CONNALL HELD HIS hand out to her.
Pepper shook her head. “I don’t want to be calmed down, Con.”
“I know, sweetheart. But if we’re connected, you won’t panic and you’ll also know I’m telling you the truth.”
Pepper laid her palm over his and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
“Why are you saying that you will bind me? Do I have a say in any of that?” she asked.
“I can’t force you, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Pepper shook her head again. “No. I know you would never force me. But what if I decide I don’t want you to bind me, or if I let you… bind me… what happens if we break up?”
“If you don’t want to be bound, sweetheart, I won’t bind you. But once we are bound, we won’t break up.”
“How do you know?”
“Because it would be impossible. Physically and emotionally, we will be connected on a level that defies the human realm, and there are certain things that happen within our bodies and souls to make it impossible for us to ‘break up.’ It’s a lifelong thing.”
“What happens if you don’t love me anymore?”
Connall took her other hand and kissed her palm. “It’ll never happen. Could never happen.”
“Figuratively or literally?”
He grinned. “Literally.”
“Really?”
He nodded.
“How does, um, mating work?”
“Twenty-five is the Ár mökunar, the mating year. It’s when our hearts turn to whoever our mates are, if they’re close.”
“I just had my birthday,” she muttered.
“I know. It’s why you were drawn to me.”
“Pretty sure I would have been all over you anyway,” she said.
He chuckled. “Maybe.”
“Does Cauld Ane mean something?”
“Yes. It’s an old Scottish translation that roughly means ‘cold one.’” He stroked her palm with his thumb. “Our bodies are acclimated to the cold and the heat can harm us.”
“Harm you, how?”
“It can kill us.”
She frowned. “But aren’t you immortal?”
“No, as Sam said, we die eventually, just not as quickly as humans.”
“But you can die from the heat?”
“Yes. We have to stay out of weather that’s over twenty degrees Celsius. Sixty-eight Fahrenheit.”
“How does the binding thing work?”
“We have words that we speak to one another. Those words bind us spiritually and emotionally, and then we make love, which binds us physically.”
“If you bind me, does that mean I will live for a long time, too?”
“Yes.”
“How will you make me like you?” Pepper asked.
“It happens when we make love and it has to do with our sæði… our semen.”
“Of course it does.” Pepper rolled her eyes. “Semen seems to be responsible for a lot of big changes when it comes to women.”
“True.” Connall chuckled. “We have a protein that human men don’t have. Kade has mentioned he’d like to do further research on exactly what it is, especially now that you and Sam have arrived. You’re the first humans in many years that a Cauld Ane has bonded with.”
“What about sex? How do you stop the binding with every woman?”
“Binding is more spiritual than physical, so there’s more involved than just the joining of bodies. I have never slept with a human… you’ll be the first. I don’t know what would happen if a Cauld Ane slept with a human who wasn’t their mate.”
She swallowed. “How would I change exactly?”
“Your body will go through a conversion of sorts. The human parts will change to work as the Cauld Ane parts do.”
Pepper bit her lip. “Does it hurt?”
“The change?”
She nodded.
Connall took a deep breath. “Yes.”
“How bad?”
“I don’t know, love. You’ll need to ask Sam. But she was in a bad way for several hours.”
“Hours… not days or weeks?”
“Aye.”
“After I change, what happens?” Her eyes widened. “Please don’t tell me I won’t be able to go out in the sun. That’s a deal breaker for me.”
Connall smiled. “You’ll be able to bask in the sun all day long, if you so desire, you just won’t be able to be in it if the temperature is over twenty degrees.”
Pepper stood and paced. “How strict is that rule?”
“Strict.”
“So seventy’s off-limits?”
Connall nodded. “Yes.”
She cocked her head. “What would happen if I went outside in the summer?”
Connall leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “If the weather is over sixty-eight, you won’t be going outside, Pepper.”
“It can’t be that bad, truly.”
