~ Ten ~
JEREMY RETURNED AND DROPPED three leather bound manuscripts on a nearby coffee table in the library and drew my attention to one.
I smiled. “Did you find anything about my Shama?” I asked. I really hoped he had. I would love to know my family’s origins.
“No, not yet, but I will. In the meantime, read that.” He pointed to one page in particular. “All of this is packed with information that can help us proceed with your training, but this page has something you will need right away.” He clucked his tongue and added, “I have to go out for a couple of hours as I have a closing I can’t neglect, but don’t worry, I’ll be back long before dark.”
“I’m not worried. I don’t need a babysitter,” I told him archly.
He smiled and said, “No, that’s good, because when all is said and done, I think I may.”
I laughed. I liked him. I watched him leave and curled up in the corner of my favorite leather sofa and stared at the page he had indicated.
Mrs. Tunny stepped into the room as Jeremy had left both library doors wide open and she cleared her throat.
I smiled and said, “Hi, and good morning, Mrs. Tunny.”
“Indeed, miss. It is a lovely morning. I…er…met Mr. Ascot on his way out and he informed me he stayed last evening down the hall from ye and would be staying here for a time.”
“Yes. I hope it won’t mean more work for you? He thought we would do well to work long evenings for a time and that it would be convenient for him.”
“No, no, and I am that pleased…very pleased that ye won’t be alone in the evenings,” she said, and actually smiled warmly at me. She eyed me and asked, “Would ye like coffee and some eggs? I’ve made Davis a plate and there is plenty.”
“Oh, what a doll you are. Yes, yes, I would. Shall I come to the kitchen?” I said.
“Tch now, lass, I can see Mr. Ascot set ye to working already so I’m happy to bring ye a tray,” she answered and hurried off.
I spent the rest of the morning, after devouring eggs, toast, and wonderful potatoes, studying Jeremy’s manuscript. He was quite right. That one page he had pointed out was jam-packed with very important spells. One spell in particular caught my interest. I have a good memory. I immediately memorized it, worked it over in my head, and then put the spell to the test—sorta.
It was a protection spell and in this case, for myself. A personal shield of sorts, a bit different than the one my mother had taught me.
I grinned as I made my way to the kitchen to try it out on Mrs. Tunny.
It was nearly lunchtime, and as I came up beside Mrs. Tunny I got a whiff of the banana bread in the oven and said, “Oh, yum…smells so good.”
She eyed me. “Ye could do with a little meat on yer bones, child. Here sit…” she said, and reached over to steer me to the table.
I didn’t remove the shield and her hand seemed to stop short of my arm. Surprised but only mildly curious about this, she waved me forward and said, “Sit, go on with ye now, and I’ll put a nice chicken sandwich before ye.”
I couldn’t help but smile to myself. It had worked!
Now all I had to do to remove my protection shield was to blink and silently chant—San fhaclair air fad. Apparently it was from an ancient Gaelic language that Jeremy had discovered, loosely meaning terminate.
Unlike myself, he and his sister knew where they had come from and why. Reading through the beginning of the journal, I discovered that there had been a war in Jeremy’s world, a world called Osmis—Land of the Wizards.
During the war, Dark fought Light for control. He and his sister had not reached their majority yet, but were old enough to survive on their own. His parents sent them to the Human Realm for their protection when things looked dire. Jeremy wrote in the journal that his parents were never heard from again and when he came into his full powers, he discovered his realm had been destroyed.
He and his sister managed and then she met and fell in love with Devin MacLeod.
I felt a twinge of something I couldn’t name reading this, but brushed the odd sensation away. All things Devin MacLeod were troublesome and confusing to me.
I looked at Mrs. Tunny, who was covered in flour, and I laughed out loud. “You have as much on you as on the cutting board,” I told her.
She laughed. “I do, don’t I. ‘Tis m’own fault. I dinnae have the flour tin tightly closed and some of it spilled when I took it down from the cupboard. I’ll go wash up when I’m done.”
“Mrs. Tunny, I need to purchase a few things, some toiletries and such that I didn’t have time to shop for before I left New York. How do I get into town? Is there a bus or something?”
