Healing His Soul's Mate Read online

  “Eiriana was a very powerful EE.”

  “You were close?” Shade almost doubled over as pain so raw and close to the surface ripped through Rekkus. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, Shade put up a hand. “Easy, I believe your sister has chosen to return to you.”

  Shade explained in terms Dana could comprehend that some souls returned when their time had been cut too short. But all memories would be wiped away at their first breath. “I think you two have some information to process, and I’ll leave you to do so. But should you have any questions—”

  The door to the cabin flew open, and a soaking-wet Cyrus strode into the bedroom. The tiger would not let any other man into his mate’s bedroom. Cyrus’ presence played testament to the pair’s relationship. “Do you realize it’s raining over your cabin again? What the hell, Rekkus?”

  Shade excused himself, leaving it to the couple to share or not as they chose. But he did catch Rekkus saying in a tone befitting a king, “I believe it’s time to start the process of shutting the portal down if only temporarily.”

  A great plan. Rekkus couldn’t protect the Rowans while his mate labored, and her time approached. Word would have circled the gossip mills, and, even with no one knowing the gestational times for mixed breeds, people would guess she was growing close.

  Chapter Six

  The deep-tissue massage had been what Ashlynn needed, but within five minutes of sitting at the lunch table with her mother, every one of her muscles locked right back up again.

  “Really, Ashlynn, those are the most hideous sunglasses I have ever seen. Do take them off. They are ruining my appetite.”

  “They help my head,” she said, refusing to remove them.

  “I don’t particularly care, dear. They make you look like a bag lady.”

  “I think they are rather cute,” Shade’s deep voice said from behind her. “May I join you?”

  “Please.” She indicated the empty seat across from them then closed her eyes and allowed the appearance of him last night to fill her senses. When she opened them, she saw a better image of him through the shimmer. Cyrus had been correct. Her brain would fill in the areas her optic nerve missed. “I understand I have you to thank for rescuing me last night.”

  “Last night?” her mother asked in a tone usually reserved for Dana alone, leaving Ashlynn to wonder how her sister had dealt with it for all those years.

  “Your daughter had an episode last night. I happened to get her help before it got too bad.” The calm strength in Shade’s voice eased something within her.

  “I see.”

  What did her mother see? Did she see things the same as others did? Ever since being hit on the head by the Fresnel light, the item which somehow managed to break not only its C clamp but also a safety strap, Ashlynn had seen life in a different manner. Her mother had never been a kind person, but she had never realized how rude, arrogant, and downright unlikable she was.

  Shade thanked the waiter before digging into the exquisite salad which had been brought out for him. “What I would do for some chicken. But I understand it’s off the menu for the foreseeable future. Your sessions this morning, were they helpful?”

  “Wonderful. Lakshmi is gifted in the art of massage.” And she had been. It wasn’t the young woman’s fault her mother ruined her mood.

  Shade faced her mother. “And you, Mrs. Stone? Did you have successful sessions this morning?”

  “I had meditation, a stupider thing I’ve never heard of. A complete waste of time, in my opinion. As are most things on this island. But, as I’m stuck here for six more days, I shall make the best of it.”

  “I find meditation centers me. Interesting you are unable to find the benefits from such a simple thing as being with yourself.”

  Ashlynn almost choked on her food, which brought her mother’s attention straight back to her and her empty plate. “How much have you eaten?”

  “Enough.” Yes, over the last four months she’d put on weight. A lot of weight. Before, she’d eaten next to nothing but rabbit food and employed all the model tricks to stay thin. Now she could barely work out because of the pain. She found simple enjoyment in eating. She didn’t find solace in food but in the sustainable nutrients she had lacked for so long.

  “May I say, you are far more appealing than the woman I remember form the billboard. Even with the small scar, your beauty is always there,” Shade said between bites.

  “She’s the size of a car.”

