“I didn’t pack more than an overnight bag,” Marlowe grumbled. “If I’d have kno—”
“Leeds has shops,” Dalziel cut across him tautly. “And I’m led to believe the internet is a wonderful source of bounty, so unless you are about to inform me you only wear shirts made from the first haggis cull of the season and socks of west coast kelp spun under a full moon, I’m sure you’ll be fine.” He stood, managing to produce a small smile for both Rosie and Eleanor. “Our human guests would benefit from wrapping the meeting up promptly, as they of course require sleep at night in order to function.” While gracious, he still managed to make it sound like a failing any human could overcome if they were to try just a little harder.
Eleanor chewed back a smirk and addressed the table. “If it’s agreeable, we shall reconvene here at two p.m. to discuss any overnight brainwaves and to make any final plans. That should be long enough to ensure we feeble mortals get our beauty sleep.” Her answering smile to her boss was bland and unreadable as she gathered up her notes.
Everyone else took it as their cue to do the same. They filtered out of the meeting room with Pavel directing them to the main staircase if they wanted to rest in their rooms, and Charley, who was excitedly explaining about the night’s entertainment for the nocturnal guests. Gethin slipped to one side to ask the boy’s mate, Luc, what Dalziel had laid on.
The young shifter rolled his eyes. “There’s the chance to get your groove on at a roller disco in the basement. Part of the basement, obviously, not a free for all with access to Dalziel’s exclusive wine cellar, or there’s pole dancing in the ground floor hall of the tower. Both with a free bar. I can see it going horribly wrong, although I suppose it’s hardly going to be crowded, so maybe it’s not too insane.” He shrugged, a slight upward twitch of his lips suggesting he might not be as opposed to the ideas as he was pretending. “There’s a choice of films in one of the bigger rooms past the library though, if you fancy a civilised sit down and a whisky.”
Gethin laughed. “Most of us have enhanced physical abilities, and even the clumsiest of humans has been known to take a spin on roller skates. They’re all ideal ways to let off a bit of steam if the weather had been crap. Dalziel’s smart. I’m sure he’s provided safety equipment for those who need it.” He eyed Luc curiously. “And what will you be doing? Or are you one of those headed off to bed like the humans?” He caught himself on the verge of a blush. “Uh, that could be taken the wrong way. I mean to sleep, obviously.”
Now Luc was laughing. “I know what you meant. And no, I’m mostly nocturnal myself these days. I guess I’ll try the pole dancing as Charley wants to give it a shot. Mind you, he’s had a skinful, so I’m not sure even his reflexes will save him from landing on his head. Thank God there are crash mats on the floor. Even Charley’s thick skull might lose a fight with sixteenth-century flagstones.” He sucked in a thoughtful breath. “Perhaps I can talk him into the roller skating instead.”
Gethin, chuckling to himself that Dalziel’s idea of entertainment was as far from the image he’d had of the vampire as to be ridiculous, went to see if Sorley had returned, even though he felt certain the vamp’s demeanour and hasty exit had been suggestive of an extended run. He found Dalziel in the cellar, giving an anxious Rosie a pep talk as he circled her lazily on vintage-looking roller skates, looking more like an 80s pop star than a formidable vampire. He realised he didn’t actually know very much about Dalziel the man.
It seemed as though Dalziel’s affection for the witch was genuine and not limited to her obvious physical appeal. Watching them interact made Gethin want Sorley more than ever, but he was determined not to go searching if the vamp needed some alone time. Coming over all needy was what bonded mates did, and they certainlyweren’tthat.
Or were they? Was Neele correct in her assumption? His breath hitched as the thought poked him squarely in the ribs. In a daze he stumbled back upstairs, almost colliding with Justin at the top. The Head Wolf grabbed his arms to steady them both, then tilted his head while he read Gethin’s emotions. Gethin couldn’t be bothered to even try to shield them.
Justin squeezed his biceps. “Come for a run. You’ve got too much on your mind, and while being in fur won’t solve everything, it will give you a break. Let you chill out a bit.” When Gethin hesitated, he said, “Susan’s coming too. No probing questions, nothing but fine clear countryside and as many miles as we can cover before we need to rest.” When Gethin nodded, he could feel that Justin was pleased with his acquiescence. He let Justin lead him down to a room with a dark wood billiard table dominating the space, and old-fashioned French windows opening onto the rear lawns and the woods that comprised so much of the estate. Susan was already there, stripped down to her underwear and a silky blouse. Gethin mumbled a hello then averted his eyes. Naked shifters of any gender were fine, but he’d never stopped feeling uncomfortable during the undressing phase. Too worried about being clocked perving on men, he guessed. The scent of Sorley lingered in the cooler air near the doors, sweet and tantalising. He sighed.
Justin elbowed him back to the present. “Are we going or what?” He was already down to his boxers.
Gethin peeled off his clothes, taking just enough time to lay his suit over a handy chair, before he glanced through the paned glass.
“It’s not that mild. D’you think it’s all right to shift inside?”
