Lennox Hendry. The Order leader. My father-in-law. That’s more than just a little bit intimidating.
Arabella picks up her phone. “Is Kieran with you?” She pauses. “I think so but…” Arabella looks at me and smiles. “I really believe that this transition would go much smoother if she were able to call home first.” Another pause. “Don’t go anywhere. We’re coming to you.”
Oh my goodness. I can’t believe that she just encouraged Lennox to allow me to call home. “Thank you for doing that.”
“Calling home won’t change anything, but it could ease your mind going into it. I want to give you that if at all possible.”
“Thank you, Ara. I really appreciate it.”
“He didn’t say yes… but he also didn’t say no. We’ll see.”
Arabella leads me down a hallway and then a staircase to a room located in a basement. Dull. Dark. Dreary. I think it’s The Order conference room.
Every man at the table stands when Arabella and I enter. Five pairs of eyes on me. It’s unnerving.
I immediately know who Lennox Hendry is based upon appearance alone. Salt and pepper hair. Sable eyes. Tall and broad. An older version of Kieran. “Miss Breckenridge, I’m Lennox. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you.” Not really, but it’s the cordial thing to say. And I don’t wish to anger him if he’s considering letting me call my family. “You have a lovely home.”
“It still doesn’t feel like home, but I’m sure that will come in time.”
“Edinburgh is a wonderful place to live. Have you been able to explore much?”
“Bella and Shaw have done some exploring.” He calls his wife Bella. Makes him seem more human.
Arabella’s gaze shifts from her husband to me. “We’ve explored a little, but we’d like to do more. Maybe it’ll be safe to do so after the treaty is in effect.”
I want to tell Arabella that she and Shaw could explore as much as they like, and The Fellowship wouldn’t bother them. Hurting women and children isn’t our way. That’s been the MO of The Order. Fellowship women are the ones who’ve been in danger.
“The boys and I have been too occupied with settling brotherhood business to see much of the city.” Lennox gestures toward the other men around the table. “These are our other sons, Maddock, Calder, and Carson.” Maddock and Calder look like Lennox and Kieran, but Carson is fair and favors Arabella.
We exchange polite banter about it being nice to meet one another, but I don’t miss the way each of them is looking at me. Unsettling to have all of these eyes on me at once.
“Boys, your mum and I have a private matter to discuss with Kieran and Westlyn. We’ll adjourn for now and pick up with this again tomorrow.”
Kieran’s brothers file out, but not before one punches him in the arm. “You lucky fucker.”
“Tell me about it.”
The same brother, I think Maddock, stops in the doorway. “Do any of the other Fellowship women look like you?”
“People say that my sister and I look alike.” He doesn’t need any ideas about taking Evanna, and I know one sure way to discourage him. “But she’s in love with someone. She’s already given herself to him.”
“Fuck, that’s too bad.”
There are plenty of attractive single Fellowship women, but I’m not telling him that. This brotherhood doesn’t need more motivation for abducting another one of us.
Arabella waits until her other sons are gone. “What do you think, Nox? Would it be okay for Westlyn to call her family? Maybe just for a few minutes?” Lennox sits in his chair and taps his index and middle fingers against the table while looking at me. “I ask on her behalf because after speaking to Westlyn, I believe it would allow things to progress naturally and more smoothly between Kieran and her.”
Lennox sighs. “You think it would move the claiming along?”
“I do.” Arabella goes to the table and sits beside her husband. She places her hand over his. “I was in her shoes once. You remember how frightened I was? That’s multiplied for Westlyn. She was kidnapped by her enemy. She knows none of us, but I’m certain she must think the worst. An encouraging word from her family would go a long way.”
“What happens if she calls and the person on the other end orders her to die before submitting?”
“They aren’t The Order. The Fellowship is reasonable. No one is going to tell her to do that.”
“You don’t know that.”
“We know how the conversation will go if she calls Isobel,” Kieran says.
“Please, Nox. It’s what we would want for Shaw if the situation were reversed.” Arabella squeezes Lennox’s hand. “You’re going to deliver our daughter into their hands soon. Please show one of theirs kindness, so the favor will be returned when they have Shaw.”
