Page 61 of Dark Embrace

She felt like slapping him silly. “I have never heard of a more stupid plan! I think this is some kind of demonic setup for you to hang.” She faced him, barring his way, hands on her hips. “But you can’t hang. I mean, you can simply leap away, into the future or the past, unless a great power blocks you.”

He stared, not answering.

“And Moray has great power now because he has a part of the Duisean. This is getting worse and worse!”

“I shouldna have brought ye to my time. I brought ye into this.” His mouth was a hard, tight line. “Yer afraid, an’ I dinna blame ye. But ye’ll be safe on Iona, Brianna.” He paused, then said harshly, “Ye need to stop carin’ fer me.”

What the hell did that mean? “If you are warning me to prepare myself for your death, like hell I will!” she cried shrilly. It really hit her then. She loved him. Maybe it hadn’t ever been a crush; maybe it had been love at first sight. She didn’t really know. What she did know was that she loved him now, and she wasn’t going to let him hang or go on pretending to be some badass demon. “What did you offer the gods?”

“Doesna matter.”

“It matters, damn it.”

“Ye’ll feel better an’ think more clearly when yer on Iona.” He tried to force a smile but it vanished as instantly as it formed. “The island’s pretty an’ peaceful. Ye’ll like it there.”

“I am not leaving you!” she cried furiously. She realized tears had welled and one had fallen down her cheek. “We’re in big trouble, the both of us, together.”

“There’s nay we, Brianna,” he said harshly. He took her arm. As his hand closed around her, she tensed, but not because of the contact.

The ground tilted wildly and began to spin. Instantly she knew a vision was coming. Dread began. She knew she did not want to see whatever was about to form. The landscape whirled until she could not see the tents, the men, the cook fires or Aidan. And then the spinning kaleidoscope of color slowed, shadowy images forming.

A huge crowd of men and women in linen tunics and plaids gathered before stone walls. She saw a stately palace, as well, and heard the crowd. There were cheers, jeers, laughter. Brie saw red and gold leaves. Snow dusted the ground.

And she saw Malcolm. He was at the front of the crowd, holding Claire. Those around him were laughing and pleased, but he was crying in anguish.

No, she thought desperately.

She saw Allie, screaming and fighting someone—Royce, her husband.

Brie did not want to see any more. With gut-wrenching horror, she followed Malcolm’s gaze and cried out.

Aidan was hanging above the crowd, twirling slowly in the breeze, his neck crooked, his face downturned.

Brie gasped, eyes flying open, clinging to Aidan’s arms.

He was staring down at her in concern.

Brie realized she was weeping. He had carried her to the bed in their tent. She had just seen Aidan hanged. Her visions always came true. What was she going to do?

“Ye swooned.” His quiet voice interrupted her frantic thoughts.

She moved her hands, seizing his strong shoulders. Power pulsed in his muscles and veins, so much male power. She was not going to let him die. Not now, not when he was changing before her very eyes, not when she loved him so much.

Aidan’s mouth tightened.

In that moment, she knew he’d been inside her mind and he’d seen all that she had.

“It’s a mistake. It has to be,” she breathed, precariously close to more tears.

“Dinna weep for me, Brianna.” A false smile came and went. “I am hardly worth yer tears.”

“Do not speak that way.”

His eyes flickered oddly and his gaze slipped to her mouth, then lifted. “I dinna wish to live to old age.” He shifted as if to stand, but did not do so. “Ye must be tired. I will guard ye while ye sleep.”

He was sitting on that small bed with her, and she had his huge shoulders in her hands. Her fear was receding, replaced by an acute, painful awareness of him, not just as a sexy, beautiful man, but as a man struggling to make his way back to the light.

She hadn’t felt any emotions from him—not since his fury and terror in the battle earlier with Frasier. He was adeptly blocking his feelings from her. But heat was rising in her, replacing the fear. With the slowly incoming tide of desire, there was so much love.