Page 60 of Dark Embrace

Brie felt sick. She knelt just in case she had to retch.

Aidan knelt beside her, his hand on her back, but whether to steady or comfort her, she didn’t know. “Are ye still ill?”

She fought herself and twisted to face him. She was scared to death. As nauseous as she was, every hair on her body now stood on end. She almost felt as if Moray lurked upon them both. “Aidan?” His gaze met hers. “He meant to murder me.”

“I’m sending ye to Iona, where he canna find ye.”

Brie stared. How could she leave him now? But that demon was after her. “He went after me, not you. Why?”

“I mean to keep ye safe, an’ he’s showin’ me he has great power.” Aidan’s mouth was downturned.

“What does he want? He didn’t destroy you in 1436—he destroyed Ian. He didn’t destroy you today. Could he have? Does he want to destroy you, or just hurt you?”

“I dinna ken if he can kill me. He has great power now.” He hesitated. “I have asked the gods fer help an’ they have agreed.”

As hope began, he said harshly, “I bargained with them. ’Tis not what ye wish for. I will never worship them. But they couldna refuse my offer.”

“What did you offer them?” she demanded, in dread.

He stood, holding out his hand. “Ye need to rest after what ye suffered today.”

She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. Brie did not let go, gripping him tightly. “I still don’t understand what he wants. Is this a sick game?”

“He’s playin’ me.” Aidan released her hand. “Aye, ’tis a game for him to toy with me, to torture me, until he breaks me to his will or torments me to death. I dinna think he cares which it is.”

Brie stared. How were they going to survive the return of such great evil?

“How do ye feel?”

She wet her lips, focusing on her body just for a moment. “I seem okay.” She met his brilliant blue regard again. “What are we going to do now?”

He gave her a chilling look. “Ye’ll do naught. I’ll hunt him an’ finish this.”

Dread swept Brie. “And how will you do that? Oh, wait, you’ve made your deadly bargain with the gods. Don’t tell me! I don’t want to know!”

“Come to the tent. Ye’ll feel better after ye eat an’ sleep.”

Brie knew she must fight her rising hysteria, but it was really hard to do. “He possessed Frasier—the man who is going to hang you. That cannot be a coincidence!” Her alarm escalated wildly.

He took her elbow and started guiding her toward the camp, which was quite some distance away.

“You know it’s no coincidence.” She balked, refusing to take another step. “We need help. We need Malcolm and Claire and Allie and Royce and your friend, MacNeil, and all the other white power we can summon.”

He jerked his head in the direction of his tent. “I willna ride with the Masters, walk with them or fight beside them.”

“Then you are a fool!” she cried, distraught. “Does anyone know how to vanquish him?”

He gave her a cold glance. “’Tis nay clear yet.”

“That is exactly what I thought,” Brie cried, near tears. She hurried ahead of him, ignoring the knights and Highlanders she passed. As no one crossed themselves, she guessed that displays of superpowers were not all that unusual.

What were they going to do? How were they going to survive? And what kind of deal had he made with the gods, who were probably furious with him?

Aidan fell into step beside her. “Dinna worry so, Brianna. I dinna fear Moray. I can hunt both men at the same time.”

Brie inhaled. “Oh, so you will hunt Moray, who happens to posses Frasier at will?”

“Aye.”