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All right. When you arrive at your final destination, contact me without
revealing your location.
I understand.
Well, I sure as hell don t, Lorran snapped. Is someone going to explain what
the hell s going on?
The Time twins are here? Minuette asked, a bit of the color returning to her
face.
Yes. We ve managed to elude them for now, but they can t be far behind, Jax
told her.
Okay, Princess, let s get going. I ll answer your questions as soon as we arrive at
our temporary destination. It may take me a day or two to recuperate enough to
navigate the Veil.
Lorran looked at Crystal. Why did she call me Princess?
Your grandmother is Matriarch Flame. She has no other progeny. You and
Cayenne are joint heirs to the Order of Flame. You are in essence a princess.
Lorran shook her head. This just gets better and better.
* * *
Crystal stood on the private balcony staring out at the endless ocean. Vivid blue
stretched as far as the eye could see. Billowy clouds helped distinguish the water from
the sky. The sun had just started its lazy descent into the far horizon.
After Minuette departed with Lorran, Crystal and Jax fell into an awkward
silence. He wanted to give the Time Keepers until morning to reappear. If they hadn t
Aubrey Ross Mystic Keepers 2: Crystal - 41 -
seen the twins by then, they d head to New Orleans. He d gone to change the ship s
registry, assuring they wouldn t be interrupted.
Letting the breeze play through her hair, she thought about the hours to come.
Happiness waited; a shimmering promise on a distant shore. Between her and that
shore stretched a vast sea of misunderstanding and distrust.
A warm tingle danced down her spine and Crystal smiled. Jax. He hadn t
materialized yet, but she didn t need to see him. Her being recognized him, longed for
him.
Are we official passengers now? she asked without turning around.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith joined the cruise while the ship was docked in Nassau. I
also sent a message to Julie letting her know that you and Renee had a personal
emergency and had to leave the ship. So, Mrs. Smith, shall we order room service? It s
complimentary, you know.
Smiling despite the anxiety churning within her, she turned to face him. He
lounged against the door leading back into the cabin. A violent shiver shook her whole
body. Sensory overload. His dark gaze consumed her, his handsome face muddled her
thinking and focused her attention entirely on him.
What happened in the cabin? What did Warrick do to you?
She closed her eyes for a split second and he moved, pressed her against the
balcony with his warm body. Why wouldn t he let it go? He couldn t change the past.
Another distinct shiver escaped her, but this time revulsion inspired the tremor.
I will kill him if --
He& used what you were doing to& He took the moment in time when I was
ready to kill you and replayed it over and over.
Cupping her cheek with his palm, he stared deeply into her eyes. I am so
sorry.
She laughed. I said that to you and you looked like you wanted to hit me.
I would never hurt you. Surely you know that. Are you still willing to explain?
His thumb brushed her lower lip. I m ready to listen.
Aubrey Ross Mystic Keepers 2: Crystal - 42 -
She nodded and his hands moved to the railing on either side of her. Did he fear
she d run away? She d waited six years to tell this tale. There was no way she was going
anywhere until he understood what had really happened.
My family isn t rich and powerful like yours, she began, but my abilities
brought me to the attention of some very influential people. Before my training was
even complete, I was recruited by your uncle, Tilden.
You re not a Death Keeper. What did Tilden recruit you for?
You don t think it would be beneficial for an assassin to work with an
illusionist? Odd, the Death Keepers were more than happy to exploit my abilities.
He absorbed this for a moment. How long did you work for the Death
Keepers? He didn t try to touch her, just remained near, his gaze intent upon her face.
Until I was given to the Shadow Master.
Jax s eyes widened and his lips trembled. My father --
For an assignment, Jax. I didn t mean it like that. She laughed and shook her
head. Has it really been so long that you ve forgotten our first night together?
He scrubbed his eyes with his fingertips, shaking away his momentary panic. He
was such an ass! She d been a virgin the first time they made love. How could he have
forgotten? What assignment did my father have for you?
She didn t answer for a long, strained moment. He wanted me to spy on his
son. She paused. I was told he suspected you of conspiring with Alrick to overthrow
him.
Jax pushed off from the rail and spun away. It was worse than he ever imagined.
Anger and betrayal tore through him, shredding his calm and ripping open half-healed
wounds. I was an assignment? My father paid you to sleep with me?
Anger sparked within her light blue eyes. I m not a whore. Your father paid me
to monitor your activities and that s what I did. The rest& just happened.
Memories, bittersweet and intense, assailed him. He couldn t speak, couldn t
think, could only remember.
Aubrey Ross Mystic Keepers 2: Crystal - 43 -
Why did he mistrust you? Two weeks into my assignment I knew his suspicions
were unfounded, and told him so. Still he insisted I continue.
My mother had an affair around the time she became pregnant with me. Jerreth
has never been completely convinced that I am his son. I knew he resented me, but
this&
You said something while you had me -- tied up that started me thinking.
He leaned against the cabin door, too upset to touch her. What did I say?
You claimed that we are bonded mates. I ve been in denial about that aspect of
what happened. Is it possible that your father activated Pim Noctar to make sure we
couldn t resist each other?
Hating the dead was such a waste of time, but every word she uttered only
deepened his resentment of Jerreth Severn. Not only possible, likely. He knew I
wouldn t keep secrets from a lover, so he sent me a woman I couldn t resist. Gods, I
never realized what a bastard he really was.
She turned back to face the ocean. Her pale blonde hair rippled in the breeze. He
wanted to bury his face in the silken strands as he undressed her slowly. But the story
was only half-told. She d explained what brought them together, not what tore them
apart.
Why did you leave without saying goodbye? Why let me wonder what
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