Twilight's Eternal Embrace (35 page)

Bram
'
s heart clenched, knowing the odds of survival were not on his brother
'
s side.
"
Goodbye, Gareth. I am in your debt.
"
He entered the passageway and clicked the lever on the other side to close the door. He hurried down the dark passageway with Adryanna clutching him. Gareth
'
s words haunted him. His father did not want a cure for their clan. He wanted the Lathe Sith under their command. When had his father lost his compassion? How had
he
not noticed?

Gareth
'
s suggestion of a family teased his mind, too. If they could not have children, they could create another kind of family. Did his brother mean hybrids? He glanced at Adryanna. Her eyes had returned to the soft gray he remembered and the color in her cheeks had returned to a healthy pink.

"
I feel so strange.
"
Her hand flew to her mouth with a grimace. Blood was evident on her fingers and lips. Her gaze riveted to his.
"
My teeth are sharp.
"

"
Fangs,
"
he told her. She truly had changed.

"
How?
"

"
I will explain later. For now
,
we must make haste.
"

"
Put me down, Bram. I can walk.
"

Uncertain of her claim, he hesitated to do as she demanded, but glancing at her, proved she spoke the truth. D
etermination lit her expression and he did as she asked. She was steadier than he thought she
'
d be.
"
You have regained your strength.
"

"
Aye. I feel…stronger.
"
She smiled.
"
It is your blood that has healed me, aye?
"

He nodded.
And more
,
he thought to himself as he took in her radiant appearance. She wasn
'
t much taller, but there was strength in her features. Her arms were solid and he would bet her legs were as powerful as any Oiche Sith female, making her capable of flitting. Later, he
'
d show her how.

He clasped her hand.
"
We must hurry. Sheerin and Fergal wait for us with horses.
"

"
But where will we go?
"
Her eyes widened in alarm as she realized they could not stay here.

In truth, he didn
'
t know, but he would insure her safety no matter the cost.
"
To start our lives together.
"

Chapter Forty-Three

Twelve months later
…

Adryanna had yet to wander long in the village. She feared her control of the bloodlust, but she could not remain a coward. She fed well on a stag this morning and then took Bram
'
s vein for reassurance. She could do this. She could walk among those who did not drink blood and she would restrain her urge to tear their throats out.

"
I will be with you.
"
Bram
'
s soothing voice brought her courage.
"
I will not let you hurt anyone.
"

She nodded, giving him a half smile.
"
I know.
"
She reached for his hand and gripped it tight.

So much had changed in her life. Some of it was for the better and some not so much. She could no longer venture out in full sunlight. She needed Bram
'
s blood more than animal blood to keep her strong. The craving for blood proved painful at times, but her determination to control the urge to ravish remained stronger.

The Oiche Sith of Dungannon pursued them for a time, but the clan had other worries. They fought among themselves over what was good for their future. Rumors had reached their ears. Some wanted to change the Lathe Sith no matter what the outcome. Others wanted to hold onto their compassion and not give into the fiend that ruled them. The blood drinkers
'
lives had taken another turn in history as Gareth had predicted, but it was too soon to find out where the scales would tip.

They found other blood drinkers on their travels, all without clans to call their own. Some were hunted by the daywalkers as vile creatures that needed to be destroyed. She could not blame t
he daywalkers
. She knew in her heart, some of their fears were warranted. But not all blood drinkers shared a desire to possess and control. Some wanted to live in peace.

That
'
s all Bram and she wanted—a new life. But first she must learn to control her hunger. She was no longer a Lathe Sith, but she was not entirely an Oiche Sith either.
"
What am I?
"

Bram
'
s brows furrowed, but then the dawning of her words must have sunk in.
"
You are my wife.
"
He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.
"
My love.
"
He kissed the top of her head.
"
My soul.
"

She tilted her head to
peer
at him. It wouldn
'
t be easy for either of them
,
away from the protection of the clans, but she knew with Bram at her side they would manage. He would sacrifice himself for her. She would do the same for him.
"
With you, I can face anything,
"
she said.

His lips curved before he leaned down and kissed her, his love warming her from the inside out.
"
Do you know what I like most about being wed to you?
"
He kissed the tip of her nose.

She shook her head.
"
No, what?
"

"
We have an eternity of adventures to seek.
"
His hand brushed through her hair as he leaned down and took her under his spell once more.

