Chapter Sixteen

Alex watched the last glimmer of sunlight sink below distant hills.

"The day has ended," Cora said. "Now they will come."

He peered down at her. "How do ye know that?"

"The night belongs to the damned," she said. She wore only a tunic, which she had not bothered to belt, and her bare feet sunk into the snow. Already her blue eyes began to glow in the twilight.

Alex looked back. Shadow consumed Sonas Castle. "Do we keep walking?"

Cora closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. "Aye, to the forest."

Jamie froze. "Ye wish us to enter Daonnan Forest?"

"Ye needn't follow," she said. "Neither of ye need go."

"I would sooner slice my own throat then have ye carry on alone," Alex swore.

Jamie arched a brow at Alex. "That's a pretty image." Then he shifted his gaze to Cora. "My vow will not be so bloody or spoken with the same vehemence. Then again, I am not a man in love. Still, I've made a promise. I'll not abandon ye, though I pray I live to regret it."

"Be careful what ye pray for," Cora warned.

A fragrant wind blew, stirring dried leaves and a thin layer of snow into a frenzy at the outskirts of the forest. Alex knelt and grazed his hand across petals of bluebells that poked up through the ground in every direction.

"I told ye," Jamie said, kneeling to inhale the sweet perfume. "'Tis the return of the fairfolk. I ken it to be so."

Alex marveled at the flowers. "If only that were true. With the faeries on our side, we would, indeed, stand a chance."

But as they wound their way through twisted trees, Alex began to doubt Jamie's prediction. It took all their might to cut through the tangled thicket. Branches seemed to shift and stir of their own accord, snaking around Alex's sword. The more he cut the more strangled the pass became. Then Cora seized his blade. "These trees have suffered enough. Were ye not the one who taught me how to care for the living?"

She eased around him, taking lead. Expelling a deep breath, she closed her eyes and stepped forward. The gnarled limbs and thorny bramble parted at her feet. Alex stared after his wife in wonder. He started to follow when Jamie touched his shoulder. "We're being watched."

"I ken," he said, peering through a space in the thicket at the glow of watchful eyes on the other side.

"We're surrounded by wolves," Cora breathed.

"Is that all," Jamie scoffed. "Merely a pack of vicious and, no doubt, hungry wolves."

Cora extended a placating hand in his direction. "Ye needn't fear them while I am near."

They trudged deeper into the wood until the earth began to slope down, opening to a vast clearing. Moonlight illuminated the glade.

"Why have we stopped?" Alex asked, taking his place by Cora's side.

She met his gaze. "They're coming."

Alex and Jamie reached behind their backs, drawing their swords.

"Can ye hear their hearts beating?" Alex asked, his eyes straining to see through the trees.

She shook her head. "They have no hearts. But I smell old death just as I did out on the moors. Your eyes will see them soon enough."

She looked up at him, and for the first time since Edmund's confession, he saw fear flood her eyes. "Why now?" she whispered. "For so many years I've welcomed death. Why is this happening now when I want so much to live?" She reached for him, and he pulled her into his arms.

"Ye shall live," he promised.

"Ye believe that, don't ye." She touched his face. "Ye carry so much faith in your heart." Then she stiffened. "We're not alone."

"No you're not." The spoken words coiled around them, seemingly coming from every direction. Alex glanced left, then right, trying to guess the fiend's location. Then two men stepped into the clearing at the base of the slope. Both were lean of build and dressed as though they had just come from court. One had penetrating green eyes and long, blond hair, slicked back away from his face that shone stark white in the moonlight. Arrogance laced his voice, his gaze; it was evident even in the tilt of his chin. The second man trailed a little behind, appearing reluctant to follow. His hair was black, and his indifferent eyes glinted with blue vibrancy.

The blond man smiled, locking eyes with Cora. Alex expelled a quiet breath when he saw even, square teeth; however, his relief was short lived.

The man stepped closer, his gaze continuing to fix on Cora. "I have thought of nothing but you since I had the pleasure of observing your run."

