Taste of Darkness (26 page)

Nodding, he bent to nuzzle her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. “I didn’t like those males looking at you,” he murmured against her ear.

A laugh escaped. “I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the only one being checked out.” Most of the shifters had just been curious but Drake had been on the receiving end of more than a few appreciative female looks. Not that she blamed the females. He was stunningly masculine. And all hers.

He just grunted and nipped at her earlobe, his teeth pressing down as his hand slid to her butt.

Maybe she wasn’t hungry after all. “Forget food, let’s—”

The front door swung open and Keelin stopped, her face turning red. “Sorry, I uh…” Two males were behind her, making Drake’s glow dim immediately as a growl built in his throat.

He definitely didn’t like sharing any part of Victoria with others.

Victoria smiled at Keelin. “We were about to head back to the guest house.” A tiny lie. Victoria still wanted to look over some of those notes and especially that book Conall had let her borrow. “But we’ve got time to visit.” Even if she really didn’t want to.

Keelin looked at Drake and must have seen the exact opposite expression on his face because she winced. Before she turned to the two males, however, she pasted on a smile and motioned them in. “We won’t keep you two long, I know you’re exhausted. Nevin and Cody wanted to meet Victoria.”

Victoria smiled at the familiar names. Drake had mentioned he’d met two of his cousins when he’d dropped by Conall’s.

Victoria listened as Keelin explained how the males were related through which sibling of their parents. It seemed as if Drake’s mother had two sisters but from the way Keelin spoke, only one was alive. Alma. Victoria was going to ask Keelin about that later.

Cody was on their father’s side and Nevin on their mother’s. Victoria was pretty certain Drake had memorized everyone’s names and faces today, and she was trying to do the same. Even though she didn’t know what the future held for her and Drake, she knew that his clan was going to be a part of their lives and she wanted to make an effort to get to know everyone.

“You’re really a wolf shifter,” the male named Cody said after introductions and brief small talk. He watched her curiously, something about his tone making her hackles rise. She couldn’t decide if that was condescension that laced his words.

She raised her eyebrows at his obvious statement. Family or not, she had no problem standing up for herself. “And you’re a dragon.” How was she supposed to respond to that?

Drake stiffened beside her and she was certain she scented fire burning in his throat. She resisted the urge to smile at his overprotectiveness and instead squeezed him so he wouldn’t do something he’d regret. Like setting a relative on fire.

The other male, Nevin, smiled apologetically and looked back and forth between the two of them once, his gaze landing on Drake. “We’re both pleased to meet your mate,” he said to Drake before looking at Victoria. “I hope you enjoy the time you’re here.” Something about his words were odd, but she just smiled back.

“Thank you.”

Drake didn’t respond and wasn’t even trying to smile now. Crap, she had a feeling he was at his breaking point of pretending to be civilized.

“It’s just a shame your parents aren’t awake yet,” Cody continued, his voice sincere.

“Yes it is. But I have a feeling they’ll be waking soon.” Keelin sounded strained by that thought and Victoria guessed it was because of her relationship with her mother.

Since she’d never had one she couldn’t relate, but she could sympathize. Being smothered was beyond annoying.

Before Victoria could say anything Drake tightened his grip on her. “I apologize for my rudeness, but my mate is still recovering from her poisoning.” Three lies. One, he wasn’t sorry. Two, they weren’t technically mated and three, she wasn’t recovering. She was more than fine.

But Victoria wasn’t about to correct him. Not when she wanted Drake alone time.

“So we will be heading back to our place, but please feel free to visit later this week.” Drake’s words were so polite and civil but the growly edge to his voice definitely wasn’t. Oh yeah, he was at the end of his rope.

To give the males credit, they simply nodded and left, with Keelin shutting the door behind them. “I’m so sorry about the last minute drop in. I know you guys want some down time. Aunt Alma probably left food in Conall’s fridge if you want to hit it up before heading back to the guest house.”

Perfect. Victoria smiled. “We will, thanks.” She should probably invite the female to stay and eat dinner with them, but selfish girl that she was, she held her tongue.

Keelin nodded and cleared her throat almost nervously. “So, have you decided about seeing Fia and the others?”

It had only been a day but Victoria guessed Keelin was asking because she was friends with the female.

“What is your personal opinion of the Devlin clan?” Drake asked.

Keelin seemed surprised by the question. She looked past Drake for a moment and Victoria realized why.

“Conall’s out,” she said quietly.

Keelin’s gray eyes flashed with guilt. “I feel weird saying anything, but personally I really like those I’ve met from their clan. Gavin loves Fia and dotes on her in a way Conall never would have. And I know you’re not asking that outright, but I’m telling you anyway. They never would have worked long-term. Fia is beautiful and a little fragile—I’m not talking physically—and she needs a certain type of mate. It’s not right or wrong, we’re all different. Conall might not realize it but he needs a strong mate, not someone needy.

“So if you’re inadvertently asking what I think about Conall’s ex, that’s my personal opinion. They’re both better off without each other and personal stuff aside, the Devlin clan will make a strong ally. Considering what happened with the Veles clan, I think we need one now. I also think we need more interpersonal communication between our clans and other supernatural beings period. We’ve been living in shadows for too long.”

Victoria’s eyes widened and shot a glance at Drake. That was the most she’d heard Keelin say at one time since they’d met. Her stance on coming out to other supernaturals was also interesting and one Victoria agreed with. The more they all supported each other, the better it would be for everyone. Because one day humans were going to discover their existence. It was just a matter of time.

“Would you mind looking at some files Victoria and I have been reviewing on the Devlin clan? I want to set up a meet with them tomorrow and I’d like your opinion on those you know. I’d also like you to go to the meet with us.”