Aye, adventures
…she prayed they were all good ones.

Her gaze landed on the post where a sign swung softly as the wind brushed over it.
Hooded Cloak
was painted on the weathered wood in bold letters. If Gareth still lived, he would meet them here tonight. He
had
sacrificed his freedom to save
their
li
v
e
s
. She hoped, by some miracle, he had survived, too.

That was what hurt the most.
N
ot knowing what happened to the people she cared about—her parents, Sheerin…

"
Are you ready?
"
Bram
'
s voice drew her attention. He draped his arm around her shoulders for added encouragement.

"
Aye.
"
She nodded.
"
I am ready.
"

He guided her forward and opened the door for her. She swept inside where smells of sweat, ale, meat…
and
blood assailed her all at once. She wavered on her feet, but Bram was there to steady her.

"
Breathe through your mouth,
"
Bram whispered in her ear.
"Then t
he scents will not overwhelm you.
"

She did as he said and regained her footing.

The pub was mostly full with men
who were
enjoying a meal or drink with friends. They barely
glanced
in their direction as they made their way to the back of the pub and secured a table.

"
He is not here.
"
She
could not keep the disappointment from her voice
.

"
Give him time. We may have arrived before him.
"

Heartbeats and the murmurs of conversation vibrated in her head like an annoying hum. She glanced at Bram who had to be hearing what she did, but he sat in his seat
,
appearing at ease with the clamoring noises raging in
his
head. She leaned forward.
"
It is so loud in here.
"
She squelched the urge to cover her ears, knowing it wouldn
'
t help anyway. He reached for her hand and his touch brought some comfort.

"
I promise it will become easier for you. Concentrate on one conversation—
not
their heartbeats.
"
He gave her an understanding smile.
"
If you do this
,
all else will fade into the background.
"

She
glanc
ed
at
a table where five men sat, all well into their drink. As their voices grew clearer and more distinct, she inhaled sharply as the meaning of their words registered. Bram chuckled and her gaze riveted to him with annoyance.
"
Do all males speak of such... such…
"
She couldn
'
t even voice the subject.
"
It is vulgar what they wish to do with a
woman
.
"

Bram lifted a shoulder and his lips curved.
"
I agree. Men are uncouth.
"

She rolled her eyes. She was about to say more on the subject, but Bram
'
s body tensed in apprehension.
"
What is it?
"
She followed his
line of vision
. A male stood at the door, his golden strands were tied away from his face, flattering his rugged profile.

"
Gareth,
"
Bram murmured the name. As if the male heard him, his gaze focused in their direction. His eerie light eyes warmed instantly in recognition.

A heartbeat later, another male pushed his way into the pub. His hair
,
a light blonde color
,
lay in disarray around his shoulders. The sight of the newcomer brought a smile to her face.
"
Sheerin is alive, too.
"
With all that had changed, the mere presence of both Gareth and Sheerin filled her with joy.

"
Are they here?
"

She picked up Sheerin
'
s inquiry before Gareth nodded in their direction.

Bram squeezed her hand and she returned the gesture as they waited for both men to join them.

Chapter Forty-Four

Bram
rose from his seat and
stepped forward
.
Gareth met him
halfway
, pulling him into a hug. Each chuckled and thumped
the
other
'
s back with a true greeting brothers share when they have not seen each other in a long time. Then Bram took Sheerin
'
s hand and gripped it with both of his.

Before taking a seat, Gareth turned away
to
wave to the owner of the pub who stood behind the bar eyeing their table closely. The owner was a burly man with a thick mass of mahogany hair and a beard to match. As recognition flitted across the owner
'
s face and lit his eyes, he nodded his head in welcome. It appeared Gareth and the owner knew each other well. A few minutes later the pub owner brought them mugs filled with a liquid resembling red wine, but Bram picked up the scent of blood…a stag. He looked more closely at the pub owner and realized for the first time he was not a daywalker, but he was not a blood drinker either.

"
You can trust him,
"
Gareth said
,
as if reading his mind.
"
Ranulf is his name and he is one of the Mac Tiré, a wolf shifter.
"

Adryanna lifted her brows in surprise.
"
I thought the stories of such creatures were only myth
s
.
"

Gareth chuckled.
"
Aye, well they prefer it
to
remain so.
"
He raised the goblet to his lips and drank.
"
It is fresh.
"
He
gestured
for the others to try it.