KASPAR LET HER retreat. He knew that if he pushed her, she’d only run... or hurt herself again. He needed some answers of his own before he could accurately explain anything to her. He returned to the car, Austri opened the door and Kaspar climbed inside. Once Austri slid into the driver’s seat, Kaspar said, “Wait and see if she comes out soon. If she does, follow her.”

Austri nodded and Kaspar raised the partition glass, pulling out his phone and dialing Kade Gunnach.

“Gunnach.”

“I need to speak with my brother.”

Kade sighed, but didn’t respond.

“The calls are recorded, Kade. There’s no reason to stop this.”

“You’re becoming a pain in my arse, that’s a good enough reason. Why do you need to speak with him?”

“That I can’t tell you,” Kaspar said.

“As you so eloquently pointed out, I will have every chance to listen to your conversation while and after it takes place, so you might as well tell me now.”

“My brother should answer my questions before you are aware of what they are.”

Kade sighed again, but Kaspar knew he understood. Whether he’d allow another conversation was the question.

“I’ll patch you through. But I’ll be listening.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

The line went quiet for a few seconds before Ari’s voice sounded over the wire. “Kaz?”

“How are you?”

“Fine, Kaspar. Fannstu þá?” (Did you find them?)

“Já.”

“Hvar eru þeir?” (Where are they?)

“Öruggir.” (Safe.)

“Segðu mér,” Ari demanded. (Tell me.)

“Nei, ég er með spurningu áður en ég segi þér eitthvað.” (No. I have a question before I tell you anything.)

“Hvað?” (What?)

“Er þessi kona maki þinn?” (Is this woman your mate?)

“Við bindumst ekki með mönnum.” (We don’t mate with humans.)

“Við erum alin upp við þá trú, en ég þarf að vita, er hún maki þinn?” Kaspar asked again. (That is what we are raised to believe, but I need to know, is she your mate?)

“Já,” Ari admitted.

“Then why didn’t you bind her?”

“Because I thought I was wrong.”

“Were you afraid of what might happen if you bound a human?”

“I suppose. When she reached ár mökunar, I knew she felt what I felt and, God help me, I was going to bind her despite our laws, consequences be damned, but before I could, she was gone.”

“Skít,” Kaspar snapped.

“You’ve really found her?” Ari asked again.

“I have found your daughter. I have yet to see Megan.”

“Is she happy? My beautiful Ása?”

“I believe so, brother.”

“Who does she look like?” Ari asked. “I bet she’s as beautiful as her mama.”

“She actually looks just like you.”

“I wish I could see her. Just one last time.” Ari sighed. “Find Megan, Kaz. Please. I can’t die without knowing she’s safe.”

“You’re not going to die, Ari.”

“You don’t know that, brother. I have no idea what Kade Gunnach is capable of.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Kaspar said.

“You must promise me you’ll protect her.”

Kaspar pinched the bridge of his nose. “What the hell is going on, Ari? The truth. Why did you not tell me?”

“I don’t know why. I thought I’d lose her if I did, I suppose.”

Kaspar decided to pose a calculated question, knowing he was being recorded, but also aware that Ari didn’t. “Why did you threaten the Gunnach family? Why did you try to hurt them?”

“I had no intention of harming anyone. I knew I would never find Ása without my other girls, but I misjudged their mates’ powers... or how far they’d go to protect them.”

“Which makes you an idiot,” Kaspar snapped.

“Já. This is new territory for us, brother. I have no excuse.”

Kaspar glanced up as the car pulled away from the curb. Jesska must be leaving, and he hoped she’d lead him to her sister. “I have to go. I’ll try to contact you when I know more.”

“Protect her, Kaz. Please.”

“I will,” he promised, and hung up.

* * *

The next day, Jesska had planned to have dinner at Cameron’s, something the siblings tried to do a couple of times a month. As she drove further into the city, she glanced into the rearview mirror and then behind her... then in her side mirrors, a strange feeling of being watched covering her again. She didn’t see anyone following her. At least, nothing seemed out of the ordinary to her as she maneuvered the busy Portland streets. “There is something seriously wrong with you, Jess,” she grumbled out loud.

