Chapter 421

Delighted, I drop Gabriel’s hand and leap to my feet, dashing for the side of the cage where Jacks stands.

But then I stop in my tracks, stumbling over my feet, my lips turning down in a harsh frown. “Jackson,” I growl, standing straight and putting one hand on a hip, using the other to point to the small girl – young woman? – held up high in my place on Jackson’s arm. “What is that?”

“Sorry, that’s mine,” Jesse says, peering out from behind Jackson and grinning at me before turning to frown up at Jacks. “Though I agree, Jackson. You can put her down now, please.”

I gasp, relief and shock running through me as I dash for the bars, reaching for my cousin. “Jesse!”

Ben gasps and rushes with me to the side of the cage.

“No!” groans the girl, shaking her head. “I don’t want to be put down! It’s so nice up high!”

“Hey, Ari,” Jesse says, laughing and reaching for me through the bars. “Hey Ben!”

I grab my cousin’s hand, yanking him close and pulling him into a hug even as he shouts at the rough treatment, banging against the bars.

“Are you okay!?” I gasp, desperately afraid for him. “Are you –“ I pull back, looking him over again and again, “you’re safe!? And how did – what –“

I frantically look between Jesse and Jacks and the girl, baffled, as Ben likewise reaches for Jesse, pulling him into a hug and looking fascinatedly at Jacks. I know he, like me, is wondering where on earth they came from.

“It’s a long story,” Jackson says, bending to put the girl down on her feet despite her protests. “But I imagine what’s going on in this cage is more important.”

I see Jackson’s teeth flash as he looks in at the Prince laying poisoned on the ground.

“What the fuckkk is going on here,” Jesse whispers, looking with wide eyes into the cage.

“Hi, I’m…Elias…” Elias says, giving an awkward little wave.

“What’s up, man,” Jesse says, giving Elias a tiny wave and the universal bro greeting of a sharply lifted chin.

“Can we come in, finally?” Jackson asks, one hand on the bars, his face very serious as he looks at me, his wolf sniffing at my wolf, sensing that something is…different.

“Yes, you may enter,” I say, giving a mocking little bow and gesturing them in.

Jesse frowns. “But there’s no…”

His words fade as Jackson grips two bars and, calling on his magic, bends them backwards as easily as pulling open a cabinet.

“All right,” Jesse says as the girl claps appreciatively. “Now…there’s a door.”

“Who is that,” I whisper to Jesse through the bars as Jacks steps in and then lifts the girl through.

“Um, that’s Midnight,” Jesse says, giving me an awkward little grimace. “She’s my mate. Just…go with it, okay? She’s great but…sometimes people take a minute to warm up to her. I’ll tell you everything later.”

I look at Jesse for a moment with wide eyes, but then am distracted from my shock when Jackson strides over and grabs me to him, lifting me high up into his arms and sealing his mouth to mine in a determined kiss. I work hard to stifle the moan that blooms in my throat as I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him close, deepening the kiss, giving myself over to it.

“How come you never kiss me? That looks nice.”

“Oh my stars, Mids,” Jesse says on a sigh. “This is…not the time for that conversation.”

I grin, breaking the kiss and beaming at my Jacks, my sweetheart mate. “Hey.”

He growls, possessive and joyful, tightening his arm around my back. “Anything you want to tell me?”

“Yeah,” I say on a sigh, wriggling in request to be put down. He obliges and I look up into his face, taking his hand. “I kind of…accepted the bond with that one.”

We talked about it, of course – this being part of the plan. And he hadn’t been happy about it – which makes sense – though he knew it was coming. Still, I see the pain and the jealousy pass over his expression even if he tries to hide it.

Jackson clenches his teeth against his sigh, squeezing my hand and looking over at Gabriel laying on the ground, his breaths coming slow. Despite his self-restraint, Jackson can’t help flashing his teeth again.

“Is this your other mate?” the girl asks me, wandering over to look down at Gabriel. Then she looks up at Elias. “Or is it that one?”

Elias laughs a little and shakes his head as Jacks, Ben, Jesse, and I join the two of them, forming a semicircle around Gabriel’s body.

“It’s that one,” I say, gesturing to Gabriel as we all look down at him.

Midnight in particular looks back and forth between Jackson and Gabriel, and I grin as I watch her, not fully understanding this strange little creature but liking her immediately. “Hmm,” Midnight says, considering. “I mean, the one on the ground is very fancy, but Jackson is certainly better looking. You should pick him.”

I burst out laughing. Inwardly, Jackson’s wolf preens even if his face shows none of his pride and pleasure at Midnight’s words.

“I’m not sure Gabriel is at his best right now,” I say, sinking to my knees by the Prince’s side, a hand going to his throat as I check his pulse. “I’ve just poisoned him with cyanide, after all.”

“Eh, I still think Jacks is better,” Midnight says, crossing her arms and giving a steady nod, decided. “I am Midnight,” she says, almost as an afterthought. “You are pleased to meet me.”

I laugh, a bit delighted. “Yes, I am. I’m Ariel, Jesse’s cousin.”

“I know,” she says, grinning at me and then turning her gaze to Jesse. “I like her better than the rat.”

“I’m sure the rat will be devastated,” Jesse replies, dry.

“What?” Ben asks, confused. “There’s a rat?”

“Listen this is all…very nice,” Elias says, a little awkward. “But my brother is dying – and even if he’s been horrible lately, I…might prefer if he didn’t? If there’s something we can do to help him?”

“Oh, right!” I say, gasping a little in surprise at how quickly I forgot everything in my shock at Jesse’s arrival. “Jacks?” I say, reaching up for him, wanting his hand.

He sighs and snarls a bit, but crouches down and gives it to me, knowing what it is I’m intending to do now and not wanting much of a part of it. “Can’t we just kill him?”

“No, baby,” I say, patting his hand and shifting my eyes back to Gabriel. “Not right now. Maybe later.”

A little wordless grumble passes through Jacks but he doesn’t fight me on it.

“Um,” I say, glancing up at everyone around us. “I’ll…be back in a minute.”

“Where are you going?” Jesse asks, his face scrunching in confusion.

“Inside,” I say. And then I close my eyes, sighing out a breath, and shift my focus inward as I reach out my other hand and place it across the bare skin of Gabriel’s throat. Then, once I have skin contact with two of my mates, I shift my focus to the mark Luca left on my neck and pull on all three magics at once.

Instantly, the magic sings within me, all of the pieces finally coming together like they’ve been waiting ages to do so. I feel Gabriel’s wolf shift in his dark oil, and Jackson gasps, and I do wonder if somewhere on earth – in another Universe – Luca stands up straight, feeling it too. But I can’t concentrate on that now because there’s a great deal of fuel at my fingertips now, and oxygen, and finally…a spark.

The three come together in my soul just as a great swell of joy passes through me. I feel them combust, feel them join together in the tiny conflagration – a sacred fire, warm and delicious.

A collective gasp runs through our little gathered circle – Gabriel excluded – and when I open my eyes there’s no surprise in my expression – just bliss.

Because I already knew it would be there.

The little blue flame flickering in the air, floating about a foot in front of my face.

“Hello, you,” I coo, leaning forward to beam at the little fire – at the manifestation of my Grandmother’s gift which is now, finally, complete. “Aren’t you special?”