Twilight's Eternal Embrace (29 page)

She squeezed his hand.
"
I am not like that bloodling. Look at me.
"

He did. His worried gaze told her he wasn
'
t pacified. He still feared she would end up like the monstrous being chained to the wall.

"
We must inform Sheerin of this new development.
"
His hand brushed over her arm. The wound was completely healed.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Bram paced in Sheerin
'
s workroom with nervous energy. Adryanna sat on the stool with her arm resting on the worktable as Sheerin withdrew more blood from her. Once he had enough, he examined the blood under the microscope. Then Sheerin compared Bram
'
s blood to the sample.

The scent of herbs made Bram
'
s nostrils flare in protest, but the scent of Adryanna
'
s blood made his mouth water for a sample of her sweetness
.
Her blood called to him. Animal blood was no longer satisfying him in the way it used to. He drank from a stag; he should not need to feed again. Adryanna changing into the creature in the dungeon was nothing to fear if he lost control and drained her.

"
Well?
"
Bram faced Sheerin with impatience.
"
What do you see? Do not keep us waiting.
"

Sheerin
glanced his way,
a frown creasing his brow.

Adryanna shifted in her seat, her features clouding with apprehension as she stared at him.

"
What is it?
"
Bram demanded.

Sheerin rose from his seat and strode around the worktable.
"
How have you been feeling, Bram?
"

"
How have I… I am well. You are supposed to make sure Adryanna stays fit.
"

"
Bram.
"
Adryanna
'
s soft voice drew him.
"
The color of your eyes…
T
hey are red.
"

"
Aye,
"
Sheerin said.
"
And you are sweating.
"

"An
Oiche Sith do
es not
sweat
without provocation
,
"
h
e harrumphed, but when he rubbed his hand over his face, his skin felt damp.

"
You are entering the change,
"
Sherrin murmured beneath his breath, more to himself than to anyone in the room.
"
I should have realized.
"

Panic hit Bram like a blow to his gut, his stomach knotting into a ball.
"
What are you wittering about? It is not my time.
"

Sheerin met his gaze.
"
I assumed the last stages of the change were brought on by the blooding ritual. The Oiche Sith has his wrist sliced.
"
He
glanc
ed at Adryanna and Bram to explain, touching the inside of both his wrist where the blue vein ran beneath the skin.
"
Right there... This procedure releases the old blood and the bad spirits, cleansing the body to accept the new blood for the transition.
"

"
I know about the ritual,
"
Bram snapped.

"
Aye.
"
Sheerin nodded.
"
I always assumed it had to be done that way for the final stages of the change to occur. Now I realize it only speeds up the process. The true change starts when we take the blood from a female.
"

Bram
'
s gaze shifted to Adryanna, his sweet lass. He regretted all he had done to wre
a
k havoc in her life. No matter how he tried to rectify it, their path seemed destined for doom.
"
I cannot change yet. It has not been sanctioned by the elders.
"

Sheerin nodded in agreement.
"
But what is done is done. The process cannot be reversed. I have told you that already.
"

Adryanna folded her hands as if she accepted what would happen with grace.
"
What does this mean for Bram?
"
Always her concern was for him and not for herself.

How could he ever be worthy of such a female?

"
It means the council will realize he has broken the rules. He will…
"
He
glanc
ed to Bram.

"
Say it,
"
Adryanna insisted.

"
It is forbidden for a
n
Oiche Sith to indulge in blood drinking from a Lathe Sith until the blooding ritual. Our agreement with your clan is once a year.
"

"
But I gave my blood willingly. Would this not count for something?
"
Adryanna
'
s voice broke.
For
all her bravery, this was killing her spirit.

Bram placed his palms on her shoulders,
forcing
her
to meet his eyes
.
"
They will say I glamoured you.
"

Her hands clasped his forearms.
"
You did not and
I
will say as much.
"

He let out an exasperating sigh and moved away, but she wouldn
'
t let this go. 

"
What will happen when they find out you are changing…that you brought the change upon yourself?
"

"
You could volunteer to be his mate,
"
Sheerin spoke up.

"
I will.
"
Adryanna didn
'
t even hesitate.

"
No.
"
Bram said at the same time.

