Kella (Black Jack's Curse Book 1) Page 7

  “A toast, to my beautiful bride!” Parker's arm held tightly around Kella's waist as he lit even more with the most raw and pure pride for the woman of his dreams. It was during that toast that Jackson's mind hummed with the unmistakable prelude to the mental invasion of his queen.

  You've done well, Jackson. I'm proud of you. Jackson hadn't expected praise, but he was happy to hear it nonetheless. You promised to stay with the woman, as long as she was sick. Jackson nodded slightly, looking as if he was simply adjusting under Kella's grasp. You'll leave this place tonight.

  No! No! It can't be! The queen's words could only have one meaning, and Jackson wasn't prepared to lose Kella so soon

  You have five hours, Jackson. Make peace. He looked up to Kella and watched tears of happiness stream down her cheeks. Never in his life had he seen a more beautiful bride, and his heart felt as if it literally was breaking in half.

  It's too soon. You have so much left to do. Jackson thought of the animal shelter that she and Parker had built, and how much Kella had been looking forward to taking care of all of the babies in need.

  He looked up to Parker, the man that he'd undervalued and had achieved a rare feat of surprising Jackson. Parker was a good man, and he'd found the love of his life.... just to lose her. It was all too soon, and Jackson couldn't stop it.

  That night, after a brief reception, Parker and Kella left the small crowd and drove to the only hotel in the small town. Staying a few nights in the Desert Inn wasn't exactly a dream honeymoon, but it was decided by both that a long trip was out of the question for Kella. She was far too weak to go anywhere, and they both knew it.

  Jackson walked with them to the front door of the Inn. It was the end of the line for his relationship with the couple, as the thought of following them to their room wasn't an option. He gently put his teeth around Kella's wrist and pulled her aside, just a few feet from Parker.

  With as much ease as he could display, Jackson let go and stood on his back legs, putting his front paws on her shoulders. He let almost no weight rest on her as he stared the woman in the eyes.

  I'm glad I know you, Kella. And I hope that we meet again, in another realm. Your life matters. It always has. I love you. Kella stared back at Jackson, enjoying their stolen moments before she told him goodnight.

  “Thank you, Jack. I wouldn't have wanted to get married without you. I love you, good boy. So very much!” She kissed his cheek and he felt a heavy tear fall to the ground. “I'll see you in the morning.”

  No. You won't see me.

  Jackson walked far from the Inn to where he could only see the building, and the small lamp that was lit before Parker opened the narrow window to their room. He refused to admit to himself that he was avoiding the possibility of hearing anything from the room if, or when, Parker realized that his beloved was gone.

  He wanted to close his eyes, knowing that the next time they opened, he'd be in his realm with his people, and sadly, Kella would be gone. There was no way to heal his heart, and he just willed it to be over with so that she wouldn't suffer another minute.

  Jackson took one more look at the room on the first floor, and noticed that Parker had walked across the area and left. He wouldn't know that the groom was right then speaking to the hotel owner and planning a glorious breakfast in bed for his new bride, but Jackson didn't want to know where he was. He couldn't save either of them, and he knew it.

  His gaze fixed on that little window as his eyes started to close slowly.

  What... is that? A flicker of blue sparked throughout the room for one split second, but it was bright enough to get Jackson's attention. It's too soon! She still has a little time!

  The spark of light, such as what he saw, was the only sign that a Fae had entered the realm. Clearly, his queen was there to take him home, but it still didn't make sense.

  She doesn't need to come here to summon me back? And why would she be in Kella's room? Why not appear to me out here? Just as he started to stand, another light, dull purple like the remnants of sunset over a warm ocean, filled the small room. He knew exactly what that light meant as well.

  Jackson ran with all he had. With the speed that would have shocked anyone in the human realm, he dashed across the grass and jumped directly through the flimsy screen of the window. He slid across the wood floor and spun around to see who had created such a light.

  You're... Fae?! There was no queen, but what stood before him was like no other women he'd ever seen.

  Her eyes were so light green that they nearly glowed in the dimly lit room, and that told him that the woman was from the North, and her ancestors were the most powerful and highly respected. White blonde hair hung in perfect large curls, dangling freely at the bottom of her waist. She was taller than human women, as most Fae were, but her features were fine and looked far more delicate than they actually were. She was truly the most beautiful creature he'd ever laid eyes upon, but his main focus right then... was Kella.

  Queen Kelsia sent you. You're here... to...

  She did not. The voice in his head nearly purred a response, and everything about the woman had him questioning the entire situation. Should I be punished for coming here, I'll gladly take it. But I have to save the woman.

  Jackson knew many things, such as the Northern Fae were all healers. He also knew that it wasn't permitted to jump to the human realm without royal permission, so the woman before him was taking a chance like he'd never seen in his life.

  You've healed her. It wasn't a question. Jackson saw Kella's complexion change, and a fullness of life in her face that he hadn't seen in weeks. Her frail and thin arms plumped slightly, and the most important change was that he no longer heard the sickness in her every breath.

  I have. And Jackson? He had no idea how or why the woman knew his name. Yet, he gave her his full attention. Thank you. My faith in human kind, as well as Fae, has been restored.

  *****

  Queen Kelsia watched Jackson and the Fae woman, smiling as if she had a secret that would never be shared.

  Runa would never have made the trip to the human realm if the queen didn't permit it, but most Fae had never tried. Yet for right then, she'd permit the healer to give the human woman another chance at life.

  The queen had yet another secret, but that one would be shared soon enough. Jackson would not return to the Fae realm, at least not right then. He still had so much to learn and the queen wouldn't stop until she was satisfied that the man had changed.

  “I do hope you'll enjoy Alaska. I heard the weather is lovely this time of year.”