“That would do no good, Gloriana. The one-eyed man is after both you and Master Jeremiah. Alyse was merely a tool. She did what she was sent here to do and it didn’t succeed. Or mayhap it did. Who knows what plot Red Mary and this man have in train.” Gertrude rubbed her hands together with a frown. “I will see if I can find out. I have some luck scrying and seeing into the future. It is sometimes useful but does no good preventing what might happen.” She glanced back at Jeremiah who was laughing with Brian. “Be on your guard. I will let you know if I see anything that can help.”
“Thank you.” I pulled out another coin but she shook her head.
“I wish I could do more.” She nodded at Valdez. “Shifter, tell your cousins to be on guard during the day. Danger during daylight. I have seen that coming for a while now. Of course that’s what vampires fear more than anything, isn’t it, Gloriana?”
“Yes. It was Devlin’s trick once before, coming after me during the day. Mayhap that is what you saw.” I prayed it was so. Surely Devlin wouldn’t try the same thing again. He had to know we would be on guard against it now. I would have paid every coin in my pocket if Gertrude had a way for me to feel safe—some talisman or spell to ward off the evil that was coming. I could feel it in my bones.
I glanced at Valdez. His vow to guard me during the day had rung true, but he was a stranger. What did I really know about him? Given enough gold, anyone could turn against us. I had my unsteady brick wall firmly in place to hide my thoughts as I walked over to the fire. The chill I felt wasn’t in the air, it was in my soul. An endless night. I thanked the gods for it.
11
The laird came looking for us, Jeremiah’s sword in his hand. “What’s amiss? It is not like you to leave the celebration, son. The villagers expect us to stay until almost time for the sun to rise. Why do you hide up here?” He looked around the room and spotted Valdez near the fireplace, his hand on his own sword. “Shifter? Have we met?”
“Diego Valdez, at your service.” Valdez made a courtly bow. “I am cousin to Fergus Turnbull and his clan, recently hired by your son here to guard his lady Gloriana.”
“I am Laird Campbell, head of this clan. You should have presented yourself to me when you first arrived.” The laird stared at Jeremiah. “Is hiring this man necessary? Do you have something to tell me about your journey from London?”
Jeremiah glanced at his brother Brian, who’d come to his feet. “We had trouble on the road here. Devlin, the same vampire who killed Bran, is likely still pursuing us.”
“How do you know this?” The laird took a chair and leaned forward. “Sit, all of you. Has this vampire been seen close by? Should I send men out to look for him?”
“We have been attacked in a different way this night, Da.” Jeremiah moved closer to the fire. “Witchcraft. I was poisoned by a witch hired by Devlin. Alyse Tremaine was sent here to do the deed.”
“The red-haired beauty?” The laird glanced at me. “I saw ye dancing with her. Your ma remarked on it.”
“Lady Campbell wants Jeremiah with anyone but me.” That burst out of me before I could stop myself.
“Lass, I’ll not have that kind of talk.” The laird’s dark eyebrows drew together when he scowled. “Mag is a bit cross, I know, that Jeremiah brought home a woman he’s not wed, but she’ll get over it. Give it time.”
I bit my tongue. A bit cross? Oh, but I had to keep my bricks firmly in place or the laird with his sharp gaze would see how Mag had plotted against me. I merely nodded and looked down at my wet boots where my toes ached with cold. Tramping in the snow had done that. I longed for a warm bath and snuggling in furs with Jeremiah. Yes, I had forgiven him and he still looked pale to me.
“Now tell me all. What the witch did to you and about this Devlin. I want the entire story.” The laird focused on Jeremiah and his son pulled up a chair. That, more than anything, told me he was still weak.
“Da, he’s an old enemy and craves new vampires, especially comely women. He arranged to steal Gloriana from her bed during the day.”
“The hell you say!” The laird was up and pacing. “Taken during the day! By his minions of course.” He stopped next to me where I stood with my hand on Jeremiah’s shoulder. “Lass, I cannot imagine how you felt when you woke and realized ye had been taken from your bed.” He touched my cheek with a rough finger.
To my shock, I burst into tears and dropped my face into my hands. I couldn’t speak. The laird drew me into his arms and patted my back.
