Chapter 21 #2
I paused at the bottom of the stairs, the snap of the cold night air sending a shiver across my skin. Autumn was well on its way, and every morning I could see it in the crystals starting to frost the grass.
“I thought I’d drive us up. I wasn’t sure if you’d be in heels or not,” Luch said, opening the car door for me. One ripple marred the perfect surface of the water.
But it was all it took to mess up the perfection.
Was that the same as me keeping the secrets of the Order from Luch?
Worry clawed at my stomach as I stepped inside the car.
MacAlpine Castle came into view as we crested the hill and I sighed, enjoying seeing the building lit up at night.
Luch drove around the side and parked in the lot, and I admired the twinkle lights lining the pathway to the side entrance for Grasshopper.
Lia’s restaurant operated out of the old castle kitchen, and they’d transformed what used to be a ballroom into the restaurant space.
“Wait.” Luch shot me an annoyed glance when I went to open the door and I bit back a laugh as he raced around the car and then opened the door with a dramatic sweep of his hand. I beamed up at him.
“Why, thank you, good sir.” I took his hand, that little spark of energy zipping between us, and stood. “Have I told you how handsome you look tonight?”
“Why, no, we’ve been too busy admiring you.
” Luch flexed his arms beneath his coat, and I laughed, hooking my arm through his.
He wore a dark suit coat thrown over a simple white button-down, with dark jeans cuffed at the ankles, and thick soled leather boots.
Honestly, I felt a little like I was a princess, being swept away to her castle, as we walked up the path toward the front door.
Music drifted out, along with the steady hum of restaurant noises, voices and cutlery clinking.
Luch lifted his head, sniffing loudly, and I glanced up at him with a smile.
“Smells good, huh? She’s an incredible cook …” I trailed off at the absolute fury on Luch’s face. “What … what’s wrong?”
“Those bastards,” Luch seethed, stomping inside the restaurant, leaving me at the door in confusion.
“Luch?” I asked, almost afraid to step inside.
I’d never seen him like this before. Annoyed?
Yes. Frustrated? Yes. But the stone-cold rage on his face transformed him into a man I didn’t know.
If I stepped through that door, would I learn something that I didn’t want to know about Luch?
Uncertainty had me hesitating for a moment, but then I took a deep breath, channeled the goddess that Willow had designed this dress for, and strode inside.
Luch stood next to a group of five men, arguing furiously—yet in hushed voices.
It was impossible to ignore that they were engrossed in a very serious discussion.
The next thing that was impossible to ignore was the fact that these men were clearly his brothers and his father.
They were almost carbon copies of each other, all with dark hair, chiseled faces, and broad shoulders.
More than one woman cast an appreciative glance their way, and I could hardly blame them.
It was only one man, his hair having gone slightly gray, that I zeroed in on.
He didn’t argue. Instead, he stood, his chin lifted high, his eyes scanning the room.
It was almost as if he had no interest in partaking in the discussion, because he’d already assumed the outcome would go in his favor.
When his eyes landed on me, I stiffened.
It felt like someone had thrown a glass of cold water in my face.
Luch’s father reached out and lightly touched the shoulder of one of the brothers and nodded toward me.
I didn’t flinch when the entire group turned to look at me, but I wanted to.
Luch’s face was locked up, his expression hidden, though his eyes burned.
But his family? As far as they were concerned I might as well have been a cockroach in their food by the way they looked at me.
Luch strode forward and wrapped an arm around my waist. Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to my cheek, his lips hovering near my ear.
“I’m sorry. They ambushed me.”
I tilted my head, meeting his eyes.
“Do you want me to go?” I hated asking it, but if he needed me to leave, I would.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Luch had told them about me.
It would be unfair of him, to share my secret with his family without giving me a chance to explain more deeply about healers, and indecision warred.
Judging from the looks they were giving us, I was already persona non gratis.
“Kind of, yeah.” Luch gripped my arm when I jolted, surprised by his response. “They’re … they’re really difficult, Faelan. I don’t want to expose you to them.”
“Have you told them about—”
“About what?” I looked up to see his father at our side. The man had appeared instantly, with barely a sound, and the fine hairs on the back of my neck rose as he looked down at me, disdain clear in his features.
