Jace: Hidden Realms of Silver Lake (Four Sisters of Fate Book 5) Read online

  Her feet hit the ground before she was ready, but Mr. Sinclair held tight until she’d steadied herself. He stepped back, and when he returned to his human form, he was still clothed. She let out a big sigh of relief at that surprise. Remaining dressed after shifting never happened on Earth.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “I think so. It’s a bit disconcerting to be flying so high without a net.”

  “You did great. Come on. Let’s meet your new employers.”

  She was tempted to ask what would happen if they didn’t like her, or if they made her uncomfortable, but that was the kind of self-doubt she was trying to get away from. Besides, without Ophelia, how could she even return to Earth?

  Stop it, Ivy. Those self-destructive thoughts are of no help. Going to a different realm meant a new start, and she’d promised herself to make the most of it.

  “Who lives in the big house?” she asked, pointing to the building that was attached to some kind of shop.

  “Magnolia and her mate. She’s Poppy’s older sister. I believe Primrose is living there with her mate as well until their home is built.” He nodded to the unfinished structure.

  Mr. Sinclair knocked on the door of the home across the field. A moment later, a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and a very tall man with black hair answered.

  “Hello,” the woman said. “You must be Ivy. I’m Poppy, and this is my mate Slade.”

  “It’s nice to meet you both, and thank you for letting me come.”

  Mr. Sinclair set her suitcase inside the door and then held out his hand to introduce himself to Slade. Ivy was surprised they hadn’t met, but in truth, she didn’t know much about any of these people other than this woman could teleport.

  “I need to get back,” Mr. Sinclair said. “It was good to see you, Poppy. You’re looking well.”

  “Thanks.”

  Ivy smiled. “I appreciate the ride.” Even though it scared her to death.

  “Anytime.”

  As soon as he left, Poppy’s mate, Slade, picked up her suitcase. “Come on in.”

  Ivy looked around and marveled at the elegance. “This is so nice.”

  He smiled. “Thanks. I’m in the construction business. Only the best for my mate.” The love in his eyes almost made Ivy swoon.

  “It’s beautiful. I can’t believe I’m actually here.” She turned back to Poppy. “I am so grateful for the job and for your willingness to help me with my erratic powers.”

  Poppy placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’re welcome. We will definitely work on those while you’re here.”

  Ivy had no idea how much Ophelia had told her about Ivy’s situation. In fact, she had no idea how they even communicated. Since portal transport was easy, maybe Ophelia visited here often.

  “Let me show you to your room,” Poppy said. “You’ll be next to my son, Brody’s room.”

  “That sounds perfect. Can I see him?” Ivy loved babies.

  “He’s asleep, but trust me, he’ll be up early tomorrow morning.” Poppy pushed open a door and flicked on the light to the room where Ivy would be staying. The walls were painted pale purple. The white bed was topped with a dark purple bedspread. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Someday, I hope to fill it with a little girl. For now, it’s yours. It shares a bathroom with Brody’s room, though of course he’s too young to use it.”

  “That will be perfect.”

  “We’ll let you get settled. If you’re hungry, just help yourself to whatever is in the kitchen. We can take you shopping tomorrow if you’d like for any food you might want.”

  This was so overwhelming, and Ivy wasn’t sure she’d be able to sleep, let alone want to eat. “Thank you.”

  Once she was alone, Ivy couldn’t help but check out the bathroom, wondering what things were the same on Earth and which were different. To her delight, the water in the sink came out hot on the left and cold on the right, making her wonder how the two realms could be so much alike. Did those from Tarradon visit Earth often? Other than some dragon shifters, why weren’t people on Earth told about this wonderful place? She imagined that Tarradon had a lot of cool things that Earth would love to know about.

  Before she worked herself up with too much excitement, Ivy decided to take a shower and crawl into bed, hoping for sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a long but exciting day.

  “Call me if anything comes up,” Jace told Tanner.

  Jace had already made sure he had answered all of his communications with the suppliers, so he didn’t feel as if he was leaving his second in command in over his head when he headed off to see his partner.

