Winters Rising Read online

  How would this family get anything done with all the hostility between them?

  Victor cleared his throat. “Time’s a ticking. Let’s not get side-tracked.” He walked along the side of the table and back again, his eyes darting to Brea before he spoke. Jax recognized Victor analysing the proper words to use in front of her, as he often did with the staff of the house.

  Gabrielle wasn’t so restrained. “It was flashes and yes, a baby was taken. The same baby went through a time rip, but it was split. The kid hasn’t gone through the time rip yet, but has been taken. So we need to find the baby and put it back before the time rip or prevent the baby from being taken...depending on when we go back.” Gabby sighed and fell into a chair, rubbing the sides of her head. “That’s it. That’s all I got. I don’t know why this vision was so limited.”

  Jax glanced down at Brea who seemed enthralled by their talk.

  Again, she caught his eyes and her intrigue quickly turned to anger. So stubborn. Jax looked away first as his father tried to pry more details from Gabrielle.

  “No dates? A calendar? A phone?” Victor asked.

  Gabby shook her head.

  “No clues that gave you the possibility of a timeline?” He referred to items which they could date an era or time period, such as decor or something like the Camaro in yesterday’s rip. Two rips in two days were rare and exhausting.

  Gabby shook her head again. “Nothing. It was fuzzy. Really blurry. There were a lot of blue lights streaking that I didn’t understand. Almost like a vortex, but not. It’s hard to explain.”

  All eyes landed on Declan. His knowledge of books far surpassed everyone else’s.

  He shrugged. “You’ve given me a vision of a baby. I’ve skimmed what we have on babies but it’s limited. Unless you’re talking about an Unborn,” Declan said the word with caution, which indicated he’d talked with their parents about the last time rip.

  Victor and Annalieese exchanged looks.

  “That’s impossible,” Victor grumbled.

  “Without more, I have nothing,” Declan said.

  “I feel like we’re prying a newbie,” their father said.

  Gabrielle stood. “I am not a newbie. I know what I saw and I’m not missing anything.” Jax could tell she’d felt insulted by their father’s accusation.

  “You have nothing to go on,” Victor sneered. Jax also noted that his dad was particularly nerve-racked today. Probably due to council being on their way.

  “We’ve had less,” Declan said, coming up behind Gabrielle and placing a supportive hand on her arm.

  “You’re walking in without backup,” Victor continued, taking his anger with Jax out on his siblings.

  Jax stepped forward. “We have each other,” he said.

  Victor grumbled, something he seemed to be doing a lot lately.

  “It’s not that hard,” Jax said. “We hit the time rip, find the baby and bring the Rogue back for sentencing.”

  “If you can contain the Rogue,” Victor said.

  “Sentencing?” Brea asked from behind Jax.

  He winced, waiting for the curse that tore out of his father. “Tell me again...what is she doing in here?”

  “What’s Mom doing in here?” Jax sent his mother a quick, apologetic look. He didn’t intend his words as an insult to her, but simply to prove a point. Annalieese smiled at him, probably glad he had stood up for Brea. But if his mother knew Brea’s intentions, she would lock her in the dungeon herself. Not that they had one...did they?

  “She’s a Second. Seconds don’t sit in on Gatekeepers work.” Victor’s words echoed loudly across the room.

  Jax saw Brea stand up out of the corner of his eye and another grimace fell on his face as she started to speak.

  “I didn’t ask to be here,” she snarled. “In fact, I don’t want to be here at all.”

  She preferred to be in front of council, instead, Jax thought. His father would lose it if knew that tidbit of information.

  Jax turned and stepped in front of Brea as she tried to leave. In a low voice so only she heard, he said, “Do not bait or bark up this man’s tree. It will not end wisely for you.”

  Brea’s shoulders squared and he swore she even managed to stand a few inches taller. “You don’t know what tree you’re barking up, Winters.”

  “I’m not your enemy.”

  Jax took her defiant hand in his and turned to his father, hoping this woman would take his advice and say no more.

