AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She kissed his cheek and murmured, "I'll be back," before standing and going to Bram's side.
Taking one last look at Killian, she left the room. She might be helpless when it came to controlling his dragons and stopping his seizures, but she could help in other ways. No matter if she had to go to Northcastle herself, she'd find a way to bring Caitlin to her son's side.
Chapter Fourteen
Caitlin O'Shea stood beside Lorcan on a stage in front of the entire clan and tried her best not to shift her feet.
The mating ceremony had finished a few minutes before, but Lorcan was giving a speech about several items. One of which regarded her future in the clan.
Glancing at Lorcan's strong profile, she was both nervous and excited to finish what they had started back in her temporary housing. One clan matter after the other had come up to prevent them spending much time alone together. But while some females would be cross about such matters, Caitlin understood clan leaders and their duties.
Although when news came through about Adrian fighting off a mate-claim frenzy and Killian's change in condition, all she'd cared about was finishing the mating ceremony so she could accompany Lorcan to Stonefire. They would need to consummate the mating to ensure no challenges popped up, but tomorrow morning they would make the journey across the Irish Sea.
Lorcan glanced at her and smiled. He was about to introduce her new duties, so she returned the smile and focused back on the clan in front of them.
Her mate's voice boomed in the great hall. "While having a beautiful female on my arm is a boon, she has a brain as well and will be helping out the clan's teachers. If the alliance is to work, we must start erasing the distrust and rumors surrounding Glenlough." There were a few grumbles in the crowd, but Caitlin had a feeling that any trouble toward her would come later. Lorcan continued, "Now that I've finished my announcements, enjoy the celebration. It's been a while since our last one, and we could all do with brushing up our dancing skills."
He signaled the person in charge of the music and it filled the hall a few seconds later.
Lorcan took her hand and led her down the stairs to the main floor. He wasted no time in guiding them to the dancing area and pulling her close. She was grateful for knowing the dance well, otherwise she may have stumbled at Lorcan’s hard body against hers; the thin material of her dress did little to shield his heat.
Lowering his head to her ear, he murmured, "You look beautiful, Caity. I didn't get to tell you that earlier."
"Since I spent an hour on my hair, I hope I look nice or it'd be a wasted effort."
Her mate lightly brushed the back of her neck. "Just know that your hair is coming down later. I want it to fan your body on my bed."
She should feel guilty considering her son was struggling hundreds of miles away, but there was nothing she could do until she set foot on Stonefire's land. So, for once, she decided that the evening would be hers. "Patience, Lorcan. Socializing with the clan is just as important as consummating our mating."
"I want to curse you for knowing how clan leaders work so well, but I must admit it makes my job easier."
She should merely snuggle close and enjoy the dance. But she couldn't help but say, "I hope things calm down soon enough. Because if I can be honest, you work too much."
"I won't disagree with that. Although with the alliance with Glenlough and now possibly Stonefire, it should make my life easier."
Her new mate swung her out and back again. Once Lorcan completed turning her and pulling her close, Caitlin asked, "Are there still people inside Northcastle who are looking to oust me?"
Lorcan had shared that some of the more stubborn clan members who wanted nothing to do with other clans had been grumbling to sympathetic ears.
Her mate shook his head, his strong jaw lightly caressing her cheek in the process. "I think most, if not all, have been contained and questioned thoroughly. I can't risk banishing anyone right now, or they could end up either with the rogue dragon group hiding in the wilds of Scotland, or they might be kidnapped and wake up like Killian, sans memory and eventually with two dragons."
At the mention of her son, she closed her eyes, trusting Lorcan to guide her through the dance steps. "No one should be without a dragon, let alone have to deal with two. And yet, Killian's experienced both in such a short time."
"I know, Caity. And while I don't know your family well, it pains both man and beast to see you sad." He cupped her cheek and she opened her eyes to see his face. "I will help you do whatever we can to fix this."
The conviction in Lorcan's voice brought tears to her eyes. "Thank you."
He kissed her gently. "Don't thank me. It's what a stepfather is supposed to do. Although I admit gaining two grown children will be somewhat difficult."
She smiled. "Especially when one of them is a clan leader in her own right. If ever there was a stepchild who wasn't going to make life easy for a stepparent, it would be a fierce leader like Teagan."
"It's who she is, Caity. I wouldn't want anything less."
Since this had been the most time she'd had to simply talk with her new mate in a while, she risked asking, "How does your daughter feel about it?"
He twirled her out and back. "Georgiana is a difficult female to read. She's quiet, but intelligent. She's never really had a mother since hers died so young. To be honest, she probably won't know how to act with you. Although it's not in her nature to be cruel for the sake of it."
"I already know that. After all, she risked a great deal to help Killian. For that, I will make every effort to know her better."
