Ármann nodded, his face red from the effort to breathe.
Kade released him and stepped aside. Cauld Ane authorities were waiting in the foyer to take Ármann away, and they informed Kade that Ármann’s sister and mother had also been picked up. Once Ármann was shipped off to Pohnpei, his family would suffer the same punishment.
“Well, that went well,” Angus observed.
“Aye,” Kade said. “A little too well.”
* * *
The next day, Samantha was drinking her coffee and trying not to miss Kade when her cell phone buzzed. “Hi, Payton.”
“Hi. Are you interested in some company?”
Sam grinned. “Are you here?”
“Just pulling up to your driveway now…Fiona’s with me.”
Sam let out an excited squeal and headed to the front door. The limo pulled up and the driver helped the women out of the car. Sam rushed them and they hugged like long-lost friends. “I thought you weren’t going to make it until the end of the week?”
Payton laughed. “Kade organized everything.”
“Of course he did.”
Fiona smiled. “He’s worried about you.”
Sam nodded toward the two large Saxon-looking men who emerged from the car after the women. “Hence the muscle?”
“Ignore them.” Payton linked her arm with Sam’s. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,” Sam assured her.
“Are you sure?” Fiona took her hand, using it as a chance to study Sam’s skin.
“Yep. Nothing on my arms, see?” Sam felt an unusual sensation as Fiona held her hand. A vibration of sorts. “Fi?”
“Hmm?”
“You’re bound!” Sam gasped. “How did I know that?”
“Family bond,” Payton said. “It’s in our DNA.”
“Congratulations!” Sam hugged Fiona.
“Thanks.” Fiona giggled. “I never thought it would happen.”
“Are you still going to have your big wedding?” Sam asked.
Fiona shook her head. “No.”
“Are you okay with that?”
Fiona sighed. “I am now.”
“Come inside and we can talk about it. My parents are out, so we have an hour or so before they get back.”
Payton gave instructions to the driver and the security to park on the street.
“Wait,” Sam instructed and made her way to one of the men. “Can I get you boys something to drink?”
The taller one glanced at the other and then back at her. “No, m’lady.”
“Are you sure?”
“Aye, m’lady.”
“If you need anything, just ring the doorbell, okay?”
They nodded and then headed back to the car.
“You didn’t need to do that, Sam,” Fiona said.
“Of course I did. This is the South. We have a reputation to maintain. Now, who wants coffee?” she asked as she led the women inside.
“Me, please,” Payton said.
“Do you have tea?” Fiona asked.
“We do, but it’s probably not as good as Whittard’s.”
Fiona shrugged. “I don’t mind.”
Payton and Fiona sat at the kitchen island and Sam boiled some water. As she went about preparing everything, she smiled. Checking up on me?
I take it my sister and Payton arrived safely?
No. They had a weird accident and are both irrevocably deformed.
Okay, you got me. I wanted to make sure you didn’t have any ill effects from the almonds.
Sam sighed. I would have told you.
By then it would have been too late. Fiona has the necessary counteractions to a few things with her.
And the security?
“Sam? Do you need some help?” Payton asked.
“No, I’m good,” Sam said.
The security’s not just for you, sweetheart.
Sam pulled down mugs. Okay, I’ll let that one slide.
I miss you, love.
I miss you way more. Believe me. I’m glad the girls are here. It’ll be a nice distraction. Sam tried to squelch the tears pricking her eyes. How much longer?
A few more days. Please stay close to the men. Something’s up with Ármann’s people and you need to be careful.
I will be.
Kade cut off any further communication and Sam swept aside her sadness. A gentle squeeze on her arm had her turning to face Payton.
“He’ll be fine, Sam.”
“I know that...” Sam grimaced. “…logically.”
“Brodie’s with him. No one gets past Brodie.” Payton suddenly found one of the magnets on the fridge fascinating. “And Connall, of course.”
Sam raised an eyebrow. “Do I hear a little softening towards Brodie?”
