Chapter 20

The bliss of making love with Jared filled her the next morning as Harper awoke in his bed. Smiling, she stretched and rolled over.

His side of the massive bed was empty. Harper glanced at the windows and the sunshine streaming into the room. She must have overslept.

After showering in her own room, and dressing in a flowing pink flowered dress with lace trimming the hem and cap sleeves, she conjured pink suede flats. Harper studied her appearance in the mirror. Bright spots of color in her cheekbones, her gaze sparkling, she looked feminine and well-loved.

Putting a skip in her step, she went downstairs to the dining hall for breakfast on the terrace.

The scent of fresh air filled her senses as she went onto the terrace, but gone was the delicious smell of coffee, eggs and bacon. The table was empty.

A small note rested on the table's single china plate.

"Time to fix your own breakfast. You know where the kitchen is. You have the power. Use it. J."

Her heart sank. Such a cold, impersonal note. But why? They had shared such an amazing night together. She'd anticipated an intimate meal together before spending the rest of the day in his enormous library.

Harper headed to the kitchen. Jallu was there, bent over a frying pan. She glanced up from the eight-burner gas stove.

"Good morning," she said in broken English.

"Good morning Jallu. Or Serena. Or whoever you are." Harper went to the refrigerator, opened it and removed a carton of orange juice.

The woman left the stove and silently handed her a glass. Harper sighed.

"I'm sorry. I'm a tad bitchy this morning."

Jallu transformed into Serena in a flowing orange dress and flip flops. The woman regarded her. "It happens when you're with Jared. He can put you into a bad mood."

Shrugging, she poured the juice, leaving the carton on the counter. Harper sat at the island, watching Serena continue to cook bacon.

"I'm not very hungry this morning, if that's for me."

"It is, and Jared instructed me to make sure you eat breakfast. You'll need your strength."

Maybe he did care after all. But the woman's next words made her spirits sink.

"He said you need your strength to fight whatever battles you will face today. He didn't want you fainting or getting weak because he's not your babysitter."

Tears threatened to rise. She swallowed the juice, feeling the acrid liquid burn her tight throat.

"I thought he cared," she whispered, unable to contain her feelings anymore.

Serena turned off the blue flame under the frying pan. She sat next to Harper at the island.

Harper looked at her, the unlined face, the dark eyes filled with mystery. "He told me about the curse turning him into a Krampus. It was you who cursed him."

A fact, not a question.

Expression calm, Serena nodded.

The lump in Harper's throat grew thicker. "He was your lover."

"Not exactly. He tried to seduce me. We never became lovers." Serena tilted her head. "Ah. You slept with him. I can see it on your face. And now you've fallen in love with him. Like so many other women have done."

Awkward. She felt like a fool. But Serena looked kind, not condemning. The witch patted her hand.

"You're the first person he's had sex with in decades, so he must have feelings for you. There's hope."

Harper sniffed. "You keep tabs on his love life?"

"Not me. Xavier, the Crystal Wizard, and Caderyn, the Shadow Wizard, who is guardian and judge over witches. They tell me about what is happening with him."

"Now it sounds like you are the one who cares."

Serena laughed. "I care because he possesses tremendous power that could be used for good, and he will be a dangerous weapon in the hands of evil. Jared walks a tight balance between light and dark. But with the right woman, he could make the right choices."

Dread curled down her spine at the idea of Jared embracing evil. "He does have a dark side, but you make him sound as lethal as a nuclear bomb."

"He could be, easily obliterating the lives of thousands of innocent women, causing them to go mad in their dreams, pining for him, wasting away or worse, doing whatever he bid them. Including killing others. This is the real reason I cursed him – to keep him from growing arrogant, which can lead to craving more and more power. The wrong kind of power."

"What happens if the curse isn't broken? Will he remain as he is?"

"I doubt it. I believe Xavier will be forced to destroy him before he destroys others."

Her palms became clammy. She set the glass down carefully on the counter. "But I love him! Xavier can't kill him. Isn't me loving him enough?"