“Och aye, child, one way or another we can get ye there, but can ye drive?”
“Sure,” I said, excited at the notion of venturing out on my own.
“Well, we have a serviceable SUV in the garage. It is meant for our use…but mostly Davis uses it. Jeff, down at the stables, has a pickup for his needs. The key for the SUV is in the central hall on the key rack near the door. Feel free. Are ye going now?”
“No, I have a few more things to do,” I told her.
She gave me a long look. “Well, don’t go too late. Ye need to get back before dark.”
“I will,” I told her, to hopefully get off the subject. “Can you be honest with me and tell me why you think I need to be worried about the dark?” I had a notion that Mrs. Tunny knew a great deal more than she was letting on.
“Do ye believe in things beyond yer ken?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said, and looked directly into her eyes. “Yes, I do.”
“Right then, did Mr. Ascot tell ye about the night his lordship left here…?”
“Yes, he did,” I said without giving up anything.
“Did he now? Well, then, I’ll tell ye this. Odd doings that night. Servants lived here in the castle then and one of ‘em…was but a boy then. The lad snuck into the kitchen for a snack and heard someone at the door. He, being a curious lad, took a peek and saw her.”
“Saw her?” I knew, of course, Mrs. Tunny was referring to Allora.
“Aye, her ladyship, who the servants were fond of, invited the woman indoors and the lad was stunned by the stranger’s beautiful face, though he said he feared her at the same time. The lad nearly passed out when he watched the beautiful stranger suddenly produce a sword and just as suddenly strike. He said it happened just as his mistress realized what the woman was…but before she had a moment to defend herself.” Mrs. Tunny looked at me hard. “The lad was twelve, so when he told his parents, they couldna believe him. There was no body, no blood, no sign of her ladyship. She simply vanished. The lad’s name was Tom Franks. After that, the family was kept on even after his lordship, unable to deal with his grief, moved abroad.”
“I see, but what precisely are you telling me now.” I wanted to know what she knew.
“Tom Franks is a good friend of m’son and friend of Davis’ son. They work at the same corporate firm in London. Aye, so we knew his side of the story directly from him. He was a friend and we know what he saw really happened. He wasn’t a fanciful lad and wouldna make it up. We know there was something…wrong that happened in the castle and then last month, Tom and m’boy, William, were on business in Paris when Tom saw her. He saw her. He saw her ladyship’s murderer in Paris. She looked, even after twenty-two years, exactly the same. We, all of us, already believe in vampires and Tom was sure that night that he was looking on an ancient vampire. Davis and I both believe him.”
I studied her for a moment and asked, “Have you reason to believe in vampires? Do the villagers all believe in vampires?”
“Aye, many do and Davis and I have reason. M’husband was killed by one. They wrote it off, but I saw the puncture marks and they couldna hide that he was drained of blood. They said it was a cult with a blood fetish, but I knew. Davis was m’husband’s close friend. He was with me when I had to go to the coroner’s office. He saw what I saw, and he believes. There are stories villagers tell that go back a hundred years…about vampires.” She eyed me. “Do ye think I’m just a superstitious fool?”
“No. I agree with you. Vampires exist. I don’t just believe it, I know it. I will take precautions,” I told her.
She sighed. “Garlic won’t work. And that one…that killed her ladyship—she was invited in, don’t ye see. Her ladyship made the mistake of inviting her in. She can come and go at will at MacLeod. So then, Mr. Ascot staying here is all well and fine, but how can he protect ye from an ancient vampire?”
“We are on it and you don’t have to worry,” I said, and threw my arms around her.
A minute later I devoured the lunch she set for me and before I left the kitchen, she wrapped a large cookie in a napkin and handed it to me.
I grinned and waved it at her as I left the kitchen, calling out, “Back to work for me.”
Whew! Mrs. Tunny and Davis believed in vampires. Well, now that explained a great deal. No wonder they didn’t want me here at night and no wonder they always made certain to get home before dark.
I spent another hour reading and studying Jeremy’s manuscript, took a call from him saying he was delayed at the closing, and decided to head to town.
I got the SUV keys from the brass key rack near the front door and hurried out and to the four car garage in the courtyard.
