Waterfall(39)

Lovely. Jordan’s shoulder muscles tensed. His brother thought him a kidnapper of not only his mate but also an entire household. “Well, how capital of you, Madoc. Why would you think that?”

“You have new powers. Unknown powers. I thought maybe events had not gone as you planned. So I brought her with me to the Isle to figure this all out.”

“Enough with this.” Ferrous stepped between them. “This is not any of our faults. Hudson wants something. He has possibly achieved it. I believe he is in transition to becoming otherworldly. I have no idea what he is transitioning into.”

“A vampire,” Celeste stated as if that was a notion that perplexed her.

“How do you know?” Ferrous turned to her.

“In my vision, he attacked Grandmum from behind and then fed on her blood.”

They all looked at her with raised eyebrows.

“Well, there is folklore of this kind of thing. Novels too,” she said with purpose.

“Who is watching him now?” Madoc turned for the door. “He has always been a friend to us. I can’t imagine he would hurt us.”

“Madoc, wait!” Ferrous ran after him. “He bit me, and as far as I can tell, our blood had no ill effect on him. If he is transitioning to a vampire or other, I can’t stop that. But I know what I need to do to purge the energy from him.” Ferrous returned to the room and grasped a clear bottle filled with flakes of a gold glimmering mineral, then ran back out into the hall.

Jordan seized Celeste’s hand. “I will take you to your grandmum.”

“Thank you.” Her hand trembled as she placed it in his. They walked from the room and turned in the opposite direction from the silver room. At the end stood two large double doors. Jordan knocked.

“Come in.” Grandmum’s voice carried through the wall.

Celeste pushed down on the handle and ran into the room. She grasped Grandmum’s hands and shook them. “Are you well?”

“Yes, dear. Why wouldn’t I be? You, though, have caused me a fit of vapors. What happened this morning?” Her grandmum glanced past her to stare at Jordan, who had entered the room behind Celeste. “Oh dear.”

Jordan was relieved Grandmum appeared to be well. Quite well, actually. Her color was good, and the energy streaming off her was pleasant and powerful.

A rosy color appeared on Celeste’s cheeks. “Grandmum, this is Jordan. He—well, he and I—”

“We are arranging an arrangement, ma’am.” She would be his no matter what. “Your granddaughter and your family will always be protected by our arrangement.”

Grandmum’s eyebrows rose. “An arrangement of what sort?”

Celeste glanced at him, and he could feel her need for his presence there. “With Hudson, Grandmum. Though I admit it might all be moot at this point as his attic has gone a bit mad.”

“We all go a bit mad at times.” The lines around her soft brown eyes crinkled, and a concerned smile curved her lips.

Jordan needed to join his brothers. They were stronger together, and with Hudson acting so erratically, he needed to go now. “It is impossible to explain at the moment, and indeed, you are, of course, correct, ma’am. But I fear Hudson is more than a bit mad. He is simply no longer the same man.” What were they going to do with a duke who drank blood and…who knew what other powers he possessed? “Please excuse me. I have to check on my brothers.” Jordan bowed and turned.

“Wait.” Celeste’s voice held concern. “Are you going to check on Hudson?”

“Indeed.” He didn’t stop and continued out the door.



Celeste’s heart jumped into her throat. She couldn’t let him go alone. “Grandmum, will you be well for a bit longer without me? I would like to go with Jordan.”

“I am fine, dear, but some things are better left for men to negotiate.”

“Not this, Grandmum. Not this.” She headed for the door. Then she turned around and returned to the older woman’s side. “I love you.” She leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I am delighted you are here with me.”

Grandmum reached up and gently rubbed the side of Celeste’s neck. “Same, dear. Now shoo.”

Celeste grabbed a handful of her red skirts and ran to catch up with Jordan.





Chapter Nine

Celeste ran down the hall toward the silver room. She needed to be there to know what happened to Hudson and why she had a vision that held no truth. She was vexed, but she would do everything she could to protect Grandmum and Jordan. She could not deny the urge to help him.

When she turned the corner, Jordan stood before the silver room’s closed door.