“I want to give you what you need. I swear I do, but my job as leader is to ensure that this treaty happens. That means claiming you before you leave our compound. I have to ensure our union.”
I know that Arabella Hendry’s loyalty lies with Kieran and this brotherhood, but she’s been in my shoes. I hope she can give me encouraging words even if every one coming from her mouth is deceptive. “I want to see your mother.”
He beams. “That’ll make her very happy; she’s eager to meet you.”
I’ve just floundered with Kieran on the couch and bed. I’m sure I look a mess. “I need a moment to make myself presentable.”
He moves to get up but first leans forward to kiss my forehead. “No worries. You look beautiful.”
Dammit. Why can’t he just be an asshole all the time? He’s giving me whiplash.
I’m a bit fresher and feeling slightly more confident about my appearance when there’s a knock at the door. I stand tall and straighten my clothing—the clothes that this woman chose for her anticipated daughter-in-law.
“Come in.”
Oh. It’s Mrs. Bruce. “Mrs. Hendry is ready to receive Miss Breckenridge.”
Silly of me to think Arabella would come to her son’s bedroom to talk to me when there’s an entire compound.
“Thank you, Nan.”
“Would you like me to take her to Mrs. Hendry’s sitting room?”
“Thank you, but I think I’ll take her.”
The sitting room is on the opposite side of the compound, so I get my first look at the interior. It’s nothing like my parents’ home; my mother has ostentatious taste. Everything in this house has clean lines. I like it. “If this marriage happens, would we live here?”
“This marriage is going to happen, and when it does I’m going to buy you any home you want and shamefully spoil you.”
“Another MO for convincing me that this marriage is a good idea?”
“Maybe.”
Kieran knocks on a door, and a soft, feminine voice calls out for us to come in. I’m surprised by the woman I see when we enter the sitting room. She looks much too young to have a twenty-eight-year-old son. I also wasn’t expecting a fair-haired blonde with pale blue eyes, considering her son’s dark hair and eyes. Guess Lennox Hendry must be the dark one of the two.
“Hello, Westlyn.” She gets up from the sofa and meets me in the middle of the room. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
Arabella Grieves Hendry looks nothing like her evil brother, Torrence Grieves. Her face is youthful, her eyes kind, her smile warm and welcoming. “It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs. Hendry.”
“None of that Mrs. Hendry stuff. Please… call me Ara.”
My brotherhood has been at war with hers for years. It doesn’t feel natural to call her by such a personal name.
“I’m sure you’re feeling out of sorts, but I’m pleased that you’ve asked for me.” She looks at Kieran. “I think we’re all good here. I’ll return her to you when we’re finished talking.”
“Enjoy your girl talk.” Kieran goes to his mum and kisses the side of her face before moving closer to whisper something in her ear.
Arabella leans away from him and smiles. “Kieran Bryce…” She smacks his arm. “You are so bad. Get out of here.”
Only a few minutes into this meeting and I can already see that Arabella and Kieran have a loving mother-son relationship. Certainly not what you expect to see in a man who killed four men this morning.
He leaves, and his mum goes to her minibar. “I know it’s still early, but would you care for a whisky? Might ease your nerves.”
“I could stand a drink.” Or twelve.
She fills the glass two fingers high, just like every other whisky drinker I know. “The best conversations always begin with whisky.”
“That’s what I hear although I’m not much of a whisky drinker.”
“I only keep the dark stuff. This life calls for it more often than I like. I can send for wine if that’s what you prefer.”
“No. Whisky is probably the better drink choice for this conversation.”
“Probably.” She moves to the chair, and I sit across from her on the sofa. She takes a drink of her whisky and looks at me. “You’re a very lovely girl.”
“Thank you.”
“When Nox told Kieran that he had to take you as his wife, he built you up to be some kind of ogre in his mind. Needless to say, he was relieved when he saw you for the first time.”
“I’m glad he doesn’t find me comparable to an ogre.”
