A Forbidden Temptation

by Donna Grant

  He tried to ignore the growing hunger for wine, but it became increasingly more difficult to do. His hunger for the wine, even in his most pitiful state, had never been this intense.

  Sweat covered his body. His mouth became dry and he tried to swallow, but couldn’t. He hurried to the water skin Gabriel drank out of the night before and lifted it to his lips. It wasn’t until the third swallow that he realized it wasn’t water but wine. * * * *

  Gabriel patted Laird on the head and took a deep breath. The cold air burned his lungs, but it was just what he needed to help wake him.

  Suddenly Laird tensed, and Gabriel quickly notched an arrow and waited. Then, Laird bolted to the left. Gabriel laughed when he saw the rabbit the wolfhound was after. He decided to let Laird have some fun before he called him back.

  He put away his arrow and slung his bow over his shoulder as he began to search for more wood. He was having to venture farther and farther from the cave in order to find any wood, and he hoped he didn’t have too many more days of searching through the snow and then waiting for the wood to dry out so they could burn it.

  The hair on the back of his neck prickled. He looked around him but saw nothing. He was glad he had listened to Val and stayed close to the cave, but now he had the desire to return immediately.

  He whistled to Laird and began to make his way back to the mountain. As he exited the forest, he glanced at the cave but didn’t see Val. He wasn’t worried though. He knew Val was in the cave with Nicole.

  A smile pulled at his lips at the memory of seeing Nicole sleeping on Val’s chest that morning. Those two were meant to be together, and he was going to do whatever it took to make Val realize that.

  A sound in the forest behind him caught his attention. He turned around to find Aimery behind him. Gabriel cursed and removed his hand from the dagger at his waist.

  “I wish you wouldn’t sneak up on me like that,” he said to the Fae commander.

  Aimery just smiled. “But it’s so much fun.”

  Gabriel was about to respond when Laird bounded from the forest, his teeth bared and growling low in his throat. He looked from the wolfhound to Aimery.

  “What is wrong with your dog?” Aimery asked.

  Gabriel shrugged. “I’m not sure. He’s never acted like this around you before. Maybe the great evil has gotten to him.”

  “If so, then we need to kill him.”

  Gabriel narrowed his eyes. “You aren’t going to touch him. Laird is my responsibility. I’ll take care of him.”

  “See that you do.”

  Gabriel had never seen Aimery act so strangely, but then again, their realm was about to be destroyed by evil. “Laird,” he called.

  The wolfhound circled Aimery and slowly made his way to Gabriel. Gabriel stroked the animal’s back and felt his muscles quivering. Sorrow filled him as he realized the evil had gotten to Laird and the animal would indeed have to be put down. He had enjoyed having the wolfhound with him and would miss him greatly.

  Gabriel reached for his dagger when Aimery’s voice stopped him.

  “Use mine. It’s more powerful,” the Fae said.

  Gabriel nodded and held out his hand for the weapon. As soon as the weapon touched his hand he felt a sting as something raced through him. His eyes widened as he watched Laird attack Aimery. As he fell to the ground Gabriel struggled to keep his eyes open.

  He tried to call out to Val, but it was too late. Whatever had gone through his body had halted his speech. As his eyes closed he watched as the image of Aimery disintegrated. * * * *

  When Nicole opened her eyes she felt disoriented and out of place. She rolled onto her back and rubbed her eyes as she tried to get her bearings. Memories of her night with Val filled her mind, and she smiled.

  He had come to her. She had seen by his troubled eyes he had needed her, but she had promised herself she wouldn’t push him. Then, to her surprise, he had turned to her in his time of need.

  A smile was still on her lips as she stood and added more wood to the fire. She wished she had awoken when Val did, but it had been nice to sleep with him, something she hoped to repeat that night.

  She grabbed some food and a water skin and walked to the entrance. She was sure that neither Val nor Gabriel had eaten, since they both often waited for her. Her steps were light and her mood happy as she made her way toward her warriors.

