Bound by Dreams (Cauld Ane Series, #5)

by Piper Davenport

  She slipped her arms around his waist from behind and kissed his shoulder. “Will you teach me about more than tea, sensei?”

  He lowered the knife and turned to face her. “Only if you listen to everything I say, grasshopper.”

  She ran her hands under his shirt and up his back. “I’m all ears... master.”

  He swallowed. “Master?”

  She nodded as she pulled his shirt up, leaning forward to kiss his stomach. “What would you like me to do for you?”

  He growled and lifted her off her feet. “Shite, baby, you’re sexy as hell.”

  She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him as he carried her into the family room just off the kitchen. Lowering her to the sofa, he pulled his shirt over his head and leaned down to kiss her neck.

  As Niall moved down her body, Charlotte was overwhelmed with dread. She forced her thoughts aside and tried to focus on her husband, but it beat at her.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, shifting off of her to kneel on the floor.

  “I don’t know.” She closed her eyes. “Something’s off. You don’t feel it?”

  “Aye, lass I do, but probably not as much as you do. It’s a familial connection, but not mine.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Now that we’re bound, you’ll be able to feel any extreme emotions Max and Grace might have. We are connected by blood now, so you’ll expect to feel things every now and then.” Niall grabbed his phone. “What I’m feeling isn’t typical of what I feel when Max is upset, but I’ll call him anyway and see if they are okay.”

  Charlotte nodded and sat up on her knees.

  PEPPER GUNNACH BUNDLED baby Callum into the stroller and left the house to head out to the barn. Connall and Max were working with the horses today, and she wanted to check on her beloved Arabian, Jonesy.

  We’re on our way.

  It’s slick from the rain, love. Careful, Connall responded.

  Yes, dear.

  Pepper smiled down at Callum. “Your daddy seems to think I can’t walk a straight line without him. What do you say about that, little man?”

  Callum smiled up at her. He was just over a month and smiling more and more each day. She had once thought she knew what love was, being blessed to be married to the man of her dreams, but now that Callum was part of their family, her love had increased ten-fold.

  Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she saw Grace’s number pop up on the screen. “Hi, Grace.”

  “Hi. Are you riding today, per chance?” Grace asked.

  “I hope so. Jonesy’s driving everyone nuts because I haven’t ridden him in a couple of days. We’ll see how Callum does over the next hour or so. He feeds almost every hour at the moment, and my boobs are killing me.”

  Grace giggled. “Is that normal?”

  “For the Cauld Ane, yes, apparently. Their babies grow faster than human babies, so they need a lot more milk to sustain them.”

  “I was going to bring Max lunch, so how about we ride together?”

  “Sounds great.” Pepper glanced up at the sky with a groan. “If the rain holds off, of course.”

  Grace laughed. “Oh, you California girls... you just don’t know what to do in the rain.”

  “Hey, I was also a Savannah girl.”

  “And they get rain?”

  “Yes, Miss Smarty Pants, they do.” Pepper chuckled. “But admittedly, not like Portland.”

  “Never fear, I’ll show you how to survive.”

  “Thank you.” Pepper grinned. “What time will you be here?”

  “In about half an hour.”

  “Okay, see you then.” Pepper hung up and continued down the paved sidewalk between the house and the barn.

  “Góðan daginn.”

  Pepper squeaked in fright and turned toward the deep voice. “You scared me to death.”

  A tall man with long blond hair stood in front of her and smiled. He was taller than Connall, so he must have been close to six-foot-six.

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  “Can I help you with something?” she asked, her heart racing. “How did you get onto the property?”

  “I can go where I like,” he said in clipped English.

  Con?

  I’m coming.

  The man sneered. “Your mate won’t be here fast enough.”

  “What?” she said, facing him fully now.

  “I have need of you, so you will come with me.”

  Pepper frowned. “Like hell I will.”

  The man cocked his head and gave a slight smile. “You belong to me.”

  Pepper felt anger flow through her body and she smiled back. “I belong to no man.”