“There, there. Naught will happen to you under my roof, girl, I swear it.” He cleared his throat then thrust me into Jeremiah’s arms. “I will double the guards.”
I pressed my face against Jeremiah’s plaid. I couldn’t stop crying. I had held this in for days while we’d hurried toward Scotland. Why I’d finally broken down now, I couldn’t say. Of course it had been a long and eventful night. I’d blame falling apart on that. I leaned into my lover’s body while he held me tight.
“Thank you, Da. You see why I hired Valdez to guard Gloriana during the day now. He comes with excellent references and clan loyalty to Fergus to recommend him.” Jeremiah didn’t release me but I finally pushed away from him. “We were a man down with Bran gone. Fergus is saying he wants to stay here and set up his home with Maggie after the child is born. If I go to wait on King Jamie in Edinburgh, he won’t go with me.”
“I would hate for you to leave again so soon, son. Don’t go until this bastard is caught and dealt with.” His father had his hand on Jeremiah’s shoulder. “I want to hear more about why he came after you and your woman.” He gave me a pitying look. “Though the why is not important. Such actions will not stand. We protect our own.”
I still blocked my thoughts but I knew I needed to say something. I pulled a handkerchief from my bodice and wiped my eyes and streaming nose. “Thank you, Laird Campbell. I know I will be safe here.” I found a smile for the older man. He must have been turned vampire in his thirties but he didn’t look much older than Jeremiah. He was handsome though not as tall as his son. Clearly he’d also been a warrior in his day. I could tell from the way he strode toward the door with all the confidence of a man used to command.
“Come, Brian. Help me see to arrangements. I don’t want to alarm the villagers, but the Turnbulls should stand ready to fight if this Devlin tries his daytime tricks again.” The laird shook his head. “It is abominable. Vampires live by a code. We simply do not attack during the death sleep.” He turned and faced Jeremiah. “You weren’t beside Gloriana in her bed?”
“No, I’d gone looking for the monster once I recognized his scent when we were on our way here. I knew he could be up to no good. He is notorious for breaking in new vampires.” Jeremiah held out his hand to me. “I feared he had his eyes on Gloriana as soon as I realized he was following our group. MacDonald and I were stranded away from the inn when sunrise hit. We had to bury ourselves in a barn.” Jeremiah pulled me close. “Gloriana had protection outside her door, but Devlin’s shifters came in through a window.”
“Yet he still pursues her.” The laird shook his head. “Is he so infatuated with you, girl?”
“I don’t think it is me he is after this time, sir. I fought him, but that only seemed to whet his appetite for me.” I shuddered, remembering. “Thank the gods Jeremiah came in time to save me from the worst Devlin intended.” I gripped Jeremiah’s hand.
“But you could not finish him, son.” The laird frowned at Jeremiah.
“I know. I deeply regret that I failed. I caught up with him but his men overwhelmed me. If it wasn’t for Robert MacDonald, I’d still be starving in Devlin’s dungeon. I could see no way to escape, even though I tried everything, shifting until I had no energy left. I was wounded, you see. And bled until I was weak. Of course I wasn’t allowed to feed.” Jeremiah held my hand so tightly, I pulled it away from him. “Sorry, Gloriana. I will certainly end him when next we meet.”
“You were very brave. Even though he had suffered
mightily, laird, Jeremiah found the strength during their last fight to rip out Devlin’s eye. You can imagine that has maddened the beast. Devlin is pursuing us now for revenge.” I needed his father to know how incredible it was that my lover had managed that in his weakened state.
“Well done, son.” The laird walked over to slap Jeremiah on his back. “But beholden to a MacDonald. These are dark days indeed.”
I wanted to defend Robert. We had become good friends. But I knew this was an ancient feud and I had no standing that would allow me to interfere. Robert had paid Bran’s family and left for his home as soon as he could. He’d taken the maid Marie with him. Jeremiah had told me that.
“Yes, Da, but I now owe Robert MacDonald my life and I will not forget it. As for Devlin, when next we meet, leave him to me. I will enjoy being the last man he sees as I send him to hell.” Jeremiah stared at his sword where his father had laid it on a chest against the wall.
