Dark Legends, page 272
Joel carried his own bags, grumbling the entire way into the building. “I planned on doing more hiking. I came here to hike and only went yesterday.”
“No one’s stopping you, man. Check into your new room, then do whatever you want to do as long as it doesn’t involve Autumn. Got it?” Ronan crossed his arms over his chest.
“Yeah. Whatever.” Joel sighed. “Let’s get this over with. I’m ready to be done forever too.” He glared at me, like this was all my fault.
“Finally, something we agree on.” I laughed nervously.
We trudged into the lobby, with Ronan keeping a grip on Joel’s shoulder. He marched directly to Kady behind the desk. “What’s going on?” She frowned. “Something wrong with the room?”
Ronan smirked. “Yes. One too many people in it.”
Her cheeks turned pink. “I’m sorry. I had no idea. The room was registered in her name.”
“So, you knew Autumn was staying in it?” He stared her down.
“Maybe.” Kady looked away. “So what can I do for you? You could always take your old room.” She brightened.
“You wanted me in the main house with the rest of the family. You thought this would do it? Overbook me?” He laughed. “Well, it backfired. I’ll stay. He goes. Give him my room if you want.” Ronan crossed his arms over his chest.
Kady blew out a breath. “Actually, there’s a room more suited to your needs that you might want to consider. It’s more of a suite actually.” She glanced at me and smiled weakly. “Maybe Autumn would like to see them before you turn them down?”
I held my hands up and backed away from the desk. “Oh, no. You two aren’t drawing me into your family quarrel. I can spot a land mine from a mile away. No thank you.”
“Why don’t you just stick him in the room we used for Autumn last night?” He leaned on the desk. “It’s basic. So is he.” He rolled his eyes. She hesitated and he changed her mind with one word. “Alpha,” he murmured.
Closing her eyes, Kady shook her head slightly. “Of course. It will be done.”
Ronan threw an arm around my shoulders. “What if I show you around?”
“There’s a meeting…in the study. It starts in about fifteen minutes.” Her hand shook as she passed him a note. “I sent Fallon to tell you. It’s about the estate and the service.”
He nodded. “Okay. I’ll be there. Let me at least make sure Autumn is entertained first.” Ronan turned and brought me out to the back deck. Once outside, he inhaled a few times. “I used to love it here,” he murmured. “Then we moved and nothing has been the same ever since.”
I wanted to comfort him, wanted to make it all better, but I didn’t know how to reach him. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I wish I could make it all better for you.”
Suddenly he pulled me into his arms, and buried his face in my hair. “You are. You have no idea how much you’ve helped everything. I want to spend every possible minute with you. We have so much to talk about, but I have to go to this meeting and then the service tonight, but otherwise…I’m yours. Got it?”
I nodded happily. No guy had ever spoken to me like this before. No one had ever been so kind, so loving, so transparent. Where were the games? Where was the angst? What were the rules? I swallowed hard. “Okay. Whatever you say.”
He shook his head as he took my hands in his. “No, what you say too. Your voice counts.”
I inhaled deeply then blew it out slowly. This could take some getting used to. I felt completely unprepared for him. “I don’t know how to be,” I blurted out.
“Be yourself.” Ronan shrugged like it was no big deal, like it made perfect sense.
Of course after years of dating Joel and trying to fit into his mold, it was impossible to even remember how to be myself. After he’d shown me the book where he tracked my eating, I’d spent a week mired in self-doubt. Maybe I was gross. Maybe I was disgusting. Maybe this was as good as it would ever get for me. This was how I ended up trekking through the wilderness in an attempt to chase after someone I never should’ve been with to begin with. At the same time, this was also how I’d met Ronan. And he really did seem to like me just as I am.
Kady stepped out onto the deck. “I’m sorry to interrupt. They’re ready to start now.
Slowly, he bent down and planted a lingering kiss on my temple, and then he released my hands and pulled away. “I’ll be back as soon as possible. I’ll find you. Wherever you are, I’ll seek you out.” He nodded and slowly stepped through the door.
