Her gaze found Max, the man who had just found his brother, and she saw the fear etched deep in his handsome face.
“They are the same to look at. I didn’t see it at first.”
“Lions with their tawny manes and huge bodies. I wonder if he shares Max’s quiet charm?”
“His eyes are the same, although perhaps more golden.”
“Come, sister.” Wolf now sat on his horse and held his hand out to her. Cam lifted her up before him. “Let me warm you.” He opened his coat. She huddled back into his solid body and for now let him hold her. Max carried his brother, while James and Dev rode at each side of his horse to assist should they be needed. Nicholas had galloped on ahead to make sure things were ready for their arrival. Cam trailed behind.
The journey was a cold one, and now she was safe, Kate’s shivers turned to shudders.
“’Tis the cold and the shock.” Wolf tightened his arms around her.
“I-I thought to walk, that’s all. I woke restless, with a need to stretch my legs. S-something told me I must come to the cliffs, must go down the beach. It is not London, so I chose to do so.”
“It is the middle of winter, Kate; there is danger everywhere.”
“But had I not done so, he would be dead—Max’s brother drowned even as we speak.”
“I know it, but as yet do not understand the ramifications.”
She knew what he meant. Sinclairs married Ravens.
“Must there be ramifications? Surely the legend is not always true?”
“Perhaps. I suppose we shall wait and see. For one, I have no idea the kind of man Max’s brother is. As you have stated, why was he there, bound and left to die?”
They rode as fast as they were able, but the journey still seemed to take too long even though the distance was not great. When Oak’s Knoll, the Sinclair cousins’ family home, came into sight, Kate exhaled, relieved. Large, old but solid, this was a home that had memories, and she’d loved it from the first day she’d entered.
Above, the castle rose out of the mists, flags flying on the turrets. But she knew the rest of her family would be inside the house or would arrive shortly. It was their way. If one of them was in danger, they gathered.
“Hello, I hear you have a patient for me?” Essie ran out the front door as they arrived.
Wolf helped Kate down, and she hurried to where Rory was being lowered into James’s and Dev’s arms. Those golden eyes were open now, filled with pain, but alert for all the shudders wracking his body.
“I-I can stand.” He tried to push away from the support. “The w-woman, K-Kate. Where is she?”
“I am here, Rory. You are in good hands now; my family will help you.” Max, she noted, was staying out of his line of vision. “Come, we must get you warm and see to your injury.”
He grabbed her wrist.
“Bran?”
“He is here and will be cared for also.”
He looked around him at the faces.
“Where am I?”
“Oak’s Knoll, with my family. You are safe.”
“I’m never safe… no one is.” He then turned and came face-to-face with his brother.
Chapter Four
“Christ!”
“Hello, Rory.” Max came closer.
