“It’s difficult to accept.”
“But why? As Doctor said, ‘tis the way of things in this world.”
“I’m not of this world,” she said quietly. Her gaze flicked to the floor. “You didn’t like being gainsaid in front of your men? Well congratulations because now you sort of understand how I feel.”
He raised a hand to her jaw and nudged her to look up at him. “What do you mean?”
“You don’t like being made to look like a fool in front of your warriors. How would you feel if one of your warriors made you look like a fool in front of me?”
His gaze searched hers. “This is how you feel? That James gainsaid you in front of me and you dinna like it?”
“Yes.”
Silence.
“I canna say, wife, that I ken how to remedy this. As I said afore, ‘tis the way of it for a mon to pledge his fealty to his laird first and his lady second.”
“Then don’t use James against me,” she murmured. “Have a united front with me in front of him—in front of all your men really.”
Angus sighed, but nodded. “In this instance, for this hunt in particular, I will do that.” At her smile he quickly added, “But after the thing is dead—and in all other matters not related to this feeder—let me do my job as a mon and a laird. Let me care for and aboot you.”
Her smile was soft. “I’m okay with that—unless your life is in danger. The second you are in danger, I’m no longer okay with it.”
“I can live with that.”
“Good.” She nodded for emphasis. “I was planning to retire after I killed the Xenocann anyway.”
“’Tis aboot time we settled that.” He absently frowned. “Now what to do aboot my favored chest?”
Chapter Thirteen
The group left the keep at the crack of dawn, weapons at the ready. Angus gave the servants and the majority of his warriors the excuse that his wife was watching him hunt venison so that it made sense in their minds for her to accompany him and his entourage. For Dr. Kincaid’s presence on the excursion the excuse was made that he wished to look for specific herbs to heal with.
Octavia had been letting her natural curls flow freely as of late, but today she plaited them a few inches from her temples and left the rest to cascade down her back. She didn’t want anything fucking with her line of sight. She wore the hooded cloak over her prison issue tank top and breeches. Her assault rifle was hidden beneath the cloak as well, as were a few knives and some explosives.
“Let’s go towards the water,” Octavia murmured to Angus as he put her on his horse. “For some reason it keeps going near it.”
He nodded, but said nothing as he climbed the mount and seated himself behind her. When he looked around and saw that everyone was ready, he gave the word for their party to move out. Colban and Dr. Kincaid took the lead; Angus and Octavia brought up the rear.
It took over an hour to get all the horses down to the beach behind the castle. Foamy waves crashed against the deadly rocks, the sound louder than what she’d expected. When they came to a halt Octavia removed her cloak and armed herself with the SA80. She jumped off Angus’ horse and met James on the ground.
Angus dismounted and instructed Finlay and Oliver to take care of all the horses while the rest of them tracked the Xenocann. “Call out if you see anything,” he told them. “Dinna hesitate for even a moment.”
“Aye, laird.”
Octavia neared the ocean with James right behind her. She looked up and down the beachline in so far as the eye could see. No footprints, no nothing. Then again, the tide had likely washed away any evidence assuming some had been there to begin with. She sighed. “I don’t get it,” she said as Angus and the others caught up to them.
“We know it’s going near the water if not using it somehow,” James added. “We just don’t know where or why.”
She rolled her eyes. “Thank you, Lieutenant Obvious.”
“But it’s weakened,” Dr. Kincaid reminded them as he joined them in the sand. “We’ve heard tell of no more bodies, yet the bloody thing has to eat every day.”
“Wouldst it resort to eating animals if no humans could be found?” Angus asked.
Octavia’s eyes lit up. “I don’t know. Doctor?”
“It’s certainly possible. Meat is meat to them. Though they have an affinity towards the taste of, well, us.”