  Shade stood up and leaned over the table. “I do not understand this need in you to belittle and destroy your children. You lost one daughter. If you want to lose another, keep this up. But you will find the upcoming years are cold, lonely, and unkind. You are about to be a grandmother. Perhaps that should give you food for thought.”

  “Mrs. Stone, Cemil is waiting for you in the yoga room,” Sage said, eyeing Shade.

  When her mother got up and left without another word, Ashlynn sat amazed. No one spoke to her that way, no one she knew of, anyway. The people in her mother’s circles were afraid to say anything, scared the wrong word would put them in the bad social sphere. But Shade’s concern had been for Ashlynn.

  “My apologies, Sage,” he said. “It is not my place to school your guests.”

  “You may school Mrs. Stone all you wish. But be careful she doesn’t affect you.” Without a pause, she continued, “Ashlynn, drink your shake. It will help. The kitchen has been instructed to keep chocolate off the menu for you. Not because of your waistline but because it might be a trigger to your headaches. There are lots of chocolate-free desserts for you, here.”

  The choice between the chocolate cake from last night and her headaches might be a toss-up. The cake had been divine. “Sage, where might I find my sister?”

  “I believe she’s with Serena this afternoon. Myron can tell you where she is and give you directions.”

  “I can take you to her,” Shade said, pushing his plate away and standing up.

  Sage smiled. “Excellent. Keep those glasses on. They might be awkward, but we need to gauge if they’re working.”

  Ashlynn managed a weak smile. “I will thank you.”

  They walked out of the dining room in silence. She was unsure what to say to a man who stood up for her one minute, talked about speaking to souls another, and was so handsome it made her head spin and butterflies churn in her stomach. That said something. All the men on the island were a modeling agent’s wet dream. But this one did things to her no man ever had. It both terrified and excited her. As they approach the front desk, Myron, who now wore Tonga’s name tag, smiled. Before she could ask or question the purple-haired woman, she stated, “The lagoon. And you have a second session with Lakshmi this afternoon at four seeing as the first one was ruined by a certain lunch companion.”

  Uncertain how to react to either of those two things, she thanked her.

  “Think nothing of it.” She flipped a card. “Could you ask Dana what she would like for lunch? The first tray Cherry sent down went untouched. Reese is hoping he will have better luck with the next one.”

  “Her appetite changes on a dime,” Shade supplied. “I understand it’s normal pregnant mama stuff. Most just don’t have the luxury of an entire staff to cater to them.”

  “If only she would let us do that,” Myron said. “Stubborn woman can’t seem to sit back and let us pamper her.”

  “My sister’s not really the pampered type.” Of course she had never been given the opportunity to be.

  “Oh,” Myron exclaimed, dropping a card on the pile. “Oh my…have you told her?”

  “Told her what?” Shade asked, but then glanced down at the three of clubs and nodded. They had both lost their marbles. “Yes, we discussed it this morning. But I don’t think it’s been made public knowledge yet.”

  “Mum’s the word.” The woman chuckled. “I’m so funny.”

  Shade shook his head at the bad pun but laughed, indicati
ng the open double doors allowing the fresh breeze in. “Shall we?”

  Ashlynn nodded and took a stabilizing breath. She hadn’t walked out into the sun yet with her glasses and was unsure of how they would work and if they would help. He waited as if sensing her hesitation. “Do you want to ride or walk?”

  “Let’s walk.” The view, though strange and not very pretty, offered no pain. The urge to stretch and get a bit of exercise overrode any other hesitation. He offered her his arm for support and, relieved, she took it. “Is the lagoon far?”

  “About fifteen minutes, depending on how fast we walk. Her cabin is right on the beach, so should you need some darkness you can find it there.”

  She stumbled on the uneven path, and Shade pulled her tighter against him. For the first few minutes, they walked in peace, him allowing her the time she needed to focus and get her bearings. Cyrus had been right—once she got used to it, the shapes had begun to form images. “I get the impression you aren’t a guest here yet aren’t staff either.”

