MacNachton Vampires: Born To Bite Part 14

"Wh-Why do you hate Aedan?" she asked, needing to buy time to think up a plan to slip free.

"I owe you no explanation. But I find myself curious how a human has so entranced a vampire that he leaves her with child. Especially considering he is our Highland Coven's laird." He paused. "You have no marks on your neck. Why has my cousin not claimed you?"

"I know not."

Again his fist shot out.

Pain slammed through her cheek. Rowan stumbled back, caught herself as she fell against the rocks. Please, let me not lose Aedan's child!

The vampire stalked toward her. "Methinks you are a witch, a very dangerous one to have seduced a powerful laird and a vampire centuries old."

Chills swept through her at the d.a.m.ning label. "I am no witch."

"Nay?"

Tingles s.h.i.+vered inside her head.

He was trying to read her mind! Until Aedan had taken her blood, his powers had allowed him to mentally guide her. Naught more. But were all vampires' powers the same? Could his cousin read her thoughts?

Long seconds pa.s.sed.

Deep bronze eyes smoldered. "Something is amiss," he said, his words slow, deliberate. "Regardless, you will serve my purpose well."

Purpose? Whatever his depraved intent, she knew it boded ill to Aedan. Her mental calls to him had remained unanswered. However powerful this vampire, she must somehow slip away and warn Aedan. Heart pounding, Rowan s.h.i.+fted to the closest rock.

In a burst of speed, the vampire caged her against the rough stone. Long, dangerous fingers clenched Rowan's wrist tightly. "Think not of escape." He jerked her to her feet.

Waves pounded the sh.o.r.e in her wake as he hauled her along the rock-cluttered beach, up a narrow, winding path edged by the time-hewn cliffs. With the steep incline, it should have been a difficult trek, but he ascended the near vertical slide of land with incredible ease.

The full moon on the horizon was just rising; hours remained this night before the vampire would seek the shelter of darkness against the sun, and who knew what he would do with that time.

Aedan!

Breac lifted her over the top of the cliffs, and an enormous castle came into view. Settled upon an immense cliff, its turrets spun skyward like a potent threat. Battlements severed the moonlight, spilling jagged shadows before her. Numerous windows were carved within the grand towers, the exquisite detail an exclamation of wealth. A st.u.r.dy wall surrounded the castle, the portcullis the first of many entries one would have to traverse before pa.s.sing within the stronghold.

"Caorann Castle," Breac stated.

Aedan's home.

Why was Aedan's cousin bringing her here? How was he going to explain her presence? Did any of that really matter? His cousin wanted her dead.

A gatehouse rose within the scarred wall, the blackened entry foreboding, the iron gate securing the portal like jagged teeth.

He waved his hand. Metal creaked, and with slow menace, the forged iron lifted.

How strong were this vampire's powers? As laird of his coven, wouldn't Aedan be still more powerful?

"Move." Breac tugged her forward.

Eyes blurring with exhaustion, her legs threatening to give way, Rowan pushed forward.

With each step, she saw more of the immense castle, the st.u.r.dy building as formidable as their laird. She could envision Aedan within this powerful stronghold; his compa.s.sion and intelligence would make him a leader loved and revered. However much he believed otherwise, she did not fit in his world.

And never would.

Panic consumed her as she scanned the remainder of this intimidating fortress. Where was Aedan? With the moon ascending in the sky, he must be awake. And, with their blood bond, why hadn't he tracked her? Or, was there another unknown factor she hadn't considered?

They entered the bailey.

The vampires working inside stopped to stare.

A vampire with a long, white beard and bushy brows broke from a small group. With a nod, he strode toward them.

Pulse racing, Rowan watched the elder's approach. Was he part of Lord Breac's twisted plan to kill Aedan? Would she be handed over to him to die?

The elder vampire ignored her as he halted before them, an anxious expression on his face. "You have found The MacGregor?"

"Nay, Sir Wayrn," Breac replied, anger riding his voice, "but I have found the cause of our laird's disappearance."

The elder glanced toward her. Wizened eyes flickered with surprise. "This human?"

"Human mayhap, but also a witch," Breac stated.

Unsure what ill Breac was about, Rowan shook her head. "I am nae a witch, nor have I done anything to your laird. If there is any treachery about, 'tis by-"

Breac hauled her up before his face. "Do nae speak unless given permission."

Trembling, Rowan laid her hands over her stomach, where her child grew.

Bushy brows lifted. "The human la.s.s carries a babe?"

"Aye," Breac hissed, his fingers unfurling from her garb. "Aedan's."

The elder's face paled. "It cannot be. Never would our laird leave a b.a.s.t.a.r.d child, especially not with a human."

"Aye, on that I agree. The la.s.s must have bewitched him." Breac's fingers twisted in her hair, jerked her head back. "Tell Sir Wayrn."

Fear shot through Rowan, and her legs threatened to give. Lies, cast by the man who'd attempted to kill his cousin. But if she told the truth, she and her babe would die. She must stall.

At her silence, Breac's eyes darkened to a dangerous hue.

Shaking, she nodded. " 'Tis the truth."

The elder stumbled back as if punched. "To place one's seed within a human is unthinkable for us. Never has such been done."

"Aye, which brings up a far greater concern." Grief slashed the anger on Breac's face. "Never would Aedan betray us unless the la.s.s bewitched our laird with a spell of enormous strength." He paused. "I fear my cousin is no longer of sound mind."

The elder's face paled further.