For some reason, I felt sad to see him go. A strange feeling of discontent began to take hold inside me. If I wasn’t careful, the sense of loss would overwhelm me, which was absolutely ridiculous and made zero sense. I needed to be comforted. If Ronan couldn’t do it, I knew who would…chocolate. Yes, I bet there were leftover croissants in the kitchen, or maybe some of those sweet little petit fours. I needed them. I made my way to the dining room and passed all the way through the empty space on my way to the kitchen. I paused where the pastries had been not an hour before. I glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed.
“Can I help you, madam?” The gentleman who had been our server stood beside me.
I blushed slightly at having been caught scrounging for food so soon after eating. “Actually, maybe. I was hoping there might be a leftover chocolate croissant.”
“There might. Would you like to wait here and I’ll ask the chef.” He bowed slightly and moved through the kitchen doors. As he did, I caught the tail end of an argument taking place. There was some huffing, and I worried I might have been the proverbial straw. The waiter returned with a small to go box. “For you.”
Peeking inside, I discovered several croissants, but also some petit fours, and a couple of cheese danishes. “Thank you! Where’s the check?” I realized his hands were empty.
“You dined with Mr. Cormack. There’s no charge.” He started to bow and back away again, but I stopped him.
“Wait. Did I start the fight?” I nodded toward the kitchen.
The man looked nervous, but before he could explain anything, several people exited the kitchen. “We’re leaving. We’re done. No more.” Then they turned on their heels.
“And you’re down a chef, a prep cook, and a server, it seems.” I shook my head.
“The head chef can be a bit demanding.” He kept looking nervously at the kitchen.
Then the sound of pots and pans clanging had us both rushing to the kitchen. As soon as I opened the door, I was shocked to see the tantrum taking place. “That’s enough!” I stomped my foot and placed my hands on my hips.
The chef whipped around and glared at me. Then he intentionally launched one more pan my direction. I didn’t even flinch. I was too furious. “You will clean up every bit of this mess or you will need to seek out alternative employment.” For a moment, I nearly panicked. Who was I? One meal with his boss and I suddenly thought I ran things? Still, I knew instinctively, Ronan would back me up on this.
“Who do you think you are?” The chef came towards me waving a giant ladle in front of him. “You cannot come in here and tell me what to do.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and lazily turned to the server standing beside me. “Could you go get Mr. Cormack? He’s in the study having an important family meeting, but I’m sure he won’t mind coming to deal with his chef’s temper tantrum.” I pasted a bored look on my face.
“Forget it. I quit!” The chef kicked a pot as he pushed past me. “Good luck running this place without me.”
The server leaned heavily against the stainless steel counter. “He’s right.” He shook his head. “We’re doomed.”
I sighed. “Please. What’s on the menu?” One of the prep cooks handed me the backside of an envelope. “What’s this?”
She bit her lip then murmured. “The menu.”
“How far are we into prep?” I tapped my foot while I waited for her response.
“I pulled out leeks then asked how he wanted them prepped and he started throwing things.” She shrugged. “Not far.”
I laughed. “Okay. So there’s that.” I spotted a man standing near the walk-in cooler. “I need to know what we have…stock. Right away.”
“Yes, chef!” He shouted as he rushed off to do as I’d asked.
“Now you!” I pointed to the dishwasher. “I know you didn’t make the mess, but if you could work on clean up while we get organized, I’d appreciate it.”
The young man smiled. “Yes, chef.”
“Okay, who made the pastries this morning?” Their faces drooped. “Head chef?” A few nods and murmurs. “Okay. I’m on it.” Then I paused. “Wait. I thought this place only served breakfast.”
The waiter’s eyes widened. “I thought you knew.” The he blew out a breath.
“Knew what?” I frowned.
“The seating tonight is for the funeral. Just close friends and family.” He stood with his hands behind his back.
“The funeral?” I shook my head. I didn’t remember any mention of a funeral.
