Dark Embrace (27 page)

He stared at the wine bottle and glasses on the small desk.

He wasn't going to respond?
“You don't have to be so distant. I know a little about men, through my friends. They can be pretty cold when they're done with a woman.” She choked again. This really hurt. She had to get perspective. “It's okay. I really didn't expect anything long-term. I get it. You're done. It was a one-night thing. I won't bug you again.”

“Good.” He finally lifted his brilliant blue gaze to hers. “Ye shouldna cry. Yer a grown woman an' ye wanted pleasure. Ye'll find yer grand love with another man.”

She reminded herself that she had no right to be hurt. Hadn't she known that sleeping with him would be emotionally dangerous? Hadn't she known that while she loved him, he didn't love her, and that the next day she'd want more than he could give?

But she was incapacitated with hurt. A smart, modern woman with an ounce of pride would have held her head high and moved on. Instead, she shook her head. “No,” she said very firmly.

She would love him forever, no matter what happened to him, to them.

His eyes widened. “I must go. The Masters can protect ye now. They'll take ye to Iona. When I vanquish Moray, they'll see ye back to yer time.”

It was
over?
Just like that?

Brie was disbelieving.

“Dinna look at me and dinna cry,” he said harshly.

She didn't move. There was so much tension in the tent, Brie was pretty sure it was the result of his wanting to get away from her, and this very uncomfortable next-morning moment. At last she really understood the pain of rejection.

But she had to rise above her own feelings. He was in danger. His life and his soul were on the line. She had gone back in time to redeem him, not to fall in love with him.

She was a Rose. Rose women never quit.

She wanted to cry. Instead she inhaled. “Is there any way I can convince you to hunt with the other Masters? You've already faced Moray alone—twice—and it didn't work out very well.”

His mouth curled dangerously. “I willna hunt with the brethren, Brianna, and they willna hunt with me.”

Brie was ready to dispute that when Aidan suddenly stiffened. Brie was briefly stunned by white power before the tent flap lifted. What was this? she wondered, turning to look at the tent's entrance.

The golden Highlander who looked like Matthew McConaughey stepped inside, nodding at them. If he knew he was interrupting a very tense, awkward and private moment, he did not show it.

“I will have a word with Aidan now, Lady Brianna,” he said.

Brie was completely distracted. His tone was one of pure authority and she knew he was never disputed. His stature was as commanding, and there was simply no mistaking the holy power that cloaked him.
He was close to the gods, closer than the other Masters.
“Who are you?” she asked. More importantly, what did he want?

His mouth curved. His amazing green eyes were warm and friendly and filled with good humor. “The Abbot of Iona an' yer friend.” He added, “Sometimes the Masters accept my suggestions. I manage the Brotherhood fer the gods.”

Brie got it. He was commander in chief.

“Ye can call me MacNeil,” he said softly, his gaze unwavering.

As overwhelmed as she was by his power, it was really hard not to notice what an incredible hunk he was. Unlike some of the Masters, like Royce and Guy, he didn't have that supermacho, medieval aura. This man was undoubtedly well-traveled, sophisticated and reasonable.

He smiled at her. “My life is nay an easy task.”

Brie smiled back. “I'll bet.”

And she felt Aidan's anger. She turned. He had crossed his arms across his chest so tightly his biceps bulged. His eyes blazed. Brie now thought about his dispute with the abbot.

MacNeil turned.
“Hallo a Aidan,”
he said softly. “Yer a sight for my sore eyes.”

Aidan said harshly, “I dinna care.”

Brie tensed in dismay. She had felt MacNeil's love for Aidan, and it had been paternal. “Do you want me to leave?” she asked.

“Ye should stay,” MacNeil said, sending her another warm smile. He spoke with authority, but posed a question. “Aidan, will ye come with me to Iona?”

“I will never come with ye to Iona,” Aidan said savagely.

MacNeil did not seem disturbed. “Ye healed Brianna with a power only the gods can give. Ye rescued her several times. I believe ye spent last night warmin' her bed in a very mortal way. Ye can deny it, but the facts speak loudly. Lad, ye'll never finish the fall.”

“Then I will remain half deamhan, an evil that leaves his victims alive an' a man who enjoys mortal desire. I willna go back to the Brotherhood. Damn ye all to hell!”

Brie gasped. “Aidan, he is your friend, no matter what happened,” she tried.

