Twilight's Eternal Embrace (19 page)

Sheerin
'
s lips slid into a grim smile.
"
We are stronger than they are. We force them to take our blood, but first we must make sure there is enough life in them for it to take effect. We could try the experiment on your Lathe Sith.
"

Bram turned away and paced as he digested what his cousin was telling him. As tempting as it seemed, he didn
'
t want to try out the experiment on Adryanna. What if Sheerin was wrong and she died anyway? It was too risky.

He faced Sheerin. He shook his head.
"
I told you I wanted to keep Adryanna—
"
He halted his words.

"
The Lathe Sith
'
s name is Adryanna?
"
Sheerin
'
s brows lifted.

"
Forget it. I want to keep her safe, not play with her life. I will not have her subject
ed
to an experiment because you wish to fill your book with notes.
"
He waved to the item on the table in a dismissive manner.

"
Bram, you already started this. She will look for you when you do not return. When you bit her, your saliva mixed with her blood. Your essence flows inside of her already.
"

Bram shut his eyes. His hands fisted at his side. It was not just his saliva, but his blood as well. He healed her wound with his blood. He swallowed back the horror of his deed.
"
What have I done?
"

"
Do you love her?
"
His cousin
'
s voice was soft and not without sympathy.

Bram nodded.
"
I do. But it is false. I tricked her without realizing I had.
"
It made sense then. She hated the Oiche Sith clan, cursed them
,
and why wouldn
'
t she? Her sister died at their hands. She loathed his people, but then claimed on the same night she wanted to be a part of his life.

"
Did you ask permission to take her blood?
"

"
What?
"
Bram
'
s brows furrowed.

"
Did she give her blood freely?
"

"
Of course. I would never force her.
"
He rubbed a hand over his mouth.
"
She asked me to take her blood. She wanted to know what her sister had endured as one of the mated.
"
He whirled away.
"
Heaven above, why did I agree?
"

"
I would not condemn yourself so readily then.
"

Bram frowned at his cousin.
"
And why not?
"

"
You did not take. She gave herself freely to you. Perhaps there had been an attraction from the start and not you glamouring her into submission.
"

"
Or she was simply curious. Our time together is a farce.
"
He neared the table.
"
There must be some way to fix this. Tell me what I must do and I shall do it.
"

"
I am sorry.
" Sheerin's voice held a note of sympathy. "
You cannot go back and pretend nothing happened.
"
His fingers gripped the journal as he closed his findings beneath the cover.
"
I am to go to Coomkeen at the end of this week. Let me see the Lathe Sith for myself. She may be strong-willed and the glamour did not take hold. On occasion it has happened.
"

Bram searched his cousin
'
s face. He could see in
Sheerin's
eyes that he did not hold much hope.
"
I do not wish her to become a bloodling. Nor do I wish for her to fall prey to my bloodlust and die.
"

Sheerin sighed.
"
Let us go with the best scenario here. We may be able to make her strong enough to be your life mate. I suggest you start introducing your blood to her in small doses. This way her body will not reject it.
"

Bram
wanted to scream, throw things, tear into flesh, but he forced the anger back. It would not solve what he put into motion.
"
How can I look her in the eyes and be happy
with
the web of lies I have woven around us?
"

"
You know now. If honesty is important for you in this relationship, then tell her now what she shall face. Let her make the decision.
"

He lifted a brow.
"
How can she make a rational decision if I have glamoured her?
"

"
Stay away from her for the rest of the week. Then you will know the truth
,
if she is glamoured or not.
"

Chapter Twenty-Five

Adryanna rode her mount to the seaside for the third night in a row. She stayed in
their cave
, hoping Bram would find her there, but as daylight neared, she knew he would not show. With a heavy heart, she returned to the village.

She had no way of knowing what transpired when Bram returned home to confront his brother. No news reached her village of such matter
s
and probably never would. Bram stayed away and she suspected he did so out of some misguided honor to keep her safe. He told her before he left that he feared his brother would retaliate. He didn
'
t want to bring his family squabbles to her door. His decision to stay away did not please her. How dare he decide what was best for her. He was not her keeper. She would decide what path to take.

Once she brushed down her mount, she headed toward the main square where the alchemist
'
s tent stood. The Oiche Sith came to their village once a month for her people to purchase the concoctions he mixed to ease their lives. Anything from a powder to alleviate a headache or a potion to find true love could be bought for a price.

