Once Upon A Midnight

by Stephanie Rowe

  Landing on the ground, Cadence broke out in giggles. Gareth rolled over on his side and planted a sweet kiss on the tip of her nose. “Are you ready to celebrate, un annwyl?”

  “More than anything!” Getting to their feet, the couple headed to where to rest of their family and friends gathered to celebrate their mating.

  The End

  About Kelly

  Thank you so much for reading Fated by Fire. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much I loved writing it. Please consider leaving a review. I appreciate and read all reviews.

  A huge thank you to my cover designer, JC Clarke, and my editors, Laura Shaw and Kim Huther. They make me look great!

  Thank you to my street team, TheZone! You’re unwavering support and love touch me more than you know!

  http://kellycozzone.weebly.com/

  BOUND BY JOY

  Book #8 in the Cauld Ane Series

  Copyright © 2016 by Tracey Jane Jackson

  Cover Photo

  Couple:

  Tracey Jane Jackson

  Landscape:

  Stock Photo

  Cover Art

  Jackson Jackson

  Cover Models

  Scott Stevens

  Shana Kunze

  CHAPTER ONE

  Two Years Ago...

  Edinburgh, Scotland

  KENNA MCFADDEN WALKED into her sister’s home... her home, for the time being anyway... and fell into Gillian’s hug. She was on hiatus from her job as tour manager for the multi-platinum album selling band, Fallen Crown, and she desperately needed the break. “Och, sis, I’m knackered.”

  Gillian gave her a squeeze. “You’re always knackered when you’re done with a tour.”

  Kenna sighed with relief, looking forward to reconnecting with her family... finally. “Aye, ’tis true. I can’t wait for the next year off.”

  “Max is givin’ you a year, is he?”

  “That’s what he said.” She smiled. “I still have my job with Rogue, but it’ll only be a couple of days a week for now.” Rogue was a non-profit company the leaders of Fallen Crown, Niall and Max, started to aid and protect human women and children in abusive situations. Kenna helped women settle into their new lives, using her gift of suggestion to calm often volatile situations. “You know what Rogue is like, it’s feast or famine, so the hours are unpredictable. Plus, besides her normal duties, Grace is taking over a lot of the tour management, so it’s all good.”

  Max’s mate, Grace, was now working for Kenna as her assistant and Kenna loved her. She also loved knowing that if she ever wanted to leave her job permanently, she’d be leaving the band in Grace’s capable hands.

  “Are you all right with your job essentially being eliminated?”

  “Aye, love. Very much so. It’s a good time to transition out, anyway. I can concentrate on Rogue and perhaps spend more time with you.”

  “Well, I for one am so glad you’re home,” Gillian said.

  “Me too, love. With all the drama with Max, I’m especially drained.”

  Gillian sighed. “I can’t believe he thought you had something to do with Moira’s death.”

  Max and Niall’s sister, Moira, had been Kenna’s closest friend until Moira was brutally murdered. Max had somehow gotten in his mind that Kenna had lured her to her death and had spent more than a hundred years hating her for it. They’d just recently sorted through their issues and things were now forgiven.

  “Max has always been a bit of a prick.”

  Kenna giggled. “Thank God for Grace.”

  “Aye... a thousand times, yes. Thank God for Grace.”

  Kenna bit back a yawn. “I finally have enough time to find a home of my own.”

  “You’re not goin’ anywhere until yer bound... or I’m bound,” Gillian countered. “Last standing spinster gets the house.”

  Kenna giggled. “How old are we now?”

  “I stopped counting at two hundred.”

  “Exactly.” Kenna waved her hand in the air. “I doubt we’re going to find our mates any time soon.”

  “One can dream, dear heart.”

  “Aye. One can certainly dream.”

  Gillian grabbed a suitcase and started toward the stairs. “Let’s get you settled. I made stew if you’re hungry.”

  “You made me stew?”

  “Aye, why?”

  “You’re just the best sister ever.”

  Gillian laughed. “Oh, if only you’d said that when we were wee.”

  “I’m sure I did. A thousand times.”

