Authors: Nadja Notariani
The gleam in his eye told he paid her a compliment.
“
Gwendolyn is more than a bitch, Eagen,” Rowan warned. “I know you are versed in the ways of criminals and underhanded deals, fellows, but she’s real trouble.”
“
Okay, okay, lass. Tell me what makes her so dangerous and I’ll know what to expect,” Eagen said.
“
She manipulates well. Trust me. She’s so good that most people never realize they’ve been had until she’s long gone. She ruined Cael’s reputation for a time with her lies, convincing enough that the Council believed her over their own psychic connection with Cael. That’s power, boys.”
“
We’ll be on guard. But we’re not going to talk with her, we’re going to aid Cael.”
“
A mere one of her many tricks. Worse is her ability to take on the appearance of anyone she wants. The projection is stronger if she’s touched them, and she must have had physical contact to be able to mimic voices. I don’t know how it works, only that it does. Be careful. If she touches one of you, she can appear and act as your own twin.”
“
That’s serious shit, Rowan,” Eagen said quietly. “Thank you for warning me. I’ll tell Ewan.”
“
I already heard, brother. I think may be wise to take Rowan along.”
“
Have you lost your mind? She’s a woman!”
“
Excuse me?” Rowan broke in, the insult – however unintentional - cut. “I’m probably more prepared than you are.”
“
She’s had contact with this Gwendolyn before, Eagen. It makes sense to have her along.” Turning toward Rowan, Ewan continued, “Does she need contact with skin to mimic voices?”
“
I don’t know the answer to that, although I think she must touch the person, not just their clothing.”
“
Eagen, grab gloves and masks. Better safe than sorry, eh?”
Eagen shot a look of rue toward his brother on his way to grab the gear.
“
Oh, and Eagen,” Ewan called after him, “grab gear for Rowan, too.”
She smiled.
“
Don’t get too worked up, lass,” Ewan warned. “You’d better be able to keep up. My brother and I are not babysitting.”
“
Worry about yourself,” Rowan rebuffed his prideful words. “I can handle myself. It’s you who’d better be prepared. Gwendolyn is no joke.”
Eagen tossed her a pile of black clothing, studying her curiously.
“
How bad can one chick be?” Eagen asked.
“
What’s that old saying?” Rowan asked rhetorically. “Oh, yeah. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Believe it, boys, at least when it comes to that woman.”
The Garrow brothers exchanged glances.
“
Get ready, Rowan. We leave in fifteen minutes.”
*
Malcolm raised his head, unbelief, joy and fear flooding his body at once.
Daughter? Can it be you?
Waiting for a response, he sprang to his feet, pacing the floor.
I am Paige Kinnell. I do not know my father.
Malcolm opened his mind to share all that had come to pass with his child. His only child. He hoped she’d understand. Minutes passed with agonizing lethargy. He began to despair of her further acknowledgment.
You’ve found me, Malcolm of Clan Gaunson. And I’ve found you.
Paige struggled to open her thoughts freely, carefully relaying their current circumstance. Malcolm filled in missing details, which she in turn passed to Cael.
I am coming to you.
Beside his bed, Malcolm dropped to his knees, returning to the prayers he recited on behalf of his mate, Pilar. She remained quiet, and he prayed fervently now that she’d complete her Awakening before he had to leave her side.
“
Wake, my sweet,” he encouraged, brushing her forehead with his lips.
She stirred, Malcolm moving immediately to help her. Slicing his vein, he lifted her head to his chest and poured his life blood into her mouth. Pilar began to feed, her eyes flickering open briefly.
“
Drink, my sweet, he husked, “for I must leave your side.”
“
I heard, Malcolm…” she spoke faintly before returning to sleep. “Go to her.”
The final words came out in dreamlike murmurings, Malcolm loving her all the more for her selflessness. Sending her through the ordeal had been the hardest, most terrifying thing he’d had to do. There was a price in becoming eternal, imposing a heavy burden on any desiring their mate walk with them in the realm of the undead.
