He’d had more people touching him in the last thirty minutes than in the last few years.
“Welcome, Ash. We are so very pleased you are here.”
He nodded, because if they knew what he was, they would not be happy he was here. Clearly Gus had told them nothing about him.
“Come, Baron, we will head inside. It is far too cold to be civilized out here.” Eden slipped her hand around his friend’s arm. “I am starving. We shall find some food and drink to warm our insides.”
“I would love to see inside your castle, your Grace.”
“Eden,” she said.
Ash stood facing his cousin, who was a stranger.
“How is it you are here, Ash?”
“I arrived a while ago but was injured. As soon as I was able, I went to your townhouse, and they told me the family had come here, so I followed.”
“What happened? Are you fully healed now? My sister-in-law is a wonderful healer,” the duke asked, looking him up and down.
“I am healed, thank you.” He was not telling James what had happened. His eyes passed over the last few guests making their way to the castle entrance. Dorset Sinclair was not among them.
“I will ask you this only once and believe what you tell me. Are you here to cause your brother trouble or pain?”
“Not willingly.” But his words would hurt Gus.
“Is there danger for you here in England?”
He hesitated.
“That tells me what I need to know. Will danger follow you here, to Crunston Cliff, Ash?”
“It will not. I have ensured that cannot happen,” he said to the duke.
He looked at his cousin and wondered how many of his ancestors had stood in that exact place with the huge castle at their back.
“Ash, you are my family. I am there for you as I am for Gus. Please always remember that.”
Shock held him still for seconds. “I-I… You cannot say something like that. You know nothing of me or what I am.” The words came out hard. “Save your protection for my brother.”
The duke’s smile was gentle. “And yet my words stand.”
His throat felt tight again, and his chest hot.Too much emotion.
“It will take you and Gus time to find each other again, Ash. But your past bond will ensure that happens.”
“That is between him and I.”
“Undoubtedly, but as he is now one of us, we are part of this also.”
One of us.
“As you are also one of us, I would like it if you and your brother settled your differences.”
“I am not one of you,” Ash growled. “And our differences are irreconcilable.”
“I doubt that.” James just stood there smiling at him.
“Hello.”
