Guardian of Werewolf Keep (Werewolf Keep Trilogy)

by Nhys Glover

  ‘What has happened?’ she demanded, as soon as she crossed the threshold.

  Will turned at the first sound of her voice. Jasper looked her way, and stopped midsentence.

  ‘We have a situation. Bobby didn’t return to his home. We have not been able to find any sign of him. His mother told us of a shepherd’s croft further up the moors, and she thinks he might have gone there. But by that time it was getting too late. We had to come back.’ Will snapped out the situation with only a glimmer of brogue in his voice.

  ‘Byron hasn’t gone after him alone?’ Her words were mere whispers, her terror was so profound.

  ‘He has a shot gun and a revolving pistol.’

  ‘So you are saying he has gone after him alone! My God, it will be pitch black out there tonight, with this cloud cover. The wolf can come from anywhere and attack. If he’s gone out into the wilderness, why not let him? Why take that risk by going after him?’ Her voice was so high she barely recognised it as her own.

  Will drew himself to his full height, and growled. ‘Do you think you are telling me something I donna ken? But there are crofts up there, with families unprotected. Byron is doing what he has to… Your job is to help Jamey here. He knows what is to be done, but he’s still a child. It’s too much responsibility for him, especially after a day of hard riding like we’ve had. Are you willing to help him?’

  ‘Of course, of course. I will do whatever is needed. But…’

  The look he shot her way quelled any further recriminations. Shaking her head, she turned, and tottered out of the room like an old woman.

  While she helped Cook and Mary with supper, Phil’s mind was racing. This was the worst nightmare she could imagine. Byron was out there, alone, in the darkness, facing down a beast that was bigger and stronger than any wolf could ever be. Wilder and more unpredictable, too. Even with weapons, the chances were good that the werewolf could cause him harm, before he was killed.

  She tried not to think about Bobby. Her feelings were so mixed where he was concerned. If he had just stayed calm, he would have come through this. Now he was putting himself, Byron, and any other poor soul in the vicinity, at risk, in his misguided attempts to outrun something that couldn’t be outrun. There was no escape from something that was inside you. And it would always be there, no matter how far you ran.

  If she had stayed out of it, none of this would have happened. It was all her fault. Firstly, for underestimating what the change would be like for Bobby, and secondly, for not getting to Byron sooner with her concerns. She had been so proud of how well she had calmed the lad. Her ego had been buoyed by the lad’s adoration of her. What arrogance to think she could say something that one of those who had lived through this nightmare couldn’t. If he died, or if he hurt someone else, it would be all her fault!

  While she savagely beat herself for her crimes, Phil went about her duties, preparing the restless denizens of the Keep for their second night of the full moon. Without Byron, Will had to take up many of the tasks the Guardian usually did, like stoke up the furnace. His tense, closed features seemed to scream his condemnation of her, every time they passed each other.

  As she prepared to go down into the cellars, Jasper came up beside her. She had never seen the handsome gentleman so distressed. His hair was unruly, and his usually pristine clothing was in disarray. But for all his upset, he spared her a smile, as he led the way into the dungeon.

  ‘How are you holding up?’ he asked, as he held the lamp up for them both to see their way down the stairs.

  ‘Not good. I am so worried…’ she confided.

  ‘Byron has been doing this a long time. This is not the first escape, nor will it be the last. He knows to stay safe. And we do not attack a strong opponent.’

  It clashed with her sense of reality to have Jasper talk about ‘we’ when referring to the werewolves. Once more she was confronted by what surrounded her. Tonight she and a fourteen year old youth were all that stood between the wolves and their freedom. If she made a mistake, if something went wrong… She didn’t even know how to fire a gun.

  ‘Can Jamey shoot?’ she asked in panic.

  ‘Yes. Will taught him. And he knows what he must do if… worst comes to worst.’ The tight little smile Jasper sent her way made her all the more aware of their plight.

  ‘I… I will sit with him through the night. I will lend him moral support, as best I can.’

