Kean

“This isn’t the same cabin,” Madison said cautiously as Kean took them on a different path as they walked back.

“Your powers of observation are great indeed,” he said cryptically.

Madison glared at him.

“Okay, okay,” he said, laughing as he held up his hands in surrender. “Easy there. No need to freak out.”

“It’s in my nature to be suspicious,” she replied.

“I know,” he told her. “Which is why you’re so intent on making sure you can trust us, but aren’t really doing anything to ensure we can trust you.”

Madison’s glare died as she looked forward, simply following the path as he walked along it. When no response seemed forthcoming from her, he shrugged mentally in defeat and continued talking on the original subject.

“We have two cabins now,” he explained.

“Two?”

He smiled. At least she was still willing to speak. Just not about the issue of trust. Okay, he would work with that.

“Yeah,” he said with a soft laugh. “You ever tried putting five shifters into a cabin the size of one of these, and forcing them all to leave peacefully with each other?”

“No,” came the slow reply. “But I get the feeling that probably isn’t the best idea either.”

“Not even close,” he confirmed, happy to hear the burbling humor in her voice as she spoke, imagining him and his brothers all cooped up into one cabin. “While they could theoretically sleep six, to say it’s not very practical for us is…an understatement.”

Madison giggled slightly this time, then clamped a hand to her mouth.

“It’s okay to laugh,” he assured her. “You’re among friends.”

Her bright blue eyes looked up at him, her pure blonde hair swinging back and forth in the high-tight ponytail she preferred. Round cheeks dimpled as she gave him a very unsure smile.

“Am I?”

He shrugged easily. “Sure, as long as you don’t betray us, hurt us, or otherwise try to do wrong.”

Her jaw worked slowly in response to that. “I see. I can do that tonight.”

Kean grinned. “So you’re going to stay then?”

Madison sighed. “Yes, I guess. For the night. You make some good points.”

He tried not to celebrate too much at the victory. The entire car ride back—there was no way he could have slept until they left the outskirts of the city, his bear was too rowdy and stressed—he’d worked on convincing her to just come stay at the cabin. It made more sense, he’d said. That way tonight she could decrypt the files, whatever that meant, and then in the morning they could get an early start in pursuit of Raven, whoever he was.

The mysterious woman hadn’t been overly interested in the idea, but the more he’d worked on her, the more she’d been unable to refute the logic in his argument. Her car would be far more concealed under the cover of the trees than any other safe house she might have. Plus the six of them could all vouch for her having been with them all day if the police did in fact manage to track them down somehow.

Kean didn’t see that happening though. There had been absolutely no sign of pursuit on the ride. They’d stunned the police officers so badly they’d gotten away before they could react. He’d also unflinchingly played that card too. She owed him, he’d said, and she could make it up to him by staying the night and letting him get to know her better.

“So you’re staying in this second cabin?” she asked at last.

“Yeah. Maximus and Kassian are in the other, Pierce, Mila and I in this one.”

“What about your other brother?”

“Gavin?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“He does whatever the fuck he wants,” Kean replied. “Some nights he’s here, some nights there. I think he’s just playing peacekeeper as best he can.”

“Peacekeeper?”

He waved her off. “Later.”

Madison looked ready to press the issue, but they emerged from the forest trail into the clearing around the secondary cabin before she could speak up. Not that Kean had been planning on involving her in the brewing conflict between his brothers. If she wasn’t willing to trust him completely, then he intended on keeping some things private.

“Where can I work?” she asked as they climbed the stairs and dumped their boots at the door, along with her jacket.

“Kitchen table,” he said, gesturing straight ahead. “I’ll fix us some food.”

Madison looked startled. “I haven’t eaten in a long time,” she admitted.

“Yeah, neither have I. Fighting with my bear took a lot out of me. So it’s grub time. I’m going to fire up the grill. Chicken, burgers, or sausage?” he asked.

“Um, chicken and a sausage?” she asked politely.

Kean did his best not to make a snide joke more appropriate to a fifteen-year-old. Something must have crossed his face though, because Madison became closed off. Not cold, just focused once more with that intensity that both scared him and left him utterly intrigued.

“Sure thing,” he said, heading outside.

The rest of the night passed uneventfully. Madison spent it glued to the computer, trying to unlock the data on the USB stick. Kean spent it watching her, drinking a few beers, and attempting to make conversation.

Ultimately he gave up and went to bed.