“Tavis, thank God it’s you.”
“Matilda?” Tavis flipped the switch, and light flooded the room. Matilda climbed out of the doorway, hair bright as a beacon. “What are you doing in there?”
“Looking for the cat. I got lost. Is he with you?”
Tavis glanced at the bed. “I saw him earlier, but I think he’s gone now.”
Matilda clutched a bottle of water. There was something written on it. “I’ll tell him you’re looking for him if I see him,” Tavis said.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Just tell me, and I’ll come and get him. He’s avoiding me. Can I use your door? I don’t want to get lost again. There are more secret passages in this place than a haunted house.”
“Sure.” He took her arm to escort her and saw “Holy” written on her water bottle in big black letters. He bit his cheek. “What’s that?” he asked, pointing to the bottle.
“It’s just plain water, but I figured it might trick them.”
“Them?”
“Vampires.”
“You think they might get in here?”
“They did in Scotland. You never know.”
“Then do you think it’s wise to go into the secret passages alone?” That’s where the vampire had gotten in before.
“Probably not, but I’m worried about the cat.”
Tavis smiled. “If I see the cat, I’ll let you know.” He looked for the cat after Matilda left, but it wasn’t there. He didn’t know if it had overheard and was hiding or had somehow escaped, but his brother was right. That wasn’t a normal cat.
Morning came too quickly. He’d slept fitfully, and his eyes felt like they’d been pasted shut. He quickly dressed and went to find Anna. She was all he could think about. This couldn’t be normal. It must be the time vault. Sorcha was just leaving the kitchen when he arrived. “Do you know where Anna is?” he asked.
“In the field with Ronan. I’m headed there now.”
“Ronan? What’s she doing with him?” Was he trying to get close to Anna like he was Bree?
“So what’s with you and Anna?” Sorcha asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Come on. Don’t play dumb. It’s plain for anyone to see.”
“Like you and Duncan? Even a man fresh out of a time vault can feel the tension between you two.”
“You’re just like your brother.” She stalked off toward the field, leaving Tavis to walk alone.
A small crowd had gathered near a practice ring where Ronan and Shay were sword fighting. Tavis immediately spotted Anna. She was wearing dark trousers and a very tight shirt. Tight by nineteenth-century standards. Her hair hung down her back in a long braid. She turned as he approached, and her smile faded.
“Is that how they do things in this time?” he whispered. “Kiss a man at night and ignore him the next morning.”
“You make it sound like we’re dating.”
“I don’t really understand dating.”
“It’s what you’d call courting,” Bree said from behind him.
He whirled and saw her smiling. “Where’d you come from?”
“I’m practicing my warrior sneak,” she said. “It’s the only thing your pigheaded brother will let me do.”
“What’s wrong with Cody?” The warrior was scowling as he watched Ronan and Shay.
“He’s upset,” Bree said. “He didn’t want Ronan to train Shay.”
Tavis didn’t blame him.
“I would be out there if your hardheaded brother would calm down.”
Pigheaded? Hardheaded? She knew him well. Faelan could outlast anyone in a battle of wills. “He is hardheaded.”
“Hardheaded? He could drive nails with his skull.”
“No. He tried that once, when we were kids.”
“You’re joking. He tried to drive a nail…oh my God.”
“That was in his earlier days, before he…”
“Before he took the weight of the world on his shoulders.”
“Aye.”
“You’re a good brother. He told me how you would watch out for him because you thought he was too busy watching out for everyone else.”
“It’s what brothers do.”
Ronan and Shay handed their swords to Brodie and picked up knives. Ronan moved around behind her and held her wrist.
“Good morning, everyone,” Nina said, as she as Matilda joined them.
“Has anyone seen the cat?” Matilda asked.
“You didn’t find him?” Tavis asked.
“No. I think he’s hiding.”
“Matilda, you can’t keep that cat in your room.”
“I take him out for walks.”
“You don’t walk a cat,” Nina said. “What’s wrong with Cody? He looks like he’s going to explode.”
“He does look hot and bothered,” Matilda said.
Ronan stepped up beside Shay and demonstrated the proper technique for throwing a knife. Shay grinned as he let the knife go. Before it hit the target, she had raced across the ring in a blur and caught it.
“Shite. Is that what everyone told me about?”
“That’s it.” She smiled. “Cool, huh?”
“Handy trait to have. What does it feel like?”
“Amazing. I wish I was out there now.”
Faelan walked up behind them. “Anna, your new phone is here. Try not to let a demon eat this one. Tavis, we got your ID. You officially exist. There are papers inside that say you’re not a hundred and seventy-seven years old.”
“I need papers?”
“We don’t want anyone thinking you’re a terrorist.”
“What’s a terrorist?”
“Obsessed bastards. Minions, probably. You wouldn’t believe the crap demons are up to now. Sorry about last night.” Faelan didn’t quite hide his grin.
“Don’t start this again.”
“I want to ask you something.” Faelan pulled Tavis aside, away from the others who were watching Ronan and Shay. “I have my reasons for asking. Have you noticed anything odd about Anna? About the way you feel around her?”
“Like wanting to bed her every moment of the day?” Tavis glanced over to make sure she couldn’t hear. Not that she couldn’t see it in his face every time he got near her.
Faelan smiled. “Aye. Like that. I think she’s your mate.”
“That can’t be. I don’t want a mate.” And particularly not one as beautiful as Anna. It would mean nothing but heartache. Men would throw themselves at her feet, and sooner or later, she would accept one of them. Then what the hell did he want from her? Why was he following her around like a sick puppy if he didn’t want her?
“You couldn’t choose better than Anna.”
“I know she’s beautiful.”
“I don’t mean her beauty. She’s good. Strong, loyal.” Faelan gave Tavis a knowing look. “Faithful.”
“Hmm.”
“You’ve got to get over this thing you have about beauty and demons.”
“Yeah, you didn’t almost bed one.”
“Anna’s no demon. You’re just making excuses because you’re scared.”
“I’m not scared.”
“You are. Most people are scared of ugly things. You’re scared of beauty. But enough with the lectures for now.” He patted Tavis on the shoulder and walked back to his wife. “What are you doing out here?”
“Watching Ronan train Shay and wishing you weren’t stubborn as a jackass.” Bree’s voice was filled with longing.
“You’re not training,” Faelan said. “I don’t care what Ronan says.”
“I don’t see why not. Do you think Anna’s going to stop being a warrior just because she’s pregnant?”