She chose her thoughts carefully, willing him to hear her response.
He laughed. She could hear his genuine amusement, that velvet-soft and beautiful, perfectly pitched voice that seemed to caress her whether he was touching her or not. It was so very familiar now, a part of her she never wanted to lose.
But you have to go away.
She was taking a firm stand on this. Either she was completely crazy and he was a figment of her imagination because she needed someone so desperately, or he was very real—and more trouble than she could handle.
I doubt if you would make up someone as domineering as I. You would want some fop to order about so you could continue believing you have to protect everyone. That isn’t funny, Lucian. You have no idea what Tyler Drake is like. Some of the best people in this country have tried to catch him and failed. You’re so arrogant, you’re going to get yourself killed. I hate that trait in men. It isn’t bravery, it’s sheer stupidity. I know Drake is dangerous, and I’m always prepared, because I don’t imagine myself so much more skilled than he is.
There was an edge to her voice. She was becoming irritated with Lucian’s arrogance.
His voice never changed, remaining as gentle and soothing as
ever. It is not arrogance, Jaxon, when one knows one’s own abilities. I have confidence because I know who I am, what I am. I am a hunter. It is what I do. He’s a killer. It’s what he does. You are becoming distressed. I will be with you soon to take you home with me. We will have plenty of time to discuss this. In the meantime do whatever the doctor says to get you released.
Jaxon became aware that the nurse was staring at her. She blinked rapidly to focus her attention on what the woman was saying. “I’m sorry, I was off in my own little world. What were you saying?” She forced a small smile.
“I think anyone with a fiancй like
yours would
be off in her own little world. Is he really a billionaire? What would that be like? I can’t conceive of a billion dollars. He met last night with the hospital board and is giving a huge donation in thanks for taking such good care of you. He had this room guarded day and night.” Her voice turned dreamy. “He said you were his world and he couldn’t breathe without you. Imagine a man saying that right out loud to a roomful of other men. I’d give anything to have my husband feel that way about me.”
“He probably does,” Jaxon murmured, afraid of saying anything else. She was not engaged to Lucian. “Did he call himself my fiancй?”
What else could I do, honey? Refer to you as my lifemate? They understand that being your fiancй gives me certain rights to direct your life while you are ill. They would never understand that as my lifemate you are the other half of my soul. Do not panic yet. I am merely ensuring your safety. I don’t understand what being a lifemate means. I could explain it to you...
he offered solemnly.
No! I don’t think I want to hear another word about it! Not one word, Lucian.
She knew darn well that he wasn’t in the least bit serious, and his annoying habit of laughing at her was going to get him into major trouble. He had the idea that because she was so small, she was not a force to reckoned with. She intended to change that impression soon if he kept it up.
A billionaire? Isn’t that just a bit dramatic? What if someone asks you to prove it? I thought the idea was to keep a low profile
. She was deliberately impudent, trying to hide the fact that she was happy he was so very real.
Hiding out in the open is always the best way. And living for centuries gives one the ability to amass a fortune. It is relatively easy. The more money one has, the more one has the ability to hide his true identity. People expect a certain amount of eccentricity in those with money. Thus, it is merely another tool I use. You cannot be a billionaire on top of everything else. You’re making me completely crazy. You know that, don’t you?
“Jaxx!” Barry Radcliff was in her doorway, his large frame leaning against the jamb, a huge grin of relief spreading across his face. “Thank God. They kept telling me you were getting better, but for some reason or other, I could never actually lay eyes on you. They’ve been feeding me all kinds of crap about some fiancй. I keep telling them you don’t have one, but no one listens to me, not even the captain. He claims he met the guy, some foreign billionaire, and that the rumors are true. I thought maybe that bullet in the head put me in another world.”
The nurse left to give them privacy.
“At least you have an excuse.” Jaxon was so relieved to see someone normal, she felt like crying again. “And why didn’t you keep your butt out of that warehouse, like I told you? Do you have a hero complex, too, Barry?”
He walked slowly, carefully, across the room as if his legs were shaky and managed an awkward, one-armed hug.
I forgot to mention I am a very jealous man, honey. Do not go too far with being happy to see this male.
The texture of Lucian’s voice in her head was the same, yet not. It was softer than ever, velvet over iron. A subtle warning.
Get over it. He ‘s my partner.
Deliberately Jaxon hugged Barry back when normally she never would have done so.
You hide your own feelings from yourself. You regard this one with great affection. If that’s so, it was pretty dumb of you to clue me in on my true feelings, now, wasn’t it?
she asked sweetly, allowing Barry to retain possession of her hand as he sat at the end of her bed. “Do you remember what happened, Barry? Because I don’t remember anything but getting shot.” She was curious. She didn’t have a clue how either of them had gotten out of the warehouse when they were both seriously wounded.
Confusion clouded Barry’s gray eyes. “You know, I have nightmares about it. I don’t know either. In my nightmare a huge wolf kills all the bad guys like some avenging angel, then turns into a man, drags my butt out of there, and then carries you off. Don’t tell the boss, though—he’s already got some psychiatrist hanging around my door,” Barry rubbed a hand over his face. “I can’t remember the man, only the wolf, the eyes. The way it looked at me. But I’d swear a man appeared out of nowhere to rescue us.”
It was you. You saved us. I should have known.
She had known. Deep down inside was a memory—Lucian’s or her own, she wasn’t certain—but she had touched upon it and rejected it. There was blood and death and something so erotic and altogether wrong—some kind of bizarre healing ritual perhaps?—that Jaxon never wanted to touch on it again.
I was not about to allow you to escape me even through death, Jaxon. I enjoy your sense of humor so much.
There was that gentleness that turned her heart over, that told her he knew she was frightened and alone and utterly confused.
Jaxon had the feeling that he was much closer this time, his presence stronger in her mind, not a mere shadow. Involuntarily she glanced nervously at the door. “Don’t worry, Barry, I think both of us need to stay as far from a psychiatrist as possible. They’d probably commit me. I’m having a few nightmares of my own.”
Barry shifted toward her, leaning close. He lowered his voice. “Since we’re alone here, I might as well tell you this isn’t the first weird experience I’ve had. Do you remember that serial killer who was terrorizing the city a few months back? Of course you do. I was first on the scene after the third murder. I was off duty and in the area. I swear I saw a wolf there. He turned his head and looked at me, and I saw intelligence in his eyes. Real intelligence. It was eerie. He looked at me as if he was measuring my worth or something, deciding whether or not to kill me. Just like in the warehouse. But then it wasn’t a wolf anymore; it was a man, and for the life of me, I can’t remember what he looked like. Not even his build. You know me, Jaxx. I remember the smallest detail, yet twice now I’ve seen a wolf where there couldn’t have been one, and I can’t describe a man I saw, not the one at a murder scene and not the one who saved our lives.”