Cody stalked up to meet them. He didn’t look any happier than Faelan. “You could have told us you were going,” Cody said, frowning at Lachlan, whose face vanished from the window.
“I did. I put a letter under Faelan’s door. I didn’t want to knock. You and Bree were…engaged.”
“And he did leave a letter,” Ronan said. “I saw him write it.”
“I didn’t see it.” Faelan looked around and spotted Anna standing behind the others. “And where the bloody hell have you been? And what’re you wearing?”
“Don’t start with me, Faelan.” Anna walked off the plane.
“She’s in a foul mood,” Ronan said. “But she’s been visiting with Tristol and Voltar, so I don’t blame her.”
“Tristol and Voltar!” Faelan eyebrows rose, and he looked like a duplicate of Duncan, who’d moved next to him. Everyone started talking at once.
Cody held up his hand. “Hold on. Come inside and let’s get the story straight. Bree needs to know Anna’s OK. She’s been worried sick. Everyone has.”
“I’m sorry,” Anna said. “There wasn’t time to warn everyone.”
“If you’d bothered to replace your cell phone, you could have called,” Ronan said.
Anna didn’t answer. They all walked toward the castle, but it was slow going with everyone along the way stopping to talk. By the time they got inside, they had an entourage. Anna had been missing for some time, and the whole clan had been worried.
The interior structure of the castle was so similar to the one Tavis had grown up in that he felt homesick. He expected to see Ian and Alana rushing out to greet him. Instead, Bree and Shay ran down the hall. “You’re back. Thank God.” Bree hugged Anna and suddenly jumped back as if she’d been burned.
Anna peered at her. “Are you OK?”
Bree appeared at a loss for words. She must be overcome with emotion. Tavis remembered when his mother was pregnant with Alana. How easily she’d cried.
An elderly man and woman joined them. Both were white-haired, with happy faces and warm eyes. The man stared at Tavis and then grabbed him in a hug.
The move surprised Tavis, but he hugged him back. When the old man stepped away, he looked up at Tavis, his eyes glistening. “I never thought to see such a remarkable thing in all my days.”
“Sean, Tavis has no idea who you are,” the woman said, smiling at him like his mother used to.
“I got a bit ahead of myself. I’m Sean Connor, and this is Coira. We’re your family.” He beamed, hunched his shoulders, and chuckled.
Tavis nodded to them. “Tavis Connor, and I’m very glad to meet you both.”
“He’s overwhelmed, Sean.” The woman took Tavis by the arm. “What you need is a good meal.”
Food. “Aye. I am hungry.”
“Come along then,” the old man said, “and let Coira feed you. You’ve a lot to learn. Times have changed. Even in my lifetime. I hardly recognize the world sometimes. But you’ll sort it all out. Your brother did. He’s become a whiz at texting.”
Tavis didn’t know what texting was. Perhaps a new kind of weaponry. Coira led the way to the kitchen. It was similar to the one at home, but there were more of those modern appliances like the ones he’d seen at Faelan and Bree’s. Several people were in the kitchen working at large ovens. Some were baking bread, others chopping vegetables. He had a wistful moment remembering how his mother had fussed about having to feed so many warriors, even with help, when everyone knew she loved every moment of it.
Tavis ate some bread and stew and answered more questions. When he’d finished, Sean took one of Tavis’s hands and one of Faelan’s. “A family reunion. That’s what we’ll have.”
“What about Voltar and Tristol?” Sorcha asked.
“They’ll have to wait,” Sean said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime event. I won’t let the demons ruin this moment.” He stopped and paused. “Your brother Ian, he’s not coming is he?”
Tavis shook his head. “God, I hope not.”
“With two of you here, I was beginning to wonder if the whole family was coming.”
“Ian stayed behind to take care of Ma.”
Sean’s lips pressed together, and he nodded. “I understand. You’re a brave lad for doing what you did. And he’s a brave one for staying behind. Makes me proud to be a Connor.”
Warmth stirred in Tavis’s chest. He’d worried that he’d arrive to find Faelan dead, Druan on a rampage, or worse, the world already destroyed. But he’d found his family. Part of his family. His eyes strayed to Anna, whose eyes were damp. She turned her head.
Two older women entered the kitchen. One of them had the reddest hair Tavis had ever seen, and her clothes looked like an artist had splattered her with paint. “Look, Nina, he looks just like Faelan,” the redhead said, moving right up to him and inspecting him like he was a wax model. He wouldn’t have been surprised if she pinched him. And she did, right on one of his healing cuts. “Almost like twins. Triplets if you count Duncan. All three of you look alike.”
