Page 71 of Dark Embrace

“It was a dream,” Brie cried.

“Was it?” he demanded. “Because it was the most realistic dream I have had. We were both trapped there by some huge power until the Wolf freed us.”

She moved to touch his arm but he jerked away. “I am on your side,” she tried. “I can’t stand what is happening, either.”

He breathed hard. “He’s afraid of the Wolf. His power worked on the man, but mayhap the Wolf can escape his spells.”

Brie tensed. She didn’t want to rely on that beast, not ever. They needed more power—and a few spells of their own. “I’m afraid to ask how much power Moray has.”

Their gazes locked. “The next time ye die in a dream, ye won’t awaken, ever. I have no doubt of that.”

Brie trembled. “I think you may be right.”

He suddenly covered his face with his hands, and Brie knew he was thinking about the fact that he had just seen and heard his son. She was desperate to comfort him and she went to him. When he remained unmoving, she laid her hand on his back.

He looked at her, his eyes ablaze. “I could invite him back fer another dream, an’ even ask him to bring my son with him. I’d see Ian again.”

“Haven’t you dreamed of Ian before?”

“I never dream of him. There’s only the haunting,” he said.

That was as cruel as the rest of his life. She caressed his big shoulder.

He stared down at her. “Ye need to get dressed and stop touchin’ me.”

She dropped her hand. “I want to comfort you.”

His gaze turned cold. “I won’t make love to ye,” he warned.

Unease began. She turned, found her jeans and slid them on. As she snapped them, she looked up. He was watching her as closely as a hawk. “I really wish I could read your mind. What is it?”

“He told me Ian lives.”

Alarm began. “Aidan, it’s a lie, a ploy!”

He wet his lips, his stare hard. “Ye ken what he wants now?”

“Yes. He wants you to be pure evil, a demon with no heart, no soul. A demon capable of mayhem, torture, cruelty and murder.”

“He wants me to bed ye an’ destroy ye, an’ enjoy it.”

Brie knew Aidan would never be so demonic, but his gaze was hard now.

“If I take pleasure in yer death, he’ll give me my son back.”

“Ian is dead!” Brie cried.

“Is he?” Aidan roared. “Is he dead or is he alive?”

She felt her insides vanish. She backed up.

He grasped his head as if to wrench it from his neck and let the block on his emotions fall away.

Brie screamed as his confusion, his anguish and rage hit her, blow after blow. She staggered backward as his torment pummeled her, as brutal and random as a hailstorm. As she went to her knees, he just stood there, watching her, his every emotion out of all control, and she became aware of something else woven into the pain.

The knowledge that Ian might be given back to him, if he did as Moray asked.

On her knees, she looked up at him, a hammer banging inside her head.