Twilight's Eternal Embrace (6 page)

"
I did not wish to wake you.
"

"
Hmm. Did you go hunting then?
"

"
I did, but the prey would not cooperate. That is why I went out again early this morning.
"

Her mother eyed her
closely for a moment, but then returned to her task without questioning
her further. They never had a good accord, not like how her mother and Fianait used to have. The two would chuckle and chatter all morning as they prepared the food. The halted conversation now only proved to remind them Fianait was gone.

When
the
elders
visited
the village
in search of
a mate
for Camden
, Adryanna didn
'
t understand why they chose Fianait over her. She was sturdier in statu
r
e than her petite sister. She would have endured longer than Fianait. She would have had a fighting chance at survival when her sister had none.

She sighed, knowing the reason now. Bram
's
words revealed the truth. The Oiche Sith male bedded the female they chose. Obviously, Fianait with her dark hair and light eyes had been to Camden
'
s liking.

"
It is warm in here,
"
her mother said.
"
Why do you not pull your hair back from your face?
"

Her mother
'
s suggestion made her stiffen.
"
I am fine, Mother.
"

"
I could braid—
"

"
I said no,
"
she snapped and regretted her outburst.

Her mother flinched as if she
'
d slapped her.

Nola didn
'
t suspect her late night tryst. Adryanna realized too late her mother was trying to reach out to her, but again she
'
d ruined the chance.
"
Maybe later.
"
She tried to
soothe
the situation, but Nola only nodded, not looking at her.

"
Mother, I am—
"

Hrroooong…

The sound of the horn
'
s blare lodged the apology in her throat.

Her mother met her gaze, fear lacing her worn expression.

They were being invaded. Adr
y
anna
'
s thoughts immediately went to Bram with a silent prayer that he would fight well and live to tell the tale.

Chapter Ten

Bram dressed quickly and grabbed his sword. He met Loreto and Camden in the main hall. Fergal and Niven stood near the warriors who had gone through the change.

Bram itched for a fight, but the warriors fully blooded would meet the enemy head on, while he and the other Oiche Sith who had not been blooded would take the rear. The Oiche Sith were all formable opponents, but the fully blooded were larger, stronger
,
and more lethal to the cause.

Bram
gave
his brother
a slow appraising glance
. Loreto would lead the blooded to glory. Already his fangs had lengthened and his eyes turned blood red.

"
Let us meet the enemy and show them what we are made of.
"
Loreto lifted his sword and gave the war cry as he charged out of the castle.

The Draugr clan was their enemy. The blood drinkers wanted the L
a
the Sith clan for their own. They too were inflicted with the same travesty that rendered their females unable to reproduce. Their women were barren and the males also needed mates to become fully blooded. Unlike some blood drinkers, the Draugr could cross the waters. They came in
Karves adorned with ominous dragonheads. The ship could navigate in shallow waters and had enough room to transport the day
walk
ers and livestock.

The Draugr
attacked
before, many years ago when Bram was only a boy, but his clan fought them off. Only a few of the Lathe Sith were taken then and only a handful ravished for their blood.

Bram was determined to meet the Draugr clan on the field. If he could help it, he would keep Adryanna safe. His brows furrowed at where his thoughts had wandered. Adryanna was not his to defend. He needed to wipe her memory from his thoughts les
t
he became distracted when he raised his sword.

He glanced at Camden who strode beside him. His red hair fl
ew
behind him in an assortment of braids, making his stark features
appear
fierce. Camden was a good five inches taller than
Bram
stood now. Camden had only been fully blooded for one night. He would not take the front in battle until he was more accustomed to his limbs. Bram
'
s gaze held onto the green ribbon tied at the end of one of Camden
'
s braids.

"
Do I enthrall you?
"
Camden
'
s voice had deepened too, but it held a hint of humor.

He was only a year younger than Camden. They had been friends as long as he could remember.
He nodded toward the ribbon without breaking stride.
"
The adornment, is it the Lathe Sith
'
s you bedded?
"

Camden
'
s features hardened for a fraction of a second, but he nodded.
"
Fianait was her name.
"

Bram was curious. Had Camden cared for the female?

"
You still stare.
"
Camden raised his brows.

"
Did you love her?
"

Camden chuckled.
"
I knew her but one night.
"
He hadn
'
t answered the question, not really. His emotions flickered over his face, one that could only be grief before he masked it again.
"
You should worry about facing the enemy and not on frivolous matters of the heart.
"
He
glanced at him.
"
Your blooding will be soon. You shall understand then.
"

Bram
glanced
away
before Camden witnessed his guilt
. He had lived for the day when he would be blooded and become a full warrior of his clan, but now his convictions faltered. He wanted Adryanna and yet he did
not
. The conflicting emotions set
his
stomach into knots.

