THE MOOD WAS somber as the group drove back to the Gunnach residential building. Payton’s attempt to speak to Brodie had gone unanswered again, and she hadn’t been able to read his mind, as he’d done a brilliant job of blocking her.
“Payton?” Sam squeezed her hand. “Give them a little time. They don’t do well when we’re in danger.”
“I know,” Payton said. “That fact doesn’t make it any easier, though. He won’t let me in.”
“Neither will Kade. Brodie’s probably trying to protect you.” Sam turned to Pepper. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay,” she said. “Tired, and the baby’s doing cartwheels.”
“I’ll check everything out when we get back to the flat.”
“Thanks, Sammi,” Pepper said, laying her head on her best friend’s shoulder.
Payton’s phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it out, hoping it was Brodie. It wasn’t. “Bronwen?”
“Payton!” Bronwen whispered. “Don’t go to Slàinte tonight.”
“Why?”
“Someone wants to hurt your sis—” Bronwen screamed, cutting off her sentence.
“Bronwen?”
“Payton? What’s going on?” Alasdair asked.
“I don’t know.”
More screaming and the clatter of the phone sounded. “You sodding cow,” Bronwen bellowed.
“Bronwen?” Payton yelled.
The phone went dead.
“Payton,” Cole said. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know, but I think Bronwen’s in trouble.”
“Okay, I’m tracking her phone,” Cole said.
“You have her number?”
He raised an eyebrow and Payton shook her head. “Of course you do. Never mind.”
Cole smiled. “I’ve had it since she called you that morning.”
“Oh, right,” Payton said. “I’d almost forgotten about that.”
Payton, what’s wrong? Brodie asked.
Payton scowled. Oh, now you’re gracing me with your attention? Where were you twenty minutes ago?
Don’t do that, love. Just tell me what’s wrong.
I don’t actually know. I’ll be sure to tell you when I do, though. You should probably get back to work. Or have you now decided your job is stalking me? You know that’s illegal in most countries. She imagined Brodie in stocks in the middle of a medieval town, rotten food being thrown at him.
Funny, Payton. Are you safe?
Payton rolled her eyes. Of course I’m safe! I’m with Alasdair.
Don’t do anything stupid.
Suck it, Brodie. She forced a block, hoping he’d get the point.
Alasdair pulled into the private garage and shut off the car.
“What about Bronwen?” Payton asked. “Don’t you need to be following her in order to track her?”
Alasdair raised an eyebrow at Cole, indicating the two might have a secret or two.
Cole faced Payton. “We’re on it. Don’t worry, Payton. We’ll find your friend. For now, though, let’s get everyone inside where we can control the environment.”
Cole assisted Pepper from the car, and Samantha and Payton climbed out the other side. Payton’s phone buzzed as she stepped into Kade’s apartment. Brodie’s name popped up on the screen, and she debated on whether or not she would answer it. Self-preservation won out. “Hi, Brodie.”
“Damn it, Payton, stop blocking me.”
“You were just blocking me,” she countered, and walked to one of the bedrooms down the hall. “Why is it okay for you and not for me?”
“That was for your protection. We had some things to take care of, and I didn’t want you anywhere near it.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “Fine.”
“Now, please remove your block.”
“No,” she said. “Right now I need a little time without you in my head.”
“Payton.” She heard him take a deep breath and then a few seconds of quiet. “I have a few more things to do and then we’ll talk. I would really appreciate it if you would remove your block so that I can check in and make sure you’re okay.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Payton,” he said with a groan.
“Yes, Brodie?” She put a little saccharin into her voice.
“Are we really doing this? Right now?”
“I wouldn’t dare, my liege.” Payton fought back angry tears, but decided to take the high road. “I’ll remove the block, because I don’t want you to worry, but it doesn’t mean I’m not still really mad at you.”
“I understand that, love, and I promise we’ll talk as soon as this is done, okay? I love you, Payton.”
“I love you too, although it’s far more of a choice right now.”
He chuckled. “I’ll take it. I have to go.”
“’Bye.”
Payton hung up and took another deep breath. Fighting with Brodie was about the worst thing in her opinion, and that was coming from someone who’d felt the effects of a paralytic drug. She made her way back to the living room and found Samantha listening to Pepper’s belly.
