Chapter 15

Chapter

Fifteen

T he following morning Bran found himself alone in their bed. Not truly worried that she'd duped him and flown the coop, he pulled on some clothes at a leisurely pace and wandered out into the kitchen area No Renata. He went outside to find her taking her horses out to the big field.

"Don't you think you ought to put halters on them?" he called, laughing.

Renata had three enormous horses, all of which she'd picked up at a farm auction. There was a gorgeous dapple gray named Rosco and a striking matched pair of copper-penny bays named Romulus and Remus. All three were quietly following her from their stalls out to the pasture.

"Why? I have their grain. Trust me, where the grain goeth, they goeth," she called back.

He joined her as she closed the gate. She put down their feed and stood among them, making sure each of them ate their grain and no one else's.

"I hate to bring this up," he started.

"But we can't stay here in our own little world, can we?"

"I don't think so. And I hate saying that. I know how much this community means to you, but I'm at Oxford and our pack is in Ravenscar."

Bran opened the gate and joined her, putting his arms around her.

Renata sighed as she leaned against him. "Our life is in England, and I know that. I'm going to be sad to leave here, but Lorna, one of the teachers at the school, is perfectly capable of taking over my position there. Did you mean what you said to those mutts last night that this farm belongs to us?"

"I did. And if what's worrying you is your horses, we can take them to Ravenscar, which is about four and a half hours from where I live. Or we could see if there's someplace closer to Oxford where we could board them."

"Boarding is so expensive, and they're used to having huge fields to run in."

"True enough. So did you know one of the businesses of Ravenscar is breeding Cleveland Bays? Romulus and Remus are Cleveland Bays, right? And the new Alpha of London is an old friend who has polo ponies at Tanglewood. I'm sure he'd let them come stay with them. They're less than two hours from Oxford."

"I had no idea you knew anything about horses," she said, obviously happy about her discovery.

"I've been riding since before I could walk," Bran admitted. "I take it you also drive—I saw the harnesses. I've always thought driving looked like fun. Maybe you could teach me."

"I'd like that. All three horses drive, and Rom and Rem will drive alone or as a pair. Most of my tack made it through the storm, but I lost both my carts, which is okay as I've been thinking about getting new ones for endurance and obstacle driving."

"Figure out what you want, and we'll get whatever you need. I don't want you to feel like you're giving up anything."

"Except for that chunk out of my neck?" she teased.

"Except for that."

"I'm not unaware that you're a tenured professor at Oxford and I'm just the local schoolmarm."

He shook his head with a smile. "Local schoolmarm with some serious magickal abilities. I've no doubt we'll figure it out together."

"And I love you for that. If nothing else, I can go with you on some of your digs."

"Would you be interested in a university-level teaching position in archeology? I think there are some openings at Oxford and Cambridge, although I might have to spank your ass on a weekly basis if you choose Cambridge."

She laughed. "Again with the excuses to spank me. You do know that hurts when you do it, don't you?"

"I do and when it's for discipline, I mean it to. But it also gets you all kinds of aroused. Just talking about it has a lovely effect on you."

His mobile vibrated in his pocket, and he answered after checking the caller ID first. "Simon? Are your ears burning? Renata and I were just talking about you."

"So the rumors are true. The lovely Renata is your fated mate," said Simon Howard.

"She is indeed, and she has been marked and claimed. We may want to stash three horses at Tanglewood. We'd want to pay board, but its closer to Oxford even than Ravenscar."

"That would be lovely. Mariah became quite fond of her at the gala, so she'll be happy to learn you two are officially together. But all this lovely romance and happily-ever-after is not what I'm calling about. How soon can you get to Ravenscar?"

"Let me put you on speaker. Renata, Simon is asking how quickly we could get to Ravenscar with the horses. He didn't say that, but I want to know. I can have one of our people just come with the plane, but I'd feel more comfortable if we could take the animals with us."

"I have sheep too," Renata said.

"Which we have at Ravenscar as well, plus goats and those silly Highland cattle."

"They aren't silly! They're built for this terrain and these temperatures."

"And we have them because my mother thought they were cute and my father is indulgent," Bran explained.

"I've got two trucks so we could move all of them at once, but we're probably twelve to fourteen hours from Ravenscar."

"Renata, you heard I play polo," said Simon.

"I know that you're one of the top ranked players, in the world, yes," she said.

"Then you know I have good people taking care of the team's horses. Let me come up with Suri and three or four of our other people. You can have the trucks and trailers hooked up. Once we get there, we'll load the stock, send them on their way, and you two can come back with Mariah and I to Ravenscar."

"Simon, what's wrong?" asked Bran.

"There have been some developments that you and your pack need to know about. McDonald's pack as well. He's on good terms with your father, isn't he?"