She l
eveled her gaze on
him, hurt registering in her eyes at his refusal to claim her, but he had to make her understand.

"
We still do not have a way to save you. The hunger is already difficult to resist. If I go through the ritual, my hunger will take over. I could drain you before I could stop myself.
"
He
turned his attention
to
Sheerin.
"
Once I am discovered, you will keep my secret. You will not tell them Adryanna was with me. I will claim I drank from one of the bloodlings and that is how the change was triggered. I will have your word, Sheerin.
"

Sheerin pursed his lips, but he gave a curt nod.
"
I will keep your secret, but until then we can proceed with the experiment.
"

"
Do I not have a say if I will come forward or not?
"
Adryanna snapped.

"
No,
"
Bram said firmly.
"
I want you, but I will not take you if it means your death. I can face the council as long as I know you will be safe.
"

He took the steps separating them and tried to pull her into an embrace, but she backed away.
"
The sun will rise soon.
"
She refused to
meet his gaze
.
"
Take me home.
"

Bram swallowed the lump in his throat. He was losing her to his stubbornness, but he rather he lost her this way than in death.
"
As you wish.
"

Chapter Thirty-Five

The next morning, Adryanna dressed and left her room with the intent to escape her parents
'
watchful eyes, but she came up short when she spotted her father seated at the table with Fergus. Both rose as she entered, too late for her to go back in her room and feign an illness.

How could she have forgotten about her father
'
s pledge to forge a contract with Fergus for her hand in marriage?

"
Come join us
, daughter
.
"
Her father pulled out a chair for her to sit. She took the steps that separated them, all the while feeling Fergus
'
eyes on her. She sat and the men followed suit.

"
Fergus has agreed to court you with the promise of marriage if you both prove compatible,
"
her father announced. Her mother stood behind her father now, both of them waiting for her to acknowledge her betrothal as if it was the brightest day of her existence
,
when they
k
new it would destroy her chance for happiness.

She chanced a look at Fergus, who gave her a hesitant smile. His hair
glistened in the sunlight, streaming through the open window, the
damp
strands slicked back.
He must have taken time to bathe
this morning. He wore a clean shirt, one most likely only worn for special occasions—like today.
Her heart warmed at the thought of him caring enough to make a good impression.
If she had never met Bram, she may have considered Fergus a good choice. She had liked him as a child. He was a kind boy and now that he was a man, he was rather easy on the eyes and he had a trade that would support a family.

"
Would you like to walk with me?
"
She heard the words leave her mouth with ease
,
though her insides churned. She wanted to scream, throw a tantrum. She was furious that her parents put her and Fergus in this position. She did not love Fergus. She would never love him.

"
I would be pleased to walk with you.
"
Fergus pushed back his chair and offered his hand.

She placed her palm over his. His skin felt warm against hers, reassuring in a way she hadn
'
t imagined. She let him lead her outside, away from her parents
'
scrutiny. They walked for some time in silence before Fergus halted
his
steps.
A second later, she did as well. She raised an eyebrow in question and waited for Fergus to collect his thoughts.
He did not keep her waiting long.

"
We both know you do not want to marry me, am I right?
"
Fergus didn
'
t shy away, demanding she give him a truthful answer.

She opened her mouth to disagree, but in the end
,
she closed it again. She nodded. He needed to know what to expect from her.

Fergus sighed and gave her a whisper of a smile.
"
I thought as much. You are no different than you were as a young girl. You could never lie. One would only have to
look
at your face
to
see the truth in your expression.
"

Her lips curved, a genuine smile and she relaxed. This was the Fergus she remembered playing with, running wild in the meadow while their mothers picked berries.
"
I am truly sorry.
"

His hand reached out to touch her hair, letting the loose strands slide through his fingers.
"
So am I.
"
He sighed with longing.
"
But I do not wish to take a bride who does not see a future with me.
"
He met her gaze then.
"
Is there no way to sway you?
"

She shook her head.

"
Your father will not be pleased. I do not know
to
whom your heart belongs, but your father does not approve of him. He is pushing hard for this union between
us
.
"

"
I know.
"
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"
Would you mind delaying your decision for a short while?
"

"
Hmm. To do so, it must
appear as if
I am courting you.
I am afraid y
ou will have to endure my company for a time.
"