Chapter Six
1614 Words
Kade let himself into his flat and dropped his keys on the foyer table. Almost nine o’clock. Today had been a long day, filled with revelations. Ones he wished had stayed hidden. Loosening his tie, he made his way to the bank of windows overlooking the university. The weight of leadership was heavy today and he felt isolated.
His brothers were of no help, and now his only sister was adding to the burden. He wanted to rail at her and drive home her stupidity for putting herself in danger, but he had to admit, she was doing something that might help her cause. If they could find out what happened several hundred years ago, maybe they could find out why she was in danger.
His phone rang, interrupting his brooding. “Hello.”
“Kade, it’s Duncan.”
“How’d it go with the new doctor?”
“Outside of the fact that the woman is afraid of her own shadow and doesn’t speak?”
“She doesn’t need to speak, Duncan. She just needs to find a cure.”
“True.” Duncan sighed. “She is quite pretty, in an American way. What do they call it? Girl next door?”
Kade chuckled. “As long as she does her job, she can be the female equivalent of Rowan Atkinson.”
Duncan laughed. “Well, she’s safely stowed at the Balmoral and my job is done. Payton’s picking her up on Monday and will bring her to your office. You can show her the lab and try to force a conversation out of her.”
“I’ve given that responsibility to Anna.”
Duncan laughed again. “Coward.”
Kade nodded. “Maybe. Could also be that I don’t have time to babysit and make small talk.”
“Don’t blame ye.”
“Thanks for your help.”
“I’ll see you next week.”
Kade hung up just as his doorbell pealed.
Great. Fiona.
Pulling open the door, he stepped back with a quiet sigh. “Darling sister. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I hated the way we left things.” Fiona brushed past him, followed by Angus.
Kade closed the door. “You could have called.”
Fiona gave Angus some kind of silent request and Kade rolled his eyes.
“I’ll just grab meself something to drink.” Angus started toward the kitchen.
Kade raised an eyebrow. “Should I sit down?”
She smiled. “It might be a good idea.”
He sat in his favorite chair and waited for his sister to sit on the sofa. “Will I need a hanky?”
Fiona shrugged. “I have a couple if you need one.”
“Are we going to discuss any further visits to the library?”
“No. We’re going to discuss you.”
“Bloody hell,” Kade grumbled.
“We need to discuss Shannon.”
Kade pushed to his feet. “I’m not doing this with you, Fiona.”
“She’s in love with you.”
He ran his hands through his hair. “No, she’s not. She’s jockeying for position, and I’ll not be a part of it.”
Fiona burst into tears and Kade sighed and sat down again, leaning over to give her hand a gentle squeeze. “Och, love, don’t cry.”
“You need to bind someone, Kade. I don’t want to wait anymore.”
“Fi, I can’t bind someone if she’s not my true mate.”
She pulled her hand away and stood. “But you could still marry!”
He noticed Angus hovering in the corner, his hands fisted at his sides. Kade knew that if he wasn’t chieftain, Angus would more than likely lay him flat on the floor. Males didn’t take kindly to their mates being upset.
“Fiona,” Kade whispered. “You’re upsetting your fiancé.”
Fiona stomped her foot and let out a series of creative swear words. “My goal in this bloody futile exercise is to upset you! I can’t be bound until you are settled, and you seem hell-bent on shoving every eligible female to the curb.”
“So, if I’m hearing you correctly—”
“Kade!” Angus warned.
“I thought you were getting a drink,” Kade pointed out.
Angus crossed his arms.
“Forget it.” Fiona rubbed her forehead and flopped back onto the sofa. “This is important to me, but if you’re going to stand there and tease me, then I won’t waste my breath.”
Kade took a deep breath and his emotions calmed suddenly.
Odd.
He shook off the phenomenon and focused on his sister again. “I’m sorry, Fi. I know this is difficult for you, but I won’t marry someone who, at the very least, doesn’t have our best interests at heart. And I haven’t found my true mate, so binding’s not an option. Shannon is not the right woman, and I think you know that.”
Angus made his way to Fiona and sat next to her. “He’s right, sweetheart.”
Fiona groaned. “Then you should bind me anyway. Screw the covenant.”
Angus hissed and Kade watched his sister fold.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it,” she backpedaled.
Angus lifted her chin. “That’s treason, Fiona, and I’ll not be party to it, no matter how much I love you. Hear me on this now. Yes?”
Tears slipped down her face as she nodded.
Angus wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. “If anyone else had heard that, you know what could happen.”
“I know. I’m just frustrated.”
Kade settled his ankle over his knee and watched her. “I’m thinking in less than five minutes, we’re going to have some company, so I’d suggest you calm yourself, sister.”
The familial bond meant that they could feel extreme distress or happiness, and this certainly fell under distress for Fiona.
She nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“I know this is difficult, but I plan to keep my promise to you,” Kade said.
“I just don’t understand why you keep finding something wrong with every woman you meet,” Fiona complained. “It’s not like you don’t have choices! Just pick one already.”
The door opened and Connall came in, looking haggard and concerned.
“Come on in, Con… no, really, no need to knock,” Kade said as Connall settled himself on the sofa.
“What’s wrong?” Connall asked Fiona.
Kade didn’t hear Fiona’s response as he studied his phone. He was sure Brodie would call any second, with Fiona’s frustration radiating amongst the brothers.
His own frustration was starting to get the better of him when the call came.
“Hi, Brodie.”
“What’s wrong?”
Kade sighed. “We’re simply having a difference of opinion, but all will be well.”
“Who are you arguing with?”
“Fi.” Kade frowned. Why didn’t Brodie know that? Maybe he really was as distracted as Fiona accused. “Where are you?”
“Nowhere,” Brodie said, his voice clipped.
“Blonde or brunette?” Kade asked.
“Neither.”
“Ah, so it’s Heather.”
Brodie evaded his comment. “If you don’t need me, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Kade chuckled. “I don’t need you. And wait a little while to call Fi. We have a few things to discuss.”
“Be nice, brother.”
“I’m always nice,” Kade said, and hung up. He loved his family, even if they drove him crazy. Connall’s ability to calm Fiona was something he appreciated. She was now leaning back against Angus, laughing at something Connall had just said, the tears quickly drying as she talked to her favorite brother.
“Better?” Connall asked.
Fiona nodded.
“Good,” he said and then faced Kade. “So, not Shannon?”
Kade laughed and Fiona smacked Con’s leg.
“Definitely not Shannon,” Kade said.
“Excellent. She’s a vulture.”
“Connall, she is not,” Fiona said.
“Of course she is,” he pressed. “She doesn’t care about Kade. She simply wants the highest place in the clan. You must be able to see that, Fi. If you can’t, you’re blind.”
Fiona sighed. “I guess I can see it. I just think vulture’s a little harsh. She’s so nice.”
“To you,” Connall said. “She’s nasty to anyone she doesn’t think can get her closer to Kade.”
“Have you seen this?” Kade asked him.
Connall shrugged. “Once or twice… certainly not on purpose. She’s on her best behavior in front of me, but I’ve walked in on a few tense situations when she’s speaking with others, and she’s obviously had to backtrack. She’s got everyone so on edge, no one will speak against her.”
“I didn’t realize it was that bad.”
“It’s probably worse.”
Kade considered this information. Connall was sensitive and perceptive. An empath. He could read people quickly and accurately, and Kade always brought him in on meetings with new people. Connall could weed out the ones who could potentially harm the clan or the business. Shannon Fraser, however, was not one he could easily weed out. She was the daughter of one of the oldest and most respected families within their clan, not to mention the sister of someone Kade considered an ally. She could, however, be watched.
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