“Your body will grow tired, but not like you’ve ever felt before. You’ll find it difficult to move. You’ll pass out, but not before you feel the pain of your body shutting down. Your body swells, your veins come to the surface of your skin, and you develop welts. You will become unrecognizable. If any of that takes place and you’re not in some form of a freezer or ice bath within minutes, you’ll die. And it’s a painful death.” His hands shook as he ran them through his hair.
She took several deep breaths and then nodded. “What else will I have to avoid? Anything?”
“Almonds, particularly anything that contains the concentrated extract, will slow you down.”
“Oh! That’s why Sam couldn’t have her mother’s cookies all of a sudden. I thought that was weird.” She grinned. “Almonds aren’t really my weakness. I’m not happy about the sun thing, but if you were to add wine to the list, we’d have to part company immediately.”
He chuckled. “If wine wasn’t allowed, I’d choose to die quickly.”
“Anything else?”
“Iceland has a native flower that’s extremely dangerous to the Cauld Ane. I would have said you’d never see it, but we’ve discovered it has made its way to the States and Scotland.”
“What’s it called?”
“Red Fang. In Iceland, we call it Villandi Fegurð.”
“What does it do?”
“The thorn paralyzes us. Unfortunately, keeping your distance isn’t quite enough. It can be ground into a powder and used in food and drink. The affects aren’t permanent, but they are enough to incapacitate us.”
“Is there a cure?”
He nodded. “There’s an antidote. We all carry it with us, but if you’re alone, it won’t help.”
“When am I’m ever alone?” she grumbled.
Connall smiled gently. “Feeling smothered?”
“Not yet. I just happen to know myself quite well, and I need my down time. I used to take Jonesy out for hours alone and I haven’t done that in a while.” He stiffened and Pepper sighed. “And I won’t. I promise. But when all of ‘this’ wears off, I’m gonna need time alone.”
“This?”
“My need to be wherever you are twenty-four-seven. I’m a little disgusted with myself, to be honest.”
“Okay, sweetheart, we’ll figure something out. If this wears off.” He kissed her, pushing her off his lap and onto the bed.
“You said Cauld Ane have abilities humans don’t have. What abilities?”
“Right back to the point at hand, eh?” He stretched out on his side and cupped his head in his hand.
“Absolutely.” Pepper mirrored his actions.
“We don’t all have the same abilities. Healing is my strongest one. The same with Kade. However, I focused on animals because I can communicate with them. It’s the reason I became a vet.”
“You can talk to animals?” she asked suspiciously. “Like Dr. Doolittle?”
“Sort of. I can calm them, and when I want them to do something specific, I can project an image in my mind and they seem to understand.”
“What do you mean?”
“If I wanted Jonesy to clear a jump, for instance, I’d lay my hand on him and imagine him jumping it. Then he would jump it. With or without a rider.”
“Seriously?”
“Aye. It’s how I got Jonesy into the trailer. Max can do the same. It’s why he was able to keep Jonesy from jumping from the container as it was being lifted onto the plane.”
“How can this not be some kind of voodoo, Con?”
He shrugged. “It’s something we’ve lived with our entire lives. It’s just who we are.” He slid his arm across her stomach and pulled her closer. “I suppose it would seem strange to someone unfamiliar with Cauld Ane, though.”
Pepper nodded. “How does the healing thing work?”
“Touch.”
She gasped. “Did you heal my bruise?”
“Aye. When I ran my finger along your jaw.”
“And my headaches,” she said. “I haven’t had to take any migraine medication since that first night.” He nodded and she sat up. “That means you can heal Rio.”
“Not quite.” He pulled her back down, this time onto his chest. “Being able to heal you and any of our children will be a given, but it’s not always an instantaneous thing for people who are not of my blood.”
“So, how does it work, then?”
“I can touch a person, know exactly what’s wrong and how to help them, as can Kade. However, if they aren’t related to me, I can’t snap my fingers so to speak and heal them. A doctor would still have to do the work.”
“We’re not related,” she pointed out.
