Blood Oath (#8, the Mystic Wolves)

by Belinda Boring

  In the days that followed the letter, everyone had been in a constant state of preparation and, truth be told, I was a little wary of the newcomers. Knowing who they were and the mischief that would unfold during their stay, it was painfully hard not to warn Sullivan. It killed me to know he was basically inviting war into his home.

  For all the caution he’d shown when inviting me to join him at Kilgrave Manor, I was by far the lesser of two evils. It made no difference, either, when I confronted Klothos and asked if I could somehow intervene. My course was set. Nothing could sway me away from my purpose.

  But Sullivan? He didn’t deserve the nightmare that had arrived with his guests. Every shred of logic I used to argue with the young Fate was promptly refused on the grounds that it wasn’t my responsibility to alter Sullivan’s destiny. Should I go against her orders, and defy those of her sisters, she would have no other choice but to personally deliver me a reminder of what I risked.

  Foolish confidence made me believe I could somehow sway Klothos to my side—that perhaps she would return to her sisters and plead my case. What difference would it make if his guests returned home after being unexpectedly called away? I was still bound for Bath and to honor my blood oath. That led to the assumption my later confrontation with Sullivan would still occur . . . so why not make it at least a little more bearable for him once it arrived?

  “Devlin, intervene when it isn’t your place and you will bring down a harsher punishment on your new friend’s head,” Klothos answered, her voice calm and unwavering. I had no idea how she could remain so unaffected—unfeeling. My blood boiled thinking about the chaos these next few days would bring and the heartache that came as its companion.

  “Don’t confuse your guilt over Sullivan’s future with the useless belief you can somehow redeem yourself.”

  Her admonition had stung. “Are you so incapable of seeing this from my point of view?” I thundered back, chest tight and my hands clenched into fists.

  “The only point of view that matters here are ours—mine and my sisters. I’m sorry if my assistance has somehow misled you regarding my intentions. While I’m empathetic to your cause, never forget who I am and that you ultimately answer to me. Don’t make me regret showing you kindness.”

  It had been a lesson in futility as Klothos disappeared and left me standing alone in the middle of my room, breath ragged from my passionate pleading.

  She was right, however. I had mistaken her kindness to mean she was on my side, that I’d managed to secure myself an ally against her sisters. The tenderness of her heart was just that—tenderness. It didn’t guarantee I could manipulate her in any way with my convincing arguments. I’d been naïve to think so.

  So, there I stood beside Sullivan while he smiled that charming grin of his, welcoming his guests. I wasn’t required to join him but it was the least I could do. He would need all the support he could get.

  An Alpha’s job was never done and even though his position as pack leader demanded obedience, he couldn’t control those from visiting clans.

  I would do my best to sway things—words that might act on his conscience where he would make the final decisions. The Fates couldn’t accuse me of interfering if I was subtle and it appeared that Sullivan was calling all the shots.

  Subterfuge and discretion . . . just a few of the tricks I learned from my Maker. Hopefully, if Sullivan ever found out he would forgive my honorable deception . . . if there were such a thing.

  “Welcome to Kilgrave Manor!” Sullivan shouted, his enthusiasm infectious. While I wasn’t sure where the newcomers had travelled from, it was evident they hadn’t been here before judging by their wide-eyed stares. With each step they took, their gazes seemed to scan everything, memorizing every detail. There was also the telltale sign of their inherent wolf nature as they sniffed the air.

  Sullivan had brushed that aside during the first few days I’d been here—commenting something about the weather and how allergies were particularly bad this time of year. I’d nodded my acceptance and we hadn’t spoken of it since. What could I have possibly said? Allergies, schmallergies. You’re a bunch of wolves!

  “Thank you for having us at such short notice,” a young man replied, greeting Sullivan with a bow of his head. What was given as respect to humans was also the same amongst wolves, although this was also a gesture showing esteem to the Alpha. I looked on, biting my tongue. “I hope we aren’t inconveniencing you.” He glanced back over his shoulder as people exited the three carriages. Luggage was already being unloaded and taken into the house.

