Page 12

Chapter Twelve

Amelia eased closer to Gram; the compulsion to simply be near him was all-consuming. Her father watched with nothing short of pure satisfaction in his eyes. There was a hint of madness showing through the glee. She couldn’t recall a time she’d seen him this enthused about anything, let alone the arrival of a VIP guest. She half expected him to roll out a red carpet for Gram and have flowers tossed at the man.

The idea would have been considered far-fetched if Cal didn’t have the same welcome himself whenever he went away and returned. The Flock treated him like he was a god. But not Amelia. She knew better.

“Father,” said Taggert, going wide around Gram on his way to Amelia’s father. “Can I have a word with you?”

Cal lifted an arm in Taggert’s direction. “Mr. Campbell, I’m not sure if you’ve been properly introduced to the head of my security team, Taggert. You have a great deal in common. You’re just alike. Taggert is also a wolf-shifter who possesses the gift of magik, and both of you have a keen interest in Amelia. Though it would seem she is only receptive to one of you. Perhaps a backup selection won’t be necessary after all.”

“What?” demanded Taggert.

Amelia stepped back from Gram. He was just like Taggert? Did her father mean Gram was as deadly as Taggert?

Gram reached out quickly, his hand coming just shy of touching hers. He righted himself and appeared strained. Deep down she could sense how much he wanted…no, needed to make contact with her.

Unable to deny the man, she lifted her hand, placing it in his.

Gram didn’t seem to care that they had an audience as he pulled her closer to him in a protective manner, keeping her far from Taggert’s reach.

Cal fixated on their joined hands and it was impossible to miss the delight in his gaze. If the act made her father that happy, something was off.

A sinking feeling came over her. Was Gram the man her father had been waiting for? Was he the Bringer?

Amelia worked her hand free from Gram’s but didn’t step away. It took all she had to keep what little distance she had from Gram. What she really wanted to do was wrap her arms around him and beg the man to run away with her and her sister.

She doubted her father would find that amusing or exciting in the least. He’d have Gram’s head on a pike if he knew exactly how Amelia felt about the man she’d only just met.

Gram eyed her. “Lass, I see the wheels spinning in yer head. I’m nae like that asshat.”

Taggert growled.

Gram flipped him off. “Let’s nae pretend to like one another. And yer an arsehole.”

Taggert made a move to go at Gram.

“Do it. I verra much want to kill you,” warned Gram, stopping Taggert cold.

Cal smiled wider. “Interesting. I was not expecting this.”

Unable to stop herself, Amelia questioned her father. “You can’t think he’s who you’ve been waiting for, right? I’m not going to let you…”

Suddenly, Taggert was next to Amelia, to her right, Gram to her left. Taggert eased himself partially between Amelia and her father. He too knew exactly what Cal was capable of.

“Father, Amelia has been out in the sun for a long time today and she skipped breakfast. We should get her inside. You know how easily she burns,” said Taggert, who seemed to have abandoned his quest to growl threats at Gram endlessly. He now seemed concerned for Amelia. It never boded well when the criminally insane and sadistic started worrying about what someone else would do. If Taggert was concerned, just what in the heck was he worried about happening?

Normally, Amelia would have done her best to fade away from notice, to keep her head down and go with the flow. Especially with having an escape plan that she was close to launching. But she couldn’t stomach the idea of standing idly by and allowing her father to get his taint all over Gram.

Cal stared between the three of them and then winked at Amelia, making her jump in her spot.

Gram snaked an arm around her waist and yanked her against him.

Much to Amelia’s surprise, Taggert then put himself in front of her in a protective manner. The challenge wasn’t spoken outright, but it was there. Taggert was daring her father to attempt to go through him to get to her, showing he’d side with Gram if need be to keep Amelia safe.

It was official. Hell had frozen over.

“I do nae know what is happening here and I do nae care,” said Gram, still holding her to him. “I find myself wanting to keep the lass close to me. Make of that what you may.”

Her father clapped. “Wonderful news. Taggert, you can stand down. All is well. Better than expected even. Far better.”

Taggert relaxed somewhat but didn’t go too far from Amelia’s side.

Gram watched her father. “What are you? I cannae get a guid read on you. Are you magik?”

“I am many, many things, Mr. Campbell,” supplied her father. “And I have waited so long for you to come and join us.”

Amelia’s stomach dropped.

Gram was the Bringer.

She tried to step away from him, but he refused to release her.

“For me?” asked Gram, paying attention to Cal. “Why? I do nae know you. I would have remembered meeting you. I do nae forget a face.”

“Mr. Campbell, as I mentioned, I am a great many things. One of them is a seer of what is to come.” He lifted his hands in the air. “The great gods and goddesses speak through me.”

Gram’s brows drew up more. “Said every cult leader who fancied himself the next messiah.”

Amelia assumed her father would lash out at the comment.

He didn’t.

He grinned more. “Cult is such an ugly word.”

“One man’s messiah is another man’s cult leader,” supplied Gram, seemingly unconcerned with what her father thought of him.

That in itself was refreshing to a degree, but it didn’t change the fact that Gram was the Bringer.