  Her warriors. She laughed at how she had begun to think of Val and Gabriel. The smile on her lips faded as she saw Val’s boots sticking out from one of the large boulders. She raced around the boulder and dropped the food and water when she found Val unconscious.

  “Gabriel! Come quick,” she called as she fell to her knees and ran her hands over Val’s body. She didn’t find any wounds, but it was obvious something was wrong.

  “Gabriel,” she called again and looked over her shoulder to find the cave empty. “Oh, dear God,” she mumbled as she turned back to Val.

  She tried everything she could to wake him, but he wouldn’t respond. Tears blinded her as she struggled to think of what to do. She knew she needed to find Gabriel, but she couldn’t leave the cave. Yet she couldn’t leave Val like he was either.

  Of a sudden, she stopped and listened. Was that someone calling her name? She rose to her feet and walked to the entrance of the cave, careful not to get too close. Her eyes scanned the area but found no one.

  “Nicole!”

  She stopped from turning away and looked down the mountain. It had sounded like a child calling to her. Just as she was about to give up again, she saw a patch of red hair as the girl climbed up the mountain.

  “Nicole,” she called again.

  She didn’t know whether to answer the child or not. No one was supposed to know she was here and this could be a trick, so she had to be careful.

  Several long moments went by as the girl climbed the rest of the way to the cave. “There you are,” she said between huffs of breaths. “I’ve been calling to you. Why haven’t you answered?”

  Nicole watched the concern in the child’s blue eyes. It seemed genuine. “I don’t know you.”

  “Aye, you do,” she said. “I’m Francis, the miller’s daughter. My father made me hide every time you came into the shop.”

  Nicole smiled then, relieved to know it wasn’t a trick. “What’s wrong? How did you know where I was?”

  “Gabriel sent me.”

  “Gabriel?”

  The girl nodded. “Aye, he sent me here to get you so you could bring his black bag.”

  Nicole shook her head as she tried to understand what the girl said. “Gabriel wants me to leave the cave? To bring his black bag?”

  Again the girl nodded. “He said you’d know what bag he was talking about.”

  Of course Nicole knew, and, if Gabriel wanted his herbs, that meant someone was hurt. “Are you sure he wanted me to bring it and not someone else? Val perhaps?”

  “Nay. He asked for you.”

  Nicole looked over her shoulder at Val and wondered what to do. Gabriel would never purposefully put her in danger, but there was something she couldn’t put her finger on. Something was off.

  “Nicole, please,” the girl begged. “Donald is verra sick.”

  Her head jerked back to the girl. “Donald? Why didn’t you say so?” Without another word to the girl she raced back to the fire and grabbed Gabriel’s black bag then ran back to the entrance. “Let’s go.”

  She followed the girl down the mountain, glancing at the sky every now and then to make sure the Gryphon wasn’t about to attack her.

  As she passed her house she saw the girl looking at it. “What happened?”

  Nicole shrugged and walked faster. “I don’t know.”

  She didn’t know what prompted her to think about Aimery, or why she silently called to him, but she knew she would feel better if the Fae commander could check on Val and see what was wrong with him. She still didn’t like the fact she had left him, though she comforted herself with the fact he had been breathing and did
n’t have a wound.

  It wasn’t until she entered the village and saw the people lining the streets that she knew she had been tricked. She turned to the little girl who ran to her father, an evil smile on her face.

  Nicole turned on her heel to run back to the cave, but her way was blocked by a line of men. She turned and scanned the crowd and found two men holding Donald, blood dripping down his face from a wound on his head.

  “I’m sorry, lass,” he said.

  She smiled sadly and raised her chin. She would not die a coward.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Nicole scanned the many faces of the people who crowded around her. For many years they wouldn’t look her in the eye for fear of turning evil, yet now they stared at her with malice and anger.

  By their sneers and laughter, Nicole knew her end would not be painless and quick.

  “Move,” a man snarled behind her as he poked her in the back with something sharp.

  She hid her wince and began to walk slowly through the village. It was ironic that she had begged Margda to allow her to come to the village, and now all she wanted to do was run and never see it again.

