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Orla's voice carried across the table. "So what are you two going to do about your mating in England? Can you trust that lot? Because I must admit, most of the time you two look as if you're trying to purposefully avoid touching the other. And then you go and make small gestures, like reassuring Killian just now. What is actually going on between you two? I want the truth."
"Mother," Caitlin admonished.
Brenna's gaze swung to Orla. "I didn't think dissecting my personal life was part of the agenda."
Orla clicked her tongue. "When it puts my granddaughter's reputation on the line, it is."
Teagan clapped her hands. "Stop it. I trust Brenna, and that should be enough, Gran."
Orla shook her head. "I still say letting him kiss the Todd girl would've been easier."
Killian frowned. "What are you talking about?" Teagan shared a glance with Aaron, and Killian noticed Brenna go unnaturally still at his side. "Someone tell me what the fuck you're hiding. I have a feeling it's to do with me, right? Then I deserve to know." Brenna pulled her hand from his leg, but he gripped her wrist. "What happened to honesty?"
She finally met his gaze, but it was unreadable. For a second, he thought she'd keep silent. Then she cleared her throat and said, "While just a theory, kissing your true mate might bring back your inner dragon."
"And you just happen to have a database of true mates on hand, to find this woman?" Killian demanded.
Brenna shook her head. "There's no such thing. But you discovered who she was years ago, and kept your distance."
He frowned. "Why? Is she a horrible person?"
Teagan jumped in. "By all accounts, Georgiana Todd is a lovely female. But she is the daughter of a current foe, the leader of Clan Northcastle in Northern Ireland. We were at odds with Northcastle back then, too. Kissing her would cause a mountain of trouble."
Killian released Brenna's wrist and stood. "And you lot decided to make this decision without me? That's a bastard move considering it could fix my situation within seconds."
Brenna stood and turned toward him. "Odd that you're upset about this now, when you've been going on about not wanting to return to whatever wanker you were before."
Leaning close, he whispered, "I'm tired of this half-life everyone is forcing upon me. Either let me kiss this
woman, or let me forge a new path as I am."
"The Stonefire doctors can help you better than a kiss can. I'd rather negotiate for that," Brenna stated.
Brenna was close enough that her breath tickled his chin. Even though he was angry, his body was more aware of her scent and heat so close to him.
If she hadn't fucking betrayed him, he'd kiss her.
Caitlin's voice broke the spell. "I agree you should see the Stonefire doctors, but I might be able to get Lorcan Todd to allow Killian to kiss his daughter once, as well as form a treaty of sorts with our clan."
"Don't, Caitlin," Orla warned.
Killian forced his gaze from Brenna to the woman who claimed to be his mother. She added, "It's the easiest solution and one I should've done years ago. I'm done hiding and allowing everyone else in my family to help the clan."
"What are you talking about?" Brenna asked.
Caitlin took a deep breath and said, "Lorcan Todd once proposed an alliance, on one condition—that I agree to be his mate. Since he's still without one, he might still be open to the proposal, especially since he secretly sends me flowers every year on my birthday."
"Mam—" Teagan began.
"No, Teagan. You've enough on your plate, what with you trying to placate the DDA by getting all the Irish clans to sign a peace treaty. Northcastle will be an important ally, and having them at our back may convince the rest of Ireland to join with us. I need to do this and mate their clan leader."
Killian jumped in. "You'd do that for me?"
Caitlin smiled warmly. "Of course I would. You're my son, Killian."
Orla growled. "How do you know Lorcan won't mistreat you? We know little about him, apart from the fact he's a thief."
Shaking her head, Caitlin replied, "He sends notes every year, accompanying the flowers, and they're always kind. If we were younger, I'd almost think I was his true mate and he was trying to woo me."
