The Jewel's Treasure [Celestial Jewels 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read online

  Celestial Jewels 3

  The Jewel’s Treasure

  Brandon and Sabrina have finally found a peaceful life, but Brandon’s human past is catching up. An ex-lover is back and unhappy to find her old flame married and a vampire. Nemesis isn’t the only celestial being with an eye on the couple. Mars, the god of war, wanted to reconnect with Aunt Eleanor but found Sabrina’s unique magic instead. Now he’s looking to claim Sabrina as his star pupil by force.

  Those aren’t the only problems Sabrina possesses. Brandon contracted three half-demons to help her reopen her magical supply store. One of them, Salem, wants a “get out of Hell free” card, and pairing up the celestial beings seems like just the hot ticket. Salem is more than eager to betray Sabrina to the highest bidder.

  Can Sabrina resist the god of war’s temptations and fight the goddess of divine retribution? What will she sacrifice to save the man she loves? The price is high, but is she willing to pay?

  Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Vampires/Werewolves

  Length: 57,001 words

  THE JEWEL’S TREASURE

  Celestial Jewels 3

  J. Annas Walker

  EROTIC ROMANCE

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

  THE JEWEL’S TREASURE

  Copyright © 2014 by J. Annas Walker

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-62741-928-4

  First E-book Publication: June 2014

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2014 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of The Jewel’s Treasure by J. Annas Walker from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is J. Annas Walker’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Walker’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  I’d like to acknowledge my friends and family for seeing me through yet another series. You guys have been the best cheering section I could have asked for over the years. The most valuable thing an author can have is the love and support of the people around them. Thank you.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  THE JEWEL’S TREASURE

  Celestial Jewels 3

  J. ANNAS WALKER

  Copyright © 2014

  Chapter 1

  A shaking key jiggled its way into the old-fashioned lock. Unsteady hands managed to get the large ring spun around twice. The creaky tumblers clacked and clicked as they fell into place. The slightly dented metal knob twisted, but the summer humidity held the swollen wood firm.

  The door stuck and needed a firm shoulder against it to open. The bell on the back tinkled as the glass rattled in its frame. Faded curtains fell off, making a loud clatter and leaving the miniblinds attached.

  A heavy waft of stifling, stale air choked Sabrina. She searched for the light switch and gave it a quick upward flick. Every surface of the once-neat shop held a clear inch of dust. A particularly large pile of dust in the back room shimmered around a pile of tattered camouflaged fabric.

  A shiver ran up Sabrina’s spine. The last time she saw those clothes, the man wearing them attempted to take her head to get her necklace. Little did he know the necklace was only a protection charm back then. The jewel he unknowingly sought was her, not a pendant.

  The dark stone hanging around her neck reacted to her anxiety, glowing softly and throwing dark, shadowed rainbows on the walls. Sabrina laid a hand over the stone. The warmth of the magic helped her relax. Earthbound death magic and celestial light magic blending together made a powerful magical amulet, and she was its keeper.

  Timidly, she took a few steps further into the shop, closing the door behind her. The shop held few traces of the struggle that began her flight from hiding. Eleanor’s magic had kept the shop sealed from intruders for more than a year. Even from beyond the grave, her aunt’s powers maintained their potency.

  “What in the hell was I thinking?” Sabrina said aloud. Her stomach felt like twisted knots. Anxiety dried her mouth, making her fangs stick to her lips as she inhaled deeply through her mouth. Being in the shop brought back memories of Clay nearly being killed by her attacker and of Eleanor killing the man with an arrow through the throat.

  That night had rocked Sabrina’s life. She’d discovered Aunt Eleanor used the isolated Platt Balsam Mountains of western North Carolina to hide her from other celestial beings. The new revelations continued with the knowledge that her parents were alive, having always believed herself orphaned. She’d grown up as a half witch only to find out her goddess and vampire heritage later. Her past felt like a lie, but she cherished the happy memories of the little to
wn of Sylva. Besides, those events brought her a new joy—her husband, vampire kingpin Brandon Thorpe.

  “I thought you wanted to reopen the shop.”

