Chapter Two
Kayos
Sleep was along time coming, and when Kyllian woke after only two hours rest, he was grumpier than usual.He liked having time to eat a big breakfast and down a pot of coffee, but he didn’t want to show up late at the Shepherds’ place.Opting for toast and one cup of joe, he ate standing at the counter.Afterward, he went back upstairs where he slid into a pair of comfortable jeans, a white T-shirt, and his well-worn boots.Kyllian nor any of his brothers had ever acted as bodyguards, but he didn’t figure he needed to dress nice to protect their handler.After strapping the holster over his tee, he checked the safety on his pistol and inserted it into the nylon holder nestled against his left side.Even though it was winter, he didn’t need the leather jacket to stay warm, but it was necessary to hide the weapon.
The ride to New Utica was uneventful, and when he pulled up to the gate, he removed his helmet and waited.Ryker said they would know he was there, so he didn’t bother with the security box.As he waited, Kyllian studied his surroundings.What he could see of the property was gorgeous.Lots of trees backed up to the iron fence set around the perimeter.Footsteps sounded, and Kyllian turned his gaze up the driveway where an older man was walking toward him.
“Kyllian, thank you for coming.”Trenton Shepherd pressed a button on a hand-held device, and the gate rolled open.Trenton continued through, holding out his hand.
Kyllian shook it and replied, “Tell me what you know.”
“The first thing is that Quinn believes I’m being paranoid.”The desperation showed in the man’s eyes.“She’s all I have left in this world, and I’d rather be safe than lose her.”
“I can understand that.Let’s say you’re right.What makes you believe someone is after your daughter?”
Trenton looked in the direction of the house.“I think we should continue our conversation inside.I’ll introduce you to Quinn, and the two of you can talk further.She can explain what’s going on.”
Kyllian took a calming breath.He needed more information if he was going to protect Quinn, but if someone were after the handler, it wasn’t safe to stand close to the road.“Would you like a ride?”
“No, I need the exercise.”Trenton took a step back, and Kyllian put his helmet back on before driving toward the house.He glanced in his side mirror, and Trenton waited until the gate was fully closed before beginning the trek back.Kyllian angled off his Harley, and while he waited, he studied the large two-story house.The porch stretched the whole width, but there were no chairs or swing where someone would enjoy the night air.Landscaping was a minimum with only trees surrounding the place.There were no flower beds, only low bushes that had grown dormant in the winter months.Kyllian turned when Trenton’s footsteps sounded behind him.The human appeared to be fit for his age, but there was a weariness in his gaze.
Not human.
Kyllian reached out with his senses.His beast was right.Trenton Shepherd wasother,and wasn’t that interesting?Trenton opened the door, gesturing for Kyllian to proceed.As soon as Kyllian stepped across the threshold, he took in the pretty female.She was tall and fit with her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail.Kyllian took a step forward to greet the woman.Instead of offering her hand, she honest-to-Zeus growled.Within seconds, Quinn shifted into the largest wolf Kyllian had ever seen.Not that he’d seen many up close and personal like this, but still.The fur on her back was silver, her underbelly and snout were black, as was the tip of her tail.It was her eyes that stood out the most.They were a brilliant copper.If she hadn’t been growling low in her throat, he might have taken a closer look at the other colors swirling in her gaze.
Trenton shouted, “Quinn, no!”but it had no effect.
When she bared her sharp teeth, Kyllian reacted without thinking.“Stop,” he commanded in his Gryphon voice.
The wolf – Quinn – whined and dropped down onto her belly.
“What the fuck?”Kyllian turned to Trenton who had his back pressed to the wall.
“She must be reacting to your...”Trenton trailed off, not spilling Kyllian’s secret.
Kyllian squatted so he was closer to Quinn’s level.Holding out his hand, he said, “I won’t hurt you.”Instead of coming to him like he hoped, Quinn found her paws and ran toward the back of the house.Kyllian stood and turned to Trenton.“She doesn’t know?”
“Not exactly.Meeting Ryker didn’t have this effect.”Trenton sighed and pushed off the wall.“She recognized he was different, but I didn’t tell her what he was.Sutton agreed it would be best if you told her the truth if it came up.”
“Are you a shifter too?”Kyllian asked.
Trenton’s silver eyes blinked several times before meeting Kyllian’s.“I’m half wolf, half human.I can shift, but it’s nowhere near as impressive as Quinn.Her mother was all wolf.”
“Why don’t you go talk to her?I’ll wait outside until she’s calmed down.”Kyllian needed a few minutes to himself.
Trenton nodded and headed toward the back of the house where Quinn had disappeared.Kyllian let himself out the front door and leaned against the porch rail.He knew there was more than one kind of shifter out there, but this was unexpected.Kyllian figured Sutton knew, considering Trenton was one of his closest friends.He wondered again why his pop chose him to watch over Quinn.Was this it?No.All the Hounds would keep her secret.It had to be something else, and Kyllian would ask the next time he talked to him.Now that the shock of seeing Quinn turn into a wolf was over, he had time to think about what it meant.His Gryphon had already thought about it.
Mate.
You know that after five seconds?
Yes, and you do too.
No, Kyllian didn’t know that.Gryphons didn’t have fated mates, and it was obvious by Quinn’s reaction, he wasn’t hers.She wouldn’t have run if he were.If her Wolf reacted that strongly to his Gryphon, neither he nor the other Hounds would be able to watch over her.
She didn’t have this reaction to Ryker.
Then it was Kyllian she was opposed to for whatever reason.All he could do was wait until she was once again in her skin to find out why.