Bound by Blood (Cauld Ane Series) Read Online Free Page B

plane.”
    “What?” Pepper seemed much more alert now. “Seriously?”
    Sam chuckled. “Yep. We’re staying at the same hotel, and I even agreed to maybe meet him for a drink.”
    “Who are you and what have to done with my best friend?”
    “I’m evolving. Aren’t you proud?”
    “So, so proud.” Yawn.
    “Go back to sleep.”
    “You’re sure you’re okay?”
    “Totally,” Sam said.
    “Night.”
    Click.
    Sam smiled and dropped her phone on the table next to the couch. She was being ridiculous. She needed to sleep. This was her first time away from home, and she was nervous. That was it. She took some time to put away her clothes and then headed to the shower.
    She let the hot water cover her and sighed as she felt the travel wash away. But without warning, her heart started to race again. Something was definitely wrong, and the trouble seemed close. In pure Bible-belt fashion, she started to pray. The fear was replaced with calm, and Sam let out a sigh of relief.
    Without wasting any more time worrying about it, she dried off and got ready for bed.

CHAPTER THREE
     
    KADE LET HIMSELF into his flat and dropped his keys on the foyer table. Almost nine o’clock. Today had been a long day, filled with revelations. Ones he wished had stayed hidden. Loosening his tie, he made his way to the bank of windows overlooking the university. The weight of leadership was heavy today and he felt isolated.
    His brothers were of no help, and now his only sister was adding to the burden. He wanted to rail at her and drive home her stupidity for putting herself in danger, but he had to admit, she was doing something that might help her cause. If they could find out what happened several hundred years ago, maybe they could find out why she was in danger.
    His phone rang, interrupting his brooding. “Hello.”
    “Kade, it’s Duncan.”
    “How’d it go with the new doctor?”
    “Outside of the fact that the woman is afraid of her own shadow and doesn’t speak?”
    “She doesn’t need to speak, Duncan. She just needs to find a cure.”
    “True.” Duncan sighed. “She is quite pretty, in an American way. What do they call it? Girl next door?”
    Kade chuckled. “As long as she does her job, she can be the female equivalent of Rowan Atkinson.”
    Duncan laughed. “Well, she’s safely stowed at the Balmoral and my job is done. Payton’s picking her up on Monday and will bring her to your office. You can show her the lab and try to force a conversation out of her.”
    “I’ve given that responsibility to Anna.”
    Duncan laughed. “Coward.”
    Kade chuckled. “Maybe. Could also be that I don’t have time to babysit and make small talk.”
    “Don’t blame ye.”
    “Thanks for your help.”
    “I’ll see you next week.”
    Kade hung up just as his doorbell pealed.
    Great. Fiona.
    Pulling open the door, he stepped back with a quiet sigh. “Darling sister. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
    “I hated the way we left things.” Fiona brushed past him, followed by Angus.
    Kade closed the door. “You could have called.”
    Fiona gave Angus some kind of silent request and Kade rolled his eyes.
    “I’ll just grab meself something to drink.” Angus started toward the kitchen.
    Kade raised an eyebrow. “Should I sit down?”
    She smiled. “It might be a good idea.”
    He sat in his favorite chair and waited for his sister to sit on the sofa. “Will I need a hanky?”
    Fiona shrugged. “I have a couple if you need one.”
    “Are we going to discuss any further visits to the library?”
    “No. We’re going to discuss you.”
    “Bloody hell,” Kade grumbled.
    “We need to discuss Shannon.”
    Kade pushed to his feet. “I’m not doing this with you, Fiona.”
    “She’s in love with you.”
    He ran his hands through his hair. “No, she’s not. She’s jockeying for position, and I’ll not be a part of it.”
    Fiona burst into tears and Kade sighed and sat down again, leaning over to give her hand a