  Her hands began to tremble, so she fisted them and hid them in her skirts. She didn’t want to show an ounce of fear to the villagers. To do so would make her death even more painful.

  The hair on the back of her neck began to rise, and she knew the Gryphon was near. Would he be the one to kill her? Or did the great evil have something else in mind?

  She stopped looking at the villagers and stared at the ground ahead of her as she walked through the main street of the village. Their taunts and mocking laughter no longer affected her. She ignored them and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other.

  It wasn’t until she saw the large wooden structure in front of her did she realize just how painful a death she would endure. * * * *

  The barmaid watched Nicole from between the two men standing in front of her. A quick glance around showed her that everyone’s attention was on Nicole. The barmaid took the chance and leaned back against the inn.

  Then slowly she edged toward the alley. She took a deep breath and slipped into the dim alley and waited for someone to come after her. When no alarm was raised, she turned and ran to the back of the inn where there was a seldom used trail that led to the loch.

  She prayed that Gabriel was still there. As her legs lengthened, she fisted her skirts in her hands and hiked them over her knees. Her breath burned her throat and chest, but she didn’t slow. She had to reach Gabriel before it was too late.

  One of her shoes caught on a root hidden by snow just as she passed the ruins of Nicole’s cottage. She fell to her hands and knees. With her heart beating wildly and urgency pushing her onward, she climbed to her feet then stilled.

  An unearthly sound reached her ears. It was the same sound she had heard the night their village had been attacked. Slowly, she raised her gaze to the dawning sky and saw the large, black shape that flew through the air.

  “The Gryphon,” she murmured.

  She didn’t waste any more time as she lifted her skirts again and raced toward the mountain. Many times she slipped on the loose rocks and ice and snow as she clawed her way to the top.

  When she finally reached the cave entrance her entire body shook with fatigue. Her gaze searched the darkened cave as she looked for any signs of Gabriel or his friend Val. But nothing moved. She saw a flicker of light toward the back of the cave, signaling that there was a fire.

  “Gabriel?” she called out hesitantly.

  No one answered, so she took a tentative step inside the cave. “Gabriel, it’s me. Nicole is in trouble and needs your help.”

  She was about to turn and leave when she spotted someone lying in the shadows. Thinking it was Gabriel, she ran to him. As she leaned down she found another man. She shook him, and, when he didn’t wake, she set about trying to find a wound. When she didn’t find that, she knew she had to locate Gabriel.

  And quickly. * * * *

  Gabriel groaned as he rolled to his side. His entire body ached as if he had been thrashed soundly. He shivered and tried unsuccessfully to find some warmth. As he opened his eyes he recalled speaking to Aimery and Laird’s unexpected behavior.

  But then Aimery hadn’t vanished as he usually had. He had disintegrated. Which meant it hadn’t been Aimery he had spoken to.

  Gabriel’s hand sunk into the snow as he pushed himself onto his knees. It was only because of the unique and magical material that his clothes were made from that had prevented the snow from soaking them. It took him a couple of tries to get on his feet, and, even then, he wasn’t too steady.

  Whatever it was that had acted like Aimery had used dark magic to put him down. Gabriel shook his head to try and clear away the fog that clouded his mind. He had to get to Nicole and Val before it was too late.

  As he started up the mountain, he felt something at his heels and looked back to see Laird.

  “I thought I had lost you,” Gabriel said as he scratched the wolfhound’s neck. “Glad to know you’re still with me.”

  Gabriel looked up at the cave and thought he saw movement. A glance at the rising sun showed he had been unconscious far longer than he would have liked. It was Laird nipping at his heels that got him moving faster. Whatever it was, Laird felt some urgency that Gabriel did not.

  When he neared the entrance to the cave he saw the barmaid standing there. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’ve come ta get ye,” she said.

  He noted strands of her flaming hair plastered to her face and her breathing was ragged. “What is it?”

  “‘Tis Nicole. And your friend.”

  Gabriel’s heart plummeted to his feet. “Val? What’s wrong with Val?”

