Cullen looked up to see her examining her arms and legs. He smiled, but had to look away. It was far too tempting a site. I'm going to have to arrange the ceremony soon. He knew he wasn't going to be able to control his wolf's need for her to the extent that he should. Everyone is going to know, he thought with concern."I heard that," Aislinn said. "How much trouble are we really in?""You heard that?" Cullen's brow furrowed and he looked at her. He crossed his arms over his chest to remind himself to not touch her."Yeah," Aislinn said haltingly. "I thought that was normal.""It is. When I intend for it. But I wasn't projecting." Cullen's voice was overly serious."Is it a problem?" Aislinn asked. Her beast retreated into the back of her mind, grudgingly giving way to the serious conversation."Not a problem exactly. Just strange. Is it something druids do?" Cullen asked, trying to make his voice less serious."I don't really know," Aislinn said and her mind drifted toward her grand
The front doors opened into a large main room with a vaulted ceiling three floors high. There were doors on all the walls of the huge room and stairs that led to a balcony that circled the room and led to the second and third floor balconies. There were lots of overstuffed couches and chairs arranged around the room so that several groups of people could sit and talk with each other in separate little areas. There was a gigantic fireplace on the far wall and the room as a whole was decorated with a lived-in, worn, comfortable, antique feel.As they walked through the room to the stairs there was a lot of staring. But no one said anything. Aislinn noticed that everyone seemed to be in jeans and plain t-shirts. It almost looked like they were wearing a uniform. She figured that no one had time to pack a bag before coming out here for the fight. They were all wearing clothes from the closet storeroom she guessed.Cullen led Aislinn up the stairs and along the third floor balcony. Then th
Aislinn was wide eyed. "You don't mean that was normal?"Cullen growled. "Only if you don't let it run its course. Technically I should only get like that when you're in heat."Aislinn shook her head. "Maybe I should sit in on that elementary class that Sarah was talking about before."Cullen smiled, then chuckled and kissed her forehead. "If you like. But Keith is a big boy. He could have handled a pummeling. And he probably did something recently that deserved it anyway."Keith grumbled at that. "Thanks," he said angrily. "You do realize Aislinn, he can turn on you when he gets like that and unless you like it really rough then that little move you pulled, as grateful as I am, could get you hurt."Cullen took a deep breath and Aislinn could tell that he agreed with Keith.She smiled at Cullen. "No. He wouldn't hurt me," she said with an air of confidence that made both of them stare at her. "Anyway. I'm going to get a shower now, if there's enough time before we need to leave?""Yea
"Hell, I nearly forgot. Right. Liam has everything under control for the most part. Ranaild and Elise showed up at the den this morning. Ranaild is apparently his own jailer and Elise spent the morning telling Liam what happened to her and trying to convince him to advocate for Ranaild when you get back. Apparently, when Elise was being held there were a significant number of others being held as well. I'm gonna guess that there's a scary correspondence between the guys you dungeoned before we left and the women who Elise has reported as being held."Cullen nodded gravely. "Maybe I can talk to Jenna. Who knows. We might be able to reach an amiable solution and get Jenna to let them all go. It appears as though the Tairneach have allowed her to step in as alpha without too much complaint. With Gregor dead that gets her main opponent out of the way. She may be willing to back off and just be happy about being able to follow in Brennus' footsteps. As far as Ranaild goes," Cullen growled.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to help," Aislinn said softly and lowered her head.Sarah shook her head and then looked over at Cullen. She could see that he was overwrought. It wasn't like him at all. He always kept his emotions in check. Aislinn was having quite the effect on him. "What's going on between you two?" she asked confidentially.Aislinn looked back at Cullen. He had walked over to a large window and was standing with his arms crossed staring out. She could feel the war inside him. His human half was trying to convince his wolf that Aislinn was right. Aislinn was uncertain as well. She needed to be trusted by Sarah. She was logical enough to understand that Sarah was the alpha female and if Aislinn wanted to fit in she was going to have to be friends with her. Besides, Cullen trusted Sarah and someone was going to have to help Aislinn with understanding and fitting in with the women. Cullen obviously didn't have the knack for that.Sarah's patience was waning. She didn't know
The group loaded silently into the large black SUV and Cullen began driving back to Madadh-Allaidh Saobhaidh. Gaven and Hagan were afraid to speak. They didn't know what to say to Cullen after everything that had happened. But both men looked at each other with hope as they each felt some of the muffled fear in the back of their minds ebb away. Something was happening with their mates that was making them less frightened. The men didn't know what it could be. Their bonds weren't strong enough to project thoughts over this kind of distance. But there was hope now. The two men sat impatiently in the back seat.Sarah had about a million questions she wanted answered. But she wasn't able to ask Cullen about his mating with Aislinn with the others present. The only positive thing Cullen could get from having all the upset and conflict before leaving was that he didn't feel harassed by his wolf to pull over and play with Aislinn on the way back to the den. Now that he knew Aislinn was alrig
Cullen looked over at Aislinn several times. He was getting the strangest sensations from her. He knew that she was concentrating very hard on something. There was curiosity and sometimes a little fear. Every time he felt the fear start he reached out and touched her hand or leg. She would stir in her sleep a bit and then settle and the fear would fade away. He just felt like she needed him.By the time they pulled into the private garage attached to the Madadh-Allaidh Saobhaidh Cullen's stomach was growling as was his wolf. The few times he had touched her, combined with Aislinn's scent in the enclosed space of the car was starting to get to his wolf no matter how annoyed his human half might have been.As the others got out of the car and started slamming doors Aislinn was shaken awake. Gaven and Hagan were still holding their tongues but they could feel their mates nearby and they were doing their best to be patient.Aislinn's mind was exhausted. It took her a moment to come to her
Marta settled on an overall head bow. She was just an omega after all. It was the betas who were really grousing about the situation. It was their ranks that seemed to be getting infiltrated. Current rumor had it that Meredith hadn't actually lost that fight. Aislinn had used some kind of mass hypnosis to beat her and that was why none of the normal protocol had been followed.Cullen ordered his usual without thinking about it. Aislinn ordered a smaller version of what Cullen had asked for and Sarah opted for the steak as well. Pretty standard fair at the Taigh-Oèsda. It was a steak house after all. Marta bowed again and headed off for drinks and to place the order. The relief on her face to be leaving the table was obvious.Aislinn shifted uncomfortably in the booth. "Rafe's influence seems to have gotten to everyone," she said sadly.Cullen had been hoping that she wouldn't catch everyone's looks or at least not interpret it all so well.Aislinn glared at him. "I'm not blind," she s