LATE FRIDAY EVENING, Payton arrived at the castle with Niall, Angus, and Fiona. She’d been a little surprised when Kade had accompanied them on the flight, but then again, it was his plane, and it would have been a waste of gas and money to fly separately. However, he was driven from the airport to the castle by his personal security, leaving the rest of the group to pile into the limo he’d provided.
When the car drove into the courtyard of the castle, Niall was closest to the door, so he climbed out first and waited for her and Fiona to do so as well. She was a little surprised to find Brodie hovering near the entrance. He smiled at her and then glanced at Niall and frowned.
She tugged Niall’s shirt. “Do not leave me alone,” she demanded through clenched teeth.
“Me?” Niall settled his arm around her shoulders and gave her a brotherly squeeze. “Payton McFadden. What do you take me for? I’d never ever leave you alone… unless, there’s scotch. But only if it’s old scotch… you know, the kind you’d never find in a medieval castle.”
Payton laughed. She wished Nye was her mate. He was easy to be with. Easy to talk to. Unfortunately, she didn’t find men with dark hair attractive. She liked blonde haired, blue-eyed Neanderthals, apparently. Her gaze involuntarily met Brodie’s and her pulse quickened.
Dragging her thoughts and attention ahead of her, she made her way to the door and Payton found herself separated from Niall.
“I’m so glad you came,” Brodie said, and kissed her cheek.
Payton raised an eyebrow. “Did I have a choice?”
“Truth?” He grinned. “Not really. I would have come to you, if you hadn’t come to me.”
“As I suspected.” She kept her voice controlled, despite the fact her breath was harder to catch, knowing he’d pursue her. She swallowed down her excitement and pressed her hand against her stomach in an attempt to calm it.
Brodie led her inside. “Come. I thought we’d have a private dinner.”
“Brodie, what about your welcome home party?” she challenged. “Aren’t we eating with everyone else?”
“The real party is tomorrow, love. Tonight’s just for you and me.”
“It is? What about Niall and Max?”
“What about them?” he asked, grinning like an idiot.
“Are you saying you invited Niall in order to get me here a day early?”
He cocked his head. “Perhaps.”
She pressed her lips into a thin line. She would not grin like a love-sick moron. “I should really stick with Niall. I promised I wouldn’t desert him.”
Brodie nodded toward the great hall. Niall stood laughing with his brother Max and Connall Gunnach, drink in hand, not one glance in her direction.
Traitorous wretch.
Brodie chuckled. “He seems fine.”
“But this is technically your party weekend. Don’t you want to say hello to your friends?”
“I will later,” he countered. “Right now, though, I’d like to spend time alone with you.”
Brodie presented his arm, and Payton felt transported back to the first night she’d met him, the night she’d gotten a vision she hadn’t fully understood. That vision came rushing back to her again with a new understanding. Could she trust it to be accurate?
She slipped her hand into the crook of Brodie’s arm, relieved that she wasn’t assaulted with any other images. She’d spent a lot of time and energy over the past few years learning to control her visions. So far, she’d managed to do pretty well, but with him, she couldn’t quite get her guard up, and worried she’d be subjected to things she didn’t want to see.
As Brodie guided her outside, Payton couldn’t help but appreciate the land that Gunnach Castle sat on. She’d visited here a few times over the last five years, and each time there was something new to appreciate.
Brodie led her to the private garden just to the south of the old blacksmith’s cottage, now used as nothing more than a glorified shed.
A small table and two chairs had been set up overlooking some of the most glorious land on earth. The king had built a large pagoda years before, and someone had strung old-fashioned looking lanterns from the roof of the structure and wrapped tiny white lights around the columns. The table was covered with a white tablecloth and candles fluttered in the middle.
“The lights are beautiful,” she said. “Were they Fiona’s idea?”
“No, they were mine,” Brodie said.
“Ah. You had them hung for your welcome-home weekend.”
He smiled. “No, lass. I hung them myself. Just for you.”
Payton let out a quiet gasp. “You did?”
“Aye.”
“Oh, Brodie, it’s lovely. Thank you so much.”
Brodie ran the back of his hand gently across her cheek. “Anything for you, Payton.”
Her heart raced as she stared up at him, his eyes glowing with love. She felt her face heat as she lowered her head.
“Anyway, I thought we’d eat out here,” Brodie said, and held a chair for her. “If that’s all right with you, of course.”
