She wrinkled her nose as she frowned up at him. “Don’t call me that.”
“Hey.” He smiled and squeezed her arm. “Are you okay?” She nodded and he lifted her palm to his lips. “When this discussion is all over, will you allow me to take you to dinner?”
Jesska bit her lip. “No.”
“I don’t typically take no for an answer,” he said.
Jesska glanced at her sister, still in a heated exchanged with Cameron, and then back at him. “Well, now’s your chance to get used to it.”
He smiled again. “We’ll see.”
Megan shoved Cameron past them and then turned to Jesska. “Out, please.”
Jesska bit her lip again, and it took every bit of self-control for Kaspar not to pry it from her teeth and kiss her. He squeezed her hand and nodded, which elicited another frown from her, but she did step outside and close the door.
Megan turned the lock and headed back to the desk. “Where were we?”
“What did you hear?”
“That you’re not human,” she whispered.
“It’s true.”
“I don’t understand.”
Kaspar stared out at the water. “I know you don’t, and I think Ari should be telling you this, but I also think it’s something you’ve suspected for a while. Am I right?”
Megan nodded. “I think so. There were too many weird things happening for it to be normal. Is this why he was acting so strange?”
“Yes.” Kaspar sat down again and indicated for Megan to do the same. “You have to understand that when we turn twenty-five, we reach what we call ár mökunar, which means that when we find our... ah, the person we are going to be with forever, we don’t wait around. We bind them and move on with our lives. When Ari met you, he knew you were his mate, but he couldn’t do anything until you reached ár mökunar as well. As a human, you were forbidden to him, but he would never have been able to accept that, so he tried to make it work.”
“Well then, why are you here and not him?”
“He’s ... ah... hann er í fangelsi.”
“He’s in jail?” she squeaked.
“You speak Icelandic?”
“I lived there for a long time. Of course I picked up the language,” she said in frustration. “Don’t change the subject.”
“Sorry.”
“Why is he in jail?”
“Because he’s an idiot.”
“What did he do?” she asked.
“He found your other daughters and dosed their families with Red Fang; however, it didn’t work. He was caught and is now in Edinburgh.”
“Scotland?”
Kaspar nodded.
“He found our babies?” she rasped.
“Já. They are mat—ah, married and living there.”
“What are they like? Were they happy growing up? Are they happy now? Do they know what happened?”
“I don’t know, Megan. I’m sorry.”
“I have to go there,” she said, and pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Crap. It’s dead. I need my laptop.”
“Wait,” Kaspar said. “We can’t go anywhere until we sort this out. I don’t know that you would be allowed to see him anyway.”
“But I can see them, right?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I need to know who took your girls first. Ari doesn’t know, and I’m concerned that if you’re not under my protection and your brother’s, that something will happen.”
She blinked back tears. “You’re probably right. This just sucks.”
“I agree.”
Megan crossed her arms. “You said Ari dosed the family with something. What is Red Fang?”
“It’s a native flower than can render us paralyzed.”
She dropped her head in her hands and groaned. “Why would he do that?”
“I can’t answer that.”
“Is he reachable?”
Kaspar shrugged. “I can’t answer that either.”
“What do you mean? How do you know he’s in Edinburgh if he’s not reachable?”
Kaspar rubbed his forehead. “Whether or not a phone call can be put through is at the mercy of the Cauld Ane leader. He isn’t happy with my brother, and quite frankly, I don’t blame him. Ari threatened Kade’s whole family.”
Megan blinked back tears again.
“Hvað, systir?” (What, sister?)
“I just wonder what would have happened if I’d never left. I should have stayed and worked it out.”
“You couldn’t have known, Megan. Don’t beat yourself off.”
Megan giggled. “Up. Don’t beat yourself up. The other means something entirely different.”
Kaspar smiled. “I’ll try to remember that.”
“Could we please try to get a call through?” she asked. “I feel like I need to make a few things right.”
“Of course,” he said, pulling out his cell phone. “Before we do that, though, I have a question about your relationship to Jesska.”
“She’s my sister.”
“By blood?” he asked.
“Well, no. Her father... our father... adopted me when he married my mother. It’s complicated. My biological father died soon after my mother became pregnant with me, and she met my “dad” when I was about three months old. I was one when they married and they had Cam, then my mother died and he remarried. Jesska is theirs together... it’s very complicated.” Megan raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Curious,” he said, and dialed Kade’s number.
“Bloody hell, Kaspar. Again?” Kade snapped.
“Good morning to you,” Kaspar retorted.
“Aye, ’tis morning, and bloody early. What do you want?”
“I have someone who would like to speak with Ari. Will you arrange it?”
“Who?”
“That I can’t elaborate on,” he said, glancing at Megan, who frowned.
Kade swore. “Because you’re an arse, or because this person is standing in front of you?”
Kaspar scowled. “You’ll watch your tone.”
“No. I won’t arrange it,” Kade said, and hung up.
Megan settled her hands on the edge of the desk. “Did you have to be so rude?”