Inside the neatly kept garage I found three classic beauties from the seventies—a Corvette convertible in blazing red, a silver Jaguar, and a black BMW. I smiled to myself. Devin MacLeod had apparently liked cars back then.
I walked over to the SUV, a dark green Jaguar F-pace and admired its lines. As it was new, I imagined that Jeremy had purchased it for use at the estate.
I got inside and realized from the ‘new car’ aroma that it had to have been a recent purchase and wondered if he had installed it for me.
I set the GPS for the village and started off, but as I backed up the car, I heard Devin say, “Aye, lass, do what ye must, but coom back before nightfall.”
I turned in the driver’s seat. There he stood, his legs akimbo and his arms folded across his muscular and massive chest. His glorious black hair framed his chiseled handsome face and his blue eyes devastated me with his obvious concern.
“Hi…don’t worry. I practiced putting my shield in place and yes, I’ll get back as fast as I can.”
“So ye say, but remember, ye dinnae know the likes of Allora Brently.”
“I won’t be too long,” I answered, and backed up the SUV.
I looked in my rearview mirror and saw him still standing on his side of the transparent wall, watching me.
He looked forlorn. He was a big man, a supernatural. He stood watching me go, and his expression told me a story.
Hmm. Wheel was on the wrong side, I chuckled to myself as I got the hang of driving on the opposite side of the road. Yup, I was no longer in Kansas.
Devin MacLeod took over my thoughts. I was drawn to him. I told myself it was because of the circumstances, my grandmother had cast the spell, but…even so, something about him called to me.
Damn, but I was going to find a way to free him!
~ Eleven ~
I WAS STARVING BY the time I finished my little tour of the main avenue of MacLeod Village. The town was made up of charming little shops with window boxes full of colorful flowers. It was a little river town and some of the stores and one quaint little café was located right on the river.
I stuffed my bags into the SUV and made up my mind. A seat with a view of the river and a spot of tea and those little cakes. Oh yeah.
How could I pass that up? I didn’t.
Inside, the décor that accented the dark beamed ceilings was perfect, just as I always imagined it would be. Tables and chairs were set up on the balcony overlooking the quiet river and although it was quite crowded, the hostess found a place for me. It was heaven.
“I heard someone mention some ruins nearby. Brently, I think they called it. Is it open for tourists?” I asked the waitress who took my order. I wanted to get a feel for what the villagers thought of Brently and just where its location was.
“Aye, but ye dinnae want to go there,” she answered, and shook her head. “Best go towards Inverness if it’s ruins ye want to tour.”
“Oh? Why?”
“Brently Manor is privately owned, and though it has fallen into some disrepair, it isn’t the kind of place ye would want to explore, even if it was allowed.”
“Oh, is that the only ruins nearby?”
“Aye, miss…”
“Bobbie,” I answered.
She laughed. “What is it for, Bobbie?”
“Roberta.” I pulled a face.
“Och now, Roberta is a lovely name.”
“Bobbie,” I emphasized, and she grinned.
“Dinnae go to Brently.” She shook her head. “Besides, ‘tisn’t open to the public.”
“Oh, ok, maybe I’ll just drive by it and take some pictures. Is it far?”
“Ten minutes or so by car.” She shrugged and then made a show of shivering. “Went there once with m’friends after school, some years ago. Never will again. Ye can smell the evil in that place, ye can.”
“Oooh, thanks then, I’ll avoid it,” I said to appease her as I made up my mind to visit Brently during the day and soon. Perhaps there was something hidden there that would help me find the right spell to free Devin?
I lingered over delicious tea, scones, and yes, little sandwiches, when I noticed the overcast sky. Hmm, it was getting late and I didn’t want to drive in what looked like was going to be a downpour, so I headed for the SUV. Although it was already well after six by the time I headed back for the castle, I didn’t think it was really quite dark yet. However, Naomi had taught me that many vamps can roam about as long as there is no direct sunlight. But that wasn’t why I was on edge. I had a nervous sensation in my gut…a foreboding I couldn’t shake.
Perhaps it was only because Mrs. Tunny had me spooked? I put my foot down on the gas and moved out a bit faster and there he was, in the middle of the road, smiling!
