“I think it’s safe for me to go back to my apartment now.”
Wendy’s eye widened. “I don’t know, maybe you should ask Sebastian what he thinks. He wasn’t too thrilled about you refusing to stay at his place and moving in with me.”
“I couldn’t stay there. Sebastian saved my life and I owe him. But he wants more from me than I’m ready to give,” Emma replied. “You know Wendy, as attractive as Sebastian is, I can’t even think about being with him. It will take me a long time to get over Cyn.” Her throat constricted. “Shit, I can’t even say his name without losing it.”
Sebastian deserves more than that.
As if on cue, Emma’s phone rang. It was Sebastian.
“Your sister is here.”
# # #
Emma strode into Inferno with a purpose. When she spotted Briana dancing, she pushed through the swaying crowd. Her sister danced with a human male who was already entranced by her. Emma hurried onto the dance floor and shoved the guy aside. She stood in front of her sister, hands on her hips.
Caught by surprise, Briana didn’t react at first; she just stared at her blankly, as if she didn’t remember who she was. Recognition sparked and she stalked off the dance floor.
Emma grabbed her arm.
Briana glared at her. “Wow! You’re willingly hanging out at Inferno? I can honestly say I’m surprised. You’ve changed sister.” She made her way toward the bar at a leisurely pace. Once there, she signaled the bartender for a drink. “I hope you have a good reason for interrupting what would have been a great meal for me.” She looked back toward the dance floor as if trying to locate the guy she’d been dancing with.
“Come back to Sebastian’s office, I need to talk to you. It’s important.” Emma tugged on Briana’s arm and her sister reluctantly followed her.
When they entered the office, Sebastian stood up and motioned for them to sit. With a reassuring look at Emma, he left them alone.
Emma took her sister’s hands in hers. “Leave with me Briana. We can move away and start all over. Gerard is pure evil. He will kill you.”
Briana jerked her hands out of Emma’s hold. She went to stand by Sebastian’s desk and gawked at her. Her skin had a darker blue undertone than before and her eyes were red-rimmed. She was a full demon now. Her hands shook with the need to feed when she fidgeted with an errant strand of hair.
“I am not going anywhere with you.” Briana let out an exasperated breath, “Emma, we have to accept who we are or should I say what we are. I don’t want to go through life pretending to be human. I won’t do it anymore. Gerard has shown me so many things. Things I never thought I could experience. I can’t imagine life without him. I need him. I love him.”
Her sister would lose more and more of her humanity the longer she remained with the Master demon. In desperation she grabbed Briana by the shoulders and shook her. “He doesn’t love you Briana. He is not capable of it. He gets off on torturing people and watching them suffer. Don’t you see his wickedness every moment you are around him?”
Briana shrugged her hands off. “Perhaps, but it’s still worth it.”
“A good man I love died trying to save you.” Emma’s voice shook.
Briana’s expression remained bland and aloof. “Gerard assured me no one would get hurt.” She stepped away from her. “Look Emma, I didn’t ask you to save me. If you want to go back to that pathetic little life, work nine to five at that bullshit job at the bank, then go ahead. Forget about me. I don’t want that, I want what I have now.”
“I’m begging you Briana, just come to my place. We can hang out like we used to and talk,” Emma pleaded.
Sebastian entered again. He spoke through an earpiece.
Briana’s red-rimmed eyes stared back at her. She shivered at the emptiness in them. Her sister huffed with irritation and headed toward the open door. “Don’t try to come after me again. If Gerard tries to kill you, I won’t step in next time. I’ve chosen my path. Now leave me alone.” She left without a backward glance.
Dejected, Emma sank into a chair and covered her face with her hands. When she looked up, Sebastian was at his desk. He read information on a piece of paper in his hand to someone through his earpiece and disconnected.
“She’s right you know,” Sebastian told her, as he inched his hip onto the corner of his desk and regarded her. “She has turned. Briana will not leave him now.”
