A Forbidden Temptation

by Donna Grant

  “How do I look to your eyes?” The Gryphon was once again calm, his tail tucked against him.

  Aimery stopped and raised his gaze to find the Gryphon staring at him. He knew the beast couldn’t see him, could only feel and smell his presence. “Have you ever met one of your brethren?”

  The Gryphon laughed dryly and clicked his beak together. “You mean thepure ones? Nay, I have not, and I pray I never do.”

  “Why? Because you’re afraid of what they might do to you?”

  “They couldn’t do anything to me if they tried. I hold more power in one wing than an entire flock of Gryphons. Afraid? I think not.”

  Aimery removed his cloaking spell and showed himself to the creature. “Tell me something.”

  “A curious Fae. How odd,” the Gryphon stated, his tone heavy with sarcasm. “Ask your question, Fae commander.”

  Aimery smiled and moved to stand in front of the creature. “Why did you turn to the dark side?”

  The Gryphon looked away and sighed. “That is a complicated answer, one that I cannot share.”

  Aimery hadn’t expected the creature to tell him, still he found himself disappointed.

  “However,” the Gryphon continued, “I can tell you that I wasn’t always as you see me.”

  That was a bit of information Aimery had never expected to receive. “What were you?”

  The Gryphon shook his head. “You aren’t asking the right questions,” he said with a sneer. “You are supposed to be one of the most powerful species in the universe, yet you cannot discover my origins. What does that tell you?”

  “That the evil has gotten very good at keeping its movements hidden.”

  “And become more powerful,” the Gryphon added.

  Aimery nodded. “That as well. The Fae know this now and will not allow it to continue.”

  Sadness seemed to overcome the creature. “I’m afraid you are too late. It will take more than your Fae power to stop what is coming.”

  Aimery refused to believe the Gryphon, yet a part of him realized that there might be some truth to the creature’s words. “There has always been balance.”

  “True,” the Gryphon said and looked at Aimery. “Has no one ever wondered what would happen if one tilted the power?”

  Anger began to simmer inside Aimery as he realized the Gryphon had been toying with him. “There has always been balance, and there will always be balance. It is evil’s destiny to continue to try and gain power, and it is good’s destiny to outwit the evil and keep the balance. That is the way things are.”

  “If only it were that simple.”

  “What are you hinting at?” demanded Aimery.

  “I cannot say.”

  “Cannot or will not?”

  The Gryphon shrugged. “You pick.”

  Aimery gnashed his teeth and glanced at the cave.

  “They will die,” the Gryphon said. “Or at least one of them will.”

  He had no doubt the Gryphon referred to Nicole. It would take much more than the creature to kill his Shields.

  “Stay and watch,” the Gryphon said as he rose and turned to walk away. “It may prove entertaining,” he threw over his shoulder.

  Aimery glanced at the retreating creature and focused his attention on the cave. Something was wrong, but he couldn’t place his finger on exactly what it was.

  He wanted to check on his men, but he needed to report to Theron and Rufina on his conversation with the Gryphon. Maybe it was time the Fae stopped following the rules set down when time began. If the evil had gained as much power as he thought it had, it was either let the evil rule, or do what needed to be done.

  Right then and there he decided to do whatever it took to keep his men alive and keep the power balanced. * * * *

  Gabriel stretched and rose to his feet. He had taken the second watch, and just as he expected, no evil approached the cave. How he wished he could speak to the creature as Val had. He couldn’t explain his need to speak to the creature, he just knew that if he did, he might discover something.

  The fact that the discovery he thought to make had nothing to do with Nicole and everything to do with his past frightened him like nothing else could.

  He had asked Val to share his secrets, yet he himself hadn’t shared any. Yet how could he? He didn’t really know anything. It was all speculation on his part. Speculation and gut instinct, he reminded himself.

  With a sigh, he looked over his shoulder to find Val sleeping near Nicole. If everything worked out as he had hoped, a few days of them sleeping beside each other should cause Val to see what was right before him.