Castigating someone you love to pass over the Netherworld was difficult, asking them to leave everyone they knew behind, never to rejoin them in the rest of the afterlife, and instead spend eternity with the creature who imposed the punishment. It pained him to send her, just as her safe and successful return filled him with joy. The pain and pleasure had pulled him in opposing directions during the tumultuous wait.
Pilar had chosen him, yet only after her Awakening could she fully understand the consequences of her decision. It mattered little; Malcolm of Clan Gaunson had united body and soul with the lovely Druid before him, never again to be parted from her.
“
Rest well,” he commanded gently. “I will return to you soon, my sweet.”
Volatile and growing in strength, energy thrummed through Paige, heightening her senses as a strange calm imbued her soul. Steps ahead Cael led, their descent on the staircase edging closer the upcoming confrontation. At once Paige recognized each player, the newly awakened psychic link shared by vampires revealing the collective knowledge of her kind.
Her kind.
“
You are yet unique, Paige Kinnell,”
a wise and foreign voice insisted authoritatively in her mind.
Unsure whether alarm was warranted, Paige allowed curiosity victory and awaited further explanation. No sound waves rippled the air, and Paige realized that Cael remained unaware of the entity addressing her. She heard clearly, instantly, the voice fierce and deafening yet grandfatherly and comforting. Their entire exchange occurred in the blink of an eye.
“
You command the Third Fate, my child, and walk in all realms. Born of both Druid and vampire lineage, great power was yours to wield until your first Fate was bargained away for that of a mere mortal’s. By my Fates’ stipulation, your Awakening allowed for the possibility of yet another future.”
Paige responded rapidly, hungry for explanation. “Because I was bitten?”
“
No child. The vampire’s bite only restored your original destiny; however, Cael of Clan Maccinnis altered that destiny when he kidnapped you, himself becoming the catalyst which invoked the Third Fate.”
“
But what does it all mean? Am I to be punished? Is Cael?”
Her voice faltered on the final question.
“
My little Fates are temperamental,” the unnamed entity admitted. “Master your gifts, Paige Kinnell, as you walk in the realms of magic and the undead. It is as the gods you are, my child. Therefore, you are to fear none but I who Am.”
The sheer power of the voice forced Paige to her knees in reverence.
“
Who are you?” Paige questioned, curiosity tempered with awe.
“
It is I, Father of Time, and the gods are but my offspring.”
As if waking from a dream, Paige met Cael’s worried gaze.
“
You’re back, lass,” he breathed, the statement sounding almost like a question.
“
Yes…”
Paige shivered, Cael’s arms surrounding her at once as she regained her feet. The encounter, while fearsome, was also exhilarating. Paige ached to share with Cael, the jumble of thoughts she pushed to him encrypted by magical charms she unknowingly wielded.
“
Easy, lass,” he soothed, his hand pressing into the small of her back. “Ye can explain later.”
Paige hoped there would be a later.
“
The half-born weakens with her oncoming Awakening,” Conrad’s voice sliced through the air. “Yours for the taking,” he gestured toward the children, partially hidden from view. “Did I not tell you I would deliver?”
The oldest child leveled an odd smile on Paige as if awaiting her reaction with hopeful expectancy.
That child…Where have I seen…
The decadent parlor nearly groaned under the heavy silence as opposing factions came face to face, broken abruptly by Paige’s horrified gasp.
“
Brooke!”
The bold twin remained true, bruised cheek raised defiantly as Kaiden roughly thrust her forward. Cael’s hand prevented Paige from rushing to her battered cousin.
“
What do you want?” Paige demanded, anger incinerating her fears.
Conrad laughed cruelly.
“
Much. Soon, you will understand. But first I’ll enjoy your suffering.”
Cael growled low and menacing, readying for the attack he sensed forthcoming. Paige’s next words stunned all, forcing momentary reprieve.
