Leap of the Lion (The Wild Hunt Legacy #4)(42)

“There’s a lawyer for you.” Gawain glanced over. “Darcy has the free room?”

“Um-hmm.” As they approached the cabin, Owen studied the layout. The driveway made a lazy circle allowing access to a converted barn, then the house.

According to Calum, the property had been tended lovingly…until the last generation turned it into a rental. Owen scowled at the run-down appearance of the cabin. Even if he hadn’t needed a place, he’d have bought the place just to bring the house back to the way it should be.

Gawain climbed the porch steps and frowned as a board cracked under his weight. “Got our work cut out for us.”

“So it seems.” Owen tried the door, but the deadbolt was engaged. Calum had said the key was lost. “Let’s find a window to crawl through. I’ll bring tools to change the lock next time.”

“Hold on.” Gawain flattened his hand over where the deadbolt connected to the metal plate.

Owen took a step back as power radiated from his littermate.

A minute passed. Turning the handle, Gawain set his shoulder against the door and pushed.

Owen shook his head. “Brawd, that’s a deadbolt. Not—”

The door opened, something thudded on the floor, and Gawain walked in.

Well. Owen knelt to check out what had fallen…and it was the actual deadbolt. The metal had melted into a teardrop shape.

Blademages were rare, secretive, and more powerful than he’d known.

Owen walked in.

“Nobody’s been here for a long time,” Gawain called from the living room.

Owen sniffed in interest, but took his littermate’s word for it. Gawain’s nose had always been the more sensitive.

In the living room, the solid hardwood floor was in good shape. The walls…not so much. Someone had used one wall to write down phone numbers. Fists and boots had left holes and dents here and there.

There was garbage everywhere.

He frowned at a bare ceiling light bulb dangling from a frayed wire. One spark and the whole place would go up. “Brawd, we can’t live here until an electrician checks it out. And until the litter is gone.”

Gawain’s expression held disgust. “Agreed.”

“Ben, one of the cahirs, is a general contractor. We can hire him for anything we can’t handle.”

“I’ll tell Shay to book us at the lodge for a while to come.” Gawain shrugged. “Since we’re mentoring Darcy, it’s just as well. It’s not good to leave her alone too long.”

“True enough.” The female looked as frayed as this house’s electrical wiring. He couldn’t even imagine how he’d react if Gawain or Bonnie were imprisoned and he couldn’t rescue them. He’d be clawing things apart before a day was up. Actually, Darcy had been a marvel of patience. He grinned at Gawain. “When we’re not out in the woods with her, let’s put her to work here.”

“I’d say you’re taking advantage of free labor, but she does need to keep busy.” Gawain studied him. “I’m impressed you’re willing to have a female underfoot.”

“Eh, she’s not all that bad.” He ignored his littermate’s grin. “Let’s check the upstairs.”

With Gawain behind him, Owen walked up the stairs, making mental notes. The railing needed to be replaced. The hole-ridden carpet on the stairs and hallway should be ripped up.

The second-floor rooms were designed in traditional Daonain fashion. Down the left hallway, the female’s suite was encircled by three smaller male bedrooms. The hallway to the right led to bedrooms for cublings.

The place was designed for a big family. Owen frowned. Having just him and Gawain here was a waste. Fuck knew, he had no intention of lifemating. Although…how did Gawain feel about mating and children? It was something they should discuss someday.

Maybe after they’d lived together for a decade or so.

A glance at the various bedrooms gave an idea of what would be needed to make them habitable. Wallpaper was peeling away in long strips. The carpets had holes and rips. There were leak marks around the windows. Several windows were broken. Debris was strewn everywhere.

Gawain walked around silently, his expression disgusted. “I’ve seen cleaner gnome-holes.”

Since gnomes brought their garbage back to their dens, that was quite an insult. Owen couldn’t disagree. “Want to pick a room?”

“The east-facing one, if you don’t mind. It overlooks the barn.”

“Fine with me. I prefer one closer to the forest anyway.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Gawain chuckled. “Let’s see the kitchen—although the thought makes me cringe.”

Cringe was right. Whatever yellow color the walls had been had turned to a sickly urine tint. Mold and grime covered the wood countertops.

“Who could live like this?” Gawain shook his head. “Think we can hire some older cubs to clean out the garbage and strip the walls?”

“Better them than us. It’d be worth the money.”

Although receiving a stipend from the clan, he and Gawain worked at other jobs…as did most God-chosen. Owen sold his carvings; Gawain sold metalwork. Since neither of them lived extravagantly, they had ample funds to toss at this problem.

“Let’s check out the barn. As far as I’m concerned, the shop space will be the make or break.”