  “Not at all,” Sullivan assured, clapping the man on the side of his arm. “It will be wonderful having you all here. Joshua Dennison, I’d like you to meet my good friend, Devlin Lockhart.”

  His focus switched to me and we quickly exchanged pleasantries. “My pleasure, Mr. Lockhart. It’s always wonderful to meet those acquainted with Sullivan.” I could feel him assess me, perhaps trying to figure out where I stood within the Pack. It was more likely he was curious why an Alpha would befriend a human.

  “I look forward to getting to know you, Mr. Dennison. And please, call me Devlin.”

  “Then let’s dispense formalities and call me Joshua.” He paused long enough to welcome a beautiful young woman into his arms, her features soft and submissive. “And this is my darling sister, Annabeth. It’s her first time going to London so she’s a little shy.”

  There was something about the way her cheeks flushed from the attention and the way she lowered her gaze that made me wonder if she truly was shy or whether it was all an act for her big brother. I’d seen that same look on Darcy’s face—her ability to fool everyone with her feigned innocence. The truth only ever came out after it was too late and she’d suckered you into one of her crazy schemes. Only a few were immune to her particular brand of persuasion—Mason, Daniel, and me. Then again, I’d seen her mate buckle under the lip quiver she’d perfected. If there was ever a man who was wrapped around her finger and unable to say no, it was Mason.

  Annabeth curtsied, allowing Sullivan to take her hand and kiss the back of it. Damn, he was a real charmer. “I trust your journey here was a safe one?”

  Her voice was like honey and chocolate rolled into one delectable sound bite. Whether he realized it or not, Sullivan stepped forward as if he drawn to her by invisible strings. His reaction pleased her.

  “The only obstacle I found was my growing impatience to get here. Joshua’s spoken so highly of you, Mr. Kilgrave. We appreciate your graciousness in allowing us to stay here in your home.”

  “Anything for a friend, and please, call me Sullivan.” He held her gaze and I coughed and then cleared my throat to hide my laughter, breaking whatever spell had been cast upon the wolf. Whatever chemistry Sullivan believed existed between him and Annabeth was a ruse and the Alpha needed to know they would never become a reality.

  Sometimes, having knowledge of the future was a major pain in the ass.

  Now that everything was unloaded, a small group had gathered around us, signaling it was time to move inside. Introductions were made—more of Joshua’s kin along with guards who protected them while traveling.

  Sullivan and I took up the rear, watching as the guests were escorted to their rooms with instructions to return to the drawing room once they’d freshened up.

  “I have a good feeling about this, Devlin,” the young Alpha proclaimed, his gaze never straying from Annabeth’s retreating form until she disappeared from the second story landing. “Can’t you feel it? There’s something in the air!”

  I wanted to fire back that I felt the exact opposite—instead of the enthusiasm that left a huge grin on his face, a permanent sense of dread had lodged itself in my gut. Instead, I forced myself to match his smile and through clenched teeth echoed his sentiment.

  Don’t say a word, Devlin, I muttered to myself.

  Klothos was wrong. It was my responsibility to look out for my friend. I’d do my best to bite my tongue, but
the truth was, I had no idea if I’d be able to keep silent.

  Or if I wanted to.

  “This sun is positively glorious!” Annabeth declared as she tipped her head back and smiled at the sky. Peeking out from beneath the parasol she held, the warm rays tickled at her skin, kissing the freckles scattered across her nose. “And this food!” she claimed a fresh strawberry from the platter on the blanket we all sat around. “If I didn’t know any better, Joshua, I’d say our host was trying to fatten us up!”

  The first few days since their arrival had seen us confined to the house when a surprise storm blew in from the east. Rain had fallen by the bucket full. Although some enjoyed the quiet solitude that followed and sat beside the fire, reading to their hearts content, Annabeth had grown more restless with each passing hour.

