Cam slithered out of her grasp, ears flaring hot with embarrassment. Lachlan’s smile grew just a little bit wider with a genuine twist of amusement at the edges.
Meredith’s demeanour snapped into Protective Aunt Mode as he stepped away. ‘Cameron Walker! You have no business taking on a werewolf by yourself!’
Cam blanched. ‘It’s exactly my business, isn’t it?’
Meredith pressed her palms together, bangles tinkling. ‘Honey, you know I love you. But you’ve still got your training wheels on.’
‘Training wheels?’ Cam spluttered. ‘I dealt with the sea serpent, didn’t I?’ Omitting the fact that it was really Lachlan, not him, who’d dealt with that particular monster once and for all.
Meredith’s lips pinched into a thin line. ‘And you came back from it with a Scorched arm. Witches need to be more cunning than that, Cam. Walkers don’t survive by hurling fireballs at every problem.’
He didn’t have anything to say to that, and instead stared back with what he hoped was an impassive expression.
Meredith sighed, her posture loosening. ‘I’m not blaming you, honey. I just didn’t think you’d try to take on a werewolf head-on. Didn’t you say Bryce was here to deal with it, anyway?’ She glanced about self-consciously, smoothing a hand over her wild hair. Ah. Cam’s suspicions were confirmed: he knew exactly why she’d made the journey over here.
‘He’s not here,’ he said flatly.
Her shoulders slumped. ‘Where’s he staying?’
Cam rolled his eyes. ‘Did you seriously come all this way just to flirt with Bryce?’
Lachlan snorted a laugh, and Meredith finally remembered his presence. He was still by the door, arms folded over his chest while he watched their exchange with interest.
Cam had been reticent with details about Meredith. Lachlan knew she was the only real family he had left, and that she’d helped him find his feet in the business of witchcraft. But Cam didn’t like to admit just how much he relied on her—to keep his ‘training wheels’ steady, as she’d just so bluntly put it. Meredith’s life had been so entwined with his parents and their work, she was probably the best mentor he could have hoped for, despite her brash nature.
Meredith’s fingers twitched to the hem of her jacket, tugging it straight as her shrewd gaze slid between Lachlan and Cam. Possibly Cam’s assertion that he was ‘staying’ here had only just caught up with her.
‘Won’t you introduce me to your friend?’ she said to Cam.
‘Lachlan, this is Meredith. Meredith, Lachlan,’ Cam said perfunctorily. And then added, ‘Lachlan owns The Lucky Teapot.’
Meredith’s gaze lingered just a little too long on Lachlan, her slightly raised eyebrows clueing Cam into the cogs turning in her head. She knew he’d been away from the cottage a lot recently, and he’d never told herexactlywhere he was going—just a loose not-quite-lie of checking up on things around Loch Ness after the Cirein-cròin attacks. The monstrous serpent had been his first trulybigbeastie showdown, and Meredith probably thought he was being naturally over-cautious as a result.
Which was fine with Cam. He wasn’t keen on having her nose all up in his romantic business—it was already in every other part of his life.
‘It’s wonderful to meet you,’ Lachlan said, offering Meredith a winning smile. He peeled away from the door and extended his hand to her, continuing earnestly. ‘Cam’s spoken about you. I’m glad he has someone as fierce as you looking out for him.’
Cam’s eyebrows shot up.Lachlan, you dog.
He’d assessed and grasped Meredith’s character in just a few moments of conversation—flattery would get youeverywherewith her.
Meredith shook his hand daintily, an obvious blush colouring her cheeks. ‘I wish I could say the same for you, hon, but Cam’s not mentioned you at all. Are you aware of his, ah, profession?’
Lachlan practically glowed with gratitude in his reply. ‘Yes. I owe my life to Cam. He got me out of trouble with that serpent you mentioned. The whole loch is safer now because of him.’
Now it was Cam’s turn to blush, heat rushing embarrassingly fast up his neck.
He felt Meredith eyeing him. An astute smirk tugged at her mouth. ‘Sounds like you’re a real hero around here, Cam.’
There was a soft click as Lachlan locked the front door against other prospective intruders. He turned back brightly to Meredith. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’
‘I wouldadorea cup of tea, honey.’ Meredith yanked on Cam’s arm before he could excuse himself to help Lachlan. ‘You stay here. We haven’t had a good catch-up inages.’
‘I only saw you last week,’ Cam hissed as Lachlan disappeared through the doors to the kitchen.
‘But you didn’t tell me you were seeing someone!’ Meredith replied in an excited whisper. She raised an eyebrow. ‘You are, aren’t you?’
No point denying it. ‘Yeah.’
