This was not a fortress, but a modern residence.
There were no such things as werewolves.
“Yes, you know, security.” She waited expectantly for him to confirm her guess so she could put this nonsense behind her. “That is what you said, right?”
“You might say we’re more like private security.”
Shayla listened hard. He didn’t lie, but it wasn’t the complete truth, either. A huff of frustration escaped at the purposefully vague answer. It left her exactly where she’d started…with no clue who Aiden really was. She was in the middle of nowhere, her whereabouts known only to Aiden and his men, and no way to communicate with the outside world.
Shayla refused to be a victim, not again. She just had to be smart and play her cards very carefully. Though getting back to town was her first priority, she couldn’t help admire what Aiden had built.
The castle was hauntingly beautiful, but an underlying sadness clung to the gray walls like a ghost she could almost see. There was definitely something strange here beyond the decided lack of females. She just couldn’t pinpoint why she was so sure.
“Come.” Aiden held a hand out for her.
She didn’t want to touch him, abruptly convinced that his touch would seal her fate. “Uh, maybe I could catch a ride into town?”
Aiden dropped his hand. “That will be impossible.”
He lied.
Shayla swallowed hard, not liking that he so easily backed her into a corner one bit. “I have an appointment with my employer in a few hours. If I miss—”
“Employed to do what?”
She clamped her mouth shut, unwilling to reveal the true nature of her business. “I find things.”
“Things?” Aiden narrowed his eyes, his intensity ratcheting up her suspicion level to supernova.
“You know…” she waved her arms “…things that have been lost.” Shayla narrowed her eyes, not caring for the interrogation, and liking even less how Aiden treated her as the enemy.
He strode toward her, his movements liquid, a smile that was more teeth than friendly. He stopped barely an inch away. His warmth stole over her, kicking up her heartbeat, but she refused to reveal any reaction, especially the way she craved his nearness.
“Like you found me?”
Shayla gulped, unsettled at his suggestion. He couldn’t know about her unique ability. He was fishing, but his accusation gave her pause. Had her gift led her to him? All she had been thinking about was finding the one.
Heat instantly flooded her face, along with a big dose of panic.
No, not him.
Fate couldn’t be so cruel as to bind her to this caveman.
Her chest tightened, threatening a full-out panic attack until she remembered that her gift never worked on her. Finding him had to be chance, a bizarre coincidence, that’s all. So why did her heart continue to pound against her ribs like a moth’s wings against a light?
Anyone could’ve fallen through the earth at a haunted castle and land in a dungeon that just happened to be occupied nearly a thousand years later by a man torn right from her fantasies.
Her chest constricted at the unlikely scenario.
“Who hired you?”
She dismounted the ATV with as much dignity as possible, ignoring the mud that flaked off with every move, and lifted her chin. “I suggest that you take me to town and find out. Otherwise, I have nothing to say.”
“Not a problem. Give me a day to clean up, eat and settle things here first.”
Mortification turned her face hot. Of course Aiden needed time to recuperate. The excitement around him was addicting but exhausting, and she’d been tired for a long time, even before her stalker came into her life. What could it harm to stay here for a little longer? She actually liked the big jerk a little. A tiny thrill coursed through her at the chance to spend more time with him. It would also give her time to snoop, maybe uncover some of the secrets that darkened his eyes.
“One day. That’s it.”
Aiden narrowed his eyes at her ultimatum, the danger of it sending a shiver through her, before he gave an abrupt nod.
Without waiting for him to make up a bunch of silly rules, she turned on her heel and marched toward the castle. The baily was dead silent, the men in her path parting for her. The big lug who’d rescued them opened the door and gave her a slight nod.
“We have incoming!”
The bellow stopped Shayla short, and she whirled, sure that they’d been found. Her first instinct was to grab Aiden and run. Aiden immediately came to her side, standing protectively in front of her. Menace swarmed the air. Before she could put her thoughts into action, the whole baily came alive, a hive of activity as every man in the place charged toward the gates with lethal grace.
Weapons appeared in everyone’s hands, weapons that she hadn’t noticed when she’d first entered. She balled her hands into fists, feeling naked and vulnerable without one of her own.
“They’re two of ours.”
Two machines raced into the bailey before stopping their machines feet from Aiden. Both men dismounted in stereo, so dark and handsome that Shayla could only blink. She glanced between them, noting they were so similar they could pass for twins. Until she saw the wicked scar encircling one man’s throat that made him look more dangerous if that was even possible.
Only when they turned to greet Aiden did she noticed the dead body.
One man lifted and cradled the small man, gently laying him on the ground. “We pulled him from the sea just at dawn.”
The body was dressed in torn clothes, a style only a teenager would wear, but starvation had aged him so he looked closer to eighty then the twenty she suspected. Shayla swallowed hard and forced herself to look, because if what Aiden said was true, this would be her own fate if something wasn’t done.
