Midnight's Temptation

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Aisley couldn’t look away from Satan’s black eyes. He was trying to woo her to use as his own. And she didn’t like it.

“I could make Phelan yours again. You could have him by your side for eternity,” the Devil enticed.

“He would be evil.”

“Of course.” The Devil tugged her arm until she was sitting up. “Those damn droughs had no idea how long it took me to lock those gods away in Hell. They were kept in check because they hadn’t been unbound. But Deirdre used them to her advantage.

“Just think, Aisley. You could command the Warriors. They’re such powerful beings. With Phelan by your side, you could be happy.”

She knew that was true, but her soul cried out at the thought of Phelan as evil. Yes he had evil inside him, but he wasn’t evil. There was a difference.

The Devil’s head cocked to the side as he studied her. “Power doesn’t appeal to you, does it?”

“No.”

He placed his hand on her stomach. “I could change what nature did to you. I could heal your scarred womb so that another child could grow there.”

She could imagine the child without difficulty. It would have Phelan’s blue-gray eyes, his determination, and his loyalty.

Her hands clenched as she yearned to hold such a baby in her arms again, to share the love of a child with Phelan. But it would never be. It could never be.

She was drough, and though she didn’t believe in prophecies, the Druids on Skye did. Their fear was enough to make her think twice.

As much as she wanted another child to call her own, she couldn’t have that baby hold all the evil of the world.

“No,” she said and moved the Devil’s hand from her stomach.

His gaze narrowed as flames burned in his eyes for a split second. “It’s what you want.”

“No,” she repeated, her voice stronger. “It can never be.”

“You’ve no idea what you’re turning away, Aisley.”

“I do. More than you realize.”

He unfurled his body to tower above her. “But you’ll take my offer to kill Jason. If you ever change your mind about the babe, just let me know.”

“You misunderstand me. I mean no to everything.” She couldn’t believe how steady her voice sounded, especially when she was shaking so hard inside.

“No one refuses me.”

A shiver raced down her spine at the malice in his voice. “Actually they do. And often. I’m not the one for you.”

His smile was slow and cold. “You may want to change your mind. At the rate Jason is torturing you, you’ll be mine in a matter of days. Shall I show you what could be in store for you?”

She shook her head, but it was already too late. An image about three feet tall erupted out of the ground. It was of a woman of stunning beauty whose white hair was shorn close to her head.

Surrounding her were creatures that were half-human and half-animal. Demons, most likely. Their skin was a muted red and only semicovered their skeletal bodies, and they had elongated jaws with rows of long, sharp teeth that ripped the flesh from the woman’s body.

The demons used their six-inch claws to slice her as well. Her screams were filled with terror and pain. And just when Aisley thought it was over, the woman’s flesh returned and the demons started again.

“Do you know who that is?” the Devil asked.

Aisley shook her head, unable to look away from the image.

“Deirdre. I warned her to listen to my instructions, but she chose to go her own way. There was an instant when her plan could’ve worked and she took over the world. But the Warriors won. Deirdre then became mine. She’ll be tortured like that forever.”

Aisley shivered. He was threatening her with the same treatment once she died if she didn’t take his offer. The idea of suffering that way made her want to agree to anything.

Yet she’d already made so many wrong choices in her life. She was destined for Hell anyway. She wouldn’t make things worse.

“Find someone else.”

He slowly shook his head. “You’ll be praying to me soon, Aisley. I know what Jason has in store for you. You won’t survive it. The pain will be unbearable. That’s when you’ll change your mind and pray for me. I’ll be waiting.”

Without so much as a sound, he and the image of Deirdre disappeared. Almost at once the injuries he’d taken from her returned.

Aisley closed her eyes and concentrated on taking deep breaths so as not to pass out. She wanted to be awake when Jason came for her.

* * *

Phelan smiled as his hand cupped her ass before he caressed up her back. He loved the feel of her skin and the way she responded to his touch.

“More,” she whispered as he kissed her neck.

He rolled her onto her back and covered her body with his. Her legs parted easily. He looked into her fawn-colored eyes and knew life would never get better than it was with her.

With her hands at his side, she urged him to her. His cock jumped, eager to be inside her and feel her wet heat. He angled his hips, and with one hard thrust, filled her.

She cried out, her nails sinking into his skin. Her back arched, which shifted her hips. He began to drive within her with long, slow movements.

Her moans filled the room. They urged him on just as her body did. He began to thrust hard and deep, pounding into her as his own desires surged.

“Phelan now!” she screamed.

He came awake instantly, his body on fire with need and tangled in the sheets. Phelan jerked the sheets away from his sweat-soaked body with a curse.

He could still feel the touch of her skin beneath his palms; the dream had been so real. Every time he closed his eyes it was the same. He knew better than to fall asleep.

Phelan swung his legs over the side of the bed and braced his hands on the mattress. When that didn’t calm him, he rose and walked to the window. He threw it open and took in a deep breath of the sea air.

