Rhianne had edged closer to Ben, her warmth spreading over him. Ben started to answer, but Rhianne cut in, her imperious tones worthy of her mother.
“What sort of favor?”
Liam’s blue eyes glinted in the September sunshine. “I hear a hoch alfar lord with the peculiar name of Walther le Madhug is trying to woo you. If you let him … you could become our inside man, so to speak.”
Ben was on his feet, rage lifting him. “Are you shitting me? That asshole stuck her in a dungeon, for fuck’s sake.”
Tiger straightened to his full height as Ben felt the thing inside him coming to life. Tiger’s golden eyes fixed heavily on him, his rumble a warning.
“I know, I know,” Liam said placatingly. “He’s a shitbag of the highest level. But think about it. Le Madhug is one of the top hoch alfar, and we know they’re planning hard to re-enslave the Shifters. It would be a temporary thing, lass. We’d extract you if it got too rough. You’d be in contact with us or Ben the whole time.”
Rhianne rose beside Ben, and her hand sought his again.
“How do you know all this?” she asked Liam. “I mean about Walther kidnapping me and wanting to force a marriage? I’ve never met you people.”
Ben liked the imperious lift of her chin, her natural arrogance rising as she beheld Liam and Dylan. You go, sweetheart.
Liam shrugged. “Your mum told Jaycee you were coming, asking her to inform those in power here. Jaycee told her fearless leader, Kendrick, and Kendrick called Dad. Shifter information network, best in the universe.”
He waited for Rhianne and Ben to laugh, but both remained impassive. Liam sobered.
“Your mum also charged us to look out for you,” Liam went on. “Her words about any hair on your head being harmed and what would happen to us if they were—” He broke off and flinched. “Let’s just say I’m glad she didn’t come with you.”
Ben glared at him. “What did she say about you asking Rhianne to go back to that hoch alfar bastard?”
“We haven’t exactly told her,” Liam said. “Wanted to run it past you first.”
Dylan, who’d taken root at the bottom of the steps, finally spoke. “As my son says, you’ll be in constant contact with Shifters to pull you out as soon as we have what we need, or in case it grows too dangerous for you. Ben would be recruited, as well as a dokk alfar who lives in the Las Vegas Shiftertown. An Iron Master.”
Ben knew full well which dokk alfar Dylan meant, a powerful one who made the hoch alfar shit themselves in fear.
True, between himself, Shifters like Tiger, and Reid the Iron Master, Rhianne would have more protection than a precious diamond in the most secure vault on the planet. But in return, she’d have to go to that scumbag who’d abducted her and pretend to suck up to him.
“No,” Ben said firmly.
Chapter Five
Rhianne regarded Ben in surprise, which was swiftly followed by gratitude. She had assumed, when the Shifters began their demands, that Ben would take their side. Goblins had always hated the Fae, and the Fae had killed them off. He’d have given his loyalty to the Shifters, wouldn’t he?
The fact that Ben met Dylan’s even stare with one of his own and gave him a solid No, made her heart warm.
The three Shifters were not at all what she’d expected. Rhianne had pictured rangy men with shaggy hair, like the lions they were, who spoke in guttural tones and possibly let off a roar every once in a while.
What she saw in the Morrisseys were two tall, solid-bodied, black-haired men with hard blue eyes. Dylan, the older, had some gray in his hair, but otherwise, he appeared almost as young as his son.
The third, Tiger, fascinated her the most. He was taller and larger than the other two, with variegated hair and the yellow-black eyes of a tiger. Rhianne had never seen a real tiger, but paintings of them graced books she’d grown up with.
Though Dylan and Liam had obviously brought Tiger as muscle, he was curiously detached, as though he’d come for his own reasons, nothing to do with them. Plus, he’d easily gained the porch, while the house had put off the two Morrisseys.
“What does the lass say for herself?” Liam asked pointedly.
Ben didn’t back down. “What you are asking her is wrong on so many levels.”
“Wouldn’t do it if we didn’t think we could keep her from harm,” Liam said. “You’d be first on the scene, Ben, along with Tiger.”
