The MacGregor by Jenny Brigalow Read Free Book Online

though, wheeling a heavy motorbike carefully down the makeshift bridge. Megan looked at the bike with interest. It was black with chrome fittings. Smart. On the fat petrol tank the word ‘Norton’ was inscribed in gold.
    By the careful, almost reverent way Douglas handled the vehicle Megan sensed it was a much-loved possession. She was delighted. She’d never been on a bike before. She followed him down the boardwalk and watched as he bounced the machine easily down the flight of steps. On the beach he turned and handed her a black helmet. ‘Where do you want to go?’
    Megan wasn’t sure. ‘Where were you planning to go?’
    â€˜To the city. To the Jackal and Hide.’
    Jackal and Hide. Megan had never heard of it. ‘What’s that?’
    Douglas slid a helmet over his wild head of hair. ‘It’s a nightclub.’
    Megan felt a flush of excitement. ‘I’ve just turned eighteen.’
    He grinned. ‘Doesn’t matter. All you need is an invitation from a member.’ He bowed. ‘And yours truly is cordially inviting you.’
    Megan laughed. He was funny. It was an enticing offer. ‘Who’ll be there?’
    â€˜Well, our kind, mainly. But there’s a few freaks too.’
    Megan’s ears twitched. Freaks? She was consumed with curiosity. ‘What kind of freaks?’
    â€˜Well, there’s a few witches, a few warlocks, travellers and mortals.’
    Megan was shocked. ‘They let mortals in there?’
    Douglas shrugged. ‘Sure. If they’re invited. Most of ’em are too dim to catch on. The place is pretty wack and wicked. Lots of costumes and stuff. Anything goes.’
    â€˜So, anyone can go there?’
    Suddenly the young man’s sunny smiled faded and he snarled. And the wild wolf revealed itself. ‘Not the Vamps. They’re not allowed. Although they try. They can’t go into any place without an invitation.’
    Megan nodded. She knew this to be the truth. If it weren’t, her kind would have been extinct. It sounded fantastic. But then she thought about Sean. And, while the Jackal and Hide sounded awesome, she wanted to see him. Bad.
    â€˜Douglas, thanks so much for asking me, and I’d really like to go, but how long do you think you’ll be?’
    He shrugged. ‘Four, five hours, at a guess. If I’m too late the old man will bugger off home without me.’
    Megan glanced up at the sky. The night was young, the moon hadn’t even risen. Brilliant, she could go out with Douglas and then see Sean on the way home. She smiled. ‘I’d love to come, Douglas, thanks.’
    He grinned. ‘It’ll keep the two old farts happy.’
    She smiled and realised that young Douglas wasn’t fooled any more than she was.
    â€˜Get your skid lid on, and hop on behind me.’ He threw one long leg over the black seat and looked at her expectantly.
    Megan scrambled up behind him, found her foot rests and wrapped her arms around his waist. The engine burbled into life and they slipped and slid over the stony beach, roared past the croft and whipped onto the road.
    After twenty seconds Megan decided she had to have a motorbike. It was the only way to travel. She loved the throaty sound of the old engine, the stink of oil and the lift and fall around the corners. Her spirits soared and she lifted her visor to release the plaintive howl of her kind. Life was grand.

Chapter 16
    It had been a big day but Sean couldn’t settle. He was pissed off with himself for kissing Ginny. What an idiot! Now he was faced with the choice of sleeping with her and living with all the crap that went with it, or of not sleeping with her and living with all the crap that went with that. Damn and blast.
    Either way he looked at it he was going to lose a perfectly capable head girl. And his temper wasn’t improved by the knowledge that it was entirely his own fault.
    He stared sightlessly