“I’ve never seen my son like this. He’s very taken with you, but I’m curious about the way you are feeling toward him.”
“I’m puzzled by what I feel.” I don’t know how to explain what’s happening in my head.
“Your body is betraying your head. He touches you and you respond, and you don’t know why. Your mind tells you it’s wrong because you don’t know him, because he abducted you, because he’s your enemy. But you find yourself wanting him, regardless of those things. You feel weak, which makes you angry with yourself.”
“Yes. That’s exactly it.”
“Darlin’, I understand everything you’re feeling right now. I lived it twenty-nine years ago. No one comprehends what you’re going through right now more than I do.”
“Kieran tells me that I don’t have a choice. And that I won’t leave this compound without being claimed, by force if need be.”
“My situation was very similar. I was barely eighteen when my father told me I was going to marry Nox.” That only makes her forty-seven.
“Were you angry?”
“Angry doesn’t cover it. I was pissed off, mostly because I fancied myself in love with a boy from The Order. I hated my father. I hated the man he was forcing me to marry. I hated the world and everyone in it. I thought my life was over… and then I met Nox.” Her lips form an O and a whistle leaves her mouth. “My God… that man did things to me. Pissed me off. Turned me on. I didn’t know if I was coming or going.”
Sounds familiar. “How long did you have from the time you met until he claimed you?”
“Three days.”
Her situation is more like mine than I thought. “I was under the impression you had more time together.”
“I was told about the treaty around a week before Nox came for me. I had a little more time than you to get used to the idea. And I also had my family’s encouragement.”
“You were claimed… voluntarily?”
“I left out the best part.” She giggles, making her seem even younger. “Nox spent every minute of our first three days together pursuing me. Romancing me. Winning me over. The man was the master of seduction. By day three, I was ready to jump into bed with him. And that’s exactly what I did. Mmm… I enjoyed the hell out of it, too. Often. I was already pregnant with Kieran by the time we married a month later… just as Nox intended.”
I’ll have the same fate if Kieran has his way.
“You were okay with being pregnant by a man you’d just met?”
“Nox didn’t feel like a stranger for long; I quickly came to accept him as my intended. Everything else just fell into place.”
“Leaders can’t be soft. They must be unmerciful and iron-fisted and hard-hearted. There are times when it’s necessary for them to be cruel and savage. How does that work in your marriage?” I only saw it work one way within my parents’ marriage. My mother never said a single opposing word to my father.
“Nox is an iron fist inside of a velvet glove. Forceful but soft. Strong yet gentle. It’s a delicate balance. He’s also everything else I need him to be. Kind. Respectful. Loving. Protective. And Kieran will be all of those things for you as well.”
That iron fist part worries me. “I’m not submissive by nature. I have a smart mouth.” I grin when I recall what he said about it. “But Kieran says that he likes it.”
“He likes a lot of things about you. You’re in a very good place, considering the circumstances.”
&
nbsp; “The biggest difference between your circumstances and mine is that you had your family’s support. Your father told you that you were going to marry Lennox. I haven’t spoken to my family since I was taken, so it doesn’t feel right to accept this fate without a fight.”
“I can understand why you feel that way, but becoming Kieran’s wife is your fate. It’s going to happen with or without your family’s support.”
“Lennox and Kieran decide everything. They can let me see my family. Or at least let me talk to Thane first.”
“Nox and Kieran lead this brotherhood, and they do make all of the decisions, but your fate is the same if you speak to your uncle or not. This was a very well-thought-out plan. It’s been decided, and there’s no going back.”
Arabella can’t help me. I’m seeing that now.
“Don’t fight this, Westlyn. Don’t fight him. Willingly give yourself to Kieran. Make it an experience you’ll always remember for pleasant reasons. Not dreadful ones.”
Arabella speaks fondly about her claiming. It wasn’t a horrid experience for her. Maybe it can be enjoyable for me too.
“You’ve not met Nox?”
“I haven’t.”
“I think it’s time you meet your father-in-law.”