  Sabrina gave a yelp and turned to face Brandon. She covered her mouth with one hand and clutched at her stomach with the other. Shaking her head, she took the two steps needed to bury her face in his chest.

  “I can’t do this. I can’t. I thought I could, but I was wrong,” she said with an edge of panic. Her breathing became ragged. Tears welled up on her lashes.

  “Hey now. Don’t cry. You’re safe and with me,” he said, and gently lifted her chin up. He smiled down at her, wiping her cheek with one thumb. “We can get someone else to clean up. You don’t have to do this. I’ll build you an entire mall, if you want.”

  “I know, but I need to close this chapter of my life. It’s high time I figure out what it means to be me. No other supernatural creature has to wake up each evening and wonder what they are. I do, and it sucks,” Sabrina said. She hugged him for a moment and then stepped back. Taking a few deep breaths, she turned and walked straight to the back room.

  Doing her best to ignore the pile of glittery dust, she noticed the mirror over the small work table. Several spiderwebs obscured the reflective surface. Sabrina concentrated and waved her hand as if she were brushing them aside.

  They moved away, revealing a pale face framed with long, blue-black curls. Dark, nearly black eyes rimmed with long lashes stared back. Two sharp, white fang points pressed into her vibrantly painted red lips, a sign she clenched her jaw tightly in response to her nerves. She tried to smile at herself, but the result looked more pained than friendly.

  “As Aunt Eleanor would have said, let’s get this show on the road,” Sabrina muttered and turned her attention to the store’s selling floor.

  She raised a hand, just as she remembered her aunt doing countless times, and thought about all the work she needed to do. A hot wind whipped around her ankles. It slowly rose, winding around her like a snake. Making its way down her arm, the hot wind whispered to her, asking to carry her will. She agreed, allowing it to sweep through the shop. When it died down, all the dust fell into a neat pile in the center of the floor.

  She snapped her fingers in the direction of the dust pan and broom propped up in the corner. They sprang to life and marched to the dust pile. With the mess pushed into the pan, they marched back to their rightful place, pausing only long enough to deposit the dust in the trashcan.

  Everything seemed clean and well-organized. Not even the glittery remains of the camo-wearing mercenary remained. Gemstones and jewelry twinkled in the glass-front cases. The herb jar labels looked legible and faced the right direction.

  A knock on the back door made Sabrina jump.

  “Mrs. T? Are you in there?” a muffled male voice called out.

  Sabrina looked at Brandon for instructions. She had not told anyone else her evening plans. Was this a trick? Should she be on guard? Her pendant grew bright again.

  “It’s all right. That’s just the delivery boy,” Brandon said, reassuring her.

  He raked a hand through his black hair, pushing it back into place. Walking swiftly past her, and stepping on the pile of camo fabric, he answered the door to reveal a scrawny, teenage boy in blue jeans, a black tee, and expensive sneakers. He invited the boy inside and locked the door behind them.

  “Sabrina, this is Winston. Winston, this is Mrs. Thorpe,” Brandon said formally. “Winston will be the store’s daytime runner. His sisters, Salem and Marley, will be your daytime employees.”

  “I thought you said I could run the store,” Sabrina said, feeling a little confused.

  “You can. Having them in the store will free up your schedule. Didn’t you tell me how the store took up most of your time? Well, now it doesn’t have to. This way you get to have your cake and eat it, too,” Brandon told her. He gave a warm smile, allowing his fangs to show.

  Sabrina ranged through a mixture of emotions. Annoyance at not being asked gave way to relief. Several times since arranging to reopen the shop, she wondered how she would explain only being open at night. She decided the sandy-haired, blue-eyed youth would do.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Winston. Are your sisters both older than you?”

  Winston gave a wide smile. “No, ma’am. We’re all the same age. Fraternal triplets and all that,” he said happily. His sharp teeth gleamed in the overhead fluorescent lighting.

  Sabrina took notice and scrutinized the boy more closely. Behind his ears and along his knuckles, small, clear scales covered his skin. The texture of his hair seemed coarser than she noticed at first glance. The pupils of his blue eyes were cat-like. Clearly, this boy was more than he appeared.

  “Triplets? That must have kept your mother busy. Where are you from, and what is your last name, Winston?” Sabrina asked, hoping to get more information.