“Everything okay, Payton?” Pepper asked.
“Not really.” Payton shrugged.
Samantha gave her a sympathetic smile. “Brodie not happy with you putting yourself in danger?”
“That’s kind of an understatement.” She flopped onto one of the sofas and tucked her feet under her bottom. “And maybe he’s right, but I just wanted to help.”
“You did help,” Pepper said, shifting in her chair. “If you hadn’t come in when you did, I don’t think we’d have had the leverage to fight them off. I didn’t know that other lady was even in the stall and Jet had me held so tight, one weird move would have meant… well, I don’t really want to think about that. Using your telekinesis was brilliant. A gun might not be much of a threat to us, but to my baby, it could have been fatal.”
“True,” Payton said. “I just wish Brodie didn’t have his knickers in a twist. He might see it as brilliant as well.”
“He will when he calms down,” Pepper assured her. “I feel Con checking in every few minutes, although he’s being very quiet.” She closed her eyes and then smiled, opening them again. “He’s trying not to frighten me, but since he can’t block me, I have to stay out of his mind.”
Payton sighed. “I wish Brodie would ask instead of dictating. He rankles me sometimes.”
Samantha squeezed her hand. “He’s just in the middle of something really tough. He’ll come around.”
Payton nodded.
Pepper pressed on her stomach and took a deep breath. “I can’t believe it was your mom!”
“I know,” Payton said sadly. “Me neither. I’m so sorry. I had no idea she was capable of something like that.”
Samantha smiled. “What your mother did is absolutely no reflection on you, Pay. Don’t think that it is.”
“Thank you,” Payton said.
Pepper groaned, shifting again.
“Quit movin’, Pep,” Sam admonished. “I need to take your pulse.”
“I can’t get comfortable,” she complained. “This little cretin’s all over the place today.”
“He probably feels your stress.” Sam laid her hand on Pepper’s belly. “Take a deep breath.” Pepper did and Sam leaned close to Pepper’s stomach. “Listen here, precious nephew, you need to give your mama a break and calm down.”
Pepper gasped. “He just went still.”
“Did he really?” Sam asked, surprised.
Pepper nodded. “Do it again.”
Sam giggled and leaned down again. “Hi there, little man, it’s your auntie Sam. I can’t wait to meet you.”
“Totally calm. You’re officially the fetus whisperer.” Pepper rubbed her tummy. “That’s it. You’ll need to move in with us until he’s born.”
Sam laughed. “I can just see Con’s reaction when I come in your bedroom at three a.m. because you can’t get your baby to calm down.” She listened again to the baby through her stethoscope and smiled. “Baby sounds good. Your pulse is normal, and your breathing seems to be much better. If you can survive being locked up where Connall can keep an eye on you until you give birth, I have a feeling you’ll survive.”
“You’ve got that right,” Pepper said. “He’ll probably follow me everywhere now.”
Samantha rose to her feet. “Is anyone else hungry? I’m starved.”
Payton’s stomach rumbled. “I definitely am. I had two bites of food before everything… well, anyway, I’m hungry.”
“Okay, I’ll make us something to eat,” Sam said.
“I’ll help,” Payton responded, and followed her into the kitchen.
“I’ll sit here and look pretty,” Pepper retorted.
Samantha laughed. “Good plan.”
* * *
It was well past midnight when Payton awoke, surprised to find herself back in the master bedroom in the flat. Alone. Brodie must have carried her without waking her. She sat up and tried to rub the sleep from her eyes. Brodie?
You’re awake.
Sort of. She took a deep breath, her heart still a little bit sad. Where are you?
The bedroom door opened and Brodie stood silhouetted by the light in the hallway. “I’m here, love.”
“Hi.” Payton climbed off the mattress, feeling a little insecure, and not liking it.
“Hi.” He closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. “I am so sorry, sweetheart.”
She couldn’t stop the tears. “Me too.”
“Samantha filled me in on everything that happened. I know now that if you hadn’t been in there, things could have been much, much worse,” he admitted. “I couldn’t see past my fright to think logically.”
She nodded into his chest. “I shouldn’t have acted so rashly, but you’re right that it would have been worse if I wasn’t there. Being able to use telekinesis was so cool.”
“Pepper told me. According to her, you and Sam were the dream team.”