"
I can see their beastie ships. Why do they adorn them with dragon
'
s heads, do you suppose?
"
Camden muttered.

Bram had no idea. He unsheathed his sword as the cry of attack rang through the stillness of the night.
"
Stand ready, my friend
.
"

His brother and
the other
men would hold most of the Draugr back, but not all of them. He spotted a group of the bastards headed in their direction. Red-bearded Draugr males charged them like they were hell
'
s demons sent to destroy. Their cries pierced the night like a Banshee
'
s call of death.

Bram swung his sword as a Draugr came at him. Metal against metal scraped and sparked with the blows.

"
Give up, Oiche Sith, you shall not live this night,
"
the Draugr challenged in his guttural language.
"
I will drink from the Lathe Sith with pleasure.
"

Bram understood the Draugr
'
s speech perfectly. His mother was verse
d
in the languages and made sure her sons were as well. His fangs lengthened in reply as he thought of Adryanna falling prey to this fiend. He charged forward, his sword swinging in an arc meant to relieve the fiend of his head. At the same time, the Draugr swung his sword.

Chapter Eleven

Adryanna grabbed her sword from her room and met her father at the door.

"
No,
"
her mother cried.
"
You must hide with the other women.

"
Mother, I know how to wield the weapon. I will not be the only other woman out there, defending the back lines, while the Oiche Sith clan take the front, sacrificing their warriors in our defense.
"

Her father gave her a sidelong glance at the mention of the Oiche Sith
'
s grand sacrifice to save their clan, but he remained quiet.

"
Tell her, Edryd,
"
her mother pleaded with her father.
"
She listens to you.
"

Her father let out a tired sigh.
"
She is her own woman now. She is right. She hunts for this family, bringing food to our table. It is her right to stand and defend what is hers.
"

Nola
'
s hand flew to her chest. Her chin trembled and her eyes filled with unshed tears. Her mother had
not
shown her such affection in a long time. Nola approached her. Her
palm
rested on her cheek as her gaze caressed her.
"
My daughter mine, I do not understand your drive, but know this, I love you.
"

Adryanna's
eyes misted. She needed to hear those words. She leaned down and kissed her mother
'
s cheek.
"
I love you, too.
"
She turned and strode out the door, forcing the tears not to fall.

A few moments later, her father stood beside her. His limp would hamper his steps, but his sword would not falter. Of this
,
she was sure. Others left their dwellings. The ones who would fight headed toward the edge of the meadow where they would be hidden from view, but with a clear sight of the forest. The horn blasts in succession told them they
sh
ould expect the enemy from the sea.

If any of the Draugr
clan
broke through the Oiche Sith
's
defenses, her clan would greet the enemy here. It would be a slaughter, but the enemy would first feel the sting of their weapons before they ended their lives. Her clan came armed with pitchforks, knives, daggers, swords, and bows and arrows.

She spotted Talia by her brothers. She glanced at her with a nod. The blonde haired woman
'
s choice of weapon was the bow. She had a lethal aim and had taken down deer with a single arrow. She was the last of the women of her family, too. Her two sisters were taken for the blooding, one last year and the other the year before that.

"
Do not take chances,
"
her father warned her.

Adryanna
's
lips curved.
"
Do not play the hero,
"
she warned him
,
and he chuckled.

"
My hero days are but done, but I will give it my best.
"

Their eyesight was limited in the dark, but the moon was
nearly
full and bright. As the light gave them leverage, the Draugr
'
s vision would be better still. The moonlight would give their position away. 

The sounds of the fight and the screams of the wounded drifted
in
the air back to them. A chill slid up her spine. Who lived? Who died? Was Bram among the ones injured? Her nerves were raw by the time they spotted a small Draugr hunting party break through the trees.

She gripped her sword, her body tensing at the thought of using it.

"
Steady, daughter,
"
her father whispered.
"
Wait until they are closer. Do not give your whereabouts away.
"

Her heart pounded in her ears and sweat dripped down her back
,
even though the breeze blew cool against her skin.

The Draugr warrior cry told them they were spotted. One of her clan, Daniel she thought,
yell
ed for them to charge. Adryanna
'
s feet flew forward. As men were tossed aside with a sickening thud, Adryanna continued onward. She came face to face with one of the Draugr. His eyes were red as the blood matted to his hair and face.