  Before it was too late.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The awesome heat of the fire scorched him before he ever jumped from his horse, but Val only thought to get to his sisters and their families. Smoke billowed from the windows and cracks so thick that Val could barely make out the structure.

  “Augustina! Luciana,” Val screamed as he banged on the door.

  A clinking sound caught his attention, and he looked down to find the door handle chained and locked. A sick feeling of doom overtook him. He tried to swallow but found his mouth dry as he began to choke from the smoke.

  “General,” one of his men yelled. “We should ride after the raiders.”

  But Val ignored him. The screams of his sisters and their children drowned out everything. He had to save them. He couldn’t fail.

  He kicked the door, hoping to splinter the wood, but the damn thing held. Next he slammed his shoulder into it and bit back a groan. He was running out of time. Already the smallest of the children had stopped crying.

  Val refused to think that it was because she had died. Instead, he moved to one of the windows and tried to push it open. The outside of his left hand touched metal, immediately blistering the skin.

  He grabbed his hand with a curse and looked helplessly at the house.

  “Val, please,” he heard Augustina cry out.

  Then he heard nothing but the crackling of the fire.

  Val sat up and looked around the cave. He looked down at his hand expecting to see a fresh burn and not the old wound that met his gaze. The dream had been so vivid. Never had he experienced anything like it.

  A piece of wood cracked and splintered in the fire sending sparks flying into the air. Val shivered. His mouth was dry and his hands shook.

  He needed a drink desperately, and he thanked the gods nothing was near, for he didn’t think he was strong enough to turn it away as he had done earlier. Nay, his dream had brought back so many painful memories.

  “Val?”

  He closed his eyes as he heard Nicole’s sweet voice. She was like an anchor for him, one that he needed to hold onto with both hands.

  Before he changed his mind, he turned towards her and covered her body with his.

  “What is it?” she asked as she wrapped her arms around him.

  “Nothing.”

  “You had another dream,” she said softly.

  Val didn’t deny it. Somehow she always knew what truly bothered him.

  Her hands ran through his hair kneading his head and neck. “The past is the past. Let it go.”

  “I cannot.”

  “You must.”

  Val looked deep into her beautiful violet eyes. “Help me let go.”

  “All you had to do was ask,” she said with a smile, then gently pulled his head down and kissed him.

  Val’s dark emotions evaporated the instant Nicole’s lips touched his. He didn’t question how or why, just took what comfort he could find in her kiss.

  He plunged his hands into her long, black tresses and gloried in its thickness and softness. His mouth moved across her cheek to her jaw and down her delicious throat. His tongue flicked across a sensitive spot on her neck, and he heard her moan. A primal male smile pulled at his lips. He knew just how to touch her to send her spiraling out of control.

  And if he were honest with himself, he would admit she had the same power over him.

  H
is rod was already bulging with need and it didn’t help that Nicole rubbed her hips seductively against his. He groaned as he savored the feel of her hands roaming over his back and shoulders. When she pushed at his leather jerkin, Val shifted and rose up to shed his jerkin and tunic.

  The smile on her lips as she eyed his naked torso only made his desire burn brighter.

  “You’re magnificent.” She sat up and began to kiss and touch his chest and abdomen.

  Val closed his eyes and dropped his head back as he gave himself up to Nicole’s touch. His skin burned as her fingers left a scorching trail down his torso. He clenched his hands at his sides as his emotions whirled around him. He didn’t know what was right and what was wrong any more. And he was tired of caring.

  All he wanted to do was feel, and, with Nicole in his arms, he was doing just that.

  Her hot tongue licked his nipple, sending a chill across his skin. Val opened his eyes and looked down to see Nicole watching him intently.

  “You little vixen,” he murmured just before he reached up and cupped her face in his hands and took her mouth in an intense kiss.

