Twilight's Eternal Embrace (21 page)

"
I have missed you
as well
.
"

She closed her eyes.
"
What will we do if Sheerin cannot help us?
"

He did not answer her, dashing her hopes that he would have the solution she sought.

"
We are here.
"

The trees seemed to part for them as he came around the bend. She could make out the shadows of Coomkeen
'
s dwellings in the distance. Bram slid off his mount and reached for her. His hands on her waist, he helped her down.

"
You did not respond to my question.
"
She lifted a brow and waited.

He sighed as his hand caressed her cheek. She leaned into his palm.
"
We will see what Sheerin uncovers with our blood and go from there.
"
He still had not given her an answer and she knew she would not have one this night.

He leaned down to kiss her on her cheek, but she would have none of his sisterly affection. She was not a sibling. Her hands held his face as she covered his mouth. If their days were numbered, then she would be greedy and take what she could until he said goodbye. He held back at first, but with a little convincing, he gave in to the passion.

"
You are a demanding lass
,"
h
e growled when she released him.

"
It is best you remember that.
"
She turned
,
head
ing
toward her home with Bram
'
s soft chuckle following her.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Bram handed the reins over to the stable boy.
"
Make sure you rub him down.
"

"
Aye, sir.
"

He was about to make his way into the castle, but his brother stepped from the shadows
,
like an unwelcome nightmare. His brother
'
s gaze shifted to his mount then back to him again.
"
You spend a lot of time riding. Where do you go, brother?
"
Loreto
'
s eyes narrowed with suspicion.

Bram lifted his shoulder in a shrug.
"
Nowhere in particular. I like to exercise my horse. Keeps him in good shape and battle ready. You are welcome to join me when you are no longer confined to the castle grounds.
"
His dig was met with a growl, but he did not back down. 

His brother broke the gaze first.
"
May
hap
I shall.
"
Loreto brushed by him and strode toward the center of the courtyard.

Bram breathed a sigh of relief and headed inside the castle in search of his mother. He found her in the alcove of her room, tending her plants and flowers in their assorted pots.

"
Good evening, Mother.
"

"
What do I owe the pleasure?
"
Her
lips curved into a welcom
ing
smile.

"
Can I not come by and see how you fare?
"
He took the steps separating them and placed a kiss on her cheek.

She pulled back as if startled. Her gaze met his in alarm.

"
Where have you been?
"

Bram frowned at his mother
'
s odd response.
"
Out riding.
"

"
Bram, I am centuries old. I can smell her on you.
"

Panic clenched his insides, but
he kept his expression neutral and his voice
remained calm.
"
What do you mean?
"

"
A female, a Lathe Sith. Not everyone can smell the difference, but I can. Now I ask again
:
W
here have you been?
"

He came to see her for advice. His mother had made it easier to confess.
"
I was riding in the forest that joins Dungannon and Coomkeen.
"

Her hand rested on his forearm.
"
Is it the female Loreto tried to take?
"

He shook his head.
"
No. Another.
"

She regarded him quizzically. "
The Lathe Sith have already sacrificed one female this year. We cannot ask for another so soon.
"

He let out a frustrated breath and scrubbed a hand over his jaw.
"
I have no wish for a sacrifice.
"
The words came out harsher than he intended. His mother
'
s dark brows rose.
"
Sorry, Mother. I did not mean to raise my voice.
"

"
Something must have you in a snit. Is the female the cause?
"

"
In a way, I suppose. Have you ever known a Lathe Sith to survive the blooding?
"

Her expression filled with uneasy w
orry.
"
We have heard rumors of course, but
I have
not
known one to
survive.
"

He had assumed as much, but he had to ask.
"
Out of curiosity, with the rumors, how did the female survive? Are there details to the tales?
"
Sheerin has said there were always some truths to the legends. It was just deciphering what they were.

She
hesitated and nibbled
her lower lip
. H
er light eyes turned violet as the red seeped in, a defensive measure,
and he believed she would not tell him what she knew,
but then she let out a ragged sigh.
"
They are only stories, but it is said the daywalker
drink
s
our blood after the ritual is p
er
formed.
"

"
But they are not blood drinkers. We have been told our blood will make them ill.
"

"
I told you they are fanciful tales. Bram?
"

"
Hmm?
"

"
If you have chosen a Lathe Sith, you must tell your father. The council will approach the parents of the female and make arrangements. If the female survives the winter months, you shall have her for your blooding.
"

He fought to keep his anger reined. His mother
'
s words sounded so cold. It was like choosing a sheep for slaughter. He cringed at the thought. It was true. The Lathe Sith were no more than chattel to them. They were used and tossed aside without a thought.