Ben glowered. “Seriously, Liam, take yourself and your requests out of here. This is exactly what you asked Reid to do, and it almost killed him, and his mate.”
Liam’s frown couldn’t erase the appealing handsomeness of his face. “Now—”
“I’ll think about it.” Rhianne took a step in front of Ben, her chest tightening.
“Rhianne, you don’t have to do anything they say,” Ben said quickly. “I can have the house throw them off the property if you want.”
“I said, I’d think about it.” Rhianne kept her voice quiet. “I understand the request. They are correct that it would be an excellent opportunity.” Not one she wanted to take, by any means, and she wasn’t about to agree. Let the Shifters do their own dirty work.
“There you have it, my friends,” Ben said in a firm tone. “She’ll get back to you.”
Liam chewed his upper lip then he spread his hands. “So be it. If your answer is no, then it’s no. We’ll not force you, lass.”
“Damned right you won’t,” Ben rumbled.
Tiger straightened. He’d been still so long that his coming to life was startling. He left the porch railing and went straight to Rhianne. “You will take a walk with me.”
Tiger moved past her and down the steps to the front drive, without waiting to see if Rhianne would follow. She started after him before realizing that she did so.
“You don’t have to go.” Ben’s touch on her arm was gentle, comforting, his eyes concerned.
“It’s all right. I am interested in what he has to say.”
Ben released her and started to follow as she resumed her steps, but Tiger whipped around. “No. Only Rhianne.”
Ben clearly didn’t like that, and oddly, neither did Dylan or Liam. Had they not planned this? Or, Rhianne realized with sudden insight, they had no control at all over Tiger. He was here by his choice, not because they’d commanded him to attend, or even asked him politely.
Rhianne gave Ben a reassuring nod and walked sedately down the steps. The railing was warm from the sunshine, soothing somehow.
Tiger strode around the house, ending up at a path through the trees to what looked like a garden. Rhianne hurried to catch up with him, her cushioned shoes gripping the slightly damp path.
A break in branches led into a small clearing with a lawn, a few benches, a riot of rose vines climbing the trees, and flowerbeds dark with new earth. Someone cared for this patch of wild garden—Ben?
Tiger waited in front of a brick wall where rose vines greened over it. Blossoms covered it in spectacular color, reds, pinks, whites, even silvery purple.
A sudden bite of homesickness struck Rhianne. Her mother’s rose garden, lovingly tended by Akseli, the gardener, was also a tranquil retreat.
Rhianne halted next to Tiger. “Why did you bring me here?”
Tiger’s height was incontrovertible when she stood this close to him. Well over six feet, with a bulk to match, the Shifter was terrifying.
Or should be. Rhianne sensed that Tiger was out of the ordinary. Special. When he’d spoken of his child saying his first words, he’d glowed with pride and love. Not frightening at all.
“I thought you would like the garden.” Tiger’s words were simple.
“I do like it. Beauty without overdoing it.”
Tiger didn’t answer. He studied the wall with the roses and green leaves as though it were the most fascinating piece of sculpture he’d ever seen.
Rhianne swung her arms. “Go ahead. Try to convince me to return to Walther’s castle and spy on him.”
�
�You should not go.”
Rhianne blinked. “But the Morrisseys are adamant.” Their urgency had touched her—much fear lurked beneath their request, likely with good reason. The hoch alfar took what they wanted and cared for no one outside their realms. Shifters to them were Battle Beasts and nothing more.
“The danger is too great,” Tiger said. “Stay with Ben. Whenever you are with Ben, you will be safe.”
Tiger closed his mouth, a breeze stirring the ends of his short tiger-striped hair.
“Who is Ben?” Rhianne asked on impulse. She shook her head, her braid bouncing across her back. “I know he’s a goblin, but who is he?”
Tiger’s gaze flicked to her. “Someone very important. Take care of him.”
“Take care of Ben?” Rhianne regarded him in puzzlement. “My mother told him to look after me.”
“Lady Aisling does not know. None of them do. Ben must stay alive. He is the last warrior.”
Rhianne stared at him, getting lost in his golden eyes. “The last warrior? What does that mean?”
