Druid Temptation (A Druid Quest Novel Book 2) (24 page)

“She was worse in person.” Tallie grimaced. “I’m so glad he found you. Gabriel is a wonderful man, and he deserves to be happy. You’re perfect for him.”

Diana wished that were true. The only thing she’d accomplished was to bring chaos into his life. Then Tallie’s words struck her. The evening was a success. They won. She was free. The relief was nearly staggering, and she hugged her new friend. “Thank you for everything you’ve done.”

“It was our pleasure.” Tallie pulled back and smiled. “We’d best pry the boys away from each other, or we’ll never get any sleep.”

Tallie went up to her husband, and Rand absently pulled her into his arms, kissing the top of her head. Diana was jealous at the easy way they touched, and longed to experience it herself. As she neared, Gabriel reached for her hand, and she lost another little piece of her heart.

“You look exhausted.” Gabriel rubbed her hand between his as if to comfort her. “We should go home.”

Samuel cleared his throat. “Rand has offered me a room, and the chance to poke around his library in the morning. I’m going to stay.” He gave her a barely perceptible nod. “It will give me time to do some research.”

Fear shook her for a few seconds when she realized he was going to contact the Watchers, and the danger he was inviting into his life. She opened her mouth to protest when she recognized the determined look in his eyes. Nothing she said was going to change his mind. “If you’re sure.”

He gave her a bright smile and patted her hand. “Don’t worry about me. I’m a tough old goat. A day of adventure poking around in the library will be just the thing.”

Gabriel narrowed his eyes at the two of them, knowing they were talking in some kind of code, and wondered what mischief they were getting into now.

A servant approached. “Your carriage is ready.”

In a flurry of good-byes, he escorted Diana into the carriage, and then they were alone for the first time in hours. Gabriel frowned at the distance between them, then leaned forward, plucking her from her seat, ignoring her squawk of protest, and deposited her next to him, where she belonged.

Diana huffed and glared at him. “You could’ve just asked.”

He raised a brow as he glanced down at her. “But that would give you an opportunity to say no.”

She sighed, but the way her lips twitched gave away her amusement. He relaxed into his seat, unable to stop staring at the woman next to him. His wife. She baffled him. Most other women would be furious at his public show of affection, outraged at being manhandled. Diana seemed to relish every forbidden caress as much as he did.

Gabriel was curious to test his theory.

He stretched out his legs, watching her while he brushed her ankle with his boot.

When she picked up her legs and tucked them under her, he frowned, then nearly fell out of his seat when she leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder.

He very gently placed his arms around her and gathered her close, marveling at the way she sighed in pleasure. Contentment settled over them.

“I think it was a success. Tallie said by tomorrow the news would have spread through the rest of society.”

Fierce satisfaction burned through him.

By tomorrow, everyone would know she was his.

Gabriel nodded, playing with a strand of hair that had fallen from her clips. “We won the battle tonight. Williams is no longer a threat, but I fear he will be a nuisance for a while longer.”

Diana was safe.

The relief was so overwhelming, it knocked the breath out of him.

The next thought was more profound…he no longer needed to maintain his distance from Diana. He could touch her and kiss her anytime he wanted.

Then he swallowed hard as another thought struck him, much harder.

It also opened up the possibility that she could leave at any time.

Grim determination settled over him. He would be damned if he’d let her leave him, not without a fight. The carriage began to slow, and he reluctantly loosened his hold, not ready for the night to end.

When the carriage stopped in front of the house, Gabriel helped Diana descend, not releasing her hand when she touched the ground. “How about a nightcap in the study?” She peered up at him in speculation, and he found himself standing straighter, tugging at his jacket. At her slight nod, he released the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.

When he opened the door to his study, Gabriel deflated to see Ashmore sipping a drink in front of the fire.

He raised a brow at their entrance. “How’d it go?”

Gabriel stifled his disappointment and poured them each a drink. “I think it might work. Williams showed up, your aunt sponsoring him, but no one paid him any heed.”

Ashmore grimaced and stood. “She still hasn’t forgiven you for tossing her out or removing me from her influence. She must have sniffed him out, wanting to get back at you for your interference. I’ll see if I can talk to her.”

Gabriel shook his head and handed Diana her glass. “With relations as they are, it might be best to let it go. The more attention you give to it, the harder they might dig in.”

“You might be right. But just the same, a friendly warning to my uncle might suffice.” Ashmore shook his head, then seemed to collect himself and finished his drink before heading toward the door. “Since the problems seems to have been resolved, I’ll take my leave of you in the morning.”

The silence in the room was deafening after he left, and awkwardness crept between them. He watched Diana take a sip of her drink, fascinated by the way her delicate throat moved when she swallowed.