"Excellent terms. Does my father know we're coming?"

"No, he's my next call. Are you amenable to my people bringing the animals down?"

Bran looked at Renata, who shrugged. "I have no objection, but my people can get here quicker and do the same thing. Let me call Ravenscar and you call McDonald. You want to give me a heads up?"

"The good news is that you are not the only newly mated wolf. Mariah Halsey has taken her vows to me."

"Simon, that's wonderful. Renata's making a face."

"I'm not making a face," she insisted. "Is she happy about that? She didn't seem all that excited about the prospect."

"Neither did you," Bran reminded her.

"Before this goes any further between the two of you, yes my beloved mate is almost as happy as I am. But my father is dead."

"God, Simon, I'm so sorry to hear that."

"I have very mixed feelings. I haven't been close to my parents for years. Have you heard about this thing our American friends call the Darkness?"

"I can explain it to you," said Bran.

"I heard all about it when I had lunch with Mariah and her American friends. Where did you hear about it?" asked Renata.

"My father," answered Simon.

"Is that why you're gathering people?" asked Bran.

"Yes. That monster got my father. It got him to kill some of our people. Mariah had to shoot him to keep him from killing me, but we weren't able to destroy it."

"Only if you would have had a magick wielder," interjected Renata. "Skylar said there's a wisewoman in New Orleans that says to defeat it, you need one."

Bran chuckled. "You can check that off your list. My mate is one hell of a sorceress."

"Oh, that is good news. I think we're going to need one of those. The bottom line is the thing got away. We think it escaped with a lorry driver that was headed your way, but the news is full of stories about a huge traffic accident. The lorry blew up. Through her contacts at Scotland Yard Skylar found out that the body was, and I quote, weird ."

"How so?" asked Renata.

"Almost like it had been mummified."

"Oh my God, I knew that sounded familiar," said Renata.

"How so?"

"Kat Steele had to deal with this thing and she and Jed saw the Darkness do that to a guy when she forced it out. You and Simon figure out the logistics of getting us to Ravenscar. I need to call Lorna to let her know I won't be coming back, and I need to find something in my aunt's spell book."

Renata sprinted away, vaulting over the fence and continuing to the house. Bran smiled. She was going to make a wonderful mistress to the pack. Her athleticism was second to none.

"I'll get everyone in London and head for Ravenscar," said Simon.

"I'll let my father know what's up and to get our people headed up here. I'm going to have him leave a small contingent here at the farm. We had a run-in with the Inverness Pack. I don't know that they'll be back, but this place is important to her. How many people are we talking about on your end?"

"Seven, but only four will be with me. Three couples and a singleton. Abriana and Micah headed back for Calon Onest, and Mariah and Piper's parents went back to the States. With everything that happened here, I'd prefer to leave Graham, Archie, and Harry with my pack. Everyone is happy to have me as alpha and they're already head-over-heels in love with Mariah, but I want to ensure the pack has some stability and unfortunately, I think it's imperative Mariah and I come."

"I'll let them know at Ravenscar. Anything else?"

"This thing is dangerous, Branson. Skylar and Travis are already headed north to talk to Skylar's contact. I'll let them know to continue north to Ravenscar."

"You think the thing is on the loose, don't you?"

"I'm afraid so. But we'll get a plan in motion and take it down once and for all. It has a lot to pay for where my pack is concerned. Renata can do real magick, not just parlor tricks?"

Bran laughed. "Yes. Some mutts from Inverness paid us a visit last night, and she whipped up a storm complete with thunder, lightning and a downpour. It was right over their heads and nowhere else. I have to tell you, it was pretty impressive."

"Good. I think we're going to need all the firepower we can get. See you soon."

Bran ended the call and headed back to the farmhouse, where he called Ravenscar, informing them to expect the crew from London and that he and Renata would be taking their vows that evening.

"Father, we had a small run-in with Inverness."

"So I heard," laughed James. "They're demanding reparations."

"Tell them to go fuck themselves. They've done nothing in the Hebrides. Tell them if they give you trouble, I'll turn Renata loose on them."

"What the hell do you mean by that?" his father asked.

"I'll give you the details later, but let's just say you and mother not only got a beautiful daughter-in-law, but one badass sorceress. I'd like a small group of our people to stay up here to keep the farm safe."

"They are already en route. When Inverness made their complaints known to the Ruling Council, I did a little saber rattling of my own. You tell your mate her farm is safe. I'm going to call the other Scottish packs and see about Ravenscar taking over the Hebrides."

"You don't think they'll object?"

"No. The Inverness pack is universally disliked. We get on with all the rest and no one's ever wanted the Hebrides. If it was your mate's territory, for lack of a better term, it makes some sense. Kiss your mate for your mother and I and tell her welcome to the pack and the family."