He waited until his body cooled before he dressed. A glance at the clock told him he’d only slept for an hour, but it had been an hour too long.

The memory of the dream would stay with him all day. No matter what he did, he couldn’t shake Aisley from his thoughts. Even knowing what she was, who she was related to didn’t help.

He stalked from his room and made his way down to the great hall. The only one there was Galen who was eating again.

“You look like hell.”

Phelan flipped him off. “Nice to see you, too.”

Undaunted, Galen asked, “Want to talk about it?”

“When I’m dead.”

“Charon told us about you being a prince.”

Phelan stopped on his way to the kitchen. He turned and walked back to the table and stared at Galen, who sat across from him. “What do you want to know?”

“Nothing. I know you’ve never been comfortable here or around us, but I hope you know you’re always welcome. We’re your friends, Phelan.”

He looked away and blew out a harsh breath. “Aye, I’m a prince. I’m some rarity in my family. It makes no difference.”

“Really?” Galen said and pushed away his empty plate. “Why do I get the feeling it makes you feel even more alienated from others than before?”

Phelan made sure Galen wasn’t touching him and using his power to read people’s thoughts. This was one of the reasons Phelan didn’t like to come to the castle. Everyone was always in his business. The fact they were usually spot-on only irritated him further.

“What of it?” he asked as he looked at the Warrior.

“We’re all different. It’s what makes us individuals. You can no’ take the blame for what your family did for you. It’s what families do.”

Phelan rubbed the back of his neck, uncomfortable hearing Galen, but even more awkward because he wanted to talk about it. “I didna know what they sacrificed.”

“Children rarely do of their parents. They’re no’ supposed to. You were no’ supposed to. It’s the way of things.”

“Is it? How do I know? What family have I been around to learn these things?”

Galen stood and walked around the table. “This family. You’ve seen and experienced it without even knowing it. You’ve seen us sacrifice, but more importantly, you’ve sacrificed.”

Phelan was about to argue that point when Galen held up a hand.

“It’s true,” he went on. “How many times have you willingly helped one of us heal with your blood? How many times have we called for you to aid us in battle? How many times have you protected the Druids?”

Phelan swallowed, unable to answer.

“Exactly,” Galen said with a small smile. “You’ve been a part of us since the first time you fought by our side. We’re an unconventional family, but a family just the same.”

“I’ve been an arse.”

Galen chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling. “That’s true, but it makes you you. Better grab what food is left over before the others come down. If they ask, I wasna here. Reaghan says I’m eating the others’ share.” Galen snorted and backed away.

Phelan couldn’t believe he was smiling as he watched Galen hurry up the stairs. He walked into the kitchen to find Charon leaning against the counter drinking a tall glass of milk.

He met his friend’s gaze and nodded. “I suppose you heard all of that?”

Charon finished his milk and set the glass in the sink. “Aye. Galen was right about all of it. It took awhile for me to see my place here as well. There are times I still feel like an outsider, but that’s my doing and nothing to do with the others.”

“Things have changed,” Phelan said. “Wallace is more powerful than ever before.”

Charon frowned and pushed away from the counter. “How do you know?”

“I felt his magic, but … I was told.”

“By?”

Phelan hesitated. The Fae hadn’t told him he couldn’t tell others about her, but he wasn’t sure if he should. He walked farther into the kitchen until only a few steps separated him and Charon.

“Phelan?” Charon urged worriedly.

“When I was on Skye, I found the Fairy Pool.”

Charon shrugged. “Every tourist sees the Fairy Pools.”

“Nay. The Fairy Pool.”

“Are you telling me that you…” Charon trailed off and raked a hand through his hair. “Shite.”

Phelan crossed his arms over his chest. “I know. Aisley saw it, too. Corann wasna happy the Fae allowed us to find it. But there’s more.”

“More?” Charon asked in surprise.

“Aye. A Fae came to see me yesterday.”

Charon stared at him as if he’d just declared passionate love to a fruit basket. “A Fae? You mean … a real Fae?”

“I didna stutter,” Phelan answered testily. “She said Wallace came back with more magic than Deirdre ever had.”

Charon braced both hands on the large table that served as an island in the kitchen. “Fuck. This is bad.”

“I know. I doona want the others to know of the Fae. No’ yet at least. No’ until I know what they want with me.”

Charon turned his head to look at him. “You have my word. I’m glad you told me about Wallace. We’ll need to take precautions for the battle.”

“You know no’ all of us will survive the upcoming battle. Wallace will see to that.”

Charon’s lips compressed into a tight line. “Aye. You’ve the right of it.”

Phelan watched his friend leave the kitchen. He didn’t have a wife being put in danger. He didn’t have someone who counted on him.

If someone was to lose their life, he would be the one to do it. They were his family, after all. It would be up to him to look after all of them.