BACK AT HOME, Charlotte decided to look for her birth certificate, heading straight to her mother’s office and pulling open the drawer that held her private papers. The light caught her diamond and, not wanting to open herself up to grilling, she slipped it off her finger and into her jeans pocket, then went back to her search. She located Vandi’s birth certificate, but there was no sign of hers.

“Mom?” Charlotte called. “Where’s my birth certificate?”

“When did you get home?” her mother asked as she walked into the room.

“Just now.” Charlotte pulled open another drawer. “Do you know where my birth certificate is?”

Her mother raised an eyebrow. “Why do you need it?”

“If I’m heading to Scotland, I want to make sure I have everything I’ll need with me.”

“You’re going to Scotland?”

Charlotte shrugged. “I think so. Niall wants me to, anyway. Still trying to figure out if I can physically get on the plane without attempting to claw my way out midair.”

“Well, if that man can get you out of your comfort zone, I’ll thank him.”

Charlotte smiled. “Trying to get rid of me already?”

Her mom chuckled. “Oh, is that what you’re picking up on?”

“Not at all,” Charlotte retorted. “So, where’s my birth certificate?”

“It’s here,” she said, and pulled a shoe box down from one of her cabinets. She rifled through the Payless Shoe Source carton and pulled out a piece of paper, handing it to Charlotte. The document appeared to have been torn and taped back together.

“What happened to it?” Charlotte asked. Her mother frowned. “Mom? Why is it ruined?”

“Your dad did it one night when he was mad.”

“He tore up my birth certificate?”

Her mother nodded.

“Why?”

Her mother waved to her desk chair. “Have a seat and I’ll do my best to explain.”

Charlotte lowered herself slowly into the seat.

“When you were born, Daddy and I were told that you didn’t survive. They worked on you for quite a while, eventually rushing your tiny little body out of the room to God knows where. They had to sedate me, but when I woke up, your father was holding you.” She bit her lip. “It was a total miracle.”

“Wow,” Charlotte whispered. “And that’s why he tore it up?”

“No, hon. Just listen,” her mom said. “You have always been a very different and special child. But that’s part of the confusion.”

“What do you mean?”

“When you were about three, strange things started to happen to you.”

“Like?”

“You’d freeze. Well, your room would. It was usually when you woke crying from a nightmare. Your body temperature would also drop to dangerous levels, and it wouldn’t matter what we did... blankets, hot baths, showers, that kind of thing... we couldn’t warm you up. But by the time we’d arrive at the emergency room, you’d be fine. Back to normal. The doctors dismissed everything, but after a couple of years of this, I pressed your pediatrician into having more tests done. They did a battery of blood tests, genetic testing and the like.”

“And they found out I’m fine, right?”

Her mother nodded. “Yes. And that your father is not your father.”

“What?”

Charlotte? What’s wrong?

I’m going to commit matricide. That’s what’s wrong.

Deep breaths, love.

Charlotte stared down at the document. “So, you lied to me.”

“Well, yes, I suppose we did,” her mother said with a sigh. “But for the right reasons.”

“There are never any right reasons to lie, Mom.”

“Of course there are, it’s just that you’re ruled by your black-and-white filter when the world is actually many shades of gray.”

“Way to justify,” Charlotte snapped.

“Look, honey, we never wanted you to feel like you weren’t special.”

“But you cheated on him, right? That’s why he left?”

Her mother shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. “No. I would never, ever do that. Your father was and is and always will be the absolute love of my life.”

“Then how is it possible he isn’t my father?”

“I don’t know,” her mom snapped.

“Good God, Mom, you are the queen of denial,” Charlotte accused. “Who was he?”

“There has never been anyone other than your father. I can’t admit to something I didn’t do. I have never cheated on your father.”

“So some other man’s sperm just happened to find your egg? Come on, Mom. You’re lying!”

“I’m not lying!” her mom bellowed.

Charlotte crossed her arms. “Did you test yourself to see if you’re even my mother?”

Her mother slapped her. Charlotte was so surprised, she didn’t react right away. Her mother had never hit her. Ever.

“Oh, baby,” her mom said with a gasp. “I’m so sorry.”

Charlotte held her hand against her cheek. “You know what, Mom? At some point, you have to stop lying to everyone. Especially yourself.” She forced away angry tears. “I have to go.”

“You just got home.”

“Yep and now I’m going out again.” Charlotte slipped the birth certificate into her back pocket.

“Please don’t run out of here mad. I don’t know what else to tell you. I just needed you to understand.”

“So, you hit me?”

Her mom sobbed. “I didn’t mean to. Please don’t go.”

“I have to.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s what sane and mature adults do when they don’t want to scream like a banshee at their mothers!”

“Where are you going?”

“Out. Don’t wait up.” Charlotte headed to her car. She was so angry she was afraid she would say something that would eviscerate her mother, or worse yet, she might hit her back.

