Brinah considered Sarah's tone during the little informative lecture as they got back in the elevator and wondered what she was missing. When they got out on the 13th floor the entire place was buzzing. Sarah explained to Brinah that the 13th floor was the main area of the den. She was telling Brinah about the different recreational rooms on the floor and was in the process of telling Brinah that Aislinn seemed to be spending a great deal of time in the library. Sarah felt like a tour guide. "I figure that Aislinn will be easier to find than Lord Arnauk. He's usually dealing with the latest conflict. Aislinn spends a lot of time reading." Brinah was smiling, eager to see her granddaughter.When they walked into the library most of the crowd that had gathered for Aislinn and Cullen's scene had dispersed. There was one couple rutting in a back corner of the library. Keith was sitting in a large armchair near the door thumbing through a book with a devilish smile on his face. He had note
"Alpha or not, you don't get to talk to me like that or growl at me. You need my help and you won't get it being threatening. I have every right to protect my own and you should have some respect for that," Brinah said with an air of authority that made Cullen back off a little. "I asked you what your intentions are." Aislinn started to say something again and tried to move passed her grandmother to get to Cullen but she was cut off before she started to talk and then blocked before she could move. It was a talent that she figured must be born out of being a parent.Sarah elbowed Keith to stop the laughter and then indicated that he should help her clear the room. It was obvious that the group would not be getting out of this argument without trouble and it was one of those arguments that might not go quite as badly if the witnesses were limited."Regardless of my intentions," Cullen replied, trying to remain calm. "I don't think Aislinn would allow anything that she didn't intend."T
For the most part Sarah and Keith had been supporting Aislinn being in the pack because Cullen so obviously wanted her there. He was the alpha and if he wanted this non-lycan outsider then whether they thought it was a good idea or not Keith and Sarah backed him. He so rarely asked the pack to just do something because he said so. Besides, she seemed to make him happy and they were his friends.Sarah and Keith had heard the edited version of Aislinn's story from Cullen during the elders' meeting. But hearing the detailed version from her own lips was much more compelling. They found themselves feeling for her and actually wanting to help.Brinah's eyes were wide and she looked as though she may cry. Aislinn tried to gloss over some things but Brinah seemed to have an innate sense of when she was skipping ahead and forced the extra information out. The only thing she was able to keep from her grandmother was the fact that Rafe had done something to 'change' her. She just couldn't bring
After a silent pause that seemed to last an eternity Cullen shifted in his chair. Cullen's voice had softened significantly but his face went more stony, if that was even possible. There was no emotion to be seen in his eyes. The stranger Aislinn was looking at made her go numb. "All right. Brinah, you show us what we need to do to make something to stop Rafe's mind altering abilities. When we deal with him and it is safe, you and Aislinn can go home."The look on Aislinn's face when he said that ripped into him, even if no one could see it. How could he do that? Was he just going to shove her out the door? "Isn't that my decision to make," Aislinn said in a cracking voice.Cullen's stomach turned. "I'm not going to ask you to leave your family for this," he responded."So you're done with me. Just like the others." Aislinn couldn't stop the tear that dropped from her eye. She stood up and walked away from his desk. She had been figuring it would happen. Just not this soon. And after
Mack knew it must be serious when Celia stopped herself from trying to get rid of him. He nodded and followed her out. He picked up on Ranaild's scent as they went and it only took him a minute to recognize Aislinn's as well. Everyone in the pack had caught the new girl's smell. She was weird. Hard to place. The rumors about her being 'not quite human' had everyone looking to get a wiff.Twice Ranaild almost saw them. Celia's heart was racing. She stood behind the newsstand and hid, waiting for him to keep going before continuing to follow him. "I can't believe it. He really is following her. That piece of coach.""What the hell is going on here Celia?" Mack asked with a growing fear of what she was going to say.Celia looked around the corner and seeing that Ranaild was moving again and watching Aislinn she pulled Mack along behind her and headed after them."I don't really know. Ranaild is following Aislinn. I don't know where Aislinn is going but it's all too weird," she said hurri
He growled hungrily. He had already purposely let his control slip. Now the intelligent half of him was arguing with the beast. She belonged to him. The fates had dictated this from the day they were born. She brought him here. She was the one who started fucking him. He could feel her hot wet mouth sliding up and down his shaft. Her hands playing with his knot. She had to know what she was doing. Mack pushed Celia off of him and grabbed her by the waist before she could get away."What do you think you're doing," she squealed as he forced her onto her hands and knees.What does it feel like, came the guttural response in her mind.Celia couldn't restrain the moan of pure bliss that escaped her mouth as he drove his huge member into her wet heat. He filled her completely and then forced the knot inside as well. She was panting with the effort of trying to pull away from him. At the same time her beast was screaming at her to just hold still. "Ahh," she cried out breathlessly as he man
Brinah sat thinking. "That will allow me to make a compound that will counteract the one he's using. But that won't stop him. It will only make it harder for him." She thought some more. Cullen could see her mind working over what she had been told earlier. "If he's making weres then he has to have recreated something ancient. When I was still with the Circle that kind of alchemy wasn't practiced any longer. I know that in ancient times, when Rome threatened the Celts, the Circle created a compound that when mixed with animal blood and ingested over a period of time would give the person who drank it the characteristics of the animal that the blood came from. It was a lengthy and painful process. When it was completed the person was able to change into that animal. Hence all of you. It was done by a small group within our number that thought we should fight back. Seeing as we weren't fighters and Rome was so powerful they theorized that the only way for us to protect ourselves was to
Every time Aislinn started to speak during the taxi ride Ranaild would jab her with the dagger. It didn't take long for her to realize that she needed to just keep her mouth shut. The taxi driver kept looking in the rearview mirror. But one look from Ranaild and the man would go back to minding his own business.By the time the taxi pulled up in front of the Tairneach manor it was nearing dawn. Ranaild had the man stop at the end of the drive just outside the gate. Ranaild got out first. He was tired and his guard was down. He figured that he was home free at this point. He just couldn't make himself feel good about it. When Aislinn noticed that Ranaild wasn't paying attention she turned and ran after the taxi that was pulling away from the gate.Without even thinking Ranaild let his hand fly. The dagger he had been holding all evening hit Aislinn in the back of the thigh. The dagger lodged deep in the muscle and sent searing waves of pain running all the way up her body. She cried ou