About Face (Wolf Within) (22 page)

She leaned closer and put a hand on my arm. The thrum of power she emanated was like an electric tingle. She reminded me of Jason Allerton. “Ripping out the throat of that Alpha took real balls.” When she said
throat
it sounded like
troat
, and I shuddered at the sudden spiky taste of Nate’s phantom blood in my mouth.

“Did you come to talk about that?” My hands shook as I accepted a mug of coffee from Murphy. I hoped mine had a wee shot of Jameson’s, too. I gulped some down. It did.

“No,” Councilor Feehery said. “I came to talk about Pack First and the Guardians, of course.”

I carefully placed my mug on the coffee table and tried not to shake apart.

“Don’t carry on so,” advised Councilor Feehery, and she patted my back. “I’ve been after knowing about it all along. Not surprising, is it, me being a charter member of the Guardians and all. I recruited Paddy O’Reilly and his father before him.”

My heart performed such erratic and painful antics in my chest, I had to be experiencing the onset of a major heart attack. Hearts were definitely not supposed to do things like mine was. If Etain Feehery had recruited Paddy and his father, where did that leave Glenn Murphy? Was he fucking Pack First? A Guardian? A Guardian who condoned murder? Which part of the Guardians did Etain Feehery support? What a fucking tangled mess this was.

Murphy sat on the sofa opposite us, his eyes dark.

“This is no surprise to you, Liam, of course, but I see you’ve not been sharing with your bond mate. You’re trying to protect her. Isn’t that sweet of you.” Councilor Feehery turned her gaze to his, and he met her eyes without fear, but his whole body was tense.

That revelation stung a little. Of course Paddy had told Murphy who his recruiter had been. I was the only one in the dark. As usual.

“Sometimes knowledge can be unsafe.” Murphy’s voice was a dangerous rasp, but Etain Feehery did not seem fazed.

“I agree, which is why I’m here to ask you point-blank what you plan on telling Jason Allerton when you collect him at the airport this afternoon.” Councilor Feehery took a sip of coffee and made a low sound of pleasure deep in her throat.

Sensual woman, that one. My mind did one of its intuitive leaps, and before I could censor myself I blurted, “You initiated Paddy’s wolf, didn’t you? And you used that connection when you recruited him.”

“He was well past initiation when I recruited him.” Her tone was blandly innocent, but I knew the truth of it now.

“But you still used that past connection.”

She regarded me over the rim of her coffee mug.

“Yes,” she agreed before she set it down next to mine on the coffee table. “A lot of the young men of this pack want me to initiate their wolves, but I only choose the best and brightest. Every single one of mine has ended up Alpha. And only one boy turned me down.” She gave Murphy a sultry smile. “And I’m still not over that, Liam.”

My face felt hot as the implications slammed into me. Had she set up Sorcha’s death to get Paddy in place as Alpha? Had she also been motivated by wounded pride because Murphy had declined her invitation to be initiated?

How was Murphy sitting so calmly across from her? How had he not throttled her ever since he’d discovered she was part of the Guardians?

“It’s a decision I’ve regretted, Etain.” Since she dropped his title, he dropped hers. “I wanted to be in love with the woman who initiated me, and while you’ve inspired a lot of emotions in me, love’s never been one of them.”

She threw back her head and laughed, and the scent of her shampoo—something clean and uncomplicated—drifted to me.

“Tell Allerton not to come.” Her laughter dried up as if it had never been.

“You’re well acquainted with Jason Allerton, Councilor. You tell me how I could get him to change his mind once it’s made up?” Murphy looked sincerely interested and slightly amused.

But there was nothing funny about any of this. Was Murphy enjoying this? Did he like this sort of bullshit game?

I’d been his bond mate for close to nine months, and I hardly knew him at all, it seemed. And what did he mean by “well acquainted”?

“Don’t tell me you were one of his mistresses, too.” Appalled, I clapped a hand to my mouth, but it was too damn late.

Etain Feehery laughed again and patted my knee. What a condescending bitch.

“Do I detect a whiff of jealousy? You another ex yourself, love? I wouldn’t have thought you were his type.”

“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?” I gaped at her. When it came down to it, I was prettier than she was. “Too young?”

“Too adoring. Adorable,” she said and gave me another fucking pat on the knee. Next time she touched me I would—yeah, right, do nothing. She was a powerful Councilor, and I couldn’t keep my damn mouth shut. “He can’t afford to have mistresses who are too wrapped up in him. He has nothing to offer, has he?”