  He needed her right then. She must have sensed his urgency for she began to pull up her skirts as he unfastened his pants. When his rod sprang free, Val looked up to find her lying on her back waiting for him.

  “I need you too desperately to go slow.”

  “Stop talking,” she said and reached for him.

  Val had never known a woman so in tune with his emotions that she knew what he wanted before he did. He didn’t question his fortune, just accepted it and took what pleasure he could.

  Nicole’s fingers threaded through his hair as she pulled his head towards her. He ran his lips across hers as his rod brushed against her sex.

  He heard her sharp intake of breath and smiled. When his rod found her slick opening, he licked her lips before sliding his tongue into her mouth. Then he pushed deep inside of her. A sigh left him as he buried himself to the hilt, and he felt Nicole stiffen beneath him. She buried her head in his neck and wrapped her arms tightly around him.

  “It’s never enough,” she whispered.

  He raised his head and looked at her. “What?”

  “You.” Her violet eyes were sad as she looked at him. “I can never get enough of you.”

  He knew there was more she wanted to say, but he didn’t press her. Instead, he moved within her and heard her gasp. She needed a respite as much as he did, and he intended to give her that.

  His rod begged for release, but he held back. He continued his slow movements as he pulled out until only the tip of him remained then he slowly filled Nicole until he touched her womb. Again and again he repeated the movement until sweat glistened his body and Nicole was begging for more.

  Only then did he begin to thrust deeper and faster. Soon he felt his climax building, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to stop it, but he didn’t want to reach his release before Nicole.

  He shifted his weight to one arm and reached between their bodies until he found her pearl. Her back arched as he ran his thumb across the little nub.

  “Val,” she cried out softly as her body convulsed around his.

  He buried his face in her neck and plunged within her warmth, seeking not only fulfillment, but peace. As his orgasm claimed him, he pumped his seed deep within her. When he was drained and the last of her tremors had subsided, Val pulled out of her and sat up.

  She smiled at him and pushed down her skirts as he fastened his pants. No words were spoken, but not because Val didn’t have anything to say. He was just afraid to say them. Instead, he rolled to his back and brought Nicole against him. He stared at the ceiling of the cave as the fire danced upon the stones until he heard Nicole’s breathing even into sleep. Only then did he allow himself to think about the feelings churning within him.

  He kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms tighter around her. The mission should have been simple. Kill the creature and save the girl. Now he found himself feeling things for Nicole that should never have happened.

  To make matters worse, he couldn’t take the chance and tell Nicole. If he had thought the water earlier was wine, Val knew the great evil was playing with his mind. And if that was the case, then Val couldn’t trust anything, not even the woman in his arms.

  If he survived this, only then would he look at the strange feelings inside of him. Until that time, he would have to tread carefully. Since the great evil played havoc with his mind, there was no telling what it was doing to Nicole and Gabriel.

  He sighed and wished for an end to the madness. * * * *

  The Gryphon found a comfortable spot and lay down. He still wasn’t sure what had prompted him to seek out Aimery. Once upon a time he would have made sure to stay as far away from the Fae as he could. Then again, once upon a time, things hadn’t been so convoluted. And there hadn’t been Nicole.

  He shook his head but couldn’t erase the image of her violet eyes. It was the eyes that had triggered the memories. He closed his eyes and sighed. Being the right hand of evil no longer held the appeal it once had.

  To this day he still didn’t know why he had so easily turned to the dark side. He had been scared, yes, but he had been armed with knowledge, coin and a weapon. It had been enough to find him settled.

  But he had been weak. In truth he had always been weak. The only time he had shown anything other than weakness was when he had released Nicole from certain death.

  He wondered, if the time came again, if he would have the strength he wanted or if once again the coward would show his true colors. The Gryphon reached up and touched the blue stone hidden beneath the feathers over his heart.

  With the stone, it didn’t matter what he wanted, because once one wore the blue stone, the only person’s will that mattered was his master’s.

