Page 12 of Bound by the Moon (The Ancients #4)

“Aww Jess, a second ago, I wished I wasn’t here.

Then I heard your voice and was drawn over here in time to figure out what was needed to send you back.

How the hell did you get here anyway? Layla said you made it to where you were supposed to be.

I didn’t think that meant that she’d led you to your death.”

“She didn’t dad.

I was, well, it’s a long story.

I didn’t actually die, I walked through the portal as a still living being.

I think that’s one of the reasons why they’re able to send me back.”

“It is.”

Aislynn agreed.

“That doesn’t explain what you’re doing here though, dad.”

“Louis.

He came for Mikael and Eileen when things didn’t go his way here with you.

I think he wanted to send your family members, maybe even your whole pack to you, one at a time, so you’d be there to see us as we each crossed over.”

I cringed, tears falling from my face, as I listened, and waited for the next fallen family member to appear.

Maybe there wouldn’t be a reason to go back when all was said and done.

My father must have read my expression, or maybe it was my looking all around, and taking inventory of the souls surrounding us that tipped him off.

Either way, he pulled me in for a hug, and continued on with his explanation.

“I honestly don’t think anyone else will be joining me today.

We had a plan in place, thanks to Serena.

She expected this would happen, but wouldn’t say how.

She called in the big guns, and we just had to hope they got there in time. I was part of the plan to make sure they didn’t get through to the weaker family members, if the big guns were late.”

“What big guns?”

“Serena called in her brother, Jonah.”

“WHAT?”

Kezia spun around, spittle flying as she spoke that one, rage-filled word.

“That traitorous little do-gooder! I change my mind, I want to go back with Jessica after all.

I want to be there when she thanks my son and daughter, because then I’m going to kill them both!”

The fit she threw was on an epic scale, and it made me glad I never knew her when she was alive.

“Is there someone we can call to have her taken away?”

One of the wolves suggested.

“Oh, shut your filthy little dog mouth, Emory.

I wish I could have come back and killed you again.

You’re the reason Agatha was able to get her hands on me to begin with.”

Emory, the white wolf with the bouncing blond curls curtsied in front of Kezia before adding, “you’re very welcome.”

If I thought that Kezia’s laughter earlier had been creepy, then Emory made her look like an angel.

Her laughter bubbled over drenched in sheer ugliness.

It would be hard to describe the way it made me feel other than to say it was akin to listening to nails on a chalkboard, on repeat, for months on end.

It was a horrid noise.

“PLEASE! Stop.

We have more important things going on here today than your ridiculous death squabbles.”

Aislynn shouted above muffled laughter from some of the other wolves.

It seemed these ladies weren’t as put together as I had always imagined.

I hugged my father closer to me then, because I knew there were a lot of things that weren’t as I imagined.

For instance, it wasn’t his fault that baby Jack and I were in this situation.

It just happened to occur on his watch, and I was used to thinking of my daddy as being flawless.

“I’m sorry for everything I said to you, dad.

I know it wasn’t your fault.”

He hugged me closer to his side, making sure to stay clear of baby Jack, who was sound asleep again now.

“No, it was my fault, in a way.

I should have trusted your judgment.

If it weren’t for trying to be a dad, and not letting you be a grown up, there wouldn’t have been anyone in and out of that house who could have taken the baby.

You weren’t wrong, Jessie.”

“I was hateful about it though, and I’m sorry.”

I wiggled out of his embrace then.

“Do you know what happened? I mean, did you get to linger there for any amount of time?”

“I’m sorry to say, I didn’t get to see much before I was pulled here.

Willow was safe, with your mother, and Ashley last I saw.

Mikael was taking out his anger on any of the dark ones who would even dare get close enough to him.

You really need to make it back there before that man loses his mind completely.

I think the only thing keeping him in this world is Willow right now, but if he keeps looking for that fight that will make him feel better, he’s going to find the one that kills him sooner or later, instead.”

“I know.

I worried about that too.”

Just the thought of Mikael becoming hardened by my death, and seeking his own death, was a punch to my gut.

A good part of me knew he would get it together for Willow’s sake.

And I prayed that it would happen like that, but there was also that suspicion in the back of my mind that he wouldn’t pull it together.

I wondered who would take care of my daughter then? My mom lost her soul mate, she had to be shattered right now.

Sierra was probably hanging on by a thread, if at all.

Ashley had her own baby on the way, my dad was here with me. Panic set in again as I thought about the fact that it was possible no one would be there for my daughter if this didn’t work. I ramped myself up then, trying to overcome the fear.

“Let’s get this show on the road then, shall we.

What do I have to do? Should I just declare my will to go back with Jess, or what?”

My dad was apparently in a rush to get back as well.

I was sure he had his own reasons for that though.

Aislynn’s face contorted, and there was no mistaking what she was about to say.

“You cannot go back, Jameson St.

Marks.

You belong here, with us, now.”

“I’m going to have to disagree with you there.

I belong over there, guarding my daughter, and her daughter, and on down their line through time.

That’s where I belong.

Who better to accept that duty than a father?”

My dad’s anger, and maybe a little desperation, were starting to come through then.

“Dad,”

I tugged on his shirt.

“It’s okay, and it’s not your fault that you can’t be the one.”

“He is family.

He is your father.

It is no sacrifice to give up his own eternal rest for his own familial line.

It has to be someone who has no blood bond to you or the baby in your arms.”

“Well, what a way to narrow it down.”

I looked around the room full of souls.

There were those that lingered on the periphery, just out of sight, but I knew they were there.

No one else seemed familiar, and my Aunt Anna and her mate, Lucas were gone now too.

I didn’t know a single person here who would stand up for me, let alone give up their eternal rest for my family.

“I guess we get to hang out and wait for mom together.

Mikael and Willow will be along eventually too. I have it on good authority that we are allowed to wait right here for them.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do, kiddo.

We’ll wait together.”

“Is there some stupid rule that I can’t come to Jessie’s aid? I’ve always wanted to be a knight in gossamer-style spirit armor.”

A familiar face winked at me then as he stepped out of the shadows.

“I freely give up my rest and relaxation in this blasé pit, if it means I get to look after Jessie, and her baby.”

“Jack?”

My jaw dropped.

It was definitely him, and as if he knew I needed proof, to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, he came over and wrapped his giant arms around me, picking me up off my feet, and swinging me around in his trademark Jack Reynolds bear hug.

The poor baby strapped to me was not happy about the situation, and let out a quick wail of protest before simmering back down to a quiet sleep.

I had to do a quick check to make sure the baby didn’t get jostled loose from my skin then.

“It’s really me, Jessie.”