Cadence listened to every word Jamie said, taking all of it into consideration. She realized that Aaron was very much a rule follower; everything was black or white. Living in a world where the rules were shifting and bending had to be unsettling. “Answer me this,” Cadence said, turning around so that she was sideways now, facing him, one leg tucked under the other. “If the roles were reversed—if Aaron had died and Elliott had lived, do you think that Elliott would use the portal?”
Jamie didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely.”
Cadence nodded and then dropped her eyes to her lap. That’s what she thought, too.
“But Aaron wouldn’t come through it,” he added.
Cadence looked up at him, her eyebrows raised.
“If Aaron thought for a second he might bring something evil with him, there’s nothing in the world that could make him step through that portal, not even you.”
“Damn,” Cadence mumbled. She knew that Jamie was right, too. That was the hardest part. “Okay, but just because Aaron wouldn’t do something doesn’t mean it’s the right decision.”
“I’m not saying it is,” Jamie nodded. “I’m just telling you what I believe would happen, like you asked.”
“Right,” Cadence replied, shifting back around on the edge of the fountain again. “So when he says that he won’t let this come between us—if I do it—do you believe him?”
Once again, Jamie didn’t hesitate. “Certainly. Cadence, there’s no question in my mind that he loves you unconditionally and completely. I’ve seen him in a few relationships, but nothing like this. Nothing could tear the two of you apart. That I’m sure of.”
Cadence wanted to be happy to hear that, but instead she felt a little sick to her stomach. “And is that because of the whole Hunter Leader/Guardian Leader fate bit?” she asked.
“Are you okay?” he asked, a grin pulling at the corner of his mouth. “You look a little green.”
“Yes, I’m fine,” she said swatting at him. “I’m serious. Does he love me because he wants to, or does he love me because he has to?”
“Yes,” Jamie replied succinctly.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Cadence asked, tempted to smack him for real.
“It means, he loved you before you were the Leader, and I think you had feelings for him before you even Transformed, so I think that’s when you both made your choices. Do I think that fate might have a little bit to do with keeping you together? Possibly. It’s always been the case, as you know. But fate hasn’t been enough to make same sex leaders get together—not often anyway—so, I don’t think you have zero choice in the matter.”
While she heard and understood him, she wasn’t sure that was enough of an answer to calm her nervous stomach. “Okay,” she finally said. “I guess that makes sense.”
“I suppose it matters to you, then, why he loves you, instead of just being happy that he does?”
Cadence nodded. She’d never really felt worthy, never felt good enough, for him.
“It shouldn’t,” Jamie assured her, squeezing her shoulder. “Hell, sometimes I can’t even believe I’m worthy of being in the same room with him, let alone his friend.”
She giggled. He really was more like a demigod than anyone she’d ever met—or even imagined. “How did the two of you meet, anyway?” she asked, realizing she had no idea.
“Oh, Jack the Ripper. But we didn’t really become good friends until Pearl Harbor,” Jamie replied, putting his hand back in his lap.
“Really?” Cadence asked. She knew Aaron had some stories, but she had not heard this one before, and he’d only mentioned Jack the Ripper in passing.
“Yes. It’s a long story, but I was stationed there, and he was there gathering intel for your grandfather. The Japanese were not the only ones after the sailors that day.”
“Of course not,” Cadence replied, shaking her head. “Why does it seem like all of these horrible events in history are Vampire related?”
“Not all of them,” Jaimie clarified. “And the bombing wasn’t either. In fact, the Vampires weren’t around at all that day. They waited a few days to come in and try to do some damage. By then, thanks to Aaron’s information, your grandfather and his team were able to stop them.”
“And when you say you were stationed there, do you mean in the navy or as a Guardian?”
“Both. I was a medic.”
“Oh, I see,” Cadence nodded.
“I’d already Transformed by then. After all, I was pretty old by human standards. But no one knew that.”
“Of course not. You still look like a spring chicken.”
He laughed and patted her hand before continuing, “And a lot of us enlisted during the war. It just made sense to fight for our country, especially those of us who could take a bullet and keep going.”
“Right,” Cadence nodded, thinking that seemed logical.
“I had to hide my talents in the hospital, but very few of my patients died, and those that did, well, I couldn’t heal someone who didn’t have all of the necessary parts.”
“Bluck,” Cadence said, sticking her tongue out. “So you were there during the Pearl Harbor attack?”
“I was,” Jamie affirmed. “And I really don’t like to talk about it.”
“I don’t blame you,” Cadence replied. “I bet a lot of people lived who otherwise wouldn’t have.”
“Maybe,” the Healer shrugged. “But you don’t remember the ones that lived as much as you remember the ones that didn’t.”
Realizing he must be thinking of someone in particular, Cadence put her arm around him. “I’m sorry. Do you want to talk about that?”
“No,” Jamie said quietly.
“Okay,” Cadence said. She kept her arm around him for a few more moments, sitting in silence before she said, “Thanks for meeting with me. I know you’re busy. Your opinion really means a lot to me.”
“Any time,” he replied patting her knee. “I’m sure that, whatever you decide to do, we’ll all be able to handle the consequences.”
“I hope so,” Cadence agreed, hopping down off of the fountain and brushing her backside off. “Otherwise, Eliza’s greatest wish might come true, and Aaron and I won’t be together anymore. And even if she’s thousands of miles away in Madagascar, I would really hate for her to get to say, ‘I told you so.’”
Jamie jumped down beside her. “She’s probably just happy to be out of Siberia.”
“True.”
“And Slovakia.”
“Also true.”
“Besides, even if Aaron couldn’t forgive you, he would never get back together with Eliza again.”
“Oh, I know that,” Cadence replied as they began to walk back toward the complex. “I just don’t want her to ever be able to say she was right about anything again.”
“Can you imagine her face if she did see Elliott alive and well?” Jamie snickered. The purple-headed siren had never gotten along with the burly Guardian.
Cadence laughed, imagining what that would be like. “Oh, my God, Jamie,” she exclaimed, grabbing his arm and turning him to face her as a thought popped into her mind. “I can’t wait until Cowboy Sam sees Elliott!”
“Oh, yes. Please let me be there for that,” Jamie agreed. “But I’m not cleaning it up when that old murderer shits his pants.”
Cadence had to stop walking because she was laughing too hard. “Seriously, Funny Jamie is the best. Can I keep him?”
“As long as you protect me from your fiancé when he finds out I approved Operation Blue Moon Portal.”
“You got it,” Cadence said, looping her arm through his as they continued on their way. She knew Aaron wouldn’t get mad at Jamie; he was too valuable. Besides, even Aaron had to know Jamie was right, didn’t he?
