by Donna Grant
Val nodded. “I'm with you, brother, but we learned a valuable lesson. He's twice as strong as any creature we have battled so far."
"Aye,” Gabriel agreed. “Our weapons do no more than anger him."
"And without the blue stone, we can't kill him that way."
For long moments they stared into the fire, each lost in thought. While Val was sure Gabriel thought of the Gryphon, all he could think of was Nicole's lush body and how badly he wanted to bury himself inside of her.
This was exactly why he hadn't wanted to kiss or touch her. Now she was a temptation that was hard to resist, and if she wanted to stay alive, she needed to stay away from him.
He glanced at her and found her staring at him, the hunger burning bright in her violet eyes. He cursed and closed his eyes.
"I think it time I head back into the village,” Gabriel said. “Maybe I'll even visit the castle."
"Nay,” Val said. “I'll go."
Gabriel leaned forward and wrapped his arms loosely around his legs. “I'm not arguing with you, Val. Besides, you still aren't fully healed."
"I will be by tomorrow."
"Aye, but I'm going today. And you need to stretch your muscles so you'll be prepared for another battle."
Val knew by Gabriel's determined look that he could argue until the stars ceased to exist, but Gabriel wasn't going to change his mind.
"All right,” Val conceded. “But you must be back before nightfall."
Gabriel shrugged. “The Gryphon attacked in broad daylight yesterday. I don't think that is going to bother him."
"And by the way he destroyed my cottage, I don't think he cares who stumbles upon him,” Nicole said.
Val turned his head toward her. “He destroyed your cottage?"
"There isn't anything left standing. He even knocked over the stone hearth."
"Odd,” Val said and looked at Gabriel. “Don't you think?"
Gabriel nodded, his brows raised. “The mark of anger and frustration."
"I think I see an advantage for us."
A slow smile pulled at Gabriel's face. “I knew you would."
* * * *
Nicole walked to the entrance to stretch her legs and found the sky dawning a vivid pink and orange through the thick clouds. There would most likely be more snow before nightfall.
"Will you be all right?” Gabriel asked as he came to stand beside her.
She nodded. “After yesterday, I think I can face almost anything."
He smiled. “You're a strong woman, Nicole. Look what you've survived your entire life."
"True,” she said and regarded his chiseled face now hidden partly by a beard. Since their arrival, neither he nor Val had shaved. She licked her lips, wondering if she should ask him the question that had burned through her mind all morning.
"Go on,” he urged as he casually leaned against the wall as if he had all the time in the world.
She didn't bother to ask how he knew she had a question, just accepted it. “How does a woman seduce a man?"
His smile grew. “I had hoped you would ask me that. One thing you have to understand about Val, he's fighting hard to stay away from you."
"I know. Why?"
Gabriel shrugged. “That I can't answer, but I do know that it won't take much to push him over that proverbial edge."
Chapter Nineteen
It didn't take Val long to become restless. He needed to feel a weapon in his hand and stand on his feet again. With Gabriel leaving, he refused to drink any of his drugged water knowing it would only put him to sleep, and sleep was the last thing he needed to be doing when he was supposed to be guarding Nicole.
Nay, the last thing I need to do is bed her. But, oh what a tempting morsel she is.
Gaining strength with every breath, Val pulled himself to his feet with the help of the cave wall. Once he stood, he leaned against the wall to slow his breathing. When he didn't feel as though he had run from Rome and back, he pushed off the wall and started toward the entrance.
When he passed one of the large boulders protruding from the cave wall and saw Gabriel and Nicole standing close together with their heads almost touching, he found an unusual emotion running through him—jealousy.
It wasn't an emotion he had felt before, so it took him a moment to realize what it was. Then, he chastised himself for it since he had no claim to Nicole, and in fact, had pushed her away.
Still, it irked him to see her so close to Gabriel. Maybe more so since discovering Gabriel was immortal and could protect her better than he could. It was the first time in many years that Val felt unworthy, the last time being when his sisters and their families died.
He tried to shake off the feeling, but it had sunk its claws in him, and he knew the only way to get rid of it was to keep Nicole alive at all costs. It was something he knew he could easily do. Dying to keep the evil from invading his and the Fae realms was an easy choice.
But no matter how much he had changed, he still heard his sisters’ screams. He swallowed and had the sudden urge to find some wine.
"Everything all right Gabriel asked.
Val nodded. “Do you happen to have any wine?"
Gabriel's silver eyes narrowed and he shook his head. “You know I don't. Why?"
"I have a thirst for it."
"Is it the receding pain?” Gabriel asked. “If you will drink the herbal water, it will finish the healing process."
Val wished now he hadn't asked. “It's not the pain."
"It has been a long time since you've had wine."
Val knew exactly how long, for when Aimery had found him, Val had been so drunk, he couldn't stand. Once he had gotten sober and pledged himself to the Shields, he hadn't touched alcohol again.
"Forget it,” he said. His eyes came to rest on his halberd and sword that rested against the wall. He reached for his weapons, needing something to occupy his mind.
"Val,” Gabriel whispered as he moved closer.
He looked over Gabriel's shoulder to find Nicole regarding him intently. “I'm fine, Gabriel. Really."
