Page 116 of Dark Embrace

He had to stop this.

Claire clung to his hand. “The history books all say he dies, but I can’t stand it, either. Malcolm, do something!”

“Aidan,” Malcolm cried.

The noose was around his neck as he stood above the crowd on the scaffold, barefoot and clad only in his leine, shoulders squared, head held high. He had been looking far into the distance, above the crowd, but his blue gaze settled on Malcolm, bleak and worn. He smiled in resignation. Thank ye fer yer faith.

“Release me from my vows,” Malcolm roared.

Aidan seemed to shake his head. Take care o’Brianna. Guard her well. Let me go now. I’m done with war.

Malcolm decided to hell with his vows. But before he could blast the rope into shreds, Royce seized his arm, blocking his power. “Let him go. He wishes to die.”

“I canna!” Malcolm shouted at his uncle, well aware that his uncle understood this twist of irony far better than he ever would.

“He is tired o’ his grief. He needs peace. Canna ye see it? Canna ye feel it?” Royce asked softly.

“He’s my brother.”

“Aye, an’ he has been grievin’ fer his son fer too many years. Now he wishes to protect the woman he loves. He dies blessed, nay in shame or disgrace.”

Suddenly Allie left them, and ran through the crowd to halt at Aidan’s feet. Tears streaming down her face, she cried up to him, “Let us stop this. Let me heal you!”

“An’ can ye save Brianna from Moray?” he asked her softly.

Allie started to weep.

Aidan dragged his gaze away

“Brie loves you…I love you!” Allie sobbed. “Don’t do this!”

Soldiers seized her, dragging her back. “Another word and you will be arrested, Lady Morvern,” Frasier snapped. “’Tis noon. Hang him.”

Allie screamed, fighting the soldiers. Royce rushed to her side. He stepped between the men, taking his wife into his arms. Tabby and Guy Macleod materialized beside them. Those who noticed gasped and crossed themselves, but most eyes were on the man on the platform. The floor dropped. Without support, Aidan swung in the air by the noose around his neck, and finally a loud crack resounded.

Malcolm roared.

“Jesu,” Guy whispered, holding his wife upright.

Aidan’s head fell forward.

Allie collapsed in Royce’s arms. “Let me heal him.”

“Let him go, Ailios. Let him go.”

A STUNNING FEELING, like a knife sliding deep into her heart, went through her. Brie paled, doubling over.

“Brianna?” Ian slid his arm around her.

She felt dizzy, faint. She blinked up at him. This was Aidan’s son. Ian had not been murdered in 1436 after all. Aidan had to know. It might change everything. “What happened?” Brie whispered.

Having steadied her, he released her. He said tersely, “I was released after his execution in 1502. In fact, I later learned I was released that very day.” He laughed without mirth. “I had just been returned to Elgin. Evil had no more use for me. It went on to other prey. Because of his black power, I was still nine years old, even though I had been imprisoned in New York City for most of the sixty-six years.”

The extent of the abuse he’d suffered hit her. He had been imprisoned for decades in New York City and he had been nine years old the entire time. What child could withstand that kind of cruel abuse? “Oh, my god, we have to change this!”

“Ye can’t change Fate,” he snapped.

She searched his angry eyes. “How did you survive?”