Free Claiming Emerald by Kat Barrett Page A

desire to be with anyone else.”
    “Neither do I. I love what we have. We are the perfect combination of personalities and emotions. I’m sure some people harbor the idea that there is jealousy here, but there isn’t. You each have your own traits that complement each other.”
    His smile was wistful. “I know. You are the center that makes everything perfect. You give us no reason to be jealous because we are so special to you.” A pink tear rolled from the corner of his eye and down his cheek. “I’m trying so hard to remain positive, but I, too, had my own set of nightmares last sun. Just always remember how much I love you. We love you.”
    “I will.” Rory kissed her again and then set her down.
    Russell gave her a sad smile. “Ditto to everything Rory just said.”
    “Maybe this would be a good time to sow your oats.”
    “I’ll think about it.” He held out his arms and Em walked into them. Russell held her as if he never wanted to let her go. “I love you so much.”
    “I know. I love you back. You’re my teddy bear.”
    He chuckled, his chest rising against her breast. “Be safe, Em.”
    “I’m gonna try.” He loosened his hold and kissed her, his lips so warm and savory. Russell tasted like fresh fruit and corn meal. Someone must have made muffins for breakfast. She parted from him with reluctance. Russell stroked back her hair. Em realized that it must have grown some over night.
    “I’ll miss you.”
    “Me, too.”
    Salt put his hands to her shoulders, turning her to face him. “There is nothing left to say. I love you. You saved my life and gave me the one that I always dreamed of. To now dream of spending eternity without you is unimaginable. Come back.”
    “I will.”
    Salt adjusted her hair and then stared at her before closing his eyes. It was as if he was setting her face to memory. She leaned into him and gave him a kiss. “I have to go.”
    Salt nodded and Rory held her jacket out for her to put it on. He shrugged, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat as he swallowed. Em saw the tears in his beautiful blue eyes. “Will the three of you do me a favor? Stay here. There is an old Indian superstition that if you watch someone walk out of your sight, you will never see them again.”
    “Okay. We will stay.”
    She nodded and gave him another quick kiss. With a final look to Russell and Salt, Em walked from the room and shut the door. Em flashed down the hall and through the fortress. Throwing open the door, she raced out into the night and leapt the fence. Em was on the road a second later and she followed it, looking for the helicopter. It was waiting for her in a clearing a slight distance away.
    Em climbed into the seat, her body shaking not only from the cold but from a feeling of impending doom. She gave the driver a quick smile. “Hi.”
    “Hi. You’re Emerald Slade?”
    “Yes, I am.”
    “I’m Nelson. Hold tight. The fuel in this thing makes it a turbo rocket in the guise of a helicopter. You might want to fasten your seatbelt.”
    Em did as he asked and Nelson started the small machine. She had never been on a helicopter before and had no idea what to expect. It lifted into the air, hovering for a moment and then taking off into the sky. Em had not expected it to force her back into the seat, but it did. Nelson was right. The small craft was incredibly fast, the forest below them blurring as they headed to New York. She had to wonder suddenly if her feelings of doom were directly related to the helicopter.
     
    * * * *
     
    They landed just outside a large settlement. From what Em could tell, there were probably a hundred houses built around a central brick building. The entire thing was surrounded by a high fence and standing just outside the open gate was Gaelic.
    Em unhooked her seatbelt. “Are you coming in?”
    “No. You are to go find Joel, get his blood, and then return. This is not a friendly visit for you to get to know one another again.”
    “Okay.