Tempting the Dragon Read online

  A headache began brewing behind Jade’s eyes. “How are we going to get her back home?”

  Oblivious, Di appeared to be on the verge of throwing a very childlike temper tantrum, stomping her feet and all. Any second now, Jade thought her cousin might drop to the leafy forest floor and start kicking and screaming.

  “You grab one arm, I’ll take the other,” Rance said. “We’ll shepherd her through the portal together.”

  And that was exactly what they did.

  * * *

  Libby paced, unable to sleep. This restlessness was new, at least for this decade. She’d been agitated before, in brief spurts, but nothing like now. Deep within her bones she knew her life was about to change irrevocably.

  This unshakable certainty kept her up at night, pacing the floor in her tiny cabin, until finally she gave in to the urge to change. This night, instead of diving into the cold, deep waters of the lake, she took to the sky. The simple pleasure of soaring over the hills and forests of Forestwood was a treat she seldom allowed herself. As she spiraled higher and higher, spreading her massive wings to catch the current, she vowed not to let so much time pass between flights again.

  At this hour, only the streetlights brought light to the darkness. Libby felt more alive than she had in years. And free, as if she wasn’t shackled by invisible chains to a small town in the Catskill Mountains.

  She flew for a long time, until she realized the eastern sky had begun to lighten. Slightly regretful, but exhilarated, she dropped back down to the wooded area next to the lake, and began the process of shape-shifting back into her human form.

  This done, she grabbed her clothes and hurriedly dressed. Ignoring the sudden pang of longing for a mate’s caress, she began hiking through the woods in the darkness and heading for home.

  Once there, she considered trying to sleep. Instead, still unsettled, she made a cup of tea and carried it to her porch. She’d watch the sun come up and attempt to pinpoint the source of her restlessness.

  She couldn’t shake the feeling it had something to do with Jade’s man. Rance Sleighter. Something about him felt...familiar. Not in a sexual sense, but as though he might almost be family.

  Family. A word so many took for granted. She had, too, once. And now, now that they were all gone, she missed them more than she could express.

  Pink ribbons of color began to streak the slate sky, announcing the imminent arrival of the sun. She sipped her tea—Darjeeling this time—and tried to relax, maybe even meditate. She’d long ago learned her clearest thoughts came after she stilled the noise inside her head. She set the timer on her phone for twenty minutes.

  Settling back in her chair with the ease of practice, she focused on her breathing. In. Out. In. Out. Each time a random thought tried to interrupt, she noted it and sent it away.

  The timer chimed—too soon—and she stretched, quite pleased. The sun had risen above the horizon, and bright golden fingers of light painted the tops of the trees. Her tea had cooled, but she drank the rest of it, anyway.

  She knew what she had to do. Talk to Rance Sleighter and find out who he truly was, where he’d come from and who his people were. Maybe then she’d be able to understand why he seemed so familiar even though she hadn’t left Forestwood in fifty years or more.

  Chapter 9

  Trying to tune out her cousin’s complaints, Jade shepherded her along toward her car. She was glad to have Rance on the other side and she chanced a look at him to see what he thought of Di’s complaints. One glance at his set profile and the terse line of his lips told her he, too, had just about had enough.

  “Here we are,” Jade said, keeping her tone light and breezy when she really wanted to tell her cousin to be quiet. “My car. Once I get you home, I know your mother will be thrilled to see you. She’s been so worried.”

  For whatever reason, this simple statement silenced Di. Her crestfallen expression told Jade that her cousin had once again managed to forget all about her mother.

  “It was probably the enchantment,” Jade ventured, mentally bracing herself for a second round of denials or complaints.

  Instead, Di bit her lip and looked down. “Maybe,” she said, her voice uncertain. “I was so preoccupied with the prince and the baby, I somehow managed to completely forget about my home and my family.”

  Jade squeezed her shoulder to express sympathy.

  “Are y’all good here?” Rance asked.

