Bound by Blood (Cauld Ane Series) Read online

  Something’s wrong.

  She grabbed her cell phone, scrolled to Pepper’s number, and dialed it.

  “Sammi?” Pepper answered, her voice rough from obviously being awakened. “Did you arrive all right?”

  “Yes, I’m fine, but are you okay?”

  “Just trying to get a nap in, but I’m fine. Why? What time is it?”

  “Oh, sorry. It’s about nine o’clock here. I have a really weird feeling. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Perfectly. The door’s locked and the chair’s metaphorically under the doorknob. What’s wrong? You’re scaring me.”

  Sam took a deep breath. “I’m fine. I’m probably just tired.”

  “Did you sleep on the plane?”

  “A little.”

  She heard Pepper yawn and then, “Sorry. Okay. You’re probably overwrought and you need to go to sleep. You know you’re useless when you’re tired…wait, no, that’s me. You can live off one hour of sleep a week.” Another yawn. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” Sam chuckled. “Let’s Skype tomorrow. You need to go back to sleep and I need to wash the airplane off me. I’ll tell you all about the cute guy I met on the plane.”

  “What?” Pepper seemed much more alert now. “Seriously?”

  Sam chuckled. “Yep. We’re staying at the same hotel, and I even agreed to maybe meet him for a drink.”

  “Who are you and what have to done with my best friend?”

  “I’m evolving. Aren’t you proud?”

  “So, so proud.” Yawn.

  “Go back to sleep.”

  “You’re sure you’re okay?”

  “Totally,” Sam said.

  “Night.”

  Click.

  Sam smiled and dropped her phone on the table next to the couch. She was being ridiculous. She needed to sleep. This was her first time away from home, and she was nervous. That was it. She took some time to put away her clothes and then headed to the shower.

  She let the hot water cover her and sighed as she felt the travel wash away. But without warning, her heart started to race again. Something was definitely wrong, and the trouble seemed close. In pure Bible-belt fashion, she started to pray. The fear was replaced with calm, and Sam let out a sigh of relief.

  Without wasting any more time worrying about it, she dried off and got ready for bed.

  CHAPTER THREE

  KADE LET HIMSELF into his flat and dropped his keys on the foyer table. Almost nine o’clock. Today had been a long day, filled with revelations. Ones he wished had stayed hidden. Loosening his tie, he made his way to the bank of windows overlooking the university. The weight of leadership was heavy today and he felt isolated.

  His brothers were of no help, and now his only sister was adding to the burden. He wanted to rail at her and drive home her stupidity for putting herself in danger, but he had to admit, she was doing something that might help her cause. If they could find out what happened several hundred years ago, maybe they could find out why she was in danger.

  His phone rang, interrupting his brooding. “Hello.”

  “Kade, it’s Duncan.”

  “How’d it go with the new doctor?”

  “Outside of the fact that the woman is afraid of her own shadow and doesn’t speak?”

  “She doesn’t need to speak, Duncan. She just needs to find a cure.”

  “True.” Duncan sighed. “She is quite pretty, in an American way. What do they call it? Girl next door?”

  Kade chuckled. “As long as she does her job, she can be the female equivalent of Rowan Atkinson.”

  Duncan laughed. “Well, she’s safely stowed at the Balmoral and my job is done. Payton’s picking her up on Monday and will bring her to your office. You can show her the lab and try to force a conversation out of her.”

  “I’ve given that responsibility to Anna.”

  Duncan laughed. “Coward.”

  Kade chuckled. “Maybe. Could also be that I don’t have time to babysit and make small talk.”

  “Don’t blame ye.”

  “Thanks for your help.”

  “I’ll see you next week.”

  Kade hung up just as his doorbell pealed.

  Great. Fiona.

  Pulling open the door, he stepped back with a quiet sigh. “Darling sister. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  “I hated the way we left things.” Fiona brushed past him, followed by Angus.

  Kade closed the door. “You could have called.”