Serena patted her hand again. "It's not easy to break a curse. Even when you want it with all your heart. You have to have faith in people, in love, and that's what Jared lacks."

Serena's voice was gentle, not patronizing. Harper wiped away a tear. "I could have faith enough for both of us."

"It's up to him, not you. Telling him you love him isn't going to do anything. Last night did you tell him you loved him?"

Harper nodded.

"And you woke up alone this morning because he remained in his beast form. Your declaration did nothing."

All this bad news made her head hurt. Suddenly she resented Serena for putting Jared in this predicament. "Why do you stay in his employ anyway in disguise? To gloat in secret over the unhappiness you cause him?"

Something flashed in the woman's dark eyes. A simmering hint of danger, a hint of the magick the witch possessed to curse a powerful incubus.

"Watch yourself, my dear. I like you, but my patience does have a limit."

"Well, tell me then, why are you here? You cursed him, why bother to hang around him? It makes no sense."

Serena snapped her fingers and a plate filled with bacon and eggs floated over to Harper. "Jared thinks he doesn't need anyone and chooses to hole himself up in this castle like a hermit, but he needs someone more than he realizes. I choose to work for him so he is connected to the people in the village so I could observe his interactions. He is not a heartless cad. He met me/Jallu a few years ago and has paid handsomely, in addition to helping the village with several projects to aid them."

The thought of Jared helping others cheered her and filled her with hope. Perhaps there was a chance he could be saved.

"He has a heart," Harper said, beginning to eat. "He is a good man."

"He could be, as I said, with the right person. Now finish your breakfast. I believe there is a library of books waiting for you. One book in particular with Jared's family history does make for interesting reading."

As she reached for the orange juice, she turned to thank Serena.

The witch was gone, as if she'd never been there.

After breakfast Harperreturned to the library, determined to research Jared's family background. Maybe she could find a way to break the curse herself. Or convince him he could be a force for good and avoid embracing evil.

She was confident Jared's attitude arose from turning into a Krampus each night.

Probably why she'd woken up alone this morning.

In an alcove on the library's second floor, she curled up with the heavy book recording Jared's family history. Suddenly she came across an entry that made her heart beat harder with excitement.

This has to convince him he isn't a demon after all.

Slamming the book shut, she left the library in search of him. After an hour of climbing steps, combing through rooms, she had no luck locating him.

Finally after she'd eaten lunch, a salad in the kitchen, she found him in his office. Sitting at his enormous mahogany desk studying papers, he looked absorbed.

Harper went to the library and brought the book back. She plopped it on his desk.

"You're not a bad man, Jared Griffin. No matter what you claim, I won't believe it."

He finally glanced up and sighed. "You're wasting your time with me. I'm a lost cause, Harper. And you should make preparations to leave. It's time you return home."

Anxiety knotted her stomach. She braced her hands on his desk and met his impartial gaze.

"You can't get rid of me that easily. Not until you hear me out, Jared. You ARE a good man."

He drew in a breath that seemed a sound of defeat. But she couldn't let this go. Not after what she'd discovered.

"Harper, I'm an incubus demon cursed to become a Krampus after midnight. I cannot change my nature. I'm destined to turn to the dark side. I've been fighting it for years and even now, I'm losing that fight.

"Even if I were to break the curse," he snorted. "I am not the man for you. It would never work out between us."

Her mouth opened and closed. "I thought last night meant something. I told you I love you."

His gaze ignited with some unknown emotion, almost as if he felt the same about her. Harper felt a flicker of hope. Then his expression tightened. He put his boots on the desk, and gave a lazy stretch.

"The sex was incredible, my dear. I will not deny that. But do not fool yourself. It was only sex. Nothing more."

"I'm not asking you to marry me, for crying out loud." She drew in a calming breath. "I want to work with you in curing this curse, Jared. There has to be a way. And your incubus demon you keep saying is so evil, I refuse to believe it. In fact, I know otherwise. I have proof."

Looking alarmed, he sat up. "What are you talking about?"