  “I think so.” Jade smiled, aware he could see her relief. Even now, that Southern drawl of his made her insides tingle. “I’ll take Di home. I really appreciate all your help today. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  “Oh, I do.” A teasing light danced in his gray eyes. For one heart-stopping moment, she thought he might lean in and kiss her, but instead he dragged his hand across his chin and looked away.

  “Okay, then,” he said, turning to head toward his car. “I’ll talk to you later. Remember what you promised.”

  I’m not disappointed, she told herself as she watched him climb into the Mustang and drive away. She wasn’t disappointed at all. He’d held up his end of the bargain, now she’d have to do as she’d agreed and let him meet Libby. Only she wasn’t at all sure how Libby would take to that idea.

  “Are we going?” Di asked, managing to sound belligerent and afraid at the same time.

  Jade nodded. “Yes, we are. Please get in and buckle up.” She braced herself for a round of protests, but Di did as she asked without a word of complaint.

  During the drive back to town, Di remained silent, much to Jade’s relief. She imagined her younger cousin was working on a decent explanation to tell her mother. Not that she had to worry. Auntie Em loved her only daughter to distraction and would fuss over her, ecstatic she’d come home safe. There would be no lectures or tearful recriminations. Di’s mother would welcome her with open arms and joy that her daughter had come home unharmed. Jade bet her aunt would even take the pregnancy news with happiness.

  Di knew this, too. She’d spent her entire life sheltered and spoiled by her mother. When they pulled up to the house, she jumped out of the car as soon as Jade put it in Park.

  “Thanks for the ride.” Di tossed the words over her shoulder as she hurried up the sidewalk. “You don’t need to come in.”

  “Oh, but I do,” Jade muttered. “I’m right behind you.” She felt dizzy—and slightly ill. So much for Libby’s idea that traveling to another dimension wouldn’t make her sick.

  She’d made it only halfway up the sidewalk when Di slipped inside. A loud squeal—Auntie Em—greeted the appearance of her daughter.

  Jade got there just in time to see her aunt wrap Di in a massive bear hug. Triumph shone in Di’s eyes as she peered at Jade over her mother’s shoulder. Jade merely shrugged. “I’m used to it,” she mouthed, even as beads of perspiration broke out on her forehead. Then, as Auntie Em turned around, Jade managed a grin. “As you can see, I found her.”

  Her aunt grinned back, opening up one arm so she could include Jade in the massive hug. “And it only took you four days.”

  Stunned, Jade hugged her aunt back before stepping away. Four days when it seemed like four hours. No wonder she felt ill.

  “I told you,” Di said. “You kind of lose track of time.”

  “Where was she?” Auntie Em asked. Before Jade could speak, she turned and asked the same question to Di. “Where were you?” Since it would only be a matter of time before Auntie Em noticed her daughter’s pregnancy, Jade figured she’d better get out of there before she did.

  “I’ll let you two talk about everything.” Jade began backing toward the door. She wasn’t exactly sure how much information Di would share with her mother, and she really didn’t want to know. “I need to go check on my business and my family.” And Libby, though she didn’t mentio
n it. She’d never been away from Forestwood this long, at least not since she’d become Guardian. She sincerely hoped Libby hadn’t needed her. She couldn’t help but wonder what might happen if she had.

  That thought worried her, even though Libby had been the one to order her to go and rescue Di, saying her cousin was in danger. Which, if Jade had read the situation correctly, Diamond hadn’t been. Another oddity, since Libby was never wrong.

  Maybe she should drive out to the lake and see if Libby could do anything about Jade getting sick. She yawned, stifling a gag, and reconsidered. Nope, she’d better wait. She’d be lucky to make it home. If she felt better, she’d pop out there first thing in the morning.

  Frequent yawns combined with her stomach’s rumbling impeded her driving, so she opened the windows and cranked up the radio, deliberating whether to go straight home or check on her job. Though she worried she might be sick, she couldn’t ignore the business she’d worked so hard to make successful, especially since she’d been away longer than she’d intended.

