Midnight's Temptation

“What the hell does Gwynn mean he isna coming?” Charon demanded.

Phelan felt his gut clench. “Wallace isna coming here.”

“Where could he…” Charon let out a string of curses. “The only ones no’ with us are Britt and Aiden. He’s going to the castle.”

“Aye. I just want to know how.”

“Aisley?”

Phelan shook his head. “No’ possible. She had no idea of what Britt and Aiden were doing.”

“Really? How do we know that? If she’s one of Wallace’s droughs then she was in Edinburgh when Aiden and Britt were attacked. She knows.”

“How would she know they didna come with us?”

Charon raked a hand through his hair. “I doona know. If you’re right and Wallace is more powerful than before maybe he found out on his own.”

Before Phelan could answer, there was a commotion in the middle of town as Fallon appeared with Britt in his arms. He must have teleported to the castle as soon as Gwynn told him about Wallace. Phelan and Charon leaped from the roof, landing with their legs bent before they took off running to the others.

“Britt!” Marcail shouted as she rushed to Fallon.

Phelan saw Fallon release a pent-up breath when Britt’s eyes fluttered open.

“Aiden?” Britt mumbled.

“He wasna at the castle,” Fallon told her. “What happened, lass?”

She squeezed her eyes closed. “Jason and his droughs.”

“Impossible. He shouldn’t have gotten through my shield,” Isla said.

Phelan felt Charon’s gaze on him. The time for keeping things to himself was at an end.

“That’s my fault.”

Everyone turned to him.

Phelan let out a deep breath. “I learned yesterday that Wallace returned with more magic than Deirdre ever had.”

“And you didna tell us?” Quinn shouted as he shoved Phelan backward. “You put my son and Britt at risk? Holy hell. What is wrong with you that you would keep this to yourself?”

Charon put himself between Quinn and Phelan. “Easy, Quinn. Phelan would never put your son or anyone at the castle in danger intentionally.”

“But I did,” Phelan said. “I didna want anyone to know where I got the information.”

Britt squirmed until Fallon set her on her feet. It was Marcail and Reaghan who steadied her. “Who did you get it from?” Britt demanded.

“A Fae.”

Tara covered her hand with her mouth and stared at him with wide eyes for several moments. Her hands dropped to her sides. “You saw one? A real Fae?”

“Aye. She came to see me yesterday and warned me that Wallace had gained much magic.”

Fallon took a step toward him. “And you didna think this important enough to share with us?”

“Nay. I thought this plan would work, and we could draw Wallace out. Isla said her shield would keep Britt and Aiden safe.”

Hayden growled low and deep. “Doona dare to put the blame on my wife. Your hatred of her blinds you to everything. Had you bothered to share that bit of news the Fae gave you, Isla could’ve strengthened the shield.”

“No,” Isla said into the silence that followed.

Phelan shifted his gaze to her. Isla turned her ice-blue eyes from Hayden to him.

“If what the Fae told Phelan is correct, there is nothing any magic could do to keep Jason out,” Isla said.

Marcail wiped at a lone tear that streaked down her face. “Perhaps not, Isla, but I wouldn’t have left my son and Britt behind for that monster to find. God only knows what he’s doing to Aiden.”

Britt wrapped her arms around Marcail. “Aiden is still alive. Jason is using him to ensure that we come where he wants.”

Phelan started to walk away when Britt said, “Wait.”

He turned around to see her pull a dropper bottle out of her pocket.

Britt held it up for everyone to see. “Each Warrior needs this.”

Phelan was about to ask what it was when he felt a tingle of magic he thought he’d never feel again. His cock responded instantly. It was everything he could do not to rush to Aisley’s side.

“It’s the serum,” Britt said. “Everyone take a drink. It’s not as much as I wanted each of you to have, but it’s all I could grab when Wallace came.”

Phelan barely heard her. He turned to where he felt Aisley’s magic. Her magic called to him, lured him. And saints help him, he wanted to go to her.

He felt something touch his arm. Phelan looked down to find Britt holding out the small vial. There was only a tiny bit left. Everyone else had already taken their turns.

Phelan took the vial and drained what was left. Whether Britt’s serum worked or not, he was about to put it to the test.

“Now. Where is Wallace?” Lucan asked.

Phelan pointed to the left, to the forest. “There. Wallace is there. And so is Aisley.” 

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

Aisley drew in a ragged, painful breath and looked at the thick forest of trees around her. One of her ribs was broken and pushing against her lungs. Every finger was pulled out of joint and the bones smashed into pieces. Her shirt was stuck to her back by the blood that dripped from the dozens of cuts.

But none of the hundreds of injuries inflicted upon her by Jason was visible. He’d seen to that.

“How are you faring, cousin?” he asked with a malicious smile. “You are no’ in any pain, are you?”

“Sod off, you ugly shit.”

“Finally found that spine of yours, eh? You do know you’re going to die today.”

She knew. She knew all too well. And she also knew who would be the one to end her life.

Phelan.

She couldn’t wait to see him again. Aisley missed looking into his blue-gray eyes and hearing his seductive voice that always gave her chills. He could read the dictionary and he would still sound sexy as hell.

“You can save yourself,” Jason said. “Tell me what I need to know about the Warriors.”

Aisley looked to the man Jason had captured. She recognized him as Quinn’s son. Aiden was on his knees, his head hanging forward, and his arms held by two of Jason’s new droughs.

“You didna share that Warrior’s bed and come away with nothing!” Jason shouted. “Tell me what I need to know.”

Aisley bit back a cry of pain as she turned her head to look at him. “You’re the all-powerful one. Find out for yourself.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Aiden’s head lift to look at her. She wanted to reassure him that there was nothing Jason could do to get her to tell him anything about Phelan or any of the Warriors. But she couldn’t show any kind of response to Aiden for fear of what Jason would do to him.

“After all I’ve made you endure.” Jason’s voice was low, calm as he walked around her. “Even after I’ve ensured that I’m the only one who can heal your wounds. I thought you’d have broken by now. I guess I was wrong.”

Aisley remained silent. Let Jason say whatever he wanted, let him continue to torture her. She wouldn’t be swayed.

“Mummy?”