Unwilling to let the magic of the night fade, Gabriel set aside his glass and strode over to where she sat sipping her drink. When she didn’t retreat, he cupped her face in his hands and covered her lips with his own.

The first taste of her hit him harder than any drink and went straight to his head. She didn’t remain passive, quickly grabbing his jacket to drag him closer as if she couldn’t get enough of him. His fingers trembled as he granted his own wish from earlier in the evening and threaded his fingers through her hair, gratified when the strands tumbled around them.

The glorious feel of her against him set him on fire, and he crushed her close. When she nipped at his lip, a low groan rumbled out of him, and he swept her up in his arms. He needed her naked. He needed to explore every inch of her to appease the beast she’d woken in him, and feared that one night would not be enough.

A lifetime wouldn’t be enough.

He nudged the door open, then broke the kiss and hurried up the stairs, tightening his hold, afraid she might demand to be released.

He wasn’t sure he would be able to obey.

She reached up, scraping her nails along his nape until his whole body clenched with need, blood rushing to his cock. Her slow, seductive smile set his heart slamming against his ribs, and he halted on the balcony. “If you don’t want this, say so now. I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop once we reach the bedroom.”

Diana grabbed the back of his neck and dragged him closer, taking his mouth in a kiss that robbed him of breath. When she lifted her head, her eyes alight with so much emotion that it hurt to see. “I want this.”

The simple answer had the power to destroy him.

Hunger sank its claws into him, and he lifted her closer, taking her mouth in a ruthless kiss that did nothing to appease the need to possess her.

A sharp cry echoed in the hall, followed by a low growl and frantic barking. Before he could react, Diana twisted out of his arms and pelted down the hall. Gabriel charged after her when he recognized Emilie’s scream. Fear and rage grabbed him by the throat.

“Emilie!” His voice echoed back to him, and he took the stairs three at a time. Breathing hard, he barreled into her room. In three strides, he was across the chamber and gathered her in his arms.

Then Diana was there. “Give her to me. Take Jack and see if you can find if the man is still out there.”

Gabriel tightened his hold and vicious darkness stirred inside him. “What man?”

Her pale blue eyes seemed to shimmer, and Gabriel understood.

Jack had told her.

“What the hell is going on?” Ashmore appeared in the doorway, half dressed, a gun in his hand.

“Intruder.” When Jack shot into the hall, Gabriel gave chase. Ashmore cursed, then his footsteps thundered behind Gabriel as he followed.

They arrived in the gardens within seconds.

Jack dove through the plants and shrubs. In the darkness, the garden was like an obstacle course. Gabriel dodged and leapt over the vegetation and benches the best he could to keep up with the dog, resisting the urge to search the ground himself.

The trail ended over the back wall.

A growl escaped Jack’s throat, and Gabriel debated whether to open the back gate and release him to hunt their quarry, but decided against it. If the man returned, Gabriel would need the hound to protect Emilie.

It was only thanks to the mutt that she’d been saved.

He couldn’t take the risk that anything else would happen to her.

Kneeling, he whistled softly, and scratched Jack behind the ear. “Good boy. I will personally give you treats for the rest of your life if you can keep her safe.”

The dog yipped as if he understood, racing back into the house, and Gabriel rose.

Ashmore lifted the lamp he’d brought along, and the two men traced the footprints in the predawn light. His worst fear was confirmed when they came to a halt directly below his daughter’s room.

D
iana held Emilie close
, soothing her sobs. “Jack protected you. There is nothing to fear. Shh.”

“I had a bad dream.” Emilie tightened her hold, her voice muffled against her shoulder.

Diana closed her eyes and thanked
Bandia
Emilie knew nothing of the intruder. Running her hands over Emilie’s hair, Diana rocked her. “Will you do something for me? The next time you have a bad dream, will you think of me?”

Emilie nodded and pulled back, her eyes wet with tears when she looked up at her. “M’kay.”

“You’re a smart girl. You know animals like me, yes?”

The first signs of interest brightened her big brown eyes.

“If you call for me in your dreams, I will hear you. If this ever happens again, think of me really hard, and I will come.”

“It’s a secret?”

Diana nodded.

“I won’t tell anyone. Promise.”

Diana swallowed hard, the trust in Emilie’s eyes nearly broke her heart, and she hugged the girl close. “I know you won’t.”

Within moments, the child fell into an exhausted sleep. Diana carefully extracted herself and tucked the little mite under the covers. Jack had returned twenty minutes earlier, but Gabriel never appeared, and worry churned in her stomach.

Gabriel was a large man, but he wasn’t invincible. Tonight, they struck him where it would hurt the most. It would make him reckless. The thought of Gabriel hurt, or worse, left her feeling hollow inside.

