A Dark Seduction

by Grant, Donna

  And just as he expected, he heard the loud snort and the pawing of hooves, and the Minotaur readied to strike.

  * * *

  Shannon fought back tears. She had seen the resolution in Cole’s handsome face.

  He thought he was going to die. Well, she wasn’t about to let that happen, not when she had the means to end it all.

  “Hurry,” she urged Gabriel.

  He threw her an annoyed look over his shoulder as he began to jog through the maze. She banged her shoulder against a stone wall as they turned sharply and winced as the pain lanced through her.

  “I hope you know where you’re going,” she mumbled to Gabriel.

  If he heard her, he chose not to respond and instead lengthened his stride.

  Shannon was now in a full out run to keep up with him. Her breath burned her lungs and a stitch started in her side, not to mention both of her shoulders ached from running into the walls when they turned the sharp corners of the maze.

  She bit her lip when she heard Cole taunting the Minotaur. He shouldn’t be out there alone. She had yet to see the creature, but from Gyles’ description, he would was terrifying.

  Gabriel halted, and she took that time to look at the map again. She had to squint to see through the dim light the moon poured through the dense clouds.

  “What I wouldn’t do for a flashlight.”

  “What?” Gabriel asked.

  She shook her head. “Nothing. If you can get me to the main entrance, I think I can find this.”

  Gabriel cleared his throat, and she looked up to see his arms crossed over his chest. She looked around him and saw the great door behind him.

  “Oh,” she said and turned to face the maze. “We need to go left then venture back towards the center.”

  “This will take us near the creature.”

  She shrugged. “I didn’t put the stone there, Gabriel. Now, come on,” she said and took off. Her fear had been displaced by her worry over Cole.

  Gabriel soon took the lead, and she was grateful for it. She had no idea where she was going, but thankfully Gabriel did. It didn’t cross her mind to question him, she knew his need to find the stone was greater than hers.

  She was just about to think she read the map wrong when Gabriel stopped again.

  He stared at the stone wall, and she came to stand beside him to see what he looked at.

  “The stone,” she said in awe as it twinkled blue in the overshadowed light of the moon.

  Immediately Gabriel reached for it. But no matter how hard he pulled and tugged, the stone wouldn’t budge. He cursed in a language she had never heard before and used both hands, but it never moved.

  * * *

  Cole leaned against the stone wall and waited. It didn’t take the creature long to find him. “How’s the arm?” Cole asked.

  The Minotaur’s eyes blazed red in their fury. “You will pay for that.” Cole saw the creature shift a second before he charged, and he sidestepped and brought up his massive axe, ready to cleave off another limb as the creature got close enough. Cole chuckled as the Minotaur circled him but didn’t allow himself to get within arm’s length of him.

  The creature snorted and growled. This time when he charged, he lowered his head. Cole swung his axe at the Minotaur’s legs as he rolled out of the way. He felt his axe sink into flesh.

  His satisfaction was quickly dimmed as a burning pain in his side got his attention as he stood. He looked down to see a gnash from his back to his ribs.

  He looked up at the Minotaur and saw him smile. “That’s the only piece of me you’ll get,” he said as he shifted his stance.

  The Minotaur lashed at Cole with his long arms and vicious claws. Cole ducked, but with his bad eye, he never saw the blow to his left side.

  * * *

  Gabriel stopped trying to work the stone free. Shannon pushed him over and tried to wedge her fingers between the rock and the blue stone until they bled. It wasn’t until she lowered her hand that she noticed something in the stone. She ran her sore fingers over it as she examined it.

  “We need a key,” she mumbled. She turned to Gabriel. “Did you hear me?”

  “Shhh,” he said and held up his hand.

  They stood in silence for several minutes as she waited for him to do something.

  “He’s in trouble,” Gabriel suddenly said.

  She knew without being told he meant Cole. “Go to him. I’ll keep trying to get the stone out.”

  As Gabriel disappeared in the maze, Shannon fingered the dagger at her side. It would be useless against the Minotaur, but at least she had some defense.

  She turned back to the stone and pulled her dagger from the sheath. She tried in vain to insert it where the key would go to release the stone.

  Then she tried to use the blade to dislodge the stone. Several times she thought she might have managed to make progress only to have the blade slip out.

  Her frustration grew until she was trembling with it. “Please,” she cried out.

  * * *

  Cole forced his hands to move and push himself up. He had lost track of how many times he had been slashed with the creature’s mighty claws. There might have been even more cuts from his horns, but he wasn’t sure.

  The pain had been so great on his already bruised and battered body that he lost consciousness at least once while the creature pummeled him.

  He was exhausted and barely able to move, but he did make out the grunts coming from his left. Cole raised his head to see Gabriel. His first thought was of Shannon. He looked around for her but didn’t find her. His only hope was that Gabriel had left her somewhere safe.

  There was no doubt in Cole’s mind that Gabriel had gotten there just in time.

  Cole blinked and tried to rise as the Minotaur slammed Gabriel up against the stone wall.

  He winced as Gabriel’s head hit the stone.

  Focusing all his strength on pulling himself up, he missed Gabriel freeing himself from against the wall. When Cole next looked up, Gabriel stood fighting the beast. He took a deep breath and bent to retrieve his axe. Already his wounds had begun to heal, but he couldn’t wait for them to finish. Gabriel needed help.

