Chapter Five
Callum
“Are you warm enough?” I asked Brodie as we stepped outside into the evening air.
“Oh yeah, I love cool weather. You won’t get cold, will you?” I chuckled when he pointed to the space between the bottom of my kilt and the top of my boots.
“Naw, I’m used to it. I’ve been wearing kilts since I was a wee lad.”
“It looks great on you. And super comfortable.”
“Have you never worn one?” Everyone in the coven wore them often and had been for centuries as part of our heritage and culture.
Brodie shook his head no. “I asked my father about them when I was younger and saw men wearing them in town. He told me that a faggot like me would just pretend it was a dress and disgrace all of Scotland.”
My blood boiled. Any mention of that man cast aside my peaceful nature, and I craved his head on a pike. “Your father’s a scabby dobber and his words are shite.”
Brodie snorted a laugh as he took my outstretched hand, and we began our stroll through town. “I’m finding out that he was wrong about a lot of things.”
“Like?”
“Well, like he said he wasn’t surprised that I was ‘a clarty buftie’ because I was so small and weak and useless.” Nevermind; a pike through the head is too good for that man . “But you and your friends are so big and strong, and you’re all with men.”
“You’re strong too, Brodie.” He’d have to be to survive growing up in that household.
“But being gay has nothing to do with appearance or build; it’s about the need inside you, knowing what will make you happy and staying true to yourself.
Everyone deserves to be happy, but sometimes people like your father can’t understand that, or see it as wrong. ”
“And that makes them scabby dobbers.”
It was my turn to laugh as I squeezed his hand. “Exactly.”
“He was wrong about something else too.” I raised my eyebrows in question and Brodie added, “That no one would ever want me.”
“Oh, my sweet Brodie, he was very wrong about that.” I lifted his hand and placed a kiss to his knuckles as he grinned broadly. I’d never understand how someone could treat this angel so terribly, but those days were behind him now.
“Would you like to hear a little of our village’s history?” I asked as we walked along the cobblestone path. I wanted to change the subject from his family, but was also excited to tell him about his new home.
“Please,” he answered with a wide smile.
“Well, Beckenridge didn’t have the brightest beginning.
Centuries ago, it and the lands surrounding it were all ruled by one king named Leon.
Leon was a tyrant, but not towards his own people; he believed everyone not under his rule were unworthy, and should be enslaved and even killed.
" It was difficult recounting the story without using the terms 'vampire' and 'human', but Brodie still appeared enthralled with my tale.
"For years, he governed with fear and force, taking lives and growing his kingdom. Anyone who tried to stand against him was struck down by his army of guards, who were just as bloodthirsty as he."
"But then one day, Leon's own brother Felipe had enough of watching innocent people die.
He built an army of his own and rallied his troops.
They stormed Leon's castle and fought for days on end.” I longed to tell Brodie that I was in that battle; I was proud to have fought for the king, but that discussion was for another time.
“Many lives were lost, but Felipe's army won out in the end, and Leon's rule came to an end. "
"And the people were free?" It was the first time Brodie spoke since I began; he was hanging on to my every word.
"Yes. King Felipe took the throne and his people lived at peace.
They travelled back to their homelands and over time, expanded their numbers.
As time went on and travel became easier, Felipe's followers spread across the globe.
Felipe cared for his people and wanted to make sure they were happy and thriving wherever they went, so he appointed a leader to each region.
Those leaders watch over their people and make sure they're safe and their needs are met. "
"You're the leader of this region now," Brodie surmised.
"That's why the guard called you Master.
" My mate was more clever than he believed, and very observant of things around him.
It probably came from being constantly scared of his past surroundings.
The thought made my chest ache and I squeezed Brodie's hand in support.
"Yes, m'anam. I watch over these lands and my people. If there's something I alone can't help them with, I take their needs to the king and we work together to find a solution."
"Wow. You're so important, Callum."
I chuckled and gave his hand another squeeze. "I'm glad you think so. I take a lot of pride in my work. It means so much that my people place their faith in me, and that I have the king's trust."
"Amazing."
I kissed the top of his head in thanks and led him further down the path.
