Page 4 of Beyond the Winter Kingdom
“We hired him because you work for him,” Cadoc said in a low voice, glancing over and meeting my gaze for the first time since he showed up. I wanted to shrink beneath the weight of his stare. Of all my brothers, he was the most reserved. Not because he didn’t have thoughts or feelings on things, but because Cadoc watched. He studied people and the world around him the way an editor did a manuscript. Everything was part of a game—a piece on the board that he played. That’s not to say he didn’t love me or Sadie, or our family. He was just ... different. Something in his brain was wired in such a way that Cadoc viewed the world the way a predator did prey.
“You went missing, kiddo. And then your sister did as well. What else were we supposed to do? We couldn’t just sit back and wait.” My father came up to me, wrapping a thick arm around me in a hug. He smelled of coriander and whiskey. Home. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, letting his presence settle me. I hugged him tight before letting go. He filled me in before I could ask more questions. “Like Cadoc said, we hired Lou because you take jobs from him. We suspected that if we hired him he would lead us to one or both of you. We planned to follow him?—”
“Then we’d find you and kick his ass,” Darroch interjected with a deep nod. Dad liked to provide context, which on occasion, was needed. Darroch, however, was more likely to handle things like Sadie or I would—which is to say we got to the point. Quickly.
Lou sighed, clearing his throat as best he could against Vareck’s forearm and my mother’s bat. “And if it didn’t lead to Meera?” His tone was low and graveled. It sent a shiver down my spine. Despite the pain in his voice, there was something else in it too. Something unafraid, and perhaps even a little angry.Lou might be a leprechaun, but I sometimes wondered if he was more than that.
Atlas sniffed, lifting a shoulder. “We were going to beat your ass anyway. This only ends one way for you.” How very typical of my brother. Where Cadoc was reticent, Atlas was outgoing. If a golden retriever could be a grown man, Atlas was it. The guy had an upbeat demeanor, even when beating the shit out of someone.
Lou grumbled something unintelligible beneath his breath, and I ran my hands through my hair. “This is a lot to process right now.”
“We just explained it.” Fearghal said. He lifted a brow, making the white scar that ran down the left side of his face stretch. Most people grew out of the ‘look mom, no hands’ phase. Unfortunately, my brother was not one of them. The many scars that decorated his skin were a testament to his adventurous nature. “What all is there to process?”
“Um ...” I laughed nervously. So, so much. Having just spent a blissful and euphoric night having the best sex of my life. Finding out Vareck was my mate when true mates weren’t a thing anymore. Not knowing what any of that meant for my future—ourfuture? Running into Lou and learning Sadie was gone. My family showing up in Faerie, at the tavern where Vareck fucked my brains out, no less. Let’s see. Where to start?
Vareck cleared his throat, and I turned to him for help, pleading with my eyes to find the right words. He placed his free hand on the small of my back. It was at that moment that each one of the Wylde clan also took note of him in a more serious manner.
Atlas’ grin sharpened.
Cadoc’s stare flattened.
Darroch and Fearghal exchanged a wary but knowing glance.
My mother? She looked him up and down, a twinkle in her eye as she gave her approval with a wink and a coy smile. “Handsome man. Strong too.” She patted his bicep on the arm that held Lou pinned. “Good job, love. Is he coming to dinner?”
Darroch wasn’t nearly as impressed. His brows lowered as he assessed the king of Faerie, oblivious to who he was standing in front of. “Who the fuck is this guy?”
I shot him a dirty look before answering. “Um, Vareck, this is my mom and dad, Molly and Conor.” Their lips parted. A part of me suspected that at least my parents knew damn well who he was, even if my brothers were ignorant. I cleared my throat, continuing the introductions as though I hadn’t noticed the recognition of his name. “Mom, Dad, meet Vareck. We’re ... sort of ... seeing each other?” I immediately winced, knowing I’d chosen the wrong words, but not knowing what the right words should have been. Either way, phrasing it like a question didn’t help. The heat of Vareck’s gaze made my skin warm. While his expression was unreadable, his eyes burned.
“Seeing each other is a bit of an understatement,” he said quietly. His anger was restrained, but it was unmistakably present.
“What does that mean?” Cadoc responded coolly.
“Pretty sure it’s biblical,” Fearghal stage-whispered to Darroch.
For fuck’s sake.
Corvo jumped onto the counter by Farris and licked his paw. The innkeeper scowled at him but said nothing. “It means she just pissed him off by not admitting they’re mates.” I glared at Corvo, and if he could’ve shrugged, he would have. “What? It’s true. When have I ever lied?”
“Mates? Hope this isn’t a shotgun marriage situation,” Atlas joked. Maybe he was joking? Sometimes it was hard to tell where my happy-go-lucky brother ended and the protective bear of aman took over. My mom and dad exchanged a quick look that didn’t escape me, but before I could clarify, the damned cat kept going.
“Might as well be now. They did spend all night fucking.” Of all the times he had to interject into a conversation, this one was undoubtedly the worst. I closed my eyes, hearing my heartbeat in my head as all hell broke loose. The inn was filled with the cacophony of my brothers shouting over each other, going on about killing more than a leprechaun today, and who the hell did this douchebag think he was screwing their sister, and whatever else the hotheaded fools thought made them sound intimidating.
My mother whirled around to face my brothers, then pointed at Cadoc and Atlas. “Do you know who this is? Have some fucking manners! I know I taught them to you. I expect this shit from Darroch and Fearghal, but you two get your act together!”
“You can’t be serious, Ma! C’mon, this guy is fuc—” Fearghal interrupted, right before Cadoc punched him in the arm. “Ouch!”
“I see where you get your charm,” Corvo muttered.
Cadoc turned, finally refocusing on his surroundings. “Okay, but is no one going to address the fact that the cat is talking?”
Corvo hissed at him. “Who you calling a cat?”
“What the hell else would we call him?” Darroch whispered. “He’s literally a cat. Just hissed and everything.”
Vareck growled, the rumble in his throat reverberating over my skin before he shouted. “Everyone sit down and shut up!” The entire room tensed, staring at him with wide eyes. He looked at my mother, politely inclining his chin, adding, “Please.”
He removed his forearm from Lou’s neck, pointed a finger in his face and grabbed him by the collar as he dragged him to alarge rectangular table. “You included. One move to escape and you’re dead.”