“Councilor Allerton is bonded to Stanzie’s mother,” said Murphy.

Etain Feehery’s sherry-colored eyes widened.

“Oh, dear. You know, I knew about Erin. He did manage – just – to tell me after she died. I’d no idea he’d found a replacement yet.”

“She’s not a fucking replacement, she’s a person,” I muttered, and the damned woman patted my knee again. “What am I, your dog?” My temper snapped. “Next you’ll be feeding me bones and wanting to play fetch. I’m more likely to piss in your shoes.”

Murphy let out a strangled bark of laughter, and Etain Feehery regarded me for a moment.

“I’m sorry, Advisor,” she said and, for once, did not pat my knee. “I can be a bitch sometimes. I meant well. Jason Allerton doesn’t deserve someone like you. And if your mother’s anything like you, he just got very, very lucky.”

“I take it your affair ended badly?” I was slightly mollified but not enough to stop my curiosity.

She grinned and for a moment looked young and carefree, not like a powerful Councilor at all.

“Ah, it was a long while ago and I knew better than to fall in love, but I did anyway. It wasn’t his fault he didn’t reciprocate. He told me straight up how it would be with us, and I thought I could make it go my way, not his. More fool me.”

“Why don’t you want him here? Because of the past?” That probably wasn’t true, but wouldn’t it be nice? No more ugly complications with the conspiracy.

“Because he’s sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong.” Councilor Feehery became all business again, and the warmth in her eyes cooled. “This isn’t his territory, it’s mine.” The planes and angles of her face became predatory and harsh, and I shivered despite myself. This was not a woman to cross.

“I’m not happy he’s got two of my pack mates for Advisors either. Paddy O’Reilly was a fool to ask you into Mac Tire. You don’t belong here. After joining ranks with Allerton, you ought to have known better than to come back.” Her gaze shifted to Murphy.

A muscle twitched in Murphy’s clenched jaw. “We’re not going anywhere, Councilor.”

“Don’t be too sure of that, Advisor.” She rose to her feet and Murphy stood, too. They faced each other across the coffee table, and I tensed miserably. When Murphy’s expression got all dark and dangerous like that, he scared me.

He followed her to the front door, and when she hesitated, he reached around and opened it for her.

“I’m telling you this for your own good, Liam. I didn’t have to come here.” Her voice was so low I had to strain to hear it.

“I don’t respond well to threats.” Murphy’s tone was flat. “What happened between Allerton and this pack was a long time ago. I suggest you get over it. Everyone else has.”

“Tell that bloody man to get back on the plane and go to America where he belongs.” Etain Feehery gave Murphy one long, last look and stalked out the door.

“What happened with Jason and this pack?” I barely let Murphy lock the door before I pounced.

He faced the door for a moment as if gathering his thoughts and then turned. “His first bond mate’s name was Erin Feehery.”

“Councilor Feehery’s—”

“Twin sister,” he finished for me grimly.

“So Councilor Feehery wasn’t one of his mistresses, was she?” It was a wonder the woman hadn’t spat in my face.

“No,” Murphy answered. “He met Etain first, but once he met Erin, all bets were off. He tore those two sisters apart. There was a lot of bad blood between Jason Allerton and this pack, Stanzie.”

“Still is apparently,” I said and Murphy’s expression turned grim.

“God, no wonder Paddy didn’t want to confide in her,” I said.

“Now can you see how hard everything’s been for the poor bastard?” Murphy asked and he looked so forlorn, I crossed the room to get to him so I could wrap my arms around his waist. He buried his face in my hair and we held each other for a long time, neither of us speaking.

Chapter 13

“Shit.” Paddy’s expletive was muffled. He had his face buried in his knees, his arms wrapped around his head as he sat on the dusty sofa in his office upstairs at An Puca.

I sat, tense and frustrated, in one of the battered armchairs while Murphy paced the length of the small room, his jaw and fists tightly clenched.

Paddy straightened. “I’ve got to tell Allerton everything.” His face was chalky white, and he looked ready to be sick. I sympathized. I was close to puking myself.