"Sir Wayrn, gather the coven," Breac said. "I will explain everything then."

"Aye." With one last glare at her, Sir Wayrn spun on his heel and hurried off.

Never had a vampire slept with a human? Sir Wayrn's words echoed in Rowan's mind as Breac hauled her toward the ma.s.sive steps of the keep. Aedan's belief that they were mates explained his actions. He was proud of his heritage and his people. Never would he betray them.

Fury built, blinding her to fear. " 'Twas you who drugged Aedan," she charged, "and then left him within the stone circle to die. Well you understood that the circle would drain a vampire's power and if he awoke, he would be unable to leave."

Violent lines slashed Breac's face. He caught her hands, jerked them behind her back.

Pain screamed up her arms.

"I see my cousin has done more than filled your belly with his sp.a.w.n," he seethed. "He told a human what is forbidden."

"Mayhap," she replied, "but I saved his life, whereas you tried to murder him."

He grunted. "As if any will hear your claim." Breac withdrew a strip of cloth from a side pocket, secured it around her mouth with a hard yank. "La.s.s, if I were you, my worries would not be for Aedan, but for the few moments left of your pathetic life."

"Nay!" Rowan screamed, but the cloth m.u.f.fled her cry.

"Enough." A crowd gathered as Breac hauled her up the steps to the keep. Curious stares mixed with excited whispers.

Her body trembling, she scanned the bailey, then looked toward the gatehouse where they'd entered a short time before. It was now blocked by the growing horde.

Breac raised his hand.

Expectant silence descended upon the throng.

"This night I bring disturbing news." Breac's voice boomed within the castle walls. "In my search for The MacGregor, I found this woman, who is responsible for our laird's disappearance."

"How can a human have any power over a vampire?" a vampire near the front yelled.

"Aye," several vampires grumbled in agreement. The doubts on the faces of those within the crowd showed they were far from convinced.

Breac scanned the throng, bronze eyes narrowing. "This la.s.s is not a simple human, but a witch!"

"A witch powerful enough to bewitch our laird?" a wizened man near the front challenged. "The MacGregor is many centuries old, his power legendary."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.

"How can a witch," the vampire continued, "however strong, cast a spell over Aedan?"

At their doubts, hope filled Rowan. Aedan's people loved him, respected him; they would not abandon him because of a few words cast by his cousin.

"Like you, I too held doubts, until I discovered an astonis.h.i.+ng truth!" Breac placed his hand over her belly. "Aye," he roared as he glared at those before him, "she carries our laird's child!

Outraged gasps echoed from the crowd.

"Nay," a woman rushed out, " 'tis an untruth!"

Breac shoved her before him, his hold cruel upon her wrist. "La.s.s, is it not true?" he called out. "Do you nae carry the child of our laird?" He leaned close to her hear and whispered, "Nod in agreement or die now!"

Tears burning her eyes, Rowan nodded, willing to do anything to buy time until Aedan could arrive.

" 'Tis truth," a woman near the back hissed.

"Aye," a man nearby choked out. "The blasted she-devil has enormous power."

Outrage exploded within the crowd, and satisfaction settled upon Breac's face.

Nauseous, Rowan turned away from Breac. Why would he not be pleased? He wanted to become their laird, would do whatever was necessary to become the clan's leader, including trying to kill his cousin.

Except, Aedan lived.

A fact he knew, a problem he was determined to extinguish by convincing his people Aedan was bewitched, not of sound mind. But when Aedan appeared, he would expose the truth, and Breac's treachery would fail.

"A witch," Breac continued, dragging her from her desperate thoughts, "one who believes herself cunning. Her personal goals must be lofty indeed."

"What would a witch be wanting with our laird or his child?" called an elder with a scarred face in the front.

Breac turned toward her. "To claim the power of being his wife. But never will she achieve her twisted goal."

A rugged-looking vampire in the back stepped forward. "Where is our laird?"

"I am still searching for him. Worry not, I will find him. But-" Breac gave a frustrated shake of his head. "-I dinnae know how to break the spell she has cast upon The MacGregor." He nodded toward several elders at the side of the crowd. "Oh, wise ones, 'tis guidance I seek."

Angry brows furrowed as the white-haired vampires huddled and whispered amongst themselves.

With a slight limp, a tall vampire stepped from the group, his face drawn. "My lord, we know of no way to break the witch's spell."

Breac blew a hard breath. "As I feared."

Feared? Anger slammed Rowan at the lies Breac had told, the gullibility of Aedan's people to condemn their laird without proof! Was their loyalty to their laird, a man who would sacrifice his life for them, shredded with fears of a powerful witch? She waited for others to challenge Breac. She could see that many were far from convinced, but they remained silent.

Eyes filled with tears, Breac scanned the crowd. " 'Tis with great sadness and regret that I inform you, if our laird still lives, his mind has been tainted by a spell that may be impossible to remove. And," he said, his voice trembling, "if indeed my cousin returns, he must be turned away. If he refuses ..." He shook his head as if he dredged the words from a battered soul. "Our laird must die."

Chapter Seven.

Aedan must die? Blackness threatened, but Rowan clung to consciousness-barely.

Grief ravaged the faces of the vampires below, as whispers rumbled amongst the crowd. But as the moments pa.s.sed, Rowan could see their struggle with doubt fade. One by one, in unspoken agreement, they accepted Breac's lie that Aedan could no longer continue as their laird.

Sir Wayrn stepped forward, the weight of this grave matter lining his face. "Breac, will you lead us?"