THE NEXT DAY, Thane walked into the king’s chapel and took his place in the Allen pew. His father was not there today like he normally would be for a council meeting, as Kade had only called together those who led high-profile lives.
This meant that all the members of Fallen Crown were in attendance, along with several other men and women who were known both locally, nationally, and internationally for different careers, the most surprising being Ewan McFadden, who had been voted Scotland’s sexiest botanist. Somewhat random and funny, but it now put him into a category where he could no longer hide. All-in-all, there were close to sixty people in the room.
Kade and Samantha sat with Connall and Brodie and their mates, and Samantha smiled at Thane, her expression one of overwhelmed resignation. Anyone who knew her understood how uncomfortable she was at official gatherings, but she always handled them with grace and humor.
Niall slid in beside him even though it wasn’t technically his family pew. “Hey.”
Thane shook his hand. “You’re a little late.”
Niall chuckled. “Moira was having a hard time letting her da out the door.”
“Not yer mate?”
“Sadly, no,” Niall said. “Charlotte was trying to pry Moira the spider monkey from my body. I left her with my screaming daughter who you would think was never going to see me again.”
Before Thane could comment, Kade walked to the middle of the dais. “Welcome everyone.” The din died down as the king spoke. “I’ve asked you here because we need to discuss our public profiles going forward. All of you are high-profile, and depending on how long you plan to be high-profile, humans will start to notice that we don’t age at the same rate as they do. About every fifty years, we face this dilemma and need to brainstorm how we want to handle it. Some of us may decide to go underground, out of the limelight; others may opt to cope another way.”
“I vote to kill off Max in some tragic but messy accident,” Connall said. “Fiery car crash should do it.”
“I’m too damn pretty to go out in a fiery car crash,” Max countered. “But I have a few ideas for you, brother. Guillotine is the immediate choice. I’ll even have one built at my home if that will help expedite things.”
The room erupted in laughs.
“We’ll forget the feud between Max and Con for the moment,” Kade said. “Especially considering that the fight has been going on for several hundred years and I see no end anytime soon.” He waited for the laughs to die down again and raised his hands. “This meeting is a short one, to introduce the topic for our next meeting in the spring, when I hope you’ll have some legitimate”—he glared at Connall and then at Max—“and effective ideas for how to handle this ongoing problem we have as Cauld Ane in a human world. In the spring, we can discuss what your plans are and how we can support you. I’m sure I don’t have to remind you not to put anything in writing. Thank you for your time.”
The room stood en-masse, bowed to Kane, and then filed out. Thane and Niall walked out together, while Max stayed behind to speak with Connall.
“I love it when these things are short,” Thane confessed.
“Aye, brother. Me as well.”
“How long are you staying?”
“We’re leaving day after tomorrow. What about you?”
“Same, but we’re heading back to London first.”
“Grace and Charlotte want to know if you and Sydney want to join us for dinner tonight,” Niall said, as he and Thane walked to the cars.
Do you want to have dinner with the MacMillan’s tonight?
Sounds fun. Are you finished?
Aye, lass. Be home soon.
“We’d love to,” Thane said.
“Perfect.” Niall grinned. “Six?”
“We’ll see you then,” Thane said, and climbed into the car. He drove back up to the castle and found Sydney in the great hall speaking with Samantha’s brother, Dalton.
Dalton Moore was ex-FBI, and he and his buddy Colton ran the human side of security for the royals. Dalton apparently owned several car dealerships back in Georgia, which, along with his salary from Kade, made him a wealthy man. With his model good looks and southern accent, Thane knew the women flocked to him.
Right now, he was smiling at Sydney in a way that irked Thane, and he walked quickly to her side, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her temple. “Hi.”
She grinned up at him. “Hi, honey. Have you met Dalton?”
“Aye.” He shook Dalton’s hand and forced a smile.
“I was telling Sydney that if you can’t get answers from the local cops, I can call a few contacts back in D.C. They’ll be able to get to the bottom of her mother’s accident.”
Sydney slid her hand into Thane’s back pocket. “Dalton says they can put pressure on the powers that be to tell them more than they’re telling us.”
“That’s a generous offer,” Thane said, carefully. “We’ll be sure to let you know if we run into issues.”
“Sounds good. I’m gonna go see my nephews for a bit, then head out. It was nice to meet you, Sydney.”
“You too, Dalton.”
The American left and Sydney faced Thane. “Chill.”
“I’m sorry?”
She grinned and slid her hand to the back of his neck. “You went all squirrely with Dalton. You aren’t jealous, are you?”