There was a gray tinge to the flesh, his skin sagging like an oversized suit. Scraggily hair was so thin his scalp showed through in spots. His nails were jagged and split, while the fingers on both hands had been repeatedly broken until they healed like gnarled claws. Dozens of wounds marred the kid’s hands and face.
“He put up a fight.” Her throat ached at the ordeal he’d survived before he finally died. The skin over her cheeks tightened, burned hot as anger threatened to consume her. She wanted to find the bastards who did this.
Aiden’s head snapped toward her, his eyes almost seeming to glow. “You should go inside.”
“This was done by the same men who had you.” It wasn’t a question. Shayla met his scowl, trembling at the truth…how close she’d come to losing Aiden even before she met him.
“You don’t need to see this.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her to the door. “I’ll be in shortly.”
She noted that he hadn’t denied her accusation.
And those men were now after her.
Shit!
Her legs trembled by the time she entered the castle.
Her chaotic thoughts faded a little at the sight that greeted her. She’d expected something dark and oppressive. Instead, natural light spilled into the large hall, revealing the old keep in all its glory. The room was gigantic with benches enough to seat an army. Aiden and his giants fit right at home.
It was like stepping back in time until she noticed the modern amenities hidden artfully around the room. The cost of remodeling must have been astronomical.
A whisper of magic brushed against her skin as if in welcome. She almost expected to see the ghosts walking in the halls.
And someone wanted to destroy it.
Brought death to their door.
She shivered, feeling abandoned, which was silly. Aiden had more pressing concerns. She couldn’t expect him to be at her beck and call.
Aiden appeared as if she’d conjured him. He strode through the door and scanned the interior, stopping when those green eyes found and devoured her. Any remaining chill thawed under the heat of his gaze. He filled the space until she swore she felt h
im all around her.
Which was stupid. She should be arranging her return to town to finish her last job, not stuck in a gorgeous castle, surrounded by hunky men, every one of whom would make any sane woman drool.
Shayla almost did a face-palm.
Yes, she was officially an idiot for wanting to escape every woman’s greatest fantasy.
Well, that was if she ignored the dead bodies and threat of danger.
Aiden didn’t break eye contact, didn’t smile. There was no softness in him. He spoke to some of the men clustered around him, and they scurried off to do his bidding.
Besides a few curious stares, no one bothered to watch her.
That’s when she understood. They didn’t need keep an eye on her. Where would she go? She wasn’t equipped to travel that kind of distance to town on her own, even if her gift led her straight there.
And, based on the men’s reaction just a few minutes ago, this was a fully working castle, easily able to repel any attack. She was safe here. It would give her time to figure out who the hell wanted them dead.
But first thing first. “Gentlemen, you may have your meeting later, but Aiden needs to be seen by a doctor and get some rest.”
No one even paused.
“I said stop!” Her voice rang in the hall, echoing around her, and everyone halted.
As in all at once.
Then, very slowly, they all turned toward her.
Her gaze clashed with Aiden’s. Let him posture and threatened all he wanted. She wasn’t afraid of him, especially not when he was about to fall on his face.
“You need to have your injuries dressed. You need a shower. When’s the last time you ate something that wasn’t rotten?” She turned toward the large man at Aiden’s side. “Mac, right? Surely you can give him a couple of hours to recover before putting him to work.”
* * *
Aiden stopped at Shayla’s voice.
Static charged the air, and every wolf came to attention.
They had no choice. Her words were a command. They hit his bones in a way that made him want to obey and do whatever she asked. She obviously had no clue she had such power. As an alpha, he could break her order. He expected his wolf to be furious at the challenge, but the damned mutt only sat, content to let someone else take care of him, even if she was a human.
But she wasn’t just a human, not if she could command his wolves. There were no female wolves. But beyond her intoxicating citrus scent, he detected nothing supernatural about her. That made her dangerous. A threat. He marched toward her, and grabbed her arm.
“Hey, watch it.” She scowled up at him.
He instantly gentled his hold, but didn’t dare let her loose to create more havoc. The wolves around them inched closer, a hair’s breadth away from taking her from him. He bared his fangs, and then all but dragged her along behind him as he stormed up the stairs.
He had to get her away from the pack.
If one of them touched her, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop himself from attacking his own men, not if it meant keeping her safe.
Halfway up the stairs, he glanced back to see Mac staring after them, looking ready to intervene. And Aiden had no idea if it would be to defend him or take Shayla. He gave his second in command a curt nod. “We meet in three hours.”
Aiden easily scaled the stairs, had his hand on the door, when someone cleared his throat. Mac. He knew it even before he turned. Aiden stiffened, placing himself in front of Shayla. Mac opened the door next to Aiden’s room. “It would be safer for everyone if she stays here.”
Aiden wanted to protest, didn’t want to let her out of his sight. She had a habit of getting into trouble and wiggling out of tight places. But Mac was right. For her safety, she would be better off alone. He didn’t need her scent filling his room, mucking up his ability to concentrate.
The men wouldn’t dare touch her, not after he’d made it clear that she was under his protection. But to stand aside and let her pass was…nearly impossible. They’d been together since she’d fallen into his life. Separating from her felt like tearing off his own skin.