“
Conrad of Clan Maccinnis and those that follow, I offer you redemption. Unhand my family, resign from the Council and renounce your evil.”
Conrad’s mocking response lacked conviction.
“
Or what? Does a half-breed bitch dare threaten me?”
Sharp, pointed fangs distended from her jaw, thirst not their craving - but an avenging. Static electricity charged the air, arcing in flashes of awful splendor around Paige’s yellow-blond hair. Her eyes grew luminescent, their green-gold glow hypnotic as power gathered in the heavy atmosphere around her. Cael stared in disbelief – unsure at what transpired before his eyes, eerily spellbound at the manifestation of his mate’s power. Slamming her open palm forward, eyes afire with tranquil intent, Conrad of Clan Maccinnis fell captive to her thrall. His hands fell to his sides and he drew near, helpless to do otherwise.
“
Hate…”
The word resounded from Paige, a conviction announced to an unseen tribunal.
Malcolm appeared, Rhys and Elinor with him, a show of solidarity against Conrad’s betrayal just as the scene unfolded.
“
The female wields the power of the gods,” fell from Rhys’ awestruck lips.
A paralyzing scream rent the air, the frenzied Kaiden dragging a woman across the floor as she fought. Cael’s ears knew the voice.
“
Rose?”
He struggled to trust the lone sense, wanting to believe. Rushing Kaiden, Cael engaged the vamp in an overwhelming attack, years of rage, frustration, and guilt released in each punishing blow. Kaiden collapsed under Cael’s brutal retribution, unable to defend himself. It was almost too easy, Cael considered strangely. Elinor bound the defeated vamp with a word, the melee expanding in full eruption at Kaiden’s defeat. Cael rushed to Rose, examining her battered face as he begged explanation.
Brooke took advantage of the distraction to seek Lara and Sissy. The women huddled in frightened shock as more vampires poured into Raven House, their intent unknown. Before Cael could have any explanation, Conrad’s tortured howl demanded attention. The aura around Paige glowed softly, her eyes bright orbs of jade fire. Her hands stretched toward Conrad, who stood before her in torment. Nothing touched his flesh, no words were heard, but Paige’s lips moved rapidly. With each barrage of silent condemnation from Paige, Conrad contorted in affliction.
“
Don’t look upon that woman, Cael!” Rose screamed. “She’s evil! Hide me!”
“
You have no need to fear, Rose,” Cael reassured.
“
Nay! Look!”
Sweat poured from Conrad as he listened, no defense made against the now audible accusations breaking from Paige’s lips. The never ending litany of hate that had issued out from Conrad’s soul returned to him, Paige endowing him nothing more than he had endued others during his life. Terror overwhelmed as truth of his very self lay bare. Swiftly, the ancient unsheathed the dagger at his waist and plunged it into his own gut – ripping upward – slicing from abdomen to sternum in a powerful death wound.
“
How?” Rose shuddered. “He…he is vampire!”
Eyes remained riveted on Paige, friend and foe alike. She turned to face them, expressionless as Conrad’s disemboweled corpse fell prone before her.
“
He has chosen well,” she stated, quiet authority resonating in her voice. Her eyes returned to their pale green hue, her tone softening. “Conrad could not bear up under the hatred and pain he inflicted on others, choosing to end his own life rather than endure any longer.”
“
An avenging angel, she is…” Eagen Garrow uttered, his brother nodding in agreement.
Brooke, seeing her chance, acted quickly.
“
Paige!” she hollered, leaping to her feet and scrambling toward her cousin. “The woman! Kill her!”
Paige’s eyes tracked to the female beside Cael, and she perceived the wrongness of the creature. Power crackled anew, her blond hair billowing in the charged air.
“
They’ve done something to her,” Rose pleaded. “You’ve got to stop her!”
“
Paige wouldna harm ye, Rose. Conrad was one and the same with yer captors.”