Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
I’d been kissed by a dragon, and wow. To say I liked it would be an understatement.
I knew of passion. Read of it. Saw it in movies.
Sometimes even viewed it in person, as universities tended to be a breeding ground for erotic affairs.
However, while I’d always been an involved partner when the mood struck, I’d never been so overwhelmed that I forgot everything.
In that moment, he could have lain me on the ground, and I would have let him take whatever liberties he wanted. Heck, staring at him, his eyes smoldering, his expression stunned, I almost threw myself at him to finish what he’d started.
As if Alistair sensed my thoughts, his expression twisted into his usual scowling mien. “We’re wasting time.”
I could have said something provocative, like we’d paused because of his actions; however, I might have already pushed him too far. Let him simmer for a bit. After all, if he’d been overcome enough to kiss me once, then surely, he’d do so again.
I hoped.
We walked in silence, a rarity for me. Only upon our arrival at the edge of Mallaig did he finally speak. “You can probably call a taxi now, as I assume your hotel is closer to the ferry dock than the edge of town.”
“Good guess. Hold on a moment while I look it up.” I already had a number in my phone, having used a taxi from the bus depot to reach my accommodations.
It turned out to be a wait of only a few minutes, minutes he spent looking at everything but me.
I bit my inner cheek lest I grin. To think, me, a dusty professor of my age, had discomfited an ancient dragon.
It made me feel positively powerful and beautiful.
While not a vain woman, I did recognize I had some pleasant features and an acceptable body.
Curvier than some would like, but I hated diets—and exercise for that matter.
I only stayed fit because I walked everywhere when back in Aberdeen.
From my apartment to the university, around the many campus buildings, to the stores when I needed to shop.
Alistair seemed to like my curves, given how he’d been cupping my bottom when we kissed, his hands big enough to palm my cheeks.
Perhaps he preferred a more plentiful woman, because from what I’d felt pressing against my belly, he had a girth that someone too petite might find difficult to accommodate.
Oh, my. The dirty direction of my thoughts had me blushing. Probably a good thing Alistair didn’t look my way or he’d wonder why.
The taxi arrived in short order, and soon we were at the hotel, where a trio of police cars sat parked with lights flashing but sirens off.
When I pulled out my wallet, Alistair growled and tossed some cash at the driver. If he wanted to pay, let him.
We exited the cab, but Alistair held me back rather than let me head for the hotel entrance. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.
“My room.”
“We should find out what happened first.”
“And how are we going to do that standing outside?”
“It’s called being discreet,” he drawled.
“I would have said paranoid. It’s doubtful the police presence has anything to do with us, seeing as we just arrived.
But since you’re too chicken to go find out…
” I pulled free from his arm and marched away from him and entered the hotel to see a uniformed officer talking to the front desk clerk, a young man I’d not seen before.
I sauntered over and didn’t have to fake being nervous. “Evening. Is there an issue I should know about?”
The police officer turned to me and frowned. “Excuse me, ma’am, but this is an active investigation. Please depart the premises.”
“Are you saying I’m not allowed to return to my room?
I’m paid until the end of the week.” Back when I’d assumed Alistair would be reasonable and allow me to search the castle for treasure.
Things had greatly changed since then, for the better, I’d say, if one ignored the Red Cap attack and my fall from the cliff.
“Of course you can go to your room, ma’am,” the clerk hastened to say. “Just so long as it’s not on the fourth floor, which has currently been blocked off due to an incident.”
Should I mention that my room was located on that level? I chose caution. “Oh dear. I’m on the floor above. I’m not in any danger, am I?” I opened my eyes wide.
“No. Whoever broke into a guest’s room appears to have departed.” The clerk offered a fake reassuring smile.
“All this commotion for a robbery,” I scoffed.
“We’re investigating a murder,” the police officer huffed as if offended by my tone.
“How horrible!” I clasped my hand to my mouth and hoped they didn’t wonder at my trembling fingers.
“O’Malley!” someone shouted, and the officer glanced away before murmuring, “Excuse me.”
The clerk watched him go and shook his head. “I can’t believe we had a guest killed and no one saw or heard a thing.”
“That is surprising. One would think a person being murdered would be noisy about it,” I agreed.