He entered the house and was impressed with how quickly Renata had gathered her things.

"I called Lorna and asked her to do a major grocery run so your people will have food. I found my aunt's spell book, but I haven't had time to get into it. I also grabbed a couple of her books about legends and lore. I'm sure I remember something about this thing from the eighteenth or nineteenth century. Did you have any other clothes with you?"

"No," said Bran. "Honestly, I'd planned to spend my time naked and fucking you."

"Well, there's nothing that says we can't spend our time that way until they get here."

He laughed. "Unfortunately, my father has people on their way. The Inverness pack is making noise." He kissed her to silence her. "You are not to worry. I think Father wants to take on the Hebrides. None of the other packs have wanted it and I think they'll welcome a strong presence up here."

"I think I already love your family."

"They're going to be nuts about you. Frankly I think my father, Joel and I are badly outnumbered."

"Six sisters, huh?"

"Yes. My father said he thought he was pretty hot shit to have sired that many she-wolves… right up until all the hormones kicked in, then he changed his mind."

Renata laughed, and then stopped. "We're going to need to tell them that I'm a sorceress."

"I already told him. They won't care, sweetheart. You are the fated mate to the heir to Ravenscar and you make me happy. That's all you ever need to do."

They worked for the next several hours hooking up to the two hauling rigs and loading them with Renata's gear. Once they had everything gathered in the breezeway of the barn, Bran sent her up to the house to finish packing, encouraging her to take enough clothes for at least a month.

He had just finished securing the last of her gear and was walking up to the house when the pack's amphibious plane flew overhead, and he waved. He walked into the house and smelled something delicious coming from the kitchen.

"I wanted there at least to be something for your men. Lorna will bring fresh bread and the rest of the food this evening. But there's stew and some rolls I threw together. God, I feel like a terrible hostess. My mother and aunt will be turning over in their graves."

"Sweetheart, they know you were gone for a few days so my guess is my mother will have sent them with food. Did you hear them fly over?"

"I was going to ask you if that was them."

"They should be here in a little bit. Why don't you come and check to make sure I've gotten everything loaded correctly? There won't be much time for introductions, I'd like to be back at Ravenscar as soon as possible."

They went back to the barn to check on the trucks and trailers, when eight wolves approached. His brother Joel was in the lead.

"Wow! Renata your pictures don't do you justice." He kissed both her cheeks, ignoring Branson's growl. "Oh shut up. You got the girl. It took you a while, but I can see why you never gave up."

Bran smiled. "I wasn't expecting so many of you. The plane must have been crowded."

"Father wants two men in each rig, which leaves four of us here at the farm. We'll get you two on your way and unload our things from the plane. I thought we might have a truck, but I see they're already packed; we can haul our stuff up here by hand."

Renata inclined her head toward the barn. "There's my SUV as well as a two-seater UTV with cargo space."

"Pretty and smart. You sure you want to get bonded to him? I'm much better looking," teased Joel.

"You won't be if you don't stop ogling my mate and I rearrange your face," said Bran, only partially joking.

"Whoa!" said Joel as a sudden burst of energy hit him in the solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him as he tumbled to the ground. "What the fuck, Bran? I was just giving you a bad time."

"Wasn't me. Here's the thing, little brother, Renata is a powerful sorceress. Her powers are limited where her fated mate is concerned, but I'm pretty much thinking she could have sent you into the side of the barn."

"No fair. You always did find the best she-wolves."

"Quit whining. Did you bring guns?"

"We did. If the mutts from Inverness show up, we'll take care of them."

The group headed up to the house, loading Renata's trunk into the dressing room of the horse trailer and taking the rest of her things to the plane, which had already been unloaded, so it took no time at all to get Bran and Renata ready to go.

"There's stew and rolls for you in the house," said Renata to Joel. "And my friend Lorna will be by later with groceries. She can also answer questions about where to get things on the island.

"They're grown men, they'll be fine. Come on," said Bran, putting his arm around Renata. He turned to his brother. "You guys have a treat in store tonight, the Northern Lights are playing."

He helped her into the plane, and they taxied away from the shore toward open water before taking off.

He flew once around the farm, tipping the wings of the plane at the men below, and set course for Ravenscar. He reached out and took Renata's hand.

"Nothing is cast in stone. Let's go deal with the bogeyman and we'll figure out the rest. I love you."

She smiled at him. "Some say that those who declare their love under the Aurora Borealis will be together for eternity. They say the lights reflect the love of all of those who have come before and will continue to do so until the end of time. I think I've spent my whole life looking for you, not knowing what it was I sought. The Northern Lights are like a mirror of our souls and to the fire that burns within us and that will intertwine and dance together forever."