Twilight's Eternal Embrace (36 page)

Over the rim of his mug, Bram noticed that his brother and Sheerin watched Adryanna as she took a cautious sip then another more generous one. Sheerin and Gareth glanced at each other with a knowing look.

"
She thrives.
"
Sheerin
'
s voice held a note of satisfaction. Bram half expected him to pull out a notebook from his satchel and scribble down his findings.

Adryanna placed her mug down. She shifted uneasily in her seat, the only indication that she was unnerved by the attention.
"
I am well. Thank you. We are glad you both are, too. We feared the wors
t
. Please tell us
the
news from home.
"

Bram smiled at how his wife cleverly deflected the attention from her.

Sheerin huffed.
"
We were imprisoned for aiding your escape, but because of the unrest within our clan
'
s ranks, we were released before we were brought before the elders for judgment.
"
He leveled his gaze on Bram.
"
Loreto and your father led the rebellion to take the Lathe Sith clan by force, but the elder Seamus and your mother were against such an act. We were recruited for their cause and gladly took up arms.
"

Bram glanced at Adryanna. Her face paled at the news.

"
What of Coomkeen?
"
Her voice held a note of dread as if she were preparing to hear the worst.
"
Do you know if anyone survived?
"

Gareth took over then.
"
Some of the Lathe Sith stayed with us, taking the chance we could defend them. Others were given the choice to flee and risk an ocean voyage. Sheerin saw to your mother and father. There was a young man with them, too.
"
He
glanc
ed at Sheerin
for the name
.

"
Fergus,
"
Sheerin confirmed.
"
He said his name was Fergus.
"

Adryanna
'
s eyes brimmed with tears of gratitude.
"
Thank you.
"

"
And what of Dungannon?
"
Bram swallowed back his fear.

Gareth knew what he asked without him voicing it.
"
Father and mother perished in the first battle, but Loreto still lives. Our brother seeks only revenge. His bloodlust is like those I witnessed on my journeys. It borders close to those who fed off daywalkers and nothing else. He took over Dungannon with his warriors who blindly follow him—Niven and Fergal to name a few. Loreto is dangerous. At all cost, you must avoid him.
"

Bram had no plans of a family reunion. They were at odds before the rebellion.
"
What of Camden?
"

"
I do not know. He was not among the bodies burned. Mayhap he escaped with some of the others who went with the Lathe Sith clan.
"

Bram prayed it was so.

Sheerin sat forward in his seat, his eyes lighting with curiosity.
"
I
am aware
you wish to know more about home, but I…we…
"
He
gestured toward
Gareth.
"
We are curious about Adryanna.
"
His gaze touched her.
"
I hope you do not mind, but you are the first we know of who has survived the blooding ritual so gracefully.
"
He lifted his goblet.
"
Stag
'
s blood will not suffice for long. We will need to find mates…
willing mates
,
"
he added.

Bram knew this and so did Adryanna now. Their bodies craved daywalkers
'
blood. If the Oiche Sith were mated, they would not have to look elsewhere.

"
What do you want to know, Sheerin?
"
Bram asked, but Sheerin directed his question to Adryanna.

"
Are you truly well? Do you have any ill effects?
"

"
No. I am fine, even stronger than before I was changed.
"
Adryanna told them about her experiences, her trials with the bloodlust and her need to stay out of the sunlight. Overall, the drawbacks proved minimal, pleasing Sheerin to no end.

With only an hour before dawn and the pub empty now
,
except for Ranulf who was cleaning the last of the mugs, they rose from their seats and headed out the door. They would meet again tomorrow night to start on their journey to join the others of their clan. Gareth told them that those who survived had taken up residence in a stronghold once owned by daywalkers, but was now abandoned. It needed repairs, but they would manage. Daywalkers and blood drinkers living under one roof would be a challenge, but one that was decided with free will.

Though Sheerin and Gareth knew changing a daywalker could be successful, they still needed a willing woman to
under
go the process. Sheerin was enthusiastic about the prospect, but Bram knew his brother still held some reservations. Gareth had loved a daywalker once, changed her and
,
though she survived
,
he still had lost her anyway.

Mia is dead.
The words echoed in his head and he knew Gareth had spoken to him with his mind.

"
How do you do that?
"
Bram pulled his brother aside as Sheerin engaged Adryanna with yet another onslaught of questions.

