Midnight's Temptation

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Phelan looked out the castle window at the dawning of a new day. They had been up all night discussing how to attack Wallace. Tempers were short and everyone was exhausted. They were also divided.

The only ones not present were Aiden and Britt who were still working on finishing the serum to combat the drough blood.

Despite the urgings of Cara, Phelan had no interest in getting some rest. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Aisley, felt her in his arms, tasted her on his tongue.

“He’s taunting us,” Ronnie said. “Our answer shouldn’t be an attack.”

Arran brought his wife’s hand to his lips to kiss it. “Sweetheart, you’re no’ used to our ways yet.”

She rolled her eyes. “I may be an American and still new to the castle, but it’s obvious to me. Jason is setting a trap for us. We’d be fools to walk into it.”

“Wallace, Declan, Deirdre,” Fallon said. “They’ve all set traps, and we’ve gotten away.”

Sonya’s lips flatted as her amber eyes caught Fallon’s gaze. “Yes. We lost friends in the process. We all remember how powerful Deirdre was when she regained her body. I’ve a feeling Jason is going to be worse. I agree with Ronnie.”

“And I agree with my wife,” Broc said.

Ian nodded from his position straddling the bench. “As much as I’d like to find this wanker and end his miserable life, I doona think going to the mansion is the right call.”

“We willna be able to lure Wallace back to Dreagan,” Charon said.

Ramsey shook his head of black hair. “That was a onetime thing, I agree. Will the Dragon Kings be willing to help if we need them?”

“I can talk to them, but we’d be better off thinking it’s just us.”

Galen walked out of the kitchen with his fourth plate of food in an hour. “Agreed. I doubt Wallace will come here either.”

“Then where?” Tara asked with a mug of coffee held between her hands as she snuggled beside Ramsey. “We can’t exactly have a battle in the middle of town.”

Phelan smiled and looked at Charon. “There is one place we can.”

“Ferness,” Charon said.

Fallon gave a reluctant nod. “How long do your people need to evacuate, Charon?”

“No’ long. I’ll make the call now,” he said and got to his feet.

Talk would then turn to strategy. Phelan didn’t need to hear it. It was always the same. The Druids would be protected by a few Warriors while the rest of them attacked. It had worked countless times in the past.

The problem was, Phelan wasn’t sure it would work this time.

For the next hour, he listened as the Druids argued with the men about how they would benefit from being closer to the action and the Warriors answering with a resounding no.

Phelan knew how strong Aisley’s magic was. He’d felt it, seen her use it. Days ago he would’ve been happy to have her by his side in battle.

He looked around at the couples as they sat together smiling, sharing whispered words and silent looks. He’d never been jealous of any of them until now. Until Aisley.

She’d opened up his heart and shown him something new and wonderful. To know she had done it only to betray him stung his pride like nothing else could.

As a Warrior, he should have seen through her beauty and words. He should have felt her black magic. It didn’t matter how much he wanted her. He should’ve known.

He didn’t know how long he was lost in thought until he felt a hand on his shoulder. Phelan looked up to find Laura beside him.

“We’re all going to rest for a few hours,” she said. “I know you Warriors don’t need sleep, but we do.”

Phelan nodded and rose from his seat. “I think I’ll … go do something.”

“You know we’re here for you, Charon and I.”

“Of course,” he said hastily and looked around at the empty hall.

Laura patted his arm. “Of course. Get some rest, Phelan.”

He waited until she was up the stairs and out of sight before he sank back onto the chair and dropped his head in his hands. He had to stop thinking of Aisley.

“I’d ask if you want a drink, but I can see you need it,” Charon said as he held out a glass of whisky in front of him. “Laura is worried about you. Truth be told, so am I.”

Phelan accepted the glass and downed the whisky. “I’m fine.”

“Keep telling the lie, and it’ll eventually become truth?” Charon asked. “I tried it. It doesna work.”

“You didna crave the touch of a drough.”

“Nay. I craved the touch of Laura who I thought had no magic at all. Which is almost the same.”

Phelan took the bottle of Dreagan scotch from Charon’s hand and poured more into his glass. “I want to forget her.”

“Marcail can take away your emotions if that’ll help.”

It would, but somehow Phelan wasn’t ready to relinquish them. Not to mention he didn’t want to face Quinn’s wrath when Marcail got sick from helping him. “Nay.”

“I knew you’d say that.”

They sat in silence for several minutes drinking.

“You need to talk to her.”

Phelan drew in a deep breath. He wasn’t going to pretend he didn’t know Charon referred to Aisley. “Impossible.”

“It’s no’. I hate to admit it, my friend, but I believe she cared for you.”

“It was an act.”

“How do you know? Let Reaghan go with you. She can look in Aisley’s eyes and determine if she’s telling the truth.”