She’d dropped the things off for Megan and Sophia the night before and ended up hanging out at Cameron’s until far later than expected. After the strange run-in with Kaspar, she’d needed her family, and they’d stayed up until the wee hours talking about the strange events that were happening. Unfortunately, none of them had been able to come to any conclusions about what any of them meant.

Arriving at her brother’s building, she entered the code for the garage and waited for the gate to open, drove inside, and parked in his space. She climbed out of the car and glanced around. No one had followed her. She was just going batty. Popping the trunk, she grabbed the wine bag, then locked the car and headed to the elevator.

Instead of letting herself in, she knocked, unprepared for what happened when Cameron opened the door. Kaspar pushed past her into the apartment, and then all hell broke loose. Jesska couldn’t stop a scream as Cameron, obviously anticipating the attack, pulled his gun from his holster and aimed it at Kaspar’s heart. Jesska found herself jumping in front of Kaspar and holding her hands out to her brother. Kasper sidestepped her, and she had to move again.

Cameron aimed the gun away from her, taking a second to close and lock the front door. “Move, Jess.”

“No,” she said. “I don’t want you to hurt him.”

“I want to see my niece,” Kaspar demanded, and settled his hand on Jesska’s lower back, moving out from behind her again.

“She’s not here,” Cameron said.

“Then I’ll wait.”

“Like hell you will,” Cameron snapped.

Jesska faced Kaspar. “What are you doing here? I’m assuming you followed me?”

“Followed, no... waited for you to show up, yes,” Kaspar said.

“He stalked you?”

“Cam,” she snapped, glancing over her shoulder. “Shhh.”

Cameron swore and Jesska turned to face him.

“Will you please put the gun down?” she insisted.

“No,” Cameron said.

She frowned and faced Kaspar again. “You need to leave.”

Kaspar shook his head. “I need answers, and I can’t get those answers until I speak with your sister.”

“This isn’t the way to get them.”

“I disagree.” He cocked his head and smiled. “I think it’s the perfect way.”

“You can’t hurt them,” she begged.

“Elskan.” Kaspar frowned, taking her hand and squeezing it. “Haven’t you figured out I have no intention of harming anyone? I just need some answers.”

“Do you know this guy, Jess?” Cameron asked... actually it was more of a demand than a question.

She tugged her hand from Kaspar’s and faced her brother. “No. Not really.”

Cameron stepped toward them. “Then why are you letting him touch you?”

“I don’t really have a choice,” she grumbled.

“He’s forcing you?” Cameron bellowed, and aimed the gun at Kaspar’s head.

“No!” Jesska insisted, stepping in front of him again. And again, Kaspar shifted, much to Jesska’s irritation.

“Stop getting between him and the gun, Jess,” Cameron warned.

“I’m not going to let you shoot him, Cam.” Jesska glanced at Kaspar. “And you need to quit moving. He won’t shoot me to get to you.”

Kaspar shook his head. “And I won’t allow you into the fray, so listen to your brother, please.”

The click of the locks drew focus to the door and Megan and Sophia walked in. Megan caught sight of Kaspar and shoved Sophia back outside, telling her to run.

Kaspar was faster than Jesska would have ever guessed, and grabbed Sophia before she even stepped back over the threshold. Megan screamed and clawed at him to let her daughter go, but Kaspar managed to pull them both inside, past the doorway, albeit gently.

Jesska tried to stay between Kaspar and her brother’s gun, even though she knew Cam would never shoot him in front of Sophia, so she relaxed a bit.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Kaspar insisted.

Sophia looked panicked, tears flowing down her cheeks. “Please, let me go,” she pleaded.

Kaspar released her immediately, and Jesska realized he was telling the truth. He really didn’t want to hurt anyone. He also released Megan, but watched her closely.

Jesska studied him warily. What did he want? She desperately wanted to know his intentions with her family... and with her.

Once Sophia was released, Megan calmed, pulling her daughter behind her and facing Kaspar. “What do you want? What does he want?”

“Perhaps Sophia should go to her room and we’ll talk,” Cameron suggested.

“Probably a good idea,” Kaspar agreed.

“Mom?” Sophia squeaked.

“It’s okay, honey. I’ll come see you in a bit. Everything’s okay.”

“Wait,” Kaspar said, closing the distance between them.

Megan stepped between them and Kaspar let her.

