In the Beginning... (53 page)

Hopefully, they will do so in the next four
months.”

“Why four months?”

“The babes will be here by Valentine’s Day.
It would be good for all if your brother and Jierra were settled by
then.”

“Four months? Do all Dardaptoans have babies
that quickly?”

“No. Lupoiux.
We
are more on par with
humans, at just under ten months.”

“So in four months I’ll be an aunt.”

“Yes. At least twice over. If the babes
survive. Being Lupoiux they should.”

His tone was still concerned, and Mallory
stared at him. “But?”

“Jierra most likely will not. Aureliana told
me Bronwen shares Barlaam’s fears. No female Dardaptoan has given
birth to twins and lived in centuries. It does not bode well for
Jierra.”

“Oh, God. No wonder everyone hates Rand. But
has anyone told him?”

“I don’t know. But
you
will not. I will not
have him raging against you again.”

Aodhan had enjoyed the sweet, simple day
with his female. They’d gotten to spend time with each other
without the baggage that had existed between them for the last
three weeks. It gave him a glimpse of what their life together
could be like. If she chose to stay with him permanently. She
mentioned nothing of her future plans, save for the precious Taniss
lab she would be overseeing. He easily sensed her focus was
shifting to the tasks ahead of her, and away from him and what he
had initially done to her by taking her from her home.

He wasn’t so sure that was a
good thing. He thought about that for a moment as he led his female
back inside the building. They were expected at a meeting in
fifteen minutes with
Dahr
Rydere and Mallory’s cousin Emily to discuss the
purchasing of land for the lab. He consoled himself with the
knowledge that he had her with him for the foreseeable future. That
meant he had a chance of convincing her to stay.

Now they simply had to find a routine that
worked for both of them.

They were halfway to the
Green Room for their conference with the
Dahr
and
Dhan
when Amaia, a servant from the
Jareth House stopped them.

“
Equa
n
Adrastos, the
Dahr
and
Dhan
are
in the pool areas. There has been an incident involving
Equa
Adrastos’s sister and
cousins. You may wish to join them.”

“An incident?” Aodhan tightened his hold on
his female’s hand. “Was anyone seriously injured?”

“All will live, sir. From
what I understand, an
elhydra
was found in the pool, and attacked the Jareth and
Sebastos
Equa
s
, and the young human
girl.”

“What’s an
elhydra
?
Aodhan?”

“A merperson, kitten. Extremely stupid
creatures. Come. Let’s go see for ourselves how your family
fares.”

Aodhan kept a tight hold of
her hand as they entered the pool area and found a small crowd
still formed around Theo and his
Rajni
.
Dahr
Rydere stood beside the couple
still clinging to one another on the cement beside the
pool.

Mallory dropped to her knees and hugged her
younger sister tight.

Rydere nodded at Aodhan, the gesture one
designed to pull Aodhan away from the crowd. The two men stepped
off to a corner.

“What in nine hells happened?” Aodhan
asked.

“An
elhydra
in the pool. We found a drain
pipe with the guard removed. Tool marks around the frame show it
was deliberate.”

“And Cormac’s female? I heard she and her
sister were involved.”

“We nearly lost the human.
My future sister-in-law.” Rydere’s anger was very clear for anyone
to see. Aodhan understood it. Barlaam was Rydere’s only surviving
sibling. “She was between the two
Equa
. And Cormac’s could not see or
hear what was happening. Theo’s female was being pulled under and
could not fight the attack. Had Briken not remembered his science
lessons and stuck the thing just right, the human girl would have
been lost.”

“Someone is plotting against our Houses,
Rydere.” Aodhan kept his tone quiet though his fury wanted to roar
through. “And they have made no attempt to hide the fact that
they’re targeting our females, though they are cowardly enough to
hide their identities.”

“Find them. Find them and do what must be
done.”

“I’ll start now.”

