Over an hour.
Oh, yeah. A nap was definitely in order. Wake me up before we get there? I was going to need a clear head.
Of course. Dream of me, he said as I started to drift off.
Always. These days Donovan was a constant in my mind, even in sleep. I didn’t mind it one bit.
Chapter Nine
The gates to the Irish pack’s stronghold held a white crest with two black wolves howling back to back and a golden sword running between them. The gravel road was narrow but even, and greenery brushed against the sides of the car. The path curved, sometimes sharply, to hide the stronghold from the main road. If unexpected visitors got past the front gate, the pack would have plenty of time to prepare for them. As we got further onto pack land, the forest opened up.
Whoever tended the castle grounds did an amazing job. The manicured grass was the most vibrant emerald color I’d ever seen. I undid my seatbelt and leaned forward, scooting to peek between the front seats. The castle was huge. If it were in America, it would take up five city blocks, easy. Windows cut through the gray stone, and turrets and towers rose up into the sky. The tallest one held two flags—an Irish flag and one bearing the same crest that covered the front gates.
“It’s massive.”
“Just what every man loves to hear,” Ian said.
I shoved his shoulder, and the car jerked to the side for a second. “But really. It’s not all original, is it?”
“No,” Donovan said. “I’ve added on to it over time as the pack grew. I like to have double the rooms that are needed. That way there’s more than enough places to go when we’re not getting along, and enough room for the pack to grow—although it hasn’t in some time—with plenty of space left for guests. Being on the Council means I have visitors often, so we’re set up for that, with a full staff.”
“It’s like your own personal Downton Abbey.”
Donovan shrugged. “In a way. Only we’re pack, not aristos.”
“So, worse than Downton?”
“What are you two going on about?” Ian said.
I gasped. “You don’t know Downton Abbey?”
“Should I?”
I gave him my best pitying look as I patted his shoulder, much more softly than last time. “You poor thing. Don’t worry. It’s going to be okay. I’ll show you all the fun things from the modern world.”
Ian shook his head. “You’ve got your work cut out for you, Dono.”
We grew quiet as we pulled up around the circular drive, stopping in front of the massive entrance. What had to be the whole pack waited outside, lined up perfectly. There were maybe few hundred Weres, most of them men.
“Vivian should be here,” Ian said, murmured. “I’ll go find her.”
Donovan gripped his shoulder before he could leave. “Don’t bother. I’ll have a word with her later.”
Vivian was breaking protocol left and right. That so wasn’t going to work for me. Once I got a feel for her, maybe I could challenge her on breach of etiquette? It wouldn’t be enough to get her killed, but she’d be reprimanded. And the sting of a public scolding might goad her into giving us proof of her madness. It was a long shot, but I wasn’t ruling anything out.
A Were started unloading our luggage from the car, and Ian motioned us forward. “I’ll take you to John’s room. We’ve left the scene as is. You’ll see why when we get there.”
Weres were all about burning bodies right away. We didn’t want humans
coming across remains, and until recently, explaining hadn’t been an option. The scene must’ve been really bad in order to leave a body where it laid, even in the pack stronghold.
Donovan went over to the waiting Weres, but I hung back. The greeting was a pack thing to restore and renew bonds. I leaned back against the car as the gathered Weres knelt in front of Donovan. He walked down the line, touching each shoulder in turn and renewing their bonds. Every time he tapped someone the power of the Irish pack tingled along my skin on its way past. From the outside, it looked like they all agreed that Donovan was their Alpha. They might not like that he was gone a lot, and judging from the hostile scowls I was getting from some of them, they might not like me. But Donovan was the Irish pack’s Alpha.
When they were done, I stood straight, expecting at least some of them to come say hello. But no one did.
Interesting. It might not have been an openly hostile move, but it was definitely a snub. I guessed I’d have to be the one to make the first move, but I wasn’t doing that yet. I had to figure out who I should approach first. Approaching the right person could get me ahead quicker in the pack.
Donovan strode to me with Ian tagging along behind him. “Ready.”