“About our date tonight?” I answered smoothly, refusing to cow before this man. I’d had my fair share of experience standing up to difficult people before, and I called on every ounce of my experience to meet Luch’s father’s eyes directly. I smiled. “I’m Dr. Faelan Fletcher, and you are?”
“This is my father, Richard Carmichael.” I noticed Luch didn’t address him as a doctor, and when a muscle ticked in his father’s jaw, I realized he’d done so on purpose.
“A doctor? Isn’t that nice. What is your specialty?”
And just like that, we were down to business.
“Animals.” I smiled politely when Richard’s gaze flicked to Luch’s face. “I’m a veterinarian.”
“Is that right?” Something flashed in his face and then smoothed out. “You must be the reason we haven’t heard much from Luch lately. We took it upon ourselves to come down here and make sure he was doing well.”
“Dad, I’m fine. As you well know because I talk to you often.”
Richard completely ignored Luch, instead turning to gesture to the four men hovering behind him.
“His brothers. Lupin, Mark, Andrew, and Ian.”
Each man nodded briefly at me, but none of them spoke when introduced.
I swear they looked like they were bodyguards, ready to crack their knuckles and beat someone up.
What the hell is going on? Luch said they’d ambushed him, but given Luch was a grown man, why did these men look as though they were protecting him?
I now doubted Luch had told them about what I was, so why on earth were they almost champing at the bit?
“Carmichael?” the hostess called, breaking the tension, and Luch once more turned to me.
“We have a date. So we’ll just be enjoying ourselves without you,” Luch said.
“I’ve taken care to adjust the reservation.
We’ll all be sitting together.” Richard turned and followed the hostess into the hall and I couldn’t do anything else other than fall into line.
I could only imagine how this must look, me trailing after this line of hulking men.
Movement flashed in the corner of my eye, and I flicked my eyes to the corner of the room to see Brice hovering in the corner.
I raised a finger, acknowledging him, and then pointed to the kitchen.
I hoped he’d get my message that I needed help.
I wasn’t sure what that help was.
But whatever was about to go down wouldn’t be good.
We all politely listened as the waiter read off the specials for the evening, but I was too distracted to take in anything he was saying.
The tension at the table was so thick, I was surprised icicles didn’t form from the ceiling.
Around us, the restaurant flowed, and snatches of laughter and snippets of conversations drifted to me.
“Faelan?” Luch nudged me and I realized the waiter was looking at me, his pen raised on his pad.
“Oh, I’m sorry. A Sauvignon Blanc, please.” I looked at Luch. “Has anyone ordered food?”
“We didn’t open our menus yet.” Luch gave me a pained look, and I realized that I was revealing how distracted I was.
Forcing myself to focus, I unfolded my napkin and smoothed it in my lap and looked at the silent men sitting across from me.
Was I meant to carry the conversation here? Uncertain of my footing, I waited.
“Ms. Fletcher—” Richard tapped a finger on the table.
“Doctor.” I didn’t care if I was being rude.
Richard raised an eyebrow at me but then continued. “We feel you’re the reason that Luch isn’t coming home.”
“Dad, this is ludicrous. I’m an adult with my own life. You can’t come here, with whatever this is—”
“An intervention,” Richard supplied and Luch sat back in his chair, aghast.
“An intervention? You’ve all lost your minds. You can’t possibly think that this is the way to get me to leave Loren Brae.”
“What is the way then? Tell us. Because it’s been over a year now and nothing’s changed.”
“Maybe because I don’t want it to change? I have a right to my own life, don’t I?”
My gaze bounced between the two of them, trying to understand the undercurrent of whatever was going on here.
There was so much that wasn’t being said, and yet every word seemed to matter.
The waiter returned with a tray of drinks and asked for orders.
I ordered the aubergine lasagna, having never even opened the menu, and dearly hoped the food would arrive quickly.
Everyone at the table waited until the waiter left.
“Ms. Fletcher—”
“Doctor,” I said again, taking a sip of my wine, enjoying throwing this man off his stride.
“We think it would be best if you remove yourself from Luch’s life.”
I laughed, stunned that we were even having this conversation. Luch was an adult man, successful in his career, and lived a healthy and happy life. What could possibly be behind such a ridiculous display of authoritarianism?