-shouldered, head held high, until he disappears.
And I realize that whatever tomorrow holds, Jax Summers is a hero already.