Bound by Fire (Cauld Ane Series Book 2)

by Piper Davenport

  “Payton,” her brother snapped, albeit in a whisper.

  Brodie stiffened beside her.

  Doing her best to ignore the prince’s possible annoyance, she glared at Aidan. “What?”

  “I asked you a question,” he accused. “Twice.”

  “Oh, sorry.” She laid her spoon down. “What did you ask me?”

  “I need you to cover for me with mum and dad tonight.”

  “Why?” she asked, immediately suspicious.

  “Nothing nefarious, little sister. Just a few of us hanging out after the party. But it’s possible I won’t be back before curfew.”

  Payton narrowed her eyes. “No, Aidan. I don’t want to be roped into one of your harebrained schemes.”

  He gave her a look of innocence. “I’m not roping you in. In fact, you’re not invited. I’m just asking you not to blow the whistle.”

  Payton sensed a vibration of sorts and felt compelled to glance at Brodie. He appeared to be in conversation with his sister, Fiona, but Payton would have sworn he was upset about something. His body was rigid. Before she could dwell on the feeling, her soup was removed from in front of her.

  The rest of dinner was an exercise in patience for Payton. Her brother spent the majority of the meal attempting to manipulate, cajole, or threaten her into her cooperating with a plan he refused to share the details of.

  By the time dessert was served, Payton realized she’d managed less than one bite of food, and the thought of fruitcake on an empty stomach made her want to be sick. She sat quietly and waited for her untouched dessert to be removed.

  Once the table was dismissed, she found herself hauled, albeit gently, outside by her brother. “Are you going to give me up?” he demanded.

  Payton sighed, the relief of the cold air bolstering her confidence. “I don’t know, Aidan. Are you going to tell me what you’re up to?”

  He crossed his arms. “It’s better that I don’t.”

  “Then, no promises.”

  “Damn it, Payton.”

  “Is there a problem here?” a voice asked, pitched low in warning.

  Payton gasped as Brodie stepped out from the shadows. She hadn’t seen or heard him approach.

  Aidan immediately bowed. “No, Your Highness. My sister just needed some air.”

  “I believe your father is looking for you,” Brodie said.

  “We should return,” Payton said.

  “He was looking for your brother, Miss McFadden.”

  “Oh,” she whispered. She hadn’t been dismissed. In fact, it seemed the prince wanted her to stay where she was. She watched confusion play over Aidan’s face. For all his faults, he was still a protective brother, but he would never defy royalty.

  “She will be safe in my hands, Aidan,” the prince said.

  “Aye,” Aidan stuttered. “Thank you, sir.”

  Aidan left and Payton took a deep breath, forcing a smile and trying to keep from looking like a lovesick teenager. Even if she was headed in that very direction.

  Brodie presented her with a plate laden with bread and cheese. “I noticed you didn’t get the chance to enjoy your supper.”

  He’d noticed that?

  “Oh, thank you, sir.” Her stomach rumbled, and she laid her hand over it in an effort to hide the sound.

  “Please, call me Brodie.” He smiled and set the plate on the ledge of the balcony.

  She felt her face heat in the coolness of the night. “I don’t know if that would be appropriate.”

  He leaned against the stone wall and smiled. “It’s perfectly appropriate and acceptable for you to call me by my given name. I have granted you permission to do so.”

  She studied his youthful face, belying his centuries-old age. He didn’t look much older than she did, in her opinion. Or it could be that she didn’t want him to look much older.

  Her stomach rumbled again, and the sight of the bread and cheese, her favorite, was enough to send her over the edge. She grabbed a piece of cheese and ate voraciously, sighing with pleasure at the taste of the Gunnachs’ world-famous gruyere.

  Brodie accepted a glass of champagne from one of the king’s staff who seemed to appear out of nowhere. He handed Payton the glass and gave her empty plate to the woman, who scurried off to continue her duties. Payton eyed the drink, knowing her tolerance to alcohol wasn’t the highest.

