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He took one of her hands and it killed him inside that she was stiff and tried to tug it away. "Listen, Gracie. I'm not like our mother and father—I'd never think you are somehow less or defective because you can't see. But I have some new powerful enemies, a group of French vampires with retribution and revenge fueling them, and that's why I brought you to London—to keep you close and ensure they didn't try to kidnap you."
Or worse, but he refused to talk about the bastards raping or selling her to some human male who wanted a shifter plaything.
Even if Everett had been trying to free any enslaved females he caught wind of, there were always more. And the most vulnerable were the easiest to snatch—orphans, the heartbroken, or those who couldn't see or hear, limiting their inner shifter animals' supersensitive abilities. Heightened senses that usually kept them out of danger much better than either the vampires or the fae witches.
Grace stopped trying to take her hand from his. "Why didn't you tell me this before, Everett? And don't say it was to protect me. I'm nearly fifty years old. Just because I look younger doesn't mean you should treat me like it."
Much like Everett, Grace's biological aging had slowed in her late twenties, giving their shifter halves time to try and find their fated mates.
But unlike Everett, Grace rarely—if ever—had the chance to fuck others and find hers. The smell of a person's orgasm let a shifter know they'd found their destined other half. It was why most humans equated them as moral-less heathens, or some such shite, because it required a lot of fucking to find the elusive destined one or ones.
Of course, the humans overlooked it if they fancied trying out a shifter in bed. Then they didn't seem to mind.
He finally answered his sister, "Honestly? I knew you'd refuse to see the fae witch. And moving to London was chaotic enough. I didn't think letting you know about the details of my enemies would help settle your nerves. I still don't." The carriage slowed as they made the final turn. "Listen, Grace. I'll answer more questions later, I promise. But we're about to arrive. Can you at least be civil to the doctor, aye? He may not be able to do anything, but it's worth a chance if it means better protection for you."
Her eyes moved a little off to his side, like they often did when Grace was thinking. She finally sighed. "If you would've explained all this to me, Everett, I would've at least listened and might've agreed. Since we're here, I'll be civil. However, if he wants to bleed me, or poke me, or try some other barbarous thing like they did when I was a child, I won't allow it, aye?"
"Aye, I understand." The carriage stopped. "If he so much as picks up a blade, I'll cut off his bollocks myself."
Grace snorted, a fraction of her usual self returning. "This Dr. Yates is the brother of the Dark Lord's wife, aye? I somehow think doing that might start a war."
He grunted. "I don't bloody care."
Grace smiled at him—the first one he'd seen since her arrival in London—and it soothed him a fraction. "Of course you do, brother. But let's hope it doesn't come to that. Especially as I've never met anyone from the future, or most anyone outside of the Highlands, to be honest."
He didn't think she was trying to make him feel guilty, but Everett's heart still squeezed. He was about to apologize for not asking if she wanted to visit any of his other residences sooner when the carriage door opened.
One of his trusted footmen—who was also one of his best soldiers—lowered the steps. Everett descended, gave his soldier a look, and the other male shook his head. Good, no threats were present, at least for now.
Everett took his sister's hand and helped her disembark. Once on the ground, he tucked her arm around his and guided her toward the steps, giving vocal directions when needed. The door opened, revealing a tall, somewhat thin and pale fae witch male and a plump, even paler female vampire he knew well enough—Nora Yates.
To see her standing next to the fae witch, and outside no less, was quite the miracle given how she'd kept inside Yates's gaming hell as long as he'd known her. Leo Yates had confided that River Vale was Nora's fated one and ordered Everett not to tease the female vampire about it.
He didn't like to upset females if he could help it. But as Nora smiled at him, a certain glow about her, he decided she could take a wee bit of jesting. "Did the good doctor put that smile on your face, lass?"
Nora blushed at the same time Vale frowned. The fae witch put a possessive hand on Nora's lower back.
When she didn't flinch, aye, Everett knew it was serious. And if the fae witch could win that much of Nora's trust, it raised his opinion of the male a fraction.
River growled. "Just because you're a Dark Lord of London doesn't mean you can embarrass my fiancée."
So the rumors were true about the pair being betrothed. He shrugged. "It's what I do. Yates—Leo, that is—would tell you that." Before the fae witch could say anything else, he gestured toward his sister. "This is my sister, Grace. Grace, this is Nora Yates to your right and Dr. River Vale directly in front of you."
Nora reached out and took Grace's free hand. "It's so nice to meet you, Grace. If it's all right with your brother, maybe I can show you to your room and get you settled. We can discuss and compare notes on overprotective older brothers over tea."
Everett rolled his eyes as Grace beamed at Nora. "I'd like that."
While secretly thrilled at Grace's enthusiasm, he pretended to be grumpy. "I see how it is—the two of you are going to conspire against me, aye?"
Grace moved her head in his direction. "Of course. Besides, as much as I love you brother, I need a wee break after the carriage ride."
And from your constant worry and inquirieswas left unsaid.
He touched her arm. "Enjoy your tea. I need to talk to the doctor here anyway."
Nora nodded. "Then we'll all meet again for supper. River can examine your sister either later today or tomorrow, once she's fed and rested."
When Grace didn't protest about being rested enough, he could tell she wanted a break from him. And given how most of her friends were back in Scotland—and her best friend and lady's maid wouldn't arrive until later—he would indulge her. "Go on, then. I trust Nora."
