Page 25 of Vampire's Breath

“None of this nonsense,” Cormac said smoothly. “I believe your friend here has an issue, and you haven’t jumped in to take care of it yet.” His smirk deepened as he adjusted his coat. “Mother would be rather disappointed.”

I pulled my shoulders back, creating a shield between Briar and my brother. “No, I haven’t offered to fix it, and neither will you.”

Conflicting emotions surged—rage, longing, fear. How much had Cormac heard? I would have heard him approaching had my feelings not consumed me. But now, there was no way to know what he could use against me. All I wanted to do was lunge at him and tear his heart out. But why didmyheart pound so fiercely with joy? I would never tell him how pleased I was to seehim after all this time. I needed to stay away from him, Aiden, and all of them. Most importantly, I needed to protect Briar.

“Lorcan?” Her voice quivered with uncertainty, looking for answers to the unasked questions.

Cormac laughed. His voice was gentle and deliberate, almost silken. He stepped to the side, peering around me and catching Briar’s gaze. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Cormac O’Cillian, Lorcan’s eldest brother.”

Her eyes widened as she broke away from his gaze to look at me. Did she even feel the shiver I saw go through her—that instinctive reaction humans have when they gaze at a vampire for too long? At that moment, I realized she had never reacted that way to me. Why not? I pushed the thought from my mind. I had more pressing issues to deal with.

She rested her hand on my shoulder. “Your eldest brother? How many do you have?”

Just that slight touch from her sent my heart racing, which Cormac would hear. I forced my heart to slow, letting Briar’s touch soothe me. I drew a breath, gritting my teeth and looking at the roof before letting my gaze drop to her. There was nothing I wanted to do less than admit the existence of my brothers. “Three. Cormac is the oldest, and we also have two younger brothers.”

She frowned, her hand falling away from me. “Why haven’t you mentioned them?”

I turned to glare at Cormac. “Because I had no desire to speak to them ever again, if you must know.”

Cormac raised an eyebrow, his smirk unwavering, as if my anger amused him. The man would never change, yet somehow, my heart calmed as he stood in front of me: my steadfast eldest brother, to whom family was everything. He tilted his head. “Well, maybe you shouldn’t have called me.”

“I called to congratulate you and—”

Cormac cut me off, his face breaking into a wide grin and his eyes sparkling in a way I had never seen as he turned to look at her. “My mate, Aurora.”

Aurora’s soft wave was measured, her gaze assessing the situation with a quiet confidence that mirrored my brother’s. “Rory, please.”

“Now, back to what we were discussing,” Cormac continued, shifting his focus to Briar. “It seems your friend here has an issue, and it’s completely related to money and our family. Briar, is it?” He raised an eyebrow.

Briar glanced between us, hesitant. I took her hand in mine and heard her heart rate slow.

Cormac’s smile grew. “Lady Isobel. I think I remember that name.” His eyes danced as they met mine, his words dripping with mock surprise as they played with the truth. Surely, he would not go where I feared. “I can’t believe Lorcan hasn’t told you the entire story and offered to send you to London. Or better yet, escort you there to guide you in your research.”

I stepped forward, dropping Briar’s hand, and clenched the railing in front of me, trying to maintain my composure. “I’m leaving here, and I am not coming back,” I snapped. “There is no need for Briar to be caught up in our family.”

Cormac shrugged in that infuriating I’ll-do-it-my-way manner that drove me mad as a child. “Well, brother, if you choose to leave, that’s up to you. But since you’re leaving her without the means to go to England, allow me to step in.” He looked at Briar. “I’d be happy to take you there. We could leave as soon as you’re ready. I have a jet waiting at Gold Coast Airport at your disposal.”

Briar’s eyes widened, the shock written on her face as she struggled to process his words. “You have a jet?”

“Did Lorcan not tell you about our family estate?”

Briar stepped out next to me and shook her head. “No. He hasn’t spoken about you at all.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. The offer stands, though. If Lorcan is leaving, I would be happy to escort you to and host you in England for as long as you need. Our resources will be at your disposal.”

I drew in a quick breath and turned to Briar. Her face had turned an ashen-gray color, as though she would be sick. Her words were soft. “Excuse me.”

I’d been so caught up with Briar and my brother’s unexpected appearance that I had forgotten Amy still sat by the fire. She leaned forward on the edge of her chair. Was she just as ready to protect Briar from Cormac as I was? Briar walked past my brother and his mate to her friend, lowering her voice to a level impossible for a human to hear. “I could go to England. I could go now.”

Amy glanced at us. “Who are these people?”

“It’s Lorcan’s wealthy older brother. They have a jet. He says he can take me to England.”

Amy’s eyes darted in my brother’s direction. “You’ve literally just met him. Why on earth would you trust him?”

“Because he’s Lorcan’s brother.” Briar’s voice, soft and sure, carried on the wind to our ears. “And Lorcan would never hurt me. That has to mean something.”

Her words pierced my soul.

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