“Technically, I thought this was your territory?”
He threw her an arrogant smile. “Technically.”
Laughing, she got out of the car only to come face to face with Noah. Her smile dropped abruptly, and in response he glowered. She found it hard to believe Noah was seventy years old. He was such a child sometimes. No wonder he was so good at his high school assignment. Manipulative creep.
Noah strolled by her to fall into step with Cyrus. At the top of the stone steps they greeted McLeish. Valeria smiled reassuringly at her and nudged her forward. “This is just a formality,” she murmured.
“Is… are my mother's bloodline in there?”
“I assume so.”
She drew in a couple of calming breaths, glad that she had just administered a dose of the drug. It was helping. She just hoped to god her eyes didn't bleed white. Her mother's family would want nothing to do with her if that happened.
“Eden,” Cyrus called to her and she picked up her pace, reminding herself she wasn't a coward and that this was her only shot. As soon as she reached the top of the stairs Eden's eyes met McLeish's. She knew instantly that this wasn't going to be easy. His blue eyes were dark with scepticism and wariness, and the clench of his jaw gave away his unhappiness with the ‘situation'
presented before him.
“Neil, this is my daughter, Eden,” Cyrus introduced her. Eden nearly fell off the steps but, knowing Cyrus approved of poise, she quickly schooled her features, trying to master her surprise over his announcement. Cyrus was introducing her as his daughter??
His daughter?
That little girl inside of her who had dreamed of a father who read bedtime stories, and sheltered her from the evil deeds of the world, wanted to reach out and grab hold of the connection he had declared and never, ever let go. But the little girl who had grown up with a father who murdered people in their basement shuddered with fear and shooed the hope away with a scowl.
McLeish didn't seem surprised by Cyrus' claim which made Eden wonder if Cyrus had already proclaimed her his kin prior to their arrival. “Miss Winslow.” He nodded.
“MacDouglas.”
“Sorry?” McLeish frowned at Cyrus' interruption.
“Miss MacDouglas. I have had her name changed to Merrit's surname.” Well that was the first she had heard about it. To hell with poise! Eden threw him a disbelieving look, ignoring Noah's huff of disguised laughter behind her. He knew her too well, knew she was not amused at having been manhandled out of her surname. It wasn't like she had any great attachment to it or anything but still… he could have told her before he told this guy! She crossed her arms over her chest defensively. “Thanks for the heads up.”
Clearly well into his post-ironic phase, Cyrus ignored her sarcasm. “You are welcome.” When Noah coughed to cover another laugh, Eden threw her elbow out, catching him in the gut and winding him. At his ‘oof', McLeish frowned at the byplay.
Cyrus sighed. “Children.”
“Hmm.”
“Well, Neil, are you going to leave the Princeps standing on your doorstep all day?” Valeria snapped, and that wicked part of Eden enjoyed the flush across the crest of McLeish's cheeks at Val's admonishment. So far she didn't like this guy, mostly because he clearly had a problem with her.
McLeish stepped aside and held his hand out for them to enter. “I beg your pardon.” OK. So maybe she liked his cool accent.
There was a strong floral scent in the open hallway of the house and as her eyes took in the coats on the coat rack, the jumble of shoes below, the blue bicycle in the corner, a dirty soccer ball, she surmised that McLeish had a family. Hushed whispering from her left drew her attention, as well as Cyrus', and she followed her guardian into the room, Noah, Valeria and McLeish at their backs.
The sitting room was a good size, but all the people in it made it seem tiny. Their souls filled the space, their essence beguiling and warm, causing saliva to build up under Eden's tongue. Thankfully, Cyrus distracted her by spinning around to glare at McLeish. The Neith straightened his shoulders at the look, trying to appear un-intimidated. Eden waited, holding her breath, wondering what on earth had set Cyrus off.
“I believe I told you that Eden's existence and presence in Scotland was to be kept quiet.”
“You told me to tell only those I trust. This is my family, Princeps, and Eden's. I trust everyone in this room.” His eyes flicked to Eden and she read in them the words he hadn't said out loud, ‘Except this one'.
Cyrus caught the look and bristled, turning to face the group of fifteen, sixteen people staring at them. The strength and power that emanated from Cyrus pulsed more vibrantly and she knew he was doing it deliberately. The faces before them grew awed. “I greatly dislike beginning introductions with a warning, but unfortunately for the safety of my daughter and the warriors protecting her, I must. If any of you breathe word of Eden's true presence here, indeed of her true existence, I will hunt you down and you will pay the ultimate price for your treachery. Do you understand me?” The rumbled warning was received with hurried ‘Yes, Princeps,' while their eyes sought Eden, desperate to determine what all the fuss was about. She felt her cheeks flush and tried not to squirm.
She suddenly wished she'd had time to change into a clean shirt or something.