“It’s not like she stood around and did nothing. But I don’t like ‘dream team’ much.” Payton giggled. “Let’s go with Charlie’s Angels. No, Gunnach’s Angels. It has a certain ring to it.”
“Yes it does.” He leaned down and kissed her quickly. “Please don’t ever do that to me again.”
“I can’t promise that, Brodie, especially if people I love are in trouble.”
“Humor me. Just for tonight.”
Payton linked her fingers behind his neck. “I will never ever do that again.”
Brodie kissed her again, a kiss very different than any before. One of desperation and relief, passion and reserve. Payton matched him, emotion for emotion, both comforted and awed by the care Brodie showed as he made love to her.
As they lay in bed, Payton wrapped an arm around his waist and kissed his chest. “Tell me what happened.”
He shook his head and kissed her temple. “Not tonight, love. I need to forget.”
She frowned. “That bad?”
He answered her by pulling her across his chest and kissing her. After that, Payton didn’t remember her question, and didn’t try to recall it, lost in his arms until she fell asleep.
* * *
Payton came awake with a giggle.
“Did I wake you?” Brodie asked in mock innocence, as he continued to run a finger over her side and kiss her shoulder.
“It’s not the worst way to wake up.” She rolled over and kissed him, frowning as she stroked the stubble of his cheek. He had dark rings under his eyes and stress lines around his mouth. “Did you get any sleep, love?”
“A little.” He kissed her again. “Do I look that bad?”
“Just very tired.” She laid her fingers over his lips. “Are you all right?”
“I will be,” he said, grinning lasciviously.
Payton searched his mind, but he’d blocked her. She sat up on her knees, and Brodie let out a frustrated groan and dragged his hands through his hair as he flopped back onto the pillows.
“Tell me, love,” she pressed.
“I didn’t want to do this here.”
“Brodie, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”
He sat up and stroked her cheek. “Let’s get up and get dressed. I never want our bed to be a place of sadness.”
She blinked back tears and nodded, climbing off the mattress and dressing quickly. Brodie did the same and led her into the living room, pulling her down beside him on the sofa. He stood again. “You should eat.”
She grasped his hand. “No, you should tell me what’s going on. Is it something about my mother?”
He nodded, his face grim.
“What?” she pressed.
“Your mother was brought before the Council last night.”
“Oh,” she said. “That was quick.”
He nodded again. “Your father was there.”
“Kade allowed that?” she asked, surprised.
The Council was made up of several influential men in the Cauld Ane race and her father was certainly one of them, but when it came to decisions within families, the family member on the Council would generally recuse themselves. An alternate would be brought in so that the decision could be made more fairly.
“Aye, love.”
Payton linked her fingers with his. “What happened?”
He closed his eyes for a few seconds and then focused solely on her and took a deep breath. “Your mother is being executed.”
“What?” Payton gasped, tears filling her eyes as she stood and wrapped her arms around her waist. “Was exile not an option?”
He stood again and wrapped his arms around her. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because she is the one who assisted Alice in the attack on the three of you in America, and she is the one who took over when Alice was incarcerated. She and Alice have been putting together a group, human and Cauld Ane alike, and using them to attempt a coup.”
“She tried to kill Samantha?” Payton burst into tears, gripping Brodie’s shirt. “And me?”
“Aye.” He held her while she cried, lowering them both onto the sofa and pulling her into the shelter of his arms.
“Why?” she asked, once her sobbing had calmed. “Oh, what about Da? Is he in on it too?”
“No, sweetheart. He knew nothing about it, but discovered correspondence, emails, letters, and journals your mother had hidden. He brought them to Kade’s attention as soon as he found them…”
She sat up. “What else?”
“Nothing.”
“Tell me,” she demanded.
“I think you should speak to your father.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to speak to my father, Brodie. I want you to tell me what you know.”
“It’s not my secret to tell, love.”
“Listen to me very carefully.” Payton gripped his shoulders and glared at him. “You are my mate. I don’t want to hear anything, good or bad, unless it comes from you. You are the only one I trust more than myself.”
He grimaced. “Your father made the final decision to have her executed.”
Payton slumped against him, processing the information, unsure she’d heard what she’d heard. “He can’t do that.”
“He can, love.”