  “Mom was a Second once, too, but now, she’s one of us,” Jax said.

  “Don’t talk about your mother that way.” Victor stood taller now, too, his hands planted on his hips, working his intimidating stance. It must have worked, because Jax felt Brea’s grip tighten around his hand.

  “Dad, it’s not an insult. It’s the reality of our situation.”

  Annalieese moved up beside Victor, touching his forearm. “Sweetheart, time’s a ticking, remember?”

  Jax looked at Brea. They didn’t have time to explain the logistics of their work, but maybe if she witnessed it first hand, it would change her outlook. “The Rogue is taken to council court for proper sentencing of their crime. They know the rules before they break the code of time. Punishment will be waiting for them.”

  “Why don’t the elders save us all the trouble and fix it themselves?” Sarcasm dripped from her suggestion.

  Victor kicked a chair and it went flying across the room, slamming against the ancient gateway. “This is why Seconds are left in the dark,” he roared.

  “No,” Brea said, stepping out from behind Jax and distancing herself from him. “The reason Seconds are in the dark is because of supremacist Gatekeepers like you. You think your ideals are flawless, but your mistake is excluding the people who far outrank you in numbers.”

  Victor’s menacing eyes narrowed on Brea. Jax saw her jaw twitch, but she didn’t withdraw from a statement that sounded like a threat from a rebellion of Seconds. Their numbers were definitely higher...if half the Seconds aligned together it would be a massive uprising.

  For the love of keeping this family sane.

  “We’re leaving in five,” Jax shouted to his siblings.

  He grabbed Brea’s upper arm, guiding her out of the room, while his dad started his regular lecture about disrespectful attitudes of the current generation.

  Brea yanked her arm out of his grasp and pulled away. “If your family is so intent on me not being here, I don’t understand why you’re insisting I am. It’s not like I’m going to run away. I promise.” She said the last two words slowly, but loud and crisp, then added, “You don’t need to babysit me or have your staff do it while you’re gone.”

  “I’m not babysitting you. I’m teaching you.”

  “Apparently teaching me things your father doesn’t want me to know. I’m more than happy hiding in your wing.”

  His wing. It was their wing, dammit.

  “Stop fighting me at every corner. I’m trying to show you what our life as Gatekeepers is all about. To answer some of the questions you have, and change some of your wrong opinions.”

  He didn’t think it would be wise at this point, to tell her he agreed that keeping Seconds, especially those bonded to marry a Gatekeeper, in the dark wasn’t the best teaching method. He feared she would take such knowledge as his agreement to charge at council. There could be no charging. He was only one man and she was only one woman in an ancient world of time. They had to be cautious about the way they handled council. Jax had kept from expressing the truth due to her feisty manner, afraid he’d be giving her the ammo.

  “Such honesty. You’re trying to keep me away from council. You’re controlling me.” She tilted her head. “I was thinking, if you’re going to buy me a leash, at least let me choose the color. Black goes with everything, but so does white...” Her head tilted the other way, taunting him. “...but white gets so dirty, so easily. So, if you’re going to lock me in a dungeon and not let me out to play...”

>   She exasperated him.

  “We’ll discuss this when we get back.”

  Her mouth fell open. “We?”

  “Yeah, you’re coming.”

  “What are talking about? Did you unlock the key to your insanity?”

  She made him insane.

  “You rebellious little−”

  She crossed her arms over her chest, boosting her breasts. “Control freak,” she said.

  “Okay...so you don’t want to come then?” he asked.

  Two could play this feisty game.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “I’M TAKING BREA,” Jax announced as they walked back into the library.

  Victor immediately stood from the chair he’d been sitting on and it fell with a clatter behind him. “Like hell you are.”

  Those were her thoughts exactly. Her soulmate might be crazier than she was...but then why had she agreed to go with him?

  “She’s my wife, and it’s my decision,” Jax said firmly.

  “You haven’t even bonded with her yet,” Annalieese said lightly.

  Brea cringed at the openness of his family with what she considered private. She could only imagine what would happen if they discovered she and Jax had already been intimate.