She lost her family and friends once, and it nearly devastated her.

She couldn’t—wouldn’t—lose him, too.

Diana cursed that she had only a handful of weapons, wishing she had access to the armory the school had possessed. If she was going to follow Gabriel, she would need more.

Jack crawled up on the bottom of the bed without jostling Emilie.

Diana leaned over and kissed him. “You did good.”

The dog heaved a heavy sigh, then rested his giant head on his paws, intent on keeping watch for the rest of the night. Diana turned down the lamps and was on her way out the door when she came face to face with Gabriel.

Relief made her weak.

She couldn’t see any cuts or scrapes, and she wanted to smack him for making her worry.

When he didn’t smile, didn’t move, just stared at her like he’d never seen her before, Diana shifted uncomfortably. “I’m sorry. I would never have guessed Williams would go after your daughter.”

“Stop it.” A scowl crossed his face, and some of the rage seething beneath the surface spilled over as he loomed closer. “This is not your fault. You warned me that he would seek revenge if I tried to help you. I should have taken it more seriously.” He sagged against the wall, raking his fingers through his hair, and she noted the worry lines bracketing his face.

Diana ached to touch him, but wasn’t sure of her welcome.

Because Williams would try again, and she intended to be there to stop him.

“What did you find?”

He seemed to deflate at her question. “Nothing. As you probably guessed, we found tracks. One man. He went over the back wall. The cobblestones erased any trail he might have left. Since he had military experience, Ashmore left to see if he can pick up any clues.”

They walked down the stairs, and he halted outside her room. “I have Milles organizing the staff to keep watch, and I’ve posted guards. We should be safe for the night.”

“Williams has gone too far this time.” Diana clenched and unclenched her fists with the need to hunt the bastard down, but the uncompromising angle of Gabriel’s jaw warned her that there was no way she would be able to convince him to let her go after the man.

For the first time in her life, she was tempted to use her powers to hurt someone. It didn’t matter that she could possibly lose her magic. She could survive without half her soul, but she wasn’t sure she could survive without Gabriel.

She didn’t understand how Gabriel could remain so eerily calm. It was one thing for Williams to go after her—she could protect herself—taking a child went too far. “We can’t act irrationally. If we accuse him without proof, we’ll be playing into his hands.”

“You’re right. Go to sleep. We’ll plan our next stage of attack in the morning.” He reached out and gently brushed away a stray hair from her face.

She grabbed his hand, unnerved by his lack of emotions. “Promise me you won’t go after him by yourself.”

His eyes narrowed, turning a deep turbulent blue that said she’d guessed right. “Diana—”

She closed the distance between them and poked him in the chest. “What were you going to do? Beat him up? He would have you arrested. How is that going to help us?”

A growl rumbled in his chest, and she pressed her hand over his heart, the rapid beating soothing her anger.

“We need to set a trap. You can use me as bait to draw him out.”

“Over my dead body.” Gabriel placed his hand over hers, then held her prisoner when she tried to pull away.

Diana was suddenly exhausted.

What should have been a fairytale night had turned into a nightmare. She leaned her forehead against his chest, suddenly feeling helpless. “We need to devise a plan of attack that ensures he will be caught. It’s the only way I can see to keep everyone safe.”

“You’re right, and while going after him might be satisfying, it would be foolish. We need that book. It’s the only thing that will prove what he’s been doing.”

Diana nodded and looked up at him. “He carries it with him at all times.”

Gabriel absently ran his thumb over the back of her hand, and she shivered at how easily he could make her forget everything but him.

“If we can lure him out in public, I can just take it from him.”

Diana shook her head. “Manhandling the pastor in public would cause a scandal.”

He cocked his head at her. “What do you suggest?”

“Williams gets carried away when he rants about me, and forgets himself. As soon as he makes a move against me, you can defend my honor and take the book.”

Gabriel narrowed his eyes. “I don’t like having that man anywhere near you.”

She couldn’t help but agree. “I don’t either, but it’s all we have…unless you can come up with another plan?”

After a moment of silence, he shook his head and sighed. He leaned past her and opened the door to her room, then gave her a gentle shove. “You’re tired. Go to bed. We’ll discuss our course of action more in the morning.”

Before she could say anything, the door closed behind her. Diana stared at it in consternation, willing him to follow her into the room, but he remained stubbornly on the other side. Disappointment slammed into her. After his open affection at the ball and his intoxicating kisses when they arrived home, she had hoped he would forget about his damned vows.

Only when she heard him in the room next door did she finally admit defeat.

Until the bastard Williams was caught, he wasn’t going to lay a hand on her.

It was only when he thought their troubles were over that he let himself go.

After tonight’s incident, that wasn’t going to happen again any time soon.

