Anita Clenney - Embrace the Highland Warrior

From what she overheard of the meeting, Cody wanted to take on Malek, but the others were trying to talk him out of it. Shay wouldn’t let him do it. A warrior couldn’t destroy a demon as powerful as Malek, unless the warrior was assigned; otherwise, he would die. She wouldn’t let Cody die. The whole thing seemed ridiculous. Cody, a seasoned warrior, revered by his clan, killer of an ancient demon, couldn’t touch Malek, but Shay, with no experience whatsoever, who never killed anything except Ellis and one vampire, was expected to take down a demon who was nearly a thousand years old. What was it about God working in mysterious ways? Maybe he was bored and wanted to stir things up.

On the other hand, she wasn’t a complete weakling. She killed that vampire at the cabin, and Cody claimed she’d moved just as fast as the vampire had. Maybe she should have gone to Beauly Prior with the warriors. They were powerful, but their talismans didn’t work against vampires.

She watched the dark shadows of the guards, pacing first one way, then another, bodies alert, watching. She glanced at her watch. Cody and the others had been gone for two hours. The warriors suddenly halted, and Shay heard vehicles coming down the driveway. She watched as two Range Rovers parked. The doors opened, and the warriors piled out. She searched for Cody, but he wasn’t there. Had he been injured?

She ran downstairs and met Bree in the hallway. “They’re back,” Bree said. “And they’ve brought a vampire.”

“Where’s Cody?” Shay asked.

Bree frowned. “I don’t know. He didn’t come back with them.”

“He’s okay?”

“No one was hurt.”

“Bree,” Faelan called, and Bree moved away.

Shay held on to the wall for support, breath wheezing through her lungs as she remembered the look on Cody’s face, the desperation in his kiss, urging her to remember that he loved her.

He was going after Malek alone.

***

“Shay, darling, how are you?”

Shay stepped inside the adjoining rooms that her aunt and Matilda shared. “Good. How’s Matilda?”

“The most somber I’ve seen her. The vampire thing really shocked her.”

“She believes it was a vampire?”

“We tried to convince her otherwise, but I think she knows.”

“I have something to say to you, Nina. I should’ve said it years ago, but I was so focused on my pain, I didn’t stop to think about how much it hurt you when I left. I’m sorry. I know you were trying to protect me. You always wanted what was best for me.” Although attempting to kidnap Jamie was a little extreme. “You gave up your way of life to help me, and I never considered that. Please forgive me.” Shay wrapped her arms around her aunt. “I’ve been so selfish.”

“No, you haven’t.” Nina stroked Shay’s hair. “We took your life from you. We just didn’t have a choice. Or maybe we did. I’ve wondered so many times over the years whether I should’ve told you.” Nina’s eyes moistened. “When you came into my life, I thought my world had collapsed. My husband had died a few months before, and I had nothing to live for. Until you. You became my life.” Nina hugged Shay and kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry about everything. Not telling you, trying to kidnap Jamie so you could be with Cody.”

“Nina,” Matilda called.

“She just found out about Nick’s death. I feel so terrible.”

“About Nick?”

“It’s our fault he’s dead.”

“How is it your fault?” Shay asked with a sinking feeling in her stomach.

“We hired him to stalk you.”

As it turned out, it had been Nick’s idea. On Nina and Matilda’s last visit, Nick had overheard them at the pub discussing the dilemma of Cody and Shay. Nina was certain they belonged together. Being a romantic at heart, Nick hatched the scheme to frighten Shay into coming home. He said that was the only way Cody and Shay would know they belonged together, and he offered to do the job. Of course they insisted on paying him for his stalking time.

After consoling Nina, Shay took a long look at her aunt’s face, committing the soft brown eyes, the short gray hair, and kind face to memory. She wished she could tell her about the past, all about it. If she survived, she would, but there wasn’t time now for the questions it would bring. She said good-bye and made her way to Cody’s room. She lay on his bed and closed her eyes, letting his scent roll over her as a lifetime of memories flashed by, from toddlers to teens, laughing and bandaging each other’s wounds. From making love in the hayloft to the time spent at the cabin, and here, when she told him she loved him. All the moments that comprised their lives. Cody was her world. He always had been. She wouldn’t let him make this sacrifice.

Shay rose from Cody’s bed and went to her room. She tugged on a dark coat and put a flashlight, a bottle of water, and her cell phone in the pockets. Shay tucked a butcher knife into her boot. She hoped Coira wouldn’t miss it.

In the sitting room attached to Shay’s bedroom, she pushed the catch that opened the door to the secret passage. The air was musty inside. She moved as quietly as she could, knowing that some hidden doors opened to rooms throughout the castle, and the warriors had hearing like bats. It was like a tomb, save for the soft scuffing of her shoes. The light flickered with her movements, throwing shadows on the wall. Shay shivered, hoping she remembered the way. She came to the winding steps that led to the first floor. A din of voices sounded close by. She recognized the entrance to the library. The warriors must be gathered there. She couldn’t believe they brought a vampire to the castle.

She stopped at the section of stones where she had met Declan. She pushed the catch, and it opened to the tunnel. He said the far end was old and dangerous, but the vampire had used it, as well as Angus, the warrior who was killed. Shay hoped it held up for her, although what she planned was probably far more dangerous than a decrepit tunnel.

The passage narrowed after she passed the door where she and Declan had gone outside. She could feel the dampness and hear water trickling. She stumbled several times over fallen stones, but she concentrated on Cody, his face, the determination she saw there. If she didn’t stop him, he would die. Malek must be watching the castle, so Cody would be nearby too. Shay had caused him untold pain by severing a friendship because he tried to protect her, by hating him for something he hadn’t done. She wouldn’t let him die for her too. If Michael said it was her duty to destroy Malek, then by God, she would destroy Malek.

The darkness lightened, and she knew she was close to the end, finally. She stumbled outside and grabbed a breath of fresh air. She saw two warriors lying on the ground. Her heart sank as something sharp scraped her chest. “Nearly a thousand years in this dimension, and I thought humans incapable of surprising me. I guess I’m wrong.”

Chapter 20

The man was tall, the silver streak in his hair glinting in the moonlight. He traced a fingernail along the whitish lines of Shay’s scar. “I don’t know how you did it. You were as good as dead when I left you, just like your mother.” He raised his gaze to her face, showing a touch of awe. “You look like her, not your father. He was dark, like your sister. They couldn’t protect you. No one can protect you.” He moved closer, his eyes growing angry. “I won’t allow you to spawn my enemy.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” This must be Malek. He had the silver streak in his hair.

He smiled an almost serene smile. “You don’t know, do you? How sad. This god you serve doesn’t even bother to give you the basic information. A child born to you and Cody was destined to destroy me.” Malek’s smile faded into a sneer. “Alexander MacBain. But he won’t succeed. He won’t exist, not from a dead mother. I failed to destroy you the first time. I won’t fail the second.”