“I’m very sorry if I frightened you, child,” he said. “I would never hurt you intentionally.”

Sophia looked up at him and then her mother. Her mother nodded, and without a word, Sophia took off toward Cameron’s spare room.

Before any more conversation could happen, someone pounded on Cameron’s front door. “What now?” he snapped, opening the door to a fuming Dalton Moore.

The man stalked inside and headed straight for Kaspar, who quickly moved out of his way. “I told you I’d handle this,” Dalton snapped.

Jesska stared at Kaspar. He looked genuinely concerned when Dalton got anywhere near him.

“Stop moving, you entitled bastard,” Dalton demanded.

Kaspar shook his head. “I don’t want you within reach of me.”

Jesska frowned.

Dalton raised his hands, but didn’t step away. “Then come with me.”

“I require answers first.”

“Actually, so do I,” Megan said.

All eyes were on her as she crossed her arms and stared Kaspar down.

“I’ll answer anything I can,” Kaspar promised.

“Your decision, Megan,” Cameron said.

“I will dispose of him if you want me to,” Dalton added.

“No!” Jesska snapped, and couldn’t stop a horrified expression as she stared at Dalton. He looked like he would enjoy “disposing” of Kaspar, given half the chance.

“It’s okay, elskan,” Kaspar assured her.

“I want answers, but I’d like them without eavesdropping,” Megan said.

“Are you sure?” Cameron asked.

Megan nodded.

Cameron waved a hand toward the hallway. “You can use my office.”

Megan motioned for Kaspar to follow her, and he gave Dalton a wide berth as he slipped past him. He paused to squeeze Jesska’s hand. “Are you all right?”

She nodded, and he released her to follow Megan.

* * *

Kaspar walked inside the room and was instantly impressed with the office space. It had floor-to-ceiling windows that made him feel like he was standing at the top of the world, and the size itself was bigger than most double bedrooms in Iceland. The view was incomparable as the sun set over the water.

Megan closed the door behind him, and motioned to the chair facing the large mahogany desk. He sat down after she took Cameron’s chair. “Why are you here?” she asked, her voice shaking. “You cannot take Sophia from me. I won’t allow it.”

“Sister,” Kaspar said with a frown. “I have no intention of taking her from you. Did my brother make you believe that I would?”

Megan shrugged. “He never discussed you. I only found out through his staff that he had family and that you were royalty.”

“What about when he came to visit me?”

“He left me behind.”

“Obviously,” Kaspar said. “But did he tell you where he was going?”

“No. He said it was business. I usually found out after the fact that he had visited his family.”

Kaspar could see that Ari’s deception had wounded Megan and, with the sheen of tears she tried to blink away, he could see it still did. “Tell me what you want to know,” he said.

“What are you?” Megan asked.

“Excuse me?”

She cleared her throat. “What are you? I have been away from Ari long enough that I have figured out you’re not what you seem. He was able to wipe my pregnancies from memory and replace them with entirely different ones. He could make me believe anything he said. It took me until I was here before I started to put the fragmented pieces of my mind back together.”

“And from that, you believe that I would hurt you or Sophia?”

Megan stared at him for several tense seconds before shaking her head and rising to her feet. She made her way to the windows and stared out at the water. “I don’t think Ari would ever allow us to be hurt.”

Kaspar relaxed. “What do you remember?”

She faced him, crossing her arms. “I remember almost everything now. What I can’t figure out is if what I’m remembering is accurate or not.”

“Which parts?”

“Him. What we felt for each other.”

“What did you feel for him?”

“I loved him. More than I had ever loved anyone... and probably ever will.”

“Then why did you leave?” he asked.

“We weren’t safe.”

“From him?”

Megan shrugged. “I don’t know anymore. At the time, I thought he was the threat, but the longer I’ve been away, the less I believe that. Someone stole our babies. There was a woman... an old woman, who said that Ari had given them away. At the time, I was angry, horrified, inconsolable, everything you would imagine a mother to feel when she’s lost her children. But Ari would hold me, and I realize now that he could manipulate my memories and emotions, and he made me forget I’d had any other kids.”

“I think he did that to protect you,” Kaspar said.

“I do, too,” she admitted. “When I had Sophia, Ari made sure she was never out of his sight. Her birth was the hardest on me, and I was in and out of consciousness.”