“Ah, but you’re my mate, which trumps that fact. And once we’re bound, I won’t have to touch you to heal you.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Of course, you’ll always be close to me, so I won’t have to heal you from afar.”
Pepper giggled. “There is that, yes.”
Connall ran his fingers through her hair, stroking her back in the process.
“Are there more of you?” Pepper asked.
“You mean, are there Cauld Anes in other parts of the world?”
She nodded.
“Aye. In the colder climates, definitely.”
“Do you all get together or have contact with each other?”
“We have a council that makes some of the more difficult decisions we face.”
“So how does this council work?”
“We are ruled ultimately by our king—”
She lifted her head. “Like a monarchy?”
“Aye. Our king heads up the main council and makes the final and absolute decision on any issue brought to the group. The Cauld Ane in each country has a council of their own and for the most part, they deal with their people within it, but if it’s something major, it is brought to us.”
“Us? So you’re part of the main council? Really? Do you know the king?”
Connall cleared his throat. “Aye.”
Pepper sat up again. “Wow. That’s so cool. Will I get to meet him? I’ve never met a king before.”
He groaned.
“What?”
He sat up. “You’ve already met the king, Pepper.”
“What?” she squeaked. “What do you mean I’ve met the king?”
“Kade’s our king.”
She scrambled from the bed. “Kade? Sam’s Kade?”
Connall slid to the edge of the bed and reached for her, laying his hands on her hips. “Kade. He’s our king. Samantha will be crowned our queen in three months.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“Why three months?”
“Sam wants to wait until Payton is bound.”
“Payton? Is she supposed to be with Brodie?”
“Aye.”
Pepper frowned. “Then why does she seem to hate him?”
“It’s complicated, but obvious enough to everyone they’re mates.”
“Obvious he’s obsessed with her, anyway,” she retorted.
“‘Destined’ is a better description, love.”
“Okay,” she conceded. “Does that make you like a prince or something?”
“Aye. I am considered the ‘spare’ in the human realm.”
“Huh?”
“The heir and the spare. Kade was the heir, I was the spare.” He chuckled at her look of horror.
“That’s horrible!”
“It’s an expression, love.”
“One that could make a child feel inadequate,” she pointed out. “What does that make Brodie then?”
“The lucky one?”
“You’re funny.” Pepper smacked his shoulder. “Why isn’t Brodie here?”
“We can never travel together. The three of us. It’s a precaution.”
“In case there’s an accident or something?” she whispered.
“Exactly.” He smiled. “Hey. Nothing’s going to happen, love.”
“Where are your parents?” she asked.
“My father’s dead. My mother’s… well, that’s complicated.”
“How so?”
“My mother betrayed us and the Council has decided to exile her.”
Pepper gasped. “What do you mean, exile her?”
“She’s being shipped to Pohnpei, Micronesia, where she’ll remain imprisoned until she dies.”
“So she’ll be exiled and in prison?”
“Aye.”
Pepper shook her head. “I don’t understand. How is that even legal?”
“We work within the laws of the land, so to speak, but when it comes to the ultimate fate of our people, Kade makes the call. My mother tried to overthrow him.”
“Really? Why?”
“We’re still not entirely sure,” Connall admitted. “Although, I have a feeling Kade may know more than he’s saying.”
“So ask him.”
“This is where the separation of king and family comes into play,” Connall explained. “He’ll tell us when and what he can.”
“Wow. How do you feel about your mom being sent away?”
“That’s a complicated question.” He sighed. “My father was abusive. It was easy to hate him, although I don’t anymore, but when he was alive, he was a mean son of a bitch. Mum on the other hand, was also abusive, but it was more manipulation than anything else. We’ve always been at arm’s length with her, except Brodie.”
“How so?”
He scowled. “She always seemed to hate him.”
“That’s awful!”
“I know. Kade and I did our best to shelter him, but it didn’t always work.”
Pepper stroked his cheek. “Is that why he frowns all the time?”
Connall chuckled. “Probably.”
“We’ll have to fix that.”
