MacNachton Vampires: Born To Bite Part 17

Unless Rowan died.

The fairy queen did not need to say the words. The reality haunted him like a curse.

Rowan arched upon the sprawl of blankets. "Ae-Aedan, 'tis like my body is on fire!"

Again he wiped the square of sodden cloth over her brow. "Aye, 'twill pa.s.s."

On a moan, Rowan twisted upon his ma.s.sive bed.

Never had Aedan felt so helpless. Watching her suffer, her body raw with agony, he understood fear for the first time.

With a scream, Rowan collapsed upon the bed.

Queen Ysenda walked over, sighed. "She has pa.s.sed out. A blessing."

Aedan glanced up. The fairy queen's compa.s.sion seemed at odds with the woman he'd first met. "Aye." Now there was nothing to do but wait to see if Rowan would live.

Angst stormed him as the long seconds pa.s.sed. He willed the pa.s.sage of time, d.a.m.ned the same.

He pressed a soft kiss upon her brow and wished for a miracle. "I love you, Rowan."

"I find your sentiment interesting," Ysenda said.

Frustration at the situation spilled through him, and he shoved to his feet. "Why did you not kill me?"

"It was Rowan's wish to allow you to live. A request I am unsure I can grant."

He arched a brow. "I am surprised you would consider her request."

"As am I."

Silence stumbled between them as they watched Rowan.

Unsure what to say, if the right words could even be found, he rubbed the back of his neck. Aedan shot Ysenda a cool look. "I am amazed Rowan was allowed to live among the humans, considering she is only half of their blood."

Silence.

He glanced over.

Sadness touched Ysenda's face as she stared at Rowan's limp form upon the bed. " 'Tis because I did not know of her existence before this night."

She had not known? "I thought you knew all within your realm of the Otherworld."

"I believed so as well." She paused, her eyes dark with struggle and questions. "Did Rowan say naught of her mother or father?"

Unsure why Ysenda asked, he nodded. "She explained that as a babe, a man claiming to be her father dropped her off at the healer's home. He'd said Rowan's mother had died giving birth."

"Did the healer know the mother as well?"

"Nay, naught except she was not from the Highlands."

Understanding dawned on Ysenda's face, then s.h.i.+fted to sadness. "Of course. That explains everything."

"Everything?"

Queen Ysenda nodded. "When Rowan's mother learned she was with child, she fled the Otherworld."

"Because the father of the babe was human?"

"Aye," Queen Ysenda replied. "Because he was a human, I forbid her ever to see him again."

"Why did you not seek their child-Rowan-out?" Aedan asked.

"I could not sense the child's existence, because her fey blood was weakened by her human side. But, when you changed Rowan, the natural repelling action of our blood against yours sent ripples through the heavens which I picked up, however faint."

He nodded. "Aye, that makes sense. A mess indeed."

"More so than you understand," she said. "But my daughter, as well as her child, 'twould seem, walked outside the lines of convention when they chose the men they would love."

He stilled. "Your daughter?"

"Aye." Violet eyes leveled on him. " 'Twas my daughter that ran away."

Chapter Nine.

Aedan stared at the fairy queen in shock. "Rowan is your granddaughter?"

"Indeed she is," Ysenda said with quiet regard, "and a princess."

"I-I know not what to say."

"I a.s.sure you," Ysenda replied, "this day has offered enough confusion for us all."

"Aye, it has." Aedan now saw the similarities between Ysenda and her granddaughter. Both had strong features. The pure white hair of the queen was a luxurious ma.s.s, the same texture as Rowan's wheat blond locks.

There were so many questions to ask. From the bewilderment on the fairy queen's face, she wished answers as well. Except, with the approach of dawn, questions would have to wait.

"Dawn approaches, and I must sleep. It will be alongside Rowan." The queen's mouth tightened, but on this point he refused to yield. "With my bond to Rowan," Aedan continued before she could speak, "I will be able to provide her protection even in sleep."

Ysenda arched a doubtful brow. "A guarantee of nothing."

" 'Tis a guarantee that I will give my life to protect hers."

Tense silence echoed through the room.

"Rowan may not live through the conversion." Ysenda's voice trembled at the last.

"She will." He swallowed hard. "I love her and cannot lose her!"

"We do not always receive what we wish."