“Charlie! Come on, honey. Let’s talk.”

“No, Mom. You’ve had twenty-some-odd years to ‘talk.’ Right now, you need to back off and give me some space.” Charlotte jumped in her car and sped out of the driveway. She didn’t really have anywhere to go. Grace would have been her first destination, but that option was no longer available to her.

Come to the hotel, love.

You said you had a conference call. You’re busy.

I’m never too busy for you. I’ll see you in a few minutes. Don’t speed.

Charlotte bit her lip. You’re not the boss of me.

Think of the possibilities if I were.

She couldn’t help but smile. Oooh, kinky.

Charlotte turned onto Tenth and followed it down to One-Thirty-Fourth, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel and trying not to yell obscenities at the Subaru in front of her. She was all for not tailgating, but leaving forty-two car lengths in front of them was ridiculous.

She pulled into the hotel parking lot and headed up to Niall’s room. He opened the door before she knocked, leaning down to kiss her cheek even though he was still on his phone. He paused with a frown and straightened as he waved Charlotte into the suite and closed the door behind her.

“Aye, Pay.” He chuckled. “I just brought you root beer. You drank it all? Is that good for the baby? Sorry, lass. No, I’d never... no, of course not.” He rolled his eyes. “Yes, fine, I’ll bring you more. No, lass, I don’t get it. It tastes like toothpaste. Okay, I’ll talk to you later. ’Bye.” Niall hung up and slid his phone in his pocket, scowling. “What happened to your face?”

Charlotte covered her cheek. “Nothing, it’s fine.”

He lifted her chin. “What happened, Charlotte?”

“My mother hit me.”

Niall swore as he laid his hand gently over the sting, easing it immediately. “She will never do that again, Charlotte.”

Charlotte grasped his arm. “I know she won’t. She was super stressed and reacted in a way she never has before. Just let it go.”

“Bloody hell, love. I can’t just let it go.”

“You have to. For me. She and I will deal with it.” She raised an eyebrow and tried to divert the subject. “So, Payton was your conference call?”

He studied her for several seconds before shaking his head. “No, Payton was the call that happened ten seconds after I hung up with my conference call. How she always knows when and where to find me is a little disconcerting.”

Charlotte bit back her sudden insecurity.

“What’s the matter, love?”

“Is she in love with you?”

“What? No!”

“Are you in love—”

“No!” he exclaimed. “Bloody hell, lass. No.”

Charlotte stared at her feet in an effort to hide. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” Niall lifted her chin and stroked her cheek. “You’re it for me. I couldn’t love another woman even if I tried.” He took her hand and laid it against his heart. “Feel.”

She closed her eyes and was humbled by the overwhelming sense of his love for her. She felt silly that she’d even questioned him.

Niall chuckled. “Don’t ever feel silly for your emotions, sweetheart. You are entitled to feel how you feel.”

She felt the heat touch her cheeks as he kissed her palm and then her lips, softly and sweetly. “Where’s your ring?”

“Oh,” she squeaked, and slipped it from her pocket, sliding it back on her finger. “I didn’t want the third degree from my family.”

He frowned, but didn’t object. “Would you like to know why Payton called?”

She shook her head. “You don’t have to tell me.”

“I want to tell you.” He smiled. “Samantha’s pregnant. She will give birth to the heir in about four months.”

“Oh, wow. Is everyone totally excited?”

Niall nodded. “Only family and a few of us considered family know. The official announcement won’t happen until she’s three months in. For the Cauld Ane, that’s the halfway point.”

“What? Pregnancy’s only six months long?”

Niall nodded.

“Ooh, sign me up.”

Niall laughed. “I fully intend to. I’d like twelve bairns, love.”

“Um, no. Two.”

“Six?”

She giggled. “No. Two.”

“All right, twist my arm. Four.” He led her to the sofa and pulled her down beside him. “Now, tell me what happened.”

Charlotte settled her head on his shoulder. “Nothing much. Just found out my dad’s not my dad, and that my mother’s a cheater.”

Niall raised an eyebrow. “We’ll gloss over the mother comment, eh? What do you mean, your father’s not your father?”

Charlotte relayed the story her mother had told her earlier, her heart racing at the horror of being hit. “None of this makes any sense, Nye. I think I’m going mad.”

“Come here, love,” he said, and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her against his chest. “You’re not going mad.”

“Well, then there’s been a frickin’ huge conspiracy going on my entire life.”

“How do you mean?”

“Well, for one, Grace’s mom must have known about it, and I know she’s super open with her kids, so Grace probably knew about it too.” She buried her face in Niall’s chest. “I can’t believe she’s been lying to me too.”

“Baby, you don’t know she has.” He lifted her chin. “Why would you assume Grace would have been told if you weren’t?”

She shrugged. “I have no idea. You’re right. Grace probably wouldn’t have kept something like that from me.”