“I doubt they even had a chance to say anything.” The clerk leaned closer, eager to share. “Apparently the killer just about twisted her head right off.”
“A woman, you say? Sounds to me like a crime of passion.”
“Could be. The room was rented to a professor.”
“Oh, really?” My heart began racing. What were the odds of there being another female professor renting a room on the fourth floor? Considering my attempted murder last night, I could only conclude that the supposed victim in this case was thought to be me.
“That’s what my colleague said. I haven’t met her, but Mike saw her and said she was pretty.”
Well, thank you, but… “So they’ve identified the poor soul?”
“Not officially. The police are waiting for a picture from her university to confirm, but who else could it be?”
I wondered the same thing myself.
Before I could say anything, O’Malley returned, barking, “Do you know a Bonnie Allan?”
“Yeah, she’s part of our cleaning crew,” the clerk replied. “Why?”
“Seems like it wasn’t the professor renting the room that was killed, but the maid. When was she last heard from?”
“I don’t know. I only started my shift an hour ago.”
“I’ll need to talk to the last person working the desk, as well as find this professor for questioning.”
AKA me. I took that as my cue to leave. I exited but didn’t immediately see Alistair, just an old fellow wearing… Alistair’s clothes?
As I frowned, he came toward me and whispered, “It’s Alistair. Don’t scream, just come along.”
“But…” Confusion filled me.
“I’ll explain soon as we’re clear of the area,” said in a voice I didn’t recognize.
It took a few blocks, along with some turns to lose the hotel from sight. Only then did the Alistair I recognized murmur, “What did you find out?”
A glance showed him wearing his usual face. “How did you do that? You didn’t look like yourself at all.”
“I take it you won’t tell me anything until I explain.”
“What do you think?”
“I can adopt different appearances.”
“Obviously. But how? I would have thought you’d always look the same. Or can you change your look each time you shift?”
“My dragon is constant. My face and body, however, can morph into whomever I’ve eaten in the past.”
I blinked. “You’re saying you ate the original Alistair and that old man?”
“If it helps, he was quite the prick. They both were.”
“And are those the only two you’ve eaten?”
“No.”
“Oh, dear.” Feeling faint, I leaned against the exterior wall of the laundromat, closed for the night. “I guess I should have taken your threat more seriously.”
“I won’t hurt you,” a softly spoken promise.
“I should hope not.” Still, I needed to remind myself that, thus far, he’d been nothing but helpful. Maybe not always kind about it, but he’d certainly done nothing to cause harm.
“Being able to change my features has come in handy when I worry about being recognized.”
“Like when your supposed father dies and the son takes over the estate,” I murmured. “Guess you both can’t have the same face.”
“Exactly. Now that we’ve cleared that up, back to the police presence at the hotel. From the crowd gathered, I heard rumor they found a body.”
My lips turned down. “Not a rumor. A maid was murdered in my room. Head twisted with enough force to kill.”
“Which, despite the movies, isn’t easy to do. Seems like Red Cap on the isle wasn’t the only minion Nessie sent to fetch you.”
“Hardly fetch, since he murdered the woman!” I retorted.
“Could be it lay in wait for you and, when she entered instead, it wanted to get rid of a witness.”
“I guess.” His explanation did make sense, but didn’t help the situation.
“Apparently, the police initially thought I was the dead body, but now that they’ve identified her as one of the staff, I’m a person of interest wanted for questioning.
” My lips twisted. “Kind of wishing I could change my face like you.”
“If the police are looking for you, that will make your journey tricky.”
“Unless I turn myself in.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I’m innocent. I couldn’t have killed the maid because I wasn’t here but on the Isle of Rum. You can vouch for my presence.”
He grimaced. “You expect me to get involved?”
“Hardly involved. You’d just have to make a statement to the effect I wasn’t in Mallaig at the time of the murder.”
“Won’t they question how we got here without the ferry?”
“We could tell them we rented a boat.”
“And if they ask the name of the boat owner?”
My lips pursed. “I guess the fact we flew over isn’t something we can admit.”
He simply arched a brow.
“We could fly back to the Isle of Rum and pretend we never left.”