Alex reached for her to draw her behind him, but she shook her head and stood her ground while the devil continued to speak, his voice silky and unhurried. "You looked in my direction with those sky blue eyes." He eased closer still. "You're as lovely as I remembered."

Cora took a step forward, her chin raised high. "I've spoiled your plans."

Alex gripped his sword tighter when a smug smile curved the man's lips. "Actually, my dear, you've played right into my hands." Alex's stomach twisted. He reached for Cora, and this time she did not resist.

The man took another lazy step toward them. "I knew your clever nose would sniff out that sniveling bookkeeper if he believed he'd betrayed you. So I invented a scheme and put him at the center. I've been patiently waiting right here for you to come to me." His eyes slowly traveled the length of Cora's figure. "I'm going to make you my slave."

Alex lunged in front of her. "Ye will not!"

"Do you truly believe you can protect her, Highlander?" He turned to his friend. "Did I not tell you of Highland courage?"

The other man shrugged. "Can we be done with this?" he said. "I wish to return to Edinburgh."

"All in good time," he answered before turning back to Alex. "Forgive his rudeness. Emmanuel is not as fond of the country as I am. Now, where were we? Oh yes, Highland courage." A wicked smile spread his lips apart. "I have another brave Highlander for you to meet. Here, boy," he called.

From out of the wood, a gray wolf slunk into the clearing. His long, wide back shifted with heavy muscles. He sat at the man's feet and growled low and thick.

"Saints Above, it's enormous," Jamie whispered, earning a chuckle from the enemy.

"You needn't bother whispering. I can hear your thoughts before you speak them."

Alex scanned the trees, looking for the best path to lead them from peril.

"To run would be futile."

Alex's gaze shot back, eying the man who'd guessed his thoughts.

Cora peered around his shoulder. "What is your name?"

His slick, golden hair glinted in the moonlight when he made a courtly bow. "Of course, we've not been properly introduced. My name is Serge Badeaux. I hail from Paris, although Edinburgh has been my home for the better part of seventy years."

Alex and Jamie exchanged confused glances. Serge Badeaux could not have been older than twenty-five.

Serge carried on, his voice filling the night. "However, since discovering your beautiful land more than a decade ago, I've come to fancy myself quite the Highlander. Though I could never bring myself to wear the hideous plaid." His friend chuckled.

Alex's lips curled in disgust.

"I've offended your husband," Serge said, his eyes still trained on Cora. But then he shifted his gaze to Alex and gasped in mock horror. "You are rather a mess, aren't you?" His fiery eyes raked over Alex's scars.

"He's beautiful," Cora screamed, lunging forward. Scorching heat blazed off of her. "'Tis ye who are vile!" Her chest expanded with each breath drawn. She felt like pure fire. Alex glanced down at his sodden hide boots with surprise. The heat of her body had melted the snow.

Serge crossed his arms over his chest. "Come, come, my dear. There's no reason why we can't be civilized. All I want is you. If you come with me now, I will spare your friends."

"Liar," she snarled.

A slow smiled curved his lips. "I forgot about that clever nose of yours." His head cocked to the side while he eyed Alex once again. "She clearly loves you, though at first glance it is hard to know why. But the more I look at you, there is something strangely appealing about your face. One half perfect and the other spoiled. And I suppose there is an unexpected beauty in your mismatched eyes." He tapped his fingertips against his lips as he continued to study Alex. "I may have a use for you after all. But first things first," he said, his gaze shifting to Cora. "Come to me."

"Burn in Hell," she snarled.

Serge smiled. "By now, love, you should have realized you are in Hell." Then his fangs dropped, and he flashed forward, moving with inhuman speed.

Alex's heart pounded as he raised his sword and moved back to back with Jamie, wedging Cora between them.

"I'm here," a voiced breathed in Alex's ear. He swung his blade, slicing the air. An eerie chuckled echoed from every direction. Then suddenly, Serge appeared again, his smiling face only a breath away from Alex's.

