Page 16 of A Shifter Disaster Thanksgiving

Diane laughed ruefully. This was what she’d wanted, wasn’t it, Soa life straight out of a romance novel. Sylvester was… well, he certainly wasn’t like the other men she’d met in the past. This morning had confirmed that. She’d finally bumped into the manof her dreams—no, the man she’d dreamt up for her books—but she’d had to end up on a prison mountain for that.

“Careful what you wish for,” she muttered to herself.

Breakfast wasn’t difficult to make, although the limited amount of supplies left her wondering how these villagers survived. After shoveling some hot pottage—which, to her dismay, only tasted a tad better than what Quinta had prepared yesterday—she and Sylvester headed out of the cottage and moved through the village.

Pine Gap was just as picturesque as it had been yesterday. She gazed in awe at the trees in the distance that towered over the village. There were few people on the streets, but those that were stopped to greet Sylvester, and Diane felt their gazes land on her. It wasn’t difficult to tell what they were thinking.

They gazed unabashedly in her direction, eyes unblinking, and Diane hugged her arms close to her chest, only partly against the biting cold, but mostly in a futile attempt to shield herself from their stares. She knew exactly what they were thinking. Shewasa newcomer, not to mention that she was with the tall, powerful Sylvester. He walked by her side, his gaze forward, his jaw clenched, making him look even more handsome.

“Be calm,” he said suddenly, as though sensing her discomfort. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

He took her hand in his, sending a jolt through her body.

“Why is that?” she asked.

“Because,” he replied, “you are with me.”

They walked for a few more minutes before Diane’s curiosity finally got the better of her. She glanced up at him. “You’re still not going to tell me why you want to see your brother?”

She felt his grip on her hand tighten for a split second but then he relaxed. They continued to walk in silence, Diane waiting to hear his explanation.

“My father was murdered a few months ago,” he said in a quiet voice.

Diane nearly stopped in her tracks. She blinked at him. “Wh-what?”

He nodded solemnly. “His body was found half-buried in the snow outside the chief’s quarters. He’d been stabbed to death.”

“I’m so sorry,” Diane said, feeling a surge of sympathy. It occurred to her then that this was the first bit of information he‘d given about himself. In all honesty, it surprised her to think that someone of Sylvester’s age still had a living relative. Then again, he looked young for his age, which she gauged was somewhere around fifty. “Did they… did you ever find out who did it?”

Sylvester’s blue eyes flashed. “No one seems to know who the killer is,” he said, “except me. I know who murdered my father, and he’s the one we’re going to meet.”

An icy sensation crawled up Diane’s spine. “Wait,what? Your brother?”

When Sylvester responded, it was in a much quieter voice. “He’s the only likely culprit. Before my father’s body was discovered, they’d been arguing.”

“About what?”

“About this village and Glenstra and the possibility of another war.”

“Oh,” Diane said, remembering that Quinta had mentioned something about an invasion.

“My father, Malcolm, wanted to keep the peace,” Sylvester continued, his strides quickening. “Gregory, on the other hand, wanted to crush Glenstra once and for all, no matter the cost. But since my father was village chief, there wasn’t much Gregory could do about it.”

“So he murdered him and took his place.”

Sylvester nodded again. “No one suspects it, not even Jon, despite everything I’ve told him. After all, why would Gregory murder his own father and put the entire village in possible danger? I’m not a fool. I can see what’s going on.”

Anger flickered across his face. Diane couldn’t help wondering just how much pain and hatred this man was carrying within him. It was justified, no doubt. It was one thing to lose a loved one, but quite another when they’d been murdered by another family member.

“This is… a lot,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind my questions. I’m not trying to pry.”

“Of course not. You are my wife. It is your right to know these things.”

Diane smiled in spite of herself. He was taking thiswifething a lot more seriously than she’d assumed he would. And to be honest, it felt great. It was an experience she hadn’t had in several years. And certainly not with someone like Sylvester.

As they turned a corner onto another street, another question popped into her mind. “But you still haven’t explained what I’m doing—”

A familiar voice cut her off. “Diane Garrick?”

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