Her Guardian Angel (Fire and Snow)(66)

"Bonjour, Jake. What has you ringing me at this hour? It must be near midnight your end."

"Bonjour, Tristian. Yes, it is getting late, but this matter is urgent. I think we just found one of your Lost Ones."

"Oh, that does sound promising. Please, tell me more."

"It's Dominic's mate. She presented as fully human, but after mating, she shifted. I know her mother was French, moved to Melbourne when she was pregnant."

"Do you know her mother's name? Or the year she would have moved?"

"Ahh, I don't know her mother's name but Adele's last name is Petit. She was born in 1989. November, I think."

"Incroyable! You found her! Oh Remi is going to be so happy. Merci, my friend, merci beaucoup."

"You know her father? Personally?"

"Sit back my friend and let me tell you a story."

Twenty minutes later Jake hung up the phone. Damn, he hoped Dominic and Adele handled this news well, because, depending on how fast Remi could get on a plane, Adele's Dad was going to be here in the next day or two. He'd made the call to Tristian on speaker so Sophie would know what was going on. She gave him a tight hug and wished him luck and strength as he headed out the door to go to the hospital.

It was close to one am when he walked into Adele's hospital room. She lay unconscious on the bed, and Dominic was pacing back and forth across the room. His son looked like he'd aged ten years since he had seen him early yesterday. The anguish, confusion and pain rolling off him cut Jake to the bone.

"Hey, son. How is she?" He watched as Dominic raised his head to look at him

"I didn't know it would hurt her Dad. I don't get it. I don't understand why she shifted. I'd just told her that the mating wouldn't change her and then she goes and shifts!" Jake strode across the space and wrapped his son in a bone-crushing hug; Dominic sagged into his embrace, resting his head on his father's shoulder.

"She is one of the Lost Ones, Dominic. I don't know how the mating triggered the shift, but her mother was a future-mate. Her father is one of us. I spoke with Tristan before I came. I have a lot to tell you both, but I would like to be able to tell you together. Has she woken up since we spoke?"

Dominic pulled from his embrace and scrubbed his face.

"No, she hasn't. Clint said she should at any moment. He's put her wrist back in a cast. It's healing faster now that her shifter DNA has been triggered."

"How about I get you a coffee while we wait for your mate to return to us?"

"Sounds like a plan, Dad, because I really want to hear some answers, and I'm certain she will too."

~ * ~

Adele awoke to find herself in the hospital. Damn it, how the hell had she ended up back here? In a rush, the previous night came back to her. She arched her back, pressed herself deep into the mattress as she tried to breathe through the remembered pain. Dominic was right there rubbing her face and arm, saying soft gentle things to her, calming her with his smooth deep voice. But it was his fault; he'd promised her the mating wouldn't alter her.

"You said I wouldn't change. But I did! What the hell is going on, Dominic?" She was pissed off. How could he trick her like this? She didn't even see Jake until she heard him speak.

"Dominic knows as little as you do about what happened last night, Adele. Please, don't be angry. None of us saw this coming." She rested her head against Dominic and inhaled, taking his scent deep within her.

"Please, Jake, if you have answers, can you explain them to me; to us." She didn't have it in her to guess and play cryptic games. She heard Jake take a deep breath and felt Dominic's hold on her tighten; he had slipped onto the bed and had moved her into his embrace.

"Where to start... I guess I should really check a couple things to make sure we have it right. Adele, what was your mother's name? And when did she migrate to Australia from France?"

"Her name was Fleur Petit and she migrated in May, 1989. Why? What has that got to do with anything?"

"Your father. He is one of us, and he's been searching for you and your mother since before you were born."

Adele looked at Jake in shock. Her father? Remi Baudin, the man who had irrevocably broken her mother's heart had been looking for her?

"I don't believe you. He left my mother and broke her heart. When he found out about me, he literally ran from her."

"Yes, he did run, but not for the reasons you think."

Adele looked up to the door as a new deep voice floated over the room. What she saw stole her breath. A Tibetan Monk stood in her doorway, dressed traditionally in red and gold robing. He would only be five foot two at the most, but he had a strong aura of power and wisdom. This was a man whose presence alone commanded respect. His skin was a dark tan color. His dark hair was trimmed close to his skull, and his face was serious but friendly. He looked like he couldn't be much older than twenty, but his eyes held the wisdom of an old man. Who the hell was this man who seemed to know what they were talking about?