“It takes him a while to let people in, but once you’re in, he’ll die for you.” He ran his thumb along her lip. “A little like someone else I know.”
“Oh, you think you know me, hmm?”
“Absolutely.”
She looped her hands over his shoulders. “Does everyone know you’re a prince?”
“Only amongst the Cauld Ane. But we have titles recognized by the human Monarchy as well.”
“Are you Sir Loin of Beef or something like that?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Bugs Bunny? The Sheriff of Nottingham episode? No?” He shrugged and she gasped in mock disgust. “You’re not a Bugs fan?”
“Keep in mind, television wasn’t invented until we were a few hundred years old, love.”
She bit her lip. “Right. I forgot you’re ancient. No wonder you think you’re the boss of me.”
He pulled her back down on the bed and held his hand over her stomach.
“Don’t you dare,” she threatened.
“Or?”
“Or we’ll get distracted and probably end up naked.”
Connall laughed. “One can hope.”
She tugged on his shirt and he stretched out beside her again. “So, what’s your super special title, then? I’m not going to have to bow every time you walk into a room, am I?”
“Not unless you’re a man. But you will have to curtsy.”
“Shut up! I will not…” Her mouth dropped open. “Will I?”
He grinned. “No. To humans, I’m the Marquis of Cavell… you’ll be my marchioness.”
“So fancy.” Pepper groaned as she covered her face with her hands. “Con. This is too much.”
“You’re doing fine, sweetheart. I know it’s a lot to take in, but you’re not alone.”
She peeked at him through her fingers. “Right.”
He pulled her hands away and kissed her cheek.
“How am I supposed to address Kade now? Is he a royal highness or something? And Sam?” she asked in desperation. “What about you? What am I supposed to call you in public?”
“You’ll call him Kade because he will be your in-law, same with Sam. And you’ll always call me Connall or Con because you’re my mate and humans will recognize you as my wife. You’ll often hear people address Kade as ‘Lord’ or ‘my lord,’ because humans recognize him as Duke of Avoch. For the most part, that won’t change unless we are with a group of only our people. Then you might hear people refer to him and Sam as ‘his or her majesty.’ Although, we’ve all been so used to referring to Kade as his human title, it would be a rare occurrence to hear him referred to as ‘majesty.’ The Cauld Ane may refer to me as ‘Your Highness,’ but again, only when no humans are around. Humans address me as ‘Lord Cavell’ and when we are bound, you’ll be referred to as ‘Lady Cavell.’”
“Not Mrs. Gunnach?”
He shook his head.
“I’m going to screw this up, Con. Royally. You can count on it.”
“Pepper,” he admonished. “Why would you say that?”
She tried to sit up again, but he tugged on her sweater and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close.
She ran her finger down his arm. “I’ve never understood this hierarchy thing. I also have a small aversion to chauvinism, and I’m not good at staying quiet if something bugs me.”
“And?”
“And, I watch television, Con. I saw the wedding of the century, I watched the interviews. There is no way I can come close to emulating Kate Middleton.”
He let out a derisive snort. “And thank the Lord for that.”
“Con. Come on, be serious. There’s nothing regal about me.”
“I love that the most about you,” he said. “I’m not interested in someone like Kate Middleton. Even if she’s much funnier in person, which you don’t get to see in the media. She’s not perfect by any means.”
“You’ve met her?” she squeaked.
“At a few functions, yes. You’ll more than likely meet her as well. She’ll put you at ease immediately.”
“So she’s beautiful and has a great personality? Perfect.”
Connall chuckled. “She’s got nothing on you. You are stunning with your luscious curves.” He ran his hand across her bottom. “I’m not a fan of rail thin. I like a real woman. I also love that you’re a champion of the underdog, whether that falls under hating chauvinism or something else altogether.”
She sighed. “I’m going to embarrass you.”
“No you won’t. I won’t let you.”
She scowled. “I thought you said you loved me just the way I am.”
“Put away your sword, my love. Let me explain,” he said. “Are you sure you’re not Scottish?”
“You’re hilarious today.”