“Mr. Cormack’s father passed away. I assumed you were one of the guests.” His brow furrowed.
I blew out a breath. Obviously, Ronan didn’t want to talk about it yet. Who could blame him? We barely knew each other. This menu seemed all the more important now. We had to make it meaningful, personal, comforting, and full of love to help them recover from the loss.
“Is this buffet style or full service?” I rubbed the back of my neck, already feeling tense.
“Buffet. They weren’t sure how many would be present. Ms. Cormack wanted it to feel informal, and figured many people would be picking at food and milling around, not eating a huge meal.”
“Good plan. We need finger foods. Hot and cold. We need lots of sweets. Take it from me, they’re comforting. Is there a barista? Bartender?”
Soon people were stepping forward. The kitchen was a flurry of action. And my heart felt better knowing I was doing what little I could to help.
Chapter Nine
Ronan
For some reason, it physically hurt me to be away from Autumn. There was this pull in my chest. I frowned but realized Kady was staring at me. “What?” I groaned. “And whatever it is…let’s make this quick.”
“Well, I’m sure the Tuatha Daan will do his best.” She bit her cheek as we rushed to the study.
“Spit it out.” I stopped in the hall and waited.
“What’s going on with you and Autumn?” She laced her fingers together, and I sensed excitement, instead of the anticipated disappointment.
I backed up and leaned hard against the wall. “I don’t know. We haven’t…labeled it. We haven’t even done more than the most chaste of kisses. Is this what you’re getting at?”
“Not at all.” She moved closer. “It’s bigger than that.”
“Yeah? You think so?” This line of questioning made me incredibly uncomfortable.
Kady eyed me seriously and murmured one word. “Mate.”
I sucked in a breath. The idea had occurred to me. In truth, it made me…happy. I didn’t have a lot of experience with happy. The last ten years, I’d been serious, focused, filled with quiet determination. I didn’t even think beyond fulfilling my basic needs of building a bank account and then building a business. I hadn’t truly even managed to work on building a life. I’d felt different ever since I heard Father passed. I felt unsettled. Needs I never acknowledged were now front and center. Surely this wasn’t a coincidence.
The door opened before I could respond to her. Fallon stood there smiling. “So, we meeting in the hall? Let me collect everyone.”
“Stop being a smart ass,” I grumbled. “We’re coming.”
“Good because the room is filled with people who aren’t good at waiting and at least one who should never be kept waiting.” His gray eyes flashed. “Seriously.”
With some effort, I pushed myself off the wall and lowered my lids as I struggled to control my emotions. I’d always wanted to be an actor. Apparently, being Alpha would afford me the opportunity on a daily basis. Kady grabbed my arm before I could follow Fallon into the room. “Yes?” I used the practiced calm look I’d cultivated for years in Hollywood.
“Payton and Quinn are in there.” She gave me a squeeze. “I just thought you should know.” Then she threw her shoulders back and sauntered in ahead of me.
I looked to the sky. Father would have a lot to answer for next time I saw him. The Tuatha Daan stood the moment I entered. “Ronan,” I murmured as I held out my hand to greet him.
“Call me Kane.” He gripped my hand tightly.
In my mind, I laughed at his version of a pissing contest. “Shall we speak as equals?” I gestured for him to take a seat in the one captain’s chair nearest him, while I moved past him and sat in the other.
“I’m not sure how we’re equals.” He tilted his head as he studied me. “One spell and I can end your life.”
“One bite and I can do the same with yours.” I eyed him seriously. I suspected half of this meeting was about measuring me.
Kane nodded. “Very good.” He flexed his fingers and cleared his throat. “I was about to tell your youngest siblings a story.”
I glanced at the clock. Already, I was eager to find Autumn, and it had only been ten minutes. “I’m not sure we have time for a story at the moment, Kane.”
He chuckled in a way that made me uneasy. “This is your history and your future. I think you can make time.” He looked at Payton and Quinn who stared at me expectantly. “Take a seat, children.”