  They had reached the bottom of the stairs, and the furnace flames lit the cavern with flickering red light. Jasper glanced down the tunnel, but before he started down it, he smiled at her again. ‘Your father would be very proud.’

  ‘I doubt that very much. This is my fault.’

  ‘What?’ Jasper stopped, and stared at her in astonishment. ‘Of course it isn’t.’

  ‘Jas it’s time. Hurry man,’ ordered Will, from the other end of the short tunnel.

  Yes, there was time for recriminations later. She hurried down the women’s tunnel to do her duty.

  By the time she reached the hall above ground again, her body was shaking so hard she had trouble walking. But as Jamey joined her at the door, she drew in several deep breaths to calm herself. She was the adult here. Jamey was still a child. This was too much for him to shoulder, without her strength behind him.

  ‘All done?’ she asked him, as he closed the cellar door behind him.

  ‘Yes Miss, now all we ‘ave to do is wait an’ watch. Are ye all right, Miss? This must seem … scary. Ye’ll be safe. I’ll protect ye.’

  She smiled bravely, and rested her hand on the lad’s shoulder. He was only just a few inches taller than she was, and reed thin. She could feel his bones under her hand. ‘I know you will, Jamey. I am not worried. Well, not about us here. I am worried about Byron and Bobby.’

  The boy gave a little bark of laughter. ‘Don’t have to worry about Byron. He knows what ‘e’s about. No big bad wolf will get ‘im. And chances are Bobby will wake up in the mornin’, freezin’ his butt off, out in the middle of nowhere, an’ come crawlin’ back ‘ere, his tail between his legs. Stupid bugger. Sorry Miss.’ Jamey put a hand over his mouth, as he realised the language he’d used in front of a lady. She had to smile. He was such a child, and yet he had a wealth of experience no child his age should have. And none of it fazed him a bit.

  ‘How about a cup of tea and a sweet bun? We need to keep our strength up for the night ahead.’

  ‘I thought Cook said there weren’t none left.’ The boy’s face lit up.

  ‘I put a couple on the side, especially for us. Would you like one now?’

  ‘Oh aye, Miss, that sounds real fine. I’ll go get the shot gun, an’ check the bullets are where they should be, and I’ll be right with ye.’

  The boy bounced happily off, the promise of a treat lifting his spirits even higher. It suddenly struck her that this lad was enjoying the responsibility placed on him. This was not a fearful task that overwhelmed him. This was a challenge he saw himself more than ready for. She shook her head in amazement.

  By first light, Phil’s head was nodding forward onto Jamey’s shoulder. He shifted at her side, and she was instantly awake. ‘What?’ she mumbled, looking around blearily into all the dark corners.

  ‘Sorry Miss, ye fell asleep against me arm, an’ it went t’ sleep. Anyways, it’s dawn. They’ve quieted down, and will be turnin’ shortly. We made it.’

  She could hear the pride in his voice, and could not avoid her own little burst of pride at their accomplishment, too. A little over a month ago she had thought werewolves were the thing of horror stories, and would have run at the first sight of one. Now she had stood guard over sixteen werewolves, with only a fourteen year old child at her side. And her only fear had been for Byron. Even at the darkest moments of the night, when the wolves howled and banged loudly against their cell bars, she had felt strong and in control.

  Maybe her father would have been proud of her, after all…

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN


  So tired she could barely keep her eyes open, Phil reluctantly bowed to pressure, and retired for a nap. If she was to keep the vigil again tonight, she had to sleep, even though her worries for Byron made sleep seem a betrayal of sorts. But Will told her he would send word, as soon as he had anything to report. She just had to be satisfied with that.

  Surprisingly, she fell into a deep, exhausted sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, and didn’t wake again until mid-afternoon when Mary was sent to get her. Still groggy, and having taken no time to tidy her appearance, she dashed downstairs.

  The first thing she saw was the haggard Byron, standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at her. She had never seen anything as wonderful in her life.