“Oh, yes.” Payton glanced down at her jeans and T-shirt. “But maybe I should change. I feel quite grungy.”
“You’re beautiful, lass. If you want to change, you can, but don’t do it on my account. I want to spend as much time with you as I can.”
“Okay.” Payton smiled. The sun was setting behind Brodie, the effect creating a halo appearance around his head. She tried not to giggle as she took her seat.
Brodie sat across from her and poured her a glass of wine. They didn’t speak as one of the staff directed the serving of dinner. Once the food was placed in front of them, Brodie gave them a nod and they disappeared back into the castle.
Payton lifted her glass. “Welcome home.”
He grinned and tapped his glass to hers. “Thank you.”
Each of them took a sip of their wine and Payton tried not to blush as he studied her.
“So what did you do in the Arctic?” Payton broke the silence and then sipped her wine again. “Other than stalk baby polar bears.”
Brodie chuckled. “I assisted with some of the more remote and difficult explorations. Afghanistan, of course, would have been out of the question.”
Payton’s stomach roiled at the thought. “Yes. Of course you couldn’t go there.”
The Cauld Ane were in danger of death in temperatures over twenty degrees Celsius, and the thought of him being hurt was almost too much for her to imagine.
He reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. “Lucky for me, not many people typically want to go to places with arctic temperatures. I provided a service which the English Crown was grateful for.”
“Were you there the whole five years?” she asked.
She didn’t want to ask him why he’d stopped writing… that would seem too desperate. Instead, she focused on the food in front of her.
“Aye,” he said. “I came home last week to debrief and then straight to see you.”
She lowered her fork. “Really?”
“Aye.” Brodie smiled. “I missed you, Payton.”
She’d missed him as well, even though that feeling seemed illogical to her. Without warning, her teenage dreams were real hopes. Her draw to him felt so much deeper than a simple physical attraction. “How do you like working for Gunnach Pharmaceutical?” Brodie asked, saving her from admitting that she’d missed him as well.
“I like it very much,” Payton said. “Duncan’s a great boss. I’m learning more than I could have ever imagined.”
Brodie leaned back in his chair and smiled. “What would you like to do after school?”
“I quite like what I’m doing, actually. When I graduate, I’ll have a degree in accounting, but I’m not sure I want to crunch numbers all day. I enjoy the variety working for Duncan provides.”
“Well, you’ll have a job there as long as you want it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that.” He shifted in his seat. “You will always have a job there. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Brodie.” Payton sighed. “Please don’t interfere. I only want the job if I deserve it.”
“And you will.” He raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know of anyone more deserving.”
“That’s not what I mean.” She shook her head. “Promise me you’ll stay out of my work life. It’s bad enough you tattled to Duncan about the fact I didn’t go to lunch with you.”
“I did not tattle,” he argued.
“Really?” she challenged.
“Really.” Brodie leaned forward. “What exactly did he say?”
“No way. I’m not playing this game with you.”
He leaned back again.
“Promise me,” she stressed. “This job is important to me and I don’t want to feel like I only have it because of some allegiance to you. If I fail, I fail on my own terms.”
“I just want to take care of you.”
Typical man, she thought, her heart melting just a little. She couldn’t believe she was sitting across from him and having such a normal conversation. She was beginning to feel almost as comfortable as she did with Niall. Almost.
She smiled. “I appreciate your desire to take care of me, even if it’s a bit alpha-male. But–”
“But what? And what’s wrong with being a strong man? If you ask me, there are too many in this world who hide behind their mama’s skirts.”
Payton forced herself not to giggle. “Times have changed, Brodie. Women have the vote now.”
He chuckled. “And?”
“And I’m quite capable of taking care of myself. In fact, I enjoy it.”
“Payton.” He swirled the wine in his glass. “It’s my God-given right as your mate to provide for you. Why do you find that difficult to understand?”
“It’s not that I don’t understand, Brodie.” She took a deep breath and changed tack. “Let me ask you this. Do you have many friends?”
“What is that supposed to mean?” he asked in suspicion. “I have several.”
“How many don’t actually know, or care, that you’re a prince?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “The men in my unit, mainly.”
“So, out of the ones who know you’re a prince, how many of them say no to you? Or at the very least, challenge you?”
She could see the light dawning in his eyes.
“Payton,” he sighed.
“Just answer the question.”
“Max and Niall are about the only ones,” he admitted.
“And you enjoy their company, right?”
“Aye.”
