Page 52 of Dark Embrace

What had happened? Who had done this to him?

And she felt the huge evil appear behind her. Brie tensed, very uncertain that she was dreaming now.

“Hallo a Bhrianna.”

That terrible voice was terrifying and somehow familiar. Brie turned and faced a handsome blond demon, who smiled at her. “It’s you, isn’t it? You did this to Aidan,” she said.

He laughed. “Who else could hurt your lover so badly?”

He reached for her. “My son prefers to amuse himself with virgins, rather than take and destroy Innocence. You yearn to redeem him, but I will never allow it.” He pulled her into his embrace. “He will die before there is ever salvation, fair Brianna.”

Brie went still, but her heart exploded in terror. “You’re not here with me, now! I am dreaming. No one has seen you in sixty-six years!”

Brie tried to struggle free of him. He instantly let her go, laughing. She had to wake up now, before something terrible happened. Panicking, she raced after Aidan into the tent, aware of Moray following, his pace unhurried and unrushed. But the tent was empty.

Crying out, she whirled as the flap fell closed behind Moray. “He left you a virgin. How pleasant for me,” he murmured.

Brie felt her clothing vanish. She screamed.

HER SCREAM SHRILLED THROUGH THE NIGHT.

Aidan instantly felt his father’s evil. He ran toward his tent, expecting another scream. It did not come, and fear began. He thrust inside and was greeted with shadows and the dim light cast from one lantern. Brianna lay in bed, thrashing in her sleep.

Moray was not standing over her.

He slipped instantly into her dream and found her naked in the deamhan’s arms. Moray laughed. “It’s only a dream, my son.”

Aidan flung all his power at him.

Moray lifted Brianna and used her as a shield; the energy blazed into her. She went limp and lifeless in his father’s arms.

“Tsk, tsk. You destroy Innocence?”

No one could die in a dream! Panicked, he left the dream and sat down beside her, seizing her shoulders. “Wake up!” he roared, terrified that she would never awaken now.

Brianna’s eyes flew open.

“Yer nay hurt. ’Twas a dream,” he cried, choking on relief.

She threw her arms around him and clung.

He held her hard, as hard and tightly as he could. Had she died in the dream?

He was already in her mind. She was reliving the dream, going limp and lifeless in Moray’s arms. His father’s laughter filled the tent.

He stiffened, glancing warily around. Moray was not present. But Brianna looked up, eyes wide. “Is he here? I thought it was just a nightmare. Aidan?”

“Ye heard him?” Aidan asked carefully.

She nodded.

Aidan breathed hard and reached out, straining. It took a long moment, but he finally felt the black evil filling the confines of his tent. “I’ll be seeing’ ye in hell very soon,” he snarled.

“You’ll see me tomorrow,” Moray murmured.

And the evil weight vanished. Aidan knew he was gone.

“Aidan? What’s going on? What’s happening?” Brianna cried.