  Flying into his arms, she smothered his face with desperate little kisses, as the tears poured down her cheeks. Laughing, she rubbed at them self-consciously. Byron withstood the onslaught in bemused surprise.

  ‘What is wrong, Phil?’

  ‘Wrong? Wrong? I was worried half out of my mind. That was what is wrong. I thought you had been killed, or injured. I thought I would never see you again, you stupid man!’

  The confusion cleared from his tired brown eyes, and was quickly replaced with wonder. It was as if he couldn’t believe she would feel that way about him. It made her even angrier.

  ‘What? You do not think I worry about you? Do I seem that hard hearted to you?’

  Byron placed his dirty hands on either side of her face, and drew her in so he could kiss her sulking mouth. Under the passionate deluge of emotion, his kiss finally allowed her to relax. This was what she had been waiting for. This was what she had wanted all night long.

  Her lips opened to allow him access, and for several long, sizzling minutes they devoured each other hungrily. It was only a loud clearing of a male throat that brought them both to their senses. Shakily, they pulled apart, and looked for their observer.

  ‘Glad to see you back,’ Will said gruffly, as he moved toward them from the study.

  ‘Glad to be back,’ Byron replied, drawing Phil in to his side, and wrapping his arm around her. He smelled of horse, leather, sweat and moorland. She didn’t think she had ever smelled anything more arousing.

  ‘The lad?’

  ‘I found him at the shepherd’s croft his mother had spoken of, just on sunset. I locked him inside, and stood guard over him through the night. Come morning, I tried to talk him into coming back with me, but he was still irrational. When I saw I was going to have no success with him this day, I left him food and water, and locked him in again. The croft is quite secure and very isolated, if rather worse for wear after the wolf had its way with it last night. By tomorrow, I am sure he will be more amenable. I will go back for him then.’

  Phil felt the relief right down to her toes. Bobby was all right. And he hadn’t hurt anyone. Some of her guilt was alleviated.

  ‘I would have stayed up there, but I was out of food, and I wanted to get back to make sure everything was in hand here.’ He looked down at Phil, and dropped a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

  ‘She did well enough. Aye, your wee lassie did well enough. So did the laddie. Quite full of himself he is today,’ Will granted, grudgingly.

  Phil looked at her most vocal opponent with astonishment. It was as close as he was ever going to get to praising her. And it was an olive branch of sorts. She took it with a smile.

  ‘Except for the noise you big bad wolves make, you were not so bad.’

  The exaggerated grimace Will gave her in return made her laugh.

  ‘Well, I am famished. And in desperate need of a bath,’ Byron said into the companionable cease-fire.

  ‘I’ll get Mary to organise the bath, and cook to prepare you a meal,’ Phil offered, reluctantly drawing away from his side.

  ‘I imagine they already have that in hand. Don’t go. Not yet. Come into the study, and sit with me awhile. I just need to… hold you for a little longer.’ Voicing his needs in such a way obviously made him uncomfortable, but it filled Phil with a fierce sense of joy. He had been worried about her too, and missed her. There was no other explanation for his behaviour and words.

  They wandered tiredly into the study, moulded to each other’s sides like cockles to a rock. Then, beside the low burning fire, Byron drew her down onto his lap, gently pressing her head into his neck. Phil didn’t think it was possible to feel anymore content, in that moment, than she was.

  ‘If I was any less tired, I would make the most of having you so placed,’ he said into her hair.

  ‘If I was any less tired, I would let you. But it is enough just to be like this. You are home. I was so scared I would never see you again.’

  ‘I am not so easy to be rid of, dear one. You will find that over time.’

  Phil let his words sink in. Over time? Was he talking about something more than the two months she had left to stay here? Was he asking her to stay on, with him?

  Her thoughts were suddenly in turmoil. After last night, it was impossible to deny that what she felt for Byron was love. She felt it with every fibre of her body and soul. The idea of never seeing him again was impossible to contemplate. But to stay with him meant staying at the Keep. Could she really be considering making this her permanent home? There were so many places she wanted to see. So much of the world that beckoned to her. Being imprisoned here for the rest of her life… that was still too daunting a thought.

