Deadly Darkness

by Victoria Zak

  A sly grin spread across William’s face. “My Alpha.” He nodded and left.

  Rafe looked over at Teg. “What is it?”

  “This is an ambitious plan.”

  “Aye, but if we want our freedom from Cormag, we must fight for it. I understand if ye’ve changed yer mind.”

  “Nay, Brother. Ye have my sword.”

  “Good.” Rafe exhaled. “I need ye to do something for me.”

  “Anything.”

  “I want ye to take Adaira with you back to Dornoch.”

  “Wouldn’t she be safer here, with ye?” Teg looked confused.

  “Nay. Cormag will be dead by the time ye reach Dornoch. Yer men can fight off what resistance remains.”

  “As ye wish.”

  Rafe had to convince Adaira to leave without him. He needed her safe so he could fight without worrying about her. It was going to be a bloody battle.

  “I’ll see to it that Adaira is ready. At dawn, I want ye, yer men, and Adaira out of here.”

  “Aye.” Teg began to walk out but stopped. “Brother, may I ask where ye’ll be?”

  Rage settled over him. “I’m going to remind Cormag who the true leader of the clan is…then I’m going to kill him.” For Adaira first, and then for his pack. Honor must be restored at all costs.

  15

  “NAY, I WILL NO’ leave ye to fight Cormag alone.” Adaira couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  “Adaira, I’m not asking ye, I’m telling ye. Ye will leave tomorrow with Teg and go back to Dornoch and wait for my return.”

  “How could ye make me do such a thing?” She folded her arms over her chest. “This is our fight, Wolf.”

  Rafe grabbed her shoulders. “’Tis the safest place for ye to be.”

  Adaira yanked free. “I’m no’ a treasure ye keep locked away because ye’re scared I’ll break. I have the strength to fight.”

  “And I don’t question that. This battle is different. These are troubled times, and desperate men will do desperate things to survive. I cannot have ye on the battlefield worried that Cormag has gotten to ye.”

  Adaira rubbed the chill from her arms. The thought of leaving him made her feel empty inside. She’d failed in protecting Leana. She couldn’t fail Rafe, too. “If I leave, who’ll protect ye?”

  Rafe placed his finger under her chin, tipping it up. “My heart’s queen, I need ye to be somewhere safe.”

  “I want to be here with ye. I’d never forgive meself if something happened to you—”

  “I don’t plan on dying any time soon.”

  Adaira looked deep into his eyes and she knew there was nothing she could say or do to change his mind. “Stubborn wolf.”

  “Stubborn lass.” He grinned. “Promise me ye’ll leave with Teg.”

  Adaira looked away.

  “Adaira,” he warned.

  Goddess, she loved the deep tone of his voice.

  “Don’t make me bend ye over my knee, lass.”

  She looked up at him with a seductive smile.

  A growl escaped his lips. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Hunger brewed behind his smoldering gaze.

  She cupped the back of his neck and brought his mouth to hers. She teased his top lip with a flick of her tongue, Rafe pulled away, taking a step back. “God’s bones, woman. I’m hanging on by a thread. Promise me.”

  She needed Rafe’s hands on her body like the air she breathed. “I promise.”

  Before she could mutter another word, Rafe claimed her lips. He grabbed her arse with both hands and lifted her up. She locked her ankles behind his back and her arms around his neck as Rafe made his way to the pallet in the corner of the tent.

  She tore his tunic off as he laid her down on the furs. She ran her hands down his muscled chest to his plaid. She unwrapped the material slowly, until his manhood sprang free.

  He gazed down her body. “Ye set me on fire, lass.” Adaira rolled over so she was on top of him. She caressed his stubbled cheek as she smiled. Rafe had taught her how to love. For the first time, she allowed Rafe to see her in the flesh with nothing to hide. She wasn’t holding back. She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his. “I love ye, Wolf.”

  “And I, ye.” He plunged his hands through her hair and stared into her eyes as if he saw straight through to her soul. “One day, very soon, we’ll be able to love freely. No more hiding.”

  “Aye.” She smiled.

