“No, but it’s the best we’ve got in our current circumstances,” Niall replied.
“And what happens once we get to Belfast? What do we do from there? None of this is what we came here for,” Ronan said, looking away from Deidre.
“We find that weak spot and we use it to our advantage.”
“What is the weak spot, though?” Ronan asked.
“Duncan Maguire,” Deidre blurted out.
“What?” Niall asked
“He’s the nephew of Sorley Maguire, his sister’s son,” she replied.
“How is his surname Maguire? What was his father’s name?” Ronan puzzled.
“His father died before he was born and Sorley insisted he be given the Maguire name instead,” she replied.
“What makes him a weak spot?” Niall asked.
“He was passed over as the natural heir to the Maguire Alpha in favor of Trill. The clan is stuck in the old ways, brutality, and fearmongering. Duncan was in favor of moving the clan into more modern existence.”
“So, they just tossed the rules of kinship aside? That doesn’t sound much like keeping the old ways.”
“Aye. They did. I know it makes no sense, but they aren’t reasonable people. Their kind have built an empire around being the most cutthroat bear clan on the island. When it came to a choice between losing power or breaking a norm, they chose power,” she said.
“If that’s the case, I’m surprised Duncan is still alive. I can’t believe Trill would have let someone who might be a threat to him live,” Niall remarked.
“He’s still alive because the council stands by him. It was a tradeoff for them. We’ll break this rule for you to take power, but you can’t touch Duncan. I suppose it was their way of excusing what they did.”
“Bunch of hypocrites,” Ronan muttered.
“Aye. The worst of the lot too,” Deidre agreed.
“What says he will help us and not just turn us over to Trill?” Niall asked.
“Nothing, but I don’t see that we have another option. The Maguires have only grown in power since you left here, and even their enemies are afraid of crossing them. Duncan is the only one I know who might have the best interests of the clan truly at heart. I think he’ll welcome an opportunity to change things.”
Niall considered this for a moment, looking to Ronan for any input. Ronan just shrugged and looked into the fire. Turning back to Deidre, Niall was once again captivated by her upturned nose and full lips, but even more than her beauty, she was smart and witty. He felt pulled toward her again.
“How do we make contact with him?” Niall asked.
“My uncle. I can ask him to arrange introductions while I’m waiting for you in Belfast,” she said.
“No!” Niall barked, causing even Ronan to jump a little at the unexpected outburst. “You are not to contact anyone while you’re in Belfast, not even your uncle. We’ll sort it out once we get there, and if we don’t, it won’t matter.”
“My uncle isn’t going to sell me out,” Deidre protested.
“No, I don’t think he’d be trying to save you if he intended to do that, but there are ears everywhere right now. You’ve embarrassed Trill, and he’s just enough of a bastard to do whatever it takes to bring you back to face the consequences,” Niall said.
“We’ll make contact with your uncle and feel things out,” Ronan told her, still looking at his brother with a puzzled expression.
“Okay,” Deidre replied, glancing at Niall uncertainly.
Niall glanced at his watch. They had already packed for the trip, splitting Deidre’s things into two suitcases for them to take in the car tomorrow and leaving her duffle bag empty for the clothes they were wearing and a few things in case she was alone at the hotel for more than a day or two.
“Let’s do this then. It’s three a.m. That gives us a couple of hours and a bit until the sun starts coming up. An hour to get out and an hour to get back. I’ll carry the bag,” Niall told her.
“All right. Let’s go,” she said, a slight quiver to her voice.
“Two hours, Ronan. If I’m not back, leave without me. Just get out, get to the airport, go home.”
“I don’t think so,” Ronan told him.
“Airport. Home,” Niall repeated, opening the door and taking a look around before waving for Deidre to follow.
She stepped out, keeping close behind him as they moved into the woods and stripped off their clothes. Niall did his best not to look at her, turning his back as she undressed and he did the same. It took every ounce of strength not to look at her. He wanted to do it. In fact, he wanted to do a lot more, but he couldn’t let his animal urges get the best of him.
Putting his clothes in the duffle, he went ahead and shifted. Behind him, he could hear the crackle and realigning of Deidre’s form as she shifted into her own bear. When it stopped, he turned to face her, his large ginger bear facing a silky coated black bear that he found just as inviting as her human form.