“No, I mean, he can’t, for his own peace of mind.” She shook her head. “He’ll come around. I know he will.” She sat up again. “He has time to change the ruling, right? Kade, I mean?”
“Aye, love. There’s time.” Brodie pulled her close again and stroked her hair.
“He won’t do it.” Payton fiddled with a button on his shirt and then sat up again. “Can I speak to Kade?”
“Of course you can.”
“No, not as my brother or my boss, but officially. As my king?”
“Payton, you can speak to Kade for any reason at any time.” Brodie slid her hair behind her shoulder.
“Now?”
Brodie checked his watch. “We’ll call him after breakfast, eh?”
“Okay. Yes, good idea.” Payton climbed from his lap and headed for the kitchen. “What would you like?”
Brodie followed her. “I’ll eat whatever you put in front of me.”
“Eggs?” she asked, as she pulled her hair back into a ponytail.
“Perfect.” He leaned against the large island. “Can I help?”
She shook her head and opened the fridge, pulling out eggs and sausages.
“Hey.”
“Hmm?” She glanced up at Brodie, saw his expression of concern, and slid back into his arms.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you too.” She smiled up at him, standing on her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss. “Now go change your shirt, love. I cried all over it.”
“Are you trying to be brave?”
She nodded. “Now, let me make breakfast so we can talk to Kade.”
He smiled. “I’ll be quick.”
* * *
Kade opened the door to his apartment and stepped aside to allow Payton and Brodie to enter. “I thought we could speak in my office, if that’s agreeable to you,” he said.
Payton nodded, trying to force down her fear. She felt ridiculous. This was Kade. The man who’d championed for her when Brodie wasn’t treating her right. The man who’d always supported her at work, always giving her the benefit of the doubt whenever a question came up surrounding any accounting numbers that seemed odd.
“I’ll come with you,” Brodie said.
Payton shook her head, and smiled. “No, I’d like to do this alone. Is that okay?”
“Of course. But I’ll be right here.” He tapped his temple. “I’ll come if you call.”
Samantha hugged Payton and then Brodie. “I made some coffee, Brodie. Would you like some?”
“Aye, I’d love some. Thank you,” Brodie said, and followed her into the kitchen.
Payton followed Kade down the hall and into his spacious office. He stood aside for her to precede him and motioned to one of the chairs by the window. Once she was seated, he sat across from her and leaned forward. “What did you want to speak to me about, lass?”
She wrung her hands in her lap. “I’d like clemency for my mother.”
“Do you know everything she did?” Kade asked.
Payton nodded, unable to look at him.
“And you know that your father has requested her execution?” Kade continued.
“Yes, but he’s upset. He’ll regret it if she dies and he’s the reason she died that way.” She glanced at Kade. “He’s a good man, Kade. He doesn’t really want this.”
“I know that, lass.” Kade took Payton’s hands and smiled gently. “Your mother won’t be executed.”
Payton gasped. “Really?”
Kade nodded. “I know your father, Payton, and I agree with you. He’d never be able to live with himself.”
Payton burst into tears. “Oh.”
“Come here, lass.” Kade pulled her to her feet and gave her a brotherly hug. “I’ll not do anything until everyone’s had a few weeks to sit with the decisions. She will be held until she’s exiled, but I won’t kill her. I’ve never been one to rush to judgment… I’m not the ultimate judge after all.”
“Payton?” Brodie stood in the doorway, concern written in the tightness of his features.
Kade walked Payton to her mate and then left the room, pulling the door closed behind him. Brodie pulled her into his arms and stroked her back. “What did Kade say, love?” he asked.
“That he wasn’t going to execute Mum. That he was going to wait for things to settle down and then he’ll exile her.”
“And how do you feel about that?”
Payton smiled, the first genuine one in over a day. “So much better. I don’t know why I was so nervous. Kade always does the right thing.”
Brodie chuckled. “Really? Always?”
“Always,” she said, emphatically.
“Should I burst your bubble of hero worship for my brother, I wonder.” He stroked her face. “Or let you keep your rose-colored glasses on?”
Payton wrinkled her nose. “Let’s keep them on for now, eh?”
“Your wish is my command.”
Brodie kissed her again and then led Payton out to the kitchen for a second breakfast.