"I took your invitation to read everything in your library. Lots of interesting books." Harper began thumbing through the thick book she'd placed on his desk. "Including this one."

He didn't look at the title. "And?"

"Jared, you're not an incubus demon. In fact, you're not a demon at all. You may try to scare off mortals with that seduction line, pretend you're bad, but your bloodline says otherwise."

His expression tightened. "You've been snooping through my family history book. That's private."

"I picked it up by accident. It was among the other paranormal books. I wanted to learn about my own heritage and the background of other paranormal beings. I'm new to this, Jared. I need knowledge."

"Knowledge of me?" He sounded bitter. "Why not ask, Harper. I'm here. An open book."

Ignoring his sarcasm, she combed through the heavy leather-bound volume. More than a mere genealogy listing, each record listed personalities and places.

"Here." Harper opened to his mother's page. "Fiona O'Dare, a Fiery, gentle of heart and spirit, who fell in love and mated with Jasper Griffin, a fierce incubus who loved her in return. Died giving birth to her only son, Jared Griffin, born December 20, 1790, in London, England…"

"Stop it." Jared took his feet off the desk. "Stop reading. You're boring me with what I already know. One Jared Griffin, raised by his father, rather, who attempted to raise him, until the lad was five and then abandoned him because Jasper was heartbroken over the loss of his only love. His soulmate.

"Jared Griffin, left on the steps of an orphanage for abandoned Others and raised with the Fae. Kicked out of the orphanage at the age of 16 for seducing a fair young Fae. Seems my father's incubus blood runs strong in my veins, dear Harper."

She set the book down. "Your family history is fascinating. You do come from a line of incubus demons, but the bloodline thinned after your father was born. Your father was birthed by a Fiery, a fire Fae, and sired by an incubus. Your own mother was a Fiery. Do you know what this means?"

Leaning back in his chair, he steepled his fingers. "I'm good at lighting fires for toasting marshmallows?"

Frustrated, she pushed the book toward him. "I'm serious, Jared."

"So am I. Perhaps I should rent myself out as a fire starter for campgrounds on soggy nights?"

"You have the powers no incubus has, Jared. You can not only teleport at will, but transport others, like me. You can heal wounds."

He picked up a pencil and began twirling it between his fingers. "I have many more magick tricks."

"You're no more a true demon than I am. You're a Fierigan, a combination of an incubus seducer and a Fae who can throw fire at will. You're not a demon. You're not hovering on the edge of darkness. Demons don't heal others, Jared. They don't have compassion. They don't love."

The pencil snapped in his fingers. "Watch yourself, Harper. You're getting all maudlin on me. You think you know me simply because you saw my beastly side? You know nothing about me."

Holding her ground, despite his rising voice, she locked her calm gaze with his infuriated one. "I know you, Jared. You got hurt, badly, long ago. A woman hurt you to the point where you withdrew all your goodness and focused on the dark within you. There's always been a battle between the light and the dark inside you, and you started letting the dark win. Seducing the women, not caring what happened to them afterward. All because something terrible happened to you and it was easier and safer to keep a distance and not care."

As he started to stand, she pointed to herself. "I know this because I was the same way before I realized my own heritage. Hiding behind my studies and science so I wouldn't have to get involved with guys. So I wouldn't have to form relationships and end up in a miserable marriage like my parents. Science was secure. But life isn't like that. At some point you have to take a risk and gamble."

"Oh, I've gambled. Too many times."

How could she get through to him when he kept being sardonic? "When you took me to the bar yesterday, that was a risk and we both enjoyed it. So take another risk, Jared. Let's go out. Get out of this dark, dreary place, go dining, dancing. We can return to the castle long before midnight."

His dark gaze flashed anger. "My curfew, you mean. My time when the hour strikes midnight and I turn not into a pumpkin, but a beast every woman shudders to behold."

"You can still have fun in life and be out in public. Jared, there's a whole world out there and I bet any amount of money you're needed. If there is evil out there to fight, then instead of locking yourself up here, help fight it!