  “Come.”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  He moved toward her and she raised her hands. Forming a fireball in her palms, she flung it toward him. He deflected it with a flick of his wrist and sighed in boredom. “I don’t have time for this.” He held his palm up. “You will stay.”

  “Pepper!” Connall bellowed as he raced toward her.

  The man shook his head and held his hand up again. “Stop.”

  Connall stopped as though he’d run into an invisible wall. “Shite!”

  “Connall!” Pepper screamed, and Callum wailed from the stroller.

  “Ease the baby, Pepper,” the man ordered.

  “Who the hell are you?” she demanded.

  Max arrived in his large black Escalade, jumping from the vehicle and rushing toward Pepper. “You okay?”

  “I think so.”

  Max pointed to the SUV. “Get in the car.”

  She nodded and grabbed Callum from the stroller, heading toward the car, but her legs grew heavy and she had to focus on moving, one step at a time. Connall?

  I don’t know who this man is, baby, but his power is stronger than any I’ve ever encountered.

  Pepper squeezed her eyes shut. Can you move yet?

  No. But it’s okay, Pepper. Max will help.

  I’m worried... about... hurting the baby.

  Your hair is back to blonde, sweetheart. You aren’t a threat.

  Pepper was a firestarter, but was still learning to control her gift. Her naturally blonde hair would darken, turning brown, then red when she was in full power. When she was overly emotional, she couldn’t control herself and had inadvertently started fires in the past that were difficult to contain.

  Callum started to fuss again and Pepper found she could once again move freely. She paused in her flight to calm him, and the baby’s cries turned into sniffles. Then Pepper heard Max cry out, and she turned just as she got to the car.

  Max was in a violent struggle with the large man, his gift of suggestion obviously giving him the ability to counteract the man’s similar powers. The problem was, the man was stronger than Max.

  “Pepper! Get in the bloody car,” Connall bellowed as he ran to help Max.

  Pepper did as she was told and closed herself into Max’s car with Callum, grabbing her phone to call her best friend and sister-in-law, Samantha.

  “We’re on our way, Pep. What’s going on?” Samantha said, before Pepper could even get a hello out.

  “There’s a man... a really strong man, fighting with Max and Con. We don’t know who he is.”

  “Where are they?”

  “To the south of the barn.” She settled Callum flat on the seat beside her. “He was able to control Connall and me, Sam.”

  “Wow, okay. We’re like two minutes away.”

  Pepper stared out the window and tried not to panic. Max and Connall were making a valiant effort against the giant, but they were struggling. Frustrated at not being able to help, Pepper closed her eyes and attempted to bolster Connall.

  The crunch of tires sounded and Pepper turned and watched as Kade stepped from the Range Rover and rushed toward the fray. The king turned back and scowled at the car before jumping headlong into the fight.

  The door opposite Pepper’s opened, and Samantha c
limbed in beside her. “Hi. You okay?”

  Pepper nodded and settled Callum on her shoulder. “Did Kade want you to stay in the other car?”

  Sam nodded as she scowled. “Overprotective son of a—”

  “Samantha Gunnach!” Pepper admonished.

  Samantha gave her a sarcastic smile. “Any ideas on who the man is?”

  “None. He said I had to come with him and that I belong to him.” Pepper frowned. “Do you think he thinks I’m his mate?”

  You’re no’ his mate, Pepper.

  I know, Connall, but does he think I am?

  “I don’t know,” Samantha said. “Kade’s worried, though.”

  “I’m surprised he let you come at all.”

  “He threatened to lock me in the tower,” Samantha admitted as she laid her hands protectively over her belly. “But I pointed out that you would need help with Callum, plus I have suggestion and he doesn’t, so my gift might be a little more useful.”

  “You’ve always been very quiet, but very sneaky,” Pepper said.

  “Thank you... I think.” Sam reached for the baby. “Now, let me snuggle my nephew.”

  Pepper handed her the baby and lowered her window slightly when the fight had stopped. She saw the man bow toward Kade.

  Pepper, Connall warned. What the hell are you doing?

