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Brie sat back, a slow grin lifting the corner of her mouth. “Did you ever consider murdering me?”
Winter laughed. “More times than you’d care to know. I even came close once or twice.”
“What stopped you?”
“I realized that at the end of the day, you being dead wouldn’t set him free. It would only serve to bind him to you more closely. This fated mate thing isn’t for sissies. So, tell me, Brie, are you brave enough to love Colby, to rule this place at his side, and live happily ever after?”
In that moment, Brie knew she was, but now feared she might have lost that chance. “I am. Now what do I do?”
Winter smiled slowly. “I’m so glad you asked. I think I have a plan.”
CHAPTER 15
COLBY
Colby paced the room like a caged tiger—or to be more accurate, a caged lynx. He fought the urge to chase Brie down, force her to run, to bring her down and claim her against her will. He thought it was barbaric when some alphas did that to claim the woman they wanted. Then again, he was feeling a bit barbaric at the moment.
Deciding his modus operandi had always been stealth and cunning over brute strength, Colby decided that a run along the barren and icy cliffs might be the best way to combat his ever-increasing need for Brie’s surrender to their shared fate. Opening the hidden door into a stone spiral staircase that led down to the main floor, he slipped into the men’s changing area, stripped down, and allowed his lynx to spring forward.
The familiar swirling mist did nothing to calm his chaotic thoughts. The most primal part of himself was at war with the sophisticated and cultured man, and he was beginning to worry the feral part was winning. The mist dissipated, and he bounded through the door into the gardens and ran toward the cliffs. His lynx didn’t want beauty and solace; it wanted wildness and freedom. The cliffs and most of the grounds around the abbey certainly accommodated that desire.
He increased his speed as soon as he hit the rocky ground that had been a part of this area long before the abbey had been built up from the cliffs. For a human the footing could be rough going, but for a lynx it was no trouble whatsoever. He galloped along the top of the headland before making his way down the steep path that would lead him to the narrow strip of beach below. Even at low tide, the sand that formed the beach wasn’t plentiful, which had helped in the defense of the abbey. As a smuggler, Colby recognized the strategic importance of being able to access the various caves and nooks in the solid wall of granite that rose from the sea.
By the time he had run across the beach and charged up the path on the other side to the top of the precipice once more, he was feeling a little less savage, a little more in control. He made his way back to the men’s changing room, grabbed a shower, and then headed into the dining room to see who was about and to get something to eat.
Colby couldn’t decide if Brie not being there was a good thing or not and then realized what he thought about her absence really wasn’t as important as being able to speak with Winter and Adriana.
“Ladies,” he said as he joined them.
“Maya said she’d seen you head out for a run. Unless I’m mistaken, she’ll bring you something for breakfast,” said Winter. “Since it’s just the three of us…”
“Brie can be trusted,” Colby said, defending his mate. Winter was not Brie’s biggest fan, mostly because she had seen over the years the dysfunctional relationship he had with his mate.
“I didn’t say she couldn’t. The fact is, I’ve always trusted Brie; I just haven’t liked her very much. But I have never once doubted her loyalty to the cause. Like you, she’s been on the frontline of this fight far longer than anyone else. She just needs to get her head out of her ass where you’re concerned. Be that as it may, she’s not here.”
“Winter and I have been talking,” said Adriana. “She has made it clear that I am welcome at Castle Curaidh, but Winter brought up an interesting point. Strode knows where I am, or at least he is likely to know.”
“We can protect you here at the Abbey if this is where you’d rather be,” Colby assured her.
“But what if we take the fight to them? What if we make a preemptive strike?” asked Winter.
“Attack Strode’s stronghold?” asked Colby.
“Yes. Aren’t you and the rest of the Resistance tired of playing defense? This abbey is far more strategically placed than I thought it was. We have a fairly uninterrupted path to Lundy Island. With Adriana’s ability to freeze time for certain individuals, we could neutralize most of his fighting force. He’s only getting stronger, Colby. You know I’m right.”
Colby thought a minute and thanked Maya when she brought him a large omelet filled with spicy taco meat, chorizo, onions, peppers, and cheese. He took a bite as he contemplated Winter’s bold plan. He looked at Winter. “My guess is you haven’t shared this plan with your mate.”
“Sean is like the rest of the Resistance; he wants to wait for the timing to be perfect. They are content with winning small skirmishes here and there. I’m with the Shadow Sisters and the Phantom Fire. Waiting only makes Strode stronger…”
“It gives us time to grow stronger, as well.”
“Fuck that, Colby. You know I’m right, and I know you, you’d far rather be on the attack than just waiting.”
Colby tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table, thinking. “We’ll need the hellhounds.”
Winter sat back. “All of them?”
“No. Sorry. Just Hayden and Caye. But I don’t think we want to stage a full-on invasion. I think we want to make a strategic strike using a small group of highly skilled people. Having a witch and a couple of hellhounds could give us the advantage. What did Brie think of your plan?”