A soft grunt of discomfort came from the other side of the table, followed by the telltale sibilant rustles and cracks of a skeleton magically rearranging itself and skin becoming fur. A few moments later a gorgeous reddish-brown wolf with a silvery-tipped pelt padded to the door and whuffed quietly. Justin chuckled and opened the door. “Sorry, Susan. Should’ve done that before we began.” He smiled at Gethin. “I’m sure Dalziel has a vacuum cleaner. Do what feels good. I’ll wait and nudge the door shut when we’re all outside.”
Dalziel’s estate stretched for a considerable number of acres across the Lanarkshire countryside. Most of it was woodland, with a few fields, and the ramshackle remains of an ancient stone village visible through the first patch of forest. The wolves didn’t bother with the village; there’d be precious little in the way of food to interest them in a place where the scent of humans was fresh. Gethin followed Justin’s massive dark shaggy wolf without conscious thought. Justin wasn’t his alpha — Gethin didn’t technically answer to anyone as he was alpha of his own, albeit small, pack — but Justin was senior in terms of age and career, and it felt natural for Gethin to turn off his brain and let his instincts guide him.
Gethin made a deliberate choice to ignore the clear trail ofSorleythat assailed his nostrils, and concentrated instead on opportunities to feed. Rabbits and deer were prevalent in the area according to the notes they’d all been given when they arrived, and Gethin’s wolf was hungry.
The three wolves loped along together, alert but relaxed as they traversed a pair of fields to enter the deeper forest on the northern side of the property. There was a definite aroma of deer but it was a way ahead of them, so they moved steadily but without expectation of a reward just yet.
Justin located the deer first, his almost sub-vocal whine alerting his companions. They dropped to a crouch and, checking the wind direction, circled around slowly.
In a small clearing were three adult roe deer nibbling their dinner leaves. The wolves all paused, scented the air once more, then Justin slunk to his left, his movements measured, glacial. Gethin went right, and they inched forward. Flesh, heat, heartbeats, boom, boom, boom…Andwhoosh!As the wolves leapt forward, it was a millisecond too late. The small herd scattered, bounding straight over the heads of the wolves. As one, the shifters turned to pursue the doe that had headed down the straightest path. It was smaller than the other two, so likely slower, and they wouldn’t let it go without a fight. It was fast though, and knew the terrain. Gethin knew they were all sure-footed and rested, so he wasn’t worried. If by some freak occurrence they didn’t bag this deer, there’d be another chance before the night was over. For now he concentrated on the scent of his prey growing stronger as he advanced.
Gethin saw a blur of paler fur flash through the undergrowth — Susan — on his left flank, and shot forward to circle around to the right in the hope of cutting the deer off. Instinct, and whatever version of telepathy it was that shifters possessed, confirmed they were closing in on the creature.
Justin’s speed put him ahead of the doe. He leapt. The deer feinted hard to the left and bucked as if on springs to clear a large boulder. Susan and Gethin converged on the animal, Gethin grazing its shoulder. It was enough to make it stumble. It was up again and off, zigzagging frantically through the scrub. Justin leapt again, narrowly avoiding a hoof to his muzzle as the deer clipped him. It was enough to topple the terrified prey, and before it could get to its feet once more, Gethin and Susan were on it. Three on one meant the doe was dispatched quickly. The wolves fell on their meal, tearing it apart to gulp it down in chunks while it was still warm and twitching.
When there remained only a few scraps of bone and gristle to show for their meal, Gethin swiped his muzzle leisurely through a patch of grass. He was sated. The doe was a good size and had made an excellent meal. He was drowsy, but also not willing to just drop and snooze.
He whined softly and pressed his snout against Justin’s.Are we safe here?Even in his wolf skin he recalled that Justin had been here before.He will know.
Justin led them a few hundred yards away and through a shallow brook, where they snapped and splashed at the water as they traversed, removing the last bloody evidence of their feast. A bit further on was the remains of an old stone wall, crumpled into heaps that made a defensive blockade the right height for a sleepy wolf to back up against. The ground there was dry, packed dirt with some twigs and leaves, perfect for curling up on.
With his temporary alpha’s blessing, and pressed tightly against both his fellow wolves, Gethin slid into a gentle but watchful slumber.
28
SORLEY
The softeningof the dark shadows into the peachy-grey of approaching dawn didn’t increase his ability to see, but Sorley stopped to appreciate the view regardless. He knew he was cutting it fine, but he was also acutely aware of how long it would take him to sprint the final few hundred yards to the safety of his sire’s sprawling manor house.
He had run until he was no longer sure of his surroundings, and the countryside had given way to too many buildings and the harsh street lights of civilisation. He’d prowled the back alleys and passages of the little town until he’d found a handy source of food in an attractive couple of twenty-somethings who informed him they’d pulled their car over to snatch a nap before continuing their meandering journey through Scotland’s lesser-travelled roads. A heavy dose of thrall ensured they acquiesced quietly to his demand they offer him their wrists, then returned to their vehicle to sleep off the effects of being used as vending machines, matching dopey smiles as they waved him goodbye. He wondered vaguely if they’d fuck — an element in his saliva was a known aphrodisiac to humans, but he might have drunk too deeply for them to stay awake long enough. Oops, but they were young and strong. By the time they rehydrated over breakfast they’d be none the worse for their nocturnal donation.
