BRODIE CLOSED THE door to his office, leaning against it to observe his brothers. Kade paced the room; Connall and Angus sat in the chairs facing the desk. He had a feeling he knew what was bothering Kade, and Brodie wanted to make sure his brother knew exactly what he thought.
“I don’t want the crown, Kade,” Brodie said, breaking the awkward silence.
“It’s rightfully yours, Brodie.”
“Damn it, Kade, it’s not,” Brodie snapped. “I don’t want it. You were always king material. I was, and am not. You are first-born.”
Are you okay, love? Payton asked.
Aye. Sorry.
“I’m first-born from a non-bonded union,” Kade argued.
“And I’m first-born from a bonded union that was hidden from everyone, including us, so yours is the only legal, and I might add, rightful claim to the throne. You have worked your whole life for it. You’ve earned it.”
“I find it interesting that this is all coming out less than a month before Samantha’s coronation ceremony,” Connall said. “Coincidence, do you think? Or something we should be aware of?”
Brodie ran his hands through his hair. “I didn’t think of that.”
Payton’s quiet gasp sounded in Brodie’s mind.
Payton Gunnach. Are you eavesdropping?
She projected a giggle. I would never do that.
Where are Heather and Abela? he asked.
They went to pick up Mikko from the airport.
He sighed and glanced at his brothers. They all seemed to have similar expressions on their faces.
“Were they eavesdropping as well?” Brodie asked.
“Aye,” came the collective answer.
“In that case, shall we join the ladies to continue this conversation?” Brodie asked. “Abela and Heather have gone to the airport.”
“After you,” Kade said.
Brodie led the group out of his office and back to the great room, where their mates stood and made room for them to sit down.
“It would be nice to have a private conversation with my brother without you listening in, love,” Connall admonished.
Pepper grinned. “Sucks to be you, then, don’t it?”
Brodie glanced at Kade and watched as Samantha shook her head, raised an eyebrow, and then rolled her eyes. They were obviously arguing, albeit silently.
Angus and Fiona on the other hand, were stone-faced.
Angus has always been good at hiding his feelings, Payton complained.
Aye. I suppose he has. Brodie settled Payton on his lap. But isn’t it often better not to know what Angus is thinking?
Yes, probably. Payton raised an eyebrow. Are you cross that we were listening?
“Not really,” he whispered.
“Not really?” she challenged.
I think this discussion is something that we all need to engage in. So, no, I’m not cross because it involves you as well, he explained.
But?
But, nothing. We can read each other’s minds now. We’ll have to learn to adjust.
She narrowed her eyes in suspicion, but Kade’s question interrupted a response.
“What do you think about this new information?”
“You, who?” Samantha asked.
“Everyone.” Kade linked his fingers with Sam’s.
“Well, you know my opinion,” Brodie said. “And I’m serious, Kade. If you try to abdicate, you and I are going to have a problem.”
“But you are the rightful—”
Brodie raised his hand. “Not listening, Kade. This subject is done.”
“You’ve been king for over a hundred and fifty years,” Angus said. “And no offense to Brodie, but no one could do the job better.”
“None taken.” Brodie grinned. “I agree.”
“What do you want to do now, Brodie?” Kade asked.
“Honestly, I want to enjoy my mating day. I want Payton to enjoy it as well. I think all of this information can be picked apart and dealt with after the picnic, don’t you?”
Kade studied his brothers and then nodded. “Aye. I think it can wait a day.”
Brodie rose to his feet. “I hope everyone’s still hungry, because Erin has organized enough food to feed several armies.”
“Are we going to swim?” Payton asked hopefully.
“Cole’s bringing a team, so no, love, not today.”
“We can just tell them we’re in the polar bear club,” Sam suggested.
With the addition of humans to their inner circle, Kade had issued a warning to be extra careful about appearing “normal” to Cole’s team. Which definitely meant no swimming when the temperature outside was barely ten degrees Celsius.
“Plus, Cole knows about us,” Pepper added. “It’ll be fine.”