  When the weather finally cleared up and the ground dried, Sullivan had his kitchen staff prepare a picnic—a way to celebrate friendships and shake off the anxiety from being caged up. It was funny how often he’d felt he owed me an apology, unaware I knew what was going on. Werewolves loathed being trapped inside and Darcy often shared how it felt like the walls were closing in around her. I simply brushed his comments off with my own feeble confession that I felt the same need to be out in the fresh air.

  It hadn’t been a lie.

  Edgy werewolves were enough to make even the most ignorant of humans sense their agitation. They may not understand what they were feeling but it was there, just the same.

  A collective release of breath seemed to burst from us all and the afternoon had been spent in excited laugher and busy chatter. Sullivan had set up blankets for everyone to relax on—both his guests and Pack members who joined in. Scattered around his spacious property, he also positioned different activities like croquet and archery. The men hovered around each one, bragging about their mastery and prowess.

  More than once, Annabeth had murmured she was surprised no one had hurt themselves or poked out an eye. After returning from trying his hand at archery, Joshua had laughed at his sister’s observation. It was simply men being men.

  “So, you wouldn’t be offended if I went over there and tried . . . let’s say . . .” Annabeth craned her neck to see what caught her fancy. “Cricket?”

  Sure enough, a game was being set up and the men were dividing themselves into two teams.

  “You’ll do no such thing!” Joshua fired back, his features darkening to the point they rivaled the storm clouds from days earlier. “You know how rough the game can become. I won’t have you getting hurt and then having to explain to Mama and Papa how I didn’t stop you.”

  “Like you ever could, big brother,” she teased back, dusting her hands off as she stood. “What say you, Devlin? Care to play with me?”

  I lifted my own hands in an attempt to avoid entangling myself in their squabble. It never did me any good. Before long, the tables would turn, and I’d find myself on the receiving end of a tongue-lashing. “Don’t get me involved. I say listen to your brother.” That earned me a grin from Joshua and a scowl from Annabeth. What she didn’t know was I was immune to those, having survived Darcy’s. Now there was a girl who knew how to tug at my heartstrings.

  “Fine,” she humphed in annoyance and mock anger, then picked up a grape and tossed it at her brother. “I’m surprised you even allowed me to come with you considering you think I’m so fragile a simple game might break me.”

  He snatched it in mid-air and, with an arrogant smirk, popped it into his mouth and began chewing. “You, my sweet sister, are anything but fragile. It’s the men I’m worried about. Who will protect them from your competitive streak? Or do you need to be reminded what happened last time?”

  There was that submissive meekness I saw in those early moments of her arrival. “Point taken, Joshua,” she murmured.

  “Do I dare ask?” Sullivan chuckled, amused by their banter.

  “No!” Annabeth thundered, resembling all the bravado of a cornered feline. “Joshua, please don’t.”

  He slowly drained the rest of his wine from the glass in front of him, drawing out his response. He’d ruffled Annabeth’s feathers, which did the trick—both Sullivan and I leaned in to hear the story.

  “I dare say I should. Then these two can help keep you from acting like a complete heathen instead of the young lady you are.” If looks could kill, the daggers she shot her would have silenced him. Joshua rested back on his hand, settling to tell his story. “Whenever my dear sister joins in the games back home—no matter what it is or how boisterous or calm the game—someone always ends up hurt.”

  “That’s not my fault,” she grumbled under her breath, her arms folded across her chest. “I didn’t give Robert a black eye. It was totally his lack of coordination.”

  “True . . . he wasn’t able to catch the ball you threw so forcefully at his head!”

  Both Sullivan and I watched Annabeth closely, as if we were trying to imagine this small slip of a girl causing any kind of damage to anyone.

  “A black eye?” Sullivan asked, not quite sure he believed Joshua.

  “On my honor,” he replied, lifting his hand as if he was being sworn in at court before a judge. “She swung her arm back and let the ball fly. For the next week, every time we saw poor Robert, he would grumble about letting her hit him . . . that it wouldn’t have been gentlemanly to win against a lady.”

