Chapter 108
Charlie POV
I could feel the heat in my face as Daniel and Hyacinth exchanged ideas and theories, about my father and his family, and the legends and myths. I felt sick, I could barely say a word, and my anxiety and disbelief of it all were eating a hole in my stomach. I was relieved when Aine came to tell me Dermot was outside waiting for me, I had been keeping a close eye on the time, so I knew we didn’t have long before the Alphas would be at the cottage, but I was in no rush to leave, despite the subject matter that was being discussed. I leaned into Daniel as he walked me out, I knew he wanted to apologise to Dermot himself, but I wasn’t sure it was a wise idea. If what we heard from our driver was from Dermot, forcing a conversation could backfire, badly.
“What are you thinking?” He asked as we headed out of the parlour towards the front door.
“That Dermot might not be ready for the conversation you want,” I replied dryly, I stopped in front of him and looked into his eyes. “I know you need to apologise; I just worry he won’t be ready to hear it,” I explained before I stretched up to kiss his lips.
“I know, I just don’t want to go into this meeting with this weighing on me.” He replied, as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer.
“There’s nothing I can say to talk you out of this?” I asked, although, I was already sure of the answer.
“I need to try.” He said, but his eyes begged me to understand.
“Alright, but whatever he says, don’t take it into the meeting. You need to stay focused on the task, not worried about me or Dermot... promise me.” I needed reassurance before I left him.
“I promise.” He replied with a kiss and a smile, I could feel his amusement at me worrying about him like it was cute and quaint. I huffed in frustration, but decided not to argue with him, instead I walked out of the front door first, but Daniel was hot on my heels. Dermot was leaning against his car, his arms folded, with a very unhappy look on his face.
“Hi Dermot, how are you this morning?” I asked, I hoped he would be cordial at least.
“Hey there Charlie, every day I’m not dead is a plus.” He replied, but he was looking at Daniel over my shoulder.
“That’s not fair, and you know it!” I snapped before Daniel had a chance to say anything.
“Charlie, it’s not your fight,” Daniel warned.
“The hell it isn’t! What happened was just as much my fault as yours, and I’m sick of you taking the brunt of it, having people make snide remarks, and why? Because you were under the influence of the mate bond? Because you lost control when you had no choice in the matter? Because you didn’t mark me, in an attempt to save lives? You do understand that, right? That it happened because we were trying to avoid a future in which your friends, family and neighbours, maybe even you die?” I asked Dermot. “You know what? Forget it, I’m not going with him, not if he is going to blame you and turn the whole town against you, over something you had no control over. That’s not the kind of person I want to be around.” I snarled, as my anger got the better of me. I turned around to head back inside, but Daniel stopped me, he grabbed my upper arms and held me in place.
“You can’t stay here, and there’s no one else I trust to protect you. You have to go with him... please Charlie, for me?” I could feel Daniel’s desperation, and I had no doubt he could feel my reluctance to go anywhere.
“I know it’s not his fault... not really, but still, I considered you a friend, and you wanted to kill me, I could tell.” Dermot suddenly said, to my back and to Daniel’s face.
“I’m so sorry Dermot... I can’t even begin to explain or apologise. All I can tell you is, I wasn’t in my right mind, you know me, you know I would never hurt anyone who wasn’t trying to hurt me and mine. I still include you in that, but I understand if you don’t feel the same way anymore.” Daniel pleaded with Dermot to understand.
“We need to leave if we are going to be a safe distance away before the Alphas get here.” Dermot’s lack of acknowledgement made me scoff, I was even more irritated, I knew Daniel could feel it, by the way he started rubbing my arms, trying to calm me down.
“Listen to Dermot, and I will link you in a bit. Hopefully, I will see you tonight, but as soon as I know something I’ll let you know, okay?” Daniel asked me before he kissed me goodbye. I heard movement behind me as he deepened the kiss, he pulled me closer and made it memorable.
“I’ll see you later,” I replied, I almost opened the driver’s side door, as I forgot about the weird opposite way Irish cars are constructed and had to listen to Daniel’s chuckles as I walked around to the passenger side. I had a terrible feeling as I climbed into the car, I didn’t want to be parted from Daniel, but I didn’t want to argue about it either. “Daniel is going to link me to keep me updated, but I need you to promise me that if something goes wrong, you’ll bring me back to him,” I warned Dermot before he had a chance to start the car.
“I can’t do that, I’m sorry. I promised that I would keep you safe, and away from the other Alphas... you can’t come back until Daniel or Hyacinth gives me the all clear.” He replied as he turned the ignition and pulled the car around and out of the drive, I only got a fleeting glance of Daniel outside the cottage before he was out of sight.
“Something bad is going to happen, I know it, can’t you feel it in the air? Something is coming.” I muttered darkly as he drove us further away from the cottage and into the town.
“Hyacinth has been saying the same thing for months...” He replied, but I could hear the fear in his voice.
“Then maybe you should start listening.” I snapped; I was still angry at the way he had treated Daniel. The car remained silent until we pulled up outside a small stone house, it looked old, but homely, and well cared for.
“This is where you’ll be staying, with me and Siobhan,” Dermot said, as he turned off the engine, and got out of the car. I followed him, unable to find anything to say in response. The door to the house opened and a very pretty woman, with curly auburn hair and bright blue eyes, opened the door, her face however was about as welcoming as an attack dog. “Siobhan, M’fhíorghrá, this is Charlie. Charlie, Siobhan.” Dermot awkwardly introduced us.
“Don’t try and butter me up Dermot John Lear! I’m not in the mood.” She snapped at him, while she stared daggers at me.
“It wasn’t her fault, she got me out of there, protected me from her own mate! And... it wasn’t really his fault either, he wasn’t himself. I may have neglected to tell you a few details.” Dermot replied guiltily, his eyes glued to the floor.
“What details, exactly?” She asked, as her voice grew angrier. I looked around, I was starting to get uncomfortable with their quarrel and the attention it was attracting.
“Might I suggest we take this inside? We have an audience, and I’m supposed to be keeping a low profile.” I grumpily whispered, to the couple.
“Low profile?” Siobhan shrieked. “The whole village knows you’re here! No point being shy now.”
“Fine, you wanna have this out, let’s have it out. You don’t want me here? That makes two of us, but I’m stuck here, and you’re stuck with me. So, why don’t you just point me to somewhere I can sit, that’s out of the way? And I will stay there until Daniel comes to get me or someone takes me back to the cottage. You won’t have to talk to me, or even see me, and I will talk Daniel into leaving me at the hotel tomorrow.” I grumbled.
“Fine!” Siobhan snapped back at me. “But you and I aren’t done with our conversation, I can tell you that for nothing.” She warned Dermot, she turned on her heel and stormed into the house, leaving us to follow her to get away from the prying eyes of their neighbours. Inside the house was much more modern than the outside, the front door opened into a nice sized living room, with two tan coloured couches, and a large TV. The walls were an oatmeal colour, and the floors were a warm oak-coloured wood, I followed the couple a little further into the house, past the stairs, and through to the open kitchen and dining room. The kitchen was modern, but not too sterile looking, with lots of little quirky details, like a pale pink, polka-dot teapot, matching cups, and lots of matching accessories. Even the stools by the white island in the middle of the kitchen area had pale pink seats and the refrigerator had children’s pictures all over it. The walls in the kitchen and dining area were a very soft pale grey, and there were photos of children in silver frames on the walls, all of them with bright orange hair. “Start talking!” I heard Siobhan demand, as I took in the details of their home.
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