Free Rebirth (Rogues Shifter Series) by Gayle Parness Page B

tenderly he grasped my hands and pulled me to sit beside him on a bench overlooking the sea, then wrapped an arm around my shoulder to pull me closer.
    “Jacqueline,” he whispered into my hair, “I was afraid for you. Now you’re safe with us.”
    My heart beat very fast.“I don’t understand.” I whispered into his shoulder.
    “Jacqueline.” H e'd said my name with a French accent, lifting my chin with his finger so I'd have to look into his eyes. “May I show you something? You should know the truth."
    "Yes”
    His blue eyes drew me in as the scene quickly changed and I appeared in the park, an invisible bystander watching a younger me being beaten and stabbed by my long ago attackers. Only this time Garrett arrived like a hungry demon, ripping into them with sharp fangs and supernatural strength. The men screamed and then died. As horrible as it was, I couldn't look away.
    Then the dark angel was crouching beside me, holding my horribly injured body with great gentleness. He bit into his wrist, then encouraged me to drink his blood. I was pale, barely breathing and probably close to death. However, as I drank, the bleeding slowed and stopped and my color improved quickly. I heard an ambulance in the distance as Garrett lowered me gently to the ground and disappeared into the trees in a blur of motion, carrying away the bodies of my attackers.
    The vision faded and I was once more leaning against him outside the villa, feeling both grateful and terrified at the same time. “I was almost too late. Je suis desole. I’m so sorry.” His eyes gleamed with anger and frustration and such sad ness. “Sleep now, Jacqueline.” The black velvet night swallowed us both.
     
    I woke up soaked in sweat and trembling violently. Reliving the attack had made me feel ill. I stumbled to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face then sank down to the tile floor and wrapped my arms around my bent knees.
    I’m losing it . Did Garrett come to me in a dream and show me how he saved my life two years ago? “Ridiculous” I said out loud. That drug must still be affecting my mind. And the whole me-drinking–his-blood thing was just too weird. But why did he seem so familiar? I opened the bathroom window and took in a few deep breaths of fresh air.
    When I stumbled back toward the bed, I looked at the small clock on the dresser . Great, What am I going to do at 5:00 AM? I decided to get dressed, sneak out the back door and then take a walk to straighten out my head. I’d noticed a narrow path that led south. Rob had said to avoid it, but since my night vision was excellent, and I wasn’t usually big on following rules that made no sense, I chose to check it out.
    Moving as quietly as possible down the forbidden path, I soon forgot the dream and became much more interested in my surroundings. Under oak and fir trees, azalea and huckleberry shrubs colored the dark trail with blooms which would brighten in the early light. The first chirping and warbling of birds in the high branches caused me to glance up and notice the moon in its waxing phase. Before long it would be full, lighting up the woods with a silvery glow. Good thing I wasn’t a werewolf, I thought smugly. They’d probably be pretty jumpy right now, waiting for their forced change. Or maybe they liked the hunt as much as shifters. I stifled a laugh with my hand when I realized how, in just a few days, I’d come to accept this crazy supernatural world.
    I heard noises ahead so I crouched and listened intently, peeking out between the larger leaves of a thick bush. Three men were speaking in hushed tones, but with my acute hearing I could understand every word. They walked toward me on the path at a steady pace, looking confident and excited.
    A stocky man with Hispanic features was talking. “Roberto is crazy, spending time out here with these rogues. The other others turned out okay, but these two have a troubled history. They’re a lost cause.”
    A man with a