“We could, but seeing as how that’s at least two Red Caps Nessie has sent, I don’t get the impression she’ll be patient about a delay.”
“You’re thinking there will be another attack.”
“Don’t you?”
I sighed. “This is such a mess.”
“It is. I am surprised the body wasn’t found until so late in the day. You’d think someone would have noticed when the maid didn’t finish her shift. Unless…”
Alistair trailed off, prompting me to say, “Unless what?”
“Perhaps she returned to your room later in the day.”
“Why would she do that?”
“Because you weren’t there, for starters. Did you mention to anyone in the hotel you’d be traveling to the isle?”
“Yes. I asked the clerk for information on the ferry.”
“Chances are they noticed you didn’t return when expected and then, with the ferry out of commission for a few days and you stuck on the isle, might have seen an opportunity for theft.”
My lips pursed. “I had nothing of real value in my room. Just some clothes and notes.”
“But thieves wouldn’t have known that. Could be they hoped for some hidden cash or jewelry. Maybe electronics. It would explain why an employee of the hotel ended up in your room so late.”
“But how would a Red Cap have managed to get inside my room without being seen?”
“How have they managed to not be caught in these modern times?” Alistair paused. “Dark creatures have access to magic to aid them in remaining hidden.”
“That’s frightening.”
“They wouldn’t still exist if that weren’t the case. Now, time to plan our next move.”
“You mean the one where I go home?”
“Home? What happened to going to Loch Ness?”
I clasped my hands to still their trembling. “I don’t know if I still want to go. It was one thing when Nessie sent her monsters after me, but now an innocent has been killed.”
“Hardly innocent if they were a thief.”
“Stealing shouldn’t be a death sentence,” I huffed.
“Agreed, but you do realize, even if you went home, Nessie is likely to keep sending her minions until you’re in her presence.”
“Ugh.” I hated that he had a point. “So what do you suggest?”
“We continue on our way.”
“We? Have you decided to keep my company?” I probably shouldn’t have questioned his change of mind, but my mouth opened before I could stop it.
“Nessie’s actions need addressing, the sooner, the better. In that spirit, I can fly us there directly. It’s a journey of just over an hour.”
“That’s too quick.” I shook my head. “I’m not ready.”
“What do you need to prepare?”
I snorted. “My mental state. Unlike you, what’s happened thus far isn’t usual for me. Red Caps and dragons and murders. It’s all a bit much.”
“And here I thought you craved adventure.”
“Adventure is one thing. This has become something entirely else. I don’t think I’m cut out for this kind of danger.”
“Going to give up?”
“No. But I would like a moment to breathe and think. I could also use a shower, a change of clothes, and a meal. I’m famished. I haven’t eaten anything since the pastry I bought back on the isle,” I sheepishly admitted.
“I should have remembered human fragility. Very well, you may have a moment to refresh and recover, but not here in Mallaig.”
“Then where?”
“Inverness. It’s close to Loch Ness, and I am acquainted with someone who knows how to keep their mouth shut and can provide us with accommodation.”
“Hold on, I thought you said you didn’t have friends.”
“I don’t. He’s my solicitor.”
“Pretty sure most lawyers wouldn’t be fine with a client showing up late at night asking for a room.”
“He’s not most lawyers,” Alistair muttered.
Sensing something, I prodded. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Ever heard of a wulver?”
“He’s a werewolf?” I practically screeched.
“Shh.” He glanced around as if the empty sidewalk suddenly sprouted a listening crowd. “Oliver doesn’t like that term. So do not use it, and whatever you do, do not ask him about his condition.”
“Touchy subject?”
“Very.”
“In that case, what am I allowed to talk about?”
“Something that your historically enamored heart will truly enjoy. Oliver is a member of the U?um-gal Abarakkum.”
“The what?” I didn’t recognize the name.
With a smile that melted my panties, Alistair said, “The U?um-gal Abarakkum is a secret society, thousands of years old, whose members could best be described as dragon stewards. If you ask nicely, Oliver might even let you look at some old books about my kind that were passed down to him.”
Forget my panties, my whole brain turned into a pile of excited goo.
Given I lacked the ability to think or speak, it probably explained why I popped up on tiptoe and mashed my mouth to Alistair’s.