Chapter 34

Donil had wasted little time after leaving behind Stefan and Jacques at the bar. Too much had happened and he needed to think, so he'd driven an hour and half to Brockshill. He loved this city, mostly populated by various clans of werecats. Predominant were the lions and leopards followed by the panthers, wildcats and wolves. There were some other tribes that rounded out the Were population. Of course, one could not forget the human populace. Not that they mattered. Their numbers roughly equaled the Weres so neither group completely controlled the city.

A rare peace existed in this area. It was also one of the twenty sanctioned sanctuaries for outcast Weres. In order to stay, they had to swear a blood oath and sign an agreement to abide by the very strict rules governing the city. Any caught breaking the laws were executed on the spot.

The real reason he loved this place was Grandpa Hans and Grandma Ruby. Both in their late sixties, they still remained active members of the Were community. Grandpa Hans had served on the city council as mayor for three terms before retiring.

Donil chuckled as he parked his truck outside the light blue house with green trim. In the yard stood a wooden sign with a bright pink background, entwined hearts and the words "Soul Mates, Inc." written on it.

Still grinning he went to the front door and raised his fist to knock. The door was flung open and he found himself enveloped in his grandma's arms.

"Donil, my dear boy! You should have called! I would have cooked you something delicious."

"I know, Grandma Ruby, and I'm sorry for not giving you a heads up. Things have been hectic lately."

"It's all right. I was teasing you. Come in. Come in. Your grandpa is in his study."

Donil stepped inside and breathed deeply of the aromatic scents. "I smell cinnamon apple and...sage?"

She laughed and poked him in his side. "You're getting better. It's not sage. It's thyme. I have some herbal candles for your mother, so don't forget them."

"I won't. I do need to speak with you and Grandpa though."

His grandma cupped his face in her hands and peered into his eyes. "So serious. But then again, matters of the heart always are. It's break time for Hans, anyway."

He followed his grandma through the living room, past the dining room and to his grandfather's study. The door was ajar and he could hear Grandpa Hans muttering. He smothered a laugh before knocking.

"Come in, Donil. Ruby, did Isabella call back yet?"

"No, dear. I'll let you know as soon as she does." Ruby pushed the door open and walked by Donil.

Donil laughed and sat down near the coffee table. He chuckled when she tsked him for kicking off his boots and propping his feet up.

"Honestly, Donil! You were not raised in a barn," his Grandma scolded.

"Are you sure about that?" He held up a hand to forestall her retort. "No, don't answer that, Grandma. Seriously, I did come for a reason."

"I'm all ears, especially for my grandson." Hans turned off his s-comp, his dark brown eyes focusing on Donil.

"Zina is back and causing trouble."

"What?" Ruby surged to her feet. "I thought she was outcast by the Council!"

"She was, but didn't get the message about dying once you've been outcast. She's in town, chasing after Henry Le Croix's daughter."

"That woman never did know when to quit," Grandpa grumbled.

"Why not Henry instead?" His grandma went to stand by Grandpa, her light brown eyes studying Donil.

"I'm not sure, but I have a vested interest in finding out." Donil dropped his feet to the floor and straightened. "I can't let Zina hurt Laylah."

"Laylah? You've met the girl then?"

Donil contemplated how much to tell his grandparents. If he voiced his theory, his grandma would nag him to death. If he said nothing, and she found out later, he'd never hear the end of it.

"Grandma, I had to save her from Zina's thugs."

"Oh my! Where were you when that happened?"

He fidgeted and braced himself for the outburst he knew would happen at his next words. "I was at the boundary between Le Croix and Silentshadow lands."

"Donil Vince Silentshadow, have you lost your senses?" Grandpa Hans roared. Grandma Ruby looked horrified.

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I know I'm not supposed to be near Henry's holdings. I stayed on our side of the line. If I hadn't been there, Gerard would have kidnapped her!"

His grandpa was not mollified and opened his mouth to berate Donil some more when Grandma's hand on his arm gave him pause. Shrugging, he sat down.

"Donil, why were you there in the first place?"

Donil twitched under his grandma's scrutiny.

"Donil."

He hated it when she used that tone. "I've been…visiting Laylah."

"There is no way Henry Le Croix would allow you within walking distance, let alone five feet of his daughter." Grandpa Hans stared at him. "So explain how you've been 'visiting' her."

"It doesn't matter," he muttered. "I've been building a friendship with Laylah. I heard her fear and went to help. End of story."

"That's not the end, is it, my grandson?" His grandma came to Donil and shrewdly looked him in the eyes. "You've been visiting her in her dreams, haven't you?" His stubborn silence made her sigh. "Donil, what is so important about this girl that you'd risk being outcast by the Council for violating the Zina-Henry contract we all signed thirteen years ago?"

He stood, turning his back to his grandparents. "She's my future mate." He winced as the chair screeched from his grandfather's abrupt rising.

"What? Donil, this is no time for games!"

"Really, Dear, do you think it wise to make such a claim?"

Donil's head began to pound. He'd come to seek guidance, not be lectured. "In my defense, I didn't know who her father was until I rescued her. Second, in the dream realm, I never showed her my face. She didn't have a clue who I was."

"And now?" His grandfather's growl made his own hackles rise.

"Laylah knows I'm with her when she sleeps and is not fearful. I promise to go slow and tread carefully. I don't want to lose her. That's what will happen if Henry learns of our bond. Besides, she doesn't even know she's Were."

"You're joking, right?"

"I wish I was, Grandpa. She has no knowledge about herself, Henry or those living with her."

"Henry always was, and still is, an idiot. Are you going to tell her, Dear?"

His grandma was such a tender heart and Donil loved that about her. "Not right now. I'll wait until the time is right."

"Don't wait too long. If you don't tell the girl, someone else will. Does she know you're a Were?" Grandma Ruby gave him an assessing glance and he squirmed.

"No, Grandma, we haven't gotten that far in conversation yet."

"Better get that in the open as soon as possible, too. No female likes to be treated disrespectfully. Not telling her the truth falls into that category. So please, tell her soon."

"Yes, Ma'am! Your wish is always my command." he bowed to his grandma.

"Cheeky boy," his grandfather complained and laughed. "Go on, git. Your Gran and I have work to do. Give our love and regards to your mother."

"I will do that. Thanks to you both for hearing me out." Donil shook his grandpa's hand. Then he hugged both of them. "I love you and again thanks." He left the room, grabbed the candles for his mother and went outside, smiling as he thought about Laylah.