He looked at her, flushing. “Ye think a night in my bed gives ye any rights? It doesna!” He pointed at MacNeil, his hand shaking. “My son was murdered, his body not even in the ground but stolen, lost in time, an' he tells me the Ancients walk in mystery and that my son's Fate was written?”

“I canna change what's written,” MacNeil said seriously and softly. “Ye can blame me fer acceptin' Fate, but I dinna write his death—nor did I see it. But I have seen her.” He nodded at Brianna, who straightened in surprise.

“'Tis time for ye to clear yer head, Aidan,” MacNeil continued. “'Tis more than time fer ye to listen to yer heart, yer soul, lad. Ye have grieved and raged at us all long enough. 'Tis time fer ye to come back.”

“I will avenge my son,” Aidan said, his eyes blazing. “And I will vanquish my own deamhan father. Then I go to Awe to live out my life, half in and half out of the deamhan world. To hell with yer damned gods.” He strode from the tent with so much angry force that the tent walls shuddered even though he did not touch them.

Brie whirled in dismay. “Please don't let him hunt Moray alone! He doesn't have enough power!”

“He has his Fate as well, Lady Brianna,” MacNeil said.

“Is his Fate hanging?”

MacNeil hesitated. “They're not lies, Lady Brianna. Yer books speak the truth.”

Brie went still. “Are you referring to my history books?”

“Aye.” He did not smile now. “Aidan may hate the gods but they dinna hate him, in spite of all he has done. I have seen ye comin' to save our poor Aidan. Dinna give up now.”

“You just said my history books are right. If that's the case, he will hang! So how can I save him?”

He touched her and his power flowed through her, at once healing and strengthening, erasing her uncertainty and doubts. “He will only hang if he chooses to die. Lass, yer here fer a great reason.”

Brie cried out, “Is that a riddle? I hate riddles!”

“I dinna have all the answers, lass.” Then he grinned. “Just some of them.”

H
E WILL ONLY HANG IF HE CHOOSES TO DIE
.

Having dressed, Brie stepped outside of the tent. It was snowing heavily now and the day was thick and gray. Why would Aidan choose to die? He had fought his way back to her as the Wolf. Clearly, he had been determined to live. McNeil's words were not helpful and they felt distinctly ominous, as if some new event would make him lose his will to live. Brie had a terrible inkling and she prayed she was wrong. But MacNeil had confirmed what she already believed. She was there to save Aidan, whether he wanted her there or not.

She saw that the remaining Highlanders had departed from the camp, along with all their equipment and pack animals. Only one other tent was left on the plain other than Aidan's. A fire roared before it in spite of the snow, and Brie saw Will tending it, red-faced and looking miserable. She hurried over to him, wishing for gloves and a hat.

“Our master's gone,” Will told her. “But I'm to attend yer every need.”

Brie nodded, worried to death about Aidan now. Allie stepped out of the adjacent tent, followed by Tabby and Claire, who hung back as Brie's cousin and best friend rushed to her. Allie hugged Brie, and then Tabby took her hand. “Are you all right?” Tabby asked in a low voice.

Obviously they knew what she'd been doing last night. “I'm fine,” she said, but it felt like an utter lie and she blushed. Unlike Allie, she was pretty modest when it came to the subject of sex. Tabby was almost as reticent.

Allie slid her arm around her. Her eyes sparked with excitement. “Brie, you spent the night with Aidan and he didn't take power from you! Do you know what this means?”

Brie shook her head to stop Allie's enthusiasm. She knew what Allie was thinking. “Allie, don't. He's not at all happy today. And I'm hurt, because foolishly, in spite of how smart I am, I really thought he cared about me. But we're not friends, and last night will never happen again. He made that really clear.” Brie hoped they wouldn't guess how brutally she was hurt.

“He has to care,” Allie cried. “Why else bother with you at all? He saved you, protected you, healed you and made love to you.” She grinned. “Did I tell you…or what?”

Brie did not want to think about how stunning sex with a superpowered Highlander was. “It just happened and it was meaningless, at least for him. I'm afraid I was the only one who was making love. But it's okay. I can handle it. I still love him and I have to try to save him.” She simply had to refocus. “I mean, I am here to redeem him, not to be his soul mate forever.”

“You don't know that,” Allie said, impossibly upbeat as always.

“I haven't been optimistic about Aidan, and I can't forgive him for the children at Elgin, but I am almost inclined to agree with Allie.” Tabby squeezed her hand. “Last night certainly seems like a monumental turning point. Maybe Aidan can be saved, after all, by you, Brie.”