“I’m hilarious every day.” Connall grinned. “But, I digress. The beauty of our private communication, sweetheart, is that if we’re ever anywhere official, you’ll say all the right things because I can help you with the correct way to address people. You won’t have to try to learn and retain it all.”
“There is that.” She relaxed. “What about me in general, though?”
“What about you?”
“I have a mouth on me, as my mother always says.”
He leaned down and kissed her. “I happen to love your mouth.”
She pushed on his chest. “But what happens when I say something that someone doesn’t like? What if you lose friends? Or business?”
Connall frowned. “Wow. I didn’t realize you had the power to change the world, love. Maybe we need to revisit this relationship.”
“Con.”
“First of all, my wee control-freak whom I love to distraction, if I lost friends or business over something you said, they wouldn’t be true friends and I wouldn’t want their business.”
“But—”
He laid his fingers on her lips. “No. I know you, Pepper. You speak the truth, even when someone doesn’t want to hear it, and your motives are pure. You don’t set out to offend, but you also won’t blow smoke up someone’s kilt. If someone doesn’t like that, too bloody bad.” She kissed his hand and he smiled and stroked her cheek. “Whether you choose to believe it or not, you’re perfect just the way you are.”
She pulled his head down for a kiss and he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her on top of his chest. When he finally managed to gather his wits, he broke the kiss with a groan.
“Why are you stopping?”
“God, love, I don’t want to, but until I can bind you, we need to be careful.”
She sighed. “Fine.”
He smiled. “I see you’re not running for the door.”
“Nope. I’ve decided I’m keeping you. Warts and all.”
“Warts, eh?”
“Yes.”
“It must be difficult to be seen with me.”
“It is.” She grinned and ran her finger over his heart. “But I love what’s on the inside. So, when will you bind with me… tie me up or whatever?”
“Well, I was going to plan something romantic to sweep you off your feet.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Don’t bother. Honestly, romance is lost on me. I don’t get it.”
“In that case.” He reached over her and pulled open the drawer in one of the nightstands.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
He chuckled. “Good.”
“What?”
“Well, if you haven’t figured it out, then I have effectively hidden something from you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What did you do?”
“We’ve done this a little backwards, but still…” He opened his hand and a red leather box sat in his palm. “Persephone Ester Brooks, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
She pursed her lips in thought. “Hmm, I don’t know. I’ve only known you for a few days. You’re a bit forward, don’t you think?”
He flexed his hand and gave her an evil grin. “I’m sorry? What was that?”
“Okay, okay. No tickling. Of course I’ll marry you.”
He pried the box open with one hand and Pepper gasped. A large princess-cut diamond, surrounded by smaller diamonds in white gold, was nestled in red satin. She shook her head. It was like he’d taken the ring she’d always dreamed of and put it into gold. “Connall. It’s beautiful.”
He grinned and slipped it on her finger. It was a perfect fit. She kissed him, but was interrupted by the dinner announcement.
“Ladies and gentleman, dinner will be served in the main cabin in five minutes,” Margaret, the main flight attendant, announced over the speaker.
“Thank God,” Connall said.
“All my questions have been annoying, huh?”
“Not at all. I’m hungry.” He climbed off the bed. “Another thing about us is that our metabolism is three times faster than humans. We try to eat every hour or two.” He pulled her off the mattress.
“So, you really are Sir Loin of Beef?” She grinned. “Are you going to try and overthrow the Burger King… and will you address your subjects in the Royal Food Court?”
Connall laughed. “Will that make you Lady Loin of Beef?”
“Hell no, I’ll stage a coup and kick Sam off the throne. I will be referred to as the Dairy Queen and rule the world.”
“The world? Really?”
“Definitely.” She tapped her lips with a finger. “I wonder if I could get ahold of Lady Gaga’s meat dress for our first official royal gala.”
He led her out of the bedroom. “I’d imagine it’s past its expiration date.”
“Yeah, I’m sure at this point, it looks more like a beef jerky swimsuit.”