Dark Embrace (23 page)

He sank his teeth deep.

You will never find Ian if you kill me now.

Aidan went still, releasing his jaw, lifting his head.

Moray smiled at him, and his mocking laughter sounded.

It was a lie.
Aidan snarled, but before he could rip Moray's throat into shreds, Moray vanished into time.

For one moment, Aidan crouched over the air and the earth, and then the pain blinded him. Whimpering, he sank to the ground.

In that moment, there was shocking clarity, and he became aware of how badly injured he was. He had been wounded in the chest twice, once with the dagger, which had come terribly close to his heart. The ax had knifed into his shoulder, hip and leg and he was bleeding heavily now.

In spite of the daylight and the army not far from them, the wolves had gathered around him, whimpering.

He was going to die.

But he was supposed to hang.

It was the gods, enjoying themselves at his expense. They had never intended the hanging, he thought. Suddenly he was afraid. He wasn't ready to die. He had to vanquish Moray. And what about Brianna?

Her beautiful face came to his mind and settled there, bringing sudden comfort. He softened deep within himself. She needed him. He had to protect her. He could not die, not yet.

He tried to stagger to his paws.

Pain blinded him.

He collapsed. He tried to stand again. He could not bear it. Two of his legs were worthless. Instead, he started crawling to her, inch by painful inch.

“H
OW CAN WE VANQUISH
M
ORAY
?”
Brie asked.

She and Allie sat cross-legged on the bed inside Aidan's tent. The chill from the previous night was finally easing, and Brie guessed that the sun was high in the sky. She had become used to the fact that the only time of day that it wasn't freezing cold was midday, but they had a kettle fire burning and she was wrapped in one of Aidan's black plaids.

She had spent the past hour telling Allie just about everything that had happened since she had first heard Aidan's roars of pain and anguish in New York City. She'd omitted her personal encounters with Aidan, of course. Allie had been wide-eyed and rapt. She had yet to say a word.

Allie bit her lip. “Brie, the gods gave the Brotherhood three books long ago, when they first sent the great goddess, Faola, to mankind to create the Masters. The Cathach is the Book of Wisdom. The Book of Healing, the Cladich, vanished centuries ago, but the Brotherhood has recovered five pages. We're still looking for the rest of the manuscript. But the Duisean is the most important book of all.”

Brie's unease escalated. She had told Allie that Moray apparently had a part of the Book. “I would sure like to know which extra powers he has.”

“Some of the brethren believe that certain demons are immortal,” Allie said grimly.

“Great,” Brie said, feeling sick. “If we survive Moray, we can fight him for eternity. Or, at least, Aidan can.”

Allie reached out and took her hand. Brie felt her healing warmth seeping into her. She was surprised. “You can heal emotions now?”

“Not to brag or anything, but I am pretty darned powerful.” Allie grinned.

Suddenly the tent flap lifted and Royce stepped inside to join them. He was even more grim than his wife. Clearly he had been eavesdropping, because he said, “Every power known to the gods and mankind exists in the Book. Moray could have many different powers, even ones we have not heard of.”

Brie felt dread creeping over her. Allie squeezed her hand, and she calmed. “There's one more thing. Moray may have hidden whatever he has of the Duisean in my time.”

Royce started. So did Allie.

“This will be right up Nick's alley,” Brie said. “I need to get word to him so he can put his agents on this.”

“You're still at CDA, working for Forrester?” Allie asked. She slid to her feet, walking over to Royce. She wore sexy boots with high heels along with her jeans. When Brie had first realized Allie was running around the medieval Highlands like a designer sexpot, she had smiled. In some ways, Allie hadn't changed at all. Brie hadn't asked how she'd gotten brand-new-designer boots in 1502, because it was obvious she still liked shopping in the twenty-first century. But that raised a huge question.

“Yes, I am. Allie, why haven't you come to visit us since you left?”

Allie started. “Honey, I don't go back to the future.”

Brie blinked. “But the boots? Your clothes.”

