Page 51 of Fae Devoted
“Can I be straight with you?”
“Spit it out, Kincaid.”
The younger Ferwyn turned to face him. “Is Johnnie in danger?”
Tucker growled low in his throat, the sound a clear warning.
Kincaid broke eye contact and froze, aware he’d crossed a line.
Jo was Tucker’s responsibility foremost by right of the Mating Dance, then in his role as her pack beta, and lastly as her clanmate. The insult by a male outside Clan Walker, a male who wasn’t a blood relative, would be met with a warning swipe to the offending wolf’s belly under normal circumstances. The not so gentle reminder meant to put the impertinent shifter inhis place. Knowing Kincaid’s affection for Jo spurred his concern kept Tucker’s claws retracted.
“Nothing will happen to Jo while I’m still breathing,” he pushed the truth through descending canines. His heart compressed as though squeezed between iron clamps at even the possibility of Jo being harmed. Daimhín’s rogues had gotten too close.
“I don’t doubt that, beta.” Kincaid kept his chin down as he retrieved the milk, then left to fill a mason jar a third of the way, his shoulder bunched. He sealed the jar and shook the liquid inside until it doubled in volume, removed the lid, and placed it along with the concentrated coffee blend in the microwave. “But is one wolf, no matter how powerful, enough to keep her safe from whatever it is that brought you to my doorstep? Does what you’re hiding from have anything to do with the missing shifters?”
“No, I’m here to find my brother,” he admitted, a rattle in his chest, the precursor to a full-blown growl. He swallowed it back. He might not be able to divulge Jeremiah’s entanglement with a pureblood Fae, but he could outline the immediate danger. “He got involved with the KoH and was outcast.”
“And you entered the ENC and risked imprisonment to find an outcast looking for a new home. There must be more to the story.”
“I need to speak with him on Guard business.”
“And I don’t have clearance.” Kincaid sighed.
“We were attacked by rogues.”
“Vampires? What did they want?” he asked, spinning around again.
“My brother is also mytwin,” he said, allowing Kincaid to draw the wrong conclusion.
“Why do rogues want your brother?” He raised his palm. “Never mind. Classified?”
Tucker nodded.
“I assume you had no idea they were after—”
“Jeremiah.”
“Jeremiah,” he repeated, his surprise that Tucker was entrusting him with the personal information apparent in his widening eyes. “I’m sure you didn’t anticipate being mistaken for Jeremiah and endangering Johnnie when you started this journey.” Kincaid crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. “Howdidshe get involved in all this anyway?”
“She had a plan.” Tucker felt the prickling heat of a blush hit his cheeks for perhaps the first time in his adult life.
Kincaid chuckled. “Hard to say no to her when she sets her mind to something, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” Almost impossible.
“These rogues,” he said, all trace of humor gone. “Is there any way they followed you to the cabin?”
“None.” Tucker was positive they weren’t tailed. Daimhín might guess they’re heading to the UP, but not where they’ll hole up until then. “Only you and Samuel know where we’re staying.”
“I’d uphold my promise to keep your location a secret regardless, but now that Johnnie’s involved…” He didn’t need to say more, Alpha Fowler wouldn’t hear about their visit from Kincaid.
“I’m sending Jo to Memphis as soon as our business with the king is concluded.”
“Johnnie is as stubborn as a mule and loyal to the bone to those she cares about,” he said, returning the milk to the table with a thunk. “Unless she’s changed in the past three years, I guarantee she won’t be left behind or sent home without a fight.”
Kincaid wasn’t wrong.
Tucker knew Samuel’s visit to Michigan would be short because of his mating bond with Abby. Although a week or two apart wouldn’t do physical harm to a Ca’anam, there was Abby’ssafety as the last known Walker to consider. Samuel wouldn’t tolerate a long separation, and Tucker hoped to persuade Jo to return to Memphis with their Alpha. It’d be a hard sell, but he had no intention of allowing her to be there when he finally confronted Jeremiah.