  “I am an outside…consultant. A friend of the Rowan family and of Rekkus.”

  “How can this place help me when everything else has failed?” She hadn’t realized she’d voiced the question until Shade stopped and faced her. He pulled her into his arms as if it were his right, and even knowing all she did about him, she let him. Perhaps her defenses were down since Sage so motherly held her last night, or perhaps she craved human touch. But it felt so right to be there within the circle of his arms. He might be crazy, but he wasn’t dangerous, she recognized he would never hurt her. Sage would never allow her to wonder off with anyone who would harm her. But perhaps she overthought. He had a strange if not sexy accent, and, perhaps, like Cyrus insisted, he could read people. Didn’t everyone read people one way or another, some more adept than others? Police read suspects all the time, as did modeling agents.

  The longer they stayed there locked in one another’s arms, the more she wanted to stay. His earthy scent filled her senses, making her knees weak, and didn’t want to contemplate the unsettling tingle between her legs. When Shade pulled back enough to lower his head and brush his lips against hers, she didn’t stop him. It had been inevitable, and she welcomed the soft touch as she would an old friend.

  She melted into him, loving the feel of his arms around her. She felt safe and protected. Desire, she had from others before, but protection was new. When his tongue passed her teeth, she moaned and embraced the sweet gentleness in the kiss.

  He pulled back, rubbing his thumb over her bottom lip. “Come on, let’s walk. You stop when you need to.”

  They walked in companionable silence. She loved how he didn’t seem interested in her modeling career. How long had it been since someone hadn’t harped on her about what it must be like to be a model, or, since her accident, how it must suck to have lost it all. But she didn’t feel like she lost anything, and, by the time they came over the hill and she could see the lagoon, she had almost forgotten about the scar on her face, the funky glasses she wore, or the almost-constant pain in her skull. Her thoughts stayed on the gentle touch of their fingers.

  “Back again, Shade.” Two tall, bulky, and, yes, sexy-as-hell men, dressed in the security uniform of black jeans, a black skintight T-shirt, and black combat boots approached them.

  “Juneau, we are here to see Dana.”

  “You have clearance. I need to check about Miss Stone,” Juneau said matter of fact.

  “I’m her sister, why the hell would I need clearance?” What the fuck?

  “Give me one second please.” The man tapped on the earpiece. “Rekkus, this is Juneau, come in.”

  “Are you kidding me?” she demanded.

  Shade lifted a single digit to her lips.

  “Hi, Cyrus…. No, she’s fine. Still in the lagoon…. No Rekkus doesn’t need to come back, Miss Stone is here to see her sister…. You don’t want to check with the big guy? Your skin, not mine.” The man smiled at them both. “Go on down.”

  She took two steps past them before turning on Shade. “Did I really have to get permission to see my sister?”

  “Rekkus has his reasons.”

  “Is this an all-the-time thing or a way of keeping my mother away from her?” Somehow, though creepy and controlling, she could understand that reasoning.

  “Though it would be a great thing to keep your mother away from all human beings at any given time, no, this is a regular thing on the island.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me? How much more possessive can the man get?”

  “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to.”

  Shade making light of the situations made Ashlynn angrier. Couldn’t any of them see what was going on? Dana had become a virtual prisoner. Though she doubted anyone on the island would put up with physical abuse, would they stop her from leaving if Rekkus said she had to stay? They all clearly kowtowed to the man as if he were some king, or worse, some god.

  “You’re getting yourself worked up. Talking with your sister might put whatever fears you have at rest.” He indicated her sister swimming with Serena. “I’ll leave you to enjoy your visit. Perhaps I will see you at dinner.”

  He knew damned well he would see her at dinner, and she almost said so, but because he couldn’t see what went on with Rekkus and Dana didn’t mean she had the right to be rude to someone who had been nothing but kind to her. So, she thanked him and waved when her sister noticed her presence.