“What about you Sebastian? Have you turned as well? Have you given yourself over to your demonic side too?” Emma shouted at him, taking her anger out on him.
“I’m a full-blood demon Emma. I don’t pretend to be anything else. Unlike you and Briana, I didn’t get a choice.” His voice held a hint of envy when he continued. “Not all of us have that luxury.”
“I’m sorry. I’m upset. I had no right to yell at you.” Emma stood. “I’ll go home to my pathetic life now.” She held her hand out to him and he took it in both of his. He was a good man, regardless of his bloodline.
“Thank you Sebastian, for everything.” She kissed his jaw.
Her steps heavy, Emma trudged through the throng of people and kaleidoscope lighting without noticing any of it. The weight of sorrow threatened to consume her and she prayed she’d make it home before losing it. The hum of traffic lulled her somewhat when she exited Inferno and headed around the back of the building to her car.
Without any warning, she was slammed against the building and held firmly in place. A muscular demon pressed his body against hers and pinned her arms to her sides.
Red-rimmed eyes zeroed in on her throat.
He was hungry for blood.
Emma attempted to scream, but his strong hold on her throat impaired her ability to breathe. Her vision began to fade as she gulped for air.
“Gerard sends his regards,” the demon told her nuzzling her neck. “Since I have to kill you anyway, I might as well get a taste before I do.” His fangs snapped down and she tried to scream, but it came out like a hoarse cough.
Emma struggled to shove him off of her, but he was too strong and didn’t budge an inch. He bit into her and began to feed. The metallic smell of her own blood filled her with panic.
His hold on her lessoned and she was finally able to shriek.
“Step away from her.” The Protector’s voice vibrated with rage.
Emma collapsed to the ground when the demon turned away to fight.
“Cyn” her whisper went unheard when the swords clashed. She held her hand to her neck. Blood seeped through her fingers so she applied pressure on the wound, her eyes trained on the combatants. Was he really there?
He was alive.
She couldn’t see his face for they fought in the shadows. But she knew it was him. As soon as the demon fell to the ground and disintegrated, she got up and ran toward him. She stopped a short distance from him.
“Cyn! You’re alive!”
She went to take a step toward him but stopped when he backed away.
His expression was stoic and he regarded her without even the slightest flicker of emotion. Obviously, he was not happy to see her. She wasn’t surprised.
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
Emma’s shaky legs threatened to give out from under her, but she forced herself to remain upright. She understood why Cyn would despise her. “Regardless of what you think, I’m glad you are all right.”
Cyn’s face remained vacant. “Let me check your wound.” His warm fingers pressed into her neck. Tears sprung to her eyes at his touch, the touch she thought she’d never feel again. But unlike before, there was no intimacy in this contact. He was just doing his job.
When he bent to check her neck, she inhaled his familiar musky scent. She ached to reach out and touch him, for his arms to be around her.
“The bleeding is slowing. You’ll heal,” he told her, his eyes flat. If he noticed her shakiness, the only indication he gave was when he wrapped his arm around her waist to support her as he led
her to the car.
At her car, he opened the door for her. Emma didn’t get in, not ready to say goodbye to him just yet.
“I see that you have picked a lifestyle.” Cyn told her and motioned over toward Inferno with his head. He propped her up against her car and then moved away from her. When they locked gazes, she drank in the sight of his beautiful ice blue eyes.
She couldn’t let him leave. She wanted to tell him how wrong she had been. Needed him to know that she loved him, but instinctively she knew he wouldn’t believe her.
“I’m sorry Cyn. I thought I was saving my sister. I want--”
Cyn moved so fast she was shocked when he yanked her against him. “Stop lying to me demon.” Both froze at the effect of their proximity, her eyes locking on his lips.
His mouth came down on hers. Immediately his familiar taste overflowed her senses. She went to put her arms around his neck but he jerked away from her.
“Good bye Emma.”
Emma watched him walk away.
The elation at knowing he was alive was overshadowed by the hurt that he would never trust her again.