For a fraction of a second, Keelin’s eyes widened, but she nodded, clearly pleased Drake had asked her. If Victoria had to guess, the female’s parents had not only sheltered her, but smothered her. They probably wouldn’t have ever asked her to attend something like this.

“I’ll help any way I can,” Keelin said.

“I’ll grab us some food.” Victoria leaned up and kissed Drake.

Keelin started to protest that she’d do it but Victoria cut her off. She wanted the female to spend time with her brother and it was obvious Keelin was knowledgeable on clan dynamics. Right now they needed more information. Because the Veles clan wasn’t going to forget what had happened, even though they’d been the ones to attack. And Victoria wanted every single ally they could get.

Chapter Twenty-One

Easing down the interior stairs of the guest house, he paused when he heard two familiar females talking. The house had been empty for a while so he’d taken advantage to search through the wolf shifters’ rooms for anything he could use against them. He didn’t know that he would need to, but he liked to be prepared.

Hurrying down the last of the steps, he headed in the direction of the voices. Outside the swinging door of the kitchen he paused by the wall. He let his camouflage fall so he wouldn’t have to drain the power it took to maintain it. Lowering his heart rate and keeping his breathing steady, he leaned in and listened.

“You should come tomorrow,” Keelin said.

Greer, their healer, snorted. “No thanks.”

“I’ll never understand why you and Fia don’t get along. And don’t deny that’s why you don’t want to go.”

“No, I don’t want to go because I wasn’t invited. Not seeing Fia is icing on the cake.”

Keelin made an admonishing sound before continuing. “I can’t believe Drake asked me to go.”

He frowned. Where was she going tomorrow? If Keelin was meeting with Fia it meant she’d likely be meeting with the rest of the visiting Devlin clan.

“Why can’t you believe it?” Greer asked.

Now Keelin snorted. “Conall would have never thought to ask me.”

“That’s because he still sees a little girl when he looks at you. Drake doesn’t have those blinders and clearly he recognizes your value in going. You don’t need me with you.”

Keelin was silent, or he couldn’t hear her response if she made one.

Greer continued. “What else is going on with you?”

“Nothing.” Keelin’s answer was quick. Too quick. He knew her well enough to read her.

“Come on. You’ve been acting differently the last few months. Are you…seeing someone?”

“No. I just want a change, that’s all. When we discovered Drake was alive it almost feels like, I don’t know, I don’t want to waste any more time not living the way I want. I let my mom dictate too many terms and I’m over it. This new world is amazing and I want to see more of it.”

“What kind of change are you thinking?”

Keelin laughed. “That’s just it, I have no idea. I want to travel a bit for sure but other than that, I don’t know. I guess I need to spread my wings, no pun intended.”

“Good. I hated that you went into Protective Hibernation when your parents did. You deserve to live a little. Or a lot.” Greer’s voice was teasing.

Keelin made a soft sound that might have been a ‘yeah’ or something else. He couldn’t tell and he didn’t care. He wanted them to return to talking about where they were going tomorrow.

Greer continued. “So what are you thinking, hooking up with that sexy wolf shifter? That shifter Gabriel is hot.” She made an appreciative sound at the mention of the male. “And I’m ninety-five percent sure he’s not together with Rhea. They seem like just friends.”

He rolled his eyes at Greer’s words. She might be a healer and respected by their clan but she was a bad influence on Keelin. He stayed away from her as much as possible.

“Yes, he’s good looking, but he’s not my type. And I don’t even know if I want to hook up with anyone. I just want to get away from here where I’m not constantly under the watchful eye of an entire clan. It’s annoying.”

“Well breakfast tomorrow with the Devlin clan won’t exactly be getting away but it’s wonderful that Drake’s included you. I’m so glad he’s back. And it seems like most of the clan is happy about his chosen mate.”

He tuned the rest out. Breakfast tomorrow. It would either be here or at the lodge where Conall had put up the other clan. He guessed the lodge. It would make more sense than allowing them into the village.

It would also be a lot easier for him to target that wolf shifter, Victoria. He hadn’t liked the way either she or Drake had looked at him earlier. Supposedly the male didn’t remember anything, but that could change. Instead of trying to target Dragos through the wolf shifter, he could simply go after her and frame the Devlin clan.

Simple and neat. And Dragos would have a new target to focus all his attention on. It would give him time to go after Dragos again too. He could strike when the male was weak and mourning.

He turned away and crept toward the front of the house. He needed to leave now before anyone caught him.

Killing that male would solve all his problems because he couldn’t keep living in fear that his sins would be found out. Even if they had been justified. Dragos’s parents deserved to lose their oldest son and he was going to make sure the male was gone before they ever woke from their Protective Hibernation.

That would be the sweetest justice of all. For them to awaken and learn they’d lost their son for a second time.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Slipping his cell phone into his pocket, Bran strode into the sunroom from outside using the side door. He wasn’t surprised to see Fia frowning at the setup of the long table, hands on her hips.

“It’s going to be fine,” he muttered, her tension rubbing off on everyone in the cabin.

“It needs to be perfect.” She didn’t look up at him as she rearranged a little bouquet of small, yellow flowers on one end of the table by moving it half an inch.

“The flowers are…pretty,” he gritted out the word. Fucking pretty? He felt bad about the way he’d snapped at her Sunday night even if she had deserved it. The female hadn’t spoken to him since, which was sort of a relief, but her cold shoulder meant Gavin was pissed at him too.

“Really?” She looked up, her expression more stressed than normal.

Shit. He was an asshole. She was just trying to make things nice for the other clan. He should be thanking her. “Yeah, yellow is…bright.” Males didn’t give a shit about flowers and he doubted Dragos’s mate would care either, but he was wise enough not to say that.