“Good.” Cyrus nodded, satisfied he had put the fear of the gods into them. “Now on to the pleasantries. I am pleased to meet all of you and I thank you for graciously opening your homes to us, and for giving us your time. This,” he turned now to Eden, “is my daughter, Eden MacDouglas. As you are aware, Eden is here to become Ankh, and to seek aid from her mother's mortal family. We thank you in advance for that aid.” He looked beyond Eden now. “With me is Valeria of Corsica-Well that's a new one, Eden gave her a bemused questioning smile that Valeria returned with a wink. Suddenly Eden wondered what Cyrus was? Cyrus of…
“Who, I'm sure you know, is of The Circle, and Noah Valois, Alain Valois' son and Eden's escort.”
What?? Noah was her what? She scowled at him and he winked at her too. I'm gonna punch you, Valois. She tried to telepath the threat, and he seemed to get it because his mouth widened into a mischievous grin.
McLeish strode past them to stand before the group. “Princeps, I'd like to introduce you to my wife, Carol, and my two sons, James and Ryan.” Eden tried not to flinch at the name. Instead she watched as Cyrus graciously shook the hands of McLeish's short but strong-looking wife and their two teenage sons. As Eden's eyes wandered, she felt the potent strength of this collective. They were all athletic-looking, capable, their eyes intelligent, from young to old. “This is my sister, Mary.” McLeish pulled an attractive looking woman forward from the group, as well as a young man perhaps a little older than Eden. “And my nephew, Cameron.” Mary smiled brightly at Cyrus, blushing a little as she took his hand. Eden smirked. Since she saw him as a father figure she tended to see Cyrus' attractiveness as a fact rather than an affect. The Neith woman did not. To Eden's surprise, Mary also reached for Eden's hand. “Pleased to meet you, Eden,” she greeted her, all friendly and smiles. Bemused, Eden shook her hand.
Taking his mother's cue, Cameron first shook Cyrus' hand and then smiled warmly at Eden, taking her hand rather than waiting for her to extend it. He grinned down at her. “Nice to meet you, Eden.”
His lilting accent made her smile. “And you.”
“Uncle Neil tells me you'll be training here. I'd be happy to assist.” His grin turned wicked and his green eyes sparkled playfully.
Eden laughed inwardly, grateful to this boy, whose flirtatiousness made her feel less of a freak.
“I'd like that.”
Cyrus nodded approvingly at Mary and Cameron as they backed away after greeting Val and Noah, pleased with their more than friendly response, especially in contrast to the Councilman's. Neil frowned at his sister, who shot him a look. Eden decided right there and then that she liked Mary immensely. There was something defiant in her body language when faced with her big brother that appealed to Eden.
Clearing his throat, McLeish introduced more of his family, cousins and two men from his council he considered brothers: John MacDonald and Richard Liddle. Both men appraised Eden in the exact same manner McLeish had. Their obvious contention was making Eden more than a little uneasy. As if sensing it, a throb of energy hummed out into the room from Cyrus' direction and the group grew more hushed and reverent. Liddle dropped his gaze, the gaze that had been boring into Eden with suspicion. Understanding dawned on the group and from then on their greetings were warmer, like Mary's and Cameron's.
And then finally… what Eden had been waiting for.
She was introduced to Merrit's bloodline. As a group, it was a small one. Only four of them remaining.
Before McLeish could do the introductions, a broad-shouldered dark-haired man of average height strode forward to grasp Cyrus' hand. He looked somewhere in his forties and had a strong face and body; his eyes were sharp and intelligent, and there was an aura of safety and calm about him.
“Princeps, it is an honour to meet you. I'm Christopher Douglas, and we're pleased to be of any help that we can be with your daughter's situation.”
She knew by the relaxing of Cyrus' body that her guardian liked this man immediately. Eden understood. Call it intuition but there was something innately honourable about him.
Why couldn't he have been the damn Councilman?
“Miss MacDouglas.” Christopher was reaching a hand out to her now. “‘Tis a pleasure.”
“Good to meet you, too.” And for once she actually meant it.
Once he was done shaking Val and Noah's hand, Christopher turned and gestured to a willowy woman with blonde hair. “This is my wife, Alison.”
Alison was very pretty with golden blonde hair and wide amber eyes. She shook all of their hands, smiling brightly the whole time. Like Christopher, Eden found her presence very soothing.
“And this is our daughter, October,” Christopher said softly, nudging a teenage girl forward.
October had her father's colouring. In fact… she looked a little like Eden with her midnight hair and tip-tilted eyes. When she grinned, it was a sharp smile with attitude and confidence.
When she grinned she and Eden looked like family. There was no questioning it.
October blushed when Cyrus shook her hand and it diminished her bravado a little. However, it came back in full force as soon as she turned in Eden's direction. October walked over to her, eyeing her, a pleased quirk on her lips. Unlike Eden, October's hair was cut sleek and short to suit her delicate features. She was dressed in tight black jeans with a neon pink belt and neon pink Converse.
Her tight black t-shirt had the words ‘ Born This Way' scrawled across the chest. Eden smirked back at October as she drew to a stop in front of her. They were almost the same height.
“Hi.” October nodded casually, appraising Eden. “I like your shirt. Didn't know they were big in the US.”
Eden glanced down at it. It was the Biffy Clyro shirt she'd bought off eBay. “Uh, well they are with me.”
The girl nodded again. “Cool. You like The Kooks?”