“Did these gods and goddesses tell you I was coming?” asked Gram. “Because I heard it was my arsehole of a friend who made this reservation for me, nae some secret god and goddess society. Unless Striker started one of those. I’d nae put it past him. If anyone was ever born to want his own cult, it would be that one.”

Cal’s expression was even. “The higher powers did tell me of you, and they gave me visions of your arrival.”

“Visions?” asked Gram, seeming very interested all of a sudden. “Are they of a white wolf or dead mothers? What about a woman in white?” His gaze snapped to her.

Cal’s brow furrowed. “No. They are not. Why? Have you had such visions?”

Amelia found herself holding her breath, waiting for Gram’s answer, though she wasn’t sure why she cared so much.

Gram caressed her hip as he kept his arm around her waist. “Aye, ’tis part of why I’m here I suppose. I’m guessing my doctors mentioned as much. I thank you for trying to help me save face by pretending you dinnae know I’ve been hallucinating. I will admit that I cannae explain why it is I had visions of Amelia before I came here, though. Or the red ball.”

He’d seen her before his arrival?

Red ball?

Could he mean Andie’s? She was very rarely without it.

“Mr. Campbell, you had visions of Amelia?” asked Cal, stealing the question from her lips.

Taggert’s entire body tensed.

Gram nodded. “Aye. I couldnae see her face but it was her. I’ve no doubt of that. The visions even had her scent—honeysuckle and vanilla. Strange. I know. So, I’ll ask you again, what are you, and are you the reason I saw her before coming?”

Amelia twisted into Gram and put her hand to his chiseled abs. She didn’t want him pushing her father too far. “Don’t.”

He gulped as he stared down at her hand. “Lass, if you touch any lower, I cannae be held responsible for my actions. There is only so much a man can take.”

It took her a moment to follow along with his meaning. When she did, her eyes widened, and she jerked her hand free from him. “Oh, I…that wasn’t what, erm…never mind.”

He grinned sheepishly.

She found herself starting to smile as well.

“Tell me, Mr. Campbell,” said Cal. “Do you find Amelia to your liking?”

“Aye, verra much so,” replied Gram.

Amelia blushed.

“Though I am wondering what she is,” said Gram. “And how it was she appeared to me before I came. So what of you, lass? What are you?”

Cal and Taggert laughed softly at the question.

Flinching, Amelia averted her gaze. Her mother had always kept what Amelia could do a secret, letting everyone assume she had no gifts. That she was nothing more than human-like. When she was growing up, lying about what she could and couldn’t do had confused her, but she’d trusted her mother and abided by her wishes. That didn’t mean the subject wasn’t a sore one.

Cal came to her and drew her into a hug before kissing her forehead. If a strong wind came it would blow her over from the shock of her father’s affection and concern.

He met her gaze. “Amelia, I’m sorry. My laugh wasn’t meant to be cruel. I found it amusing that Mr. Campbell has taken such an interest in you so suddenly. It is more than I could have ever hoped for. I know you will make sure his stay here is enjoyable .”

She cringed at the implication.

Taggert muttered something about whoring out Amelia.

Cal gave him a scolding look and he shut up. Cal then patted her cheek lovingly. “You are a true gift. As is Andie. You are as much a part of the Flock as any other. I think you know just how special you are. It matters not to me that you are more human than not. You and Andie are to be protected at all times. You have a very bright future here. I was clear on this, right, Taggert?”

Taggert grunted. “Yes.”

Cal winked. “Amelia, can you show Mr. Campbell to his quarters? Something tells me he’d much rather prefer you be the one to do it than me.”

“Father,” said Taggert.

Cal eyed him. “Is there an issue?”

“Amelia isn’t normally around the guests,” replied Taggert. “She’s kept away from others for a reason. Right?”

Cal shrugged. “No time like the present to have her assist. Mr. Campbell is a VIP. If he wishes to have Amelia escort him, then so be it. I know Amelia will see to his needs.” He looked at Amelia, as if daring her to disobey.

She nodded.

Cal focused on Gram. “Would you care to join me for dinner this evening?”

Gram’s gaze eased over her, and Amelia felt her cheeks heat.

“Amelia will be there,” added Cal, surprising her by how quick he was to thrust her toward Gram. He must really want Gram in the Flock, because Taggert was right. Cal had never before permitted her to be around any male guests.

“Aye, I’ll join you.” Gram put his arm out to Amelia. “If the lass wouldnae mind showing me back to my quarters.”

She hid her smile for fear it would set off Taggert even more. Amelia looked to Cal for guidance. She didn’t want him changing his mind and issuing a kill order on Gram.

He nodded, and she touched Gram. Even more heat flared through her, making her breath catch. “We should head back. I need to find Andie and check on her.”

“The wee one is fine,” said Gram, drawing her closer. “I passed her on my way here.”

Relief ran over Amelia as she teared up once more. “We should go now.”

They walked off, leaving Cal and Taggert. She didn’t need to be around to know Cal wasn’t going to reprimand Taggert. She just hoped Cal kept the man busy enough for the rest of the day to keep him far from her.