She remained in the same spot, not moving until long after he left.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The cloudy day enhanced the lushness of the Highland’s green foliage surrounding the cemetery near Inverness, Scotland where Kieran and Cyn stood side-by-side.
The latest Fraser Laird had been laid to rest and they’d come to pay their respects.
Cyn stepped forward and touched the tombstone. “Godspeed Calum.”
He took a deep breath. “Nothing smells like home.”
Kieran nodded. “Yes and it’s as beautiful as I remember. Unfortunately we should leave soon, before we’re spotted.”
Cyn noticed a man approaching, a short distance away. “Too late.”
“You two are definitely Frasers. You’re spitting images of my forefathers in the portraits that hang in my home.” The man walked up to them and held out his hand. “Welcome, I am Ian Fraser, the new Laird. I take it you’re the American Frasers my father spoke of so often. I’m sorry you didn’t get to see him one more time.” Ian’s eyes misted as he looked at his father’s tombstone. It was obvious he’d cared deeply for his father. “I’m sure Da would also be disappointed that he missed you.” He studied Cyn closer. “The resemblance is uncanny. You seem so familiar, have we not met before?”
Kieran interrupted. “We are indeed the American Frasers, I’m Kieran and this is my brother Cynden. I met your father once. He was a good man.”
“Aye he was.” Ian motioned toward Fraser castle. The great castle still stood proud. It had been well taken care of over the years. “Please come, family is always welcome to stay. I will have your luggage collected at the inn if you have already checked in.”
Kieran started to decline, but Cyn stopped him. “I think that’s a good idea. We need to talk. We leave tomorrow, so it will just be overnight.”
They walked into the large estate. Both brothers hesitated when the memories of their past life there assailed them.
In the entryway, a portrait of Malcolm, Kieran and himself startled Cyn. He glanced at Kieran who peered at the picture and then back at him. The sight of Malcolm’s familiar face shook Cyn so much, he had to look away. Next, his attention went to the portrait of his parents and he smiled remembering them. Ian Fraser waited patiently as they looked at the portraits.
Ian frowned and his eyes narrowed as he glanced from the portraits, to them, but he didn’t say anything. “Come meet my family,” Ian told them and led them toward the great room.
They followed the new laird to the space where their family had gathered for generations. The brothers were introduced to Ian’s wife, Maggie, and two of their four children.
That night in a guest room, Cyn paced not able to sleep. It had been over a hundred years since he last stepped foot inside the castle and yet he instantly felt at home. He looked out the bedroom window and thought back to the last time he lived there, slept in that very room. Nearly three hundred and eighty years ago.
# # #
Northern Highlands, Scotland 1634
The Laird, Malcolm Fraser, Cyn's older brother, reined in his horse and slowed it down to trot alongside and Cyn ignored him.
As of late, along with the change in his personality, Cyn had also changed physically. Through a painful process, he’d grown to a towering height and filled out his already muscular physique. Goliath, the immense charger horse, Cyn rode upon, trembled as if he wanted to continue to ride hard.
Blood thirsty, like him.
The only time Cyn felt like himself of late, was on the battlefield. Once they headed back to their homestead, he became sullen and withdrawn again. Dread of what awaited enveloped him.
Malcolm gave him a worried look. “I’m not sure what has caused this change in you brother, but I can sense your unhappiness at heading home.” His brother knew him too well.
“Cynden you have always been the easy-going one of us. You have our mother’s patience and care about the clan’s folk.”
Until recently, I’ve become a different person.
Out of the corner of his eye, Cyn could see Malcolm studying him. “Good turn back there. I do not think the MacLeans will want to trespass our lands anytime soon.”
“Aye,” Cyn answered without emotion.
“Mayhap we can celebrate our return with a betrothal brother.” Malcolm tried again, “Tis time you take a wife and give the servant girls a reprieve. The housekeeping and cooking have declined since you’ve been using our serving wenches almost nightly. And quite thoroughly at that, it seems by their lack of energy during the day.”