  Oh, please, Con, if the guy was a real threat, he wouldn’t have bowed to Kade.

  “Your name,” Kade demanded.

  “Ari Baldursson,” the man said.

  “You lie,” Connall snapped.

  Kade laid his hand on Connall’s arm and raised an eyebrow. “Baldursson is an ancient name.”

  “Já,” Ari said.

  “What’s going on?” Pepper whispered.

  “I don’t know,” Sam whispered back.

  Baldursson is an ancient name, love. One that is attached to the Kalt Einn, a much more ancient race than us, with powers that are now part of folklore. He cannot be who he says he is, because they are extinct.

  Pepper relayed the information to Samantha, who hummed in surprise.

  “I came for my daughter,” Ari said.

  “Excuse me?” Kade shook his head. “What does that have to do with my brother’s mate?”

  “She is my daughter.”

  “What?” Pepper squeaked.

  Ari stared at her. “Þú ert dóttir mín.” (You are my daughter.)

  Before Kade could stop him, Connall wrapped his hand around Ari’s throat with a growl. “You lie!”

  Ari made quick work of rendering Connall useless, by way of suggestion, but Kade and Max still had to pull him off Ari.

  Kade faced the giant, stepping in front of his brother. “Explain.”

  “You can’t actually think he’s telling the truth, Kade,” Connall snapped, Ari’s hold now released.

  Pepper stroked Callum’s cheek and then climbed from the car.

  Connall swore and rushed to her. “Get back in the car, Pepper.”

  “No. I want to hear what he has to say.” Pepper crossed her arms over her chest. “There’s no way he’s telling the truth. I know who my dad was, Con. Let’s just hear what he has to say.”

  “Ég mun ekki meiða þig” (I won’t hurt you), Ari promised.

  “I believe him, Con,” Pepper said. “If he thinks he’s my father, then why would he hurt me?”

  Connall scowled, but Pepper grabbed his hand and pulled him back toward the men.

  She watched Ari’s face soften, and he smiled as he held out his hand. “I’m your papa, elskan.”

  Pepper shook her head and Ari lowered his arm. “You can’t be. I knew my dad. You’re not him.”

  Ari held his hand out to her again. “If you touch me, you’ll know I’m telling you the truth.”

  “No. I’m good, thanks,” she said.

  “Your mama is Natalie Brooks. You are twenty-five years old.”

  Pepper held up her hand. “All of that is public information. Why would you try to say you’re my father?” She shook her head and sighed. “You’re obviously not right in the head.”

  “Ring your mama, Pepper,” Ari said. “She will confirm.”

  “I’m not going to justify these lies by calling my mother.”

  Ari grabbed Pepper’s hand, and she gasped. Connall slammed his fist into the giant’s face and then jumped back, cradling his hand to his chest.

  Is it broken?

  Aye, lass.

  Pepper healed it for him and Connall moved to try again, but Ari held his hand up and Connall froze.

  Pepper pulled out of Ari’s grasp and forced tears away. “I don’t understand.”

  “I need you and your sister to help me find someone.”

  Pepper, Connall warned.

  “Release my mate,” she demanded. When Ari removed his hold, Connall stepped forward, but Pepper grabbed his arm. “Wait, babe. He’s not lying about being my father. I want some answers. And I’d like to know what he means by ‘my sister.’” She turned to Ari. “I don’t have a sister.”

  A rain drop hit Pepper in the eye and the clouds darkened, threatening to spill more.

  “Let’s take this conversation back to the house,” Kade suggested.

  “You are going to welcome this stranger into your home?” Connall challenged.

  His brother smiled. “No. I’m going to welcome him into yours.”

  Connall scowled, but Pepper grabbed his hand and pulled him aside. “He’s not lying, Con. I need to know whatever it is he has to tell me. It doesn’t mean I have to do what he wants me to. He obviously can’t compel me for very long... unlike... well... you.”

  “Thanks for that, love,” Connall retorted.

  Pepper giggled. “Just admit I’m a badass and we can move on.”

  Connall ran his hands through his hair and sighed.

