Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81504 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81504 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Absolutely.
But nice?
She finally gets ready to leave, with promises of returning sometime soon.
“We’ll have you brought home,” Tully says, his hand on my lower back as he bids her good-bye.
“Thank you,” she mutters, but as she turns to go, she swivels around and looks to me. Her eyes are a bit wild, as if she’s held herself back for the purpose of our meeting but she’s returning to her former self now. “Don’t trust them, McKenna,” she says, loud enough for Tully to hear. “Don’t give up everything to become one of them.”
I’m struggling enough with the thought of being claimed, that her admonition brings up my own fears. Then she’s gone, and I’m left alone with Tully and Mary.
“You don’t look so good,” Mary says with concern. “Maybe you need to go lie down, McKenna?”
Tully frowns and puts his hand to my forehead. “I’ll bring you to bed.”
The next thing I know, I’m in his arms and he’s heading for the doorway.
“My God, I can walk, Tully. Put me down!”
“Oh, aye, you can walk,” he says softly, so only I can hear. “But the question is, will you be able to sit?”
I roll my eyes. “You’re just looking for an excuse to smack my arse.”
He grins. “Always.”
But still, he doesn’t put me down until we get to the elevator, and then it’s only with the greatest reluctance.
I have to admit, it feels a little nice, though. Having his protection and concern. The way he tucks me into bed when we get back upstairs, and orders strong, hot tea laced with lemon and honey, more of the crackers Maeve gave me, and a piping hot bowl of soup that tastes deliciously satisfying.
The next day, I get ready for school quietly while Tully does the same. His phone rings before we go.
“Keenan?”
He’s standing in front of the mirror, fiddling with the buttons on his shirt. I walk in front of him and take over. He gives me a wink, making my heart flutter. I like taking care of him.
His face clouds over as he’s talking, a common enough occurrence that I don’t think much of it. I know by now that the work they do is, at times, ruthless and violent. He’s come home at night visibly bruised and bloodied. He’s answered Keenan and Cormac’s calls and left in the middle of the night. He’s had hushed conversations in the dining room. He doesn’t share anything with me, though, and although I wish I knew a bit more, a part of me’s relieved to be ignorant as well.
“Will do,” he says, then he hangs up the phone and shoves it in his pocket. I bend and kiss the corner of his lips, where they turn downward in a frown.
“Everything alright?”
He smiles, wraps his hands around my waist, and draws me to him. “No,” he says simply. “But they will be. Honestly, Keenan would prefer I stay home today, but I can’t do that.”
“Now, Tully, you know I’ve strong protection at St. Albert’s. You don’t have to be there every second of every day.” Tiernan’s there, and in recent weeks, Boner and Lachlan have come as well. They’re supposedly helping Tiernan teach the boys some of the more complicated fighting moves, but I’ve heard things here and there that tell me that’s only an excuse, really. There’s something else brewing.
“Not happening, McKenna. I won’t leave you unattended.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m hardly unattended, Tully.” There are guards outside the classes and guards in every hall.
“Enough. This conversation is over.”
Of course. When he decides something, there’s no room for compromise.
“Now, lass, none of that long face and pout you get when I’m firm about something,” he says, reaching for my chin so my gaze meets his eyes.
“I’m not pouting,” I say, pouting.
“You are. You want to be brave and you don’t like to have the protection of the Clan. Well, you are brave, and don’t you forget that, not for a minute.”
I sigh. I definitely don’t feel brave.
“You think any woman could carry a future member of the McCarthy Clan?” His eyes twinkle and his tone of voice teases, but his words stir up something disturbing in me.
My child. A future member…of the McCarthy Clan?
“What if it’s a girl?”
He blinks. “A girl?”
“Aye,” I say angrily. “As in the other sex?”
“Now, McKenna, don’t get your knickers all up in a wad. Of course it could be a girl, and I’d love her just the same as I would a son.”
“Would you, though? If you couldn’t train her in your ways?”
He captures my face between his hands, his brows drawing together. “I absolutely would. No matter who that child is, that child is mine, and I’d devote myself as the father a child deserves. No matter what.” He bends and kisses me so deeply, I come up on my toes. I sigh.