  “That’s our business. Not yours,” Jax said.

  “Actually, it’s the council’s business,” Victor clarified.

  A hot fire shot up from her belly at the mention of council. That group of smug, old-school members were in dire need of an upgrade. If Jax would climb off his high-horse for five seconds, she could stay here and confront them.

  “I don’t really give a shit about council. When we’re ready, we will be ready, and it isn’t happening before I leave. Since both of you have made it clear Brea isn’t welcome or safe here, I am taking her with me,” Jax said.

  His mother’s hurt gasp pulled Brea’s eyes to her. Annalieese covered her lips with her trembling hands and her devastated eyes darted from her son to Brea.

  “She’s not prepared−” Victor started, and Jax held his hand up to stop him.

  “Who ever is?” He turned to his siblings and barked, “Let’s go.”

  Brea could tell by their slow nods and fixated, wide eyes, that they were shocked by the scene unfolding before them.

  Jax walked to the gateway, pulling Brea alongside him, and out of his family’s hearing range. When his eyes looked to her, she saw so much in those green gems. She saw anger boiling to the edges, while protection and frustration swirled the centers and mixed with exhaustion. Her soulmate looked worn out.

  Brea’s fight plummeted to the back of her mind as her soul, their connection, scolded her for giving him such a hard time. He didn’t agree with her opinions, but he was trying.

  A tingling desire to reach for him overtook her. She laid her hand on his chest and heat seared through the material of his black shirt. Jax’s muscles tensed against her palm. His breath caught in his chest and he grabbed her wrist, gripping it like he was going to tear her hand right off.

  “Thank you,” Brea said, sincerely. “You’re controlling, and a close-minded ass, but no one’s ever gone to the extremes you have for me, especially when I’ve caused this much grief.”

  Jax’s tight lips released a smirk, clearing the defense in his eyes. “An insult with a compliment...do you not know how to simply say thank you?”

  She sent him a wry smile. “It’s like cooking. I know how to do it; I just don’t like to.”

  Jax bent down and kissed her. She hadn’t expected the show of affection in front of his family, or even after their recent argument. The relief of the kiss pressing against her lips enveloped her. It felt like he needed the connection to survive. He even wrapped a solid arm around her waist, sweeping her off her feet. Her body arched fully against his with a mind of its own, while his tongue aggressively pressed past her shocked lips and greedily took her mouth as his own. If he was going to control anything, she was okay with him controlling this part of their relationship.

  Only when they parted, did she hear the commotion around them.

  “Son of a bitch, they slept together before bonding,” Victor said.

  When Jax set Brea on her feet, she instinctively moved behind him. For someone who had already stood up to Victor and was prepared to stand up to council, she didn’t understand her instinct to move away, but decided it was simply knowing that Jax was better equipped to handle Victor than she.

  “Technically, we’ve slept together every night since our vows,” Jax said.

  “You know what I mean, son. What did we raise? A bunch of sloppy adolescents?” Victor turned to Annalieese. “This is your fault for coddling them,” he accused. Annalieese looked back at Victor, unfazed.

  “Dad, do you think the three of us have never had sex?” Declan asked.

  Victor raised a finger at Declan and said, “Not your business, boy.”

  Brea felt her hands tightening around Jax’s arm, and he turned to face her. “Remember, don’t let go of my hand. And I’m not just saying that to cop a feel.” He winked and straightened, waving Declan and Gabrielle over.

  Gabrielle chuckled as they all reached for hands. “Who are you sleeping with?” she said to Declan.

  “Like I’m telling you.”

  “I don’t really see Declan cheating on his soulmate. Mr. Stickler to the rules. Me, maybe, except I actually like Kane.” Gabrielle glanced at Brea long enough to tell her Kane was her soulmate, and then back to her brothers. “Jax, obviously...”

  Obviously? What did that mean? How many women had Jax been with?

  “But not Declan.”

  Declan lightly elbowed his sister. “Shut up.”

