Druid Temptation (A Druid Quest Novel Book 2)

by Stacey Brutger

  They chirped excitedly, and Diana nodded. “I’ll bring some grain from the stables for you.”

  The birds swooped away, spinning and dancing in the air.

  Their agreement was worth the pain.

  Diana lingered in her room, not ready to face Gabriel again so soon. Deciding to put off the inevitable, she quickly dressed, then hurried down the stairs as if the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels.

  A sound had Gabriel shooting out of bed, and nearly falling on his ass when he tripped over one of his boots that lay scattered in the middle of the room. He narrowed his eyes and glared at his closed door. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear that damned dog of hers was trying to kill him.

  His heart thudded hard in his chest, and he ran a hand down his face, gazing around his room in confusion, wondering at what woke him, when movement in the garden caught his eye. Peering out the window, he spotted Diana sneaking into the garden…and the hidden gate to the back alley. He gripped the window frame until his knuckles cracked, his gut dropping as he saw her vanish behind the greenery.

  She was leaving him.

  The knowledge devastated him, and he froze as he struggled with the loss.

  After the attack last night, his fear that the pastor would catch her nearly gutted him. “The little fool.”

  He dressed in two minutes flat, haphazardly tying his cravat as he scrambled down the hall. He ran full-tilt through the garden, the door easily giving under his shoulder, and he burst out into the back alley. He’d never forgive himself if he allowed anything to happen to her because he had behaved like an utter ass.

  The strength went out of his legs when he spied Diana and Conway talking. Conway handed her a sack, the two of them laughing, and the small details filtered into his brain. Namely that she didn’t have her pack with her. He leaned heavily against the wall when he realized she wasn’t leaving.

  Then a startling realization knocked the breath clear out of his lungs.

  He was falling hopelessly in love with her.

  Instead of joy, the knowledge scared him shitless.

  Love had no place in his well-ordered life.

  It led most men who succumbed to the devilish emotion down a path of chaos and destruction. Only a lucky few survived, and only because their beloved reciprocated the emotion. He was woefully ill-prepared for a woman like Diana to come into his life, but heaven help him, he’d be damned before he let her go.

  He would not suffer this fate alone.

  He was determined to be one of the lucky ones, even if he had to drag her kicking and screaming all the way.

  Diana turned back toward the house and spied Gabriel leaning against the wall watching her. Her steps faltered when she noted his normal immaculate attire looked like he’d dressed in the dark. She kind of liked him that way.

  Not nearly so impenetrable.

  They both remained silent for a moment, his expression unguarded, dark shadows lingering under his eyes. He looked so wonderful that her daft heart galloped against her ribs.

  “I want you to promise not to go off on your own anymore.”

  Diana hesitated. She wouldn’t be able to protect him if she wasn’t allowed to leave the house. “Only if you agree to the same.”

  Memories of his departure last night still stung.

  She wanted him for herself, and she was determined to win him over.

  The first step was to eliminate the competition.

  “Agreed.” Gabriel pushed away from the wall. “Would you like to go for a ride? We can make our first public appearance, and I can introduce you to a friend of mine.”

  Diana released her breath when Gabriel made no mention of last night, or her gifts. “Are you sure? None of the new dresses have arrived. I wouldn’t want to embarrass you.”

  “You look beautiful.” He gazed down at her, his blue eyes unwavering. “It would be an honor to ride by your side.”

  His reply left her completely flustered. “I’d like that.”

  Gabriel ran a hand down his disorderly clothes. “Meet me back here in five minutes.”

  Diana watched him hurry away, and quickly followed, almost giddy at the chance to spend more time with him. She haphazardly tossed seeds at the birds, then ran into the house. She splashed water on her face and fussed with her hair, then hurried down the stairs to see Conway and Gabriel saddling the horses.

  She couldn’t help admire Gabriel’s muscular form, and the ease with which he lifted the heavy tack. He swung her up in the saddle without a hint of strain. When he lifted his leg to mount, her eyes automatically dropped to his backside, her fingers curling around the reins against the need to touch.