Thane sighed. “Admittedly, a little.”
She giggled. “Silly man.”
“Aye, lass. I am.”
“Kiss me so I can make you feel better.”
He leaned down and touched his forehead to hers. “I’d rather take you back to bed.”
“Even better. We’ve got a few hours before we have to get ready for dinner, so let’s go slay that jealousy dragon.”
Thane laughed, kissed her quickly, and then took her hand and led her to bed.
* * *
“Did you ask what we could bring?” Sydney buckled her seat belt and set her purse on the car floor.
“We don’t need to bring anything, love.”
“Honey, we should at least bring a bottle of wine. It’s rude to show up empty handed.”
Thane turned to her and raised an eyebrow. “Niall is arguably my closest friend outside of you, and I highly doubt he will care if we don’t bring a bottle of cheap wine.”
“It’s a good thing we’re going to stop at the store and buy an expensive one, then, isn’t it?”
“We’re already late, Sydney.”
She sighed. “It’s rude, Thane.”
He shook his head and unbuckled his seat belt. “Give me a second.”
Thane jogged back into the castle, returning a few minutes later with two bottles of wine, one red, one white. He climbed back in the car and handed them to Sydney. “Okay?”
“You did not just go and steal wine from the king, did you?”
“No, lass, I borrowed them. I’ll be replacing them tomorrow. And you’d better be happy... the red’s going to cost me six hundred pounds to replace.”
Sydney gasped. “Go put it back.”
Thane turned the car toward the drawbridge with a smirk. “We don’t have time to put it back.”
“I’ll pay for it.”
“What?”
“I’ll pay for the wine.”
“Like hell you will,” he snapped.
Sydney rolled her eyes. “I insisted we have it. I’ll pay for it.”
“You will not.”
“Thane, I have inherited a great deal of money from my parents, which I rarely get to spend. And once you and I combine our finances, it’ll be more money that either of us can spend in a lifetime, so a couple bottles of wine is no problem.”
He pulled the car over to the side of the road and took her hand. “You’ll no’ be payin’ for the god damn wine, Sydney. Yer me mate and it’s my job to pay for things now, ye ken? I’ll be hearin’ no argument from ye, lass.”
Sydney bit the inside of her cheek in an attempt not to giggle. “Ye ken? What does ‘ye ken’ mean? Are you turning into Tarzan, mister movie star?”
“Shite.” Thane took a deep breath and shook his head, her touch calming him. “Sorry, love.”
She widened her eyes. “What was that?”
“Remember when we talked about how mates sometimes take on attributes of each other after bonding?”
Sydney nodded.
“I think your passionate nature has become just as strong in me, and I’m feeling things I’m not used to feeling. It’s strange, really.” He squeezed her hand. “Intense. Overwhelming.”
She giggled. “I get it. I’m sorry if I upset you.”
“You didn’t upset me, love. I just don’t want you thinking you have to pay for things.”
“But I really don’t mind. Although, I guess our money’s kind of each other’s anyway, right, so it’s silly of me to separate it. Chalk it up to not being used to having a partner.”
“We’ll figure it out,” he promised.
Sydney smiled and leaned over to kiss him. “This bottle of wine better be really good.”
“Oh, ’tis, love.” He kissed her again. “It’s actually my favorite.”
“Of course it is.”
He chuckled as he pulled the car back onto the road.
“Is ‘ye ken’ like a form of ‘you get me’?” She lowered her voice and waved a finger. “Like, big man hear me roar will be buying all things for you, little lady, do you get me?”
Thane laughed. “Aye, lass.”
“Well, you better get a handle on that one, buddy.” She let out a rather inelegant snort. “’Cause I’m no one’s little lady.”
“You are most definitely mine, Sydney.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“You are a ridiculous person,” she retorted.
“Aye, but I’m your ridiculous person,” he said as he pulled up to Max and Grace’s home.
“Well, there is that.”
Thane grinned and shut off the engine, climbing out and rushing to Sydney’s side. After opening the door, he took the wine and kissed her once she’d climbed out of the car. “I love you, little woman.”
“Suck it, big man.”
“Oh, I plan to later.”
She shivered. “Stop with the dirty talk or I’ll ask Grace to give us a room.”
He grinned. “The gauntlet has been dropped, love.”
And I plan to suck and lick all manner—
“Oh my god, Thane Allen, if you start with the dirty mind talk while we’re in the middle of dinner, I will kill you in the face.”
Thane gave a mock gasp. “I had no idea I’d bonded with someone so violent.”
