“Can’t be very nice since Fionn and Hunter decided to stay in that cottage, instead,” Glenn murmured.
“I don’t think that’s a fair assumption at all,” Sawyer replied. “From what my brother intimated, the reason is that this place has bad memories for Fionn.”
“I’m not surprised after hearing how our father treated my brother,” Alex said, anger creeping into his voice despite his attempt to control it.
“Sweetheart,” Sawyer said gently, “let it go…anger will never turn back the clock to erase the wrongs your father did to either of you. And dwelling on the past will only end up making you…and Fionn…miss what’s good now.”
“I’m sure Mac would agree it’s not good for the health of your cub, either,” Glenn said, rubbing his thumb over the back of Alex’s hand.
Sighing, Alex leaned his head against Sawyer’s shoulder. His mates were right, but even acknowledging it still didn’t make it easy to forget. Nevertheless, for the sake of his cub’s health and his blossoming relationship with his brother, he vowed to try harder to put it all behind him. “Right…moving on. Time to see what my brother has waiting for us. Who’s gonna knock?”
~/~/~/~/~
Keeping his hand locked with his mate’s, Lucius followed Brady down a hallway, coming to a stop just outside an open door. Peering in, he saw a heavily muscled man sitting behind a desk, typing on a computer keyboard. The sheer size of the man was intimidating, but the power radiating from him caused a whimper to escape from Lucius. Fear seized his gut, and the need to disappear filled him until Brady squeezed his hand, pulling him back from the brink.
“It’s all right,leelan,” Brady whispered into his mate’s ear. “No harm will come to you or me…we’re safe here.”
“But his power…”
“Is used for good,” Brady said. “Trust me.” Giving a quick rap on the doorframe first, he led Lucius into the room, gesturing to some chairs in front of the desk. After his mate was seated, Brady claimed the one next to him before looking at Dylon. “You have news about the whereabouts of the low level magic users?”
“Congratulations on your mating,” Dylon said, smiling as he leaned back in his chair, then looked at Lucius. “Glad to see you up and about…no lingering effects from the death spell?”
Shaking his head, Lucius kept silent, deciding it best to do so with this powerful stranger.
“Forgive me,leelan,” Brady said. “My manners seem to have deserted me…Dylon, this is Lucius, my Fated Mate…andleelan, this is Dylon…a member of the Blackwood Pack who is working with me to sort out the Witches’ Council mess.”
“It is a bit of a mess, isn’t it,” Dylon said, snorting at the understatement.
Just then, another man rushed in, sliding to a stop at a chair next to Brady’s. “Hey, hope you didn’t start without me,” Zane said, grinning at everyone. Sitting down, he leaned forward, holding out his hand to Lucius. “Hi, I’m Zane…the resident computer nerd. Luckily Jackson indulges my need to bury myself in my geek cave so you won’t see me around a lot, but you’re welcome to join me down there anytime you want.”
Lucius froze. It was the man who killed Valerian in Scotland. Even though Zane didn’t radiate power like the Alpha and Dylon did, Lucius knew first-hand how dangerous he was to vampires. A soft moan escaped before he snapped his mouth shut. He couldn’t stay nor could he leave Brady there. Quickly reaching out, he grabbed his mate’s hand causing both of them to vanish. Only a whisp of smoke remained behind.
“What the hell?” Dylon shouted, quickly sitting upright. “What the fuck did you do?”
“Me?” Zane yelled. “I didn’t do nothin’! All I did was introduce myself…which, if you want to be technical…you should have done since it’s your meeting.”
“Fuck, we don’t have time for this shit,” Dylon muttered just as Remy and Carson entered his office.
“Hey, sorry we’re late but we stopped by the nursery to see the three newest members of the pack,” Carson said, leading his mate to the now two vacant chairs in front of Dylon’s desk.
“Where’s Brady?” asked Remy, lowering himself to the chair.
“Gone…Lucius too,” Zane muttered.
“I don’t understand,” Remy said. “Gone where?”
“No idea,” growled Dylon. “Zane sat down, and Lucius and Brady disappeared.”
“Oh shit,” Carson muttered. “Zane scared him.”
“Me? All I did was say hello.”
“No, it’s not what you said, it’s what you did in Scotland to Valerian,” Carson replied. “Lucius saw you kill his master and…”
“He thought I was going to kill him?” Zane asked, his voice ending in a squeak. “I’d never do that. The only reason I did it to the vampire in Scotland was he went after David.”
“I know,” Carson said. “But Lucius doesn’t because Valerian told him no one could ever kill him. According to Logan, the asshole you killed really did a number on the kid.”