It took her nearly thirty minutes to work herself out of the many layers of finery before she could slip under the covers.

As soon as her head hit the pillows, Diana was asleep.

“Diana.”

At the sound of her name, the tattoos along her back warmed.

Instead of unfolding like a normal vision, heat slammed into her body and wrapped around her soul. Then her world exploded, and she felt herself dissolve into a shower of tiny sparks.

She was propelled forward, and an image began to take shape out of the darkness…or more precisely, she felt the pieces of her soul begin to gather.

She immediately recognized Gabriel’s room. She turned and saw him relaxed in an armchair in front of the fire. He scrubbed a hand down his tired face. “Does this work, or am I dreaming?”

“You called for me?” It came out a statement but ended up in a question. Then she remembered her conversation with Emilie. “You were listening.”

Gabriel rose to his feet, and stalked toward her, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Yes.”

He didn’t bat an eye at being caught eavesdropping on her private conversation. “So this is a kind of experiment to see if I spoke the truth.”

He cupped her face and tilted her head back. “No. Never that. You feel so real. I could swear that you’re standing before me.”

“Dreams are different than visions and infinitely more dangerous. It feels real, because my soul leaves my body. The only physical danger is if I don’t make it back before my body starves to death, but that’s not the really dangerous part. I don’t travel—ever—because what happens here can actually influence a person. I’m not standing in your room right now—you’ve invited me into your head. Whoever has the stronger mind can control the dream. Watch.” Diana concentrated, then held up her hand. A flower lay across her palm. When she tipped her hand over, it vanished in a puff of smoke.

Gabriel ran his hand through the air as if to see if it had been real.

“Nothing here will affect my physical body, but our souls are vulnerable without the protection of our bodies.”

Gabriel dropped his hand and scowled at her. “What do you mean?”

“Have you ever dreamed of eating something, then woke up with the craving?”

“Of course, but that’s just your body telling you to eat.”

Diana raised a brow. “Is it? What happens when you crave a piece of dessert, but you only find the ingredient for a sandwich? You might eat the sandwich, but you still crave something sweet. That feeling doesn’t go away until you either feed the craving or it wears off. It could be just a day or a week later before you find the dessert you craved and you devour it.”

Gabriel slowly nodded.

“That’s your mind at work. Since I’m in your mind right now, I can influence you, but instead of food, I could tell you to punch your best friend.”

Gabriel shrugged and grinned. “Everyone gets those impulses. You ignore them.”

“Of course. For a little while. What would happen if you woke up every morning for a week with the same thought? I could conjure images of Rand and me having an affair. You would become jealous and suspicious. Soon, if he even looked at me, you’d be convinced I’m actually having an affair.”

That wiped the smile off his face.

“If I tried to influence Pastor Williams, he would have the same access to me. He could influence me. I will never put myself in a position where someone else could control my actions.”

Gabriel didn’t speak but gathered her in his arms. “I’m sorry.”

She melted against him in relief, grateful that he didn’t turn away from her. “Why did you call me to your room in the first place?”

He gave an embarrassed grin. “I wanted to see you in my room without taking the risk of doing anything physical that you might later regret.”

Diana didn’t understand, pulling away to glance up at him. “We’re husband and wife. Nothing is going to change that.”

Gabriel laughed, and the bitter sound hurt her chest. “Touching you would change everything. I want you to choose to be with me because you want me, not because you were forced to marry me to stay alive. Therefore, until the danger is in the past, nothing will happen between us. I want you to decide without fear—without any outside influence—what type of future you want.”

Pure joy flooded her. “Gabriel, I—”

“Don’t.” He jerked away from her. “I can’t claim you now, only to have you pull away from me later. It would destroy me. Once I touch you, I will never be able to let you go.” He shook his head as he stared down at the flames from the fire. “I fear it might already be too late.”

Gabriel felt her lips brush his cheek, the tenderness making his breath catch until he could almost believe that she loved him, but when he turned, Diana had vanished.

In the next second, Gabriel found himself sitting before the fire. The unrelenting fear that Diana would leave him had been so real that he’d startled himself awake.

He bolted to his feet, the chair clattering to the floor in his haste to check and make sure Diana was still sleeping in her bed. He grabbed the knob, but couldn’t make himself turn it. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know if the dream had been real or a figment of his imagination. The love he felt had been so real, he wasn’t sure he would be able to bear it if it had really only been a dream.

He slowly pried his fingers off the knob then stretched across the bed and went over the plan to divest Williams of his blackmail book.

Diana’s plan was sound.

They would go to the park in the afternoon.

On every other occasion they had left the house, Williams had found them.

It made him suspect that someone on the inside was working with the man.

Instead of seeking out the culprit, he was going to use the information to their advantage.