“When trouble comes, he is all.” Tiger tapped the side of his head. “I do not know what it means. It is what I see when I look at him.”
“Are you clairvoyant? I didn’t think that existed in Shifters. It barely exists in the hoch alfar, no matter what they claim.”
“I can see things in my mind. I was made, not born. I am different from other Shifters.”
Rhianne understood that without asking. Liam and Dylan, as fearsome as they were, had a normality about them. They were Shifters, through and through. Tiger was an anomaly, though not lesser than the others.
Rhianne started to smile. “You must drive them spare.”
Tiger’s eyes flickered, then suddenly he grinned. The expression lit his face and made Rhianne understand that his mate was a lucky woman.
“Do not tell them I know,” Tiger said.
Rhianne laughed softly. “Your secret is safe with me.”
Tiger held up his hand, palm toward her. He left it there, while Rhianne studied it quizzically.
“You are supposed to slap it,” Tiger said. “A high five, Connor calls it. My son can do it already.”
Rhianne stared at his hand a moment longer then tentatively tapped his palm with hers. “Is this a Shifter greeting?”
“No, a human one. Shifters growl and sniff at each other.”
Rhianne wrinkled her nose. “That’s pleasant.”
“It is not. I don’t need to sniff. Scents pour into me. You smell like roses.”
“Oh.” Rhianne softened. “Are you always this nice?”
Tiger shrugged, his mountainous shoulders moving. “To people I like. My mate. My cubs. Connor. Liam’s mate and cub. Sean’s mate and cub. Olaf. You.”
“I will treasure that. Thank you.” Rhianne held up her hand in imitation of his high five. Tiger grinned and gently met it. “Should we go back?” she asked. “I imagine Dylan will come running out here to look for us if we don’t.”
“He trusts me.” Tiger paused. “Sort of.”
“I will consider what you have told me.”
“Do not consider. Returning to the hoch alfar lord will be your death, and Ben’s as well. We need him. We will also need you.” Tiger’s adamancy quieted. “And I do not want to see you hurt. Or Ben. I like him too.”
Rhianne searched Tiger’s eyes and found certainty there, coupled with worry that she’d ignore his warnings. She needed to do much thinking before she made any decisions, and also ask questions. Her mother probably knew more than she was telling.
But Lady Aisling was like that. Powerful, assured, and cryptic. Rhianne loved her mother but growing up in her house had sometimes been hell.
Hence, her relocation to the coast, where she could find purpose and steadiness. Her interest in astronomy helped. The heavens comforted her with their never-changing constellations. Well, they actually did change, but over vast amounts of time, and made the problems of the Tuil Erdannan and hoch alfar seem trivial. She felt a scholar’s pull of curiosity about the constellations here.
“All right,” Rhianne said to Tiger and smiled. “Now let us go back to the others before they fall over in apoplexy.”
Tiger gave her a grave nod and led her from the garden.
Only when they rounded the house to where Ben, Dylan, and Liam waited anxiously, did Rhianne realize they’d conducted the entire conversation in the language of the Tuil Erdannan. Tiger’s speech had been flawless.
* * *
Ben’s tension flowed out of him as Rhianne returned. She strode easily, far more relaxed now than when she’d walked off with Tiger out of Ben’s sight.
Tiger was like that. He scared the shit out of all males he came near, unless they were cubs, but women melted to him. Females of every species were like, Tiger? He’s a sweetie. How can you call him terrifying?
Ben wasn’t sure how he did that. Maybe Tiger should give a seminar.
“I’ve made up my mind, gentlemen.” Rhianne spoke clearly, her faintly accented English making Ben’s blood hot. “I will not be going back to Walther’s castle. You will have to gain your knowledge another way.”
Dylan didn’t hide his disappointment, but Liam gave Rhianne a broad smile. “Ah, well. We had to try. Would you be willing to give us any information you have on the bastard, and what he is up to?”
“Certainly.” Rhianne met his gaze. “Though I am rather tired today.”
Ben put himself in front of Liam and Dylan. “Give her some space. We’ll call you.”