Right in my path…a vampire with his fangs dripping with blood and a woman limp against him.
He held her tightly and I knew when she opened her eyes and looked towards me she was still alive. Damn, damn, double damn! How the hell do I save her?
What do I do? What do I do? I can’t leave her for him to kill, but that was just what he wanted, for me to challenge him. I couldn’t run him down, which wouldn’t kill him but only knock him out for a time, not with him holding onto her.
Shama! I went into my head and searched the archives for something, anything I could find to use to help rescue the poor woman and still get away clean. Shama allowed me in and pointed me in the right direction.
I found it. First, I hurriedly shielded myself, stopped the car completely and got out. Bravado is something I learned when I was a twerp of a kid.
“Hey, vamp…were you waiting on me?”
“Nothing personal, but I have my orders,” the creep in black leathers and spiked brown hair said. He made the mistake of bending towards the woman as he told me, “First, I’ll finish my meal…”
I put out my hand and shouted, “Téarmaí cosúla!”
The vamp dropped the woman and put his hands to his head as agony filled every nerve ending. He screamed as he knelt beneath the weight of the pain.
I have always been good transporting myself short distances. I call it my poof thing. Would I be able to transport both the woman and myself back into my car?
I poofed in a cloud of violet smoke, took the young woman’s limp hand, and poofed us back into my car.
Whew! Done. Wow. I would have patted myself on the back, but I had no idea how long I could keep the vamp in pain.
I had never shut off the car, so I simply put it back in drive and sped past the vamp as quickly as the car would take us.
I knew as soon as I was out of range, the pain I had inflicted on the vamp would stop, and he could, with super-speed, follow us.
I had to be ready because we still had to make it into the castle from the courtyard. What I planned to do with the poor woman then, I hadn’t yet figured out. One thing at a time!
Sure enough, I saw him or rather a flash of him in my rearview mirror. He was taking a shortcut through the woods. Apparently he knew MacLeod woods very well. I knew he meant to intercept me at the castle courtyard.
I was going to have to kill this thing…this murdering, inhuman thing. Was I ready to do that? I have never been good at killing things. Even when I kill a spider in the house, I have nightmares about its family mourning it. Crazy shit.
I looked at the poor young woman limply lying beside me. Oh yeah, this was a do or die, or rather, kill or be killed moment in my life. This vamp was going down. No regrets afterwards.
I reached the courtyard and parked as I speed dialed Jeremy. He answered at once.
“Bobbie…where the devil are you?”
“Outside in the courtyard. Attacked by a vamp. Have a woman he nearly killed with me. Can you help me distract the vamp while we get her inside?”
“Damn! I’ll be right there!” Jeremy snapped and a moment later, the vamp that had arrived at my window was now backing up as he stared at the warlock coming at him, stake in one hand, fireball in the other.
The vamp tried to use super-speed to escape, but Jeremy already held him in place with a spell.
I stopped dead and watched, thoroughly impressed.
Jeremy charged him and took him down flat on his back with very little effort, it was as though he was controlling the vampire with his mind.
He screamed with ferocious anger as he drove the stake into the vamp and then lit him on fire with the fireball of magic.
Only ash was left behind.
In the blink of that proverbial eye, only ash where once a monster had been.
The next thing I knew, Jeremy was at my side, picking up the unconscious woman I was still holding up with some effort. I have some extra strength that is derived from my magic, but have never really had to draw on that strength before today.
I followed Jeremy into the house and then into the library where he laid the woman on one of the sofas.
He fetched a cloth and some whisky, drank a shot and then put another to the woman’s lips.
She spluttered over the strong brew.
Jeremy put his palm over the woman’s wound and whispered something I couldn’t quite hear. However, my eyes opened wide as I watched the vampire bites heal right before my eyes. Jeremy Ascot was a healer!
The woman’s eyelids fluttered and she whispered, “What…what happened?”
“You tell us, dear child,” Jeremy said, patting her hand.
“I…I am not sure,” the woman said.
Our eyes met and I returned my attention to the woman. “Can you sit up?” I asked.
She answered by doing just that and said, “Who are you? Where am I?”