  “Brea’s probably gotten some action, too. She didn’t even know Jax and she’s feisty just like him.” When Gabrielle looked at Brea for confirmation, Brea disappointed her with the truth.

  “I didn’t, actually,” Brea said.

  Gabrielle seemed skeptical. “Really?”

  “Yes. I’m a Second. Sex or even dating isn’t permitted. If I got caught or suspected of doing either, there would have been severe punishments awaiting me.”

  Gabrielle frowned. “You didn’t date?”

  Brea shook her head.

  “Let me get this straight, all through high school, you didn’t date? Or have sex? You’re a virgin?” Gabrielle’s shock was mortifying. “Or you were a virgin until Jax popped your cherry.”

  Brea felt the heat of more humiliation rise up her throat and heat her cheeks. Her clammy hand gripped Jax’s tightly, and her other hand held Gabrielle’s. Declan moved forward toward the gateway, watching for Brea’s reaction.

  “Is that what you’re saying?” Gabrielle prodded.

  “What are you waiting for?” Victor howled from behind them.

  All focus was now on Brea. “Yes,” she finally whispered, stealing a look at Jax. His hand was on the door knob, ready to go, but the ticking in his jaw and darkness of his stare made her realize he was mad.

  At who? Her? For what?

  Brea should be furious at him for basically cheating on her. But, instead she found herself envious of Jax’s experiences. Experiences where he could follow his heart instead of just his fate.

  Gabrielle gasped, catching the tension between Brea and Jax. “Jax, you didn’t know? How did you not know? She would have been tight and−”

  “Can we please not talk about my tightness,” Brea said. “Or our sex life at all.”

  “Gees, touchy,” Gabrielle said.

  Jax ignored her and said, “Most Seconds are tight. They don’t have sex often.”

  Brea’s mouth fell open. “You’ve slept with Seconds?” she asked.

  “Now is not the time,” Jax said.

  “Oh, now it’s not the time. When it’s about you, it’s not the time.” She turned to his siblings. “Have you two slept with Seconds?” Their guilty faces answered her. She shook her head, disgusted at all three of them. “Unbelievable.”

 
“Hey,” Gabrielle said. “We have the freedom to decide who we sleep with.”

  “Right, of course you do,” Brea said, rolling her eyes. “You’re a Gatekeeper.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Brea couldn’t miss Gabrielle’s offensive tone, proving her lack of understanding at the division between Seconds and Gatekeepers.

  Before Brea could say another word about the injustice of it all, Jax opened the door and started through the vortex, pulling the line of them with him.

  Like before, the time rip took hold of Brea, pulling her body against her instincts to pull in the opposite direction. Without Jax wrapping her in his embrace, she was forced to focus on letting the rip take her. In a flash, the rip was over, and her feet were again on solid ground. Surrounded by a bunch of spoiled Gatekeepers.

  For a brief moment, before opening her eyes, Brea wished she and Jax were back on the pirate’s boat, where they’d begun peeling back each other’s layers. But even more than wishing for that moment, she wished they were on the island again, walking hand-in-hand along the beach, laughing as they walked through the jungle, or making love under the waterfall. She longed to return to any of the occasions before he’d defined her status, before she’d discovered that he’d taken advantage of Seconds. All of his siblings had. It was a line which should never be crossed and they hadn’t even taken into consideration how their actions would affect those involved...how it affected Brea.

  Brea opened her eyes, unable to handle another second of listening to her own thoughts. She was momentarily disoriented as she saw the same black, white and blue colors of the vortex surrounding them...only this was different.

  They stood hand-in-hand in a room where the walls appeared to be covered in black and white electric currents with shades of blue pulsing through it like lightning.

  This wasn’t a time or era, it looked like an entirely different world...a galaxy?

  Brea pushed down the alarms going off in her brain. It wouldn’t do to panic in the company of professional Gatekeepers. This might not be a rip like the ones she’d taken with Jax, but those two rips hadn’t been elders-induced like this one. Maybe there was a pass-through, or pass-by, or another gateway, or...