"You think I do not understand that?" He raised his hand at his outburst. "My apologies. I love Rowan. If there is anything I can do to save her, I will."

Ysenda remained silent.

He had not really expected a reply. He might as well say the rest of it. "If Rowan survives, I request her hand in marriage. With your permission."

"Permission?" she scoffed. "We are natural enemies. A union between you and Rowan is forbidden."

"Laws of the fey. Rowan is but half fairy. She carries my child. And, she is my mate."

Ysenda's face hardened. "Mate?" She waved away his reply when he started to speak. "Regardless of what I believe, your reasons change naught."

"Love is nae fair in whom it chooses. For whatever reason, I have been gifted with Rowan's. I ask for your permission out of courtesy, in hopes that peace can be found between our worlds." He paused. " 'Tis your choice to end the strife or allow an age-old animosity to continue."

"I do nae know if I can allow such."

Frustration coupled with tiredness. "You have lost one daughter who sought but to follow her heart. Would you risk a granddaughter newly found?"

Anger flared in the queen's eyes and then faded. "The decision is not an easy one."

"As Laird of the Highland Coven, I will win many an enemy by choosing Rowan to be my wife."

Ysenda studied him long and hard. "If I allow my granddaughter to wed you, many will be furious in the Otherworld as well."

"For Rowan, I shall risk the outrage of my people," Aedan replied. "What of you?"

She gave a weary sigh. "I have much to consider."

He nodded, pleased Ysenda would contemplate his marriage to Rowan. "For now our thoughts must be on Rowan."

The fairy queen nodded. "Indeed. Sleep. I will be outside."

"You will stay within Caorann Castle?"

"Aye." Violet eyes narrowed. "If Rowan dies, so shall you." With a sweep of her hand, iridescent smoke whirled around her, and she vanished.

Aedan sagged against his chamber wall, stunned by the events of the last few hours, amazed Rowan's grandmother had not killed him outright.

He studied Rowan.

Her chest remained still. After pa.s.sing out from the torment of the conversion, she'd succ.u.mbed to the deep sleep of a vampire, and all her internal systems had shut down. He refused to believe her body was giving up, that instead of moving through the conversion process, she was dying.

Heart aching at Rowan's desperate state, he lay beside her and drew her into his arms. "Sleep deeply. When you awaken, your transformation will be complete." Aedan closed his eyes and prayed he'd spoken the truth.

Agony pummeled Rowan's body, torturous lashes that stung her over and over, only to begin again. Aedan! His name echoed through her mind, but she couldn't see him or hear him within the blanket of misery. She struggled to push through the hurt, only to lose herself where naught existed but pain.

The fey within her recognized the truth-she was dying.

Rowan worked to hear the sound of her child's heart. Failed. He could not die!

She fought for calm, to retain her grip on sanity. Aedan!

Silence.

Panic overwhelmed her as she tried to push through the foggy confusion to somehow reach Aedan. A rush of sound filled her mind like bubbles. Without warning, coolness tumbled over her. Exhausted, Rowan sagged back and found herself standing within a mist.

Framed between breaks of white, fields of potent green unfolded before her.

She frowned. Where was she?

In the distance, a light grew, and a soft hum began, beckoning her.

Curious, Rowan took a step forward. Stunned, she stopped. The pain had disappeared.

"Nor will you ever hurt again."

She s.h.i.+elded her eyes against the bright light where a voice echoed. "Who is there?"

"Your destiny."

Peace radiated from the voice, so soft, so luxurious, it lured her to relax. "My destiny?" None of this made sense. She struggled to remember why she'd hurt so much, but found naught except for the image of Aedan.

"His life is elsewhere."

Rowan walked toward the brightness. "Who are you?"

"You know."

With a frown Rowan glanced around, took in the soft hues, the scent of lavender mixed with that of the wildflowers of her youth. Memories stumbled through her mind, beautiful images she'd seen during her life, the rush of a waterfall as it cascaded into a deep pool, the waves of the ocean as they surged up the beach, the gentle fall of rain upon the gra.s.s.

Confused, she studied the glow of light before her, a diffused, welcoming pulse. And understood.

She'd died.

A tremor shook her. Nay, let her be wrong.

"Aye, my child, your new life has begun. Here you will be pain free and will find naught but happiness."

"Nay, I cannot be happy without Aedan."

Rowan! His voice echoed from the distance.