  As if he sensed her unease, Byron tensed. ‘I did not mean to imply…’

  ‘It is fine. I know what you meant.’ It was a lie. But it was a lie that they both needed to believe, in that moment. One day soon she would need to acknowledge the truth, and make up her mind accordingly. But not now, not when they were both so bone weary, and still bathing in the glow of being together again.

  ‘Jamey did well. It will not be long before he can be left to… take up my role.’

  A momentary flash of hope sparked her system. Then she squashed it down. ‘It will be at least four years before he will be old enough to take on such a burden on his own. He is a very capable boy. But he is still very much a boy. Do not lay more on his shoulders than he is ready for.’

  ‘I know, but…’ He stopped himself from going on, and then nuzzled into her hair. ‘You are right. It is too much to ask.’

  She wasn’t sure if he referred to Jamey or herself.

  ‘There is a whole world out there…’ she mumbled into his throat.

  ‘I know. I don’t expect …’ Again he didn’t finish his thought.

  For several long minutes they sat in silence, just holding each other. Then Mary knocked softly, and entered the room carrying a tray stacked high with food.

  Reluctantly, Phil climbed off his lap, so he could have both hands free to eat. But she couldn’t make herself leave him. Instead, she sat on the other arm chair, and watched as he began to put away enough food to feed her for a week. By the time he was finished she was laughing.

  He had to swallow down the last mouthful before he could speak. ‘What is so funny?’

  ‘No wonder you are such a big man. That was a great deal of food you devoured.’

  ‘I have not eaten since last night, and it has been an energetic few days. Do not give me grief for my appetite, woman. You would make me into a scrawny stick, if I ate less.’

  ‘No, heaven forbid that you should became a stick. I like you just the way you are. If that takes enough food to feed a small army, then so be it.’ She chuckled, and was pleased to hear him laugh too.

  ‘You are very good for me. I do not think I have laughed this much in ten years. I have missed it.’

  ‘I am glad. I like to hear you laugh. You take your role far too seriously.’

  ‘Maybe so. But there has been little to amuse me here before you came.’

  ‘Amuse you? So I am funny now am I? Should I put on a clown suit, and jig around the room?’ She was intentionally misunderstanding him, just to lighten the mood.

  ‘Can you jig? I wo
uld very much like to see that. Maybe Jasper can play a jig to accompany you.’ His smile was radiant, as he put the tray on the table at his side, and extended his hand to her.

  Eagerly, she rose and joined him once more on his lap. When he kissed her, she could taste the wine he had drunk with his meal. He let her tongue dart into his mouth, to taste it more thoroughly.

  It was the first time she had done such a thing, and she felt his body respond to her blatant behaviour. His arms tightened around her, as he joined her tongue in the dance.

  Groaning in a most unladylike fashion, she opened her mouth wider, inviting more intimacy. How had she ever thought kissing to be a sloppy, encroaching thing? This mingling of mouths and breath was exciting. It drove her mad with what she was only now coming to understand was desire. She desired him. She wanted him. It was like a fever that burned through her system, leaving nothing untouched.

  When they finally came up for air, they were both panting. Byron nuzzled into her neck as he tried to bring his body back under control. This woman was driving him to distraction. All he wanted was to be with her all the time, and to feel her body against his own every minute of his wake day. He wanted to bury himself deep inside her, over and over again, until he couldn’t tell where he ended and she began. It was insanity. Though he had told himself this for weeks, it had made no difference. He couldn’t get enough of her. And he knew he would never get enough of her, even if they had every day of the rest of their lives together.

  And that was never going to happen. She had said as much. There were so many places she wanted to see. There was so much more of life that beckoned to her. It would be unfair of him to tie her to him, and to this place, when, for the first time in her life she had the freedom, and all the money she needed, to follow her dreams. Until Jamey was old enough, he could not leave the Keep for long. He could not go with her to all those wonderful places her heart yearned for.