Page 77 of Dark Seduction

His gaze met hers. “I canna feel any life. I canna seem to give him life. Moray has put a block on him. Royce, can ye stop the bleeding?”

Royce didn’t answer, almost as white as Malcolm now.

Claire fought panic. Malcolm could not die! She ripped the stone from her neck and held it in her hands, shoving Royce aside, who understood and moved away from her. The wool beneath her hands was soaking wet. She chanted faster, finishing the prayer to Ceanna a fourth or fifth time as Royce swiftly changed the wool beneath her hands. Her mind screamed at her that Malcolm was not dead. She would feel it if he was.

Royce had his face to Malcolm’s. “He doesna breathe, Aidan.”

Aidan laid his hands on him again, sweat running down his face. “I canna give him anything,” he said. “If I had the power, it’s blocked or gone.”

Claire sobbed. She seized Royce’s hand and made him staunch the wound and she bent over Malcolm’s face. She held his nose closed, opened his mouth and started giving him CPR. He did not breathe.

She had the Taser in the pocket of her skirt, which she wore under her leine.

Claire ripped open the neckline of his leine, tearing it down to his ribs, her strength fueled by adrenaline. She was about to lay the Taser there and shock his heart when she saw his chest move.

It rose…it fell.

Claire held his face and leaned over him. She felt his breath against her skin, and started to collapse, tears falling.

“Claire,” Royce said sharply. “The bleeding’s stopped. He breathes. ’Tis shallow, weak, but he breathes.”

She felt his lashes moving. “Don’t move. You’re hurt,” she managed to say, looking at him.

Malcolm stared at her, appearing somewhat dazed. Claire wasn’t sure he recognized her.

“Aidan, the wound is open an’ deep,” Royce said. “Ye need to heal him completely. I dinna think he can survive otherwise.”

“I told ye, I didna heal him at all,” Aidan said thickly. “’Twas Claire.”

Royce looked at Aidan, who stared back. Then both Masters stared at her.

Claire couldn’t focus on the two men. Malcolm was shockingly pale from the loss of so much blood. She was afraid he was going to die anyway. Claire sent him a smile she was certain was pitiful. “Royce. That needs to be cauterized.” The bleeding might have stopped but how could he survive this kind of wound without modern medical attention?

“I go to MacNeil,” Ironheart said, and vanished.

Claire began to shake. Apparently, they had stopped the bleeding and resuscitated him, but the crisis wasn’t over. She was so afraid he was going to die at any moment. “Can MacNeil save him? Can he heal?”

“He has the power—if he gets here in time.” Royce leaped up and hurried from the ramparts.

Claire couldn’t fathom where he was going, when Malcolm said, “Come here, lass.”

She jerked at his seductive tone. It went through her body, instantly causing warmth and heat. Stunned, she met his glittering eyes. His voice was hoarse, choked with pain. “I need ye, Claire…I’m dying…” And his intense regard held hers.

She could not look away. Claire went still, shocking desire crashing over and exploding inside her. There was no mistaking his meaning. He wanted to take life from her while he was buried inside her womb—the source of life. In that moment, there was complete comprehension and it made absolute sense. He needed her desperately—as desperately, she needed him. Her eyes went past the gaping bloody wound and she saw his manhood stirring, filling. Her gaze flew back to his eyes.

She should have been shocked but wasn’t. She knew she could heal him. She would give him her body and all of her being while he gave her impossible rapture. Her heart beat more frantically now. Somehow she knew what was in store. Le Puissance. The Power…She wet her lips, lowering her face to his. She gasped when her mouth found his. There was so much near-orgasmic pleasure in such a simple kiss. And Claire felt him grasp on to her life.

He gasped, and she reeled in a wave of brilliant, intense pleasure, ecstasy beckoning…

Suddenly, strong hands tore her away from Malcolm. Claire fought Aidan, her entire body throbbing relentlessly now. “No! Fool! He will die!”

“An’ ye will die, ’cause he needs yer life an’ he doesna ken what he be doing now. Ye give him yer life, an’ Malcolm belongs to Moray,” Aidan snapped.

Claire couldn’t understand. There was too much desperation and too much lust, as if she were an animal in heat. She stared at Malcolm, who lay prone on the stone, consumed with pain, breathing hard, desperately needing her, urgently wanting her. She had to go to him. Furious, she tried to jerk away from Aidan. “I can help him!” She was enraged. “Leave us alone!”

Ignoring her, Aidan easily pulled her toward the stairs.

“What are you doing?” Claire cried, disbelieving, but some of the shocking lust eased. In the back of her mind, she became aware of coming out of a trance. “Malcolm will die if I don’t help him! He needs me…Let go!”