“My truck or yours?” I say smiling.
“We’ll take My Truck.” He smiles and pulls the keys out of his pocket. I follow him muttering various things about my hatred for the brute, knowing he could hear everything I was calling him.
Chapter Fifteen
I make a call to Aylesbury to catch him up on the situation as we drive back to the Manor, he is not very happy with me, which I’m sure I’ll here about at some point. The silence after I finish the call drags on until the tension finally gets to me when we near The Manor. “Why would you want me back, after that pathetic outburst earlier, let alone urge me to lie to my boss which could result in me loosing my job.” I ask, in a rather calm tone even though I could feel the anger starting to bubble to the surface again.
Unfortunately he ignores me completely. As we are pulling into the court yard Steve comes running out of the doors waving for Bastian to hurry up. Bastian parks the truck and goes straight over to Steve, disappearing into The Manor and leaving me alone, which was fantastic.
I take my purchases and head up the stairs to the room they had assigned me the night before. I suppose I should get comfortable, it looked like I was going to be here a while.
As I get to the top of the stairs I see Dante and Roan leaning either side of a door at the end of the corridor. I was about to ask them what they were doing when I hear an almighty bellow. “Send Scarlet in here now!”
Dante tries to give me an encouraging smile as he takes my purchases from me and points to the room opposite to where they are stood. I walk towards it and cautiously through the door.
“Why in the hell are there two Fae sat in my hotel asking for you?” He eyes me from a desk that was heaped with papers and other office type paraphernalia. He made the desk look tiny and it wasn’t a small desk!
“I wouldn’t have a clue what you’re talking about, although it may be that they are my clients and they’ve come to see me.” I smile sweetly at him trying my best for charming, it wasn’t working though. In fact it looked like I was making him angrier.
“I think you better explain to me why you think that I’ve suddenly got an affinity to work with every damn Fae in the country. I agreed to work with you and already you’re going behind my back.” He gets up and stands in front of the desk his arms folded across his massive chest.
“Look dick head, I’ve told you before I have not been behind your back I need your help as much as you need mine. I even lied to my Captain and why in hell did you agree to work with me when you clearly don’t trust me. If you really need to know, I called them earlier and told them the plan, however I haven’t got a clue why they are here. They more than likely want to help in the search for their sister.” I take a deep breath to calm myself before I carry on. “I suggest we both go to them and find out exactly why they are here, if we don’t you may find yourself in trouble for holding the heir to the Seelie throne captive.” I smirk as I slip that last bit of information out.
Bastian looks shocked but quickly recovers making me think I’d imagined it, he opens the door and inclines his head. “After you.”
I walk over to the door and Dante lets me in, he gives Bastian a quick look just before opening the door and I just know he was asking for permission. I walk through, Bastian entering behind me. This room was a little meeting room. It had a big circular table with eight chairs around it. I guess Bastian used this for business, maybe?
I recognise the two Fae straight away, it was Bryn and Bronwyn. I knew from seeing them before that they were both as tall as Bastian. Both were graceful but where Bryn was wide in the shoulders Bronwyn was slender. Bronwyn always seemed to lean on her brother though and was always twitchy and shy, where as Bryn oozed Royal confidence, charm and sophistication.
“Bastian I would like to introduce you to my clients, Prince Bryn heir to the throne at Vyr and his sister Princess Bronwyn.” Bastian shakes their hands. “This is Bastian, Beast Master and ruler of the Lycan’s.” I hate formalities like this, it all seemed so false, I know my place in society though and politeness gets you everywhere when working with anyone higher in The Guild food chain.
“There is no need to be so formal Scarlet, we are here to help find our sister and to check on your health. When Bronwyn told me what had happened, I blamed myself for putting you in danger.” He moves over to me, taking my arms and looks me over. “It would appear you are okay.”
I look over at Bastian, who eyes me suspiciously probably thinking Bryn and me were too close and comfortable with each other for just customer client relations. “I’m fine, shall we sit.” I say breaking free not wanting to give him more fuel, I motion for us all to sit, Bastian however remains standing, his hands resting on the chair in front of him. “I explained to Bronwyn on the phone earlier that I figured I knew where Brook was being kept. The Pack are also looking for some of their missing people so we have decided to work together on this. We will get your sister back. Tomorrow we are going to scout out the area where I believe they are keeping your sister then we will be able to formulate a plan to get her out.” I explain to them.
Bryn takes in what I’ve said; I can see his mind processing before he speaks. “We wish to come with you. If we can help in anyway, you know our people are great warriors we would be an asset and you could concentrate on getting her out safely. It won’t affect your pay we will still give you the full amount.” I look at Bastian and just know he was going to say something bad, like no.
I speak before he gets the chance. “We cannot risk you going in with us if something were to happen the Queen would have my head.”
“Actually” Bastian said pulling the chair away from the table and sitting down. “I think you should come, if you are as a good a warrior as you say you are, it shouldn’t matter if you die as long as there is honour and you find your sister. Am I right?” He gave me a quick look. Letting me know I’d been wrong to assume he didn’t want them to go with us.