  His legs flexed as he guided his horse closer. When she glanced up, she found him watching her. She should be embarrassed to be caught staring, but she was too busy marveling at the attraction that sizzled between them. The horse shifted impatiently until they were side by side. “They are beautiful animals.”

  “Thank you.” Gabriel patted his horse’s neck. “Since I spend so much time in the country, I took up horse breeding as a way to keep busy. It’s a very lucrative hobby.”

  The streets were relatively empty and easy to traverse so early in the morning. In less than an hour, they passed through a large gate, and the city fell away to the clear, open land of a large park.

  “Do you mind if I stretch her legs and see what she can do?”

  Gabriel smiled. “Be my guest.”

  Diana gave the mare her head, felt the beast’s muscles bunch and her heart surge as she took off. Diana leaned forward, enjoying the speed and freedom as the scenery passed in a blur. Gabriel drew up next to her, tensing as if to sweep her off her horse. His concern both amused and touched her. She flashed him a grin, and he fell back, allowing her to take the lead.

  A tiny piece of her soul eased to find a little bit of the country hidden in the middle of the city. Diana checked her horse, slowing to a trot, allowing her to cool down after such a hard run. Gabriel’s much larger horse followed suit, and they rode together in companionable silence. The park began to fill with people and she turned, ready to head back.

  “You ride well.”

  Pleasure unfurled through her at his admiration. His dark mood of the previous day seemed to have vanished. “Thank you. She is a beautiful animal.”

  “That she is.”

  Her breath caught at the softly spoken reverence in his words.

  He was staring directly at her.

  His charm was nonexistent, rusty at best, and much to her chagrin, she found it very effective. Horses and carriages quickly filled the pathways, slowing the traffic to a crawl, and she was very conscious of him nudging his horse closer, as if to protect her. Thankful for the distraction, she looked around wide-eyed at the spectacle. Every blade of grass and walkway was filled with people, and when she saw the elaborate dresses and colors, she understood his insistence that they visit the dressmaker.

  A stylish woman in a phaeton lowered her parasol and waved in their direction.

  Diana stiffened when the vehicle headed toward them, and the pit of her stomach dropped. The woman could only be described as striking. Her brown hair was curled and piled on top of her head, framing her face becomingly. The dress was the height of fashion, the cinched waist showing off her dainty figure. The light blue color matched her eyes to perfection, and the sunshine added a lovely blush to her cheeks, the overall effect creating a stunning picture. Though she couldn’t be considered classically beautiful, her bearing and confidence made up for any lack.

  Gabriel reached over and touched her arm. “I would like you to meet a boyhood friend of mine, the honorable Rand Patrard and his wife Tallie.”

  Not lovers.

  Relief left her lightheaded.

  She’d been so absorbed in studying the woman, she hadn’t even noticed the dapper gentleman seated next to her. “A pleasure to meet you both.”

  “I met with them last night, and appraised them of our situati
on. They have offered to organize a ball to introduce you into society.”

  Diana felt queasy at the thought, her fingers tightening on the reins until the mare pranced backwards. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  Tallie angled the parasol back and smiled up at Diana with kind eyes. “We’ll keep the gathering small. I understand how it can be somewhat overwhelming at first.”

  Lights grew brighter until things became blurry, and a spurt of panic twisted through her. Voices grew in volume, even the bugs seemed louder.

  Static snapped in the air, and Diana wanted to curse as a vision pounded inside her head.

  Not now.

  But without her special tea or laudanum to suppress it, her power would not be denied. Heat spread across her back, the searing pain just short of crippling.

  “Something’s wrong.”

  Gabriel turned toward her and the smile on his face vanished. “What is it?”

  Diana scanned the area for danger, but nothing stood out in the swarm of people. Pain slammed into her skull, and the vision struck without warning. She grabbed her head as images began to flood her mind.