“Well, remember our emotions being all out of whack? Yours might manifest in a weird old world Scottish accent, but mine turns into murderous tendencies.”
Thane dropped his head back and laughed. “Bloody hell, you’re adorable, lass.”
“Murder’s adorable to you? Oy vey.”
“Love you, sweetheart.”
Sydney grinned and wrapped an arm around his waist. “Love you too.”
He kissed her gently and they made their way to the front door.
* * *
Sydney heard the buzzing of her phone and groaned as she snuggled closer to Thane. Finally, the noise stopped, but not for long. Adding to the din was Thane’s generic ringtone, some annoying classical song that Sydney found grating. “Make it stop,” she begged, and he did... sort of.
“Thane speaking.” She felt his emotion and sat up with a gasp. Thane pressed the speaker key and sat up as well. “Aye, Cary, we’re both here.”
“Is everything okay, Uncle Cary?” Sydney asked.
“No. Lucy’s been kidnapped.”
“What?” Sydney grasped Thane’s arm. “How do you know?”
Cary let out a ragged sigh. “The bastards sent a demand.”
“Tell me everything.” Thane set the phone on the nightstand and slid from the bed.
“They want to speak with Sydney. Face-to-face and alone.”
“That’s not bloody well going to happen, Cary,” Thane ground out as he pulled on clothing.
“I understand. I’m just telling you what the demand is.” Sydney’s uncle sighed. “They know you’re in Inverness and have given a deadline of tomorrow morning, five a.m.”
“Shite.”
“They’re going to kill my little girl.” Uncle Cary’s composure slipped. “Just a moment.”
The phone went silent and Sydney jumped off the bed and rushed around grabbing things to wear. “We have to go, Thane.”
“I’m not putting you in danger, Sydney.”
“You’ll be there.”
“He said alone, love.”
Sydney pulled on a pair of jeans and then a T-shirt. “Well, we’ll make it look like I’m alone. I have skills now, honey. Cauld—”
“Syd,” Thane hissed, and pressed what she assumed was the mute button on his phone.
“Sorry,” she said. “But let’s think about this logically. I have Cauld Ane skills.”
“And if he or they decide to meet you someplace that’s too hot for you?”
She bit her lip. “I didn’t think of that.”
Now that she had gone through the conversion, she couldn’t be anywhere over sixty-eight degrees. If she was, her body would begin to break down and blister, and she would die if the temperature rose much past that.
“Right. It’s not going to happen.”
“It’s winter, Thane. How hot could it possibly get?”
“Thane?” Uncle Cary cut in.
He tapped his phone again. “Aye, we’re here.”
“We’ve set up a central control situation at my office downtown.”
“We’ll be there in less than two hours,” Thane said, and hung up.
“How are we going to get to Uncle Cary’s London office in less than two hours?” Sydney challenged. “We have to buy tickets, get to the airport, and then traffic—”
“Private plane, Sydney.”
“You have a plane?” she squeaked.
“Max and Niall do.”
“Oh, that makes sense.” She sat down and pulled on her boots. “They won’t mind us using it?”
“No, love.” He smiled and grabbed his phone, raising it to his ear. “Nye? We’ve got an emergency and wondered if the plane’s available. Aye. Wonderful. Thank you, brother. I’ll fill you in when we’re in the air. Aye. All right. ’Bye.” He hung up and nodded. “All set.”
“You have very useful friends,” Sydney said.
Thane chuckled. “Aye, lass, I do.”
They finished dressing, left word with one of the house staff of their departure, and headed to the private air strip. Niall had obviously called ahead, because the plane was waiting for them, along with pilot, copilot, and two flight attendants.
“Mr. and Mrs. Allen, welcome,” a pretty blonde woman in a dark blue uniform said as they walked onto the plane. “I’m Nell, should you need anything.” She turned to her left. “This is Zara.”
“Lovely to meet you both,” Thane said, and settled his hand on Sydney’s lower back. “If we could have breakfast and coffee as soon as possible, we’d appreciate it.”
“Of course, sir,” Zara said.
Thane guided Sydney further into the plane and she took in the space. It looked like a comfortable living room more than a plane. A huge sectional that was bolted to the floor took up most of the middle of the plane, and there were side tables secured for takeoff and landing, but that could be pulled out and moved as needed. A wet-bar and fridge ran along part of the west side of the plane with cabinets above.
There were twelve seats with seat belts in the main part, and fold-up seats against the back wall, similar to flight attendant seats, if there were extra passengers.
“Wow,” Sydney whispered as she sat in one of the window seats.