“Of course.” The laird turned on his heel. “Now I had best see to our defenses. He used witchcraft! The man has no boundaries. He must be killed and we will waste no time ending him.” He left the room, waving to Brian to follow him.
“We will, Gloriana.” Brian wasn’t smiling anymore. “I am sorry you suffered.” He closed the tower door behind him.
“Do you want me to wait out in the stairwell?” Valdez said quietly. He had been standing next to the window, listening and watching.
“Yes. On the other side of the closed door.” Jeremiah didn’t bother to say please.
“Thank you, Valdez.” I wasn’t going to be rude to the man who would be guarding me during my death sleep. I sank down on the fur rug near the fire. When the door closed quietly, we were finally alone.
“You are blocking your thoughts again. What are you hiding, Gloriana? You used to let me see everything.” Jeremiah sat beside me and picked up my hand.
“I would think a little mystery would be a good thing in a lover.” I leaned against him. “You certainly keep me from knowing what is on your mind.”
“True.” He lay back and pulled me on top of him. “I haven’t forgotten that you said my mother taught you to finally hide your thoughts. I admit I’m surprised. Ma didn’t seem in the mood to teach you anything except how to ride out of here.”
I tried not to laugh. How true that was! “We met by chance and had words. I won’t deny she doesn’t want me here and said as much. She decided to teach me this trick, woman to woman, so you wouldn’t be able to see the cruel words she tossed at me.” I’m sure he knew I was leaving out details but I smiled then took to distracting Jeremiah with a hand well-placed. He was still weak but not too weak. He lay back and let me have my way with him.
“You are hiding something indeed, but I will let it go. I am sorry my mother was not kind. If she had the choosing, I’d be married now to a woman she could keep under her thumb.” He pulled me close and ran a clever hand over my backside. “Such a creature would be of no interest to me. I hope you gave as good as you got, my love.”
I grinned against his chest, bare now that I’d shoved off his shirt. “I might have had a few words for her that proved I’ve spent time around plain spoken theater people. If Mag thought I was beneath you before, she is sure of it now.” I gasped when he rolled me until he looked down into my eyes.
“I like you beneath me.” He kissed me until I was breathless then made tender love to me as if to make up for the hateful way he’d taken me in the forest. When I was limp and sated, he eased away and smiled. “You are right. Everyone deserves a secret or two. Block all the thoughts you want.”
I stared at him. The very fact that he said it was proof that he trusted me. Gods, but that was something special coming from Jeremiah Campbell. I grabbed his hand before he could get away from me and kissed his palm. “Thank you, Jeremiah.”
“Blocking your thoughts is a skill that will protect you from others. I hope you don’t feel you need protection from me, lass.”
“No, of course not.”
One final kiss then he sat up, pulled on his shirt and adjusted his kilt. “Da came here to remind me I must return to the party. There will be gifts to give out, a Campbell tradition the folks in the village expect and anticipate eagerly. I must help with that.” He stood and gave me his hand.
“Are you sure you are feeling able to go down and mix with the crowd?” I looked him over. “No dizziness or urge to look for a red-haired vixen?” His hand shook when he picked up his heavy sword.
“God forbid I see that woman again. The only urge I have toward her and her kind is murderous. Now I have a duty to the villagers. How I feel doesn’t matter. You may stay here with Valdez watching over you if you don’t want to face that crowd again. Clearly what happened between you and my mother disturbed you. Then there is what I did in the forest. Yes, I know I have not done enough penance yet.” He kissed me again.
“Your thoughts may be hiding, Gloriana, but your feelings are not so easily masked. I say again, I am sorrier than I can say for my actions. I am a man, not a rutting beast. The potion clearly brought out the worst in me.” He touched my cheek. “As for my mother? I will speak to her, Gloriana. Ma will be civil to you or we will leave here before Christmas Day, I swear it.”
“Jeremiah, it won’t be safe to leave.” I grabbed a shawl and wrapped it around my shoulders. “Of course I’m coming down with you.” I hurried to keep up with him. “Listen to me.”