Gareth shrugged.
"
On my travels, there were blood drinking clans with abilities we had yet to develop. I listened and learned to adapt.
"
Emotions flitted across his brother
'
s face as if what he remembered pained him.
"
They did not use all the abilities for good. Mind control can be…addictive and dangerous for the soul.
"

Bram could only imagine the horrors his brother experienced on his travels,
and
it was obvious they haunted him still.
"
You seem to be handling the abilities well.
"

Gareth gave him a whisper of a smile.
"
Time will tell.
"

Sheerin and Adryanna joined them again as Ranulf stepped outside the Hooded Cloak and locked the pub for the night. He gave them a slight nod before heading toward the woods. In a few moments
,
a wolf
'
s howl penetrated the night and another howl farther away answered the call.

Bram wondered how many wolf shifters there were. He was going to ask Gareth if he knew, but his thoughts shifted when he found Gareth staring at Adryanna. His intense eyes had not lost
their
eerie appeal, but his expression right now was one of admiration
,
and perhaps curiosity too.

"
Immortality agrees with you, Adryanna
," Gareth called to her.
"
With both of you.
"
He
turned his attention to Bram.
"
You must tell me your secret.
"

Bram gave Adryanna a knowing look—love and tenderness lighted her eyes, along with a bit of mischief.
"
Twilight
embraces, brother. No matter what the future may hold, they will make eternity worthwhile.
"

The End

If you enjoyed this Karen Michelle Nutt tale, here
'
s a sneak peek of
:
Love
'
s Eternal Embra
ce

Chapter One

October could be cold and wet in Ireland, but the weather held out with little or no rain as Sir William Cantwell, Liam to his friends and family, traveled
n
orth with his squire, Cormac. After seven years, he fulfilled his obligation to the Knights Templar, who had relieved his family
'
s estates from financial burden in exchange for his services. It was a sacrifice he had gladly undertaken to save the family from financial ruin. The crusades were bloody and long, and for the most part disheartening. He went into temporary service as a boy and came back a man haunted by the horrors he
'
d witnessed.

He
'
d written to his family of his return, but he found he was not ready to face the duties required of him. In truth, he had no wish to be Lord when his father passed the duties over to him. His father thrived on being in control. He was in the front lines when petty clan wars broke out. He could shout commands and men jumped to follow him. Liam could be just as forceful. He proved it time and time again during his service, but in his heart, he knew his destiny lay elsewhere.

The lush wooded area born of legends was a welcomed reminder of his youth and he cherished the uneventful ride. The church, along with his Norman father, frowned upon the old stories born of druids and the Sidhe. His mother
'
s family may have taken on the Christian beliefs, but the old ways were kept close to her heart and she shared them with her sons.

The sun sat low in the horizon, the sky darkening and looking like a sodden wool blanket. Rain would drench the land tonight. He glanced at Cormac, who barely held onto the reins, his lids heavy with wanted sleep. If he did not find shelter soon, he would be picking up his squire from the ground.

He thought they would rest beneath the trees, but as the mist cleared the path had led them to the Village of Dunnloch. The Tavern Inn, which stood in the center of the village, near the town square, beckoned to his tired bones. The wind blew cold and he was thankful for the thick fur mantle he donned over his shoulders in replacement of the templar
'
s thinner garb. He was no longer obligated to dress the part of one of Order and could return to his native attire.
"
We shall stay here for the night, Cormac.
"
The lad straightened in his seat and blinked up at him.
"
Once you have secured the horses, come to the inn and I shall have food and drink waiting for you.
"

"
Thank you, Sir Cantwell.
"
His squire was a bony lad, lanky and long limbed, but he proved stronger than he appeared and a good companion.

Liam stepped down from his trusted mount. His hand slid across the horse
'
s sleek black coat with affection.
"
If at all possible, I shall return with a sweet for you, Loucetios.
"
His horse nuzzled against him as if understanding his words.

Liam honored the codes of the Knights Templar and took pride in doing so, but his rebellious heart could not be tamed completely. The men he rode with were not Irish and they did not know the Gaelic word. A sin for certain, but he took great pleasure in naming his mount after the god of thunder.

Upon entering the tavern all eyes turned toward him, the room falling silent as a tomb. He was a tall man, broad shouldered from his years of wielding a sword, but he never thought his appearance would frighten anyone. On his travels home, the wenches in the pubs claimed he had a comely face and they liked his thick dark strands and moss colored eyes. Then again, what did he know about women? He never spoke to one for the seven years of his service. It was forbidden. His experiences with the fairer sex were limited to his mother and a young girl he once kissed before he left home. The women who wanted his coin could not be a reliable source. It was why he remained polite in the pubs, but did not follow them upstairs to a room. They thought him odd, but he waited this long to bed a woman, he would choose one he wanted for a wife.