Thane sat next to her. “It’s lovely, eh?”
“Yes, but you know if I get used to this, it’ll be the only way I’ll want to travel.”
He chuckled. “I’m with you on that, love.”
Zara arrived with two cups of coffee, cream, and sugar, and Sydney almost kissed her. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure, ma’am.” She smiled. “We’ll serve breakfast after takeoff, but I do have some pastries if you don’t think you can wait.”
“Yes, please,” she and Thane said in unison, and then laughed.
“I’ll be right back.” Zara walked away and returned seconds later with fresh blueberry muffins.
“Thank you,” Sydney said.
Thane only smiled, considering he already had a mouthful of muffin.
“Hungry?” Sydney asked with a giggle.
“Starving,” he admitted, once he swallowed.
Sydney ate a little slower, but no less enthusiastically. It was the best muffin she’d ever had, but that brought worry as to what Lucy was doing. Was she eating? Thane laid a hand on her knee just as Zara collected their trash, and then it was time for takeoff. Sydney didn’t mind flying so long as she didn’t look out the window, but takeoff was a little nerve wracking, so she gripped Thane’s hand until the plane was in the air.
Once they leveled off and the captain said they could remove their seatbelts, Thane suggested they watch a movie and they settled themselves on the sofa. But before they did that, he called her uncle, who still didn’t have an update. Thane promised they’d be there well before the deadline. He then called Niall and filled him in, all the while keeping contact with Sydney.
It was surreal “hanging out” on a plane. Sydney really did think she’d be ruined for commercial flights going forward, but for the moment, she was content to snuggle up against her mate and relax while the pilot flew them to London.
By the time the instruction to take their seats in preparation for landing came, Sydney was a little bit shocked. “Is it really time to land?”
Thane chuckled as they made their way to the window. “Aye, love.”
“Can we keep going? Maybe to Fiji?”
“If you want to go on a vacation, baby, I’ll take you,” he promised.
“In this plane?” she asked hopefully.
Thane laughed. “I’m sure we can talk to Max and Niall about it.”
She clapped her hands. “Awesome.”
“But not Fiji.”
“Oh, right. Crap.” Her face brightened. “Alaska?”
“Perfect.”
Worry hit her full in the chest and Thane reached for her again, but she moved away. “Oh my god, Thane, you did that! You’ve been doing it the whole time,” she accused, realizing he’d not let go of her since they’d gotten to the plane, and she’d essentially forgotten about Lucy for the entire length of their flight.
“Aye, lass, I wanted you to feel peace.”
“So, you block my worry enough that I’m planning some romantic rendezvous instead of being concerned about the fact my cousin has been kidnapped?” she snapped. “You’re an ass.”
“I’m an ass because I don’t want you to worry?”
“Yes. I need to be focused on her, Thane, not forgetting she’s in trouble and probably scared out of her mind.”
He sighed, holding his hand out to her. “I’m sorry, love. I just hate when you’re in pain. I will tone it down.”
“Tone it down, how?”
“You won’t forget the situation, but I can take some of the heartache away.”
She stared at him for several seconds, before linking her fingers with his again and leaning against him. “Do you think we’ll find Lucy?”
“Aye, love, I think we will.”
“What if we don’t?”
He reached across to cup her cheek. “We will.”
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Promise?
Promise, love.
The plane landed and Sydney followed Thane down the stairs, climbing into an SUV waiting on the tarmac.
Sydney wouldn’t let Thane comfort her on the way to Cary’s office. She’d rather worry herself into a migraine than forget for a second that her cousin was in trouble. Lucy must be terrified, and since they didn’t know who or what the threat was, it was even more dangerous.
“Enough,” Thane snapped, and Sydney jumped. He reached for her hand, holding strong even when she tried to pull away. “I’ll no’ have you this wound up, love.”
“She would have to be if it was me in her situation, so I’m gonna go ahead and ignore that edict.”
“And if she were bound to a Cauld Ane, her mate would insist on calming her as well.”
Sydney tried to pull away again, but he shook his head and she scowled. “Thane.”
“No, Sydney, I’ll no’ budge on this.”
“Bossy, alpha-male, kilt-wearing—”
“Careful, lass,” he interrupted. “You complain once about the kilt, you’ll no’ be seeing me in one again, and I know how much you like it.”
She forced herself not to smile. “Suck it.”
“We’re going to find her, Sydney.”
“I hope so.” She kept hold of his hand, but turned to look out the window, forcing her thoughts to stay focused on her cousin, at least enough to send up a prayer.