Aodhan left his female to help care for her
younger sister where she could also be guarded by Theo and Theo’s
younger brother Thaddeus the Healer. He’d taken a moment to speak
with Theo, and make it clear that Mallory was not to leave his
presence until Aodhan fetched her himself.

His first stop was going to be the basement
area. He needed answers. And he would have them.

His female’s brother prowled the cage like
the animal he was. When Aodhan opened the door, the man’s head
jerked in his direction and his eyes burned. “Blood-sucker.”

“Wolf.” Aodhan bared his fangs. They were
just as sharp as the beast’s teeth.

“Or should I say,
brother
?”

“Despite what you have done to my sister, we
will never be brothers.”

“Then we shall spend
eternity at war? Think you that will be easy for your sisters? Know
this, wolf. I love my
Rajni
, and will have no one cause her
unhappiness again. Even you. And though Theo is a kind and gentle
man, he will kill for Michaela at less than a second’s provocation.
Remember that.” Aodhan leaned casually against the bars as he
studied the man who looked so much like his
Rajni
.

“Is that all you came for? I’m assuming you
want something from me.” The wolf was just as casually
arrogant.

Aodhan had to admit he liked the other man.
But he would never show him that. “I have a few questions.”

“Shoot.”

“Jambu.”

“The traitor? What do you think I know about
him?”

Aodhan unlocked the cell door and swung it
open. His brother-in-law eyed him. “Come on. Do you honestly think
we would keep you locked in a cage like an animal?”

“Perhaps it would be best if you did. I
would hate to kill you by mistake.”

“Would it be by mistake; I wonder? I want
your word. A vow.”

“Go on.”

“If you feel the beast
within you taking hold,
leave
. Hit the mountains; hells, I’ll
even give you a key to this room. But do what you have to in order
to keep the women we both love safe.” Aodhan dangled the key out
for the wolf.

He took it.

“I want your assurance, then,
blood-sucker.”

Aodhan nodded. He’d expected as much.
Nothing was without a price. “Within reason.”

“Should I get to a point
where my sisters or
she
are threatened, kill me. I will never put my sisters in danger
again.”

“Understood.” Aodhan’s respect for the wolf
grew. “But I will not allow it to come to that. And once you and
your mate find your way, the beast within you will calm. I can
promise you this. I have a cousin who is mostly wolf. He has had
many centuries to gain control of his beast. You should talk with
him sometime.”

“Someday, perhaps.”

“Yes, someday. Now, you may wish to help me.
We speak to the traitor Jambu next. It is through his actions that
Jocelyn and Emily were threatened. And your mate. I have questions
for him. And I think you can help me get those answers.”

“Unless I kill him first. It is a
possibility.”

“Not a strong one. I shall keep the bars
between you. Unless I need to open the doors. Truth. If you were to
kill him for what he has done to your cousin, and intended to do to
your mate, I can justify the act to our laws. But I am convinced
the situation is much larger than Jambu, especially after today’s
incident.”

“What incident?” The wolf stopped prowling
around and looked at him.

“Someone removed a drain
guard and let an
elhydra
into our pools. Your sister Michaela and two of
your cousins were in the pool at the time. It is just luck that a
ten-year-old boy remembered his lessons from science class and was
able to kill the
elhydra
before Jade drowned. Between this and a few other
things that are starting to add up,
Dahr
Rydere and I have come to the
conclusion that someone is targeting the females of the Royal
House. All of the females. And have since before I found my
Rajni
.”

“Mickey? And I’m assuming Josey. Are they
ok?” Concern and anger warred for control in the wolf’s eyes.
“Injured?”

“Your sister is shaken. She
has a few scratch marks. The
elhydra
had a good hold of her. Young Jade was between her
and her sister. All three females were pulled beneath the waters.
It was frightening for them, but they will survive. Barlaam, the
healer, has finally succumbed.”

“Succumbed to what?”

“That’s right, you do not
know. It seems your cousin Jade has determined she is to marry
Barlaam. As she is his
Rajni
, he is determined to give her
what she wants. Much has happened while you were indisposed,
wolf.”