  Fiona gave Angus some kind of silent request and Kade rolled his eyes.

  “I’ll just grab meself something to drink.” Angus started toward the kitchen.

  Kade raised an eyebrow. “Should I sit down?”

  She smiled. “It might be a good idea.”

  He sat in his favorite chair and waited for his sister to sit on the sofa. “Will I need a hanky?”

  Fiona shrugged. “I have a couple if you need one.”

  “Are we going to discuss any further visits to the library?”

  “No. We’re going to discuss you.”

  “Bloody hell,” Kade grumbled.

  “We need to discuss Shannon.”

  Kade pushed to his feet. “I’m not doing this with you, Fiona.”

  “She’s in love with you.”

  He ran his hands through his hair. “No, she’s not. She’s jockeying for position, and I’ll not be a part of it.”

  Fiona burst into tears and Kade sighed and sat down again, leaning over to give her hand a gentle squeeze. “Och, love, don’t cry.”

  “You need to bind someone, Kade. I don’t want to wait anymore.”

  “Fi, I can’t bind someone if she’s not my true mate.”

  She pulled her hand away and stood. “But you could still marry!”

  He noticed Angus hovering in the corner, his hands fisted at his sides. Kade knew that if he wasn’t chieftain, Angus would more than likely lay him flat on the floor. Males didn’t take kindly to their mates being upset.

  “Fiona,” Kade whispered. “You’re upsetting your fiancé.”

  Fiona stomped her foot and let out a series of creative swear words. “My goal in this bloody futile exercise is to upset you! I can’t be bound until you are settled, and you seem hell-bent on shoving every eligible female to the curb.”

  “So, if I’m hearing you correctly—”

  “Kade!” Angus warned.

  “I thought you were getting a drink,” Kade pointed out.

  Angus crossed his arms.

  “Forget it.” Fiona rubbed her forehead and flopped back onto the sofa. “This is important to me, but if you’re going to stand there and tease me, then I won’t waste my breath.”

  Kade took a deep breath and his emotions calmed suddenly.

  Odd.

  He shook off the phenomenon and focused on his sister again. “I’m sorry, Fi. I know this is difficult for you, but I won’t marry someone who, at the very least, doesn’t have our best interests at heart. And I haven’t found my true mate, so binding’s not an option. Shannon is not the right woman, and I think you know that.”

  Angus made his way to Fiona and sat next to her. “He’s right, sweetheart.”

  Fiona groaned. “Then you should bind me anyway. Screw the covenant.”

  Angus hissed and Kade watched his sister fold.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it,” she backpedaled.

  Angus lifted her chin. “That’s treason, Fiona, and I’ll not be party to it, no matter how much I love you. Hear me on this now. Yes?”

  Tears slipped down her face as she nodded.

  Angus wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. “If anyone else had heard that, you know what could happen.”

  “I know. I’m just frustrated.”

  Kade settled his ankle over his knee and watched her. “I’m thinking in less than five minutes, we’re going to have some company, so I’d suggest you calm yourself, sister.”

  The familial bond meant that
they could feel extreme distress or happiness, and this certainly fell under distress for Fiona.

  She nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  “I know this is difficult, but I plan to keep my promise to you,” Kade said.

  “I just don’t understand why you keep finding something wrong with every woman you meet,” Fiona complained. “It’s not like you don’t have choices! Just pick one already.”

  The door opened and Connall came in, looking haggard and concerned.

  “Come on in, Con…no, really, no need to knock,” Kade said as Connall settled himself on the sofa.

  “What’s wrong?” Connall asked Fiona.

  Kade didn’t hear Fiona’s response as he studied his phone. He was sure Brodie would call any second, with Fiona’s frustration radiating amongst the brothers.

  His own frustration was starting to get the better of him when the call came.

  “Hi, Brodie.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  Kade sighed. “We’re simply having a difference of opinion, but all will be well.”

  “Who are you arguing with?”