“I found you unconscious out on the main road not far from MacLeod,” I answered. “Do you remember how you got there?”
“I…I was in my car…” she offered, frowning as she put a hand to her forehead.
“Yes, I noticed it on the side of the road,” I told her. “You got out of your car. Why?”
“Someone was lying in the middle of the road and I remember now…it frightened me…I was sure I should stay in my car and call for help, but something…something made me get out.”
I looked at Jeremy. “Are they capable of compulsion at a distance?”
“No,” Jeremy said firmly. “They must look one in the eye, but they are capable of influencing those who are susceptible to suggestion.”
“What?” she asked us. “What are you saying?”
“You were telling us you stopped to help someone, my dear,” Jeremy hurriedly stuck in. “That you got out of the car…”
“Yes, yes…I was afraid, but I couldn’t allow the man…I remember now, it was a man…to die, could I? I am a nurse, you see,” she said.
“And then?” I prompted.
“And then…I must have fainted…I don’t remember anything after that,” she said.
I was relieved. She didn’t need to remember this and suffer nightmares all her life. “Well…you are okay now,” I told her.
“What about the man in the road?” she asked. “Did he get help?”
“Oh, yes. It turned out that he had a bit too much to drink and his family was called and off he went.”
“Oh good,” she said, and tried to stand.
Jeremy detained her. “Take a moment…tell me, what is your name?”
“Betsy Scarbough,” she said with a half-smile and then added, “I must get home. I am late and my husband has to get to work and won’t leave until I get there. We have a son…and work shifts so we can look after him ourselves.”
“I will take you home. Do you have your cell? You can call him while I drive you home,” Jeremy said.
“Yes…yes…but my car?”
“If you need help retrieving it, you can call us in the morning and one of us will get you to your car, deal?” I said, and smiled encouragingly at her.
She took both my hands in hers and said, “Thank you. I can’t say why…but I feel as though you saved my life tonight.”
“That is silly. You probably were so busy working today you forgot to eat. Why, look at you, thin as a rail,” I offered as Jeremy supported her and walked her towards the hall.
I was thankful both Davis and Mrs. Tunny had already gone home, or I would have had to do a whole lot of explaining and I wasn’t ready for that.
Jeremy and I exchanged glances as he said, “I will return as soon as I may.”
I turned then as I heard Devin, who had arrived in time to witness the last of our adventure. He released a string of curses while I waited for Jeremy and Betsy to be out the door. With their departure, I wagged a finger and said, “Stop! Calm down, Devin.”
“Calm down? Evidently she was a ruse to get to ye!” Devin snapped. “That means Allora knows ye are here.”
“She doesn’t know that I am Lisa’s granddaughter, does she? If she knows, if this was because of her, I’ll bet she simply doesn’t want a woman installed at MacLeod. That is my guess,” I told him, because all this had already occurred to me.
I threw off my denim blazer and moved to pour myself some wine.
He said nothing while I threw down a glass.
“Ye broke yer promise to me, lass,” he said quietly.
“Time ran away from me…” I offered.
“Nae good enough. This cannae happen again. If her vamp doesn’t report in to her…soon, she will become suspicious.”
“And send another? I’m ready.”
“Or she may coom herself,” he grumbled. “Ye aren’t taking this seriously.”
“Oh,” I managed to restrain the snort, “I am taking it very seriously.”
“What kept ye so late this afternoon?” he asked. “Did ye meet someone who made ye lose track of time and promises…?”
“Are we getting personal?” I returned, my chin up.
“Am I?” he answered.
“I could ask you where you were when I first arrived here with Betsy, but I didn’t,” I shot back.
“I was helping Gregor over at the dam. He is an engineer working on a problem. Why would it matter?” he answered.
“It doesn’t. I am just saying, I give you space and privacy.”
“Nae, lass, why were ye so late?”
“I got hungry after shopping and there was this charming little place on the river. I took tea there and lingered longer than I should have. That’s all. Then there he was in the road with Betsy looking half-dead. I got out and slammed him with pain. Got her, got in the car and raced here. He was fast and met me here. Jeremy staked him and set him on fire…with some relish I might add.”