  She brushed her lips over his, trailing kisses across his cheek, chin, and down his neck, savoring the spicy taste of his skin. Tonight she was going to devour every inch of him. If she had to go back to Dornoch without Rafe, she’d make damned sure she’d be in his dreams.

  She moved down his body. He moaned as she licked his nipples.

  She nipped and kissed her way to his muscled stomach, scratching her nails down his chest at the same time. Desire burned within her as she thought about giving him the same pleasure as he’d given her before. She gazed up at him—his eyes were beautiful. Everything about him made her feel like a woman. “I want ye,” she said.

  “Adaira Keith, ye tease me daft.”

  Seductively, she snaked up his body. “I assure ye, me love, I am no tease.” He let out a hiss of pleasure as she wrapped her hand around his cock and stroked him.

  “I need ye to promise me something,” Adaira whispered against his ear.

  “Anything ye want, my queen.”

  “When I’m gone, dream of me.”

  He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. “Always.”

  16

  THE NEXT MORNING, while Rafe waited for Adaira to wake up, he saddled a horse for her. Usually his squire would do it, but Rafe had to keep his mind busy. With every minute that passed, Adaira was closer to leaving. Holding firm to his choice was going to be tough. He’d fought the urge to run inside the tent and make love to his queen again. It was a distraction he didn’t need.

  The sooner Adaira left, the sooner he could execute his plan to kill Cormag.

  “Ye dinnae come back to bed.” Adaira stood on the other side of the horse running her hand through the gray mare’s mane.

  “I didn’t want to wake ye.”

  Silence fell between them, her pending departure hanging over them like a dark cloud.

  Teg finally joined them. “‘Tis time to go.”

  “Aye,” Rafe agreed, though he wanted Adaira to stay. He walked to Adaira and lifted her hands to his mouth, kissing each one.

  “Dinnae tell me goodbye.”

  Rafe wiped a tear from her cheek. “I love ye, Adaira Keith.”

  Adaira frowned, reminding him of a wee girl.

  Rafe chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?” she asked.

  “All this time, I fought to make ye love me. And now that ye’re mine, I have to let ye go.”

  “Rafe.” Her voice wavered as she shook her head. “Please, let me stay.”

  “Ye know I cannot allow it. Teg will keep ye safe until I return.”

  He cupped her cheek. His heart was being torn from his chest. “Look at

  me.” She did, her pretty eyes filled with tears. “Tell me ye love me.”

  Adaira wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her close, marveling at the softness of her body. “Wolf,” she whispered in his ear, a sound he’d never forget. “Come back to me.” He felt her breath seize in her chest. “I love ye.”

  He nuzzled her neck, taking in her sweet scent. He would never forget her love, for it was his singular reason to fight.

  “My lady,” Teg said as he halted his horse next to them. “We must leave.”

  “Aye,” Adaira said as Rafe lifted her into the saddle.

  She met Rafe’s gaze a last time, then focused straight ahead. He knew it was her way of showing him that she was strong enough to handle whatever the future held. He patted the mare on the arse. “Godspeed.”

  Teg and Adaira, followed by fifty men, rode out of the camp.

&nb
sp; William joined Rafe. “She’ll make a good chieftain.”

  Rafe nodded. “Aye. Our plan must work.”

  “We’re all behind ye, my lord..”

  Rafe looked around. The Honor Guard, five hundred strong, surrounded him, ready for battle. They didn’t have weapons or armor; their way of fighting resided in their blood. A wolf who was standing in the middle of the pack howled, and the rest followed. The thrill of the shift was in the air.

  Rafe’s beast came alive and he watched, as one by one, his pack shift into their wolves.

  The wolves broke away into small groups, running into the glen with a solid plan, to isolate the enemy—to seek out the weakest and attack. They didn’t need a commander. These wolves knew what to do.

  William shifted into a black wolf.

  With the scent of the shift in the air, Rafe felt the earth’s savage pulse.

  The hair on the back of his neck stood up. His vision narrowed to shades of red. Wildness raced through his veins as he sought out the wolf inside him.

  In his silver and black wolf form, Rafe ran deep into the glen. No matter how many times he shifted, he’d never tire of the feeling of being free and connected to the land.