“Probably?” he challenged. “Don’t borrow trouble. Give her a ring and ask her.”

“You mean, the way you’re planning on calling Max to hash it all out once and for all?”

He frowned.

“Too soon?” she retorted.

“Perhaps a bit.”

“Well, we’ll wait a little while, huh?” Charlotte wrinkled her nose. “I just want to wallow in irritation for a few minutes, then I’ll call Grace.”

“All right, love. Wallow away.” Niall chuckled and pulled her closer. “What else is bugging you?”

“All this crap with my sister. She lied to Mom about Nikolai’s age... par for the course, really, considering she learned to lie from my mom, but still, this guy just doesn’t sound right, you know? Especially knowing what we do now. And my mom was fine with him when she thought he was nineteen. She has no common sense when it comes to men, and Vandi’s following in her footsteps. It’s mind-boggling.”

“Are you going to meet this Nikolai character?”

“If Vandi will let me.”

“Not without me, though, eh?”

“No, Dragon Vanquisher. Not without you.” Charlotte rolled her eyes. “I doubt it’ll happen any time soon. Vandi has suddenly gone quiet on the information front, which I don’t like.”

“She’ll come around.”

“Maybe.” Charlotte glanced up at him. “Can I ask about your conference call, or is it private? I could feel your stress.”

“Not much to tell, love. Just a shipment that has been delayed.”

She snuggled back against his chest. “So, would you think it forward of me if I asked to stay here tonight?”

Niall laughed. “Terribly.”

She smiled. “So, that’s a yes, then?”

“Of course it’s a yes.” He kissed her temple. “You’ll need to give me a few minutes to hide the breakables, though.”

“That only happens if we make out.”

“My point exactly.”

She cocked her head. “Well, now who’s being forward?”

“Damn straight.” He leaned down with a grin. “Maybe I will bind you here.”

“I really am okay with you doing that,” she said.

“You are? Even with the threat of pain?”

She nodded. “Can we? Tonight?”

He grimaced. “I really feel like we need to wait.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s important you’re safe.”

Charlotte frowned. “Does it irritate your friends?”

“What?”

“You being so damn noble all the time.”

“Believe me, nobility has nothing to do with it,” he said.

She shifted so she could straddle his hips. “Come on, baby, you know you want this as much as I do.” She grinned and leaned down to kiss him.

He broke the kiss and settled his hands on her thighs. “I do want this. But I also want you to feel safe, and if you’re in pain, I want you taken care of.”

“You’ll take care of me,” she argued as she ran her lips across his neck.

“Of course I will. But I know the other women have felt better with people around them who have gone through this.” He grasped her hips. “Sweetheart, we need to slow down.”

She let out a low growl and shook her head. Niall felt her frustration and heard a rather unique curse word when he pulled her freezing cold hands from the waistband of his pants. “Baby, I can’t do this here,” he repeated.

“Yes, you can.”

Niall cupped her chin, bringing her face level to his. Her eyes fluttered red. She tried to pull away, but he held firm. “Look at me, Charlotte.”

She did, albeit reluctantly.

“Það er allt í lagi. Róaðu þig. Þú ert örugg.” (It’s okay. Calm yourself. You are safe.)

Her pupils dilated and her breathing increased, so Niall repeated his instruction. He stumbled over the words slightly, since he wasn’t used to speaking Icelandic, but he had a feeling that in order for her rage to settle, he had to use the ancient language to calm her. He didn’t know why the phrase popped into his head, but he went with it.

Her irises blazed red as she scowled. “Nei, þú færð ekki að gera kröfur, Niall. Þú ræður ekki yfir mér.” (No, you do not get to make demands, Niall. You cannot control me.)

“Charlotte, þú ert ofsafenginn. Róaðu þig niður.” (Charlotte, you are raging. Calm down.)

“Nei!” Charlotte snapped as she stood, her hands fisted at her sides.

Niall rose to his feet and took her hand, which she pulled from his grip rather violently. He was at a loss as to what to do. She was strong, both physically and emotionally, and he was overwhelmed with what she was projecting.

Baby, I really need you to calm down.

Her eyes flashed to blue for less than a second and then went back to red. With no other ideas, Niall wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again. He felt her body respond before her mind as she molded into him. Within minutes, he wondered if this was such a good idea. She was surprisingly fast at divesting him of his shirt.

“Charlotte,” he said against her mouth. Her lips traveled to his neck, while her hands slid to his chest. “Baby?”

“Þú talar allt of mikið” (you talk too much), she complained, and kissed him again.

Niall realized he had no power over her... or himself at this point, so he lifted her high enough for her to wrap her legs around his waist and carried her into the bedroom. He’d sort out how she spoke Icelandic later. Now was a time to distract her. If he couldn’t bring her out of her trance, he’d just have to bind her.