  All of them involving Gabriel.

  Fear tightened her throat. It was one thing to threaten her—she could handle it—but how was she supposed to protect Gabriel every second of the day?

  “Get off the horse,” she croaked. “There is something wrong with your horse.”

  Gabriel didn’t hesitate and quickly dismounted, then helped her down as well.

  The pain should have abated as soon as the danger had passed, but the pressure behind her eyes threatened to explode. As she began to sort through the images, the power left her in a rush, nearly dropping her to her knees, leaving behind a dull ache that would require a few hours of sleep to recover. Only Gabriel’s hand on her waist kept her upright. Diana twisted around until she saw the arches of the park and a rider in the distance. “Not you. It’s Vance.”

  Even as she spoke, Vance’s horse began to buck. At first the man tried to control his mount, but the animal only fought harder. A trained horseman, Vance kicked himself free of the stirrups and was launched into the air.

  Gabriel began to run even as the man hit the ground with a resounding thud and rolled.

  People screamed and scrambled to get out of the way as the horse charged into the crowd.

  She could feel the thunder of hooves through the soles of her feet, and her eyes widened when she saw a child had been left in its path. “Gabriel!”

  With a burst of energy, she ran toward the boy, but knew neither of them would reach him in time.

  Diana placed herself between the child and the charging horse. Her veins felt on fire when she called on her powers, her body protesting the abuse at using her gift again so soon. The horse’s blind panic blocked the connection and cost her precious seconds. He was only yards away when the link snapped into place.

  She braced herself for impact when she felt Gabriel wrap an arm around her waist. He whirled with her in his arms and hunched over her, protecting them as the horse reared.

  A breeze from the swinging hooves lifted her hair.

  She waited for the pain when she sensed the horse backing away, and then she was only aware of the warmth of Gabriel’s arms as he held her safe. Diana lifted her head and melted when she saw Gabriel gazing down at her with such tenderness. He straightened, reluctantly setting her back on her feet.

  Diana immediately missed his arms. Not wanting Gabriel to notice her reaction, she hurried toward the horse.

  The animal’s coat was covered with sweat. She ran her hands over his quivering hide, searching for the source of pain. She forced her gift into the animal, and her palms warmed when she touched the saddle. When she pulled at the girth, the horse whinnied in distress. Once the belt released, she lifted the saddle, only to have it taken from her. “Let me.” Vance leaned over and dumped the saddle on the ground. His clothes were dirty, his normally orderly hair unruly.

  Diana went over to stand next to Gabriel, shaking from the near miss, and she swallowed hard. “I thought it was your horse.”

  “It is.” Gabriel’s face was grim. “Vance asked permission to exercise my stock while I was out of town. We’ve had the agreement in place for years.”

  Vance lifted the saddle blanket then cursed.

  Six burs lay across the horse’s back, right where the weight of a rider would embed them deeper. Blood marred the stallion’s dark brown coat.

  The implications were clear.

  “Then I suppose I should ask—were you the target or Vance?”

  Gabriel held the horse steady as Vance plucked the spurs from the horse’s back. “Vance is the next in line for his uncle’s title. To some, it’s worth killing for.”

  Their eyes locked, and she saw the doubt.

  He didn’t believe Vance was the target, either.

  Rand and Tallie joined them when a rider cantered toward their group. The man pulled viciously on the reins, tearing at the horse’s mouth. The animal neighed, sidestepping until a riding crop snapped against its hindquarter. “That horse is a dangerous beast and should be shot.”

  The nasally voice belonged to the weasel.

  “And so should some people.” Diana allowed her anger to get the better of her. It infected the horse, and the animal bucked, throwing the odious toad off his back. Diana snorted when he squealed like a pig and landed with a resounding thud.

  “I want them both shot.” The dandy stood painfully, his voice a screech. Offal was smeared on the backside of his pants. She thought the look suited him.

  Ashmore narrowed his eyes, and his mouth firmed. “The last time I checked, these horses weren’t your property.”