“Cole may know the truth,” Connall said. “But he’s agreed it would be best not to tell anyone else at this point.”
“What if we ditch the humans and go later?” Samantha asked.
Kade laughed, looking a little shocked.
“What did I say?” Samantha asked.
“Ditch the humans,” he repeated. “I love that you’re finally starting to feel Cauld Ane.”
She grinned. “Working on it, that’s for sure.”
“We’ll meet you there, eh?” Connall said.
“Yes,” Brodie replied.
The group started for the door. Connall and Pepper were going to ride their horses down to the loch while Angus, Fiona, Kade, and Samantha would drive together.
We can go swimming when we get back from Venice, if you like, Payton. How about skinny dipping at sundown? Brodie projected.
Payton giggled. I’m figuring out that if it involves us naked, you don’t really care what we do, so skinny dipping at sundown works for me.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go with us?” Kade asked.
Brodie shook his head. “No, we’ll be right behind you.”
Kade nodded and ushered the group from the house.
Brodie grabbed his keys. “Do you need to get anything, love?”
Payton shrugged. “Depends. Are we walking to the loch?”
He gave her a mock gasp. “And make my beautiful bride walk almost four kilometers? What kind of a mate do you think I am?”
Payton laughed. “Apparently one who knows me well.”
“I have the Bimmer waiting out front.”
Brodie had informed her that the correct “slang” for BMWs was “Bimmer,” not “Beamer,” which Payton couldn’t really have cared less about, however, he was imparting his wisdom at the time, and she was besotted, so she oohed and ahhed in what she hoped were all the right places.
“I love that we don’t have to have security here.” She slipped her arm through his. “At least, the kind you can see.”
“Me too.” Brodie led her to the car. He held the door open for her and she slid inside.
For once, Brodie drove at a reasonable speed. They arrived to find Heather and Abela already there with the group, a bevy of food set up in the gazebo, and Kade and Connall already filling plates.
Brodie grabbed Payton’s hand. As they approached the group, applause began and champagne was thrust into their hands, followed by a demand for a kiss and a speech.
Brodie kissed Payton, sliding his hand along her neck and almost making her forget they had an audience. Almost.
Sorry, love, he said, and took a deep breath. That probably wasn’t the wisest choice, since now I want to take you back to bed.
Ya think? She smiled.
Brodie faced their family again and raised his glass. “Thank you for coming. Now, let’s eat.”
Before Brodie and Payton could head for the food, Heather approached, her hand wrapped around the arm of a very tall, very handsome, blond man. Payton deduced it was her mate, Mikko.
“Brodie, Payton, I’d like you to meet Mikko Aho,” Heather said.
“Your Highnesses.” Mikko bowed and then smiled, reaching out to shake Brodie’s hand. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
Brodie smiled as he shook his hand. “You, too.”
“Thank you for keeping Heather safe when I was unable to.”
“I was happy to do it,” Brodie said.
Payton shook Mikko’s hand and forced herself to focus on the vision that came.
Payton? What do you see, love?
Nothing bad. Give me a second.
Brodie’s hand found its way onto her lower back again and she relaxed, releasing Mikko from her grasp. “It’s lovely to meet you, Mikko,” Payton said.
“Thank you for inviting me to your party. I look forward to getting to know you both.” Mikko smiled at Heather. “Especially if you can convince Heather to stop stalling.”
“Mikko.” Heather shook her head. “My brother should not be bothered with our love life.”
Brodie chuckled. “I’m on your side, Mikko. Never fear.”
The couple left them and Brodie focused on Payton again. “What did you see?”
“Just his love for his family and for Heather. He really wants to protect her, but she fights him on it.”
“Hmm, sounds like someone else I know.”
Payton grinned. “Then, she’s probably a bad-ass alpha female, too.”
Brodie laughed. “No doubt about that. Come on, let’s join the party.”
* * *
Four hours before the alarm went off, Brodie was shaken awake by Payton’s scream. He reached for her, earning himself a punch to the face. “Payton, love, it’s all right. It’s me.”