She softened her voice. "You saved me. You can save others as well, and so can I with our powers. Don't you understand?"

"Of course I understand." His voice carried a note of pure contempt

Jared swept his hand over the desk, knocking aside papers and his laptop. They crashed to the floor with a resounding shattering, making her draw back two steps. Suddenly afraid, she watched him with wariness.

"I'm cursed, Harper. Do you understand? Cursed to be a true beast from midnight to sunset. Save people? I can't even save myself. I get it. You want out. Out of here, not life here in a lonely castle with a beast."

"You can't spend your life in hiding anymore, Jared!"

He whirled, his once amused, dark eyes now glowing red. "I can and I will. No one wants to be around a beast. Not even, it seems, you do. Admit it, Harper. My Krampus form terrifies you."

"I, er…" Her mouth opened and closed, while the words formed on her tongue, she could not find the power of speech.

When he looked up, his expression was bleak. "I will find Saqra and destroy him for you. You'll be safe after that."

"It's too dangerous! Besides, you don't know where he is."

"Oh, I do. The ruins of the village he destroyed - La Fuego Village in Guatemala, near the slopes of Mt. Fiery. I'll destroy him. No other demon would dare touch you when he is gone. No other demon will be strong enough to challenge you."

Jared snapped the pencil in half. "Except me."

His words sounded mocking.

"Jared, you said he's an extremely dangerous demon!"

"Yes." His gaze turned mocking. "The favor isn't merely for you. The demon is powerful and he's tried in the past to convince me into crossing over to evil and serving the Dark Lord. I'm certain I would be a prize for him to deliver to his master, perhaps even more than you. If I kill Saquara, I eliminate the threat to you, and myself."

Jared shook his head. "It will buy me perhaps a little time, at least to say good-bye to those who care, like Sonia."

"I care," she cried out. "But I need to know, Jared. Where do we go from here? Together, or apart I have nothing of my old life left. Will you join me in a new one?"

It took all her strength and courage to admit those words, tell him how she felt.

A humorless laugh ripped from his throat. "You made it clear my Krampus form scares you. Where do we go from here? The exit. That's where we go. Or rather, you go. I'll release you, Harper Ashley, if that is what you wish."

"Of course I want out, and you should as well. How can you hole yourself up in this cold, dark castle for the rest of your life? Wasting the rest of your life when you could be out there, living and trying to find a way to break the curse?!"

"You have no idea what my life is like. And here I thought you were the one. My one and only. What a farce." His head dropped as he stared at the floor, as if taken with sudden exhaustion. "Xavier was wrong. There is no hope for me."

Harper struggled to find the words. They seemed inadequate, and soft for such a harsh display. But she must say them.

"It's not what I think about Jared. I think about you all the time. I can't get you out of my mind, no matter how hard I try to envision rocks, volcanoes, geology."

Her voice lowered to a bare whisper. "But being locked up in a castle, even one as beautiful as this, can isolate your soul."

Now he did raise his head and the mocking contempt returned to his expression. "My soul isn't isolated, my dear. It's damned for all eternity."

Jared rubbed a hand over his face. "Go, just go. This will never work."

A knot tangled in her stomach. Her palms felt damp as she squeezed them tight, fighting the emotions inside. He couldn't dismiss her like this. Not now. Not when they had come this far. Not when he had spent all this time teaching her how to use her powers, and she had found the heart of him.

Not an arrogant man who used people and dismissed them. Not a half without a heart. No, a man with a bruised heart she thought had begun to heal.

A man, like her, who had been mistreated by the world and needed to discover all people weren't nasty and cruel.

"Jared please. At the very least, let me join with you in destroying Saqara. I have powers and I can help you. Have faith in yourself. Have faith in me."

For a moment hope flared on his face, like the sputtering of a candle igniting. Then it died. His lips turned back in an almost savage snarl.

"Be gone." He waved a hand.

Harper found herself standing outside her apartment on the patio near the pool. A warm ocean breeze caressed her face, drying the tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Jared," she whispered. "Oh Jared, please don't do this to me. To yourself."