Kaspar scowled. “Me? He needs to understand who he’s speaking with.”
She held out her hand. “Give me your phone.”
“Nei.”
“Give me the goddamn phone, Kaspar. I will get my phone call, or I’m getting on a freaking plane and demanding to see him.”
Kaspar dialed Kade’s number again and handed the phone to her reluctantly.
“Great,” Megan snapped. “Voice mail.” She left a message and then handed the phone back to Kaspar. “Your ego and rudeness might mean I don’t get to talk to him, which is totally unacceptable. You get more flies with honey, Kaspar. Try to remember that next time.”
He slid his phone into his pocket without comment.
“I’m going to check on Sophia,” she said. “I will tell my brother and his friend not to kill you. Although, maiming is still an option in my book.” She yanked open the door and stalked out of the room.
IRRITATION CRAWLED THROUGH Kaspar as he walked back to the living room in search of Jesska. Dalton Moore stood by the window, his phone to his ear, but he ended the call as Kaspar walked in.
“Where’s Jesska?”
Moore crossed his arms. “She left.”
“Where did she go?”
“I have no idea.” Moore smiled. “But she did say something about getting the hell away from you.”
Kaspar’s irritation was quickly replaced with anger. Never in his life had he been surrounded by people uninterested in doing his bidding. He stared at Moore. “Where did Jesska go?”
Moore’s eyes glassed over and he said flatly, “Home.”
“And where is home?”
Moore rattled off Jesska’s address and Kaspar smiled. The man must not have Red Fang anywhere on his person, or Kaspar wouldn’t have been
able to put him under suggestion. This fact had possibilities, and the desire to hit the lawman was almost overwhelming... but not enough to keep him from Jesska.
He left Cameron’s apartment and headed toward the elevator. He heard a bellow from inside the apartment as Moore was released from Kaspar’s suggestion. Kaspar couldn’t help another satisfied smile as he slipped from the building and into the awaiting car. He gave Austri Jesska’s address and sat back to figure out how to proceed.
Pulling up to Jesska’s home, he scowled. She appeared to be leaving. When she caught sight of his car, she said something he assumed was a curse, before slipping back inside. Moore must have called her to tell her Kaspar was on his way. He pushed out of the car before Austri could open the door for him, and headed to the front door. He knocked, but although he could hear her breathing behind the door, she didn’t speak.
He dropped his forehead to the cool wood. “Elskan, open the door.”
“No.”
“Please, sweetheart. I just want to talk.”
“About what?” she asked.
“I thought you might want to know what your sister and I discussed.”
A few seconds passed and he heard shuffling, but not much else.
“Jesska?”
“You can tell me through the door.”
He smiled. “No, that’s not the deal.”
“I didn’t make any deal with you.”
“What are you afraid of?” he challenged.
“Oh, I don’t know. You brainwashing me into believing something I don’t?”
Despite her snarky tone, he couldn’t help but smile. “I can’t do that, elskan.”
“Stop calling me that!” she snapped.
He took a deep breath. “Were you going somewhere?”
“No... when?”
“Just now when you walked to your car and then went back inside.”
“Oh, right. Um... yes. I was going to a friend’s house.”
He frowned. “Did Dalton Moore call you?”
“Why would Dalton Moore call me?” The innocence in her voice was forced.
“Jesska.”
“What?”
“Did Dalton Moore call you and tell you I was coming?”
“That’s not really any of your business,” she said. “Now, go away.”
“Please Jesska. Open the door and I’ll explain everything and answer any questions you might have.”
It took several more minutes before he heard the locks turn and the door opened. She peeked through the crack. “You have three minutes.”
He smiled. “Would you like to speak out here?”
“No. It’s freezing out there.” She stepped back, opening the door wider. “You can come in. But not for long.”
He stepped inside, the heat hitting him like a wave, and he stepped back out. “I can’t come in, sweetheart.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s too hot.”
She glanced behind her. “It’s only seventy-two.”
“I can’t come in unless it’s below sixty-eight. I’m sorry.”
“Good lord, you really are entitled,” she complained. “Give me a second. I’ll turn down the heat.” She stepped over to the thermostat and adjusted it.
Kaspar watched the graceful, elegant way that she moved, something he wished he could film and watch over and over. She was stunning.
“What?” she asked as she closed the distance between them.
“You’re beautiful.”
“Oh,” she whispered, crossing her arms, her need to protect herself emanating from her. “Thank you. I changed the thermostat to sixty-seven. Figured I’d give you that extra degree.”
He almost chuckled at her snarky tone. He could tell she was desperately trying to push him away. What she didn’t understand was that he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Are you coming in or what?”
He nodded. “In a minute.”
“Well, I’m freezing.” She rolled her eyes and moved to close the door.
He placed his hand on the flimsy wood and raised an eyebrow. She huffed and crossed her arms again. Smiling, he stepped inside, kicking the door closed behind him. As he studied her, she bit her lip, sliding her hands into her pockets and shifting from foot to foot. Kaspar reached out and pried her lip from her teeth, running his thumb along her mouth. She let out a small gasp, confirming she wasn’t as immune to him as she’d like him to think.