  Driving carefully, she stopped at Dogs Off Leash. Her employees gathered around her, happy to see her, a few of them assuming she’d taken a vacation. Only Sue, who’d known that Jade had gone to the lake, stood back and didn’t join in when the others peppered Jade with questions about where she’d been. Holding on to the front counter to steady herself, Jade responded in kind, teasing them with words like exotic and out of this world. She tried to broaden her weak smile since they had no way to know she was actually telling the truth.

  After informing them she needed one more day off to recover from her “vacation,” Jade had a private word with Sue.

  “Everything okay?” Sue asked. “You look really...beat.”

  Which meant Jade must look a mess. Hopefully not as bad as she felt.

  “I’m fine,” she lied. “Just tired. Once I get some sleep, I’ll be back to normal.” At least she certainly hoped so.

  The other woman nodded. “Why don’t you sleep in? I’ll open up in the morning.”

  Grateful, Jade nodded. “Thanks.”

  “Can I ask you something?” For whatever reason, Sue seemed oddly hesitant.

  “Of course.”

  “That man, the handsome one. Rance something-or-other. He came here looking for you. Somehow, he knew you’d gone to the lake when I didn’t even say anything.”

  Battling a wave of nausea, Jade nodded and then immediately regretted it. “He found me.” Great, now her head was pounding.

  “He’s a reporter, isn’t he?” Expression concerned, Sue laid her hand on Jade’s shoulder. “I know it’s not my place, but do you think it’s wise to date him? What if he finds out something about...?”

  Jade sighed, praying she wouldn’t lose the contents of her stomach in front of Sue. “First off, I’m not dating him. Secondly, he’s not a reporter, he’s a photojournalist. He tells stories with pictures rather than words. It’s okay, I promise.”

  “But...” Sue searched Jade’s face. “What about Libby? Can you keep her safe with someone like that around?”

  Suppressing a groan, Jade started to nod again, and then thought better of it. “Of course I can. And I’m Guardian. Believe me, I know how to take care of Libby.”

  “Okay.” Sue didn’t sound convinced.

  Which hurt more than it should. “Is there anything else?” Jade asked. If not, now all she had to do was make it home.

  Dropping her hand, Sue shook her head. “No. Have a good night’s sleep.”

  Feeling even wearier, on top of queasy, Jade headed home. As usual, the sight of her family home perched on the hill lightened her heart.

  “Family meeting tonight,” Amber declared the instant Jade walked in the front door. Watching from the stairs, the twins snickered and nodded. While Jade wondered what on earth was going on, Opal appeared in the kitchen doorway holding a wooden spoon. “An emergency family meeting,” she declared, glaring at Jade. “Mandatory attendance for all Burnetts.”

  Her pronouncement made, the elderly woman disappeared back into the kitchen.

  “Well?” Amber crossed her arms. “You look terrible. Where have you been for the last four days?”

  “Finding Di.” Though exhaustion and dizziness made her sway, Jade managed a wry smile. “She’s safe at home with her mother.”

  “Thank you!” Amber exclaimed, wrapping Jade up in a quick hug. “Is she all right?”

  “I think so. But she’s pretty mad. She didn’t want to come home.”

  “Where—” Amber began.

  Lifting her hand to silence her mother felt rude but necessary. “Call your sister. I’m sure she can explain everything. I’m sick and beat and need to go lie down. I’m not even sure I’m up for a meeting, even a mandatory family one.”

  “Humph.” Amber narrowed her eyes. “Your grandmother is making lasagna,” she finally said. “The special kind, with spinach and mushrooms added.”

  Though at first even the thought of food made her feel worse, Jade actually perked up at the thought of her grandmother’s special lasagna. This was the one item Opal cooked without Amber’s help. Maybe some food in her stomach would help. “Why the family meeting?” she asked. “Didn’t we just do this?”

  “True, we did.” Amber gestured with her hands. “But something has come up. And you know as well as I do anyone can call a meeting.”

  Beyond drained, Jade sighed. “Call me when I need to come down. Right now I’m going to catch a quick nap. I feel a bit queasy.”

