the girl even farther behind him. “Who are you? And for the record, we’re not IN.” He certainly didn’t have the bearing of a military man, but he sure had the superior look of a Regelence lord down pat. This kid had no doubts about where he ranked and was used to giving orders, not taking them.
Before Marcus could respond, Ciaran stepped up behind the duo at the door, placing his hand on the young lord’s shoulder. He looked past them, and his gaze landed on Marcus and Patrick. His entire countenance changed. A big smile graced his lips, and his eyes widened in joy.
“Marcus!” Ciaran nudged the duo in the doorway aside and came in for a back-pounding hug.
Feeling lighter than he had since he’d gotten word about the crash, Marcus returned the gesture. He loved the boy like he was his own. Ciaran had come to him—well, him and Patrick—as a scrawny ten-year-old. Homesick and scared, he had not wanted to be Patrick’s foster. And who could blame him? It was a strange custom—something Marcus could never have gone along with, had it been his son. But it had turned out well in the end. Ciaran and Ramsey had filled an emptiness inside of him that he’d thought could never be filled. They were the closest Marcus would ever have to children, and he’d taken to teaching the boys how to survive just as Patrick had, only with brains instead of brawn. He missed them both dearly.
Ciaran leaned back and looked at him. “What are ye both doing here? Nae that I’m complaining, but I thought Patrick was going tae meet me at the building site.” He glanced at Patrick.
“I was, until Greer told us about your visitors. Then I decided to come here instead. I plan to send men to the site for surveillance.”
Ciaran nodded. “I’m sending men as well. Ram is out now, selecting a few discreet men.”
Marcus smiled. Hopefully Ramsey would return before he and Patrick headed back to the Campbell keep. “Why discreet?”
“It’s a long story.” Ciaran’s tone attested to the fact that it was also a story he did not like. Interesting.
The little lordling frowned. “Is someone going to tell the visitor what is going on?” He definitely had a Regelence accent, and he looked vaguely familiar.
Hope surged inside of Marcus, and he stepped past Ciaran to greet the redhead, or rather he started to. “I’m Mar—”
Patrick gripped his arm, bringing him to an abrupt halt.
“—cus.” Marcus frowned at his consort and shrugged out of his hold, but he didn’t go any closer. “And this is Patrick. You are?”
One red brow arched, and the little lord shared a look with his female companion.
She gave him a nod.
He turned back toward them and offered his hand. “Bannon.”
Marcus shook his hand.
“And this”—he gestured to the girl—“is Louie.”
“Ahem.” Louie cleared her throat and shot Bannon an irate look.
“Er, I mean, Louisa,” Bannon added.
“Nice to meet you both,” Marcus said. “Won’t you sit down and tell us of Regelence?”
“How do you know we’re Regelens?” Bannon narrowed his eyes. They were a beautiful shade of green. A unique shade, not unlike Marcus’s own aquamarine color.
“Och! Enough with the secrecy.” Ciaran sighed, cast his gaze upward, gripped Bannon’s hand, and dragged him to the love seat.
Bannon glanced down at their entwined hands and blushed nearly as brightly as his hair.
Ciaran looked at their hands too, with a startled expression, as though he hadn’t realized what he’d done until he’d done it. Then his cheeks also tinged pink, and he jerked his hand away.
Interesting. Thanks to Patrick’s training, the boy was usually unflappable. He must have feelings for Bannon. Odd, since they’d only just met, but then Marcus fell in love with Patrick at first sight, so anything was possible. It also made Marcus feel much better about this situation. Ciaran was a good judge of character, and he did not warm to people easily. That he had warmed to Bannon spoke volumes.
Marcus nudged Patrick discreetly, to see if he’d noticed.
His furrowed brow said he had. He was watching them both with interest. Finally he turned to Marcus and his brows shot upward.
Grinning, Marcus shrugged.
“Ahem.” Clearing his throat, Ciaran gestured to the room at large. “Have a seat.”
Staring at all of them with a scowl on his handsome face, Ciaran didn’t say anything for several seconds. It was something he’d always done when he was irritated and trying to think of a more diplomatic way to say what he wanted