Brodie marveled at the stone homes, landscaping and undeniable charm of our beautiful village.
Several coven members were out enjoying the evening, and at first, each time anyone came near us on the path, Brodie pulled closer to me and clenched my hand.
While I was delighted that he was drawing comfort from me, I wanted him to know that he was safe with those around him.
This was his home now, and surrounding him were friends and kin.
As the mate of the Master Vampire, Brodie was to be shown the greatest level of respect.
And so, I introduced him to everyone we passed.
Because of the news Kade spread around town, everyone knew of the events at the games, Brodie's innocence, and my order not to mention any of it, so they only spoke kindly to my mate and welcomed him to the village.
They also congratulated me in whispers unheard by Brodie.
After we'd met a few coven members, he no longer seemed afraid.
When new people approached, Brodie smiled widely and even waved, excited to meet more nice people.
I was very proud of my coven and their easy acceptance of my wonderful mate.
"And this is what we call the shopping district," I told Brodie as we passed the storefront of the first shop beyond the cluster of homes.
"We don't have any large chain stores like bigger cities; these are mainly boutiques filled with handcrafted goods.
Visitors come to tour and taste at our whiskey distillery, and often explore the village while they're here.
These little shops allow the people who live here to showcase their talents. "
"They're very talented," he gushed as he looked in through a window of a store which sold hand-knitted items. He ooh -ed and ahh -ed as we walked by a shop selling candles, and sniffed the air in front of a perfumery.
"Whoa." Brodie's steps came to a halt in front of another shop, where shelves of animal-shaped blown glass figurines were on display. "They look so lifelike."
"Would you like to go inside and look around?"
Brodie chewed his lip for a moment before answering, "I don't want to interrupt the tour."
I shook my head at my sweet, silly man. "I want to show you everything , m'anam. Come on." I led him inside and Brodie's eyes widened as he took in all of the trinkets and tiny, fragile sculptures.
"Good evening, Master Duff," Evan, the shop's owner, greeted. He rounded the end of an aisle and held out his hand.
"Good evening."
Once I shook his hand, Evan turned his attention to my mate and gave a wide smile. "And you must be Brodie."
"I am," Brodie replied, sounding a bit surprised.
"My name is Evan Cambell, and it's very nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too." Brodie shook Evan's outstretched hand. "Did you make everything in here?"
"Aye.”
“You’re a wonderful artist.”
Pride shimmered in Evan’s sapphire eyes. “Thank you, Brodie. Would you like me to show you one of my favorite pieces?”
“Yes, please.”
Evan led my mate away from me to the next aisle.
I followed them even though I didn’t worry about them being alone.
I trusted Evan; for one, he knew that Brodie was mine.
If he made a move on my mate, I’d be forced to kill him, and he was well aware of that.
But also, I’d known Evan for a very long time, and he wasn’t what one would call a ‘flirt’.
He generally kept to himself, crafting his glass in the early hours of the mornings and tending his shop in the afternoons and evenings.
He was a man of simple interests and a kind soul.
“Here we are,” Evan announced, pointing to a glass figurine of a blue and green hummingbird drinking from a pink bell-shaped flower.
“Oh, it’s beautiful,” Brodie whispered, inspecting the dainty bird.
“Hold out your hand,” Evan urged, and Brodie did as he asked. Evan plucked the bird from the flower and placed its long beak on the tip of Brodie’s finger. When he moved his hand, my mate’s jaw dropped at the way the bird balanced perfectly.
“Oh my gosh,” Brodie exclaimed, still whispering as if he were afraid to speak too loudly around the glass. “Look at this, Callum; isn’t it amazing?”
I beamed at Brodie’s appreciation of the simple things in life, and his desire to show me everything he enjoyed. “It is.” I gave my friend a clap on the back. “Beautiful work as always, Evan.”
“Thank you, sir.” He smiled as he ran his hand through his coal black hair. He put a lot of time and effort into his craft, and I could tell that the praise meant the world to him.
“I’ll let you put it back,” Brodie said. “I don’t want to risk breaking it.” Evan took the hummingbird once more and settled it into its flower base. “Thank you for showing me that.”