They obeyed but moved to my feet when they did so. I looked down at them and frowned. “We’ll get to know each other soon, little ones. I promise.” Then I tousled their hair and glanced at Kane. “Whenever you’re ready, since my future is on the line.” I folded my hands in my lap and waited.
“Long before the Celts and the Romans, the Tuatha Daan ruled the green land. Standing with them were the druids, powerful wizards of natural magic. When one dark wizard fell in love with a woman who didn’t return his affection, he turned her into a wolf. Though meant only to be a temporary punishment, she ran and ran, living in the wilderness until she truly was just as wild as her form would suggest. Finally, she happened upon a handsome young man who gradually tamed her as a pet. Then, as often is the case, his love transformed her, and she realized she could choose to be human or wolf. Fear, rage would have her morphing into a wolf form immediately, but the rest of the time, as she learned to control her emotions, she could appear as the maiden she’d been. Soon, they married.”
“A happy ending,” Kady murmured as she settled in between Payton and Quinn on the floor.
“Not quite,” Kane replied. “See, the wizard learned of her existence, the first wolf shifter. The man she’d married was a druid. They battled and while love and goodness won, the dark wizard didn’t leave without cursing them for all time.” Kane sighed and stared at me meaningfully. “See for all time, her offspring would be shifters. For all time, their mates would have to become shifters, if they weren’t already.”
I considered his words. Autumn. His wolf had chosen, but for her to choose him, she’d have to agree to become a shifter. “What’s involved in this? Drink a potion? Spell in the moonlight? A bite?” I gripped the arms of the chair as tightly as I dared.
“There’s a ceremony, the joining. Naturally, it must be performed during a full moon.” He studied me for a reaction, but I tried to ensure I didn’t have one. “Following the joining, is the mating.”
I sighed. “So far you’ve described a moonlit wedding and honeymoon. What’s the big deal?” I tried not to sound too flippant, but my patience was waning, if it ever existed at all.
“Then the bite and a blood exchange, which binds your souls for all time.” Kane leaned in. “You need to pay attention. This is critical.”
“I’m listening.” I held my breath for fear I’d sigh and sour his mood further.
“There’s so much more to this.” He rubbed his balding white head. “See, if that doesn’t happen properly, if it doesn’t take, the woman will die in childbirth.”
I glanced at the two children in front of me. Then I looked at Kady, who stared up at me and nodded sadly. “So how do you know if it doesn’t take?” My chest hurt at the thought of losing Autumn. Somehow, in my mind she was it, the one, my mate.
“You won’t. Lust can often be easily mistaken for love.” Kane grimaced. “Of course, if you’ve found your one true mate, you never have to worry about losing her in childbirth.”
“Then…” I looked back and forth between Kady and my brothers. “Why did mother die? What happened? I don’t get it.”
“The curse. I told you.” He looked at me, exasperated.
I cocked my head to the side. “No. I’d remember if you explained the curse. It’s my history and my future, right?”
“You’re pretty snarky for an Alpha.” Kane leaned close and glowered at me.
“You’re pretty boring for a mystic. Come on. Out with it.” I clapped my hands a couple of times.
His bushy eyebrows shot up and so did Kady. She stood before him, blocking me from his sight. “He didn’t mean it. He’s tired and he’s agitated because he may have found his mate.”
I slapped a hand over my face. This was too much. “Kady, please don’t make excuses for me.”
She whipped around. “It’s not just you. If he gets angry and hurts you, it hurts all of us.” Tears threatened to spill out of her eyes. “You still don’t get it.” She stepped close until she was leaning over me, the worst combination of sad and angry. “You were a rogue wolf, alone for ten years. You have no idea what it’s like now.” She sniffled as she shook her head. “I spent all those years trying to hold the rest of us together while we slowly, sadly, died off.” She crumbled in front of me, and I grabbed her in time to assure she didn’t injure herself, gently lowering her to the floor.
Kady stared up at me with big, blue watery eyes. “The curse. It’s not over. You listen to him, Ronan. You listen because the future of the Druids hangs in the balance.”