Because he couldn’t resist, he leaned down and covered her mouth with his.
Þú verður mín að eilífu. (You are my forever mate.)
The bond between them was strengthening, and as he thought the ancient words, he felt her shiver. She pushed against his chest, lowering her head to break the kiss. “What... what is going on with me?”
“We are destined, elskan.”
She looked up at him. “I don’t understand.”
“I know,” he said, and smiled. “I’m happy to explain everything to you, but you are a person who has to experience things. Words don’t really help.”
“Don’t act like you know me,” she said, wrinkling her nose.
“But I do know you.”
“I just met you. You don’t know me.”
He chose not to point out that she was still in his arms and was now running her hand across his chest. “Which part of my statement is wrong?”
She shook her head. “Not the point, Kaspar. You’re probably doing something to my mind to make me believe you.”
He cupped her cheeks and frowned. “Listen to me. I can’t do that. Literally. Not just ‘won’t,’ but ‘can’t.’”
“How would I know the difference?”
Kaspar took a deep, steadying breath. “Why don’t I tell you about my brother and your sister and let you decide what you think?”
“Okay.” She stepped away from him. “But no touching. I can’t think straight when you’re touching me.”
He raised his hands in surrender. “As you wish.”
“I’m going to grab my hoodie,” she said. “Do you want some wine?”
“I’d love some. Thank you.”
She stared at him again for a few seconds before nodding. “I’ll be right back.”
Kaspar glanced around her front room. It was small, but it had a fireplace against the west wall, and a large window looking out on the street, and she could obviously decorate. Tasteful, if not smaller-scale furniture was artfully positioned to take advantage of the view and the warmth. After taking a few photos, he folded his large frame into one of the chairs by the window and checked his phone messages while he waited for her.
“I hope you like red,” she called. “It’s all I drink.”
“Red’s perfect,” he called back.
He managed to reply to a few texts before she returned with two glasses of wine. He stood and took one from her, smiling at the oversized sweatshirt she wore that had obviously seen better days.
“What?” she asked.
“I was admiring your hoodie.”
She blushed and grabbed for the chain around her neck, rubbing the ring attached to it. “It’s my favorite,” she said, and sat on the sofa facing him.
He took his seat again and sipped his wine, surprised it was good. “Excellent wine.”
Jesska smiled and nodded. “I might not make much money, but I just can’t buy bad wine.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m an executive administrative assistant for a human resources and benefits company.” She sighed. “It’s my fallback, I guess.”
“Your fallback?”
“I had planned to go to college. I’d even thought about being a paramedic or a nurse or something noble like that. But life has a way of beating the shit out of you and leaving you to die on the side of the road.”
Kaspar widened his eyes. “Is that why you...?” He nodded to her arm, her scars peeking out from one her sleeves.
“I guess,” she rasped as she pulled the sleeve down to
her wrist again.
“Will you tell me why you hurt yourself, elskan?”
She shook her head, rubbing the ring again. “What did my sister say?”
He thought about pressing her, but knew she’d only push back if he did, so he let it go... for now. “She’s still in love with my brother.”
Jesska rolled her eyes. “Well, anyone with a brain could figure that out.”
“Oh?”
“When Megan dislikes someone, she tends to shout it from the rooftops, tell all her friends, strangers, the mailman. But with him, she never mentioned him. Ever. And I remember at the beginning, she cried a lot. But she never ever said a bad word about him. We didn’t even know his name. I figured something really bad had to have happened and that maybe it wasn’t her choice to leave, but then time passed and I grew up... and other stuff distracted me, so I never thought to ask.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “How does your brother feel about her?”
“He adores her.” He sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“Which means?”
“I’ll explain in a minute, but first, will you tell me why you keep tugging on that chain?”
“No reason.” She dropped her hand into her lap. “Tell me what happened.”
“The easy answer is that your sister and my brother fell in love and had three children together, but the complicated part is the first two were stolen from them.”
“Yes, Megan told me. She’s a wreck. What I can’t quite figure out is why they would want to take them.”
Kaspar shrugged. “We are very rich, very important people, sweetheart. We have enemies.”
“And humble,” she retorted as she tucked her feet under her bottom.
He sighed, setting his wine on an end table. “Look, I’m simply stating fact. We are the royal family of our people and we have enemies. I can’t change what I was born into.”
“No, I guess you can’t,” she conceded.
He rose to his feet and made his way to her, sitting on the sofa beside her. “Why do you keep tugging on that necklace?”
She lowered her hand again, shaking her head. He noticed a small diamond ring on her left hand and frowned. “Who gave you this?”
“No one.”
“Are you engaged?”
“No. Not that it’s any of your business,” she said.
He forced himself to stay calm. “Tell me.”
Bound by Tears (Cauld Ane Series, #6) Page 10
