Liam turned back toward the revolving doors, but Matt shoved himaside.
“I’ll go in first,” the blond giantsaid.
The doors spun, tossing the familiar scent of chimney smoke and potpourri at us, as well as the scent of musky sweat and damp fur. It smelled like the Creek delegation had traveled by paw instead of by foot and tire. Perhaps somehad.
Liam went in after Matt, then Lucas. Cole gestured for me to go, so I pressed my fingertips into the cool glass and pushed. I expected noise but was greeted with silence. The place was eerily quiet. No one stood behind the bell desk. No one roamed the hallways. No footfalls echoed on the buffed pinefloors.
I’d stopped just outside the revolving doors, so when Cole stepped through, I felt his hand on my back, pressing me a couple of inches to the side so he could fit into the inn without toppling me over. The tether tautened when August came in. I dropped my hand to my navel instinctively, not because it itched, but because touching it seemed to lend me strength. Unlike Cole who’d gone to stand next to his brother, August remained standing at my back, his steady heat pulsing against my bare shoulder blades, battling the goose bumps swarming over myskin.
“This doesn’t feel right,” Colesaid.
The silence rattled mybones.
Lucas sniffed the air. “The place reeks ofthem.”
“I sense heartbeats,” Liam said. “Humanand—”
There was pounding, scratching, then two wolves lurched out of the living room. Not wolves—dogs. Huge black and tawny ones with droopy faces. They stopped in front of the six of us, teeth bared, drool spilling over their floppyjowls.
I backed up, smacking into August’s chest. His hands settled on my arms at the exact same place where Liam’s had been not too long ago. Instead of bruising like Liam’s, August’s grip on me was gentle but firm—velvet instead ofsteel.
I relaxed when I noticed the dogs were hooked onto leashes, leashes that were stretched tight. Footsteps sounded on the hardwood floors, and then a silver-haired man came through the living roomdoors.
AidanMichaels.
He reeled in the leashes. “I hope you’ll abstain from slaying my new Bloodhounds. I only received them a weekago.”
While Cole inched closer to me, Matt and Lucas positioned themselves in front of Liam. August didn’t move. Didn’t let go of my arms that had started to shake. Not with fear but with pure, unadulteratedhatred.
I had no interest in killing the dogs, but their owner . . . I was sure interested in sectioning off one of his arteries and watching him bleedout.
“He can’t hurt you,” Augustmurmured.
I wasn’t afraid of him hurting me. Quite theopposite.
“What are you doing here?” Liam’s tone was as cutting as achainsaw.
“I was just visiting my new acquisition. It’s a tad shabby, but the view is splendid. Best thing about the place.” His bespectacled navy eyes sought mine through the wall of malebodies.
“Where are yourguests?” Lucas bitout.
“They went out for a little exercise. Lovely bunch. Very educated and forward-thinking. A nice change from the citizens ofBoulder.”
“All of them?” Liamasked.
“They’re not all sharp as tacks,but—”
Matt cut in. “Liam meant, are all of them outrunning?”
“Oh, yes. They all went. Even the young’uns.” Aidan scratched one of his hounds between the ears. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll lead you to thefestivities.”
“You’re staying?” Lucasasked.
“Why not? This place is mine now, isn’t it?” Aidan swept his gaze over the high-ceilingedfoyer.
Tendons shifted in the back of Liam’s neck. “Does Mrs. Morgan know you’ll bestaying?”
Mrs. Morgan?Wasn’t Morgan her firstname?
