“Tell me about your music.What type of course do you prefer?And how can I help?”Niall guided her on the same walking track she’d taken during the morning.“We’ll see if this enormous bear is still hiding in the woods.”
Suzie huffed, and he laughed.Something he didn’t do often, but it suited him.She stopped walking, and when he looked askance at her, she stood on tiptoes to kiss him.Niall hummed his approval and drew her closer, arms wrapping her in an embrace.Their kiss deepened until he was all that existed in her world, along with his enticing honey scent.When they pulled apart, they were both breathing hard.
“What was that for?”
“I like you,” she whispered, going for truth.
“Our thoughts align,” he said in a rough voice.He released her but held her hand as they walked into the shade of two towering beech trees.They ambled in silence, but it was comfortable.
Suzie tugged him to a halt when she spied a red squirrel, and she leaned against him while they watched the tiny creature’s antics.The path dipped when they headed toward the lake, and belatedly, Suzie realized the forest had gone silent.Not a bird chirped, and the squirrels had disappeared from the treetops.
Niall’s hand tightened on hers, and her steps slowed.She turned to him, about to speak when he tensed.His gaze was on where she’d seen the bear this morning, except now two bears sat watching them.
“Niall?”she asked in an undertone.
He sighed, a harsh sound containing irritation.“My brothers.”
“But this is private property.How did they get past the fence?”
“Nothing much will stop a determined trespasser,” Niall said, maintaining his watchful air.
Movement from behind them had Suzie shifting her stance, and what she saw alarmed her.
“Niall,” she said, tugging at his sleeve.
“I see them.Shift and run for help.Speak with Angus.He’ll know what to do.”
“I can’t leave you here alone,” Suzie protested.Two men appeared from the trees, causing her stomach to drop.They weren’t close enough for her to scent them, so she wasn’t certain if they were shifters.But two bears and four men against one.Niall wouldn’t have a chance.
“Please,” Niall repeated in an undertone.“I can’t fight if you’re in danger.”
Despite the circumstances, everything inside her went soft.“All right but fight dirty.Strike first and take them by surprise.They’re big but soft around the middle.I bet they rely on their size to intimidate, but they’re not great in hand-to-hand combat.”
Suzie subtly distanced herself and broke into a run.The men let her go, and she increased her speed, tearing toward the castle for help.
Niall breathed easier once Suzie disappeared into the trees surrounding the lake, and none of the men tried to stop or follow her.Once he lost sight of her, he turned his attention back to his brothers.He’d known they were trouble but betraying him this way cut like a knife.His parents had always drilled into him and his siblings about family first.He sneered at Euan before he let his gaze slide to Colin, both still in their bear forms.Their urgent need for money had overcome their principles.
“What do you truly want?”Niall demanded.Strike first.Learn what they expected from him.
“Boss wants to speak with you,” one of the hulking brutes said.
That was an apt description, and Suzie was right.They appeared soft around the middle.He wondered what his brothers were doing with humans.He didn’t recognize them but committed their faces to memory.They were all bald or with shaven heads, tall, and wearing uniform-like dark clothes.
“Why?I don’t know your boss.”
The man standing to his left was older and kept his distance.A sense of familiarity jostled at the back of his brain.He’d seen this man before but couldn’t recall where.
The men exchanged grins.No, they were more leers.
“Your lady is sexy.She a good lay?”the man asked, waggling his black brows.
“Who?”Niall played dumb and batted down anger and his bear.Not the right time.
“The one we let leave.The one we saw you kissing,” the man said, his smirk in evidence again.“She knows.”
Niall cursed, every muscle tensing.Suzie was part of this?
“You coming with us peaceful like, or do we have to jump you?”