Kaspar looked at Megan with a new respect. Giving birth to a Kalt Einn baby would have wreaked havoc on her human body, and the fact she did it three times meant she was stronger than anyone probably would have given her credit for.

“I had a wonderful nurse who said Ari didn’t sleep for four days while I was unstable. He sat by my bed, one hand on me and one on her... we’d originally called her Ása. I woke up to find him in bed with me, her in between us.”

“Then why did you leave him?”

“Because we really weren’t safe. The nurse, the one who came to the house, said that people were looking for us, and if I didn’t want to lose my baby, I had to leave.”

Kaspar raised an eyebrow. “What was the nurse’s name?”

Megan squeezed her eyes shut as if trying to remember. “Clara, I think.”

“Did she say who these people were?”

“No.” She sighed. “And to be fair, I didn’t ask. I was tired, I had an almost one-year-old, and I felt like I was going crazy. Maybe I felt like I was going crazy because I was tired. I don’t know.”

“Why did you feel crazy?”

“Ari changed. I guess I did too, but he was frustrated all the time. He’d snap at me and the staff, I’d hear him yelling at his valet, security guy, constantly. Honestly, I’m surprised Dreki stuck around. When we were alone, we were constantly bickering, and I could hear him in my mind. Speaking to me. I thought I was hearing voices. He also wouldn’t marry me. Said that he couldn’t.” She blinked back tears. “God help me, but I was so in love with that man, I stayed. By the time I finally left, the only person he seemed to cherish was Ása.”

Kaspar sighed. “Well, that’s not even the least bit true.”

“You don’t think?”

“No, Megan, I don’t. I’m sorry you felt that way... sorry he made you feel that way, but he loved you. He still loves you. We are bound by tradition and lore, and we are trying to break free from the archaic laws, but we find it difficult at times.”

“You mean the ones that say you can’t marry someone who isn’t royalty?”

“You asked what we are. I will tell you the truth. I mean the laws that say we cannot be bound to anyone human.”

Megan sucked in a great gulp of air, coughing as she choked. Kaspar rushed to her and did his best to calm her, but they weren’t family yet—not until Ari bound her, so he wasn’t able to do much to help.

The door slammed open, and Cameron had his gun ready again.

“What the hell are you doing, Cameron?” Megan demanded as she finally brought her coughing under control.

“Are you all right?” her brother asked.

“Yes, I’m fine. I just swallowed wrong. Why the hell do you have your gun out? God, Cameron, you’d think you’re some drug lord protecting your product. Put. It. Away.”

Kaspar noticed Jesska hovering in the background and made his way to her while Megan continued to chastise Cameron.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“We’re just trying to sort all of this out, elskan.”

She wrinkled her nose as she frowned up at him. “Don’t call me that.”

“Hey.” He smiled and squeezed her arm. “Are you okay?” She nodded and he lifted her palm to his lips. “When this discussion is all over, will you allow me to take you to dinner?”

Jesska bit her lip. “No.”

“I don’t typically take no for an answer,” he said.

Jesska glanced at her sister, still in a heated exchanged with Cameron, and then back at him. “Well, now’s your chance to get used to it.”

He smiled again. “We’ll see.”

Megan shoved Cameron past them and then turned to Jesska. “Out, please.”

Jesska bit her lip again, and it took every bit of self-control for Kaspar not to pry it from her teeth and kiss her. He squeezed her hand and nodded, which elicited another frown from her, but she did step outside and close the door.

Megan turned the lock and headed back to the desk. “Where were we?”

“What did you hear?”

“That you’re not human,” she whispered.

“It’s true.”

“I don’t understand.”

Kaspar stared out at the water. “I know you don’t, and I think Ari should be telling you this, but I also think it’s something you’ve suspected for a while. Am I right?”

Megan nodded. “I think so. There were too many weird things happening for it to be normal. Is this why he was acting so strange?”

“Yes.” Kaspar sat down again and indicated for Megan to do the same. “You have to understand that when we turn twenty-five, we reach what we call ár mökunar, which means that when we find our... ah, the person we are going to be with forever, we don’t wait around. We bind them and move on with our lives. When Ari met you, he knew you were his mate, but he couldn’t do anything until you reached ár mökunar as well. As a human, you were forbidden to him, but he would never have been able to accept that, so he tried to make it work.”