“Beast Master, you are very astute. We would be honoured to join you in your fight against the evil that holds our sister against her will.” Bryn seems happy enough with the arrangement.
Bronwyn who hadn’t spoken even a greeting yet suddenly pipes up, cocking her head to one side to regard Bastian. “I sense you don’t like us very much, yet you offer to help us why is that?”
Bastian gets up and moves to the door. “If it was my sister I would do anything to get her back.” With that he walks out and leaves us to it.
Roan walks in just as I was about to tell them when we are setting off tomorrow. “I have arranged rooms for the Prince and Princess in the lodgings above Rick’s, although they aren’t joined to The Manor you will have to access them from the entrance at the side of Rick’s.” He says for my benefit. “If you are ready I will show you to your rooms, we will all be meeting back here at first light tomorrow.”
Well with that said what else was there for me to say. I say my goodbyes and made my way to the kitchen to grab some food, then headed to my room to have that long awaited bath. As I walk through the door Bastian walks up behind me and shoves me through the door grabbing me by the throat and pushing me against the nearest wall.
His face is inches from mine and his voice a deep growl. “I don’t know what game you think you’re playing but you will not risk my people’s lives in whatever you are plotting with the Fae.”
I try to speak but can’t until his hands loosened, still holding me in place but his grip no longer cutting off my air supply. I take in a deep breath. “I don’t know what you mean. They are my client’s there are no plots against you or anyone else. You’re blinded by your hatred.”
“Then explain to me why the female Fae was so far beyond frightened, yet she is meant to be a warrior and why was the male not only overly familiar with you but he was withholding something when he was speaking to us.”
“He wasn’t overly familiar with me, he just fancies himself a gentleman and unlike most men, present company included, he was actual
ly concerned for my safety.”
His grip tightens again “Do not make this about you and me, you will not like how I deal with you if you carry on down that very rocky road. Now tell me what he was hiding from me.”
“What do you think he was hiding because I honestly can’t think up anything to tell you while you’re holding me against the wall like the barbarian that you are?”
He releases me but I still remain trapped between the wall and him a sheet of paper couldn’t fit in the gap between us.
“If Bryn is withholding something from us and I do mean us, its probably just that he’s unwell or something equally stupid. Your senses can’t be that keen that you can tell something so precise that the Fae Prince is withholding a piece of information pertaining to the case I’m working on which involves his missing Sister. Why would he do that, not only does he want to find his sister alive, but what information could he have that could piss you off this much.”
“That may be but there is definitely something wrong with the situation. You best watch your back the Fae are up to something, you may not think you’re involved, but he sure wants you to be.”
He leans right into my face then his arm reaches up to grab my neck again. I squeeze my eyes shut, then as I open them he is suddenly out of the room the door slamming shut in his wake. He must have decided not to kill me just yet.
I flop onto the bed and try to calm my heartbeat before mustering the energy to go get myself a bath.
Chapter Sixteen
I wake up, the room is dark and I felt extremely on edge. I still couldn’t shake the day’s earlier hostilities.
I get up and pull on one of the shirts I’d bought; it covers me up but was still quite short. I decide to go and get a hot chocolate and watch a bit of TV or read a book upstairs in the lounge. I need to relax again before getting some more sleep.
I didn’t put any trousers on I figured that no one would be up at this time. I open the door to the lounge, the light was on and my least favourite person was sat on one of the sofas watching something intently. Well so much for the relaxing bit.
Curiosity got the better of me though when he didn’t look up so I went over and sat opposite him. He had three kittens crawling over him and the sofa. They were the tiniest things I’d ever seen. One was stood on Bastian’s bare chest just watching him and he watched it back, it was ginger and white. The other two one black, the other black, white and ginger were chasing each other over his jean clad legs and onto the sofa.
If it wasn’t for his hatred of me I would probably be sat there staring at the sight of his big and extremely well muscled chest, it was much bigger and better than Adams. I shook my head clearing it of stupid thoughts.
“Are they yours?” I ask him, a sarcastic grin spreading over my face. I couldn’t help myself. I knew that Lycan’s had human babies and that they didn’t change for the first time until puberty but still I couldn’t resist the temptation to annoy him in any way.
He finally looks up and acknowledges me with one of his looks. I wasn’t sure how to read those looks, I just assumed he was trying to put me in my place without speaking. “One of the cats that lived downstairs died last week leaving her kittens without a mother. They now live up here until they are old enough to roam free or pick themselves a person to live with.” He said it so matter of fact that I was taken back, I knew he would do anything for The Pack but I never expected he’d take in orphan kittens.
I got up and picked the black one up sitting on the edge of the sofa that he was sat on. The cute little thing just curled up in my arms and shut its eyes. I leaned back against the arm of the sofa facing Bastian.
Bastian watches me as I settle at the side of him, all the while the ginger cat stared at him. “What are they called and why does that one stare at you like that?” I asked him, breaking away from his intent gaze.
“They haven’t got names yet, they’re only six weeks old, I found them screaming when their mother had just died. I didn’t even know one of the cats had moved into The Manor. They usually roam all over the city. This one here” He says stroking its little face. “Seems to fancy me, she just watches me whenever she’s near me. Either that or she is keeping her eye on me in case I’m up to no good.” He smiles and looks at me. “So why can’t you sleep?”