“I’m listening.” He threw open the door. “Valdez, stay close to Gloriana. We are going back down to the celebration and into the crowd. If Devlin has men nearby, he will not like seeing that I am recovered from his witchcraft.”
“Do you think he would dare attack the castle?” I rushed down the steps behind Jeremiah, Valdez at my heels.
“No, we have too many men. But he might try another trick. It is good to keep our eyes and senses open.” Jeremiah stopped before he opened the door to the outside. He turned and gripped my shoulders. “I’d feel better if you stayed here, my love. He knows if he uses you as a hostage, I will move heaven and earth to come after you.”
“Jeremiah.” I touched his lips. “Promise me you won’t do anything foolish. I, I am not worth it.”
He shook me then, just enough to make my hair fly around my face. “Never say that again!” He looked almost angry. “Valdez, you have your orders. Do not leave her side. If you smell a vampire you do not recognize, be cautious. Gloriana certainly knows Devlin on sight.”
I brushed at my hair, fighting tears. Of course he hadn’t hurt me, just startled me. I watched him go, striding out of the castle with all the force of a man who had fully recovered. How did he do it? I had no idea. I was still weak in the knees from what we’d been through.
“Come, Gloriana. Make your choice. Stay inside or go out and show them you are the heir’s lady.” Valdez stood close. The door was open and he scanned the crowd milling around at the bottom of the hill. A shout went up when a wagonload of goods drove into the area near the fire.
“It seems the gifts have arrived.” I pulled the shawl tighter and gave up on my hair. I saw Maggie and Fergus standing at the edge of the crowd. “Let’s go. I have friends here. Your cousin Fergus can help guard me.”
“Yes, he can.” Valdez took my elbow and guided me down the slope to the clearing. “Have you met any other Turnbulls since you arrived? It is a large family. I can see at least ten of them nearby, well-armed and on guard.”
“I only know Fergus.” I hurried toward Maggie. We embraced and I was happy to see her glowing with good health. Being on firm ground and out of that moving caravan certainly agreed with her.
“We are marrying tomorrow, Glory. I hope you will honor us with your presence.” Maggie held onto Fergus like he was her lifeline. “Everyone here is so happy that there is to be a child, but they want to be sure he or she is born in wedlock.”
“They love you, Maggie mine. I have been yelled at by my parents for taking advantage of such a sweet gel.” Fe
rgus grinned and winked. “My pa took a broom handle to me.”
“He did not.” Maggie flushed. “I told them I was a widow.” She pulled me aside. “Was I wrong to lie about that?”
“You are a widow. Never say otherwise.” I knew Maggie’s former “husband” had a fondness for other men. She’d helped keep him from hanging by claiming to be his wife though they had never bothered to go through a ceremony. He’d given her a way to earn a living sewing for Shakespeare’s company. Their arrangement had worked until her “husband” had disappeared. He’d left her with little coin and only her own sewing skills to keep her from starving. If he wasn’t dead, we certainly had wished him so often enough. She was a kind woman and Fergus had given her the home and family she’d always dreamed of.
“You did the right thing. You were always respectable and you deserve your happiness. Fergus is a lucky man.” I hugged her. “I will be there. As long as it is after dark.”
“Oh!” Maggie glanced at Fergus. “I will arrange it. It will be in the kirk. I’m sure Fergus will tell Jeremiah.”
“Then we will see you there.” I looked around and saw Fergus talking to Valdez. “Have you met my new bodyguard? He is from an island near Spain.”
“Diego Valdez. Yes, he is another cousin. This is a big family, a clan.” Maggie sighed. “I wanted a child but I may end up with a dozen before we are said and done. These shifters like to have many children.” She rubbed her back. “You know I worry about what this one will be.”
“No matter what the babe turns out, shifter or mortal, you will love it with all your heart.”
“Of course!” Maggie flushed. “This village, though, Gloriana. Don’t you find it strange? Vampires and shape-shifters living together. Then there are the mortals who give their blood freely for coin.”
“It is their way.” I saw the crowd laughing around the wagon. “The Campbells are generous. Look at this party. Food and drink given freely and now gifts for everyone to celebrate the Winter Solstice.”
Real Vampires: A Highland Christmas (The Real Vampires series Book 14) Page 13