Payton shrugged. “No.”
Fiona snorted from her place at the table.
“It’s not like I hate him, Fi,” Payton insisted. “He’s just intimidating, and I don’t trust him.”
“In five months, you’ll think differently.”
Payton bit her lip. “Unless he’s wrong.”
“He’s not wrong, Payton,” Fiona insisted.
“Why don’t you trust him?” Sam asked.
Payton shrugged.
“It’s because of Heather,” Fiona offered.
“Fi!” Payton snapped.
“What? We’re all going to be related. If you can’t talk to us, who can you talk to?”
“Who’s Heather?” Sam asked.
“She’s a woman Brodie has been seeing for the past couple of years.” Fiona sipped her tea. “No one knows anything about her. Just her name.”
“He can see whoever he wants to see,” Payton said. “I’m not his keeper.”
Sam raised an eyebrow. “Why do I get the feeling that bothers you a lot more than you’re letting on?”
“Did Kade tell you about the American security Connall set up?”
“Payton!” This time it was Fiona’s turn to admonish.
Sam smiled. “Security’s security, Payton. It doesn’t matter where it came from. Now, quit changing the subject.”
Payton flopped into one of the kitchen chairs and groaned. “Brodie says he’s my mate, but he spends all his time with another woman. In five months, I’ll know in my heart if what he’s telling me is true. I don’t think I can believe him, though.”
“Why?” Sam asked.
“Because siblings don’t mate with siblings,” Fiona said.
Sam wrinkled her nose. “That sounds very wrong.”
“Not like that!” Fiona chuckled. “Because I’m bound to Angus, it would be unusual for Payton to mate with Brodie. I mean, there aren’t any references to it in our books, and those records go back over a thousand years.”
“That doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, right?” Sam pointed out.
“I guess not,” Payton admitted. “But until I know for sure, it’s better that I keep my distance.”
Sam gave her a sympathetic smile. “We all assumed Brodie’s been going through hell all by himself. We’ve been wrong, huh?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t realize he’d been ‘going through hell.’”
Fiona snorted. “Then you’re blind. He’s been a blitherin’ idiot since the day you arrived.”
“He says two words a year,” Payton snapped. “Neither of which sound blitherin’ to me.”
Sam shook her head. “Okay, okay. I don’t think a contest on how incapacitated Brodie Gunnach has become is necessary.”
“I don’t think any of this is necessary,” Payton said. “Let’s just drop it, okay? If I’m to be bound to Brodie, I’ll know soon enough. I’d rather not think about it for now.” She stood and placed her mug in the sink. “I have too much on my plate as it is.”
Fiona’s phone rang and she grimaced. “Hi, Brodie.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
PAYTON LET OUT a frustrated squeak and rushed out of the room. Sam followed her and guided her into the family r
oom. Payton paced the room.
Sam sat on the sofa and watched her. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Payton shook her head.
“It might help,” Sam pressed.
“Sam, I can’t talk to you about this.”
“Why not?”
“Things have changed.”
Sam frowned. “What things?”
Payton gave her an exasperated look.
“What?” Sam asked.
“This is not something you should be dealing with.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re…well…you’re Kade’s mate.”
“So?”
“He’s our king, Sam.”
Sam laughed. “So?”
“So, that makes you our queen.”
Sam swallowed. “Oh, crap. Right. I keep forgetting about that.”
Payton sighed. “Sorry.”
“Whatever. It doesn’t change anything. I’m still your friend, Payton. You can talk to me about anything.”
Payton sat next to her and frowned. “I appreciate that, but I can’t bring matters of the heart to my queen.”
“Who made that stupid rule?”
“I don’t know. We just don’t do that. Fiona didn’t discuss things with her mother, and I’m not going to start burdening you with my problems just because we were friends first.”
Samantha’s mouth fell open and then she started to laugh. She had a difficult time stopping.
“What’s so funny?”