  “I’ve got this. Go have fun with Slade.”

  “Fun? I plan to kick his sorry ass. He needs to get it in gear. The boy is slacking.”

  Tanner laughed. “Slade doesn’t slack. Ever.”

  “He has since he met Poppy. I know he spent a lot of time building his house and not in acquiring more customers, but now that he’s moved in, it’s time to draw up those quotes.” Jace slapped his hands together for emphasis.

  “I know you. You’re thinking the more money Slade brings in from Edendale, the less work we have to do here.”

  Jace clapped him on the back. “You understand me so well.”

  Actually, that wasn’t the reason he needed to kick Slade’s butt. Slade was an overachiever. Always had been. Always would be. He had built and repaired more homes and businesses in Plux than anyone thought possible, yet he managed to do it while keeping his sanity.

  The two of them had worked almost non-stop from the moment they formed the company. In all honesty, Jace was happy his friend was enjoying life for a change. Slade deserved it.

  However, there was some truth to what he told Tanner. While Slade had a lot of jobs lined up, he hadn’t hired a second in command yet, and Jace worried Slade would burn himself out what with being mated, now a new dad, and trying to run a company. That was what they needed to discuss during this visit.

  After taking one last look at the hotel construction, Jace headed to the back alley where he shifted and then took off. It was a clear day, perfect for flying. At first, Jace had been reluctant to leave, but after working non-stop for nine months on this hotel, he could use a break. Tanner was awesome and had powered through learning all of the nuances of the job, so Jace had nothing to worry about. Or so he hoped.

  Gliding, flapping, gliding, flapping. Jace let his mind wander as he headed to Edendale. For the last few months he kept telling himself he wasn’t jealous of his best friend’s life. To think Slade was the one who hadn’t believed in mates at first, and Jace had been the one to talk him into giving Poppy a chance. Slade had claimed that because he was a workaholic, he didn’t need a mate either. Now look at him. A family man.

  An hour later, Jace passed low over Edendale. Looking at the variety of buildings made him wish Plux were a little bigger. Cities had this romantic draw for him, but the entire Sanders family lived in or around Plux. It was in his blood to remain there.

  In the distance he spotted the Four Sisters Pottery shop. In the back sat two structures—one finished and the other one almost done. The last time he’d visited, Poppy and Slade hadn’t moved into their new home yet, and Jace was anxious to see the finished product.

  He landed between the two buildings, shifted, and headed toward their house. The backpack he had on before he shifted reappeared. In it was a change of clothes, some toiletries, and a present for his hosts’ new baby.

  The door opened before he even reached the porch steps.

  “About time you got here, you lazy dog,” Slade said with a huge grin on his face.

  Jace opened his arms, and the two hugged. “Missed this,” Jace said, trying not to sound too emotional.

  “Me too. Come in. There are some people here waiting to meet you.”

  People? Unless he had twins, there was only one person he hadn’t been introduced to. When Jace stepped into the living room however, waves of lust ass
aulted him, scaring the crap out of him. He’d met Poppy a few times but never experienced any vibes coming off her, so what was going on?

  Slade’s mate was holding an adorable baby boy. Jace rushed over to him and peered into the baby’s face. “Brody looks just like Slade.”

  She smiled. “He does, doesn’t he?”

  Jace looked between the two of them. “Any powers yet?” With Poppy being a goddess and Slade a shifter, the kid was bound to be someone Tarradon had to contend with.

  They both chuckled. “Hardly. We don’t expect to see many signs or abilities until he’s at least two,” Slade said.

  Poppy held out her child. “Want to hold him?”

  “Sure. Being an older brother gave me lots of practice.”

  “That’s been what? Eighty years?” Slade said, laughing.

  Jace grinned. “There are some things you don’t forget. Just watch the master.”

  Poppy slipped the baby into his arms, and Jace grabbed hold. The infant boy instantly let out a wail. Shit. What was he doing wrong?