  “Fi.” Kade frowned. Why didn’t Brodie know that? Maybe he really was as distracted as Fiona accused. “Where are you?”

  “Nowhere,” Brodie said, his voice clipped.

  “Blonde or brunette?” Kade asked.

  “Neither.”

  “Ah, so it’s Heather.”

  Brodie evaded his comment. “If you don’t need me, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  Kade chuckled. “I don’t need you. And wait a little while to call Fi. We have a few things to discuss.”

  “Be nice, brother.”

  “I’m always nice,” Kade said, and hung up. He lowered himself into his favorite chair and smiled. He loved his family, even if they drove him crazy. Connall’s ability to calm Fiona was something he appreciated. She was now leaning back against Angus, laughing at something Connall had just said, the tears quickly drying as she talked to her favorite brother.

  “Better?” Connall asked.

  Fiona nodded.

  “Good,” he said and then faced Kade. “So, not Shannon?”

  Kade laughed and Fiona smacked Con’s leg.

  “Definitely not Shannon,” Kade said.

  “Excellent. She’s a vulture.”

  “Connall, she is not,” Fiona said.

  “Of course she is,” he pressed. “She doesn’t care about Kade. She simply wants the highest place in the clan. You must be able to see that, Fi. If you can’t, you’re blind.”

  Fiona sighed. “I guess I can see it. I just think vulture’s a little harsh. She’s so nice.”

  “To you,” Connall said. “She’s nasty to anyone she doesn’t think can get her closer to Kade.”

  “Have you seen this?” Kade asked him.

  Connall shrugged. “Once or twice…certainly not on purpose. She’s on her best behavior in front of me, but I’ve walked in on a few tense situations when she’s speaking with others, and she’s obviously had to backtrack. She’s got everyone so on edge, no one will speak against her.”

  “I didn’t realize it was that bad.”

  “It’s probably worse.”

  Kade considered this information. Connall was sensitive and perceptive. An empath. He could read people quickly and accurately, and Kade always brought him in on meetings with new people. Connall could weed out the ones who could potentially harm the clan or the business. Shannon Fraser, however, was not one he could easily weed out. She was the daughter of one of the oldest and most respected families within their clan, not to mention the sister of someone Kade considered an ally. She could, however, be watched.

  “Before you ask,” Angus piped in, “Hamish knows what his sister’s like, but you know he’ll never speak ill about her.”

  Kade nodded.

  As it should be.

  “Fi?” Kade leaned forward. “I promise that if I meet someone who is a good fit for me and the clan, I won’t wait, all right? Even if she’s not my mate.”

  Connall frowned at his sister.

  Fiona grimaced. “I can’t ask you to make that promise, Kade.”

  “No, you can’t,” Connall said, and faced Kade. “And you shouldn’t be making a promise like that.”

  “The promise is mine to make, Con.”

  “Aye,” Connall agreed. “Just don’t sell yourself short.”

  Angus rose to his feet and pulled Fiona with him. “I think I should get your sister home. She needs to sleep.”

  Fiona gathered her purse and coat. Kade walked them to the door, hugging his sister, even though he knew she was still mad at him. She wanted to be settled with Angus. He understood that. But his job was not to please her, not this time. He had to do what was best for his people.

  He closed the door and made his way back to the living room. Connall was on the couch, holding a couple of beers he’d retrieved while Kade said his good-byes.

  “You read my mind,” Kade said as he took the one Connall offered.

  “I do that.”

  Kade chuckled. “You don’t need to hang around if you’ve got somewhere to be.”

  Connall shrugged. “Here works.”

  Kade grinned and took a swig of his beer. He liked that answer.

  * * *

  Samantha collected her messages from the front desk and found a message from Cole. She called his room and agreed to join him for dinner Sunday night…reluctantly. He pointed out that she needed to eat anyway, and since she’d already bowed out of drinks the night before, she didn’t feel she could blow him off again, especially since he’d saved her sanity on the flight.