  “Never. Not once,” Gillian corrected.

  “Well, I’m saying it now.”

  Gillian grinned as she pushed open the guest room door. Kenna stepped inside, throwing the bag she carried onto the bed while Gillian set the other one near the door.

  “Do you want to eat or sleep?”

  Kenna nodded.

  Gillian chuckled. “Come and eat then, and when you’ve had enough I’ll leave you to sleep.”

  “Thank you.”

  Kenna followed her sister downstairs and helped herself to dinner. “Any news from Payton?”

  Their sister was mated to Brodie Gunnach, one of the princes of the Cauld Ane, and she was expecting their first child. She was due any day now and Gillian and Kenna had promised to be there for the birth.

  “No. She’s just feeling huge and wanting the baby out.”

  Kenna sighed. “She is big, eh?”

  “Aye, but look at Brodie, you can’t exactly call him small.”

  “Will she be okay?”

  “Aye, love, she’ll be fine. Our babies are usually big.”

  Kenna sat at the table and frowned. “How’s Brodie going to take all of this?”

  Gillian laughed. “He’s going to completely lose his mind, but that’s part of the reason we’re going to be there.”

  “Aye, I suppose ’tis.”

  Gillian poured herself a glass of wine and handed Kenna a Belhaven. “Eat yer supper and don’t worry about Pay. We’ll take good care of her.”

  Kenna grinned with a nod, sipping the beer. “Thank you.”

  * * *

  Kenna awoke as the buzz of her cell phone busted into her dream. Ewan MacGregor was leaning in to kiss her after admitting his undying love for her. Of course, he wasn’t married with kids in her dream, because it was long before his wife had even been born.

  “Hello,” she grumbled.

  “Oh, Kenna,” a worried Alaina Meyer rasped. “Can you come in, please? We need your help.”

  Kenna glanced at the clock. Three a.m. “What’s going on, love?”

  “A human woman came in with her two kids and we’re having difficulty handling the husband.”

  Kenna sat up and threw the covers off. “The husband’s there?”

  “Aye.”

  “And everyone’s in Inverness,” Kenna finished.

  Max and Grace’s main home was in the Scotland countryside, and Niall and Charlotte were visiting for a few weeks.

  Alaina’s voice hitched. “Aye.”

  “What about Dalton or Cole?”

  “I’ve left messages for both of them.”

  “Okay, love, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” Kenna hung up and rushed to dress. She left a note for her sister, grabbed her keys, and headed out to the car. She wasn’t far from Rogue House, and at this hour, there was no traffic. Thank God for small favors.

  Arriving at the back entrance of the Rogue offices, Kenna locked her car and rushed inside. She could hear the slurred bellow of a deep voice coming from the conference room near the lobby, so she made her way there. She walked inside to find a disheveled and filthy man, hands cuffed behind his back, sitting on the floor with his cuffs secured to a bolt in the concrete.

  Dalton Moore leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his gun visible but still holstered. Dalton was the king’s brother-in-law, but he was also human and worked closely with the human side of the Cauld Ane security company. He was ex-FBI, American, and
although he was model gorgeous, he was equally as scary when he had to be. He caught sight of Kenna and gave her a chin lift. “Hey.”

  “Hi,” Kenna said. “Are the police on their way?”

  “Yes.”

  “Who the hell are you?” the man yelled.

  “Shut your mouth,” Dalton demanded.

  “Are you the bitch who kidnapped my family?”

  Kenna frowned.

  Dalton stepped in front of him, blocking his view of Kenna. “You speak to me not her.”

  “I will find them,” the man seethed, and leaned to the right in order to see Kenna. “Then I’ll find you.”

  Even though the man was human and would never be able to match Kenna’s strength, she couldn’t stop a shiver.

  Dalton shifted again then faced her. “Safe room.”

  Kenna nodded. “Thanks.”

  She left as fast as she could and headed through the complicated maze of hallways and false walls and doors that led to one of three safe rooms. Each entrance could only be accessed through thumbprint and swipe card security panels, so even if someone found their way to one of the doors, they wouldn’t be able to get inside.