He heard me out and suddenly laughed. “Look at ye two—a team.”
“All three of us are a team. You are a part of this, Devin,” I said. “How old do you think this vamp was? He was able to influence Betsy while she was in her car. Not compel…but influence her to get out.”
“Aye, he had to be at least a hundred or more years…nae more than that or he wouldna have coom here so willy-nilly.”
The library door opened wide and Jeremy stomped into the room, finger in the air and blabbering one sentence after another, finishing with, “So we start tomorrow!”
“Er…uh…what?” I asked.
“Wards. Druid wards. We install them first thing around the immediate perimeter. It will stop everything…maybe even Allora, from getting past them.”
“It won’t stop Allora,” Devin said. “She has been invited, which bypasses any ward that could be installed at MacLeod…at least, that is what I have always understood.”
“Well, at least it will keep all other supernaturals out!” Jeremy said on a growl.
“Aye,” Devin said and turned to me. “Ye look tired, lass.”
“Yes, I think I’ll just go up and have a shower and turn in.” I turned to Jeremy. “I’m sure Mrs. Tunny left you something delicious to heat up in the fridge.”
He rubbed his hands together. “Right. I’ll catch a bite and then I have some paperwork to get through. Good-night, Bobbie.”
* * * * *
I waved myself off and headed for my room, noting out of the corner of my eye that Devin remained at the wall as I climbed the stairs.
“Go away,” I told him as I reached my bedroom door, opened it, and went inside.
“Now, why would ye be wanting me to go away? I’m on watch, and so I shall be after yer experience this evening,” he said in a voice that clearly indicated he would brook no argument.
I had my back to him. “You said you would honor my privacy. Now is that time.”
“I did say that, and so I shall. Go on, ye can change in the bathroom suite, so off ye go, take a nice hot one, and I shan’t worry ye while ye are in there.”
I looked over my shoulder in his direction. “Well, then, thank you, yes, I’m going to take a long hot bath…”
“With bubbles?” he asked.
“Yes,” I laughed then, “with bubbles.”
“Then go on, and let me know when ye are covered in the bubbles and I’ll stay with ye and we can talk about this new development.”
“I don’t think so,” I answered, and went into the bathroom.
“Are ye prudish then? I can remain with m’back to ye while ye bathe,” he said.
I released a heavy sigh. “Oh, damn it then, just wait ‘til I get in.” I hurried into the bathroom. Got the tub started, brushed my hair and clipped it at the top of my head.
I looked to make sure he wasn’t about and dropped out of my clothes and into the tub. Oh, it was good to sink into its oily hotness.
I moaned with pleasure and heard him whisper, “Och aye, but ye sound pleasured and that pleasures me.”
I ignored this and said, “I discovered something when I was at the little café this afternoon.”
“Did ye? And what was that?”
“Brently Manor scares people off…even in the daylight. I wonder why,” I said, hoping he would know.
“Now, lass, dinnae be thinking of going there…nae even during the day!” he snapped.
“What makes you think I am thinking of going there?” I snapped back.
“’Tis edged in yer voice, written in yer eyes. Ye can barely contain yerself about it.”
I laughed. “Well, that’s true. I do think I might be able to uncover something we can use against her.”
“Ye can’t. I lived at Brently for a time and never found one thing that I could use against her.”
“Hmm, I guess you are right. I worked on a protection spell and tested it out on Mrs. Tunny…who, by the way, believes in vampires. She is convinced her husband was killed by one.”
“I know,” he said gravely.
“Was it your vampire? Was it Allora that killed him?”
“Nae, it had to be a vampire passing through, nae even one of her disciples. They do from time to time. I’ve always thought MacLeod draws them because of Brently Manor,” his voice trailed off.
“Well, she and Davis believe in the existence of vampires. Apparently there was a servant’s child who saw Allora that awful night when she…well, that night. He saw her again in Paris when he was there on business just a few days ago. So at least we know she is in Paris.”
I sank lower into the bubbles, which were beginning to disappear.
“A few days ago? Bobbie…lass, she could be on her way here at any moment!”
“But why would she? She hasn’t been here in twenty plus years. Why would she come now?”