Phelan chuckled. “I can’t imagine Galen would be happy to put his beloved wife in the same room as a drough.”

“There are Druids here who can help. Let them, dammit.”

The frustration lacing Charon’s words was impossible to miss. He knew his friend was just trying to help, but Charon didn’t realize there wasn’t anything anyone could do.

“I can no’.”

Charon leaned forward and shook his head. “Damn, but you’re a stubborn bugger.”

“It’s why you appreciate my friendship.”

Charon didn’t return his smile. Instead, his dark eyes pinned him. “She changed you. For the good, I might add.”

“There’s no use buttering me up,” Phelan said with a forced laugh. “I may be a prince, but I doona have a throne.”

“Joke all you want,” Charon said as he rose and set aside his glass. “You know I speak the truth.”

Phelan watched his friend walk away. The one thing he and Charon always promised each other was the truth, no matter how hard it was to hear.

He knew all too clearly how Aisley had changed him. The armor he’d always worn was stripped from him, leaving him bare and exposed. He felt defenseless.

“Fucking wonderful,” he murmured.

Phelan stood and slowly made his way up the stairs to his room. There wouldn’t be any rest for him, but at least he could wallow in his self-pity without others seeing him.

Maybe then he could face them again with some measure of his armor back in place.

* * *

A moan fell from Aisley’s lips as she came awake. She’d been having the most delicious dream involving Phelan, the Fairy Pool, and the waterfall.

The tingling of her skin from the dream faded abruptly as the discomfort from her numerous injuries brought her fully awake.

She wanted to rub an itch on her nose, but she couldn’t lift her arms, not after Jason had placed dozens of shallow cuts all over her arms, neck, and face.

Blood pooled beneath her cheek from lying on her side. As disgusting as that was, she couldn’t roll over. Even if she could endure the pain from the rest of her body, the welts on her back from the caning would stop her.

How much time had passed? Days or weeks? Being locked in the dark dungeon took away all track of time. Aisley wondered what Phelan was doing at the same time she hoped he would find a way to kill Jason.

“Please, God,” she whispered, then waited to be struck dead for praying. When God didn’t take His wrath out on her, she sent a silent, heartfelt plea to Him for Phelan.

She wasn’t sure He would even listen, but it was worth a shot.

“Why don’t you pray to me?” came a deep, eerie voice from inside her cell.

Aisley’s heart skipped a beat and fear slithered down her spine. “Who are you?”

“Look.”

“If you haven’t noticed, I can’t. My sight was taken.”

The sound of cloth moving reached her. A second later, thick, black-soled biker boots came into view. The man squatted next to her.

The shadows clung to him, but she could tell he was young. He wore dark jeans, a dark shirt, and a black leather jacket. She was able to see his hair was dark and cut short yet she couldn’t see the exact shade. His eyes, however, were easy to see. They were black.

“Does this form please you, Aisley?”

Something about the voice made her blood freeze in her veins. “Why do you care?”

“It’s one of many forms I can take. Tell me what pleases you, and I’ll look the part.”

An image of Phelan entered her mind. Almost instantly the man transformed into Phelan.

She closed her eyes, her chest heaving from the sight of him. “Stop it. You aren’t really him.”

“It’s what you wanted.”

“No. Just … go away.”

There was a pause. “I no longer look like Phelan. Open your eyes.”

Aisley peeked through one eye. When she saw the image of Phelan was gone, she opened her eyes. “Who are you?”

“You already know the answer to that. Wouldn’t you rather ask what I’m doing here?”

“I suppose you’ve come to hurt me like Jason has.”

The man’s chuckle was the most evil sound she’d ever heard. “I’ve come to help you. All you have to do is ask.”

“Jason pledged himself to you. You helped him come back.”

“Actually, I didn’t.” The man ran a finger down her cheek, and as he did, he took the pain with him. “Jason delved into places I didn’t think he had the courage to go. He’s helped himself to magic.”

Aisley took in a deep breath and slowly released it. Without the pain wracking her body she was able to think clearly. She knew the man before her wasn’t a man at all but actually the Devil.

She also knew exactly what he was asking.

“I can restore you, Aisley. I can triple the magic within you. I can help you kill Jason.”

“Why don’t you just take away his power?”

The Devil smiled. “That would be too easy. I have more … finesse than that, my dear.”

“Why me?”

“Because you have that passion inside you just as Deirdre did. The difference between you and her is that you’re smarter. Deirdre grew reckless in her long years of power. She forgot who was really in charge.”

“And I won’t forget?”

“I won’t let you.” He scratched the tip of her nose that itched. “So, Aisley. What’s your answer? Shall I take away all your pain, grant you more magic than you can imagine, and help you kill your cousin?”