"I'll stay. I can visit the town and the castle tomorrow."
Val shook his head, hating that Gabriel had seen how far he had fallen. “Nay. We need all the information we can gather so we can get Nicole to safety."
He waited as Gabriel studied him for long moments. Finally, Gabriel gave a quick nod and turned to Nicole.
"Remember what I told you,” he said to her.
Val strained to hear her reply, wondering what they could have been talking about, but Nicole's response was mumbled. But the look they exchanged proved that they had shared something between themselves, something that didn't include him.
"If I'm not back by nightfall, don't worry. I may stay in the village tonight,” Gabriel called as he reached for his arrow and slung his quiver of arrows over his shoulder.
"Be careful,” Val warned and watched him walk from the cave. He hurried to the entrance and looked to the sky to make sure the Gryphon didn't suddenly attack.
He and Nicole watched as Gabriel slowly made his way down the mountain. Val felt something near his hand and he looked down to see Laird standing beside him. Laird let out a bark which made Gabriel turn around.
"Stay,” Gabriel said to the wolfhound, then continued down the mountain.
Val patted the wolfhound's head. “Go rest,” he told Laird and was amazed when the wolfhound slowly walked back to his spot by the fire and gingerly laid down.
He turned to Nicole then and stared as her gaze followed Gabriel. “He'll be fine."
Her violet gaze moved to him, and she gave him a smile. “I have no doubt. Being immortal puts a new perspective on things."
His need to find some wine grew. “Aye, but not all of us can be immortal."
"I'm not sure I would want to be immortal,” she said as her head tilted to the side and she regarded him. “Do you?"
He shrugged, not willing to give her his real answer. “At times."
"Aimery said there were other Shields that were immortal?"
"Cole and Roderick."
"Only two of your five?"
"Three now,” he reminded her.
Her brows raised at his statement. “Yet you and Hugh have managed to survive as mere mortals. In my opinion that takes more cunning."
Her words were like a salve to his wounded pride. He had never been jealous of Roderick or Val for their immortality, but for some reason the discovery of Gabriel's had opened a wound he hadn't realized he had.
"It bothers you, doesn't it?” she asked quietly.
"What?” he asked, pretending he didn't know what she referred to.
She licked her lips and leaned back against the wall. “Gabriel being immortal."
He turned his head away from her and caught a glimpse of Gabriel before his disappeared around the mountain on the trail to the village. His first thought was to lie to her, but he found he didn't want that.
"A little,” he finally confessed.
She made a clucking sound with her tongue that had him turning towards her. “I don't understand why. Look what you have seen, experienced. You lived in a time I cannot fathom. You were a general in one of the world's greatest armies. For centuries Rome ruled vast amounts of land."
"And fought bloody wars to ensure they ruled that land,” he reminded her.
"Aye,” she agreed. “Is that what eats away at you? That you helped to destroy so many villages for Rome's quest of dominance?"
"I'd like to say, aye, but that would be a lie. Rome's brilliance could blind a man to her horrors. Rome was only as good as her emperor, as is evident by the few great ones that ruled."
She smiled suddenly. “So, you're proud to be a Roman."
He chuckled. “I didn't say that. Rome did many great things, but she also did many terrible things. I was fortunate enough to live during some of her greatness, but I thank God every day that I left when I did."
She sighed, her breath ballooning around her. Her face was pensive as she thought over his words. Then she crossed her arms over her chest and said, “I'm curious by nature. It has gotten me into more trouble than I care to admit, but I find that I'm vastly curious about you."
"What would you like to know?” He was pleased to know she found him intriguing.
"Once you pledged to the Shields, did you ever return to your family?"
If a jug of wine had been available, he would have lifted it to his mouth and drained its entire contents.
Nicole saw the change in Val. His body became rigid and his beautiful pale green eyes that had held such warmth just a moment ago turned cold and unforgiving.
"Nay."
That one simple word said more than an hour's worth of conversation. “I'm sorry,” she said.
"Don't be."
She wanted to call him back as he turned away from her. If she had only kept her mouth shut and not become curious, they would still be talking. She wrapped her arms around herself as the cold finally penetrated her. She hadn't noticed it before.
In truth, she never noticed much but Val. It was a sad state of affairs she found herself in. Finally she found an attractive, alluring, intriguing man, it just so happened he didn't want anything to do with her.
"You'll soon freeze if you don't move away from the entrance,” Val called over his shoulder as he stretched his arms above his head.
She walked toward him, watching the play of his muscles as he moved. “Your wounds are looking better almost by the moment."
"Aye, Gabriel's herbs work wonders."
"I see that. His herbs didn't come from here, did they?"
His pale green eyes moved to her. “I honestly don't know. He has his black bag with him at all times and occasionally, I've seen him stop and gather a few things. However, the other Shields and I have long suspected that when he spent time in the Fae realm that he gathered most of his herbs there."
"Amazing. Did you ever see the Fae realm?"
"Once, and only briefly. I met the king and queen."
Nicole was well and truly enraptured now. She moved closer to the fire and sank to the ground as Val continued to stretch his arms and torso.
"Really? What were they like?"