Cyn didn’t answer as he already contemplated bedding the chambermaid upon arrival. Three weeks without a woman was far too long for him.
“The Campbell’s lass, Marlene, is of marrying age,” Malcolm continued, determined to have the conversation with him. “She’s a bonnie lass. Don’t ye think?”
A grunt was Cyn’s response. The thought of marriage did not sit well with him. He knew it was his duty to the clan, to marry and have children. But he’d never met a woman that didn’t bore him after bedding them a couple of times. He didn’t even try to get to know them anymore.
Besides, he wasn’t sure he could stand to have anyone around him every day and night. Nearly every night in the last few months, it was either nightmares that haunted him or excruciating pains that awakened him. He woke panting and sweating from either hurt or fright. It felt as if his muscles separated from his bones, the aches so extreme he wondered if he might go mad.
When he’d asked his brother questions about hurting and nightmares, Malcolm just gave him puzzled looks, not sure what he talked about. His brother Kieran at just ten and four was too young to ask.
Now he kept what happened to him a secret.
The isolation of his situation was the worst part. His days were a trial. Tired and in a foul mood after the restless and painful nights, he trudged through his duties ignoring the curious looks of his clans folk.
He withdrew more and more from his family. Lately, he spent more time with Goliath than with his clan. The only time he had a respite from the nightmares was on the battlefield or after bed sport with a wench or two.
At his brother’s questioning look, he realized Malcolm wanted an answer, but not the one he was to give. He granted Goliath his wish and they thundered away from his brother.
That night the entire clan celebrated the return of the men, sharing the evening meal in the great room. Everyone was in good spirits. Even Cyn relaxed, already eyeing a new serving wench. He sat next to Malcolm at the main table and studied the revelry around him, not quite a part of it.
“I worry about him.” Cyn overheard Malcolm’s wife, Lizzie, as she spoke to his brother. She repeatedly glanced at him, which made it obvious they were speaking about him. “Have you talked to him about taking a wife?”
“Aye, but he wasn’t too keen on the
idea,” Malcolm answered her, kissing her brow. Lizzie sighed and dropped the subject.
Cyn drank deeply from his tankard and watched a messenger enter the room and stand before Malcolm.
The laird acknowledged the boy. “Speak lad and then have your fill from the trenchers before departing.”
The young man’s eyes bulged, as he took in all the food on the tables. “Thank you my Laird, I bring a message from Sir Julian D’Arco. He wishes to speak to you on the morrow.”
The next day, Cyn woke with a heavy head and the new serving wench in an exhausted slumber, next to him. He rose noiselessly, as not to wake the girl and walked to the window. It was a warm morning and he didn’t bother covering himself.
He would have to avoid Lizzie this morning. She’d be cross at him for keeping the serving girl away from her duties. He decided to get dressed at once and leave out the back way through the kitchens. He would grab some bread and cheese to break his fast and go to the stables. Once he got Goliath, they’d go to the nearby loch to bathe. Afterwards, he’d head into town and visit a certain tavern where he always received special favors.
Movement beneath his window got his attention. A regal beast of a horse, the likes of which he’d never seen before, pranced continuously.
A man with the physique of a warrior stood next to the horse. The stranger looked up at him. His penetrating stare observed him without expression.
The visitor the messenger announced the night before.
This must be Julian D’Arco.
He abandoned his plan to avoid his brother’s wife and dressed with swiftness. Cyn rushed out of his room to learn what news the visitor brought.
As he reached the library, its doors had already closed, which gave him no choice but to wait in the hallway and pace. Malcolm met with the stranger in private. A rare occurrence as Malcolm usually included Cyn in all matters. This didn’t bode well.
Lizzie approached and hit his shoulder. “You are an ogre Cyn. Where is Maureen? If you don’t take a wife soon, then find a mistress to use so that the household is not affected.” Although her tone was terse, her eyes twinkled playfully at him. Lizzie was a beauty, with long red hair and sparkling green eyes.
Betrayal: Immortal Protectors, Book 1 Page 14