“Well then, why are you here and not him?”

“He’s ... ah... hann er í fangelsi.”

“He’s in jail?” she squeaked.

“You speak Icelandic?”

“I lived there for a long time. Of course I picked up the language,” she said in frustration. “Don’t change the subject.”

“Sorry.”

“Why is he in jail?”

“Because he’s an idiot.”

“What did he do?” she asked.

“He found your other daughters and dosed their families with Red Fang; however, it didn’t work. He was caught and is now in Edinburgh.”

“Scotland?”

Kaspar nodded.

“He found our babies?” she rasped.

“Já. They are mat—ah, married and living there.”

“What are they like? Were they happy growing up? Are they happy now? Do they know what happened?”

“I don’t know, Megan. I’m sorry.”

“I have to go there,” she said, and pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Crap. It’s dead. I need my laptop.”

“Wait,” Kaspar said. “We can’t go anywhere until we sort this out. I don’t know that you would be allowed to see him anyway.”

“But I can see them, right?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I need to know who took your girls first. Ari doesn’t know, and I’m concerned that if you’re not under my protection and your brother’s, that something will happen.”

She blinked back tears. “You’re probably right. This just sucks.”

“I agree.”

Megan crossed her arms. “You said Ari dosed the family with something. What is Red Fang?”

“It’s a native flower than can render us paralyzed.”

She dropped her head in her hands and groaned. “Why would he do that?”

“I can’t answer that.”

“Is he reachable?”

Kaspar shrugged. “I can’t answer that either.”

“What do you mean? How do you know he’s in Edinburgh if he’s not reachable?”

Kaspar rubbed his forehead. “Whether or not a phone call can be put through is at the mercy of the Cauld Ane leader. He isn’t happy with my brother, and quite frankly, I don’t blame him. Ari threatened Kade’s whole family.”

Megan blinked back tears again.

“Hvað, systir?” (What, sister?)

“I just wonder what would have happened if I’d never left. I should have stayed and worked it out.”

“You couldn’t have known, Megan. Don’t beat yourself off.”

Megan giggled. “Up. Don’t beat yourself up. The other means something entirely different.”

Kaspar smiled. “I’ll try to remember that.”

“Could we please try to get a call through?” she asked. “I feel like I need to make a few things right.”

“Of course,” he said, pulling out his cell phone. “Before we do that, though, I have a question about your relationship to Jesska.”

“She’s my sister.”

“By blood?” he asked.

“Well, no. Her father... our father... adopted me when he married my mother. It’s complicated. My biological father died soon after my mother became pregnant with me, and she met my “dad” when I was about three months old. I was one when they married and they had Cam, then my mother died and he remarried. Jesska is theirs together... it’s very complicated.” Megan raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Curious,” he said, and dialed Kade’s number.

“Bloody hell, Kaspar. Again?” Kade snapped.

“Good morning to you,” Kaspar retorted.

“Aye, ’tis morning, and bloody early. What do you want?”

“I have someone who would like to speak with Ari. Will you arrange it?”

“Who?”

“That I can’t elaborate on,” he said, glancing at Megan, who frowned.

Kade swore. “Because you’re an arse, or because this person is standing in front of you?”

Kaspar scowled. “You’ll watch your tone.”

“No. I won’t arrange it,” Kade said, and hung up.

Megan settled her hands on the edge of the desk. “Did you have to be so rude?”

Kaspar scowled. “Me? He needs to understand who he’s speaking with.”

She held out her hand. “Give me your phone.”

“Nei.”

“Give me the goddamn phone, Kaspar. I will get my phone call, or I’m getting on a freaking plane and demanding to see him.”

Kaspar dialed Kade’s number again and handed the phone to her reluctantly.

“Great,” Megan snapped. “Voice mail.” She left a message and then handed the phone back to Kaspar. “Your ego and rudeness might mean I don’t get to talk to him, which is totally unacceptable. You get more flies with honey, Kaspar. Try to remember that next time.”

He slid his phone into his pocket without comment.

“I’m going to check on Sophia,” she said. “I will tell my brother and his friend not to kill you. Although, maiming is still an option in my book.” She yanked open the door and stalked out of the room.