  He opened his eyes to look to the cave. Even from this great distance, he could sense the feelings of Nicole and Val. It was easy to discern Nicole’s feelings. She was falling in love with the Roman.

  But Val was a different story. The general kept a tight clamp on his emotions and hid them from everyone, including himself. It was just as the great evil wanted.

  The Gryphon then turned his attention to Gabriel. The Shield thought he had no past or memories, but that wasn’t the case. The Gryphon knew for a fact Gabriel had a past, and it was a past that was fast catching up with the warrior.

  All too soon, each of the three in the cave would face death. He had tried to warn Aimery that at least one would die, he just hadn’t bothered to tell Aimery that it would be Nicole and Val.

  The balance of power had slowly been shifting to the dark side for several decades. It had been in such tiny amounts that the Fae had never picked up on them. And once the balance shifted, it would be near impossible to get the balance back.

  The beautiful land of Scotland would be laid to waste with the creatures his master would release. All that was good and pure would be wiped out, leaving only darkness and hate.

  “Such a waste,” he mumbled.

  And it wasn’t just this realm that would be taken over. The Realm of the Fae would be destroyed as well. And with it, all the magic the Fae drew their power from. Yet it wouldn’t stop there. Each realm would be affected in some way, shape or form.

  And to his utter shame, he was going to be an integral part of evil’s rise to power.

  “‘Tis time.”

  The Gryphon jerked at his master’s voice in his head. Slowly, he stood and took one more look around the quiet beauty of the loch. His gaze stopped on what was once Nicole’s cottage.

  With slow, measured steps he began to move toward the cave.

  Chapter Thirty

  Val came awake slowly. No more dreams had plagued his sleep, but it hadn’t been a restful night. He had woken every hour or so and checked to make sure Nicole was still with him. It wasn’t enough that she was next to him with her head on his chest. He had to actually see her.

  He watched as she s
ighed in her sleep. Her creamy skin glowed in the dimming firelight, and her long tresses cascaded over his arm like a dark waterfall. Gently, he ran a finger down the side of her face.

  Her beauty was unlike anything he had ever seen, but it wasn’t just her outward beauty he thought of. Her heart was more generous and giving than any he had ever encountered in all his travels.

  She would make a wonderful wife and mother. His heart clutched painfully when he thought about her with another man. He didn’t delude himself into thinking he could settle down as Hugh, Roderick and Cole had done.

  He slowly moved from underneath Nicole and stood. He gazed down at her and wished with all his heart that things could be different. She gave him the peace he thought to never find.

  Reluctantly, he pulled on his tunic and jerkin and walked to the entrance. Gabriel turned his head at his approach.

  “Sleep well?” he asked.

  Val grunted in response. He wasn’t up for a conversation, and, by the haggard look on Gabriel’s face, neither was he. “The sun isn’t up yet. Take a few hours sleep. I’ll keep guard.”

  “Nay,” Gabriel said as he rose and stretched. “I couldn’t sleep now if I tried. I think I’ll go and look for some more firewood.”

  “Be careful,” Val cautioned. “It has been too quiet around here.”

  Gabriel nodded and slung his quiver of arrows over his shoulder. “I agree. I think I’ll take a walk around the loch as well and see if I find any tracks.”

  “I don’t know, Gabriel. Remember what Aimery said yesterday.”

  “I cannot wait around here much longer,” Gabriel said testily. He ran a hand through his hair and reached for his bow. “I’ll be fine, and if it makes you feel better, I won’t go around the loch. I’ll just scout the area around us.”

  “Thank you.”

  Val watched Gabriel and Laird make their way down the mountain and to the forest. He then turned his eyes to the sky. Sunlight was just beginning to turn the sky from black to a light gray. He wished Gabriel had waited until it was lighter to venture out.

  “Thirsty?”

  Val whirled around at the voice that sounded behind him, but there was nothing there. No evil could enter the cave, but he had a feeling the evil wasn’t in the cave. It was inside his head.