  Brandon cleared his throat. “As I think you can guess, the triplets are half demons. I hired them with the understanding that we all have secrets. It’s a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ sort of arrangement,” he explained.

  Winston laughed.

  The sound sent shivers crawling along Sabrina’s spine.

  “Don’t worry, Mrs. T. We’re not ax murders or anything. We just want a nice, normal small-town life. I promise not to eat any small children or puppies,” Winston teased.

  “And your names? Did you choose those, or are they your given names?” Sabrina asked, letting curiosity get the better of her. Either they possessed a strange sense of humor, or their mother really liked cigarettes.

  “Oh, you noticed. Blame that one on Mom. She thought it funny, since she’s from one of the fire levels. Marley laughs it off like I do. Just don’t bring it up with Salem,” Winston advised. He looked around and nodded in approval. “This is a nice place. Do you just sell to the New Age crowd or do you work spells for them, too?”

  “No spells. Aunt Eleanor kept most of the local solitary witches and covens supplied, but she wanted the place to seem more New Age. It helped keep the local human gossip to a minimum, especially after this became more of a tourist town,” she explained.

  “Makes sense. Just thought I’d ask. We didn’t want any surprises,” he added.

  A sharp knock on the back door stopped the conversation.

  Sabrina glanced at Brandon.

  He wore a sullen frown and shook his head. “I’m not expecting anyone else,” he said quietly. He gestured to Winston.

  The scrawny youth closed his eyes and faded from view.

  The next sounds came sharper and louder, like someone attempting to force the door. Two voices mumbled to each other on the other side. Their shadows on the frosted glass appeared male.

  A third shadow appeared behind them. A pair of arms reached out and slammed the pair’s heads together. A heavy thump came from their collapse against the door.

  A moment later, Winston walked through the unopened door. “I don’t know who they are, but they’re both going to have one heck of a headache in the morning,” he announced. He unlocked the back door and opened it wide.

  Two men in business suits fell into the storage room. Both wore short haircuts, white shirts, and dark, plain ties. From the looks of them, the words “government employees” might as well be stenciled on their foreheads.

  “Check them for ID,” Brandon instructed. He went to the front door and turned off the lights before peeking out of the blinds. “There’s a black SUV parked in the tow-away zone down the street. When you’re finished, I would appreciate you placing them inside and leaving them there.”

  Winston riffled through the men’s jacket and pants pockets. “I got nothing. The only way to find out who they are would be to pick their brains,” he said. He held up one finger until it glowed and started to apply it to one man’s forehead.

  “No. We don’t want to damage them. Let’s just put them back in their vehicle, and let the local police tow it,” Brandon suggested.

 
Winston’s finger dimmed and returned to normal. “Okay. You’re the boss, but these two don’t seem supernatural to me. Is there anything I should know about?”

  “That’s something I’d like to know myself,” Brandon muttered and pulled out his phone.

  Winston knelt between the two men and laid a hand on each one’s shoulder. All three of them disappeared with a little popping noise. A moment later, Winston returned alone. “Done. What next?”

  Sabrina stood amazed. “That’s some impressive magic you have. Are your sisters talented, too?”

  “Yeah, it’s a demon thing. I can move matter, set things on fire, and pull memories. Marley can manipulate water, become invisible, and can freeze things. Salem is almost solely telekinetic. She can’t rearrange matter the way I can, but she can force it to move. Her favorite gift is the ability to make people think what she wants them to think,” Winston said with a devious grin.

  Brandon’s sudden outburst drew Sabrina’s attention.

  “What in the hell do you mean? We’re being investigated? Why?” After a short pause, Brandon asked, “When did this happen?” Another pause. “Are we the targets?” Silence. A moment later, a male voice on the line replied. “Fine. Fine. Whatever. Just send me the damn files. I’ll look over them later tonight.” He did not wait for a response before hanging up.

  “What was that about?” Sabrina asked. Her heart sank a little. She had returned to her hometown to get away from the troubles that seemed to plague them in Atlanta. The past three months had seemed like a peaceful dream.

  “Do you remember the two guys who sent the fake SWAT team?” Brandon answered her question with another question.