Page 67 of Dark Embrace

She shifted softly in her sleep.

He tensed, concerned that she was dreaming, but she was not. She remained asleep, but before he could turn away from her, he felt his father’s dark power behind him.

Aidan whirled, but the night was silent and empty. Or was it?

Years ago, Moray had brought a great chill with him, and a huge, foreboding sense that a terrible hammer of evil was about to fall. Aidan strained through the night and shivered. He thought he detected a new chill, just barely drifting into the tent.

He moved to the tent flap and lifted it. Most of the camp was asleep, some in their brats and blankets upon the ground, the rest in tents, with their many fires now barely burning. Even the women’s camp was quiet, most of the fires in ashes and embers. He glanced south, where the horses and pack animals were tethered and grazing quietly, unbothered by the shadows and the darkness.

The air murmured around him, brushing up against him, a soft caress that chilled him to the bone.

Moray was there.

He could not see him; he could not feel him. He simply knew. “Reveal yourself,” he hissed.

He almost thought he heard his father’s mocking laughter, but he felt certain it was in his mind. And then he felt Brianna’s dream forming.

He rushed to her bedside to wake her up, but before he reached her, he slipped into her sleep to guard her. He faltered in surprise and dismay.

Brianna wore a pretty blue dress, sleeveless and short, revealing half of her slim legs and all of her shapely arms, and she was breathtakingly beautiful. “I knew you would come to me.” She smiled at him, her eyes intent and trained upon him. They were warm with desire, with love.

He knew what she wanted. His entire body stiffened in anticipation.

“We’re dreaming,” she told him. “Please don’t refuse me now.”

He wanted to be there with her. He wanted to make love to her. But something was terribly wrong—he sensed impending doom.

“I can’t,” he said, but he started toward her.

She smiled and stood, holding out her hand.

He faltered. What was he doing in her dream, anyway? He had already realized making love to her in a dream was as dangerous as doing so in the other world.

“Wake up,” he ordered her. He had to end this now, before it went further.

Stubborn as always, Brianna shook her head and reached behind her back for the zipper on her dress. Aidan went still.

And then her eyes widened in abject alarm.

Moray materialized between them.

Aidan became rigid with tension.

His demonic father was not using Robert Frasier now. He appeared exactly as he had before Malcolm and Claire had vanquished him; a tall, handsome blond man, oddly ageless. He stood between them, his smile diabolic. “My power is far greater than yours, my son. Dream, Brianna. Dream of your great love, Aidan.”

Brianna cried out and Aidan felt her fear. He wanted to rush to her, but he didn’t dare. In absolute dread, Aidan stared at his father. “What do ye want of me?”

“What do I want?” Moray asked incredulously. “You want to make love.” His blue eyes glowed red with demonic rage.

Aidan shook his head, but he understood. His desire was not demonic. Somehow, his father knew it and would make one of them pay for it.

“You should lust for the pleasure her life can give you, but you stand there, stricken with desire,” he hissed. “Did you think I would fail to remark it?”

“I take power every day,” Aidan said harshly. His gaze was on Moray, but he was acutely aware of Brianna standing behind his father, as pale as a ghost. “Brianna, wake up,” he ordered.

Brianna seemed near tears.

“She can’t wake up,” Moray said coldly. “You haven’t taken power, not a single time, since you brought her from the future to Awe.”