by Grant, Donna
Either way, he was tormented.
Gabriel nodded in greeting as Cole came to stand beside him. Cole’s eyes scanned the sleepy village then moved to the castle. Torches lit the castle wall and towers as if it had just now come alive.
“Anything happen?” Cole asked.
Gabriel shook his head. “Not yet. Some movement at the castle, but nothing I can really see.”
Cole flexed his aching shoulder.
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “What happened?”
“Small fight in the tavern.”
Gabriel shook his head and turned towards him. “Let me see.” Cole lifted his tunic so Gabriel could examine the wound. Images of Shannon’s tender hands as they stitched the wound and her soft mouth as she bit off the thread replayed in his mind. He wondered what she was doing now and if Benton had dared to touch her once they had left his chamber.
There wasn’t much Cole could do anyway. Not now at least. Once he was through hunting though, then Benton had better pray for his life.
“Who stitched you?”
Cole, never one to keep things from the other Shields, found himself not wanting to share Shannon just yet. “A bar maid.”
“She did an excellent job,” Gabriel said. “I wish I would have been able to mix some herbs to put in the wound before she stitched it, but I have something else to give you that will help it heal faster.”
Cole nodded his thanks as he lowered his tunic. “We’ve got movement,” he said and jerked his head toward the castle.
He and Gabriel quickly palmed their weapons and moved soundlessly through the trees for a closer look at the castle. They stopped just short of the gate when Gabriel held his hand up, halting their progress.
“Do you hear that?” he asked Cole.
Cole closed his eyes and listened. It was faint, but he heard the deep growl and what sounded like a hoof pawing the earth.
“The creature?” he asked.
Gabriel shrugged. “Could be. We won’t know until we see it.”
“Whatever it is, it’s big.”
“Aye,” Gabriel agreed as he listened again to the animal. “Shall we take a closer look?”
Cole smiled. “I thought you would never ask.” They circled the enormous castle, keeping to the shadows and out of the view of the guards that roamed the battlements and the outside of the castle wall. Toward the back of the castle, the growling and pawing they had heard became louder, more intense.
Not daring to utter a sound to alert the guards, Cole motioned to Gabriel that he wanted to see what it was. Gabriel nodded in agreement, and the two men reached up and began to scale the high stone wall.
Cole’s fingers dug into the rocks and he used the tips of his boots to help maintain his balance. He and Gabriel had scaled more difficult rocks, but the sheer height of the castle wall made the climb tedious.
Gabriel reached the top first and peeked his head over the edge. He glanced at Cole, giving the clear before he went over the top. Cole pulled himself over the top with his arms and laid flat on the stones as a guard drew near.
Cole held his breath and looked down to find that Gabriel had reached the bottom and hid in the shadows, his bow ready to fire an arrow if need be.
Thankfully, the guard didn’t see Cole, and once his back was turned, Cole hurried over the side and climbed down. Once his feet touched the ground, he turned to find himself facing a large wooden enclosure. He turned to Gabriel and spotted a guard advancing on them.
Without hesitation, Cole palmed his dagger and hurled it toward Gabriel. His fellow Shield didn’t blink as he hit the ground on his stomach.
Cole smiled when his dagger landed in the heart of the guard who fell silently to the ground. He stepped around Gabriel and retrieved his dagger as Gabriel climbed to his feet.
A nod was exchanged between the two men. Thanks wasn’t needed since they had each saved each other’s hides more times than they could count. Instead, they focused on discovering just what was inside the enclosure.
A loud growl stopped them in their tracks. They quickly molded themselves to the wooden structure and waited. That’s when they heard the voice.
“Don’t forget ‘twas you who called me,” said a voice that was almost more animal than human.
The voice that responded was more cultured, belonging to someone of the nobility. “I haven’t forgotten. I’m just waiting for the right time.” Cole moved and tried to peer through the cracks in the structure. Though the crack was decent sized he could only see an enormous fire and the bright red cloak of someone who paced slowly from one side of the structure to the other.
“My hunger grows. You know you should not deny me. To wait would be disastrous. Especially for you.”
Cole saw Gabriel move to their left and around the back of the structure. Maybe he would garner a better look at the deep voiced man, but Cole would stay and see if he could identify the other voice, though he had a suspicion it was none other than the baron.
The man in the red cloak stopped his pacing and placed his hands on his hips. “I feed you.”
“Not near enough,” came the ferocious roar.
If Cole didn’t know better, he would say it was an animal speaking. He shook his head and looked again at the man in the red cloak. He could see his well polished boots and the sleeves of his black tunic but something blocked his view of the man’s face.
Cole cursed and was about to move to a better spot when he heard a shout from the battlements.
