SERPENT’S TEARDROP / Mary Rundle 

This is so exciting to be here! I’m Mary Rundle and thank you so much for hosting me today as part of my blog tour for Serpent’s Teardrop, Book 7 in the Blackwood Pack series. Today I have an exclusive excerpt from the book which is full of startling twists, turns, and adventures that Brian and Reif have to overcome to eventually find their HEA. Enjoy!

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After brunch was over, Logan asked, “Brian, what can we do for you?”

“Macushla! Not here. C’mon everyone, let’s talk in the living room,” Kieran said, as he got up. “There’s a lot to discuss.”

Brian chuckled to himself as everyone quickly rose and followed the Shaman; no matter how big these wolves were, it was apparent they weren’t going to disagree with him. Taking a seat near Logan, Brian waited until he received a nod before beginning. “I have an intruder in my loch and I need help findin’ it. I have been lookin’ for him since I scented him the day I took the laddies out on my boat, but canna find him.”

“You use ‘it’ and ‘him’. Why?” asked Logan.

“Because I dinna know what the intruder is,” Brian answered. “Only that it can shift so it can dive deep to the bottom of the loch and then shift back when it’s on land.”

“Do you know what form it has in the water?” asked Slate.

“Naw, I’ve never seen it…only scented it in the water,” Brian replied.

“What about when it’s on land?” asked Zane.

“Naw…I can only find the place where it leaves the water because its scent ends there,” Brian said.

“Does it have the same scent on land as in the water?” asked Colton.

“I dinna know. There’s nae a scent on land…at least none that I found,” Brian said.

“Huh! Have you seen it when it’s on land?” asked Kieran.

“Naw, Shaman, I’ve never seen it on land. I can feel its presence but nae anythin’ else,” Brian replied. “I think he becomes invisible on land.”

“That wouldn’t hide his scent,” Colton said.

“Maybe it has an anti-scent spell like we do,” suggested Zane.

“What spell are you talking about, lover? You smell pretty good to me,” David said with a smile.

“Are you sure? I mean Mystia put one on each of us so our uncle and his goons wouldn’t be able to find us,” said Zane.

“David can smell you,” Kieran said, “because the gods made sure he couldn’t be affected by anything, including witches’ spells, which is why Mystia’s anti-scent spell doesn’t work on him. Your scent is still hidden from everyone else, unless you had her remove it.”

“Good to know that, babe,” Zane grinned at his mate. “One less thing to worry about.”

“So why doesn’t the intruder have a scent? Could it have a spell preventing Brian from picking it up?” asked Dakota.

Pausing a moment to listen to his spirit, Kieran answered, “No, there isn’t a spell but my spirit doesn’t know what’s concealing it.”

“What about footprints? Did you find any at the location where it left the loch?” asked Slate.

Shaking his head in frustration, Brian said, “Naw, nae a one. I dinna know how that can happen.”

Laying a hand on Brian, Kieran sent him some love as he asked, “Why don’t you tell us everything starting with the day you took me and my friends out on the loch?”

Recalling that day, Brian’s cock hardened instantly at the memory of the delicious scent washing over his body as he floated on his back in the loch. Now, squirming in his seat, hoping to hide his erection, Brian groaned inwardly, closing his eyes, finally accepting what he’d been denying all along—the intruder was his Fated Mate. How can that be? I’m too auld to have one.

“Brian? Are you all right?” asked David.

Kieran caught Brian’s eye. “I already know about it. Will that make it easier for you to tell us.”

“Ye know it’s my Fated Mate?” Brian asked, in disbelief.

“Yes, my spirit told me,” replied Kieran. “So go ahead, I promise we’ll help you find him.”

“Him? Are you sure?” Brian asked.

“Yes,” Kieran said, softly.

Relieved to know that much at least, Brian began, “I was doing a back float when a passing boat’s wake carryin’ my mate’s scent washed over me. Shifting, I dove down, searching for it, but twas weak and quickly dissipated. That night, I searched again and the scent was stronger, but as I followed it, I realized twas at least an hour old. It led to the shoreline, where I shifted and climbed onto the bank, but there was nae a trace—even though I felt its presence.

“Every night, the same thing happened, even though I went into the water at different times—sometimes early, other times later, but twas always the same… except for last night,” Brian said. “After cruising the loch, I waited until the sky turned pink before I shifted and climbed aboard my boat. As I headed below, I felt someone watching me and I sensed my mate was somewhere near the marina’s buildings, but still I could nae see him.” Brian was getting agitated by this time, prompting Kieran to lay a calming hand on him. After a few moments of silence, the sea serpent continued. “I decided to search the area lookin’ for a clue to help me figure out who he was, but could nae find anything. I know he was close by, because I again could feel his stare and sensed his presence,” Brian said, his frustration now evident. “Please Shaman, I need yer help. I dinna know why my mate is hidin’ from me, but I feel something is amiss and he needs me.”

“Of course we’ll help you won’t we, macushla?” Kieran asked, glancing at his mate.

“My mate’s right, Brian,” answered Logan. “Our Alpha regards you as a member of the Blackwood Pack so whatever needs to be done, we’ll do.”

After hearing a chorus of ‘absolutelys’ and ‘count-me-ins’, Brian felt his sea serpent relax, confident his mate would soon be found. “Thank ye, thank ye, I canna tell ye how much I appreciate it,” Brian said, with a sigh of relief.