She continued to hit him until he wrapped his arms around her, pinning her to his chest. Payton, it’s me. Wake up.
Brodie! she screamed.
Wake up, love. You’re safe.
Payton’s eyes fluttered open and she sagged against him with a sigh. “Sorry.”
“You okay?” he asked.
“Aye, love.” Payton shifted so she was facing Brodie. “Bronwen.”
“What about her?”
“I just can’t shake this feeling that something’s very wrong. I haven’t heard from her in over a year and then she calls me twice?” Payton sighed. “It’s off.”
Brodie smiled and wrapped his arm around her. “I’ve already figured that out, love. Alasdair’s looking into her.”
“He is?”
Brodie nodded and kissed her temple. “Cole’s watching her as well. And truth be told, I don’t think he minds this particular job.”
She kissed his chest. “Well, she’s gorgeous, smart, and funny, so if he did mind, then he’s not a real man.”
“Those gorgeous, smart, and funny women are certainly our downfall.”
She frowned at him. “Your downfall?”
He chuckled. “Upfall?”
“Better.” She snuggled closer to him. “I don’t know why I was nervous telling you about her. I guess I thought you’d stop me from being her friend. I know your aversion to humans.”
“Payton.” He lifted her chin. “Don’t ever worry about telling me things. I’ll always listen, and unless this woman does something to put you in danger, I would never ask you to give up your friendship.”
“I know.” She settled her head in her palm. “I just don’t want to waste your time with my friend or family drama.”
He shook his head. “You are never a waste of time. And your drama’s now my drama, so you need to remember that. Besides, a few wonderful humans have entered our lives of late, and I have no aversion to them.”
“Yes, they are pretty great.” She squeezed her eyes shut.
“What else happened in the dream, love?”
“I’m not sure. Mum was in it. With Bronwen. But not together, the way I saw Anita with your mother.” She groaned. “Och, I’m mucking this up. It’s like they’re connected, but not together.”
“Were your mum and Bronwen close?”
Payton snorted. “Bronwen cannot stand my mother, and she’s always been very vocal about it. Not to Mum, of course, she was always polite when she was at my place, but overall.” Payton let out a groan of frustration. “None of this makes any sense. I thought Fiona said my visions would make sense.”
Brodie smiled. “Your visions, sweetheart, not your dreams. Your dreams are something entirely different. But we’ll sort them out.”
“You and your brothers all use ‘sort it out’ like those are the magic words,” she complained.
Brodie chuckled. “Well, would you rather I say, ‘Payton, your dreams are ridiculous, nothing makes sense, and we’re all doomed to never know what any of them mean’?”
“Do you think that?”
“No. Not even close. We will sort it out. We always do.”
“Do you now?” she droned.
“Aye. Because it’s not over until it’s done, and you know it’s not done until it’s over.”
“Deep.” Payton giggled. “Okay, fine. I don’t want to dwell on it in the middle of the night, anyway. Change of subject. What do we do about Heather and Mikko?”
Brodie shrugged. “They have to figure it out together. We did.”
“Did we?”
“Didn’t we?” he countered.
“I’d like to think we were smart enough to,” she said. “But I think Fiona and Niall have been instigating us for a long time.”
Brodie chuckled. “Aye, I suppose they have. I asked them to make sure you were taken care of. They took their job very seriously.”
Payton giggled again. “Yes, they did. I can’t believe I didn’t guess. I suppose it was too much to dream that the great prince, Brodie Gunnach, would care about me. If I even dared to have the thought that you’d loved me, well, I may have exploded.”
Brodie laughed. “Messy.”
“Aye, so very messy.” She drew circles on his stomach with her finger. “Shall I tell you a secret?”
“Yes, please. I love your secrets.”
“I had a notebook, one that I’d hidden from Mum, that I would practice signing my name inside.” She signed her name across his chest. “Payton Gunnach, over and over. Pages and pages.”