  “He did not!” Like a match to dry tinder, Annabeth’s indignation roared into existence. “He just won’t admit I was better at the game than he was. Perhaps if he focused more on skill and less on pouring liquor down his throat, he’d have a better aptitude for sport. If you ask me, I did you a favor!” Her chest heaved as she caught her breath. Her cheeks were flushed from the exertion, and I caught Sullivan admiring her.

  “A favor? How do you imagine that?” It was Joshua’s turn to look incredulous.

  “Now you know how useless Robert is and never choose him to be on your team. Don’t hide the truth, you sneak. You are just as competitive as I am . . . if not more. Shall we discuss how many of your competitors’ bones you’ve broken with our friends here?”

  The easiness of their conversations tugged at my memories, reminding me of both Elynor and Darcy and the bantering we’d all exchanged. Even Verity had shown the same degree of feistiness when provoked. I missed the women in my life—whether past, present, or future.

  We all burst into laughter when Joshua ducked his head, refusing to say another word. Annabeth crowed in triumph at setting aside her brother’s arguments. “That’s what I thought.” And as sweetly as she could muster, popped another grape into her mouth.

  “When do you leave for London, Joshua?” I asked, changing the topic. The grateful expression he sent back indicated he was happy to talk about something else.

  “Early tomorrow morning. I should be gone all day and return late in the evening. That is, if everything goes smoothly.” Beside me, Sullivan nodded like he knew what was going on.

  “And Mr. Over Protective has graciously allowed me to tag along. I’m hoping I might explore some of the dress shops while he talks with the boring lawyers he’s meeting.”

  I instantly thought of Ms. Valeria and wondered if she’d enjoy meeting the young lady.

  “Maybe we should all go along, Devlin,” Sullivan said, nudging me. “Everyone can take care of their business and later we’ll attend one of the musical performances.”

  “Or we can plan for an elaborate meal to welcome them back from a long day,” I countered. I couldn’t explain why, but there was no way we should remain in London after dark. The streets weren’t safe, even for werewolves in disguise.

  It was Sullivan who responded. “Is there a reason you don’t want to join their party?” He studied me closely. “I don’t think we’ll be receiving any letters tomorrow so it’s the perfect opportunity to go with them.” He was hinting at waiting for Iriana, who had still failed to come to Kilgrave Manor.

  What could I possibly say? “I guess
watching these two has reminded me of my own protectiveness,” I chuckled, trying to downplay my concern. “I wouldn’t want my sister to be wandering around town once the sun goes down.”

  I didn’t add that, unlike Annabeth, Elynor was a powerful witch who could probably reduce any assailant to a pile of ash if threatened. Her experience with Julian had hardened her. She lost her innocence and trusting nature after his betrayal.

  “Not you too!” she cried. Heaven help me but her bottom lip jutted out in a dramatic pout. Then, batting her eyelashes, she appealed to our egos. “Honestly? What harm could befall me with you three escorting me?” Damn, it was clearly working on Joshua and Sullivan.

  “Well . . .” Sullivan started, looking to her brother for confirmation. “When you put it that way.” To him, a strong wolf and powerful Alpha would be escorting her. Even believing I was a human, he assumed I could still defend myself based on my physique.

  Everyone turned to me.

  Great. If I spoke against it, they would wonder why I was so opposed to the suggestion. Then Sullivan would have no choice but to press the matter and I’d be put on the spot.

  I would just need to keep a watchful eye and somehow keep events from unfolding.

  “Who am I to argue with such a pretty young lady?”

  Annabeth shrieked in happiness over her victory. “Thank you! Oh, I can’t wait until tomorrow. How am I ever going to sleep tonight?”

  I tuned out the conversation that followed, my mind focused on memories that had surfaced.

  “Devlin?” Sullivan whispered, noticing I’d fallen silent. “You can tell me if there’s a reason you think we shouldn’t go. Say the word and I’ll arrange something else.”

  In his defense, he was thinking about his Pack members and the fun they might have joining us in London. It would be a surprise treat for those who worked so hard to keep the manor running well.