  Dana waved back and ambled out of the water, grabbing a towel from one of the many lounge chairs scattered on the white sandy beach. “What a lovely treat.”

  Ashlynn smiled at the genuine joy she heard in her sister’s voice. She didn’t know how her sister could be happy to see her when she hadn’t stood up for her after Dana’s botched marriage attempt to Frank Green. When her sister had needed her most, she hid behind her mother like a coward, unable to stand against her. “I didn’t interrupt you, did I?”

  “Not at all. Serena helped me to relax and she has other work to do, though she is too nice to say so.” Dana pulled a sundress over her head before indicating they go inside. They walked to the open-air cabin, a perfect fit for her down-to-earth sister. “Can I get you something to drink? All I have is cucumber water, but I can make a call, and believe me, they will be down with whatever I want. I look forward to the day when they tell me to get it my damned self.”

  Somehow, Ashlynn didn’t think that day would ever come. “Water would be great.”

  They both remained silent, the awkward silence that sits when things need to be said but you don’t know where to start. Taking a deep breath and steadying herself, Ashlynn bit the proverbial bullet. “I’ve been a lousy sister.”

  Dana paused in the act of putting the water glass on the table and took a deep breath, too. She sat as gracefully as a woman carrying twins can beside her. “No, we have an awful mother. There is a difference.”

  “I should have stood by you, supported you, done something.”

  “What? Ever since you were a baby, she punished you for anything that might make our relationship strong. She did everything she could to keep us on separate sides of the field. We weren’t even allowed in each other’s rooms.”

  “I don’t remember that.”

  “You were young. By the time you were old enough to remember, it was second nature for us to stay apart. I never blamed you, might have been jealous of your perfect body, hair, and complexion from time to time, but I always loved you.” Dana reached out and grabbed her sister’s hand. “I always hoped somewhere deep inside you would love me, too.”

  Ashlynn grimaced. She had, and somehow it took being hit on the head with a fourteen-pound lamp to find the part of her hiding her emotion and humanity. “Why didn’t Dad ever stand up for us?”

  “He worked so much I don’t think he saw the problems until it was too late. He had his residency when you were little. Rarely home, no life to speak of, and she ne
ver showed how hateful she could be around him.” Dana leaned back, rubbing her belly. “Enough about the past. How are you feeling?”

  “Better. Sage is a miracle worker. She could make a fortune on the mainland.”

  “She is amazing. They all are here.”

  “You seem content and happy here. Are you? Are you really?” Ashlynn asked, hoping it would nudge Dana into opening up about her marriage.

  “I am.” She smiled on a sigh. “For the most part.”

  “What is it, please tell me. I know we haven’t been close, but I hope we can be,” Ashlynn pleaded and prayed her sister could find the strength to speak up if she needed to.

  Dana hesitated. “Please don’t get me wrong. I’m happy. I’m getting a little nervous, though.”

  “The babies?”

  “I should have three weeks according to everyone else, but something inside tells me they are coming next week.” Dana stood and started to pace. “I can’t articulate how I know, I just know. And I’m not sure I can do this. Labor, motherhood…. What if I turn out like our mother? What if…?”

  “Now you’re being crazy. You are nothing like her at all. But of course you are nervous. I mean, two babies….”

  “Three!” her sister shrieked. “Shade found the third this morning.”

  Not touching that one, not yet. Instead, she remained calm, even if, inside, she screamed to get her to a safe hospital. “Do multiples run in Rekkus’ family?”

  “Twins, yes, not triplets.”

  “Dana, come back to the city with us on Saturday. I’m sure Dad can get you set up with an associate even this late in your pregnancy. You should be in a hospital, not on this island so far from medical help.”

  “It’s not so easy.”

  “If it’s the money….”

  “It’s not the money at all. Mother dearest could find nothing wrong with Rekkus’ bank statement, if I showed it to her, no matter how hard she tried. Even if I could go, he won’t leave the island.”