“Are you clairvoyant? I didn’t think that existed in Shifters. It barely exists in the hoch alfar, no matter what they claim.”
“I can see things in my mind. I was made, not born. I am different from other Shifters.”
Rhianne understood that without asking. Liam and Dylan, as fearsome as they were, had a normality about them. They were Shifters, through and through. Tiger was an anomaly, though not lesser than the others.
Rhianne started to smile. “You must drive them spare.”
Tiger’s eyes flickered, then suddenly he grinned. The expression lit his face and made Rhianne understand that his mate was a lucky woman.
“Do not tell them I know,” Tiger said.
Rhianne laughed softly. “Your secret is safe with me.”
Tiger held up his hand, palm toward her. He left it there, while Rhianne studied it quizzically.
“You are supposed to slap it,” Tiger said. “A high five, Connor calls it. My son can do it already.”
Rhianne stared at his hand a moment longer then tentatively tapped his palm with hers. “Is this a Shifter greeting?”
“No, a human one. Shifters growl and sniff at each other.”
Rhianne wrinkled her nose. “That’s pleasant.”
“It is not. I don’t need to sniff. Scents pour into me. You smell like roses.”
“Oh.” Rhianne softened. “Are you always this nice?”
Tiger shrugged, his mountainous shoulders moving. “To people I like. My mate. My cubs. Connor. Liam’s mate and cub. Sean’s mate and cub. Olaf. You.”
“I will treasure that. Thank you.” Rhianne held up her hand in imitation of his high five. Tiger grinned and gently met it. “Should we go back?” she asked. “I imagine Dylan will come running out here to look for us if we don’t.”
“He trusts me.” Tiger paused. “Sort of.”
“I will consider what you have told me.”
“Do not consider. Returning to the hoch alfar lord will be your death, and Ben’s as well. We need him. We will also need you.” Tiger’s adamancy quieted. “And I do not want to see you hurt. Or Ben. I like him too.”
Rhianne searched Tiger’s eyes and found certainty there, coupled with worry that she’d ignore his warnings. She needed to do much thinking before she made any decisions, and also ask questions. Her mother probably knew more than she was telling.
But Lady Aisling was like that. Powerful, assured, and cryptic. Rhianne loved her mother but growing up in her house had sometimes been hell.
Hence, her relocation to the coast, where she could find purpose and steadiness. Her interest in astronomy helped. The heavens comforted her with their never-changing constellations. Well, they actually did change, but over vast amounts of time, and made the problems of the Tuil Erdannan and hoch alfar seem trivial. She felt a scholar’s pull of curiosity about the constellations here.
“All right,” Rhianne said to Tiger and smiled. “Now let us go back to the others before they fall over in apoplexy.”
Tiger gave her a grave nod and led her from the garden.
Only when they rounded the house to where Ben, Dylan, and Liam waited anxiously, did Rhianne realize they’d conducted the entire conversation in the language of the Tuil Erdannan. Tiger’s speech had been flawless.
Ben’s tension flowed out of him as Rhianne returned. She strode easily, far more relaxed now than when she’d walked off with Tiger out of Ben’s sight.
Tiger was like that. He scared the shit out of all males he came near, unless they were cubs, but women melted to him. Females of every species were like, Tiger? He’s a sweetie. How can you call him terrifying?
Ben wasn’t sure how he did that. Maybe Tiger should give a seminar.
“I’ve made up my mind, gentlemen.” Rhianne spoke clearly, her faintly accented English making Ben’s blood hot. “I will not be going back to Walther’s castle. You will have to gain your knowledge another way.”
Dylan didn’t hide his disappointment, but Liam gave Rhianne a broad smile. “Ah, well. We had to try. Would you be willing to give us any information you have on the bastard, and what he is up to?”
“Certainly.” Rhianne met his gaze. “Though I am rather tired today.”
Ben put himself in front of Liam and Dylan. “Give her some space. We’ll call you.”
Dylan had the wisdom to know when not to push. Ben understood Dylan wasn’t trying to be cruel but was seriously worried about the hoch alfar. The hoch alfar had repeatedly indicated their wish to bring all Shifters back under their control, reversing the outcome of the Shifter-Fae war that had freed the Shifters hundreds of years ago.
Dylan nodded at Rhianne with respect, lifted his hand to Ben, and turned away to his motorcycle.
Liam’s face softened, and his right eyelid lowered in a wink. “Catch you later, kids. Coming, Tiger? I’m starving. I’ll make Dad take us into New Orleans where we can sample some of its fabulous food.”
Tiger gave a faint shake of his head. “I will return home to my mate and cubs.”
“I don’t blame you, big guy. Going home to Kim and my sweet Katriona sounds fine, now that I think about it. I’ll take them all out when we get there. Austin has great food too.”
He waved at Ben and Rhianne both and sauntered to his bike. No, swaggered to it. Liam had perfected the move.
Dylan had already started his motorcycle, straddling it easily as he waited for his son and Tiger. Liam mounted his bike and let it roar to life, revving it to be obnoxious.
Tiger and Rhianne exchanged a glance, then Tiger turned without a word and joined Dylan and Liam.
Not long later, the three swerved their motorcycles in graceful curves and glided down the drive toward the road. A warm breeze, scented with exhaust, brushed Ben and Rhianne in their wake.
Rhianne’s hand was in Ben’s again. How did that happen? Never mind, Ben told himself. He’d roll with it.
“Food sounds like a good idea.” Ben kept his voice light, but his throat was dry for some reason. “How about I take you into New Orleans, and we have a night on the town?”
Rhianne scanned the bright blue sky. “We just had breakfast. Is it still morning? Or does time move differently here?”
“A day and a night make twenty-four hours as humans mark time. More or less. The days are a little shorter than in Faerie, but not much. You get used to it. In other words, it’s morning and will be for another hour or so.”
“Then how do we have a night on the town if it’s morning?” Rhianne sounded genuinely confused. “How do you have a night on a town? Perhaps I am not translating correctly.”
Ben squeezed her hand. “You heard right. In New Orleans, you do have a night on the town—on the streets, on the rooftops, on the tables. Partying is an art form there.”
Rhianne’s slight frown told him she took the words literally. “It sounds very interesting.”
Ben grabbed her around the waist in a quick hug. “It is, sweetheart. Stick with me, kid. We’ll have an awesome night.”
Rhianne flicked through the selection of clothes in the large closet of the bedroom Ben had ushered her to, contemplating the paradox of human clothing, which was both simple and complex. The Tuil Erdannan had all kinds of different garments to hang on bodies, but humans had it down to only a few shapes—leggings and tunics, skirts and one-piece dresses.