  “I dinna know,” she said shrilly.

  He saw she was becoming hysterical and increased his rate of climbing instead of asking her more questions. When he stood in front of her he saw how she shook, and fear filled her green eyes. “Where is Val?”

  She pointed over her shoulder. Gabriel ran to his friend and leaned close listening for a heartbeat. That’s when he smelled the alcohol on Val’s breath. Anger coursed through him as Gabriel sat back on his heels and looked down at the man he had placed his trust in.

  He slapped Val. Hard. * * * *

  Val struggled through the haze that surrounded him. Something hit the side of his face and he groaned in response. Another slap made him roll to his side to avoid more hits. He heard grumbling beside him and recognized Gabriel’s angry voice.

  It took all of Val’s control just to be able to push up onto his hands and knees. His head reeled, his arms and legs felt weighed down, and his mouth was as dry as the desert.

  He was drunk.

  Val cursed as he sat back on his heels and tried to stop the world from spinning.

  “I expected more out of you.”

  He inwardly winced at Gabriel’s icy tone. He opened his mouth to speak, but found that the throbbing in his head dimmed everything else.

  “Dammit, Val,” Gabriel roared. “How could you get sotted?”

  “Enough.” Val tried to yell, but it came out only as a squeak, and even then it hurt his ears. With the help of the boulder beside him, Val managed to stand then leaned heavily on the massive rock.

  He opened his eyes and found Gabriel glaring at him. “You condemn me before you hear my side?”

  “I don’t need to hear your side,” he growled. “I can smell you from here.”

  “Gabriel, please.”

  Val blinked and slowly turned his head to look at the woman beside Gabriel. “Who are you?”

  She gave him a small smile. “I’m the barmaid from the village.”

  He grunted. “So, while I’m here battling the evil by myself, you run to the village to have some fun.”

  “I didn’t go to the village,” Gabriel said as he took a menacing step toward him.

  Val pushed off the boulder and steadied himself on his feet.
He felt as weak as a newborn kitten, but at least the effects of the wine were wearing off. “Then where were you?”

  “Unconscious on the side of the mountain,” Gabriel said and turned away. “I was tricked into thinking I spoke to Aimery. Only Laird knew the difference.”

  Val ran a hand down his face as he struggled to comprehend all that was happening. “If the great evil attacked both of us at the same time….”

  He stopped and looked around the cave. “Nicole,” he called and stumbled toward the fire. “Nicole!”

  “She’s not here,” the barmaid said softly. “She is the reason I came looking for Gabriel.”

  Val closed his eyes and felt something pierce his heart. “Tell me they don’t have her.”

  “I wish I could.”

  Slowly Val turned and faced the woman. “Tell me where she is?”

  “The village. She was tricked as well. They plan to kill her.”

  “I must save her,” he said and brushed past Gabriel to his halberd.

  But as soon as he reached for his halberd, Gabriel’s hand took hold of his arm. Val turned to look at his brethren.

  “Wait,” Gabriel said.

  Val jerked out of his grip. “For what? They are going to kill her.”

  “You need to sober up,” Gabriel said between clenched teeth. He took a deep breath, and in a more even tone said, “And we need to determine just how the evil got to all of us before we go running into the village.”

  Val knew he was right, he just didn’t want to take the time away from saving Nicole. He sighed and released his halberd. “All right.”

  “Good,” Gabriel said and crossed his arms over his chest. “Now tell me what happened?”

  Val gritted his teeth together and opted for the shortened version. “The evil got in my head, I reached for the water skin that you drank out of the previous night, and it wasn’t until I had downed half the contents that I realized it wasn’t water but wine.”

  He watched as Gabriel bent down and retrieved the water skin. With his eyes trained on Val, he bent and sniffed the bag. “It’s water.”

  Val laughed and reached for his halberd. “If you actually think that I somehow managed to get wine without leaving this bloody cave, then you are sadly mistaken, and I’m not going to sit here and argue about it when Nicole’s life is on the line.”