“Guard down,” men yelled.
Cole turned and found Gabriel moving towards him. Their time had run out.
They would discover no more this night. Without a word to the other, they hurriedly scaled the stone wall again. Just as Cole swung his legs over to begin his descent he saw the man in the red cloak run out of the structure.
“Another time,” Cole whispered as he followed Gabriel down.
They quickly used the thick brush of the forest to keep them hidden as the loud creak of the castle gate as it was opened echoed through the still night.
Gabriel followed Cole back to the tavern. Before they spoke, they looked around for anyone that might be listening or who might have followed them.
When all was clear, Gabriel took a deep breath and looked at the moon. “We have little time.”
“I know. I heard the gate. The guards will be looking for us.”
“What did you see?”
“Not much,” Cole answered. “I saw a cloak the color of blood, polished boots, and heard the voice of the nobility, but no face. You?” For long moments Gabriel didn’t speak. Then he said, “I’m not sure what I saw.” That got Cole’s attention. “Tell me,” he urged.
Gabriel’s silver eyes flashed in the moonlight as they turned to Cole. “I saw horns.”
“Horns? Horns like the gargoyle we slew?” Gabriel shook his. “Horns as thick as your bicep on either side of his head.” Cole rubbed his chin as he thought about what Gabriel saw. “Could it have been a helm like the Vikings wore?”
“Could be. Could also explain the dark cloak of fur he wore.” Cole snorted. “What in the world would the baron be doing consorting with a Viking?”
“The more important question would be how a Viking came to be in the thirteenth century.”
“Magic,” Cole said.
“Aye, magic, and if there is magic, you can guarantee that the blue stone has been found.”
Cole nodded. “Aye, but if they called up a Viking, he’ll be easy to kill.”
“That’s just it,” Gabriel said as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall of the inn. “The creatures we have fought before have been so powerful and deadly that it has taken the special weapons of the Fae to kill them. Why call up a simple Viking.”
Cole hated that he had a point. “I have a feeling that this man is more than a simple Viking.”
The men exchanged a look.
“We ne
ed Aimery,” Gabriel said.
Cole didn’t waste any time. He called out to Aimery, a call that only a Fae could hear. In less than a heartbeat, Cole felt the unmistakable presence of a Fae. He didn’t alert Gabriel though, preferring to have a little fun with his brother-in-arms.
“Have you information?” Aimery asked from behind Gabriel.
In a blink, Gabriel had drawn two of the daggers he kept on him and spun around, ready for battle. When he spotted Aimery, he cursed long and low as he put away his daggers in his leather jerkin.
Gabriel then turned his unusual silver eyes to Cole. “You knew.” It wasn’t a question. Cole gave a slight nod.
“Well?” Aimery asked again.
Cole turned to the Fae commander, a Fae more powerful than any in the realm other than the king and queen. Aimery’s Fae blue eyes shown eerily in the moonlight and his blonde hair flowed freely down his back, only pulled away from his face by small braids in intricate designs that hung to his shoulders.
“Nothing concise yet,” Gabriel finally answered. “We have, however, seen something that we question.”
Aimery looked from Gabriel to Cole. “What did you see?”
“What looks to be a Viking,” Gabriel said.
Aimery’s smooth features furrowed in a frown. “A Viking?” Cole nodded. “Why would the controller of the blue stone call up a Viking?”
“It was my understanding that they didn’t have control over just what came out of the hole,” Aimery said thoughtfully. “Have you found where the creature sprang from?”
“Nay,” Gabriel said. “We arrived just today.” Aimery looked at the sky. “Night time and no attack. Strange. Too strange.
Something is afoot here.”
“Aye,” Cole said. “Not that I’m doubting the Fae, but are you sure you sent us to the right time and place?”
Aimery’s eyes narrowed. “We Fae do not get these things wrong. The creature is here.”
“Then he hasn’t been released yet,” Gabriel said. “The village did not look like one that had been attacked and slaughtered. They walked around this morning as if they didn’t have a care in the world.”
“Yet,” Cole interrupted, “in the tavern, I overheard something from two men.
Apparently, people have been disappearing.”
“Isn’t that interesting,” Gabriel said as he tapped a finger on his chin.
“Disappearing from where?”
Cole shrugged. “Wasn’t able to discover that, but I will by tomorrow.”
“I want an update immediately,” Aimery said.
Before Cole could answer him, he heard Gabriel clear his throat and turned his head to see a woman walking toward him. Cole had never seen the woman before, but he knew that look in her eyes—she wanted him.
And if it was any other time, he would probably have ushered her to his room.
After all, his body was in need, especially after being tempted by Shannon.