“To Allora, time means nothing. If she is enjoying herself, she will remain where she is…until she gets bored or has reason to return.”
“I have an idea, Devin,” I said, and realized he was staring at the swells of my breasts, which some of the dissipating bubbles had exposed.
“Aye, do ye? As do I,” he said huskily.
I could have told him to turn around. I could have. I didn’t. My thighs clenched in the water and I felt a sudden urgent need as I looked into his eyes.
I did, however, dip lower again and gather more bubbles around my exposed breasts.
He laughed. “Why in the world, lass, would ye wish to cover up such beauty? Och aye, but ye are perfection.”
“Stop!” I told him.
I knew I was safe at that moment from falling under his charms because he was in another realm. However, it took all the willpower I had to keep from getting out of the tub while he was watching. I wanted to. It was brazen and wanton and every inch of me was moved to do it. But that cautious girl inside of me stopped me.
So, with supreme resolve, I pushed away all thoughts of teasing him, of wanting him, and reminded myself the hunk was a vampire.
“Stop? Nae, lass. I cannae do as ye ask for I find m’self drawn to yer beauty, to yer smile, to the light in yer violet eyes—such eyes. If I were on yer side of this damned wall, I’d be crushing ye in m’arms, I would.”
“Don’t talk like that. We are from two different worlds. You are a vampire…and, well...never mind all that. What I wanted to tell you was my idea about Brently.”
“Nae, ye cannae go there. Get it out of yer head. Ye would be at her mercy there. It is where all her powers are always renewed. Forget it.” His face had turned stony, his eyes, those blue eyes clouded over with a dark storm and in their depths, those eyes of his glowed red with fury. “I forbid it, Bobbie Skye. Ye would be putting yerself in danger. Do ye hear me?”
“What danger? I’ll go during the daylight…a bright sunny day…”
“Don’t ye think Jeremy has already tried that? It nearly cost him his life. The windows are all covered so nae light gets inside the manor, and when he went inside, he was met with a pair of vampires resting during the daylight. Allora buys allegiance with favors. The two vamps heard him and attacked. It took all his magic and the tearing down of a few drapes for him to get out. And it was all for nothing. Allora wouldna leave anything there for someone to find and use against her.”
“A man has a different way of looking at things. As a woman, I might see what Jeremy couldn’t. First chance I get…going there,” I told him. I was convinced she had a very special secret, something that, if known, could help defeat her once and for all.
“Nae,” he shouted. “I cannae in good conscience allow it. ‘Tis m’fault ye are here. ‘Tis m’fault ye have been drawn into this ugly deed. I cannae let ye go to Brently. Promise me, lass, ye won’t go there, because if ye dinnae promise this, I shall have Jeremy send ye packing and ye will nae be allowed at MacLeod again.”
I raised a brow. I don’t take orders and I don’t like threats. However, he was my boss…in a way. I also was not about to distress him if I didn’t have to. A long sigh slipped out before I made up my mind and said, “We’ll see. I’ll drop the idea for now.” I turned on the jets and pushed into two at my back. The pleasure of the water pressure drew a groan as I closed my eyes.
“Would that it was I making ye groan like that, beauty,” he said on a low note that sent shivers through me.
I opened my eyes with a snap. His words filled me with desire and need. I couldn’t allow that to happen. I told him, “Turn around. I want to get out and dry off.”
“Do ye really want me to turn around? I’m thinking ye have the look of a woman who wants something else.”
“Oh, do you?” He was all too right. I wanted him. He was a vampire in another world and I was hot for him. “And even if I did…” What was I doing? “You are there, and I am here!” I said with resignation.
“Och aye, there is that, but I’m counting on ye to remedy that situation.” He grinned like a boy and for a moment, just a moment, I melted like a fool.
I bitch-slapped myself.
I called on my brain to start functioning and sternly said, “Turn around, My Lord, and give me the privacy you promised would be mine.”
Without a word, he turned and started to walk away. I was aware of a sinking feeling of absurd disappointment.
“I’ll be back and watch over ye when ye are sleeping,” he said.
I didn’t answer, but damn, I felt like a stupid school girl crushing over someone quite out of reach!