He smiled and rotated his shoulders. “Unlike anything I could describe. They are similar to Aimery with their long flowing pale hair and mystical blue eyes, yet there is something more regal to them."
"They are royalty,” she reminded him.
"True.” He leaned to the side and gently worked the muscles that were healing.
"Did they wear the royal purple like our royalty?"
He shook his head, his eyes sparkling. “Nay. They wear white and silver."
"Sounds beautiful."
"It is, and so are they."
"What?” she asked.
"All Fae are beautiful. Don't tell me you didn't find yourself attracted to Aimery?” he questioned, a knowing looking on his handsome face.
She laughed and brought her legs up to her chest, then wrapped her arms around them. “I will only admit that I found him exceptionally handsome."
"Most women throw themselves at him."
"Truly?” she asked, aghast that any woman would act so brazenly.
He nodded. “The Fae are very alluring to us. Its one of the reasons they stay hidden."
"So, did you throw yourself at the queen?"
He threw back his head and laughed, the sound rich and deep that brought a smile to her own lips. “Nay,” he said. “Theron would have gutted me, I'm sure."
"Was their realm much like ours?"
He picked up his sword and swung it in wide arcs around him. “I didn't get to see much of it, only being there for a short time to take my pledge, but I have heard Cole speak of being raised there."
"He was raised there?"
"Aye. He said the Fae realm has magic running thick and deep within it, dragons flying in the bright blue sky, and untold treasures that could never be compared to our world."
"Now I really want to see it. Dragons? Unbelievable."
"That's what I said.” He began to lunge and thrust with his sword, his muscles beginning to gleam with exertion.
For long moments Nicole sat quietly as Val continued to work with his sword. When he set down the sword and reached for the halberd she was amazed to find him very adept at working the magnificent weapon.
She had noticed the intricate knotwork on both Val's and Gabriel's weapons—weapons the Fae had crafted for them. She was on her feet and by his side when he suddenly winced.
"What is it?” she asked looking over his wounds to see if any bled.
"Halt."
Nicole's hands stilled when she heard the pain in his voice. She raised her gaze to his and found his jaw clenched and his eyes closed. “Tell me where you hurt. I can help."
His eyes flew open. “You want to know where I hurt?"
She nodded, unsure of the strange light in his eyes.
"Let me show you,” he said just before his arm came around her and his mouth took hers.
Chapter Twenty
Val knew he should stop, but the sweet, intoxicating taste of Nicole's lips was just what he needed. He had pushed himself too far in his training and pulled a muscle that wasn't fully healed, but it was the touch of her soft hands on his heated flesh that had sent him over the edge.
His tongue swept inside her mouth and drank greedily from her, his desire reaching new heights. He knew it had been wrong for Gabriel to leave him alone with her, but Val had thought he had more control than he did.
He ended the kiss and stepped away from her. Her lips were swollen and her eyes filled with desire.
"Why is it when you kiss me my body craves more of your touch?” she asked.
Val groaned and took another step away from her. “Don't,” he begged her.
"Would it be the same if I kissed another?"
The thought of her in another man's arms sent his blood to boiling. He wanted to lie to her
and tell her only he could bring such desire to her body. “Possibly,” he finally answered.
"Kiss me again."
"Nay,” he said more forcefully than he intended. “I'm supposed to guard you, Nicole, not bed you."
The hurt that flashed in her violet eyes was like a dagger plunged into his gut. “Forgive me. I won't ask again, though I would appreciate it in the future if you didn't kiss me again."
He couldn't fault her for her icy attitude, not after the way he had treated her. How many times had he pushed her away only to kiss her in the next heartbeat? It was beyond cruel.
"Nicole,” he said as she turned from him. She didn't stop and he didn't go after her.
Val sighed and ran his hand down his face.
"That wasn't so nice."
He spun around to find Aimery behind him. “Damn, Aimery,” he murmured. “Just how much did you see?"
"More than enough."
Val set down his halberd and reached for the tunic Aimery held out for him. “Thank you,” he said before slipping it over his head.
He ran his hands down the soft cream colored material. Just as with the first time he had felt Fae cloth, he was amazed by it.
"And this,” Aimery said.
Val nodded and reached for his leather jerkin. He threaded his arms through it and then sighed. Warmth surrounded him as soon as he put on the tunic. “Thank you."
"Anything else you or Nicole need?"
Val looked over and found Nicole sitting beside Laird stroking his massive head. “A bath,” he said, suddenly thinking that Nicole might like to take one.
Aimery's blond brows rose. “A bath? I expected a lot of things, Val, but not a request for a bath."
He shrugged. “We're stuck in this cave until Gabriel and I find a way to kill the Gryphon. I thought a bath might be nice."
"Oh, I think Nicole will more than enjoy it. I'll have one sent over later."
"My thanks,” Val said.
"How long are you going to tempt yourself before you take what she offers?"
Val lowered his eyes and tried to pretend Aimery's words didn't sting. “I cannot take what she offers so freely."
"And why is that?"
"You know why,” he said as he raised his gaze to Aimery.
Aimery nodded. “It was a long time ago, Val. You have more than redeemed yourself."