“Exactly,” I said. “If I don’t bite her, then we don’t have to worry about any of that.”
Fur bristled over his face. “Idiot.”
“Grandpa…”
“Out! Get out of here! Now!” The fur was covering him.
I sighed.
“Go, Killian,” my grandmother said, shaking her head at me with a resigned look on her face. “Don’t provoke him further.”
I nodded and stood. There was nothing to be gained by further conversation. Not when Grandfather was like this.
As much as I loved him, I couldn’t avoid the fact that my mind was filled with visions of one thing right now.
Daphne.
Nine
Daphne
I set down the crime thriller I’d been reading. It was excellent, but I just couldn’t focus on the words right now.Kidnapped, Killian, magic, fated mate, I’m a witch, the world has gone crazy…I could barely think straight.
And I was hungry. This room had everything but snacks.
My stomach growled and I wondered if they were going to bring me food. Would Killian try to starve me into submission? Feed me gruel and water?
The aroma of burning charcoal in the distance certainly didn’t help things. I could go for a good burger.
I walked over to the door and pounded on it. “Hey! Is there dinner service here? Or maybe a nice bowl of gruel?”
No answer, so I returned to the armchair where I’d been reclining and picked up the book. I stared at it, then set it down again.
Moments later, the doorknob turned, and I leapt to my feet. The door swung open and Killian walked in, wearing his sexy uniform of jeans and T-shirt. And now I was hungry for more than just food. It was ridiculous that I was still attracted to him despite everything that was happening, and yet there we were.
He grinned fiercely at me. “Sorry to leave you alone so long. Are you hungry?”
I felt suddenly contrary, which was how I always felt around him. Almost as if I enjoyed our push and pull. “Nope.” My growling stomach gave me away.
“You’re a lying liar-pants,” he said cheerfully.
“And you’re a criminal kidnapper-pants.” But I’d need strength to figure out how to escape. “Okay, I’m starving. What are you offering?”
“Our chef Max is one hell of a grill master and is making kebabs tonight. I’m thinking I’ll get us a big plate of those and we’ll just spend some time together. Just the two of us.”
“I will consent to dinner with you on one condition. I want answers. I want information.”
“Like what?”
Seriously? I’d just found out that magic existed, I might be a witch, three guys claimed that I was related to them and they basically owned me, people could and did turn into wolves…I didn’t even know where to start.
So I picked one at random—but an important one. “I want you to explain this whole fated mate thing. Why do you keep insisting I’m your mate when you don’t even know me?”
He shrugged one burly shoulder, stalked into the room, and stared down at me, his mouth curving up in a smile. His eyes gleamed with heat and hunger. “I just know.”
“There’s more to it than that. Do all wolves have fated mates? What is it that tells them when they meet their mate? Etcetera and so on. Spill it, Killian.”
“I’ll explain it as well as I can. After dinner.”