“That's the plan,” Brie said, hoping to sound flip.

Tabby didn't release her hand. “I hate seeing you so hurt! I'll tell you a secret. With Guy, there was so much heartache and pain before there was true love.”

Brie shook her head. “Don't, Tabby. Don't give me hope. Not now, not today.”

“These medieval machos can be total jerks,” Allie said. “Royce can still be a royal pain! Aidan is on your hook, Brie, and he's squirming, that's all. He is fighting you tooth and nail, but we all know no one can fight Fate.”

The one thing Brie was sure of was that she was not Aidan's Fate. “Speaking of Fate, Aidan has gone to hunt Moray. I am sick with worry for him. I have to ask you both for a huge favor. Please, send Royce and Guy after him to help him. He can't face Moray alone again.”

“No problem,” Allie said cheerfully. “However, Aidan has gone to Awe. I know, because Royce lurked. He hunts from the tower there.”

“We have to go to Awe,” Brie said instantly.

Allie took her hand. “Honey, we've been waiting for you.”

“Tabby has to come with us, though.” Brie looked at her.

“What is it?” her cousin asked softly.

“I was hoping,” Brie said, “that you'd help us find Ian and speak with him.”

Tabby began to smile. “Yes, Brie, we can have a séance.”

 

“W
HERE ARE WE
?” S
AM ASKED
in a hushed whisper. She was in awe as she stared through the swiftly falling snow at the sparkling lake, which was surrounded by the forested Highland mountains. In the distance, a castle seemed to emerge from its gleaming waters. Sam lifted binoculars and saw that she was right. Clad in camouflage, a skullcap and army boots, she was too overcome by where she was to even notice the cold.

Nick was staring at the small LCD screen of the Geographic Locater Device he carried in his palm. The size of a Blackberry, it would tell them exactly where they were. He was dressed exactly as she was, right up to the skullcap and camouflage vest, and they both carried backpacks filled with survival gear and weapons. The rifle he had slung over his arm was loaded with tranquilizing darts, not bullets. His nose red, he grinned, looking up. “That, kiddo, is Castle Awe.”

Sam glanced again through the binoculars. The red castle that seemed to float upon the shimmering silver lake and the falling snow made her feel as though she was looking into a picturesque glass ball. But that castle was real, and they were in the Highlands.

HCU had a huge case file on the Wolf of Awe. She'd had no idea that the Historical Crimes Unit of CDA was as advanced and efficient as it was. It had been gathering data on good and evil for over two centuries, thank God. No, thank Nick Forrester, who had been running HCU for as long as anyone could remember. The Wolf had abducted Brie, and without that file, rescuing her would be like finding a needle in a haystack. “What year did we land in?” she asked cautiously.

“That I don't know. It ain't 2008,” Nick said, sounding damned pleased. But on the bridge that spanned the lake, from castle to shore, Sam saw a band of horses and riders. She and Nick had been walking toward the loch for about an hour, and there hadn't been a single road or telephone pole, nor the sound of a car or an overhead airplane. Sam handed Nick the binoculars. “Riders,” she said. “It's hard to tell even with the bi's, but I think they're carrying frigging swords.”

Nick grinned and lifted the glasses. Sam knew her boss was enjoying himself. He wasn't as bad as she'd first thought. He was certainly fearless, if bossy. She was a control freak herself, so as long as he understood that when push came to shove, she'd make her own decisions, they'd get along just fine. Three days had passed since Brie's abduction. In spite of her having been recruited, hired and trained almost overnight, Nick hadn't explained how he time-traveled. He really didn't have to.

Nick Forrester wasn't what he appeared to be. He was just as different from everybody else as the Rose women were.

Sam didn't mind. The more the merrier. She'd take anything she could get to help destroy the evil that preyed on them all.

He clasped her shoulder, his blue gaze brilliant. “Let's go. There's only one way to find out if we nailed the trip.”

Sam nodded. The case file on the Wolf of Awe ended in the fall of 1502. All the sightings of him after the millennium had been traced to years prior to that date. According to the file, he'd been hanged for treason. History confirmed it.

But that made no sense, because he could vanish into the past or the future anytime he chose to. Unless, of course, someone or something had managed to destroy his powers, which seemed to be the case.