With a snarl, Alex raised his sword, but Serge darted back. Then a low, thick growl sounded behind him. Alex spun around and found Cora's tunic discarded at his feet. Her snowy white fur gleamed against the night. She lunged forward, snapping her powerful jaws at Serge, but again, he flashed out of reach.

"Oh yes," he said, greed feeding the fire in his eyes as he stared at her. "You'll do quite nicely." Then he disappeared again, reappearing a moment later once more in front of Alex. Serge's hand clamped around his neck. "Surrender her," he said.

"Never," Alex gritted, struggling for air. Behind Serge, Cora launched off her hind legs, her claws spread wide, but the villain turned an instant before Cora landed. Alex cried out as her claws sank into his back instead. Still, he strained, twisting to free his neck from the demon's steel grasp.

"Your wife is mine," he hissed.

Alex thought his lungs would burst, but suddenly an unseen force charged headlong into Serge, sending them both soaring through the air. The grip on his neck released, and he dropped to the ground. Cora pressed her snowy head into his chest, and Jamie lunged in front of them both with sword brandished high. Serge had vanished, but standing only feet away was Alex's savior, an enormous, black wolf. And behind the furred beast danced an army of wolves. They scurried out of the way as the black wolf charged forward, followed by his baying troops.

Serge reappeared beside his pet, his face twisted with rage. At his command, the gray wolf attacked, colliding with the black beast in a frenzy of gnashing teeth and fierce growls. A breath later the smaller wolves plunged into the turmoil. Alex gaped at the throng, but then a sudden cry caused his heart to sink. He whirled around. Emmanuel had seized Jamie.

"Nay," Alex cried, rushing toward him, but Cora was faster. A white blur, she lunged at Emmanuel, but his free hand shot out and caught Cora by the throat in midair and flung her against a tree. She fell to the ground in a heap of snow white fur. Alex bellowed with fury, his heart on fire as he charged, but not before Emmanuel sank his teeth into Jamie's neck.

"Monster," Alex yelled, swinging his sword. Emmanuel skimmed out of reach and continued to feed. Again Alex charged, only this time Emmanuel's fist snaked out, catching Alex in the temple. He crumpled to the ground, his vision fading in and out. Shaking his head, his eyes cleared in time to watch blood cascade down Emmanuel's chin while he savored Jamie's last breath. Then he tossed his victim to the ground. Alex closed his eyes against the horror of Jamie's sunken and withered face.

"Ye bastard," he shouted, scrambling to his feet, his fists swinging wildly. Emmanuel bared his bloody fangs.

"No, Emmanuel," Serge snapped, coming forward. "He's mine."

Alex swung his fist, catching Serge hard in the jaw. His head snapped back before he seized Alex's throat. "I wasn't going to kill you," he snarled. "I've changed my mind."

Vicious eyes locked with his. His lungs burned. He blinked his eyes, trying to stay conscious. Sharp fangs plunged toward his neck. But then Serge froze. A whirring noise erupted from the surrounding trees, and a frenzy of lights shot out from the darkness, coming together in a burst of fire so bright that it was as if night had given way to day. Serge flung his arms in front of his face, cowering away from the blazing light bearing down upon him.

Freed, Alex scurried away from the inferno an instant before a flash of silver slashed the ball of fire, slicing through Serge's neck. His head careened to the ground and rolled, landing at Alex's feet. Pale, lusterless eyes stared unseeing into the night.

Alex shielded his eyes as the fiery orb rose high into the air, revealing Cora, in her human form, standing on the other side with sword still raised. He rushed to her, pulling her into his arms. They stared at the light floating higher and higher. The great whirring noise resumed as the fiery ball began to rattle and shake. And with a force that knocked Cora and Alex off their feet, the blaze burst into a thousand single points of light.

Alex stared in wonder as the lights whizzed back through the trees, illuminating the darkness with soft radiance before vanishing from sight.

The faeries had, indeed, returned.