Allie smiled. “Royce showers me with gifts on my birthday.” She sobered. “It's dangerous going into the future, and when we do, it's only to save Innocence. In your time, Royce and I are living at Carrick. We have eleven grandchildren. I was there once, and I'm not sure of the physics of such an encounter, but why take any chances? We fought hard for our love, and one day, I'll be living at Carrick with every modern comfort. I can wait. I will not wreck what we have. And besides, we are awfully busy in medieval Alba.”

Brie hadn't had a clue. She glanced at Royce, and for the first time since she'd met him, he was smiling softly, his gray gaze on his wife. Their love was so powerful it washed through her, warm and wonderful, soothing and strong. They were going to love one another like that for an eternity, Brie thought.

“How can we get word to Nick?” Brie asked, suddenly teary-eyed.

“I'll take care of it,” Royce said. “This is a matter fer the Brotherhood, Lady Brie. I've summoned a council. I am worried. I dinna think any single man or Master can triumph over Moray now.”

Allie plucked his leine. “He has new powers of possession, but I'll tell you about that later,” she said softly.

Brie was relieved that Royce had summoned so much white power. Surely a single demon could not defeat the Brotherhood. “Where is Aidan, anyway?” she asked Royce.

His gray gaze held hers. “He has gone hunting.”

Brie cried out, standing. “He's gone after Moray so soon? Did he shift? What does he think he can do? Moray almost killed me. He almost killed him. Why couldn't he wait for us to come up with a plan?”

“Royce?” Allie touched his muscular arm. “Did you summon Guy and Tabby?”

Brie turned to her, amazed. “What did you say?”

“Aye,” Royce said. He faced Brie. “I dinna like to summon Macleod. He rushes into every war. One day he will lose his head, an' my wife will blame
me.
”

“My brother may be a Master,” Allie said, “and a married man, but he is a Highlander first and last—and he thinks himself invincible, which he may or may not be.”

“You just asked Royce if he summoned Tabby!” Brie cried. “Surely you didn't mean our Tabby?”

Allie grinned. “Yes, I meant our Tabby, more commonly known as Lady Tabitha.”

Tabby was in the past, too.
Brie could barely assimilate it. “But I left her at home, teaching first graders by day and using spells to save Innocence by night!”

“Brie, Tabby has become really powerful over the centuries.”

Brie started. “Okay, what does that mean? How long has she been here?”

“She's been here since the thirteenth century,” Allie said. “We can use her magic against Moray. I am sure of it.”

Brie decided not to dwell on the fact that in 2008, Tabby was living in New York without a clue of her fate, but in 1502, she'd been in medieval Scotland for close to three hundred years. “Is she happy? Is she with your brother?”

“She is very happy, and madly in love with another medieval catch. They have kids, lots and lots of them—you know Tabby. They're not all theirs, either.”

Brie sat down on the edge of the bed. “Tabby deserves true love. I am so happy for her.” But worry began. “I guess Sam is alone in the future?”

Allie sobered and sat down beside her. “Does this mean you're not going back?”

Their gazes locked. “Of course I'm going back. I'm here to save Aidan, period.”

Allie looked at Royce. “Brie is going to redeem him.”

“Aye, I suspected as much when I spoke to Aidan earlier,” he said.

Brie saw them exchange a look and knew they were exchanging thoughts as well. At least she didn't have to worry about Sam being alone, she thought, feeling oddly dismayed. Malcolm and Claire were so deeply in love, and so were Allie and Royce. To yearn for that kind of connection was crazy, but too late, she knew she was secretly harboring just such a fantasy.

Brie sighed. But before she could even finish her thoughts, a savagely murderous rage began.

It hurled Brie backward onto the bed and knocked the wind right out of her.

Aidan was in trouble.

“Brie!” Allie cried, rushing to her.

The Wolf wanted to maim, destroy and murder. “It's Aidan,” Brie gasped, the fury consuming her. She had never felt such rage, not ever. Then the pain sliced through her shoulder and she screamed.

A terrific life-and-death struggle began. She needed to sink her teeth into the enemy's throat and rip his artery apart. Then Brie was hurled backward, and before she got up, a sliver of fear went through her.

The flesh of her chest was ripped open. Enraged, she meant to leap again, but a terrible pain went through her chest and she screamed.

Had he been stabbed in the heart?