  Kenna and three other people who’d worked for Rogue for more than twenty years were the only ones with access, plus Niall, Max, and their mates, which provided an extra level of security.

  Sixth door in, she turned left and walked into the safe room open on the schedule. Alaina sat on one of the sofas holding a very thin toddler while a young woman, beaten and bloody, huddled in the opposite corner, a dirty young boy in her lap.

  “Hi,” Alaina whispered.

  “Hi. Has everyone been fed?”

  “Cook’s making something for them now.”

  “Thank you.” Kenna smiled gently and sat on the coffee table across from the woman. “How are you, lass?”

  “Who are you?” the little boy demanded, obviously trying to protect his mother.

  “My name’s Kenna, sweetheart. Can you tell me your name?” She reached her hand out to shake his hand. If he’d touch her, she could get him to do whatever she needed him to with her gift of suggestion.

  “It’s Donall. I’m named after me father,” he said proudly, and took her hand.

  “Well, that’s a very fine name.”

  “I want me da.”

  “Well, love, I’m afraid he’s not up to visitors right now.” She laid her free hand over his and studied him. “Can I have a look at yer mummy, please? I’d like to help her feel better.”

  Donnall climbed from his mother’s lap and sat beside Alaina who was holding his sister.

  “Thank you,” Kenna said, and focused on the mother. “You look pretty sore, love. Do you mind if we have you examined?”

  “No,” she mumbled, and then whimpered.

  “She may have a broken jaw,” Alaina provided.

  Kenna nodded and dialed Gillian’s phone.

  “Kenna, you all right?” her sister asked.

  “Aye. We have a woman and her two children here and I’m wondering if you can swing by and have a look at them.”

  “Aye, love, but not for about thirty minutes. I’ve just finished up with a mum and have to turn her over to Dr. Madsen, then I’ll be able to leave.”

  “That’s fine. She may have a broken jaw, is there anything I can do for her?”

  “Just keep her still, love.”

  “I can do that.”

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Gillian promised.

  “Thanks.”

  Kenna hung up and smiled at Donnall’s mother. “I’m going to grab some paper and a pen so you don’t have to speak, okay?” The woman nodded and Kenna stepped into the supply closet at the back of the room. Grabbing pen and paper, she also took some crayons and coloring books from their stash and headed back to the little family. While Alaina got the kids settled with the crayons, Kenna sat in front of the woman, handing her the paper. “Can you write down your name, please?”

  She nodded and scribbled, Claire Mann.

  “It’s lovely to meet you, Claire. My sister is a doctor and she’s going to be here shortly to have a look at all of you and then we’ll go about finding you a safe place to stay for a while. We have a flat here, and although it’s safe, I don’t like that your husband knows where you are.”

  Claire nodded, blinking back tears.

  “Right, love. I’m going to check on breakfast and then find some clothes for your bairns. We’ll let them have baths and get them fed and into something clean if that sounds good to you.”

  Claire nodded again, and wrote, thank you.

  Kenna smiled and took the back door out of the safe room and toward the kitchen. The rest of the morning was filled with police reports, paperwork, acquiring money for Claire and her family, along with procuring a safe place where Donnall Senior couldn’t find them.

  By the time Kenna arrived home at almost six that night, she fell into bed and slept until ten the next morning.

  * * *

  Three days later, Kenna was in her bathroom, pulling her hair back in order to wash her face when Gillian appeared in the doorway. “Payton’s in labor.”

  “Now?” Kenna asked, splashing water on her face.

  “Aye. We have to get to Connall’s as soon as possible.”

  “Why’s she at Con’s place?” Kenna patted her skin dry with a towel.

  “There’s something going on, but Niall wouldn’t tell me over the phone.”

  “Niall’s with her? Why? Where’s Brodie?”

  Gillian rolled her eyes. “I don’t know, love, but we’ve got to go.”

  “Okay, keep yer knickers on,” Kenna retorted. “Just have to grab my purse.”

  Kenna rushed to her bedroom and then down the stairs and joined her sister who was standing at the front door, waving her on.