“Why cant you?” I blurt out not wanting him to realise he’d affected me to the point of lost sleep.
He raises an eyebrow at me as if he knows exactly why. “I don’t need much sleep either.” He says although I know that wasn’t why.
“While we’re having this little conversation are you going to tell me why you hate my kind so much, I find it really hard to work with people who hate me? Especially for something I can’t control.”
“I’ll do better than that I’ll show you, then you’ll understand.” He picks the kitten up and puts it on the sofa, and takes the one I was holding out of my arms. Then he grabs my hand and drags me through the gym and down a corridor leading off the other side of the room and into a door marked hospital.
The room was set out like a normal hospital wing. There were three beds and a nurse coming out of a room at the end that looked like an intensive care area. She walks over to us and speaks to Bastian. “I’ve just given her a sedative so in a few minutes she’ll be asleep, but if you go in now she might hear you. Just let her know your there.” She rubs his arm like you’d imagine any caring older woman would do.
He leads me into the dark room and tells me to stay while he puts a lamp on which casts a small amount of light onto the woman laid in the bed. She was pale her eyes sunken and her veins had risen to the surface of her skin, giving her skin a really horrible blue-ish green tint.
I stare at him watching him smooth her hair and hold her hand, the tenderness making me slightly jealous and uncomfortable. “Scarlet, meet my sister Raven.” The jealousy quickly subsides and is replaced by remorse.
This was the girl whose clothes I had worn yesterday, I’d thought she was a girlfriend or lover of some sort. I never thought he had a sister who was extremely ill like this.
He whispers soft words to her then, kisses her forehead. He looks at me. “I’ll explain further but not here.” He must have sensed my puzzlement over the connection between this poor woman and his hatred.
We leave her and go back to the lounge, I sit back down with the kittens that were now fast asleep, the black one opens its eyes sees me and crawls onto my legs curling up again and shutting its eyes.
“What is the matter with her, will she be okay?” I ask Bastian as he sits at the side of me.
He gives me a strange look. “You do actually care don’t you, you really aren’t one of them.” I scowl at him but don’t interrupt. “My sister fell in love with a Fae he was called Brae. I didn’t like him from the beginning sensing that he was keeping something from her. I told her that something was up but that didn’t matter she was headstrong, she wanted him as her mate but she needed to follow our laws and gain my permission. I refused. We had a big fight and then the same day I hear her scream. I went to her room to find her unconscious, blood around her mouth and bruises on her neck where she had been forced to drink his. I killed him there and then, it wasn’t until after I realised he had poisoned her. He’d tricked her for reasons I am unaware of and now she lies in that bed slowly wasting away in front of my eyes. I have had all sorts of medical people come in and look at her and no one knows what’s wrong, they say just to make her comfortable.” He lifts the kitten from my lap his hands brushing the bare skin of my legs. I hold back a shiver.
I knew what was happening to his sister, I was probably going to make him hate me more. “Brae was a name I heard mentioned a lot in the caves, He was one of the goons that found people for them to take and transform. I’m really sorry Bastian but it sounds to me like he seduced your sister and used the bonding ritual to try and transform her.” His hands were now becoming strained fists, so I move the little kitten away and set it on the floor. “
If we can get that book then we improve her chances of survival, she can’t have drank too much because she doesn’t look like The Fallen. She still has a chance.” I said to him as he looks at me.
“I’m glad I killed him, I still believe that the Fae are tricksters, you though are different, you really don’t think like you’re Fae.” He said looking at me gauging my reaction.
“That’s because I’m part Fae, part Wood Nymph and part Human. I’m a very rare combination, a hybrid.” His eyes slide to the hem of my shirt and follow the vine that curls around my right leg. The air gets a little thicker like it did around Adam, but I knew he didn’t mean the sexual tension he just used it as an amusement. This was completely different.
I didn’t see him move but suddenly he was tracing the vine up from my ankle.
“Is this a tattoo?” He asks his fingers tracing further up my leg.
“No it’s a living part of me, it grew with me from birth.” I say hoping my voice didn’t sound as unbalanced as I feel.
“Do all Wood Nymphs have them?”
“I wouldn’t know I’ve never met another Nymph of any sort.”
His hand now rests above me knee, my heart is hammering against my chest. He lifts his eyes to mine and they practically burn into me. Then as quickly as he’d been there he was up and walking away from me.
Well if that wasn’t confusing I didn’t know what was.
There was a clock on the wall in the kitchen there was at least a few hours left until daylight, so I settled back against the chair arm and put my arms around the poor abandoned little kitten that had crawled back up onto my legs. I would think about Bastian and how much he confused me some other time. Now I’d just rest a little.
Chapter Seventeen
“Come on sleepy head wake up!” I swing my arm at the annoying voice hoping it would go away. Then I realise I must have fallen asleep, I sit upright and look around. It was still dark. Quinn was stood at the side of me.
Hunted (Scarlet Dawson Book 1) Page 11