Nick had wanted to leap back to 1502, but he hadn't explained why. Logic dictated that the Wolf of Awe could have come from any year after 1436—the year he'd first destroyed Innocence. Her boss was keeping secrets. It was annoying, but she was beginning to trust him. For some reason, he had a clue—or a sixth sense—that told him Aidan had taken Brie to that year.

They began trekking along the shore. In a few hours, as long as the snow didn't get worse, they would be at Castle Awe.

 

I
T ALMOST FELT LIKE COMING HOME
, Brie thought, as she followed everyone inside Awe's great hall. Both huge hearths contained blazing fires, and Brie started removing her wet plaid, thrilled to be back at Awe. The great room hadn't changed. It was huge and sparsely furnished, but it felt welcoming, anyway. Servants were covering the trestle table with platters of hot food. She couldn't recall the last time she'd really eaten.

But two men who were dressed like Englishmen were at the table, speaking with Malcolm, Guy and Royce. Everyone was so serious that Brie knew the men had brought trouble.

Malcolm looked across the great room at Claire.

Brie turned. “What do they want?”

Claire hesitated. “They have a summons for Aidan, but Aidan has left orders that he is not to be disturbed.”

Brie saw the Englishmen arguing with Malcolm, and then the two men crossed the hall, passing her as they left. Uneasily, she said, “What kind of summons, Claire?” But she already knew.

“He's been summoned to Urquhart.”

Urquhart was where Aidan had been hanged.
“By Frasier?” Brie asked, her stomach churning.

“It's a royal summons,” Claire said, grimacing. “But the king is at Stirling, and someone like Frasier will be there to receive Aidan.”

Brie trembled. “He's not going,” she said firmly. She would
not
let him go.

Claire's green eyes widened. “Brie, this is 1502. We do not refuse our king. I know you're worried about Aidan hanging, but the refusal of royal will can also be labeled treason.”

“But Aidan is already a traitor,” Brie said. “He's fought Frasier and the royal armies. He has to stay far from Urquhart!”

Claire took her arm. “I'm the last person to tell you to simply accept this. Do what you feel you have to do. I'll help, and so will Malcolm.”

Brie stared at her. In that moment, she had the feeling that Claire really believed that Aidan was meant to hang and that she could not change his fate. She hugged herself uneasily.

Lust for power flooded her.

Brie gasped as the shocking lust swept through her body, swelling it, arousing it impossibly. The power began to course through her veins, giving her impossible strength, and she was savagely elated. She cried out, stunned by the bestial euphoria, the sense of near invincibility.

Someone held her up.

Brie closed her eyes, unable to detach herself from the power roaring in her veins, the urge to use her power to destroy Moray blinding and frenzied. She
could
destroy him now, for nothing and no one could stop her.

“Brie, what is it?” Allie cried.

Aidan was in the throes of taking power, Brie managed to think. She opened her eyes. Royce held her upright, but Allie, Tabby and Claire encircled her, and Allie held her hand tightly.

“It's Aidan,” she said, and her stomach lurched, making her feel sick. He had so much power he could easily break down his own castle walls.

“Let me go,” she gasped, suddenly enraged.

She staggered through the hall and to the stairway. More power swept through her and she crashed into the wall. The power blinded her this time and she stood still, as wave after wave of power and rapture hit her, stars exploding everywhere. But he still wanted more….

She fought through the thick, sexual waves, the spinning frenzy, the hot, wet euphoria, as if swimming upstream. She reached the landing, breathing hard, and an even greater wave smashed into her, power and rapture becoming one. She fell this time, and wept in ecstasy.

Brie lay on the stone floor, sobbing in pleasure, the power endless now, streaming through her. And then the rapture faded, leaving nothing but the sense of absolute and savage euphoria.

She lay very still. Had Aidan become invincible? Or did he simply think himself invincible?

Booted steps sounded.

Brie looked up and saw Aidan emerging from the chamber. His glittering gaze swept her and he faltered.

Brie pushed to sit up, and their gazes locked.

She reminded herself that he needed power if he was ever going to survive and defeat Moray. She said softly, “How could you?”

“Ye should be on Iona,” he snarled.

Brie shook her head, distraught. “Is anyone alive?” And she knew it was an accusation.

He flushed. “They're all alive,” he said, his tone low and dangerous. “I'm half deamhan, remember?”

“I think I hate you,” she whispered.

He strode past her.

Brie began to cry. She stumbled to her feet and to the doorway. Shocked, she stared at the three women lying unmoving on the bed. They were fully dressed. No one had a garment askew or hair astray. The bed was perfectly made up.