Page 121 of Dark Embrace

Aidan trembled.

“You are my chosen people,” the greatest of gods said softly. “And I have chosen you.”

BRIE WALKED INTO AIDAN’S bedchamber at Awe. She’d leapt back with Royce and Allie shortly after Moray’s destruction. Aidan had gone to find Ian. Royce had spoken with Frasier, who agreed to take Aidan’s offer to King James and recommend that the king accept it. Royce said Frasier was a devout, honest and fair man. He thought a bargain could be arranged; Aidan had a great army to offer the king. This was the least of Brie’s worries.

God, MacNeil’s cryptic words made so much sense now.

Aidan had chosen to die, but then her love had made him choose to live. And they wouldn’t have been able to change his execution if it hadn’t been one big, fat mistake to begin with. Brie didn’t know how his true Fate had gotten messed up, but if there was an explanation, she’d figure it out. She went to the window and stared out at Loch Awe.

It was a beautiful, sunny winter day, with the snow coating the shore and hanging thick on the pine trees, the loch gleaming sapphire blue, the mountains capped silver-white against the blue sky. From where she stood she could see the bridge that led to that shore—and it was intact.

She trembled. Aidan had chosen to live, and by now, or shortly, he would be reunited with his son. She did not want to ever visit Loch Awe again and see Castle Awe in ruins.

Brie walked over to the fireplace, where a servant had a huge blaze roaring. She was uncertain. Just where did she fit in, now that she’d saved Aidan’s life and redeemed his soul?

He was starting over. He had a new journey to make. Brie knew he’d rejoin the Brotherhood. But Ian had suffered terribly, and father and son were reuniting after a tragically long time. She wanted to stay and help them recover their relationship. It wasn’t going to be easy, because Ian was probably going to turn into a grown man in a few days, weeks or months.

She didn’t blame Ian for his enmity. Like Aidan, he could and would heal, wouldn’t he? She shivered. Someone else would have to take on Ian if he remained as dark and bitter in the past as he’d been in the future. It had been her destiny to heal Aidan.

Brie flushed. Healing Aidan was only a part of why she wanted to stay. She wanted to stay because she loved him so much that it hurt.

She inhaled. He hadn’t asked her to stay. Even if he did, she should be sensible and go home. He cared for her—she was certain—but for how long? She had to face that it was going to hurt even more when he one day decided to pursue a really beautiful woman. They’d shared so much, but…

She didn’t finish her thought. She felt unbearably saddened when she should have been thrilled.

And then she felt so much hot, blazing male desire and power that she whirled. Aidan.

Aidan stood in the doorway, his eyes bright and bold with interest. He still wanted her. Her desire spun, joining his.

“Did you find him?” she whispered. It was hard to speak, because she knew exactly what he had on his mind. He had come to take her to bed and she couldn’t wait to be in his powerful embrace. She’d worry about going home in the morning.

For one moment, he simply stared at her, and then she saw his hands move to his sword belt. He unbuckled it as he entered the chamber, leine bulging, laying the swords and belt carefully upon the chest.

Brie took a breath. Her body had fired, everywhere, but her heart wept. She had never thought anyone could be so happy and so sad at once.

“Aye, lass, I found him.” He gave her a solemn look.

Brie knew what the sober glance meant. “Is he okay?” she managed carefully.

“He’s well enough, considerin’ he’s been imprisoned for sixty-six years,” Aidan said grimly. “He’s home now. He’s scarred, but he’ll mend.” He tossed his black plaid on the room’s single chair and proceeded to pull off his boots, one by one.

He wasn’t hiding his desire from her, but Brie couldn’t quite feel the rest of his emotions. He had to be overjoyed—either that, or he was consumed with worry. “Was he happy to see you?”

Aidan met her gaze, about to strip off his leine. “At first.” His gaze darkened. “He’s been through hell. He blames me. I dinna blame him. I’ll always blame myself.”

“Don’t,” Brie begged. “Do not blame yourself. He has a lot to work through. We’ll help. Others will help. He has his Fate, too.”

“Aye, he has his Fate. I dinna ken what Fate it is.”

“What?” Brie gasped.

He hesitated. “Evil preys on the children most of all.”

“It’s terrible, Aidan, but sometimes it does seem that way.”

He smiled slightly at her and tore the tunic over his head. “Will ye help me protect them?”

He was hugely aroused, a mass of bulging muscle. With that face of an Adonis, no man could be more perfect. “You are so beautiful,” she whispered. Love made her heart surge, her knees weaken. “It’s sort of hard to have a rational conversation now.”