  Footsteps sounded, and an intoxicating scent reached him a second before he saw a beautiful woman racing into the room waving a baby bottle.

  She came to a halt, her face reddening slightly. “I heard Brody cry. I’m sorry I took so long. I wanted to make the temp—”

  Their gazes met, and Jace’s breath halted. As did his brain. Holy shit. Her brown hair was piled high on her head. While the apron wasn’t the sexiest, it showed off her waist and ample breasts. Being a rich and successful businessman, women were always coming onto him, but he had never responded to one like this before.

  “—erature was right,” she finished a beat later. She held out the bottle to him. “Do you want to feed Brody?”

  Jace was too tongue-tied to speak. “Uh.”

  “Or I can take him?”

  The baby had stilled, his gaze on this woman—or maybe it was on the bottle. Jace held out the child. “That might be best.” With the bottle in her hand, she struggled to grab hold. “How about I hold the bottle for a second while you take the baby?”

  If he weren’t the one in the middle of the exchange, it might be humorous.

  She smiled, and his dick hardened. “Good idea,” she said.

  They made the swap without mishap. When she placed the bottle in the baby’s mouth, he swore both of them sighed, probably in relief.

  “Where are my manners?” Slade said, with way too much cheer in his voice. “This is Ivy Woodson. She is here from Earth to take care of Brody.”

  Okay, that wasn’t what he expected. “You came a long way,” he said to the woman who had enchanted him.

  Ivy chuckled, though she looked mighty uncomfortable. “It’s not that far—one step, really.”

  He’d been talking about the actual distance. “True. I’m Jace by the way. Jace Sanders. Slade and I work together.”

  “Jace is being modest,” Slade said. “He and I own LaMont Construction together. Jace runs the Plux office, while I run the Edendale office.”

  “Oh. That’s nice. I should take Brody into the kitchen and finish feeding him. Sorry I was late,” she said to Poppy.

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  As soon as Ivy disappeared, Jace could almost breathe again. He wasn’t sure how he should respond or what he should say. From the smiles on Poppy and Slade’s face, they understood what had transpired.

  Jace had found his mate.

  Chapter Three

  Ivy’s heart wouldn’t stop racing. The moment Jace had entered the house she could sense something was happening to her body. Two blue sparks had flown off her arms, and that was something that hadn’t happened to her before. She had witnessed them every time Rye came near Izzy though, but Ivy didn’t know why she was experiencing them. Was the air different here or something? Sure, this dark-haired hunk might be amazing to look at, but she didn’t know him, so why was she so attracted to him?

  A small smile then lifted her lips when she pictured him. It had to have been the fright in his eyes when he had Brody in his arms that made her sympathy for him swell. He appeared so opposite of Poppy and Slade who both seemed to have everything together—the perfect home, the perfect baby, and a wonderful connection between them.

  For those few moments, it was as if both she and Jace were the outsiders, even though she felt more comfortable in Tarradon than she ever had on Earth. Ivy had spent her whole life being different. Hopefully, her experience here would be a nice change.

  “Is everything okay?” Poppy asked as she came into the kitchen.

  Ivy looked up and smiled. “Yes. He was just hungry.”

  She glanced at her watch. “I did mention that Primrose is at the hospital, right?”

  “Yes. I hope she is okay.”

  “I’m sure she will be. We’ll head on over as soon as we find out she is ready to deliver. The doctors don’t think it will be for another few days though, but Prim can be an overachiever. When we get the call, we’ll need to go.”

  “You needn’t worry about Brody and me. We’ll be fine.”

  “I know. I don’t know how long we’ll be gone though. Once Prim goes into labor, I don’t want to leave her side.”

  “I totally understand.” Primrose being in a hospital worried her too. Poppy had mentioned how she’d had a home birth. “I hope your sister will be okay.”

  “I’m sure she will be.” Poppy pulled out her cell phone and placed it on the counter. “I’ll leave this with you until we return. That way we can keep in touch.”

