“It’s her,” he said at long last, and Drew’s terror only grew.
Oh God, oh god, oh god.
“I don’t know who you’re looking for,” she began, thinking to lie her way out of it.
“We’re looking for you,” he responded, and Drew watched as his eyes, which had been a gray color, faded to black before their entirety grew dark. It was like looking into an abyss.
“Please. I didn’t do anything, I won’t tell anyone….” Her words faded as her eyelids grew heavy. Everything grew heavy.
“No, you won’t,” the man agreed.
That was the last she heard before the world went black.
***
“Conall?”
He opened his eyes and looked down at Vivienne, lying against him. They sat outside on a garden chair toward the end of the Cedar Creek forest. After their breakfast, where she had once more surprised him by the amount she consumed, they’d dressed and had taken a stroll. During that time, she’d told him she thought the darkness within her was a part of her druid powers. He’d listened, intrigued about that possibility, as she went over the phone calls she’d had with her mother.
The conversation had then turned to his family, to which Conall replied that the pack, which she would soon belong to, was his family. In true Vivienne fashion, she’d prodded more, wanting to know about his siblings, his parents, his blood family. And so he’d told her most of it. He told her that his parents had been alphas of the pack in Ireland, that when his father died, Gregory had taken over and moved them to Scotland, where he met Sloan. When Gregory died, Sloan had taken his position as alpha. She’d seemed about to press about his brother’s death, but something in his expression must have told her he didn’t want to discuss it because she only kissed his jaw, and leaned into him. They’d remained like that for long minutes, until she called his name.
“Yes, alainn?”
“When is my blood rite with Samia?”
He tensed immediately. Damn it, he had tried hard to block that out. He and the Elders had met a few days prior and Brennus had demanded Saturday for the rite. When there had been no cause for opposition to that date, the Elders had agreed on it. Conall said nothing. He hadn’t intended to. Moments before the meeting, Zahira had asked for some time alone with him. There she’d pointed out very important details that had gone over Conall’s angry head. If he still refused to give Samia the blood rite, Brennus could take his pleas to the pack again, and there was a possibly they would hurt Vivienne. The pack wasn’t stupid enough to challenge Conall, but they might go after her, especially as she would be seen as weak. The other thing was the lack of respect that would be shown Vivienne as alpha bitch if she did not face Samia.
The females were a particularly vicious bunch, and much like the males, held themselves by rank. Samia had been a strong contender for alpha bitch, as she was able to defeat most female opponents. If Vivienne didn’t fight her and was seen to cower, the females in the pack would ridicule and possibly attack her. He hadn’t thought of that, and when Zahira pointed it out, he’d felt the urge to kick Brennus and his goddamn hell-spawn out of his pack. But it was done, the pack had approved it and they expected a blood rite. Zahira had then pointed out she’d been one of the people to witness Vivienne hold off Samia that day when she’d blacked out, and his mate was strong. And so, when Brennus had demanded Saturday, Conall had pictured himself wringing the Elder’s neck, but he’d held his tongue.
“Vivienne, you don’t have to fight this blood rite against Samia. You’re not a wolf and you’re not a part of the pack. These laws don’t apply to you.” He’d listened to Zahira, yes, but he still feared for his mate. He didn’t mind if she didn’t win. He minded her getting hurt, and possibly killed.
She nodded and repeated, “When’s the date?”
“Brennus wanted Saturday,” Conall told her. “But again, it isn’t necessary. If you want this whole thing called off, just tell me.”
Lifting her head from his chest, she smirked up at him. “If I tell you yes, you’ll march over to the Elders like the big bad alpha you are and tell them there’ll be no blood rite?”
“I’ll march over to the Elders, and the entire pack, if you want me to.”
She clucked her tongue and chuckled. Vivienne was obviously not as worried as he.
“So Saturday it is,” she murmured, leaning her head against his shoulder.
“Vivienne—”
“Conall, can you do something for me?”