  “Queasy? A nap?” Amber eyed her up and down. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”

  Jade recoiled. “What? No. Of course not. Where do you get these crazy ideas, Mother?”

  “Well, you are dating that handsome photographer. Even though we don’t know what kind of shape-shifter he is, at least he’s not human. Have you two done the...?”

  “Mom.” Face flaming, Jade cut her off. “Seriously. You know we’re not dating. I’m doing my duty, nothing more. I had to leave the area to find Di, and you know how that affects the Guardian. Now if you’ll excuse me, I really need to get some rest.” She hightailed it up the stairs before her mother could say another word.

  But before she could make it to her room, the twins stopped her. Great. Again she broke out in a sweat. “Jade, are you in trouble?” Pearl asked.

  “Trouble?” Looking from one to the other, Jade sighed. “Not that I know of. Why do you ask?”

  “Well, first you disappear for four days with no reason,” Pearl said. “Which we all know you can’t do.”

  “And then we heard that Libby called this meeting,” Sapphire continued.

  Libby. Crud. Hoping she hadn’t heard correctly, Jade bit back a curse and stared, her illness momentarily forgotten. “Seriously. How? She only talks to me.”

  Pearl shrugged. “Well, I guess that is changing. This time, I heard she spoke to Mom.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” Sapphire studied her fingernails, clearly working on perfecting her this-is-boring voice. “She’s displeased about something. I heard Mom and Grandma talking in the kitchen.”

  “Is it something you did?” Pearl asked again, the concern in her voice in marked contrast to her sister’s affected nonchalance. “I mean, since you’re in charge of her and all.”

  Pretending indifference, Jade yawned. “First off, I’m not in charge. Libby’s a real person. I’m more her friend than anything else. And as far as being in trouble, not that I know of. Now if you’ll excuse me, I really need a nap.”

  Both twins’ mouths dropped open.

  “Really?” Sapph asked. “A nap?”

  “Yes, really. I don’t feel well. As you just pointed out, Guardians get sick when they leave.”

  “True, but how can you sleep at a time like this?” Pearl
stared at her as if she’d grown two heads.

  “I can sleep because I’m really tired.” Once again, Jade turned away.

  “Wait.” Sapphire grabbed her arm. “At least tell us where you disappeared to.”

  “I had to go searching for your cousin Di. I found her and brought her home. End of story.” Even though it wasn’t, she hoped this would at least discourage the twins from peppering her with questions.

  The two younger girls exchanged looks.

  “Okay,” Sapphire finally said. “I’m guessing you don’t want to talk about it.”

  “No. I want to sleep.”

  “But aren’t you even a tiny bit curious to find out what’s going on?” Pearl persisted. “I mean, Libby’s going to be here and everything. Most of us have never met her.”

  Stunned again, Jade took care not to show it. As far as she knew, Libby had never attended a Burnett family meeting. Or even been inside Burnett House. At the realization, she felt ashamed. For far too long, this town—and her family—had treated Libby as if she truly was some sort of beast. That needed to change.

  “I’m sure we’ll find out at the meeting.” Jade gently pushed them out of her way. Refusing to overthink this, Jade knew she had to rest if she wanted to be even remotely coherent later that night.

  Once in her room, she kicked off her shoes and sat down on the edge of her bed. Praying a bit of rest would be all she needed to feel better, she took a deep breath. Fully clothed, she let herself fall back onto the comforter. In less than five minutes, she was fast asleep.

  * * *

  Her cell phone ringing woke her some time later. Groggy, she reached for it on the nightstand and answered, figuring it would be her mother with a time-to-get-up call.

  “Jade?” The deep sexy drawl made her inner wolf whimper. Rance. “Did I wake you?”

  “No,” she lied, grateful that the room no longer seemed to be spinning. “Not at all. What’s up?”

  Though she no doubt sounded half-asleep, thankfully, he let it go. “Your mother called and said you had something to tell me. She said it was important and couldn’t wait.”