  “I haven’t been a doctor for more than three hundred years for Payton to have this bloody baby without us,” Gillian decreed.

  Kenna giggled. “Amen, sis.”

  Gillian threw her medical bag in the back of her sedan and Kenna jumped into the front seat, securing her seat belt while Gillian climbed into the driver’s seat.

  Connall’s flat wasn’t far from Gillian’s and she pulled into the driveway and turned off the car less than ten minutes later. Kenna was momentarily overwhelmed with feelings of love, but she shook it off, assuming the emotion was for her sister.

  “Ready?” Gillian asked, grabbing her bag from the back.

  “Aye. Let’s meet our new bairn.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  GUNNAR BALDURSSON SLID his phone into his pocket. He was with his brother Kaspar and Kaspar’s mate, Jesska, at the home of Connall and Pepper Gunnach. They’d been dealing with conflicts between the Scottish Cauld Ane and Iceland Kalt Einn, and now that things were calm, he’d taken a moment to make a phone call in Connall’s office.

  As he walked towards the kitchen again, he was overcome with desire, love, and a need to protect. His mate. His hands shook as he ran them through his hair. He could feel her heartbeat, steady and strong, her pulse slightly elevated, and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

  Jesska watched him with a strange expression as he walked through the kitchen. “You okay?” she asked.

  “My mate is close.”

  “Seriously?”

  He nodded and headed out of the room, Jesska following. He stopped. She was here. In front of him and, admittedly, he was a little taken aback by her beauty. She had a head full of glorious red curls, porcelain skin, and a smattering of freckles across her nose. Her gray eyes widened when she caught sight of him and her cheeks pinked as she gasped. She was with a dark-haired woman, but that was all Gunnar noticed as he stared at his mate.

  Grace MacMillan, Max’s mate, turned to Jesska and Gunnar. “Gunnar, Jess, this is Kenna and Gillian. Payton’s sisters.”

  Gunnar took hold of Kenna’s hand, her skin soft and the connection instant. Good lord, she was beautiful. He lifted her han
d and kissed her palm gently, drawing in her scent... jasmine.

  She gave him a shy smile. “Hold that thought, love. I have to see to my sister, but then you and I can talk.”

  Gunnar stared at her and nodded, releasing her hand after he’d kissed her palm once more. He understood. Payton Gunnach was in labor upstairs with her first child and he knew she took precedence right now, but he couldn’t help but be disappointed that he couldn’t focus on Kenna immediately.

  He wished one of them was an empath. If so, they could communicate telepathically, but until they were bound, they’d have to speak the old-fashioned way.

  Since he knew she’d be a while, he texted his brothers and then took some time to ring the hotel he was currently staying at and make some plans. His bonding night was going to be one never to be forgotten.

  * * *

  A very healthy Killian James arrived with a feisty bellow, weighing in at eleven pounds eleven ounces and measuring twenty-four inches long.

  Kenna kissed her sister and brother-in-law and then took a minute to freshen up before heading downstairs. Gillian intercepted her and pulled her into one of the guest rooms. “Are you ready for this?”

  Kenna smiled. “Aye.”

  “Do you have any questions?”

  “No, love. I’m good. He’s my mate, he’ll guide me.”

  “What if he’s an arse?” Gillian asked.

  Kenna laughed. “I highly doubt he’s an arse.”

  “He’s a prince, Kenna. He probably has entitlement issues.”

  “I don’t get that vibe from him, Gillie. I’m sure he’s fine.”

  “Maybe. But Max is an arse. Grace had to deal with him, so are you prepared to deal with Gunnar if he’s an arse?”

  “Why do you keep saying ‘arse’?”

  “Because it’s a great word, but that’s not the point. I’m being serious right now, sis. Are you sure you’re ready?”

  “Aye. And I get it. Max was difficult—”

  “An arse,” Gillian corrected.

  “Difficult,” Kenna said, and then giggled. “However, with Grace, his sharp edges are rounded a bit. She softens him, so I’m confident that if Gunnar is also difficult, I’ll do the same with him. I love that you’re worried, Gillie, but I’m good.”