“Outside of them, who do you feel more comfortable around? Your unit and the MacMillan’s, or the ‘friends’ who do your bidding because of who you are, or who you’re related to?”
He raised his hands in surrender. “You’ve made your point.”
“Have I?”
“Aye. I will stay out of your work life.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
“But if Duncan does anything unprofessional, I will end him.”
“No, you won’t. I’ll speak with Kade if that happens. He’s Duncan’s boss.” Payton cocked her head. “You are not. But Duncan’s always professional, Brodie, so you don’t have anything to worry about.”
“You could always come and work for me. My businesses always need a good accountant.”
“No, thank you.”
“No?” He raised an eyebrow. “Just no?”
“I said ‘no, thank you,’” she corrected, and then smiled. “In any event, it would never work. I’d drive you nuts.”
“You would not.”
“Okay. You’d drive me nuts.”
He laughed and dessert arrived, cutting off anything further he may have wanted to say on the subject. “You have two choices tonight, love,” Brodie said.
“Oh?”
“Crème brûlée or…”
She cocked her head. “Or?”
“Hokey Pokey ice cream.”
“You remembered,” she said, realizing Brodie didn’t miss much when it came to her.
“Of course I did.”
She smiled. “How about both?”
Brodie chuckled. “As you wish.”
The servers set the plates in front of them and left again. When Payton had taken the last bite of dessert, she heard music start to play through invisible speakers. Brodie stood and held his hand out to her. “Dance with me.”
Payton loved to dance. In this modern day, she rarely got the chance, and it was one of the reasons she looked forward to formal gatherings at the castle. Some traditions were held onto with fierceness and dancing was one of them. She slipped into Brodie’s arms and he guided her into a waltz. She closed her eyes and let the music cover her.
He was an exceptional dancer, and she smiled as he pulled her closer and slowed. Within seconds, he simply held her, sliding his hands into her hair. “You are so beautiful, Payton.”
She felt her cheeks heat as his mouth covered hers. Her first kiss with a prince. Her first kiss ever, to be honest. As the kiss deepened, Payton realized she had no power of resistance when it came to Brodie Gunnach. She was in love with him.
She felt a shiver shoot up her spine and broke the kiss with a groan. “You did it, didn’t you?” she asked. “You said the words.”
“Aye.” He smiled. “Which is proof that you’re my mate, yes?”
“Say it out loud.”
“Þú verður mín að eilífu.” (You will be mine forever.)
These were the first ritual words a Cauld Ane male spoke to his mate, and Payton’s soul responded immediately. Another shiver ran through her body and she couldn’t stop a smile when he kissed her again. The rain began to fall and Brodie kept her in the shelter of his body as he moved her toward the house. “Let’s continue this inside.”
Payton nodded and walked with him back to the great hall. For the most part, the group ignored the couple. Except for Niall. He raised an eyebrow and Payton glared at him, willing him not to say anything. He smiled, shrugged, and turned back toward his brother.
“I’d really like to unpack,” Payton said. “And maybe change.”
“Why don’t we plan to meet in the conservatory in an hour? I have a few things I need to take care of as well.”
“Sounds good.”
He kissed her cheek and Payton made her way to her room, her fingers covering her well-kissed lips.
* * *
Once unpacked and showered, Payton still had time before she met up with Brodie again and so headed for the library, her favorite room in the castle. Her heart was still full and she hummed quietly as she headed down the hall. An avid reader, Payton couldn’t wait to get her hands on one of the rarer books the library held. Kade had given her permission to read anything in the library, even a couple of the first-edition Jane Austen novels he had in his possession. She pushed open the door and found Brodie and Niall in a heated discussion. They didn’t seem to notice her, and she couldn’t seem to leave.
“This is not what I agreed to,” Niall snapped.
“Damn it, Nye.”
“No! I agreed to get close to Payton and become her friend in order to keep an eye on her, but I’m done.”
“Close, Niall, not be her friend. I never said be her friend.”
“Well, I am. And it’s bad enough you stopped writing to her, but now you’re back and playing the doting and demanding mate? And who the hell is this Heather person?” Niall snapped.
“None of your bloody business!”
“Fine, but it sure as hell should be Payton’s, don’t you think?”
Payton gasped.
Two heads, one blond one dark, turned to her.
“Pay,” Niall groaned.
“You’re seeing someone else?” Payton asked Brodie.
“You don’t understand,” he said.
“Then explain it to me.”
Brodie shook his head. “I can’t, Payton.”