Sam squeezed Payton’s hand. “It just hit me that I’m this small-town girl who moved to Scotland for a job and ended up being bound to a virtually immortal king. A king, Payton! If I wasn’t living it, I’d think it was ludicrous.”
Payton giggled. “I suppose that would seem strange.”
“Very. But the bottom line is that we’re friends, and if what I understand to be true is true, in less than six months you and I will be sisters. So, will you please put aside tradition and talk to me? If I have to make a new law or rule or whatever, I’ll speak to my king and make it so.” She started laughing again. “King. Sorry, he’s just so not kingly to me.”
“He’s not?”
“No. He’s…well, he’s Kade. Gorgeous and wonderful and normal all rolled into one.”
Payton smiled.
“Spill.”
Payton sank further into the couch. “Between us.”
“Of course.”
“I’m in love with the idiot.”
“Oh, honey, that’s great.”
Payton shook her head. “No, it’s not. If he really is my mate, then why is he seeing another woman? He loses his mind if I even talk to another man, but it’s okay for him to spend all this time with this mystery woman? He’ll not bind me and think that’s going to continue.”
Sam nodded. “I can see the dilemma.”
“He also left me,” she whispered.
“When?”
“When we first met. Our family arrived in the village and he and I spoke for several hours. I really liked him. Even then. But he left within the week. For five years. Mates don’t do that.”
“That must have been hard,” Sam commiserated.
“The bottom line is that we’re expected to go willingly into our mate’s arms, let them bind us, and then be the dutiful Stepford wife at all times. Well, I can’t do it.” She shuddered. “The thought of sex is difficult enough, but him sleeping with someone else is worse.”
Sam frowned. “Why is the thought of sex difficult?”
“Because it’s for procreation, Sam, and my thoughts when it comes to him are wicked.”
“Wicked? How?”
Payton squeezed her eyes shut. “When I’m close to Brodie, I feel fluttery. I can’t think straight. I saw him once with his shirt off and…well…never mind.”
“Payton,” Sam said gently. “All of those feelings are normal. Especially when you’re in love with someone. And for the record, sex is for a lot more than procreation. If it weren’t, God wouldn’t have made it so fun.”
“There you are,” Fiona said as she sailed into the room, cutting off their conversation. She held her phone out. “Brodie would like to talk to you, Payton. You’re not picking up your phone.”
Payton rolled her eyes and took the phone. “Hi, Brodie. Yes, I’m fine. No, I’m not ignoring you. We’re trying to plan the wedding. Is something wrong? Okay, good. Yep.” She paused. “Aye, my liege. Whatever you say.” Her sarcasm was rising.
Sam glanced at Fiona, who shrugged.
“Don’t you dare. No. Fine. Yes. Okay. I’m hanging up now,” she said and handed the phone back to Fiona. “I am not bonding with that man!”
“Uh-oh, what happened?” Fiona asked.
“He said if I didn’t carry my phone with me at all times, he was going to get on a plane and come and get me.”
“He felt your stress,” Fiona said. “When he couldn’t get you on the phone, he thought the worst.”
“He told me.” Payton took a deep breath. “But I don’t have the brain capacity to deal with him right now.”
“You calling him ‘my liege’ only irks him, you know.”
“Him being bossy irks me.” Payton pressed her lips into a thin line. “Kade doesn’t even lord over me the way Brodie does and Kade’s my king!” She raised her hands in surrender. “I’d like to be done talking about Brodie Gunnach. Aren’t there some bridesmaids’ dresses we need to look at?”
Sam smiled. “Tomorrow. I have an appointment for a wedding dress fitting and I think we could combine the visit.”
“Perfect,” Fiona said.
“You need to fill me in on what happened with your big fancy wedding Kade was going to pay for, Fi.”
“Ha!” Payton exclaimed. “Angus was not happy.”
Fiona sighed. “I know.”
“How come?” Sam asked.
“Because I demanded Kade pay,” Fiona explained. “I overstepped.”