“Apparently. Let’s find this traitor of
yours. Then I will speak with my uncle and cousins. And sisters. I
need answers. “

Mickey slept, her hand held
tightly in Theo’s. Mallory sat watching her sister for the longest
time. Mickey had been upset by the
elhydra
attack, but Theo had comforted
her until she’d drifted off.

“She’ll be safe, now.” Theo told Mallory,
unconsciously answering the question she had been thinking. Mickey
had told her that was an occasional skill of his. Not as developed
as Cormac’s mind-reading abilities, but enough that sometimes Theo
could predict what was about to be asked. “She and the babe.”

Mallory squeezed her sister’s hand as Theo’s
words sank in. “Babe?”

He gave a smile of such hope and love that
Mallory’s chest hurt. He loved her sister, so very much. What more
could she ask for Mickey? “Yes. She did not want to wait. Our
daughter Calanthia will be born during the highest heat of summer.
We will call her Lannie.”

“Congratulations.” Mickey had always wanted
children of her own, and she would be a beautiful mother. “Is
Mickey going to be ok? Aodhan said pregnant women are in a lot of
danger.”

“Yes, your sister will gift
me with many children and we will grow incredibly old together.
There was a danger to her
—
that was why I converted her
immediately after finding her
—
but after today that threat no longer
exists. Had I not converted her then she would have drowned today.”
His hand brushed against Mickey’s side, the touch almost reverent.
“But she’s safe now.”

“I see.”

Mallory spoke with her brother-in-law for
several more minutes, then stood to leave. “I need to go. Let you
and Mickey be together.”

“I’m afraid I cannot allow that. Aodhan gave
me clear instructions. You were to stay here until he fetched you
personally. My brother is stationed outside the main hall to this
House. He is to ensure no one enters my wing except for Aodhan,
Cormac, or Rydere.”

Mallory fought an angry retort. She knew
what he was doing. Aodhan was being an overprotective ass. “And
what exactly is he doing that may be so dangerous?”

“I believe he and your
brother are tracking the traitors among our Kinds. Someone let
that
elhydra
in.
Someone besides Jambu. Aodhan is trying to determine
who.”

“Rand is helping him?” Mallory felt a rush
of fear. Not for her brother, but for Aodhan. What if Rand turned
on him again? Aodhan was already injured. Would he be able to fight
Rand off a second time? Without injuring himself or Rand? She
doubted it. “Is it safe?”

“I believe Aodhan intended to come to an
agreement with your brother so that Rand may once again interact
with his family.”

“And they are both looking for traitors?
What makes them think there are any? What is really going on,
Theo?”

“Someone let the
elhydra
into the pool. And
everyone knows they are vicious and deadly. They will seek the
first living target they sense and will keep attacking, and
attacking. No, it was a deliberate assault. And your sister and
cousins were in the private pools, used only by the Heads of
Houses.”

“And Jambu paid someone to attack
Jierra.”

“And it is Aodhan’s job to find out
why.”

“The law says I am entitled to a House
Tribunal.” Jambu panted the words, clinging to the tile floor as
much as a man could. The blood on his lip interfered with his
speech, but Aodhan had no difficulty understanding him.

“The far older law says that
a mate can demand blood payment. That leaves three men;
the
Equan
of the Jareth House,
Dahr
Rydere, or the alpha of the
Taniss Lupoiux pack. Cormac and Rydere are otherwise occupied, and
allowed their cousin-by-marriage to take the right. Now, as I see
it, you have two options. You answer my questions, or I allow the
wolf here to take his blood payment from your flesh. And I can
guarantee it will be a painful process for you. Look upon what he
did to me over a simple family squabble.” Aodhan held up his arms
to show the stitches. “And I am mated to his beloved twin. Think
you on what he will do to someone who threatened his mate? Who is
responsible for the near death of his dearest cousin? What say you,
wolf? Does the lust burn within you?”