Jennifer Rardin - [Jaz Parks 1] - Once Bitten, Twice Shy

That got his attention. 'What?'

I felt a little self-conscious, but figured the time to guard my ego had long passed. 'I've always wanted to fly,' I confided, 'like Superman, only without the ridiculous costume.'

'It is not…'

'Or how about superhuman strength so when I throw people they sail clear across the room?'

I suddenly understood what the word 'flummoxed' meant. I'd never really known before this moment, when Vayl's eyes went all round and confused, and the only thing he could say that sounded remotely like English was, 'Wa.' It didn't last long. Vayl snapped back to himself and grabbed me by the shoulders.

'This is serious!' His eyes bored into mine, twin obsidian pebbles that looked ready to bury me under a great big avalanche. It ticked me off. Here I was, offering the guy his life, basically, and all he could do was threaten me with metaphorical boulders! 'You have no idea, Jasmine. The two of us will mix at a very basic level. I cannot predict the outcome. You cannot know the risk!'

I grabbed the lapels of his jacket, considered shaking him 'til his teeth rattled, thought better of it. 'Vayl! Calm down before I slap you! Damn, but you're grouchy when you're hungry!'

That got him. His hands dropped from my shoulders. He dug the heel of his palm into the furrows between his eyes. 'You are insane, you know that?'

Ouch. 'I'm just being practical. I knew someday I might have to bare my throat to you. Pete and I discussed that very possibility. As for danger and risk-taking, that's what Pete pays me to do. And you and I both know he intends to get his money's worth.'

'Jasmine, I cannot—'

'Why not!'

'Because you are not food!'

I stared at him for a minute, then I started to grin. I couldn't help it. 'Vayl,' I tried to keep my face straight, 'I'm not asking you to eat me.'

Vayl's jaw dropped and I burst into peals of laughter. Eventually I heard him chuckling along with me and I knew we'd be okay. When I had my warped sense of humor back under control I said, 'It's just a temporary solution. Until we can figure out something better. Okay?'

When he sighed and his shoulders dropped out of defensive mode, I knew I'd won. 'Then I will not wait any longer. You must take this,' he said. He pulled the chain he wore out from under his shirt. Off came the ring and away went my smile. I knew from the look on Vayl's face this was serious times ten.

He held the ring out to me and I stared at it as it sat in his palm. Intricately woven golden knots formed the band, and in the center of each knot glittered a superb little ruby. The exquisite craftsmanship made the ring resemble a magical artifact, like a token of love left at the bottom of the Lake of Dreams by some broken-hearted nymph.

'Oh, wow.' I touched it as if it was crafted of spun glass.

'You like it then?' Vayl took it and slipped it onto my finger. Though it sat on my right hand, the feeling still spooked me, as if we'd just agreed to some sort of unmarriage.

'It's gorgeous,' I said, holding my arm out to see it better. I dropped my hand to my lap as a thought occurred to me. 'I can't keep it.'

'What?'

'It's too much, Vayl. Too expensive. Too beautiful. Too personal. Plus Pete would kill me. Remember what he said about not accepting gifts?'

'From clients, not from each other. Jasmine—' frustration furrowed his eyebrows, edged his tone, 'why do you always have to make everything so difficult?'

My first instinct was to argue, but I had no basis. Vayl had made this wonderful gesture. Did I really have to spit in his hand? 'It's just, I don't understand why you would give this to me when, you're right, I have been a pain in the ass lately.'

'Because it is more than a gift.' Vayl brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. An old fashioned token which should never have gone extinct. 'You wear a ring made by my father's father on the day I was born. It is called Cirilai—which means 'guardian.' My mother, as she lay dying from the difficulty of my birth, had a vision of my death. She knew it would be violent. She knew it would endanger my soul. Cirilai contains all the ancient powers my family could muster to protect me. As long as it exists, I may lose my life, but I cannot lose my soul.'

Holy crap in a shipwreck, I'd heard fables about such artifacts. To actually have one wrapped around my finger though? Well, to be honest it made me feel kind of nauseous. 'Why in the world would you give something so precious to me?'

If I'd known him for years, maybe I could have read the answer in those amber eyes. He must've spent a minute trying to tell me things with them that words could never express. But too much of the unknown still stood between us to allow a translation. That's what I told myself. Maybe I was just too scared to let myself understand. Finally he said, 'I gave you Cirilai because the ring will protect you as well. And because I sensed in you the same power that is invested in the ring. The two of you belong together—with me.'

At the risk of sounding like a two-year-old, I repeated myself. 'But, why?'

Thank goodness that, unlike mine, Vayl's patience isn't tied to a lit fuse. His hands tightened on mine. 'You and Cirilai remind me that, while I am no longer human, I am also no better than human.'

'Is that all? We keep you humble?'

'Think of what happens to people who possess such powers as mine when they decide their ideas, agendas, race is superior to all others.'

'Napoleon,' I whispered. 'Hitler. Hussein.'