There were more terrible blows, but the savagery did not diminish. Suddenly she felt her teeth sink into human flesh, and she tasted blood—and it was
good.
A savage, utterly primal, merciless satisfaction overcame her and she barely felt the ax cutting through her leg.
She would kill him now.

She suddenly envisioned Ian.

And there was only blinding pain, her prey having vanished.

Brie came back to herself, swirling in the thick web of pain, becoming vaguely aware of Allie holding her.
Aidan was hurt…he was going to die.

“No,” she gasped. She fought the pain. She had to swim out of it, no matter how thick the layers, how suffocating, how imprisoning. She became aware of a warmth seeping into her, through her.

Allie was trying to heal her.

“Brie, it's all right! Nothing's happening. It's your empathy, but it's so strong, it's hard for me to get through it.”

Nothing was happening? Aidan was in terrible pain, badly wounded. Brie lay breathless in Allie's arms, her heart thundering, struggling to see Allie clearly. Her image wavered, but the warmth intensified. And finally, the pain began to recede.

Allie remained in focus now, holding Brie and stroking her brow.

Brie waited another moment, then slowly sat up. “We have to find him!”

Royce knelt before her. “What happened?”

“He was in a terrible battle. He's been knifed and axed. I am almost certain it was with Moray.” She felt tears fall. Her heart surged with panic. Allie stroked her shoulder, but Brie was barely calmed. “He is going to die if we don't find him and heal him.”

“Can you feel where he is?” Allie asked. “He must be far away, because I haven't felt his pain yet.”

“I don't know. Give me a moment.” She gathered her composure as best she could and slipped to her feet, going to the tent flap. She lifted it and ducked outside.

It was midmorning now. The camp had been dismantled, and the foremost ranks of armored knights were already on the march. She closed her eyes, lifting her face to the warm midday sun.

Blinding pain hit her like a tidal wave, driving her into an unmovable wall. Then she realized she'd slammed into Royce's powerful body.
Where are you?
She begged silently, desperately.

There was no response.

But they'd never had telepathy; he had always been the one to read her mind.

Read my mind now, Aidan. Where are you? Let me help you!

A silence shimmered in her mind; there was only his pain and some kind of elaborate struggle. She did not understand it.

Royce had been clasping her shoulders, and he released her. “We'll find him, Lady Brie,” he offered, grave and unsmiling. He looked at Allie and then strode off.

Brie saw a young Highlander bring Royce's mount to him. She touched her cheeks, which were wet with tears.
Please come back. Please tell me where you are.

Allie slid her arm around Brie and did not speak. Brie suddenly felt his pain again, a huge, hard wave that made her double over. Allie sent her more healing light, and as the pain vanished, they shared a grim look.

“I am going to keep my healing power on you, because his pain is too much for you to bear.”

Allie was right. God, what had happened to him? “He can't die today, this way,” Brie cried, suddenly furious. She swatted at her tears. It crossed her frantic mind that he was supposed to hang, but she was not soothed. Maybe his Fate was death, and it simply didn't matter how he died.

Worse, he'd waited to die once, when he'd been buried alive. What if he was so badly hurt that he would accept his death now?

She looked at Allie, burning with determination. “I won't let him die.”

 

B
RIE HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR
him all day on foot. Allie remained a constant shadow, clearly afraid to leave her. Every now and then she doused Brie with white light to keep his pain marginalized. Hours passed. Brie felt at her wit's end. The only positive in the crisis was that he remained in pain, which meant he was alive.

She climbed the ridge for the fifth or sixth time, as it was a good vantage point. Mountains surrounded them. Another huge glen lay to the north, containing a vast, shining loch, and to the south was what was left of their camp. Most of the armies had marched on toward their rendezvous with the MacDonald and the Macleans. Just ahead of her, the air suddenly shimmered and shifted.

Brie tensed, filled with hope, but it was Ian who emerged from the mist.

She went still in surprise.

He pointed at her and began speaking urgently, but she did not hear a word.

“Allie, can you see Ian's ghost?”

Allie hurried to her side. “He's here? I can't see him, Brie.”

“Ian, wait. What is it?” The little boy was close to tears, and she knelt. The timing could not have been worse. She needed to search for Aidan, not spend time trying to communicate with his dead son.