Part 15 (1/2)

Breac drew himself up to his full height, scanned the crowd, his face hewn in a somber cast. ”Aye, 'tis my honor, one I take with a heavy heart.”

Rowan fought to break free, glaring at Aedan's cousin when her every attempt failed. d.a.m.n him, somehow she had to stop him.

As the crowd's vile cures tainted the air, Breac shoved her before him. ”The witch will pay for her treachery. Before the oncoming dawn, she will die!”

”There is no need to wait,” a vampire with a scar across his jaw said, his fangs lengthening. ”Toss her down. We will see to her death.”

Cheers rose from the throng, and hunger burned in their eyes.

”She has made us suffer by cursing our laird and friend, and suffering will be her fate,” Breac stated. ”Have a fire built within the center of the bailey.”

No! Rowan struggled against Breac's hold; one of his fingernails dug deep into the pulse at her neck. She stilled.

”Is it your wish to die now?” Breac hissed. ”I a.s.sure you, if I slashed your neck and cast you into the crowd, my people would gladly feed upon you. I believe 'tis their wish.”

Heart pounding, Rowan shook her head.

Wood clunked.

She glanced across the bailey. Vampires piled branches at the center. Small limbs were quickly covered with st.u.r.dy logs, which would burn for hours.

”You see your penance ahead, a death that will be painfully slow,” Breac said with a laugh, the boom of his voice echoing out to the crowd. ”Let me keep you waiting no longer.” He shoved her down the steps.

The vampires parted before them, cursing her, yelling inventive tortures to add before her death.

The stacked wood grew as they closed in on her. Tremors rippled over her skin at the thought of flames scorching her.

Strong arms eagerly claimed her from Breac's hold. ”Bewitching our laird,” Sir Wayrn charged. ”A fitting death for you.” He slid ropes around her wrists, her legs, jerked tight.

Hemp bit into her flesh. Focus. Aedan!

Silence.

No, their blood connected them. He had to hear her! Aedan, help, they are going to burn me!

Where are you? Rage echoed within his voice as it burst into the mayhem swirling in her mind.

Caorann Castle!

Mist exploded a pace away. Aedan stood within the fade of white, his face carved in furious outrage. Striding forward, he tore off Rowan's gag.

Air, fresh, cool, slid down her throat.

Breac whirled, cursed. ”Guards, light the fire!” He dove onto Aedan.

Pain tore through Aedan's body as his cousin drove him against the ground.

Straddled atop him, Breac reached toward his chest.

Outraged his cousin would dare attempt to tear out his heart, Aedan caught Breac's wrist. Bones cracked, shattering beneath his raw force. ”Bed.a.m.ned your betrayal!”

”Aedan!” Rowan screamed.

Aedan glanced over.

Vampires had cast torches at the base of the wood stacked below Rowan. It caught, roared to life. The stench of smoke filled the air.

By the sword's blade! He catapulted his cousin back, shoved to his feet, and lunged toward her.

In midair, Breac tackled him. With a powerful force, his cousin hurled him against the keep.

Shouts of warning echoed through the bailey as their clan encircled them, creating an arena for them to spar.

With a curse he glanced toward Rowan.

Her face paled against the growing flames, her eyes betraying the belief she would die.

Nay! Aedan shoved Breac away, bolted toward the flames, the crowd parting before him. Heat singed the air; smoke billowed around him, the stench of it thick. Aedan severed the ties holding Rowan and leapt with her well away from the dangerous spew of flames.

”You are safe,” he whispered, cradling her against his chest.

”Aedan,” she whispered, her body trembling, ”I-I thought I was going to die.”

Unease rippled through the throng as the vampires watched them.

Aware that until he'd dealt with his cousin, she was far from safe, Aedan set her down. ”Stay here. I must-”

Feet plowed into his chest. Aedan stumbled back.

Breac's lengthened nails dug into Aedan's flesh as they rolled upon the earth. His blood and Breac's melded with dirt.

”You will nae save her!” his cousin yelled.

Using Breac's momentum, Aedan rolled him onto his back and pinned his arms. Chest heaving, he glared at him. ”She has done naught!”

”Aye, she has tainted you,” he spat, ”left you crazed and unfit to be our laird.”

Several vampires nearby watched Aedan with suspicion, and sadness poured through Aedan. In his l.u.s.t to become laird, his cousin had become twisted, lost in his greed for power. Worse, Breac had poisoned the minds of their people, with lies he must dispel.

Regardless of their bond of blood, as long as Breac remained at Caorann Castle, he would seek to undermine Aedan's position if not attempt to kill both him and Rowan. Though they had spent their youth together, lads who had played tricks on others as they'd grown, then men who'd turned to each other for advice, it changed naught. However much he loved his cousin, Breac must leave.

”You are forbidden ever to return to the Highland Coven,” Aedan commanded. ”And fortunate that I have not killed you for your attempt on Rowan's life, or for the lies you have spoken.”

Breac hesitated, then tears blurred his eyes. ”G.o.d's teeth, Aedan. What have I done?” He looked away. ”You are my blood, yet ... Shamed I am. More than you will ever know.” Several tears fell. ”Please, I beg you, give me one more chance.”

Aedan remained silent. Before this day he would have. Nae any longer.

Breac's body grew limp as if he'd given up, as if he understood the travesty he'd committed. However much Aedan detested Breac's banishment, 'twas his cousin's actions that had made it imperative. He released his cousin, shoved to his feet. ”Be gone.”

Without comment, Breac dragged himself to his feet. After one last look of regret, he stumbled toward the portcullis.