  Brodie smiled. “It’s cider, lass.”

  “Oh. Thank you.”

  “Are you going on the hunt tomorrow?”

  Payton shook her head.

  “Would you like to go?” he asked.

  She shook her head again.

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t like horses.”

  “Ah.” He smiled. “Shall I tell you a secret?”

  Payton bit her lip.

  “I don’t particularly like horses, either.”

  She grinned. “Really? What did you do when you had no other choice?”

  “I lived with it, but when the first automobile was available to purchase, I didn’t hesitate to buy one immediately.”

  Payton giggled. “I bet. What did you buy?”

  “An Arrol-Johnston.”

  “Oh, wasn’t that the late eighteen-hundreds?”

  “Aye. 1897, actually. After George Johnston was prosecuted for driving his car in St Enoch's Square in Glasgow, I took it off his hands…for much more than it was worth, to be honest.” He leaned down and whispered, “I still have it.”

  “You do? Where?”

  “In my garage.” He grinned. “I promise I’ll show you one day, lass.”

  “Thank you.” Her heart raced at the thought of knowing him long enough for him to keep that promise. Another server arrived with a dish of ice cream. Payton’s mouth tingled at the sight. She loved ice cream.

  Brodie took the silver cup and spoon and nodded to the server, dismissing him. “I thought you might like to try this.”

  “That doesn’t look like fruitcake.”

  He chuckled. “No. It’s my favorite flavor. Can you guess what the secret ingredient is? We ship it in from New Zealand.”

  “New Zealand? Really?”

  He nodded and scooped a little out, lifting it to her mouth. She wrapped her lips around the spoon and sighed in pleasure as she swallowed. “Oh, this is magnificent. I can’t place the flavor, though.”

  “It’s called Hokey Pokey. Niall MacMillian discovered it on their winter tour.”

  “The drummer from Fallen Crown?”

  He fed her another bite. “Aye. You know their music?”

  “Aye.” She licked her lips, tasting the small drip left from the spoon. “I love their music.”

  Brodie nodded. “Most people do.”

  “You don’t?”

  He smiled. “I do, but don’t tell Niall. He’d never let me hear the end of it.”

  Payton giggled. “I doubt I’ll ever have the chance to meet him, so your secret’s safe with me.”

  Brodie checked his watch. “I should return you to your father. It’s almost midnight.”

  “Is it that late?” Payton’s heart dropped. She didn’t want their time together to end.

  “Aye, lass. One more bite?”

  She nodded. “Oh yes, please.”

  Once she’d wiped her mouth daintily with a serviette, Brodie set the dish down and presented his arm. “Shall we?”

  She slid her hand into the crook of his arm and was instantly assailed with a vision. Brodie and Connall were speaking, and Brodie said he’d met his mate. Payton gasped and yanked her hand away. She didn’t want to know anything further. Her gift of psychometry was often confusing and rarely gave her the whole picture.

  “Are you all right?” Brodie asked, his face showing concern.

  “Oh, yes. I’m sorry. I thought I’d stepped on my hem,” she improvised. She gathered her skirt and lifted it from the ground.

  Brodie stepped back and let her precede him through the doors, his hand pressing against her lower back, the
universal Cauld Ane action toward his mate.

  Payton’s heart raced. It couldn’t really be…could it?

  Brodie delivered her to her parents, bowed over her hand, and then was gone almost as quickly as he’d appeared.

  The next day she questioned her vision again, particularly when she found out that he’d threatened Aidan and told him he was leaving. The question turned into a certainty when, within the week, Brodie was gone for good.

  Payton decided then and there that little girl dreams were not for her. She’d forget about Brodie Gunnach and focus on things within her grasp.

  * * *

  If you liked the sneak peek of Bound by Secrets, you can order it HERE.

  Piper Davenport is the alter-ego of New York Times Bestselling Author, Tracey Jane Jackson. She writes from a place of passion and intrigue, combining elements of romance and suspense with strong modern-day heroes and heroines.

  She currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two kids.

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