Dylan had the wisdom to know when not to push. Ben understood Dylan wasn’t trying to be cruel but was seriously worried about the hoch alfar. The hoch alfar had repeatedly indicated their wish to bring all Shifters back under their control, reversing the outcome of the Shifter-Fae war that had freed the Shifters hundreds of years ago.
Dylan nodded at Rhianne with respect, lifted his hand to Ben, and turned away to his motorcycle.
Liam’s face softened, and his right eyelid lowered in a wink. “Catch you later, kids. Coming, Tiger? I’m starving. I’ll make Dad take us into New Orleans where we can sample some of its fabulous food.”
Tiger gave a faint shake of his head. “I will return home to my mate and cubs.”
“I don’t blame you, big guy. Going home to Kim and my sweet Katriona sounds fine, now that I think about it. I’ll take them all out when we get there. Austin has great food too.”
He waved at Ben and Rhianne both and sauntered to his bike. No, swaggered to it. Liam had perfected the move.
Dylan had already started his motorcycle, straddling it easily as he waited for his son and Tiger. Liam mounted his bike and let it roar to life, revving it to be obnoxious.
Tiger and Rhianne exchanged a glance, then Tiger turned without a word and joined Dylan and Liam.
Not long later, the three swerved their motorcycles in graceful curves and glided down the drive toward the road. A warm breeze, scented with exhaust, brushed Ben and Rhianne in their wake.
Rhianne’s hand was in Ben’s again. How did that happen? Never mind, Ben told himself. He’d roll with it.
“Food sounds like a good idea.” Ben kept his voice light, but his throat was dry for some reason. “How about I take you into New Orleans, and we have a night on the town?”
Rhianne scanned the bright blue sky. “We just had breakfast. Is it still morning? Or does time move differently here?”
“A day and a night make twenty-four hours as humans mark time. More or less. The days are a little shorter than in Faerie, but not much. You get used to it. In other words, it’s morning and will be for another hour or so.”
“Then how do we have a night on the town if it’s morning?” Rhianne sounded genuinely confused. “How do you have a night on a town? Perhaps I am not translating correctly.”
Ben squeezed her hand. “You heard right. In New Orleans, you do have a night on the town—on the streets, on the rooftops, on the tables. Partying is an art form ther
e.”
Rhianne’s slight frown told him she took the words literally. “It sounds very interesting.”
Ben grabbed her around the waist in a quick hug. “It is, sweetheart. Stick with me, kid. We’ll have an awesome night.”
* * *
Rhianne flicked through the selection of clothes in the large closet of the bedroom Ben had ushered her to, contemplating the paradox of human clothing, which was both simple and complex. The Tuil Erdannan had all kinds of different garments to hang on bodies, but humans had it down to only a few shapes—leggings and tunics, skirts and one-piece dresses.
However, within those shapes, Rhianne discovered amazing choices. Fabric from thin stretchy material like that of the tunic she wore—Ben called it a T-shirt—to tissue-thin lamé to pliable soft leather to silky fabric that shimmered. All kinds of patterns seemed to be possible: flowers, stripes, abstract shapes with soft outlines. Humans had clothes in every color imaginable.
Rhianne found the leggings she already wore very comfortable, but Ben said she needed something fancier. He told her that the comfortable leggings and jacket were called sweats, because in theory, humans sweated in the clothing when they went running.
“Running from what?” Rhianne asked him.
Ben had laughed and waved her to the closet.
Lady Aisling sometimes brought home human clothes from her trips to Paris or Milan. She and Rhianne had fun trying them on and sometimes Lady Aisling would wear them to fancy-dress parties. The experiments helped Rhianne now to choose an outfit.
The ladies who stored their clothes in this large closet had diverse tastes. Ben had pointed out who owned what. The woman called Jasmine wore colorful shirts and subdued skirts that must fit her closely. The Shifter Jaycee liked black leather, leopard prints, and anything glittery.
Rhianne took her time and put together an ensemble she liked. She started with a flowing, silky tunic in a rich blue that skimmed over a tiny satin white camisole beneath it. On bottom she’d chosen leggings of blackest leather whose outside seams were trimmed with a bright pink satin stripe studded with glinting stones.
The Last Warrior: Shifters Unbound Book 13 Page 5