Page 93 of Dark Embrace

Brie trembled. “He’s not going,” she said firmly. She would not let him go.

Claire’s green eyes widened. “Brie, this is 1502. We do not refuse our king. I know you’re worried about Aidan hanging, but the refusal of royal will can also be labeled treason.”

“But Aidan is already a traitor,” Brie said. “He’s fought Frasier and the royal armies. He has to stay far from Urquhart!”

Claire took her arm. “I’m the last person to tell you to simply accept this. Do what you feel you have to do. I’ll help, and so will Malcolm.”

Brie stared at her. In that moment, she had the feeling that Claire really believed that Aidan was meant to hang and that she could not change his fate. She hugged herself uneasily.

Lust for power flooded her.

Brie gasped as the shocking lust swept through her body, swelling it, arousing it impossibly. The power began to course through her veins, giving her impossible strength, and she was savagely elated. She cried out, stunned by the bestial euphoria, the sense of near invincibility.

Someone held her up.

Brie closed her eyes, unable to detach herself from the power roaring in her veins, the urge to use her power to destroy Moray blinding and frenzied. She could destroy him now, for nothing and no one could stop her.

“Brie, what is it?” Allie cried.

Aidan was in the throes of taking power, Brie managed to think. She opened her eyes. Royce held her upright, but Allie, Tabby and Claire encircled her, and Allie held her hand tightly.

“It’s Aidan,” she said, and her stomach lurched, making her feel sick. He had so much power he could easily break down his own castle walls.

“Let me go,” she gasped, suddenly enraged.

She staggered through the hall and to the stairway. More power swept through her and she crashed into the wall. The power blinded her this time and she stood still, as wave after wave of power and rapture hit her, stars exploding everywhere. But he still wanted more….

She fought through the thick, sexual waves, the spinning frenzy, the hot, wet euphoria, as if swimming upstream. She reached the landing, breathing hard, and an even greater wave smashed into her, power and rapture becoming one. She fell this time, and wept in ecstasy.

Brie lay on the stone floor, sobbing in pleasure, the power endless now, streaming through her. And then the rapture faded, leaving nothing but the sense of absolute and savage euphoria.

She lay very still. Had Aidan become invincible? Or did he simply think himself invincible?

Booted steps sounded.

Brie looked up and saw Aidan emerging from the chamber. His glittering gaze swept her and he faltered.

Brie pushed to sit up, and their gazes locked.

She reminded herself that he needed power if he was ever going to survive and defeat Moray. She said softly, “How could you?”

“Ye should be on Iona,” he snarled.

Brie shook her head, distraught. “Is anyone alive?” And she knew it was an accusation.

He flushed. “They’re all alive,” he said, his tone low and dangerous. “I’m half deamhan, remember?”

“I think I hate you,” she whispered.

He strode past her.

Brie began to cry. She stumbled to her feet and to the doorway. Shocked, she stared at the three women lying unmoving on the bed. They were fully dressed. No one had a garment askew or hair astray. The bed was perfectly made up.

She opened her mind to the room and the women. The women were alive. The room felt still, clean and oddly chaste.

Brie gasped, shuddered and reached for the door, holding herself upright. She was beyond exhaustion and, unlike Aidan, she wasn’t filled with power. Sharing the experience of taking so much life made her feel shaky and weak. She felt sick. She was not certain of what had happened in this room. It almost felt as if he had taken power without touching or using anyone.

But why would he do that?