Chapter 30

Kyran glanced over at Darien. They both looked at the clock over the bar.

Darien didn’t need to see to know that Kyran was glaring at him. “I know. I’ve tried to get her to go get some rest. She won’t go until they get back.”

“At least she’s drinking water tonight.” Kyran smirked at him.

Darien laughed. “There is that.” Turning, he checked to make sure his uncle was still on the other side of the bar and nowhere near Remi.

“So” —Kyran leaned back against the wall beside the door— “that was scary as fuck earlier.” He gave him a hard look. “Don’t do it again.”

Rubbing the back of his neck, Darien dropped his hand and rolled his shoulders. “I’ll try not to.”

“If Remi hadn’t been there, what would have happened?”

Darien looked over at his uncle, who sat talking to Leontes and Hope. He loved the man, without a doubt. They’d been really close before he’d joined the council. In any other situation, he’d back his uncle in a heartbeat, but not when it involved Remi. “Do you really want to know?” Turning his head slowly, he looked at the detective.

Kyran opened his mouth and then closed and shook his head. “No, I don’t think I do.”

“Me either.” He slapped Kyran on the shoulder. “Watch the door for a few minutes?”

“Sure.”

Moving toward Remi, he had to grin as he watched the way she caught his every move. She may not be ready to be mated, but they were mates. They were always aware of the other when they were in need, regardless of the situation.

When he reached her, he teasingly leaned down and looked into her glass.

She swatted him on the shoulder. “It’s water.”

Resting his hip against the bar, he turned the stool she was on, putting her legs between his own. “You look tired, Álainn. Go up to bed.”

Giving him an exasperated look, she shook her head. “I want to wait until they’re back.”

Brushing the hair back from her face, he moved closer. “They could be gone until dawn. You have to work in the morning.”

“I’ll still work.” She shrugged. “I may just growl a little more than usual.”

“With my luck, you’ll growl better than I do, and I’ll be unmanned.”

Smiling, she looked up at him, and the look of adoration in her eyes made his heart speed up. “You need to take your sexy ass up to bed, a ghrá, so I can focus on my job.”

Moving slowly, she stood up. “One of these days, you’re going to tell me what those sexy words you’re always saying to me mean.” She slid her hands up his chest, her eyes shining at him.

“You like those, huh?” Anytime she voluntarily touched him in any way, his heart would jump into his throat, and the rest of the world could get stuffed as far as he was concerned.

“I think I do.” She smiled. “And I know they’re Irish now.”

He chuckled. “See, there’s a reason I keep you away from my family.”

“You mean family, as in the man walking toward us right now?” She dropped her hands away.

Darien didn’t turn to look at his uncle; he just continued to watch Remi. First, the man berates him for not claiming her, then chooses the moment they’re close to interrupt. He’d never understand his relatives and the way they worked, even if he lived forever.

“I’m sorry to barge in, but I need to speak with the both of you.”

Releasing Remi, he looked over his shoulder at his uncle. Without a word, he guided her in the direction of the kitchen, knowing Garrett would follow. Stepping through, he looked around; Baker had the kitchen cleaned up for the night. “You can cut out now if you want, Baker.”

Baker gave him a surprised look, and then his eyes went to Remi and the large man standing in the door. “Sure thing, I’ll just go hang out front until Bode is done so we can head out together.”

Darien couldn’t believe he’d forgotten his rule of no one leaves alone. “I’m sure if you bug Pascal, he’ll spot you a beer.”

“Cool.” He grinned at Remi. “Night, boss lady.”

“Good night, Baker.” She gave Darien a look and moved over to lean against the counter, the furthest from his uncle as she could get.

Garrett rubbed the back of his neck and looked at the floor for a moment. “I want to apologize for earlier.” Dropping his arms, he crossed them over his chest and sighed, “I didn’t understand what there was between you.” A bashful look was on his face. “That young waitress, Vienna, uh…” he shook his head, “enlightened me.”

Darien looked at Remi, and they both had the same thought, Uncle Garrett was lucky Vie had been nice about it.

“It’s just hard, you understand?” He glanced from Remi back to him. “I didn’t know there had been so many…” he waved a hand around, frowning like he was trying to find the right words.

Sighing, Darien tucked his hands into his jeans and studied his uncle. Just the fact that he was trying to apologize told him the man he thought he knew had changed over the years. “It hasn’t been a smooth ride for Remi since she got here seven years ago, uncail, but trying to force my beast,” he gave him a hard look, “that was a bit underhanded.” He caught the look Remi gave him, the one that said he was in trouble for not explaining what had happened. She, like everyone else, thought it was a difference of opinion. It had started that way, but then he had tried to force Darien’s beast to the forefront so he wouldn’t be able to control his actions around Remi, so he would mark her.

“It was. I’m sorry.” His uncle moved his eyes to Remi and bowed his head slightly. “You’ll have to forgive me, neacht, for being old and set in my ways.”

Just like that, Darien thought his uncle had won her over, or she had him wrapped around his finger. It was one of those, possibly both, as he watched Remi’s shoulders slump and that look appear on her face. It was the same look she got when she decided to adopt Cait and Emery, when she took in Finn and Iris and gave all four of the Lewis quadruplets a job.

“There’s nothing to forgive, Garrett.” She smiled up at him. “You can’t walk in and expect to understand everything in five minutes.” Glancing at Darien, she looked of amused. “Serenity is never straightforward or simple.”

Garrett relaxed and perched on the edge of the sink. “Many from our clan never find their mates, so it seems abnormal to me when you know of each other but don’t…” He lifted his hand and rubbed the back of his neck. “If I were to find my own,” he sighed, “I would leave the council without a backward glance.”

Raising his eyebrows, he gave his uncle a shocked look. “Really? I thought you were honored to be on the council.”

“I was. I am.” He tilted his head and gave him a serious look. “For the peace,” he smirked, “for the love of a true mate…” He sighed again and closed his eyes for a moment, “I’d give anything to feel that grounded.”

Nodding, he understood what the elder was saying, at least most of it. Glancing over, he saw that Remi was giving him that look again. He’d be doing a lot of explaining later.

“Do you still lock yourself up on the night of the moon, Darien?”

“No, I lock him up,” Remi said with a smirk.

Garrett laughed. “That’s a bit of justice there.” Sobering, he looked back at him, and Darien wanted to jump up and find an excuse to leave. “See, that’s where I get lost,” he motioned to Remi, “if she were marked, especially with her not being clan, you would have an anchor.” He shook his head and looked at the floor. “As long as she’s tied to your lifeline, she’d be your tether. The moon wouldn’t control you completely.” He said the last part quietly while looking at the floor.

Darien didn’t need to look to know that Remi’s eyes were burning a hole through him.

The door swung open, and Pascal glanced at them one at a time. Frowning, he motioned out front. “They’re back.”

Standing up, Garrett nodded to them abruptly and left.

Darien started to the door, hoping Remi’s curiosity would take precedence over tearing a strip off him. When his hand reached the door, she was in front of him, giving him a narrow-eyed look.

“You and me, wolfman, are going to have a chat later.”

He debated whether he should just meekly agree or tell her that he thought it was sexy as hell when she was looking at him the way she was. She continued to glare at him. Meek it is. “I know.”