  They decided on Hadrian’s, which was the Balmoral’s casual restaurant of choice. Sam took care with her appearance, dressing a little nicer than she may have needed to, but her mother always told her it was better to be overdressed than under. Plus, Cole was cute. Even if he didn’t make her heart race, he made her feel comfortable, and that was a big deal in her book.

  She arrived at the restaurant a few minutes early, to find Cole waiting for her. He wore dark jeans, a black shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbow, and a vest. He looked more like a rock star than a cop. She smiled, and he made his way over to her, leaning down to give her a chaste kiss on the cheek. “Hi,” he said. “You look beautiful.”

  “Thanks. You look nice as well.”

  “Our table is ready if you are.”

  Samantha nodded. “Definitely. I’m starving.”

  They followed the hostess to their table and Cole held Sam’s chair while she made herself comfortable. He sat down and picked up the wine list.

  Within seconds, he laid it down and patted the top of the leather menu. “I don’t know why I’m looking at this. I don’t know anything about what goes with what. Give me a beer list any day. Beer goes with everything.”

  “Do you even like wine?” she asked.

  “Sometimes.”

  “I’ll just plan on ordering a glass of something with the meal then,” she said.

  “Are you a wine connoisseur?”

  She smiled. “Kind of.”

  “In that case perhaps a bottle might be better.” Cole leaned his arms on the table. “Can I trust you not to order the four-thousand-dollar 1865 merlot?”

  Sam gasped. “There’s an 1865 Merlot? Do you know how rare that is?”

  “I guessed…based on the price tag.”

  “Right.” Sam felt her cheeks heat and she stared back down at the wine list, fighting the urge to run.

  Cole laid his hand over hers and she glanced up at him. “I’d appreciate it if you’d order a bottle. If I don’t like it, you can drink it all.”

  Sam pulled her hand from his and slipped it into her lap. “Plying me with wine so soon?”

  He chuckled. “Am I that transparent?”

  Sam had never been good at flirting, but she’d promised herself she’d try to make some changes. She supposed this was as good a time as any.

  The waiter ar
rived and took their drink orders. Cole decided on a local ale and Sam went with water in order to save herself for the wine. After discussing options, she decided on a relatively new Pinot Noir their server suggested, hoping she wouldn’t be disappointed. She hated bad wine even more than bad food.

  When the server arrived with Cole’s pint, Sam wished she’d ordered one. Cole pointed to the glass and smiled. “Want to try?”

  Sam shook her head. “I have a rule never to mix alcohol. I’d have a wicked headache tomorrow, and that’s just not a good idea, especially starting a new job.”

  “Better to be safe than sorry.” He grinned as he took a sip. “It is good, though.”

  Sam groaned. “Thanks for rubbing it in.”

  “Next time, we’ll stick to beer.”

  “Next time, huh?”

  He smiled. “Well, I suppose it depends.”

  “On?”

  “The answer to my next question.”

  Sam grinned. “Ask away.”

  “We’ve determined you know your early ’80s television, but do you like football?”

  “I love football.”

  “Good answer. If tonight goes well, football and beer’s on me.”

  Sam wrinkled her nose. “What if it doesn’t go well?”

  “You’re on your own, sister.”

  “Great. Now I’ll be dreaming about pizza, beer, and the 49ers,” she grumbled.

  Cole choked on his drink. “49ers? I was not expecting that! How did a southern girl become a fan of a California team?”

  “My best friend. She’s a football fanatic…and from California. She kind of rubbed off on me. Of course, she threatened me with bodily harm if I continued to root for the Cowboys.”

  “Why were you rooting for the Cowboys?” he asked.

  “Don’t laugh.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “I’ll try not to.”

  “My second favorite color is blue, and I thought red and gold was a weird color combo.”

  “What’s your first favorite color?”

  “Green.”

  “So why not root for the Packers?”

  Sam snorted. “Ew. Ugly Green and puke yellow is way worse together.”