“Yeah,” a hoarse male voice said from inside.
She stepped away with another smile but motioned for Badger to open the door as she hurried away.
He took a deep breath and slowly opened the door, mentally steeling himself.The room was a large suite of two rooms, a bedroom area, and a living room, with an ensuite bathroom.
They sat on the comfortable sofa, the TV on but muted.Callum’s shaggy red hair looked faded nearly to strawberry blond, and his blue eyes, the same shade as Badger’s eye, didn’t seem to blaze with the same fire Badger remembered from the last time he saw him.
Then again, that had been over a hundred years, at least.
She, however, looked gaunt, haunted.She nodded but didn’t speak.
Callum sat with his arm around her shoulders and her body tucked against his.
In Bryn he saw the family resemblance to Hamish and Donnel, but she looked aged in a way a shifter shouldn’t.
Badger slowly motioned toward one of the comfortable chairs, and Callum nodded.
While he had not seen this man in over a century, he damned sure remembered how dangerous he was.
Probably now more than ever.
He lowered himself into the chair and offered Bryn a smile.“I’m glad to meetcha, although I wish the circumstances were better.”
She nodded again but didn’t respond.
“What news then, nephew?”Callum asked.His voice sounded ruined, and Badger wondered if it was a side effect of what they’d subjected him to or from screaming at them.
“What news would you like to hear first, uncle?”
“Is…” He sadly sighed and stroked Bryn’s hair.“Is it true?About our daughter?”
“I’m afraid so.But ye have a grandson, Ken, and a niece, Tamsin, who are both joys.Tamsin is Faegan’s daughter, but she’s nothing like him an’ has a wee baby daughter yer gonna love.Her mate was Trevor’s daughter.”
“Peyton and Trevor told us,” Callum said.“And yes, we do want to meet them.As soon as possible.We’d like to have a relationship with them.”
“Would ye consider movin’ over an’ joinin’ us?”he asked.“In Florida?”
Callum studied Bryn’s features.Badger suspected they were communicating through their mate bond.“Peyton seems ready to move us as soon as possible,” Callum finally said.“But what will our reception be?It’s not even been twenty-four hours since we arrived.We’re still processing that we’re… free.”
“My god, man, ye’re gonna be treated as heroes.Ye have a family waitin’ fer ye.”
Callum scowled.“Wehada family.”
“Sorry, poor choice of words.”Badger took a deep breath, not used to feeling nervous in another shifter’s presence.“Ye’ll be welcomed an’ embraced.They just don’t know it yet because the news hasn’t been released.”
“Peyton said they’re trying to locate relatives for everyone first.The adults, at least.”
“Aye.
“How did you get here so fast?”Bryn asked.“Why didn’t you bring Ken with you?”
“Well, I didn’t exactly tell anyone I was comin’.And Ken doesn’t know about ye yet.Peyton didn’t even know I was comin’.I spent most of yesterday travelin’.I wanted a quiet talk wi’ ye before anything was decided.And to discuss somethin’ wi’ ye.This thing I’m offerin’, it’s between us.I have a feelin’ Peyton would allow it, given the circumstances, but I cannae be sure.And, technically, I’m still the actin’ Pack Alpha, as far as most people know, so I’m takin’ the privilege.”
“What thing?”Callum asked.
Badger sat forward, his elbows on his knees.“I’ll take ye to Donnel so ye can do with him what ye will.My only ask is that ye wipe Hyacinth’s mind—the real Hyacinth—and that she’s removed so she can’t witness what happens.I don’t care what ye make her think except I want her to forget Donnel.She was a victim in all o’ this.Make her believe she was just rescued from the lab, whatever, I don’t care.But she doesn’t deserve to suffer anymore.She was collateral damage from the start.She had no idea what Donnel was up to when he betrayed ye.She didn’t even know he was in contact wi’ ye and has no idea what he did.”
“Yes,” Bryn said, suddenly sitting upright.“I want that bloody bastard’s throat.”
