and surveyed the responses of the ladies in the room. “Ye all need tae be bloody quiet ‘ere I ferget these things,” he rumbled in a slightly less loud, but no less gravelly, voice. He folded his arms across his chest but otherwise seeming not in the least self-conscious about his current state of undress.
“Analie, Ashi, meet Angus MacLeod,” Clarisse said, gesturing dramatically at the still decidedly naked, very hairy vampire posing in the door. Jessica was trying desperately to contain hysterical giggles and her blushing, but was failing miserably. Angus didn’t seem to notice.
“Och, which one o’ ye was makin’ all th’ bloody racket?”
Analie had jumped at the loud noise and large shadow, but other than that held her composure. She couldn’t understand Jessica’s reaction. Hell, right now she was trying not to freak out. Angus sounded like Gavin when he was angry, except more gravelly and with a Scottish accent.
She squinted at the shadow. Christ, the lighting in here was not made for creating deep shadow. Which was ideal in a room, but not ideal for her eyes.
What was Clarisse talking about when she mentioned plaid?
“He’s freaking out,” Analie squeaked, snuffling up some blood. Ew. She looked down at Ashi, who had stopped biting her and was staring at Angus. “Um... he’s new and part of my pack so vampires are kinda scary... to us... so please, um, don’t... hurt... him....” She trailed off, glancing around. “Am I missing something?”
“Somebody hit ye, lass?” he boomed out, not sounding particularly concerned. Though he did cock his head at the sight of Ashi being held down by a little girl. Either the boy was into those submissive games some weirdos enjoyed, which he saw plenty of when working security at some of the clubs for Royce, or there was something more to those two than was readily apparent. He took a second to consider what she said, then thought about the mention of a pack.
A pack.
Weres were the only humanoids he knew of that packed up.
A slight sniff confirmed it.
“What in th’ name o’ th’ gods is another Were doing in th’ ‘ouse?!” he roared, startling everyone.
“No need to shout about it,” Clarisse scolded, shaking a finger at him.
Jessica was having a very difficult time muffling her laughter.
“It’s not like I invited them!” Analie squeaked, wincing.
“That’s a vampire?” Ashi mumbled, still staring. “I think we’re going to get our asses kicked by the Highlander.”
“There can only be one,” Angus quipped, not at all put out.
“Can you not be a complete jerkface for three seconds?” Analie hissed at Ashi. “Seriously, shut up!”
Analie still couldn’t see the vampire. Damn it, her pack’s little “quirk” was downright aggravating. She squinted. Nope.
Angus was rather nonplussed that Analie was staring at him like a bug under a microscope. He ran his hands raggedly through his hair, not helping the tangles much, and wandered over to sit on the bed, which sagged under his weight.
“What’s all yer pissin’ an’ moanin’ fer, lad? Ye woke me up, seems I should be the one upset ‘round ‘ere.”
“Angus, for God’s sake, will you at least put the blanket over your lap or something?” Jessica finally asked, remembering belatedly that Analie was just a teenager.
He turned a startled look on her, looked down at himself, shrugged, and yanked one of the pillows over to lean his elbows on and cover the most glaringly obvious part of him.
Analie ducked her head, her cheeks and ears turning beet-red as she realized what everyone had been avoiding staring at.
“Ye take the fun out of everything,” Clarisse said with a low chuckle.
“Don’t see why yer so cheerful, missy,” Angus growled. “Bit past yer bedtime, too, methinks.”
She shrugged, leaning against the wall and watching Ashi get manhandled by Analie with interest. “New blood in the house, ye ken.”
“Aye?” he said, suddenly interested in Ashi again.
“Here we go,” Jessica muttered.
Ashi was trying to worm his way out of Analie’s grasp. She shook him. “Cut it out, or I’ll convince Mr. MacLeod to claim you.”
“Wouldn’t you rather he lay claim to you?” Ashi sneered.
“I’m going to break your neck!” Analie growled, going even redder. As soon as this was over, she was going to her room and hiding there for the rest of the year.
“She’s going to shift! Someone knock her out!” Ashi yelled. Analie wrapped the arm he’d bitten around his throat and choked him off.
“For Seeker’s sake, just shut up.”
Angus gave a bristly grin, unmistakable even with the beard. “Sorry lad, ye don’t look like