Adele arrived back at the house, to find Kathryn and Ally lounging on the sofas with Chase. Most of the guests appeared to be leaving so she decided to have a word with Chase before talking with Ally.
“Chase,” Adele said, as she approached the trio.
He looked up, eyes alert, sensing something was wrong.
“Can I have a word?” Adele asked, trying to appear relaxed.
He turned to Kat and Ally. “Excuse me, lassies.”
Chase smiled deeply at Kat, then turned back to Adele. “What’s going on Addie?” he asked as they walked out of earshot.
“There was a vampire here, watching Ally.”
Chase noticed the grave concern in her eyes, tinged with a hint of failure, leading him to guess the outcome. “He got away?”
“Yes,” she sighed. “He ran and I could only chase him so far whilst Ally was unguarded.”
“She wasn’t unguarded,” he said feeling slightly insulted. “I was with her and Kat.”
“I had hoped you were Chase, but I didn’t know for sure. Things are very dangerous right now. I can’t take any chances with her. ” The worry she felt was evident in her voice. She hadn’t meant to insult Chase’s abilities, but she couldn’t take any chances.
“And things just got worse?”
“It’s only a matter of time before that vile creature reaches Vincent and tells him our location.” Adele looked over at her granddaughter and best friend. They were laughing and talking, completely unaware of the danger around them. Her heart soared at seeing Ally so happy, but then it broke at the thought of taking her newfound happiness away again. It was a bittersweet moment.
Chase followed her line of sight and looked at the girls. He felt his heart swell looking at Kathryn. Chase believed he had found his soul mate.
“How did you know we would be a match?” he asked, the curiosity evident in his voice.
“I didn’t know. I just know both of you and hoped that it might work out,” she smiled at him. “But a word of caution. Don’t confuse attraction with a match, Chase.”
Chase studied her face thoughtfully for a moment. “How do I tell the difference? Obviously, I have to be attracted to my soul mate.”
Adele looked over at the girls and smiled knowingly as she answered, “You will know. Be very careful with her. If she isn’t the one, then you have to let her go quickly.”
“And if I’m not sure yet?”
“Look at what Ally and James share together. That should answer your question without any doubt.”
Chase took her advice on board, but found that he was more than convinced Kathryn was his soul mate, with every moment that passed. “What are you going to do with Ally?” he asked, as something else occurred to him. “And where is James?”
“On his way back from the ranges,” she answered. “It would seem that he was lured out there in an attempt to get him away from Ally.”
“Was it Vincent that lured him out there?"
“I don’t know, James didn’t say. He just told me it was a trap and to get Ally to safety.” She sighed with a heavy heart.
They both looked at the girls, completely unaware of the danger that surrounded them.
“We are taking Ally to Scotland, tonight,” Adele said, with a hint of resignation.
“I don’t think you have any other choice.”
“No, we have been backed into a corner it would seem.” She sank down onto the lounge behind her. “What are your plans?”
“I plan on returning there myself, with Kathryn,” Chase said enthusiastically.
Adele looked at him startled. “Have you told her what you are yet? You can hardly take her to our homeland without telling her what she’s in for. Most importantly, you must be certain she’s the one, Chase.”
“Not yet. I plan on telling her when I take her home tonight. There’s no time to waste, my home is in Scotland, and her place is with me,” he stated with a touch of immortal arrogance.
Despite the situation, Adele began to laugh. “You’re as bad as James. You immortal males think your word goes, and that females will just do as you ask. That isn’t how it works anymore. Kathryn is human, remember.”
“I know that, Addie. I also know how deeply she cares for her friend. She’d do anything for her. Going to Scotland is what she’ll want to do, once she learns the truth,” he stated confidently.
“I can only hope for your sake that you’re right, Chase.”
“I won’t let any harm come to her,” he replied confidently.
“No you won’t or you will answer to me,” Adele said with a seriousness that took Chase by surprise. “She has been like a sister to Ally and a grandchild to me.”
“I will protect her with my life, Adele.”
“I know, but I fear it won’t be enough to keep her from harm.”
“I have plans to start the conversion on the flight over. She’ll be an immortal, by the time we reach Scotland,” Chase said.
“You can’t do that until you are certain! What if you change her, then realize she isn’t the one? What will happen to her after that?"
“I won’t change my mind. I have decided that she is the one!” He was unaccustomed to having his judgement questioned and was getting annoyed.
“Just make sure you know what you’re doing Chase.”
“I do,” he said with a touch of arrogance. It was going to be hard on Kathryn, but he felt he had no choice. Her life was at stake if he took her to Glencoe without changing her. She would need all the help she could get to stay safe.
Adele interrupted his thoughts. “I hear a car approaching, it must be James. Go and keep the girls busy, they can’t know he has returned.”
He stood with a nod, and sauntered back over to the girls to keep them busy while Adele spoke to James.