“And you?” She scowled at Niall. “You were in charge of babysitting me?”
“No, Payton, you don’t understand,” Niall said.
“I seem to be hearing that a lot at the moment. Were you supposed to get close to me?” she asked Niall. “So you could feed Brodie information?”
“No, Payton, I swear,” Niall argued.
“And the sudden interest in buying things for me after Brodie left?” She glared at Niall. “Were you instructed to ‘take care of me’? As though I was already Brodie’s property?” She bit her lip, realizing as she said the words out loud, she probably didn’t want to hear the answer.
“No!” Niall said. “It was nothing like that.”
“Really? Then, you won’t mind if I pay you back.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Brodie snapped.
“Ah, so it was your money, then.”
“Wait, Payton. Honestly. I would have done all of that anyway. You’re my best friend,” Niall said.
“How much did Brodie pay you to say that?”
“He did that all on his bloody own,” Brodie snapped.
“Shut up, Brodie.” Niall shook his head.
Payton rubbed her temples. “I am so thick. You’ve known about Brodie’s claim on me this entire time, Niall, haven’t you? So has Fiona!”
“Pay, please,” Niall begged. “Truly. I’ve been your friend because I wanted to.”
“I don’t believe you.” Payton yanked the door closed with a bang. She could barely see through the veil of tears as she made a run for her room.
“Payton!” Brodie bellowed, and his heavy footsteps sounded behind her.
She slammed into someone and strong arms wrapped around her.
“Payton?” Kade’s concerned voice slipped through her sadness. “What’s happened, lass?”
“Oh, Your Majesty. I’m sorry.” Payton pulled away from Kade and tried to bring her emotions under control. Connall stood next to him and glared at someone over her head… she hoped it was Brodie. He needed to be glared at right now.
“Get your bloody hands off her, Kade,” Brodie snapped.
Kade didn’t release her right away, and Payton was grateful for the support.
“What’s going on?” Kade asked again.
“Pay, please,” Niall added. “You don’t under—”
“Don’t!” She turned and jabbed a finger at him. “Don’t you dare lie to me, Niall MacMillan!”
“Payton. What you heard in there is not what you think,” Brodie said.
Kade released Payton and she crossed her arms. “Oh? Then what is it, Brodie?”
He shifted his feet. “I can’t tell you.”
“Right.” She turned back to Kade and Connall. “Will you please excuse me? I need to make arrangements to go home.”
Brodie shook his head. “I’ll take you home.”
“No,” Payton said. “I don’t want to spend another second in your presence. I’m uninterested in hearing any more of your lies.”
Brodie sighed. “Payton.”
“What?” she snapped. “If we are in fact mates, then I guess I’ll have to face the fact that I’ll be bound to a liar and a bully. But that’s not for another five years, and until then, I have no desire to speak to you, see you, or hear your name spoken in my presence.”
“Damn it, Payton!”
“Brodie,” Connall warned. “Watch your tone.”
Brodie scowled at his brother and then focused back on Payton. “You don’t understand, Payton.”
“And you refuse to explain, so I suppose we’re in a quandary. I’m leaving.”
“You don’t have to go,” Brodie said. “I will.”
Payton sneered up at him. “It’s your bloody welcome home party, Brodie! Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’ll have Alasdair drive you to the airport,” Kade offered. “My plane is at your disposal.”
Alasdair Ryan was head of security for the royals and always on call.
“Don’t interfere, Kade,” Brodie snapped.
Connall laid his hand on Brodie’s shoulder and squeezed.
Ignoring Brodie, Payton turned back to Kade. “I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
“No!” Brodie growled.
“No?” she asked, crossing her arms. “Is that an order, my liege?”
“Please, Payton. Let’s just talk, okay?”
“So that you can lie to me some more?” she accused. “No thank you.”
“I’ll go with you,” Niall said.
“Are you high?” Payton narrowed her eyes. “If I never speak to you again, Niall MacMillan, it will be too soon!”
She made a run for her room, packing quickly and dragging her bag downstairs to find Brodie and Kade standing in the foyer. Kade insisted on riding with her to the airport. In some ways, this brotherly act of kindness drove the dagger in deeper.
How could the man who’d betrayed her so completely be related to two of the kindest men she’d ever known?
Payton pushed aside the doom of her imminent fate. She was determined to forget Brodie Gunnach, hoping he was wrong and that someone else, someone she could love and trust completely would be her mate. She figured she had five years to find him.