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“Do you think her maidenhead will still be intact?”
“It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t even matter if she’s lain with another feline shifter, including Colby Reynolds himself. As long as the nape of her neck remains unmarked, I am willing to wait a certain length of time before claiming her as my own. I would much prefer being able to take her into seclusion and put things right between us.”
“I don’t know that this is going to be quite as easy as you think it is.”
Sean chuckled. “I don’t think there’s going to be anything easy about it at all. Reynolds is a cagey character, and it’s rumored he’s given sanctuary to more than one shifter in need of it. But my mate is neither in need of it, nor will I tolerate her living anywhere other than Castle Curaidh.”
“What if Reynolds chooses to fight?”
“Then he and those who follow him will die.”
“So, you’ll kill for her?” asked Hamish, sounding far more surprised than Sean thought he should.
“Aye. Have I not made myself clear? Winter is my fated mate, and there is nothing Reynolds, the Council, or the gods themselves can do to change that.”
The plane touched down, and the SUV Sean had ordered was waiting. Grabbing their gear bags, Sean and Hamish made their way down the stairs and strode to the vehicle, having to exchange sides when they realized that in Alaska, they had left-hand drive vehicles and drove on the wrong side of the road. Fortunately, on this part of Kodiak Island, ‘road’ was only a suggestion.
Setting the GPS coordinates for Mystic River, they drove into the sleepy hamlet, calling the owner of The Refuge as they entered from the other side of the town. They pulled up in front of a large lodge made of enormous logs. A lovely woman was standing on the porch, her body cast in the soft light.
“Gentlemen, welcome to The Refuge,” she said in a lovely Australian accent. “I’m Trudy. I’ll be your hostess for your stay. Your information questionnaire indicated you had no allergies and were fine with my preferred breakfast fare. I’m sure you’re tired, so I’ll show you to your rooms.”
“Thank you. We appreciate your accommodating our late arrival,” said Hamish as he followed the small but buxom innkeeper into the lodge.
Sean grinned and shook his head as he followed them inside. She wasn’t a snow leopard, but it appeared his second in command had taken an instant shine to their hostess.
“This will be your room, Mr. MacDougall. Oh dear, how will I differentiate between the two of you?”
“Ach, that’ll be easy, lass,” said Hamish, his native brogue deepening. “You just call me Hamish, and you can call him Mac.”
She glanced at Sean, who winked. “That’ll be fine. We’re not overly formal in the Highlands. Your accent sounds Australian, softened a bit by the Americans?”
“I think mostly it’s because I was born in Tasmania.”
“One of Colby Reynolds’ protectees, no doubt,” scoffed Sean.
“There’s no reason to make the lass uncomfortable around us, Mac,” said Hamish to the innkeeper, using the false name they’d used for Sean.
“Hamish is right. Forgive me. I was making an observation that came out more as an accusation.”
Trudy nodded. “Well, Hamish, I put you in this room, and Mac is at the end of the hall. As you requested there is a common wall between you, and he shares no walls with anyone else.”
“Thank you, lass. Tis a fine place you have here.”
Hamish was actually trying to be charming, and it seemed to be having the desired effect on the object of his charm.
“Thank you, Hamish. Mac, allow me to show you to your room.”
Even though he had not so much as touched another female since Winter had managed to escape him, he couldn’t help but notice the feminine sway to their innkeeper’s hips as she led him the short distance to his own room and opened the doors. The room was large and airy with numerous windows and a set of French doors leading out onto a balcony that overlooked the vista.
“I would echo Hamish’s observation—your lodgings are lovely.”
“Thank you. You’re my only guests at the moment, so don’t worry about getting up by a specific time. I’ll wait until I hear you stirring before starting breakfast.”
“Again, you have my thanks.”
He watched her leave the room, then followed her to the door, and locked it. Weariness overcame him. This was not the first time he’d gone after Winter, but it was the only time her sighting made sense. Although he was looking forward to having her with him again, it would have to wait until he’d had some rest. Stripping off his clothes, Sean walked into the bath and smiled at the large shower with multiple shower heads and a steam option. Turning on the shower, he stepped in and closed the door behind him.
For just a moment, the steam and hot water combined with his weariness and made him wobble with a slight bout of dizziness. Sean chalked it up to a long flight, the task ahead, and wanting to have his mate beneath him.