  Geoffrey minced closer and whispered so only they could hear. “This is not finished.” He turned in his high-heeled boots and stormed off, the effect somewhat ruined by his pronounced limp and offal-smeared posterior.

  Someone snickered, and Diana watched while Geoffrey snapped his riding crop in half. “You should watch yourself around him.”

  “I enlisted to get away from my family. When my brother died, leaving me as heir to the estate, it landed me back in the loving arms of a nest of vipers when I was inconvenient enough not to die.” Ashmore rubbed his brow. “I will, of course, pay for the damages to the horses.”

  The men shared a look of understanding. “Not needed. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  “Let’s leave the men to work.” Tallie took her arm, easily moving Diana away from Gabriel’s touch. Once alone, Tallie gently squeezed her arm. “I love my husband.”

  Diana felt her cheeks burn. She hadn’t realized she’d been so obvious. “I didn’t—”

  “But the question was in your eyes.” She smiled in sympathy. “Gabriel never cheated on his first wife, and he was given plenty of reason. His wife even encouraged him. He will keep his vows to you the same way.”

  When Gabriel proposed the marriage, she hadn’t thought it would be one in truth. She expected that when he found out about her past, he would set her aside. After spending the past few days together, she began to hope their marriage would turn into something real.

  Her breathing sped up and her head spun when she realized he would never abandon her, till death do they part.

  “Gabriel!”

  “I’ve got her.” Strong arms wrapped around her. He stooped, swept his arms behind her knees and picked her up without missing a beat.

  Diana pushed at his chest, struggling to put distance between them. “I’m fine.”

  Everyone ignored her.

  Tallie trailed behind them. “I think the excitement was too much for her.”

  “Take our phaeton, we’ll pick it up when we return the horses.” Rand unwound the laces and held them out.

  “Thank you.” Gabriel gently deposited her on the bench, then hurried around the back of the vehicle.

  Rand leaned forward and touched her hand, his words for her alone. “I don’t care why you’
re here. Thank you for bringing my friend back to me.”

  Gabriel swung himself up on the seat next to her, not giving her a chance to respond.

  The cool air on the ride home cleared her head. She wished she could blame her gift for her weakness. Despite the nagging headache, she was relatively fine, nothing a nap wouldn’t cure.

  “Do you want to tell me about it?” Gabriel kept his focus on the road, clearly not buying Tallie’s excuse.

  Call her a coward, but she couldn’t tell him the truth. “It must have been the excitement.”

  “Bollocks.” Gabriel pulled the phaeton to a halt outside of his mansion and turned toward her. “You stood in front of a charging horse without flinching, and then you smiled. What happened?”

  His outburst jerked her out of her muddled thoughts. Much to her chagrin, she realized Gabriel knew her well enough to tell when she was lying. She scrambled down, her movements not as graceful as usual. She felt him behind her—too close. She needed time to think. The door opened before her, and she smiled gratefully at Milles as scurried toward the stairs.

  “In here.” Gabriel snagged her arm, using her momentum to swing her around and guide her into his study. He released her once inside, shutting the door tightly behind them.

  His normally repressed emotions bubbled up through the cracks in his normal phenomenal self-control. His hair stuck up in all directions, his eyes were wild. Instead of fussing with his clothes, he remained perfectly still and stared down at her like a wolf sighting its prey.

  She barely resisted the urge to walk into his arms.

  Desperate to organize her chaotic thoughts, Diana studied the room. A large desk dominated the center of the chamber, a solid wall of books stood behind it. The books were perfectly aligned, the desk pristine, every pen in order, an exact distance apart. The chairs were evenly spaced on the floor and measured the same distance from the desk in a tidy row.

  This was the Gabriel she knew.

  Gabriel seated himself in a chair in front of the desk, gripping his knees to keep his hands from shaking. He watched her hair swing back and forth while she wandered around the room, the movement hypnotic. His death grip eased and he leaned back, his breathing evening out.