It was both a gift and a curse Cole had. Women wanted him. Always had. He loved the pleasure they gave him almost as much as the pleasure he gave them. He didn’t need to even look at them to have them yearning for him.
And he never turned them down. He loved women. All women. Their resilience, beauty, and graceful bodies had always amazed him. Women were special and deserved to be treated as such, and the time he spent with them, however short, he tried to make them feel special.
Yet, tonight, the thought of being with this woman didn’t appeal to him. Not even when she rubbed her ample breasts against his chest and cupped his rod.
His rod jerked hungrily, but as he gazed down into the woman’s dark eyes, he hungered to see honey-brown eyes and brunette hair in disarray around a beautiful oval face.
He smiled down at her and gently removed her hand from between his legs.
“Another time,” he said and placed a kiss on her forehead.
“A man like you turning down a night of pleasure? I cannot believe that, milord.”
“Ah, you are tempting,” he lied, “but I have other duties to see to this night.” The woman pouted for just a moment before raking her gaze over him. “I’ll be around.”
Cole waited until she walked away before he turned back to Gabriel and Aimery.
He knew what was coming and didn’t look forward to it.
“It amazes me every time,” Gabriel murmured. “’Tis the only time I’ve ever seen anyone not look at a Fae is when you’re around.” Cole shrugged and smiled. “What can I say? I’m irresistible.” Aimery chuckled and folded his arms across his chest. “You can dally all you want after we find the creature. Now, I need to go and see how Val and Roderick are coming along in the future.”
Cole and Gabriel had no sooner nodded then Aimery was gone. It was one trick that Cole had wanted to learn. Despite being raised with the Fae, he didn’t have that ability.
“I’ll keep an eye out at the castle,” Gabriel said and looked at the imposing structure again. “I have a feeling we’ll find what we need there.” Cole nodded and saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He recognized Shannon instantly. “Until tomorrow,” he threw over his shoulder as he headed toward Shannon.
Chapter Five
Cole stayed in the shadows wanting to see what Shannon was about before he announced his presence. When he saw her throw out a bucket of water, he realized she was still cleaning the tavern. A glance inside showed that she was the only one working as Benton sat before the fire drinking.
He stepped out of the shadows toward her and whispered her name. She jumped and covered her mouth with her hand as she stared at him.
“Cole?” she asked softly after she had removed her hand.
He nodded.
Her brow furrowed. “I thought you were in your room.”
“I was. I’m out here now.”
She sighed and rolled her eyes at his comment. “Well, I can see that.”
“Do you always clean by yourself?”
She looked over her shoulder into the tavern and shrugged. “It’s one of the many things I do since I’ve been here.”
“I know they are holding you here against your will.” He didn’t know why he let her know that but somehow it seemed right that she didn’t feel so alone.
Her eyes grew large before she looked away. “I like you, Cole,” she whispered solemnly. “A lot and it’s because of that that I’m asking you to stay out of my life. If you meddle, they will kill you.”
“I’m hard to kill.”
Shannon’s heart skipped a beat at the confident smile that spread across his handsome face. For just a minute, she believed that he might be able to help her, but she quickly remembered just who held her.
No. No one could help her. Not now. Maybe not ever.
She needed to get away from Cole. Every time she was around him she wanted to throw herself at him. She was drawn to him like she had never been drawn to another man. He oozed sex appeal.
And Cole’s sex appeal was about to drive her insane. She had never wanted to have sex before. As much as she hated to admit it, it was the truth. The two times she had relented in the past, it was because she felt it was time, but she had never enjoyed it.
Despite her inexperience in the sex department, she knew if she ever did make love to Cole that it would be terrific. Great even.
Her eyes raked over his tall, muscular form and she licked her lips. Thanks to her time, she could vividly imagine what lay under Cole’s clothes.
Yuuuummmmmy.
She picked up the bucket she had dropped and turned to retrace her steps when Cole’s hand reached out and stopped her. The heat from his touch penetrated her sleeve and raced up her spine like bubbles in a soda.
Slowly, of their own accord, her eyes rose to his. The night hid most of his face from view, but the light from the tavern window showed her enough to see his smile had been replaced by determination.
“Before I leave here, I
will set you free.” His deep voice rippled over her like silk.
She wanted to hold onto that vow with both hands, but she wasn’t a fool. Cole was making a promise he couldn’t keep, yet there was no need in telling him that.
With her heart hammering in her ears and her body begging for a kiss, she gave him a nod and tried to walk away. Yet, he kept hold of her arm.
She knew better than to look into his gaze again, knew it would only make her want him more, but she did it anyway. And when he drew her towards him until only the bucket stood between them, Shannon inhaled his scent that sent her heart racing.