"
Bram?
"
Her voice was gentle.

He
studi
ed his mother
's features—smooth skin, bright eyes and lustrous hair. She
didn
'
t look much older than Adryanna. If she
'
d been born a Lathe Sith, she
'
d
have
been dead and buried with only a headstone to mar her passing on this earth. It was just another reminder on how fragile a Lathe Sith
'
s life truly was.
"
I have not chosen a female.
"
He gave her a hint of a smile.
"
The female I met in the forest had lost track of time. She was startled to come across me and took a fall. I only helped to right her and send her on her way. That is all.
"

His mother
'
s gaze burned into him. She didn
'
t believe him; he was sure. However, in the end, it was obvious she could think of no reason why he would lie.

"
Enjoy your evening, Mother. I will leave you to your plants. Camden promised me a game of chess.
"

He was about to leave, but his mother
'
s hand snaked out, holding him still. He met her gaze questionably.

"
You have always been different, Bram.
"
Her lips curved a little.
"
It is not a bad thing. I envy the way you see the world, but I also fear you will find heartache if you do not let fanciful tales rest.
"

She didn
'
t come right out and say it, but his mother knew he hid the truth of his involvement with a Lathe Sith. For her sake, he would not deny or admit to the truth. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"
You worry overmuch.
"

She clung to him a moment longer.
"
I am your mother. I will always worry about you.
"

"
And for Loreto, too?
"

She pulled back.
"
Loreto most of all. He finds trouble with a purpose. His choices will be his undoing.
"

He
'd
never heard his mother dwell on the negative, but he realized she was giving him a warning. A warning, she did not need to voice.
"
I have no intentions of going down the same path as my brother.
"

"
Ah, but Loreto will try to drag you there. You know this.
"

He did.
"
I will be careful.
"

Dark shadows still filled her expression
, but she nodded and let her hand slip away.
"
Go on then. I am sure Camden looks for you.
"

Chapter Twenty-Nine

It had been a few days since Adryanna met with Bram, but they had agreed it would be for the best. Loreto watched Bram
'
s moves and until his brother grew tired of his quest, their friendship was in danger of being discovered.

"
You are distracted, daughter.
"

She smiled at her father as they walked toward the village square.
"
I am looking forward to tonight
'
s festivities.
"
Her mother had already gone on ahead of them to help the other women with the food. It seemed wrong to celebrate life when her sister died only a month ago.

"
She would not want you to grieve for her.
"
Her father always knew what she was thinking.

"
I know. I just miss her.
"

He sighed.
"
Aye, as do I.
"
He kissed her cheek before he joined the men who gathered around the food table.

The day proved warm without rain to threaten the celebration. The pole stood in the center of the village square, fashioned out of the Yule tree branches. Long streams of ribbons were attached at the top. Red represented the God of Fertility and white for the Goddess. She was expected to dance tonight and go with one of the available men into the woods. Her gaze found Fergus conversing with a few of the other males his age. They held tankards and wore happy smiles, no doubt thinking about tonight and whom they would choose as their future bride.

Fergus was a good man and attractive with light brown tresses and soft green eyes. He worked hard and would be a good provider, but she didn
'
t want Fergus for a mate. It would be wrong of her to go with him into the woods when she had no intentions of lying down with him. She chewed on her bottom lip. What was she to do?
Hide?
The thought seemed like a good one.

"
Which one will you choose?
"
Talia had moved to stand beside her. She seemed to have overcome her ordeal with her near death experience with Loreto and his cohorts, cheerfulness radiated from her as bright as the sun
'
s rays. Of course she knew Talia was a strong spirited young woman and would not let the horrors of
that
night dictate her future.

"
Do you have an eye on someone?
"
Secretly she hoped Talia would choose Fergus then she could tell her father he was unavailable.

"
I fancy Shane.
"
Her lips curved as she gazed with longing at the tall lanky man of her choosing.