  Rafe came to a halt as he caught up with his pack. He paused and sniffed the air. Cormag. He snarled. A cold wind blew through his fur, sending a chill down his spine. The hunt was on.

  Rafe ran deeper into the woods, following Cormag’s trail and the sound

  of thundering hooves rushing through the glen. The scent grew stronger. The bastard was so close he could hear their teeth chattering from the cold. Aye, Cormag and his men were near.

  Throughout the night the Honor Guard herded Clan Keith like sheep and stalked them right into Rafe’s trap. The entourage was exhausted and now lost.

  To Rafe’s advantage, Cormag had no idea he’d been stalked for miles and had been thrown off track. It wouldn’t be long until the Mad Dog surfaced and ripped through the bastard’s flesh. The laird motioned for his men to halt.

  This was right where Rafe wanted him.

  “My laird,” Hamish, one of Cormag’s men called out. “I believe we’ve been here before.”

  “Aye, we’ve been riding in circles with no sign of those traitorous wolves,” Cormag said.

  “It will be dark soon. We should make camp,” Hamish advised.

  “Aye, but do no’ let yer guard down,” Cormag warned. “The bloody bastards are out there. I can feel their eyes upon us.”

  As it grew darker, the cold wind picked up, but it had no effect on the wolves as they watched their enemy from the shadows. In this unforgiving terrain, it didn’t take much to wear down a mortal man. The wolves used this to their advantage, too.

  As the last of the men retired, the wolves snuck into camp.

  The first group slaughtered the guards on watch. Before the men could scream, their necks were snapped, their flesh ripped from their bones. Then the rest wolves stormed the tents.

  In the still of the night, Cormag’s men shot out of their tents bloodied and screaming in terror as they ran for their lives. The brave warriors who thought they could best a wolf stayed behind, giving it their best effort to survive. However, their swords were no match for the wolves sharp teeth and their powerful strength. The surprise attack was swift and brutal.

  The stench of blood filled the air causing Rafe’s mouth to water like a salivating dog. He could taste Cormag’s blood. It was time.

  He knew exactly were Cormag slept. He crept closer to the tent, then paused as he saw Cormag step outside with his sword in hand. His men were being dragged out of their tents and torn limb-from-limb.

  “Kill every wolf in sight,” the laird called.

  That’s when the Mad Dog unleashed and Rafe charged the laird. Cormag

  turned around—his eyes widened in fear as Rafe lunged through the air, knocking him to the ground. The force of the fall sent them both tumbling in a heap of fur and flesh. Rafe rolled off the laird and stood. As he shook free from the fall, he noticed Cormag clawing through the snow to his dropped sword.

  Rafe catapulted in the laird’s direction, clamping his teeth down on his arse. Cormag screamed and rolled over, kicking his feet. “Traitor!”

  Rafe growled and circled Cormag, stopping inches from his throat. He snapped his teeth, scaring the man so bad he begged for God’s mercy. Rafe howled before he made his final move. He tore viciously and mercilessly at Cormag’s neck, the taste of blood igniting the savagery inside him.

  He’d kill the bastard slowly.

  Cormag hit Rafe in the head with the hilt of his sword. Rafe yelped in pain and lost his grip on Cormag’s throat.

  The laird staggered to his feet, holding his bloody neck. “Ye think ye can defeat me, wolf?” He pointed his sword at Rafe. Blood dripped from the blade. “Both of us will no’ see another day.” Cormag breathed heavily. “But I will be victorious.”

  Rafe growled. Cormag couldn’t be more wrong—Rafe had everything to live for. He edged toward the laird, motivated by rage and hatred. Without hesitation, he charged. A sharp pain shot through his hind leg and Rafe fell to the ground. He whimpered, then smelled his own blood. He didn’t know what was happening. He looked behind him—a trail of crimson soaked the snow.

  Blood was seeping from his hind leg. He hadn’t felt Cormag’s sword pierce his body…until now.

  With all the strength he had left, Rafe forced his injured body up. Before he could regain his balance, Cormag charged him. With only three legs to stand on, and pain shooting through his body, Rafe couldn’t move out of the way fast enough. The laird stabbed Rafe in the gut.

  Rafe howled as both of them hit the ground.

