Page 91 of Dark Embrace

“I canna change what’s written,” MacNeil said seriously and softly. “Ye can blame me fer acceptin’ Fate, but I dinna write his death—nor did I see it. But I have seen her.” He nodded at Brianna, who straightened in surprise.

“’Tis time for ye to clear yer head, Aidan,” MacNeil continued. “’Tis more than time fer ye to listen to yer heart, yer soul, lad. Ye have grieved and raged at us all long enough. ’Tis time fer ye to come back.”

“I will avenge my son,” Aidan said, his eyes blazing. “And I will vanquish my own deamhan father. Then I go to Awe to live out my life, half in and half out of the deamhan world. To hell with yer damned gods.” He strode from the tent with so much angry force that the tent walls shuddered even though he did not touch them.

Brie whirled in dismay. “Please don’t let him hunt Moray alone! He doesn’t have enough power!”

“He has his Fate as well, Lady Brianna,” MacNeil said.

“Is his Fate hanging?”

MacNeil hesitated. “They’re not lies, Lady Brianna. Yer books speak the truth.”

Brie went still. “Are you referring to my history books?”

“Aye.” He did not smile now. “Aidan may hate the gods but they dinna hate him, in spite of all he has done. I have seen ye comin’ to save our poor Aidan. Dinna give up now.”

“You just said my history books are right. If that’s the case, he will hang! So how can I save him?”

He touched her and his power flowed through her, at once healing and strengthening, erasing her uncertainty and doubts. “He will only hang if he chooses to die. Lass, yer here fer a great reason.”

Brie cried out, “Is that a riddle? I hate riddles!”

“I dinna have all the answers, lass.” Then he grinned. “Just some of them.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

HE WILL ONLY HANG IF HE CHOOSES TO DIE.

Having dressed, Brie stepped outside of the tent. It was snowing heavily now and the day was thick and gray. Why would Aidan choose to die? He had fought his way back to her as the Wolf. Clearly, he had been determined to live. McNeil’s words were not helpful and they felt distinctly ominous, as if some new event would make him lose his will to live. Brie had a terrible inkling and she prayed she was wrong. But MacNeil had confirmed what she already believed. She was there to save Aidan, whether he wanted her there or not.

She saw that the remaining Highlanders had departed from the camp, along with all their equipment and pack animals. Only one other tent was left on the plain other than Aidan’s. A fire roared before it in spite of the snow, and Brie saw Will tending it, red-faced and looking miserable. She hurried over to him, wishing for gloves and a hat.

“Our master’s gone,” Will told her. “But I’m to attend yer every need.”

Brie nodded, worried to death about Aidan now. Allie stepped out of the adjacent tent, followed by Tabby and Claire, who hung back as Brie’s cousin and best friend rushed to her. Allie hugged Brie, and then Tabby took her hand. “Are you all right?” Tabby asked in a low voice.

Obviously they knew what she’d been doing last night. “I’m fine,” she said, but it felt like an utter lie and she blushed. Unlike Allie, she was pretty modest when it came to the subject of sex. Tabby was almost as reticent.

Allie slid her arm around her. Her eyes sparked with excitement. “Brie, you spent the night with Aidan and he didn’t take power from you! Do you know what this means?”

Brie shook her head to stop Allie’s enthusiasm. She knew what Allie was thinking. “Allie, don’t. He’s not at all happy today. And I’m hurt, because foolishly, in spite of how smart I am, I really thought he cared about me. But we’re not friends, and last night will never happen again. He made that really clear.” Brie hoped they wouldn’t guess how brutally she was hurt.

“He has to care,” Allie cried. “Why else bother with you at all? He saved you, protected you, healed you and made love to you.” She grinned. “Did I tell you…or what?”

Brie did not want to think about how stunning sex with a superpowered Highlander was. “It just happened and it was meaningless, at least for him. I’m afraid I was the only one who was making love. But it’s okay. I can handle it. I still love him and I have to try to save him.” She simply had to refocus. “I mean, I am here to redeem him, not to be his soul mate forever.”

“You don’t know that,” Allie said, impossibly upbeat as always.

“I haven’t been optimistic about Aidan, and I can’t forgive him for the children at Elgin, but I am almost inclined to agree with Allie.” Tabby squeezed her hand. “Last night certainly seems like a monumental turning point. Maybe Aidan can be saved, after all, by you, Brie.”

“That’s the plan,” Brie said, hoping to sound flip.

Tabby didn’t release her hand. “I hate seeing you so hurt! I’ll tell you a secret. With Guy, there was so much heartache and pain before there was true love.”

Brie shook her head. “Don’t, Tabby. Don’t give me hope. Not now, not today.”

“These medieval machos can be total jerks,” Allie said. “Royce can still be a royal pain! Aidan is on your hook, Brie, and he’s squirming, that’s all. He is fighting you tooth and nail, but we all know no one can fight Fate.”