To prove to himself that he was in control, he stepped away, pressed his back against the wall and stared straight ahead. If he looked her now, he couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t toss her over his shoulder, lock his door, and keep her in his room until he worked her out of his system and discovered the truth she so desperately wanted to hide.
By rescuing him, she had put herself in danger. They’d seen her. If they captured her and discovered her ability to control wolves, she could become the pack’s downfall.
Chapter Eleven
Shayla balked at leaving Aiden. He’d gone through a lot of trouble to keep her alive. Although he might be a bit rough around the edges and so unreasonable at times that she wanted to scream, he was the only familiar thing in this new world.
Even now, she sensed the other men on the stairway. If she asked to stay by his side, even though he was hurt, he would fight to keep her.
But Shayla refused let her fears dictate her choices anymore. She needed to bide her time. She’d go to the room, clean up, then figure out what the hell was going on.
Tension in the hallway splintered when she nodded and eased past Aiden. She heard him inhale, and her spine prickled in anticipation.
And nothing.
She glanced back to see Aiden staring straight ahead, his hands firmly behind his back, still as a statue. She deflated a little and turned toward Mac. “Make sure he takes care of those wounds and eats some decent food before talking business.”
The giant man gave her a slight bow. “You have my word.”
The instant she crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut behind her with a resounding thud. Shayla whirled and heard something scrape against the door. She rushed toward the door and yanked on the handle.
The blasted thing wouldn’t budge.
Freaking Neanderthals! “Aiden, you let me out of here right this instant.”
She waited, but there wasn’t a peep from the hallway. “You son of a bitch. At least give me my bag!”
Shayla barely refrained from beating on the door. When she got her hands on that man, she would make him sorry. She’d cause so much trouble that he couldn’t wait to get rid of her. But for now, she had to bid her time. She turned and thumped the back of her head against the door, sliding down to sit on the floor. She’d held her own against her stalker, so she should be able to manage a bunch of backwater men with her hands tied behind her back.
Not that Aiden had threatened her exactly. He’d actually taken care to ensure she didn’t come to harm. She hated that she still tingled from his touch, that she felt more alive than she had in a long time.
But this whole adventure hammered home one important point.
Fairy tales and men on white horses weren’t real. There were no werewolves to guard against evil, and Aiden was not hers. If her heart gave a painful thump in denial, she ignored it.
It was time to be practical about her future.
She’d settle down with a decent man without having to struggle every few minutes between wanting to either smack him upside the head or kiss him. Caring was exhausting, it muddled her up, and she hated not being in charge of her own destiny.
She rubbed her nose, trying to block a persistent smell. A stench that only grew stronger the longer she sat there. She sniffed cautiously, then lifted her arm and inhaled.
And nearly gagged.
The stink seemed to emanate from her skin. Mortification burned her face. No wonder they’d locked her in a room by herself.
Enough moping, it was time to act.
Shayla stood and surveyed her prison. She had to admit, it was better than where she’d found Aiden. The only other door led to a modern bathroom that didn’t look like it’d ever been used. Similar to the rest of the fortress, the room was sumptuous and nearly twice the size of her room at the inn.
The furniture in the bedroom was massive, ev
ery detail hand-carved. And too heavy to move or use as a weapon. The two pictures on the walls were actual weavings. Ancient stained glass covered the windows, the view breathtaking…from three stories high. That nixed any plans to escape out the window unless she learned to fly.
The large four-poster bed took up a third of the room and stood smack in the center. She skimmed her hand over the plush cover a little wistfully, her palms sinking a good three inches.
The room was stately but neglected. A light layer of dust coated the surfaces, a faint musty smell lingered in the air, and she suspected that the room had been sealed for years.
Her shoulders slumped in exhaustion, the room inviting her to relax and allow someone else to take care of everything. Whatever trouble had found Aiden, it wasn’t her mess. He would be rid of her tomorrow.
Her heart gave a queer lurch at the thought of never seeing him again, and that pissed her off more. But why lock her in a room?
It’s not like she could go anywhere when she didn’t know where the hell the castle was located.
Then her spin snapped straight.
There was only one reason to keep her.
They wanted something from her.
Aiden’s questions about her profession now made sense. Her stomach clench and terror spread like wildfire, threatening to eat her from the inside out. She could do small tricks, find trinkets.
She didn’t do people.
Ever.
She could understand Aiden’s reasoning. If their roles were reversed, she might have done the same thing.
But no matter what he said, she wouldn’t relent.
Entering the Frost World meant facing the wraiths, vengeful ghosts who would do anything to return to the human world. She could fight off one or two, but anything more and she was a dead woman.
And she couldn’t just enter once and magically find whomever they wanted. She’d have to enter repeatedly, stay longer, each time drawing more and more attention from the other world.
She’d never make it out alive.
She paced the room, her skin itching with the need to escape.
No one could make her do anything if she flat-out refused. They had no real evidence she was anything but a damned good investigator.
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