“For fuck’s sake, Paddy.” Murphy’s boots thundered on the plain wooden floorboards, and from the way they creaked in protest, if he didn’t stop stomping, he’d end up a floor down, sprawled on the pub’s bar. The goddamn pub had to be a hundred years old, and this was no doubt the original flooring. Did Paddy do no upkeep whatsoever?

“What?” The cords in Paddy’s neck stuck out, and I winced at the volume of his shout. The goddamn walls would probably crumble next. If we all perished in an avalanche of rotted wood and plaster, that was one way out of our current dilemma. But not the solution I’d prefer. “You got any better suggestions, Liam?”

“Here’s a suggestion. Calm the fuck down.” Murphy and Paddy glared at each other, Alpha males to the extreme. I wanted to kick both their asses.

“So our plan is no plan at all?” My damn hair was in my eyes, and I dragged it back into a ponytail but had no way to keep it back so let it all fall back around my face again. “Allerton’s plane lands in just over an hour, and I’m pretty sure it takes more than a couple minutes to get to the airport, so unless you know how to teleport, we’d better decide something soon. If we’re not at the airport to pick him up, he’ll—”

“Have to fucking wait,” Murphy snapped, and I gave him the finger. “Oh, that’s helpful, Constance. Why don’t we all go to the airport and greet Allerton with extended middle fingers. That ought to solve everything.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Paddy said. “She’s right. We don’t have time for this shite. I’m coming with you to the airport, and I’m telling him everything. And I don’t want to hear anything to the contrary, you bastard.”

“You are not coming to the airport with us. Fuck that. Fuck that hard,” shouted Murphy, and if I’d had something to throw, I would have aimed for his frigging skull. “I’m sorry I even fucking told you.”

“You had to tell me. A, I’m your Alpha, and B, you wanted to tell me before Etain did. I know you, Liam, I know how you think, what you’ll do, and how much you care about me, but I’m telling you it’s gone past the point where you can do this on your own. We need the man’s help.”

“If I thought he would help, I’d be first in line to tell him.” Exasperated, Murphy drove a hand through his hair. His sweater rode up and exposed some of his flat stomach. I could see the light brown line of hair that arrowed down from his bellybutton to beneath the waistband of his jeans, and I stopped wanting to throw something at him. Unless that something was me.

Now was definitely not the time to get all lustful. What the hell?

“Danger is such an aphrodisiac,” I murmured and realized a split second later I’d spoken aloud. Murphy and Paddy stared at me, for once struck dumb.

“So what’s your plan? Have a threesome on the office sofa?” Paddy drawled, and Murphy, surprisingly, laughed.

“I don’t think it’s big enough,” he said.

“Are you fucking calling me fat?” I demanded and Paddy guffawed. Murphy flashed me one of his killer grins.

“I need a drink.” Murphy walked out of the office, and I heard his boots clatter down the narrow staircase as he headed for the bar.

I got to my feet so I could look out the grimy window. I don’t know what I expected to see, but the only thing outside the filthy glass was an even grimier alley.

I had to pass by Paddy on my way back to the chair, and he snagged my wrist and drew me down onto his lap.

He wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my neck. His heartbeat trip-hammered against mine, and when I hugged him back, he shuddered and squeezed me tighter.

“It’ll be all right, Paddy,” I whispered and smoothed my fingers through his curly hair. His curls were soft and springy, and I could have played with his hair all day long.

“I’m so scared,” he confessed. “I don’t want nothing to happen to you or Liam or Fee. Or anybody. I’ve made such a mess of things. You must want to kill me. I know why you don’t believe in me anymore. How could you?”

He lifted his face to mine, and I was horrified to see tears on his cheeks. I wiped them away with my thumbs, and when he kissed me, I let him because he wanted comfort and I wanted to give it to him.

His kiss was tentative at first, but he grew bolder when I didn’t resist, and the flick of his tongue was warm and wet against my lips.

I smiled against his mouth. “Don’t push your luck, you perverted bastard.”

He laughed as I’d intended and broke the kiss so he could press his forehead to mine. He slid his hands up my arms and then cupped my face.

“You belong to me,” he whispered.

“Jesus, I turn my back for two seconds,” said Murphy from the doorway, but there was laughter in his voice. How long had he been standing there?

“Piss off. I’m just being an Alpha male.” Paddy refused to let me leave his lap.

“You ever try that ‘you belong to me’ shit on me, and I’ll mop the floor with your face,” warned Murphy, and I giggled. I couldn’t help it.