Martin Millar - Lonely Werewolf Girl Read Online Free

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with him. Unconsciously, he let his long hair swing in front of his
face, which he always did to mask embarrassment.
    "Do you want to come in… maybe call the police?"
    But Kalix had gone. She'd swiftly opened the door, slid out of
the car and was already disappearing along the street.
    7
    As leaders of the MacRinnalch Werewolf Clan the Thane's family
were very wealthy. They owned property all over Britain. Verasa, wife
of the Thane and Mistress of the Werewolves, held land in the Scottish
highlands, more land in the Scottish isles, and considerable estates in
Kent. Her London home, in Kensington, was large enough to be classed as
a mansion. Verasa spent a lot of time there. Too much time, in the
opinion of her husband the Thane, but it was a long time since they had
agreed about anything.
    Verasa was two hundred and fifty years old. In human terms,
she would have passed for forty-eight. Like most female members of the
clan her hair hung long and dark round her shoulders. Unlike her
wayward daughter Kalix, Verasa was a frequent visitor to the salons of
Edinburgh and Knightsbridge, and her thick mane was beautifully
coiffured. Her clothes were elegant and her features striking. While
taking tea at one of the smart little places in Kensington she
sometimes favoured, she would always be the subject of a few discreet
glances as the clientele wondered who she might be, what films she
might have starred in when she was younger, and what wealth she might
have married into.
    Verasa was drinking a glass of wine from a crystal goblet that
had been in the family for four hundred years. A servant entered.
    "Your son, mistress."
    "Send him in."
    Markus strode into the chamber. Markus was her younger son,
and her favourite. Markus, who didn't look much like a werewolf, having
a somewhat rounder face than was usual, less lupine around the
cheekbones. His hair was a little lighter, more chestnut than was
common among the MacRinnalchs. Slightly feminine. Pretty even, which
was unusual in a male werewolf. It didn't mean that he was weak. No
werewolf with the blood of the MacRinnalchs flowing in his veins had
ever been weak. He was certainly a more congenial companion for his
mother than Sarapen, her eldest son, who had turned out to be the
double of his father the Thane; strong and grim, and not given to shows
of affection.
    Markus's main residence was in Edinburgh but he was a frequent
visitor to London. He embraced his mother and she responded with a
warmth she felt towards no other member of her family. As Markus
finally withdrew from the embrace, she looked at him questioningly.
    "Kalix killed some hunters," said Markus.
    "From the Guild?"
    "No, just some freelancers. Of no account."
    Verasa nodded. Bounty hunters were an occasional annoyance,
but rarely able to trouble the powerful MacRinnalch Clan.
    "And the Douglas-MacPhees?"
    "Kalix encountered Duncan yesterday," answered Markus. "She
escaped."
    "Escaped? Was he trying to harm her?"
    "No doubt. You don't send the Douglas-MacPhees after anyone
unless you want to harm them."
    Verasa frowned. Duncan, Fergus and Rhona were a notorious
trio. It was infuriating that her own son Sarapen should employ such
people. She poured wine for herself and Markus. As she handed him his
glass she thought, as always, that she was fortunate to have at least
one child who loved her.
    "Poor Kalix," said Verasa, in her well modulated Scottish
tones. "I admit we've had our difficulties but I'd hate to see her
heart cut out."
    Markus made a sound of mild contempt. He loathed the girl, and
made no secret of it.
    "She would deserve it. But we can't let Sarapen capture her.
Or kill her. Great Mother Dulupina would never let us forget that he
succeeded while we failed." He looked at his mother. "We should have
tried harder to catch her."
    The Mistress of the Werewolves sighed.
    "I hoped she would just disappear. It's not pleasant for a
mother to have her youngest daughter dragged back for sentencing, even
if