Page 50 of Dark Embrace

He looked coolly at her. “So ye can relive the dream?”

“You came to me in a dream,” she whispered. Her heart lurched. What had happened?

His eyes widened. Then, savagely, he replied, “I came to use ye, Brianna, but ye refuse to ken the truth.”

She hugged herself. “No. Because I recall that kiss, and it was filled with passion.”

“I need power,” Aidan said, his gaze brilliant with sudden fury. “I want power. I went to ye to take power!” He whirled. “Ye want sex? Ye want pleasure? Find a lover, but it won’t be me.”

His fury caused Brie to collapse on the bed. She looked up at him. He was livid, but the memories started rushing over her, through her. “Making love won’t doom you, Aidan. It will heal you.”

“Ye canna heal me, Brianna. I willna allow it.” His teeth bared, he stormed from the tent.

CHAPTER EIGHT

AIDAN STRODE AWAY FROM HIS TENT, furious with Brianna. The moment he’d closed the flap behind him, he started to limp. Pain stabbed through his knees and throbbed within him. He hadn’t exaggerated. He was injured as he hadn’t been injured since he’d been chosen by the Brotherhood. That giant had been dangerously powerful—and he knew its power had somehow been enhanced by Moray. He had just barely escaped with his own life.

But he hadn’t destroyed the evil consuming the giant.

Head down, knees aching, his chest and arm still on fire, Aidan suddenly felt a huge and familiar white power barring his way. He halted, looking up, dismayed.

MacNeil stood before him, his green eyes dark, his expression grim.

A new, terrible tension assailed Aidan. “O’ course. How foolish o’ me not to ken ye’d be here.” MacNeil had the Sight, although he conveniently claimed he could only see when the gods allowed it. He had either seen Moray’s return or he had sensed it.

“Let me heal ye, lad,” the tall, golden man said softly.

“Fuck off,” Aidan snarled. “I’ll take power from the whores.”

“Yer in pain. ’Tis clear Moray has spent the sixty-six years growin’ his evil powers. Yer fortunate to live this day.” MacNeil swept his hand out, and white rain shimmered over Aidan.

He would never forgive MacNeil for callously accepting Ian’s death, and for knowing of it without warning him. He would never forgive MacNeil for choosing the gods over his son. Even though the healing shower instantly began to soothe his injuries, Aidan flung his power furiously at MacNeil. The golden Master blocked the silver wave easily and it veered off into the woods. Trunks cracked apart and the trees slammed to the ground, which briefly shook.

“Do ye feel better?” MacNeil asked.

“I will hate ye till I die,” Aidan snapped, breathing hard. “Did ye come to hear me beg fer help? Because I will never do so!”

MacNeil laid his hand on Aidan’s arm. A wonderful warmth swept through Aidan’s entire body, and he knew he was healed from the day’s terrible battle. “I would never expect ye to beg fer anything from anyone, Aidan. But ye need me an’ ye need the Brotherhood.”

Aidan shrugged away. “So ye’ll battle with a half deamhan?” he laughed.

“To vanquish Moray? Aye, I’ll command the brethren to aid ye. I already have.”

“I dinna want or need yer help,” Aidan said, but he began to seriously recall the events of that day. He did not know the extent of Moray’s powers and he did not know if he had enough power, on his own, to destroy him once and for all.

“Ye’ve seen his newest power of possession.” MacNeil spoke quietly.

“Aye.” Aidan finally gave in. He needed information, so he would tolerate the abbot. “Can he emerge as anyone, at any time?”

“Aye, but ’tis easier fer him to possess the weak an’ the evil.”

Aidan turned away. One of Brianna’s demonic bodyguards could turn the corner, and it could be Moray. He faced the golden Master tersely. “He’s disguised his evil well. He used to bring a great chill with him. I used to feel his black power long before I faced it. I dinna feel any chill or his particular power today.”

“He has been carefully sowing his powers all these years. He’s learned to hide until he wishes otherwise. He managed to find a part of the Duisean,” MacNeil said, “and I think he has it hidden in yer lady’s time.”

Aidan went still. The Duisean was the Book of Power, stolen from its holy shrine hundreds of years ago. The Brotherhood had been searching for it for centuries. “So he used the book to come back from Malcolm’s vanquishing,” he said slowly.

“His return was written,” MacNeil said flatly. “I dinna ken if he had the pages of the Duisean then.”