  “Can we find out what happened, please? I’ll call my mom on the way back to the house.” Pepper turned at the sound of Callum’s scream and held her arms out as Samantha approached with the baby.

  Connall intercepted them and scooped the baby into his embrace. “I’m angry too, son,” he crooned. “This is reckless on your mummy’s part.”

  Callum stared up at his father and then located Pepper and screamed again. “He’s hungry,” Pepper said, and took him from Connall. “Let’s go home, okay? I don’t get the impression Ari wants to hurt anyone.”

  Connall raised an eyebrow.

  “Just because he can, baby, doesn’t mean he will. Can we give him a chance?”

  “What about Jonesy?” Connall countered.

  “Right. Crap,” she complained. “Distraction will only get you so far, Con.”

  He sighed. “Why don’t you take time to feed Callum, and then Sam can take him home while you and I ride.”

  “You’re willing to let him in our home without us?”

  “No,” Connall ground out.

  “I will wait for you to do what you need to do,” Ari offered.

  Pepper glanced over to where her best friend was standing with Kade. “Do you mind watching Callum for a little while?”

  Samantha smiled and clasped her hands to her heart. “Alone time with my nephew? Really and truly? Oh, Pepper, don’t tease me.”

  Pepper laughed. “Okay, I get it... you’re feeling neglected.”

  Samantha closed the distance between them. “What gave it away?”

  “Let’s head to the barn. I’ll feed him while you get Jonesy tacked up.”

  Connall nodded. “Sounds good.”

  * * *

  “Max had a run-in at Connall’s place,” Niall said, as he set his phone on the kitchen island. “Nothing we need to worry about.”

  Charlotte sighed as she pushed a plate with a sandwich on it toward him. “Did you really think that was going to work?”

  Niall frowned. “It was worth a try.”

  “Let me get this straight. The man I’ve been dreaming about since I was six shows up at the docks in time to “heal” me, and
then a man who resembles him just happens to end up in Inverness on Connall Gunnach’s property? Is it the same man? If so, what did he want?”

  Niall raised his hands in surrender. “That part I don’t know. Max either couldn’t or wouldn’t tell me.”

  “Being able to read your brother’s mind would come in handy right about now.”

  “I’m not sure I’d like the trade-off.” Niall grimaced. “Because the rest of the time would be disturbing, so I’m happy it’s not something we can do.”

  “I suppose you have a point.” Charlotte wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and sat on a barstool next to Niall. “None of this makes any sense... you’re with me on that, right?”

  Niall nodded and squeezed her knee. “Aye, lass. It’s all a bit crazy.”

  “Eat your sandwich,” she instructed, setting her elbow on the island, her cheek in her palm. “Who is this man, and why the heck would he go to Inverness?” She bit her lip and then added, “You don’t have to answer with your mouth full.” He nodded and grinned, and Charlotte made her way to the refrigerator. “Actually, you can’t really answer something you don’t know, so those were somewhat rhetorical questions, I guess.” She grabbed juice from the shelf and poured them each a glass. “Does he know Connall?”

  Niall shook his head and swallowed. “No. No one knows him personally.”

  “If he’s Pepper’s father... what does he want? Does he want her in his life? Like, does he want a relationship?” She put the juice back in the fridge. “Does he really expect that she will bow at his feet and thank him for finding her? Where has he been for more than twenty-five years?” She glanced at Niall. “Is he like you... us? Is he Cauld Ane?”

  Niall shrugged. “I don’t know, love. He’s obviously not human, but he also has powers greater than any Cauld Ane I know, so I don’t know what he is.”

  Charlotte narrowed her eyes. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “What do you mean?” He stared at his plate. “Nothing.”

  “Nye.” She crossed her arms. “I can feel you’re holding back. Tell me.”

  Niall sighed. “There is some evidence he might be Kalt Einn, but that’s only my personal suspicion, and I have nothing to back it up with, because the Kalt Einn are extinct.”

  “Kalt Einn? ‘Cold one’ loosely translated from Icelandic, but not quite right.”