Lennox lifts Arabella’s hand and kisses the top. “You’re right, Bella. We have to think of Shaw and the way we want her to be treated after she goes to them.” He looks at me. “You may speak to Isobel, but in front of us and on speaker. We can’t give you privacy.”
“Thank you.”
Kieran takes my phone from his jacket pocket and holds it out. I can’t believe it’s been within my reach all this time. Not that it would have done me much good if I’d gotten my hands on it. “Thank you.”
I’m not at all surprised when Isobel answers on the first ring. “Wes?”
“It’s me.”
“Oh, darlin’, I knew ye were safe, but I’m still relieved to hear yer voice. Can ye tell me what’s happening?”
I want to verify Kieran’s story and see if he really spoke with Isobel or if he was lying to persuade my decision. “Kieran told me that he and his father spoke with you last night?”
“We spoke briefly.”
Okay. He was telling the truth about that much. “And you know about the marriage treaty? That they want me to marry Lennox and Arabella’s oldest son?”
“I’m aware, and I fully support yer union to him. I’m well acquainted with Lennox, and I trust him. Yer marriage tae his son will bring an end tae the war between oor brotherhoods.”
I can’t look at Kieran when I say the next part. “He’s planning to claim me and I…”
“What is it?”
“It feels wrong to give him my consent without talking to the family since our marriage involves the future of both brotherhoods.”
“Thane has decided that he is going tae agree tae the marriage treaty. One of ye will marry Kieran Hendry, and either Jamie or Mitch will marry their daughter.”
There’s my answer. No more reason to wrestle with indecision or uncertainty. I’m going to give myself to Kieran of my own free will. “Tell everyone to not worry about me. Everything’s going to
be okay.”
“Yes, it is. But I need ye tae keep this conversation a secret between us. And also the one I had with Lennox and Kieran last night. Thane would be furious if he knew I interfered.”
“You don’t have to say any more. I understand completely.” Women are viewed as incapable when it comes to Fellowship business. Dumbest shite I ever heard of. But I’m not sure that’s the case here among the Hendrys. Looks to me like Lennox listens to Arabella.
“Will you pass the phone to Lennox?”
“Yes. I love you.”
“I love ye too.”
Kieran and me. We are going to happen and soon, judging by the predatory look in Kieran’s eyes.
He comes to me, takes my hand in his, and tugs me toward the door. “Come.”
This is it. Once this deed is done, it can’t be undone.
I’m his forever.
I grasp Westlyn’s hips after we’re inside my quarters and push her backward until she’s pinned against the back of the door. I move close, so close that we’re chest-to-chest. The tip of her tongue peeks out when she licks her lips, and I briefly press my mouth to hers before sucking her bottom lip into my mouth. Our kiss turns into a game of biting and nipping and sucking. Until it’s no longer playful and our kiss becomes fiery and intense and demanding.
I break our kiss. “Are you freely giving yourself to me?”
Westlyn nods, but it’s not enough to satisfy me. I want the words to come from her mouth. “I need to hear you say it.” She grins and looks down—something else I’m not having. I place my hand under her chin, lifting her face to make our eyes connect. “Look at me when you say the words.”
“I am freely giving myself to you.”
I find her hand and bring it up, turning it so the engagement ring is on display. “And your answer to my proposal?”
“Ask me again.”
“Will you be my wife?”
She smiles. “Yes… I will be your wife.”
I press a kiss to the ring on her hand. “You’re mine from this moment on. No other man will touch you. Ever.”
“Is the same true for you? No other woman will touch you? Ever?”
I don’t mistake the challenge in her voice. Westlyn isn’t familiar with The Syndicate or our ways. I think it’s time to educate her. “I don’t know how it’s done in The Fellowship, but we are faithful to our partners. When I claim you, you also claim me. Just as you owe me your faithfulness and loyalty and devotion, I owe you the same. I have had many women before you, but there will be no more. I will never stray from you.”