“I’m Nina, Cody and Shay’s aunt. I’m so glad to meet you. It’s just amazing that you’re here.”
“And I’m Matilda, their aunt. Or practically their aunt.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” He tried not to stare at Matilda, but he’d never seen anything quite like her.
“Let’s hope you can still say that in a week,” Nina said, frowning at Matilda.
“I’m sorry we missed your funeral,” Matilda said. “But we’re pleased as punch that you’re alive. Maybe I could interview you. I’m writing a book, and I’m interested in learning more about time vaults.”
Tavis was almost certain the Council wouldn’t allow any books to be written about time vaults or any other thing connected to the clan. But she was probably just barmy. He’d been warned about her on the airplane.
“Matilda, leave Tavis alone,” Nina said.
“We’ll talk later. Will you be here for the wedding?” Matilda asked.
“Wedding?”
“Cody and Shay’s?”
“Well I reckon I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good.” Matilda came closer and gave him a squeeze. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said, looking wise in spite of her strange hair. “Faelan needs someone from his family.” She looked misty-eyed and then cleared her throat. “I’m going to find the cat. I think he’s upset with me.”
Coira rolled her eyes. “I need to take a look at Tavis’s injuries.”
“Better go with her,” Sean said. “We’ll meet you in the library and get acquainted.”
Coira took Tavis to the infirmary and checked his injuries, tsking as she bandaged. “If I could get my hands on that demon, I don’t know what I’d do to him.”
Tavis didn’t know what he’d do to Tristol. He wasn’t his demon. But he knew exactly what he’d do to Voltar when he got his chance. He regretted leaving him in the penthouse, but it would be foolishness to take on him and Tristol at the same time. They would have to die separately.
As she worked, Coira asked about his past, pulling information out of him that he didn’t know he even remembered. Things from his childhood. When he had been bandaged to Coira’s satisfaction, they went to the library. Tavis was introduced to other warriors he hadn’t yet met, so many he couldn’t recall all their names. They gave him a warm welcome and asked too many questions, but he understood that everyone was curious about him. It wasn’t all pleasant. They discussed Voltar and Tristol, and a pall settled over the group when they learned that Tristol wasn’t bound by some of the rules as the other demons.
After a while Tavis started missing parts of the conversation because he was trying to watch Anna. She and Ronan had their heads close together talking. He felt the sting of jealousy. Was there something between her and Ronan? They were both attractive, and he hadn’t seen Ronan with anyone except Bree. Anna glanced across the room at Tavis and slipped out of the library.
Tavis followed her outside, wondering if she was meeting someone. A woman as beautiful as Anna would have many suitors.
Anna turned around, hands on her hips. “Are you following me?”
“What if I am?”
“I don’t like being followed.”
“I don’t like being ignored.”
“I’m not ignoring you.”
“Yes you are. You won’t even look at me.”
She looked at him then, and he felt the impact of her gaze like a fist to his stomach. What was this effect she had on him? It was almost painful. He’d never felt anything like it. He’d felt attracted to women, bedded a few, and with Marna he’d felt a fondness, but this tearing, gnawing desperation was hell.
“You only did that to prove me wrong,” he said.
She rolled her eyes and stepped closer to him. He could feel the heat rising off her body. How was that possible? “I just want some time alone,” she said. But she didn’t move away. She stared at his mouth and swallowed. The pulse at her throat ticked like a pocket watch, mesmerizing him. He wanted to put his lips against it and taste it.
“You’re standing very close to me for someone who wants to be alone,” he said.
She shook her head and turned to walk off. He didn’t follow her this time. He needed to go somewhere and think. Sort out his head. He had to figure out what to do about Tristol and Voltar.
The feeling in Tristol’s arms returned first, and it slowly worked down his body until he could take a few faltering steps. His eyes burned with anger, the heat so hot it felt like lasers. Voltar would die for this. As Tristol’s muscles returned to normal, he vowed he would kill every demon attached to him. First he would find out what Voltar had used on him. It looked like a stun gun, but it must be powered by sorcery. Nothing had stopped Tristol before. He didn’t think it had been but a few minutes, but this was unacceptable. He, the most powerful being on this earth, frozen like a petrified tree. Several of his vampires had been destroyed, his fortress stolen from under his nose, and his enemy was the one to tell him that he had not one, but two spies in his home.
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