Just a Taste

Jacob had been hoping to see Eliza all day. To spend time getting to know her but she had been missing.He could smell her in the castle though so he let it lead him. Eventually he came to a staircase that led to the dungeons. Eliza’s scent became stronger with each step he took. When he reached the landing, he saw Eliza standing at the far side of the room with her back to him.

Jacob started to quietly walk towards her like a wolf stalking his prey.

“ Good afternoon Mr. Hexom,” Eliza said without looking up.

“ Hello Eliza. I was trying to sneak up on you. I must be losing my touch.”

Eliza turned around and said, “Not at all. I suppose Haldir didn’t mention that I have Lycan blood. My ears and nose are quite good, I assure you.”

“You’re a shifter?” Jacob asked as he took a seat in the chair beside her.

“ Not exactly. My father's father was an Alpha who fell in love with a natural witch. Things were much different then of course. It just wasn’t allowed. Her Order put a bounty on them both. My father couldn’t shift, although it made him abnormally powerful.I have never been able to shift, but who knows...under the right circumstances anything is possible isn’t it?”

“ You’re like the perfect woman Eliza,” Jacob said before he could stop himself.

But she didn’t laugh. Didn’t bat an eye. She just looked into Jacob’s eyes and smiled. “Thank you Jacob.”

“You’re welcome,” Jacob said as he glanced from her eyes to her lips and back. He wanted so much to taste those red lips.

“ Tell me about your husband Eliza.”

She looked away and then down at the potion she was working on. She swallowed hard and then started, “ His name was Avery. I met him when I moved to the castle. I was in the village one day and I needed a tool made. I went to the smith and there he was. Love at first sight kind of thing. We were married shortly after. He was a very good man. Avery deserved better than what happened to him.”

“That’s not your fault Eliza,” Jacob said.

“It was though Jacob. Humans aren’t supposed to live in our world. I shouldn’t have let it happen, I thought I could protect him. My arrogance killed him. That is my cross to bear.”

Jacob shook his head. “You’re wrong. You can’t stop who you love.”

“Because I loved him, because I knew better...that is the worst part. You can’t choose who you love, but you can choose to do the right thing to protect them. I should have let him go. He wasn’t meant to be mine.”

Eliza shuddered. She had been carrying that guilt a long time and it felt good to finally let it go.

Jacob wanted to comfort her. “You know, I found my mate once. Her name was Lorena.”

Eliza looked at him with wide eyes. She suddenly felt sick to her stomach. Mate? Her heart ached.

“ She was staying with my parents. I confessed my love to her and thought because we were mates that everything would just magically fall in place. But she rejected me. I couldn’t deal with it. The mate bond had already started and my hormones were driving me crazy. One night, I marked her. She didn’t want it and I did it anyways. I thought I knew what was best and that she would change her mind eventually. I was wrong. She ended up marrying someone else and the Order gave her a potion to break our bond.”

“I’m so sorry Jacob, that’s just horrible.”

“ I know, I like to believe I’m a different man now.”

“Not that, although that was a terrible thing you did. I’m sorry that you lost your mate. That’s just awful.”

“It’s ok now,” Jacob said and he meant it. He didn’t feel anything for Lorena now. All he could think about was those red lips of Eliza’s and all he could feel was his heart skip when he looked at her.

Jacob looked down to his feet and then said, “So America huh? You know I’ll be going home next month. Maybe we could meet up?”

“I’d like that Jacob.”

He looked back up at her and smiled. “Where are you going? I’ll need your number so we can keep in touch,” he said excitedly.

“ Don’t worry Jacob, I’ll find you,” Eliza said with a wink.

“Ok then,” Jacob said, unsure. Witches are weird like that, always secretive and evasive.

“So what are your parents like Jacob? I know a bit about your mother, what is your father like?”

“What do you know about my mother?”asked Jacob a bit defensively.

“Her parents and my parents knew each other well. Your grandfather saved my father’s life and took him in, helped him fight the warlock that cursed him. My family owes yours a great debt.”

“No kidding. It’s a small world,” said Jacob.

“Yes. It is,”said Eliza. “Your father then?”

“Oh my dad he’s...very...serious,” Jacob said trying to find the best words.

“Yes I suppose an Alpha would need to be.”

Jacob went on,” He loves my mom, obsessed is more like it. He’d burn down the whole world for her. And he’s a great dad. The best. He’d do anything for us.”

“That’s very sweet,” said Eliza. “I cannot wait to meet them.”

Jacob grinned at Eliza, “My mother will love you. My dad will be happy that you have wolf blood. He will insist on training you.”

“Oh, I’m afraid I’m more of a lover than a fighter. I’ve already died three times. I’ve had enough of all that,” Eliza said with a chuckle.

“Do you remember anything that happened to you?”

Eliza shook her head, “Not really, I was just a baby. I think I was a bit older the last time, but thankfully those memories have been lost or wiped away. I have nightmares sometimes but I’m not sure if they’re real. I wake up crying, shaking, feeling like I can’t breathe. Like someone has their hands around my neck.’

She stopped and took a deep breath. Jacob stood and came closer to Eliza. She wouldn’t look at him. Even as he put his arms around her, she looked down at the floor. Jacob leaned in and kissed Eliza’s forehead then slowly brought his hand up to her chin and brought her face up until her lips were touching his. He kissed her gently, just for a moment. Just a taste.

“I’m sorry about what’s happened to you Eliza. I wish I could take those nightmares away so you could feel safe.”

Eliza dropped her head and placed her forehead on Jacob’s chest. “You do make me feel safe Jacob. Thank you for listening to me sod on.” Jacob put his nose into Eliza’s hair like he had wanted to do since they met. The smell of apple pie, of home and family, made his heart ache. Not just for himself, but for Eliza. She had no one.

Just then, Haldir opened the door making Eliza push away from Jacob. She turned to face the Viking and said, “Your potion is ready Haldir.”