Page 95 of Dark Embrace

Why couldn’t he let her love him?

Brie turned. The only other piece of furniture inside was a handsome, scarred and iron-bound chest at the foot of the bed. Brie went to it and opened it. She saw a folded black plaid, and she removed it. Her eyes widened.

What on earth?

Brie removed a very expensive, very modern man’s black leather jacket with a Gucci label. It was a man’s—it was worn—it was Aidan’s.

She felt him all over the leather and thought of him as she’d first met him, when he had not been tormented and dark. He’d been in his medieval Highland garb that day, but it didn’t matter. He’d been protective of her, kind to and caring of Allie and he’d flirted lightly with Sam. She knew he’d worn this jacket then, before Ian’s murder, when he’d walked in the light of the gods, when he’d been carefree and happy, a man with friends, family, a clan.

She realized she was hugging the soft, sensuous leather.

That had been long ago. Even though she was determined to see him in it again, she set the jacket aside. She rummaged through the chest and finally found a pair of very tiny baby shoes. They were pointy and embroidered, and must have been worn by Ian when he was a toddler.

Tabby, Allie and Claire were waiting for her in her bedchamber. All the castle rooms were dark, due to the lack of any kind of modern lighting and the small or glazed glass windows, but it was ablaze with candles and filled with heady, exotic fragrances. Brie thought she smelled vanilla and lilies amongst the brew. Tabby had used chalk or something like it to draw odd symbols on the stone floor, including the large circle where the women were already sitting. She had strewn petals and herbs about the pattern, which Brie didn’t recognize. A jagged line went through the circle but it was not connected, although it was obvious it should be.

Each woman sat an equal distance from one another, and it was clear Brie should sit between Tabby and Claire. She handed Tabby the shoes. Aidan’s plaid was before Tabby’s crossed legs and she set the shoes beside it. Brie sank down and met Allie’s excited gaze. “If Sam were here, it would almost be like old times,” Allie said, but then she leaned over to take Claire’s hand. “I’m so glad you’re one of us now.”

Claire smiled, but didn’t seem as excited. Brie had already decided Claire had a serious nature, which was fine by her. Not everyone could be eternally optimistic and endlessly exuberant like Allie.

Tabby had the Book before her, and she opened it and ran her hand over the adjoining pages. Brie whispered, “It used to take you days to find a spell.”

Tabby smiled at her. “My guides are very strong now.” She murmured a supplication to the gods for guidance in Gaelic, which Brie was pleased to recognize. Some things could not and would not ever change, and that included the bond between them.

Without having to be told, they reached for each other’s hands. Brie thought about the power each woman had brought to the room, and as she did so, Tabby began murmuring her spell. Brie felt the air shift and lift and swell with the power of the Rose women.

She looked at Allie, who was not a Rose, although Brie would bet anything she had holy DNA somewhere in her family tree. How else could she be such a powerful healer? Yet she was sitting there in medieval times in skinny jeans, a leather jacket and Jimmy Choos. And Claire was the daughter of a Master. Just then, she looked like a well-to-do, suburban trophy wife, never mind the long tunic she wore over her modern clothes.

But Tabby looked like a medieval sorceress in her long, velvet gown, her gold girdle and headdress. Her murmurs increased, becoming louder and urgent, and she spoke more swiftly. Brie saw that her eyes were closed and she had gone into a trance, as she had hundreds of times before. Claire’s eyes were closed, too. Brie glanced at Allie and they shared a silent look. Brie could almost hear Allie’s enthusiastic thoughts. We’ll do this!

“He’s coming,” Tabby said suddenly, and she opened her eyes.

Brie saw that Tabby was still in a trance. She sat stiffly, her complexion was waxy and her eyes glowed. Brie glanced at the door and everyone else did, too, except for Tabby, who sat as still as a statue, staring directly ahead.

Then Brie turned and looked across the room, toward the north wall. Ian was standing there. She managed not to cry out in excitement.

He started to speak and she heard him, as clear as day. But he was speaking Gaelic!

“He wants to speak to Aidan,” Tabby said softly, her gaze trained on the little boy.

Allie said, “Should we get Aidan?”

Tabby shook her head. “Please don’t move. He is upset and he might leave us.”

Brie couldn’t stop herself. “Ian, can you speak in English?” she asked, her heart thundering.

He looked at her and began speaking in a rush. “Where is my father? I want to come home!” he cried desperately.

For an instant, Brie froze. Heartbroken, she looked at Tabby, but Tabby remained in her trance. She looked desperately at Allie. What are we going to do? He can’t come home!

Allie shook her head, telling her not to do anything.

Tabby, still in a trance, said, “Do you have a message for your father?”

“Tell him to come and get me! I’m in New York,” Ian cried.

His little soul was in New York? What did that mean? Tears fell. Brie would have wiped them, but she was clutching Tabby’s and Claire’s hands and she was afraid to let go.

“Let me set you free, Ian,” Tabby murmured. She began chanting softly again, words Brie didn’t completely understand. But she was invoking the great Kaitha, the goddess of mercy, healing and death.