at their ease before Dylan got down to business. Tiger … well, Tiger always did his own thing.
“This is Rhianne,” Ben said before Liam could wind down and let Dylan take over. “Rhianne mac Aodha. Daughter of Lady Aisling.” And don’t you forget it.
Liam chuckled. His handsome smile and blue eyes usually had ladies melting. Another reason, probably, that Dylan had brought him along.
Rhianne had stiffened, her hand clenching Ben’s. Her first taste of Shifters likely wasn’t what she’d expected. If she’d been told they were the hoch alfar’s tamed beasts, she must be in for a shock. Shifters had never been that, no matter what the hoch alfar thought.
“We know who she is, lad.” Liam put a hand to his chest. “I’m Liam Morrissey, my lady, at your service. The quiet one is me dad, Dylan, and the seriously quiet one is Tiger. We call him that because, you know, he’s a tiger.”
“My mother has mentioned him.” Rhianne’s voice was a bit hoarse, but she held her head high, determined not to be intimidated. “And Dylan Morrissey.”
“May we speak?” Dylan indicated the porch. The three Shifters had halted at the bottom of the porch steps, being familiar with the house and its arbitrary obstructiveness.
“Come on up.” Ben led Rhianne to the porch swing. “Let’s see how far it lets you go.”
Tiger, who never hesitated over anything, climbed the stairs without impediment. He gazed down at Rhianne for a time while she, brave lady, met his eyes. Her hand squeezed Ben’s, and he squeezed back, there for her.
Tiger’s brows came together. “You are troubled.”
“You think?” Ben spoke before Rhianne could. “She’s been abducted, held prisoner, threatened, yanked here without anyone asking if she’s okay with it, and now being given the eyeball by you three.”
Tiger sent Rhianne a slow nod, as though she’d answered herself. “The trouble is deeper. Dylan is not your leader.”
With that pronouncement, he moved to the end of the porch and lounged against the railing, positioning himself to be the lookout.
Liam glanced uneasily at the porch ceiling as he mounted the steps. He carefully didn’t touch the railings. When Dylan’s foot brushed the bottom stair, the house trembled. The shutters banged and the rose vines rustled ominously.
“Maybe you should stay down there, Dad,” Liam said quickly.
Dylan halted in irritation. “I’ve slept here many a night,” he reminded the house. The shaking and banging ceased, but when Dylan put his boot back on the step, it began again.
Dylan growled, his eyes becoming the flat, slitted eyes of the wild cat. But he withdrew his foot and remained on the ground. The house settled down, emitting a creak that sounded a little bit smug.
Liam kept to the third step of the five, resting one arm on the railing. Ben made a show of settling Rhianne on the porch swing, plumping the pillows around her before taking a seat next to her. Not only did they sit hip to hip, but he’d be able to jump in front of her if one of the Shifters decided to try anything.
“So, what’s this about?” Ben asked.
Dylan kept his lips firmly closed, his intimidation tactic. Tiger likewise stayed silent, but that was just Tiger.
Liam had ridden along to be the mouthpiece of Dylan, Ben decided. Though Liam was his own man—if he didn’t agree with his father, he wouldn’t back him.
“This is about a Tuil Erdannan coming through a Fae gate close to Dad’s and my territory.” Liam held up a quick hand. “Not to worry, lass. We don’t see you as an enemy. But ’tis a strange thing.”
Ben scowled. “Stop trying to sound like a leprechaun. What do you want, Liam?”
Tiger turned slightly, just enough to watch Ben. While Dylan might be in charge and a huge badass, it was Tiger Ben needed to worry about.
Liam grinned, ever affable. “Sorry.” The accent faded somewhat. “You’re welcome to stay with the Austin Shifters, Rhianne, who will defend you to the death. Or here, in the house with a big personality. Or …” Liam rubbed his chin. “You could do us a massive favor.”
Rhianne had edged closer to Ben, her warmth spreading over him. Ben started to answer, but Rhianne cut in, her imperious tones worthy of her mother.
“What sort of favor?”
Liam’s blue eyes glinted in the September sunshine. “I hear a hoch alfar lord with the peculiar name of Walther le Madhug is trying to woo you. If you let him … you could become our inside man, so to speak.”
Ben was