“Did your mum ever find it?”
“No, thank the Lord above,” she said, emphatically. “Aileen, bless her soul, fibbed to Mum and said she’d miscounted what I needed for school, because Mum had a list, you know.”
“Was she really that tight with money?”
“Oh, aye. Worse.” Payton set her chin in her hand. “If I ever really needed something, and Mum had already said I couldn’t have it, I’d have to wait to ask Dad. He’d either just give me the money or find a way around Mum.”
“What about Niall? He was supposed to help.”
“You mean he was supposed to help using your money in the account you set up for me?”
“Aye. It was there for a reason, Payton.”
Payton sighed. “He did. Too much sometimes. Mum started to question things about our relationship, so we had to be clever. But he did help.”
“Was your father anything like your mother?” Brodie asked carefully. “Closed off?”
“No.” She bit her lip. “He’s very much a what-you-see-is-what-you-get person. He’s not much different when he’s interacting with Kade than he is with us. Perhaps he doesn’t hug Kade as much as he hugs us,” she amended.
Brodie chuckled. “No, probably smart of him.”
“My father’s always been loving, but now that we have this,” she swept her hand above them, “I think he might be a little bit sad.”
“How so?”
“I think he might miss his mate. If it were me, I don’t think I could marry someone else if I lost you. I think I’d curl up into a hole and never come out.”
“Your father did do that.” Brodie linked his fingers with hers. “For a long time.”
“He did? How long?”
Brodie stroked her back. “For more than twenty years. Angus pushed him to speak to your mum, but of late, I think he regrets that.”
Payton smiled sadly. “I think he does too.”
“Not that he regrets that you’re his sister,” he rushed to say.
“Oh, I know. I feel sometimes that he and Kenna are closer to me than my full siblings. At least, I like them better, anyway.” She bit her lip. “I’ve only met the other sister, Gillian, a few times, but never at our home. She does invite me to every dinner when Mum is excluded, but it’s rare that Mum would ever let me go without her, so I feel like it’s only when I need anything medical done, or Mum’s not around, that I can spend any time with her. Of course, Angus’s brother Nevin lives in Iceland, so I rarely see him. He hasn’t been back here in ages. I don’t think either of them like my mother very much.”
“Perhaps not,” Brodie agreed. “Your father and Angus go to Iceland at least once year, and Kenna’s there sometimes twice, as is Gillian, so it could be that Nevin just doesn’t see the need to visit here.”
“True.” Payton nodded. “I think I may take Angus up on his offer for me to go with him next time.”
Brodie smiled. “I’d love to spend an extended amount of time in my homeland. A few days here and there just isn’t enough. We could spend time with your family and explore.”
“I’d love that.” She chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh, just Angus said little kids stare at the four of them when they go out together sometimes. Invasion of the redheads, probably.”
“It’s remarkable how much you and Angus resemble each other.” Brodie kissed her. “Not that I think he’s beautiful, by any stretch of the imagination.”
Payton giggled. “Well, you have to admit, he’s kind of pretty for a man.”
“I don’t have to admit anything.”
“He’s also a really good big brother. He’s always on my side.” She grinned. “Or he makes me think he’s always on my side, anyway.”
“As it should be. And it’s one of the reasons I like Angus. I worry sometimes that you’re not cherished the way you should be.”
Payton sat up and straddled his hips. “You shouldn’t be. I have a very scary watchdog type mate.”
“You do, do you?”
She nodded, leaning down to kiss his chest again. “Aye. He’s quite old and thinks he knows everything, but he’s extremely loyal to me.”
“That he is,” he said as he sat up, gripping her hips. “And he might be old, but he still has moves.” He ran his tongue over her collarbone, kissing her neck as he slipped his hands under the lacy boy-shorts.
“Yes, he does.” Payton sighed, dropping her head back so Brodie could get better access.
“Oh, there’s more.” Brodie took his time making love to her, showing her a few moves she hadn’t seen yet, and proving that age was just a number.