Page 29 of Vampire's Breath

Lorcan snickered. “In Cormac’s world of propriety and finery, nothing happens without a dress code, a monogram, and a stick shoved firmly where the sun can’t reach.” He finished the drink and handed the glass back to Dani. “And don’t forget a glass of whiskey. Happy, brother?”

“Perfectly,” Cormac deadpanned. He returned his gaze to Dani. “If we could have dinner in about an hour, that would be fantastic.” His tone was casual yet firm, a man accustomed to giving instructions and having them carried out, not being on the receiving end of what he had just taken from his brother. But there was something unspoken, a shift in the energy between them as though they had reached a temporary truce.

Dani replied to Cormac with a nod. “I’ll see to it.” The faint swish of her tailored pants accompanied her exit.

I let out my breath and caught Rory’s gaze. She smiled, which made my heart settle. “If you’d like, Briar, there’s another room you and I can move to and leave these two to their posturing? Although I think they’re done acting like boys and will start acting like men now.”

I focused on Lorcan as he looked out the window, his eyes glassy. He glanced at me from the corner of his eye. His lips twitched in a small, apologetic smile when he saw I was watching. I wanted to reach across and take his hand, which was planted on his knee. My chest eased, a smile creeping across my lips. He said nothing, but in that look, in that tiny curl of his lips, I felt it—that flicker of trust—like maybe he’d prefer if I stayed close.

“Thanks for the offer, but I think we should stay.” I reached into my bag and retrieved a book, settling into the seat.

Lorcan

We passed the next few hours in relative silence, at least between Cormac and me. Rory and Briar chatted about plants and what they would grow in the upcoming seasons. During the stop in Singapore, we had a few minutes to walk outside and breathe some fresh air. However, it was the air of the city, not the ocean breeze off Byron Bay.

After we took off again, Briar curled up in her seat under a blanket as she read. Cormac and Aurora watched a movie from the dining table. I spent the time glancing around, wondering what my life would have been like had I stayed in touch with my family. Would I also have a private jet? Of course, I would have access to our vast real estate holdings, but I had long ago stopped wondering about the luxury my brothers must enjoy.My solitude was worth the price. Yet here I sat, sinking into the buttery leather of the seat on my brother’s plane that stood by, ready to whisk him around the world. Did it fill the emptiness our shattered family had left behind?

Dani moved around the rear cabin. Her presence when we arrived at the airplane sent a wave of relaxation through me as I realized some things hadn’t changed. I had always liked her—thought she was a complementary force for my brother. But I was incorrect. The real complementary force to him was his mate. Even the couple of dinners I had with them last week hadn’t prepared me for the devotion Cormac showed Rory. I had never seen him so in love with someone, doting on her every wish. If she was experiencing any sickness from her pregnancy, she hadn’t let on. But the three of us knew the real danger lay at the end of the nine months. Had Cormac worked out how to keep his mate alive yet?

My mind whirred as I caught Briar’s yawn out of the corner of my eye. She closed her book and sat forward. “Cormac?” Her voice was hesitant. “Is it alright if I get some sleep? I’m exhausted.”

Cormac looked over from the bench where he and Rory cuddled together. “Certainly. I assumed you would like some privacy, so I had Dani make up the bed in the back room for you.”

Briar turned and looked past Cormac. My eyes followed where hers led. The sofa along the wall beyond the partition had been folded down to make a bed. She turned to me. “Where are you going to sleep?”

I shrugged. “I’ll stay out here with Cormac and Rory. Unless he plans to strap me to the plane’s wing, which I wouldn’t put past my brother.” My lips twitched as I spoke, memories of some of our antics coming to mind. But all that had changed.

Briar’s brows knitted together before she glanced at Rory. Rory slid to the end of the bench and stood in the aisle, holding out her hand. “Let me show you around a bit, not that it’s all that big.”

Briar followed, relief flooding her face.

Rory’s voice traveled easily to my ears, even over the constant hum of the engines. “Are you alright? You look out of sorts.”

“Would Cormac find it weird if I asked Lorcan to stay in here? It gives you more privacy, and well, I’m just not sure I want to be alone right now.”

“Do you want me to stay? These chairs fold into a second bed.”

Briar’s voice rose in pitch. “No. No. You stay with Cormac. I have a feeling I’m already taking his bedroom. I don’t need to take the warmth from his bed, too.” There was a pause. “I’ve never been on a flight this long, and I think I’d feel better with someone nearby.”

“It is no problem. I’ll send Lorcan to you.”

Rory appeared through the doorway of the partition. She nodded to me, and I went into the room.

“Rory said you wanted to talk to me?”

Briar bit her lip. “This sounds childish and stupid, but I was wondering if you would stay in here with me? I’m a little nervous about being in the air so long.”

My heart sped up in my chest. “Sure, but wouldn’t you prefer Rory to stay with you?”

Briar shook her head. “I don’t want to take her away from Cormac, and lord knows, without her around, the two of you might kill each other.” She smirked.

“But…” I glanced pointedly at the solitary bed.

She gestured to the chairs facing each other. “I don’t mind sharing, but Rory says those fold into a bed. You can have this one, and I’ll take the single if it makes you feel more comfortable.”

My insides stirred. I wanted nothing more than to share a bed with this woman, to take her into my arms. But I couldn’t. But I could stay in the room with her and comfort her. “We’ll work it out in a minute.”

Dani appeared in the doorway and smiled. “Rory said you might need me?”

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