Adryanna wasn
'
t interested in potions. She wanted the Oiche Sith to deliver a message to Bram, but she could not simply request it. No, she had another idea.

She gripped the hairpin in her hand. The beaded adornment had been her sister
'
s. She would send it with the alchemist to give to Camden with hopes Bram would suspect it was a ruse and know she wished to meet with him. It was a farfetched plan at best, but she had to try something. If Bram had no intention of seeing her again, she wanted to hear it from his lips. She refused to give him the coward
'
s way out.

The line was long as each waited their turn to enter the tent. When Adryanna
'
s time came, she was so nervous her heart pounded erratically
,
like it had somehow turned into a fluttering bird desperate for escape.
"
There is no turning back now,
"
she murmured beneath her breath. She wiped her sweaty palms on her gown. What if the Oiche Sith would not give Camden the hairpin? She entered the tent before she
lost
the courage to find out.

The alchemist
's
light eyes locked onto her with interest.
"
Come closer if you wish to make a purchase.
"

She swallowed back the lump in her throat and took the steps separating
them
.

"
What do you wish for? A love potion
,
perhaps.
"
His lips twitched.

He believed her nervous behavior was because she wanted a liquid to trap a young male. She didn
'
t want to trap anyone. She only wanted her friend back, the male she
'
d fallen in love with.

She opened her palm and revealed the hair adornment. The gems sparkled in the candlelight.
"
My wish is for you to deliver this to someone.
"

His brows lifted in surprise.
"
I am most curious. Who do you know so well that you would bestow such a treasured gift?
"

She
chewed on her lower lip
, wondering what she was doing
.
But she started this and couldn
'
t go back now.
"
You mistake my purpose. This was my sister
'
s. I wanted to give it to her mate. He saved me when the Draugr attacked
,
and I wish to repay him.
"
She didn
'
t meet the
a
lchemist
'
s gaze for fear he would see the lie shadowing her eyes.

He did not answer at first, but finally his fingers closed over the adornment.
"
Who is this Oiche Sith who saved you
?"

"
Camden.
"

"
Hmm. And your name?
"

"
My name?
" She licked her lips that had suddenly become dry.

"
Your name, lass. Surely
,
you have one. You must have exchanged words with Camden to know he was mated to your sister.
"

She nodded.
"
Adryanna.
"

The alchemist sat up straighter, his eyes widening.
"Adryanna?"

Fear assailed her at his intense interest
,
as if he knew her, but that was impossible. She never met the alchemist until tonight. She
'
d never needed his services. Was he in league with Bram
'
s brother? Had Loreto sent this male to take care of her for daring to fight against him? Was this why Bram had not been to see her? Had his brother done something to him? She took a step back, intent on fleeing, but the alchemist moved with
the
speed of his kind and held her still, his hand clasp
ed
over her mouth to silence her scream.

"
Do not fear me,
"
he demanded.
"
And do not let out a cry of alarm. I only wish to speak with you.
"

She nodded and he dropped his hand from her mouth, but not her arm.

"
I will not run.
"
She glanced at her arm. She was surprised when he actually released her.

"
I am called Sheerin. I am Bram
'
s cousin.
"

Her gaze riveted to him. This was the cousin Bram spoke to her about, the one who might be able to help them find a way to be together.

"
Bram would like to meet with you,
"
Sheerin did not miss a beat.
"
Tomorrow, if it can be arranged.
"

She
'
d never been a fool and she wouldn
'
t start
being one
now.
"
How do I know I can trust you?
"
She would have sworn Sheerin smiled, but he turned away too quickly.

"
I shall prove my trust.
"
He strode back to his desk. Curiosity held her in place, making her wonder what proof he had hidden within his belongings. Sheerin retrieved something and came back to her. He held out his hand. Her gaze landed on Bram
'
s brooch adorned with amber. The firelight from the sconces caressed the bronze color to brilliance.
"
I speak the truth,
"
Sheerin pleaded for her to believe him.
"
It has not been safe for Bram to meet sooner with you. His brother watches his every move. We have come up with a plan to distract Loreto
,
if you will agree to meet him.
"

She took the brooch. The metal felt cool in her palm.
"
Tell me where?
"

Chapter Twenty-Six

The wind had a life of its own tonight—touching and teasing with urgent caresses. Bram brushed his long strands away from his face. He stood rooted at the edge of the forest that led into Coomkeen. It was long past
Twilight
. The village settled and quieted as the Lathe Sith retired for the night. He picked up the occasional snore as well as the labored breathing of coupling.