Sam waved her hand in dismissal. “Oh, Fi. Kade didn’t care.”
“But Angus did.” Fiona smiled. “It all worked out in the end. We were bound, and although the conversion was uncomfortable, you were right about it being easier on me than you.”
“Good. I have to admit, I downplayed the pain a bit. Kade was entirely freaked out by the whole ordeal, so I didn’t want to be too honest.”
“I think he figured it out, Sam. He was more on edge than normal,” Fiona said.
Sam grimaced. “I know. What did you find out about your gifts?”
“I have taken on Angus’s healing, which is amazing, and apparently, something that happens with all mates.”
Sam raised an eyebrow. “Really? So, I’ll be able to heal, too?”
Fiona nodded. “You should be able to. According to the book, the longer you’re bound, the more gifts you share. My personal gift seems to be telekinesis, but Angus hasn’t taken it on, yet. I’m assuming more will show up as time goes by.”
“Very cool,” Sam said. “With that good news, I think we should have some fun tonight.”
“What do you suggest?” Payton asked.
“I say we pick Pepper up from work and head on over to the Tin Ear Saloon for drinks.”
“What’s the Tin Ear Saloon?” Fiona asked.
“The best karaoke in town.”
“I can’t sing!” Fiona exclaimed.
Sam laughed. “But Pepper can, and we can drink while she entertains us.”
Payton clapped her hands. “Love it.”
Sam pulled out her phone. “Now I just have to talk Pepper into it.”
* * *
The night at the Tin Ear wrapped up just before midnight, when Pepper insisted she needed to get up early the next morning. Samantha hugged her friend, reluctant to let her leave.
“I’m fine, Sam,” Pepper insisted.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’ll text you when I get home, okay?”
“Fine.” Sam raised an eyebrow. “But I wa
nt to know you’re all tucked in and comfy.”
Pepper laughed. “Okay, Mom.” She turned to Fiona and Payton. “It was really nice to meet you both.”
“You too,” they chimed in simultaneously.
Pepper climbed into her VW Rabbit, affectionately called “Thumper,” and peeled out of the parking lot.
Fiona squeezed Sam’s arm with a hiss. “Something’s off.”
“What do you mean?” she whispered.
Samantha, where are you, love?
I’m at a club.
Specifically, Kade pressed.
The Tin Ear Saloon on Lincoln.
I need you to go back inside. Right now.
Are you here?
Aye. Go back into the building.
“Kade wants us to go back inside.”
“So does Angus,” Fiona said.
Before they could move an inch, an eerily familiar voice sounded in the dark.
“Well, well, well.”
Sam found herself looking at Shannon Fraser, followed by Alexander Baird and another man she didn’t recognize. The men had guns aimed at Payton and Fiona.
Payton gasped. “Baldvin.”
“Who?” Sam asked.
“My brother-in-law.”
“Alex?” Sam said, surprised the young IT expert would be involved in this.
“I’m truly sorry, Sam,” he said. “I liked you. But Kade has to learn.”
“Enough!” Shannon snapped. “You’re difficult to corner, Samantha.”
Sam stood a little taller. “What do you want, Shannon?”
“I thought that would be obvious.”
You may see things that frighten you. I need you to stay behind Payton and Fiona.
Sam took a deep breath. I am not hiding behind anyone, Kade.
“Enlighten me, Shannon, because even you aren’t stupid enough to think you had a snowball’s chance in hell with Kade.”
She sneered. “I thought you and I might be friends, Samantha. I’m disappointed.”
“And I’m disappointed you haven’t bowed before your queen.”
A quiet gasp sounded behind her. Sam forced herself not to look at Payton as she tried to keep her bravado intact. She was completely out of her element here, but something within her began to awaken and she was determined to see where it led her.
“Consider us revolutionaries taking a stand against a dictatorship,” Shannon said.
Bound by Blood (Cauld Ane Series) Page 29