  Naturally, Ivy’s phone from Earth didn’t work here. “That’s great, but how can I call if you don’t have a phone?”

  “Just text Slade’s number. It’s programmed in.”

  “Perfect.”

  Poppy stepped around her. “I need to get Jace settled in his room just in case the hospital calls. I’ve had this funny feeling all day that she’ll be needing us.”

  Ivy’s blood pressure soared. “He’s staying here?”

  Ivy probably should have asked her about the special bond between her and her sisters as that really interested the Wendayan in her, but her mind seemed to be hooked on Jace.

  “Just for the weekend. Then he has to get back to Plux. Is that okay?”

  “Why wouldn’t it be?” It was Poppy’s house. She could invite anyone she wanted.

  “No reason. You seemed a little nervous around him. He’s Slade’s best friend. You can trust him.”

  “Good to know.” That was a stupid thing to say, but it was all she could think of.

  Poppy stepped closer, leaned over, and gently blew air over the baby’s face, barely giving Ivy enough time to lift the bottle out of the way. Her son opened his mouth and cooed. “I love you,” Poppy said.

  Brody babbled something, but at a month, there was no way he could understand what his mother said—or so Ivy believed.

  “Once you put Brody down for his nap, come out and join us,” Poppy said.

  “Okay.” Despite being in this wonderful land, Ivy felt out of place being around someone as hunky as Jace. Not only was she not from this realm, they probably had nothing in common. Chatting would be really hard.

  Halfway through his bottle, Brody dozed off. He was such a precious child. Ivy smiled. “Time for a nap, little one. Someday I’ll have one just like you.”

  An hour into their discussion about how things were going with the new hotel construction, Poppy appeared out of thin air in the living room. Jace jumped slightly. He had forgotten about her ability to teleport.

  Slade jumped up. “Is it Primrose?”

  “Yes. She’s ready to deliver—or rather close to being ready. Her blood pressure was too high, so they gave her something to lower it.”

  His friend looked down at him. “Sorry, buddy. We have to go. We didn’t think she’d be delivering so fast, but this is a good thing, I think.”

  Poppy smiled. “I hope so too.”

  “Can you occupy yourself for a few hours?” S
lade asked, knowing full well that wouldn’t be a problem. Jace could always relax in front of the television or fly around to check out the town.

  “Sure. I’ll see if Ivy needs help with the baby first. If she’s okay, I might do some sightseeing.”

  “You do that,” Slade said with a knowing look.

  Just then Ivy entered the living room. His eyes must have turned teal or something because Slade grinned widely. When they were chatting about the company before, Slade hadn’t mentioned anything about Jace’s reaction to this hot woman. Too bad every time Jace had heard her moving about, his cock had hardened.

  As soon as Slade and Poppy rushed out through the front door to give Slade room to shift, Ivy headed to another room. His friend had mentioned that they could have teleported to the hospital, but he claimed he enjoyed carrying Poppy. It was more intimate having her in his arms.

  The beating of his wings faded a moment later. With his hosts gone, Jace listened for Ivy’s movements. He didn’t hear her, which meant now was as good a time as ever to unpack. Most likely, Slade would be back by tomorrow to resume their discussion on the hotel.

  Crap. He’d forgotten to show Poppy and Slade the cute stuffed dragon he’d bought for Brody. It even came with a rattle in its tail. It might not be a realistic depiction, but he thought Brody would enjoy playing with it.

  As Jace headed down the hallway, Ivy’s soft voice reached him. She was singing to the baby, and his heart warmed. Not wanting to disturb her, he entered his room and unpacked his few possessions. Since his room was next to the baby’s room, he figured Ivy could hear that he was in there. Staying for any length of time in the room might seem as if he was spying on her—which he was in a way.

  Deciding it would be fun to get to know this shy woman, he stepped into the hallway and waited for her to come out of the baby’s room. When he didn’t hear any noise for a minute, Jace began to worry something might have happened. As quietly as he could, he pressed down on the door lever and pushed it open. What the hell? Only the baby was in there.