  17

  “MY LADY. We must go. No more stalling,” Teg called from over his shoulder as he gave Adaira her privacy from the other side of the tree.

  Adaira had pretended she needed to relieve herself, this being the third stop during their short journey away from the camp. Aye, she was stalling, trying to find any reason to get back to Rafe. She’d given it her best effort, but she couldn’t leave her love behind—not when he was fighting for her freedom and right as the true leader of her clan. Something warned her Rafe needed her.

  “Rafe will be furious if we don’t get ye back to Dornoch.”

  “Aye, I suppose he will…if he makes it back alive, “Adaira said.

  “He’ll make it,” Teg snapped. “Have ye lost faith in him?”

  “Nay. It’s just I can no’ stand back and do nothing while he risks his life for me. I need to be there with him.”

  “Ye love him?”

  Aye, her heart skipped a beat when she heard his name. Her stomach fluttered when he touched her. She lost her breath when he kissed her. Aye, she would die if it meant he’d live.

  “Well, do ye?” Teg pressed.

  “I do.”

  “Then do me a favor.”

  “Aye.”

  “Do as ye’re told and no one will get hurt.”

  She emerged from behind the tree and placed her hands on her hips.

  “Ye’re as stubborn as yer brother.”

  Teg turned around. “It runs in the family.”

  A yelp echoed through the forest. Their eyes met, wide and stunned. Her heart raced with fear. “Rafe,” Adaira whispered.

  Teg nodded. That nagging sensation she’d been feeling became harsh reality. Rafe needed her, them.

  Like a flash of lightning, Adaira ran through the forest, back to Rafe. She could hear Teg in wolf form right behind her. As she leapt over fallen trees, she prayed that Rafe was alive. It wasn’t long before she reached a camp site.

  Her heart sank to her stomach as she watched Cormag standing over Rafe. He pulled his sword from Rafe’s gut.

  “Nay,” Adaira cried out. She gripped her stomach, feeling the blade as it had left Rafe’s body.

  Cormag looked up, and their gazes locked. Stumbling toward her with a victorious grin on his face, he said, “Ye’re are next,
wench. Today the Keith curse will be broken.”

  Her eyes darkened. Rage boiled inside her body unlike anything she’d ever felt before. Something dark unleashed inside her…an evil she could no longer contain. She stretched her arms out and long, black nails extended out of her fingertips. She let out a hiss, exposing her dagger-like fangs.

  Cormag dropped his sword, stunned by her changed appearance. Adaira reached him in two steps, grabbing him by the throat. “I am no curse, Cormag. My sister didnae kill yer son. And if I told ye the truth about who did, ye still would no’ believe me. Yer bent on vengeance.” Adaira lifted him off the ground like he weighed no more than a helpless child.

  Something stopped her though—an echo from the past, a memory of the girl she used to be. She’d never been so angry before, never wanted to kill so desperately. She thirsted for blood, not the kind to keep her alive, but blood-vengeance, the very thing Cormag was guilty of. A shiver streaked down her spine. This wasn’t really what she had become, was it?

  Rafe whimpered, drawing her attention away from Cormag. She let go of the laird and looked over at her wolf. Rafe was lying in a pool of his own blood, dying.

  “Rafe!” Adaira rushed to him. “Wolf.” She fell to her knees. She didn’t know what to do. How was she going to save him?

  She leaned over Rafe to listen to his heartbeat when a sharp pain struck her back and shot through to her stomach. She bent over in pain, something was protruding out of her skin. “What the…” She looked down, the end of a

  sword was sticking out of her gut.

  Slowly, Adaira stood and turned around.

  Cormag could hardly keep his balance. “Ye should never turn yer back on yer enemy.”

  Adaira reached behind her and grabbed the hilt of the sword. Slowly, she pulled the blade out of her. “And ye should no’ have taken me kindness for granted.”

  Terror streaked across his face as he watched the gaping hole in Adaira’s stomach heal.

  “No blade can kill me, eegit.”

  Cormag back stepped, shocked at what he’d witnessed. “Nay!”

  Her vision turned red . Maiden, Mother, Crone, forgive me, she prayed as she lifted the sword. In one fluid motion, she threw the blade directly into Cormag’s chest.