  He pushed off the wall and moved to the back of the Minotaur. He gripped his sword with both hands before he raised it over his head and swung it toward the beast.

  The blow wasn’t as forceful as normal, but it was enough to turn the Minotaur’s attention from Gabriel to him.

  “I thought you were dead,” the Minotaur roared.

  Cole shrugged and leaned his hip against the stone wall for support. “I’m rather hard to kill.”

  “Then I’ll have to make sure you’re dead this time.” Cole watched as the Minotaur reared back to strike him, but before the beast swung his arm, an arrow pierced him in the forearm. As the Minotaur roared and pulled the arrow from his arm, Cole and Gabriel exchanged a smile.

  Together, Cole and Gabriel began to attack the Minotaur, but not even their Fae made weapons had much of an impact on the creature. Suddenly, the Minotaur threw back his arm and hit Gabriel. Cole watched Gabriel slam into the ground just a moment before the Minotaur kicked out his hoof and connected with Cole’s abdomen.

  Cole tried to take a breath and knew he had at least one rib broken. He took shallow breaths and was slowly picked himself up when he heard Shannon’s cry. His gaze jerked to Gabriel and he saw a sliver of fear in Gabriel’s silver eyes. Cole then turned to the Minotaur only to find the beast rushing towards the sound of Shannon’s scream.

  “Nay,” Cole said and stumbled to his feet, the pain forgotten in his worry for Shannon. He bent and retrieved his war axe and chased after the creature.

  “This way,” Gabriel said as he caught up with him.

  When they rounded the corner and saw the Minotaur towering over Shannon, Cole tasted real horror.

  “Fight me,” he yelled and threw one of his smaller axes. The blade landed
in the Minotaur’s back, but the beast ignored him and reached around and jerked it out, never taking his eyes from Shannon.

  Cole turned to find Gabriel frantically digging around the blue stone. “Get it,” he said and moved to help Shannon.

  The Minotaur tilted back his head and let out a long, loud roar. Cole used that chance to take Shannon’s hand and drag her away from the creature.

  “Get away from here,” he ordered her, but she didn’t move. He looked over his shoulder and found the creature bearing down on them.

  He shoved Shannon out of the way and raised his axe. He swung it with all his might and left a gaping wound in the chest of the creature, yet the Minotaur never slowed as he moved toward Shannon.

  Nothing Cole did could get the Minotaur to fight him. He saw Shannon stumble to the ground as she backed away, her mouth opened to a silent scream as the Minotaur loomed over her.

  “Nay.

  Nay! ”

  Cole ran to Gabriel and pushed him out of the way. He raised his war axe and aimed the handle at the stone. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the creature raise his hand to deliver the killing blow to Shannon.

  His nightmare was happening before his very eyes. For a moment he nearly faltered as he debated on whether to run to Shannon or try and smash the stone. The look of resignation in Shannon’s honey brown eyes made his decision.

  He sent a silent prayer to the gods and reared back before he slammed the handle of his axe into the blue stone. White light blinded him until he had to cover his eyes with his arm as he fell to his knees. It seemed to last forever, and when he was finally able to open his eyes only the sounds of the night reached him. He looked over and found Shannon huddled in a little ball.

  On his hands and knees, Cole moved towards her and took her in his arms. She sobbed into his neck and he rocked her, soothing her as well as himself.

  His gaze caught Gabriel’s and they shared a smile.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Cole stood beside Gabriel and Shannon as they listened to Aimery. They had won the day, but barely.

  “Don’t question it,” Aimery said as they watched the villagers shifting through their torn village as the sun crested the horizon.

  “How are Roderick and Val?” Gabriel asked.

  Aimery turned and smiled. “They too have won the day.” Gabriel nodded. “That’s good to hear. Where are we off to next?” Cole heard Shannon’s sharp intake of breath as he waited for Aimery’s words.

  “First, Shannon,” Aimery said as he moved to her. “You cannot return to your time. Not now at least.”

  “I gathered that. Can you tell me anything about the realm I am from?” she said, her voice soft in the morning air.

  Aimery shook his head. “Nay, but I can take you someplace where there is another like you.”

  “Mina,” Cole deduced.

  “Aye,” Aimery said and raised his Fae eyes to him. “Hugh guards Mina and will guard Shannon as well.”

  Cole clenched his teeth. He didn’t want to let her go, but at least he would see her again. If he survived the next mission.

  “Who is Hugh?” Shannon asked.

  “Leader of the Shields,” Cole answered. “He found his wife in Mina and decided to stay with her.”

  “Something interesting happened to Roderick as well,” Aimery said as he turned to look at the village.

  “What’s that?” Gabriel asked.

  “He too found his mate.”

  Cole blinked. “He what?”

  Aimery nodded, his fair hair blowing in the wind. “She’s a fighter. Saved the day, actually.” Aimery turned and stared at Cole. “Don’t pass up what has been handed to you.”

  Cole’s mind was filled with questions, but before he could utter one, Aimery called Gabriel to the side, leaving him alone with Shannon.

  “Before I leave there is something I need to tell you,” Shannon said as she faced him. “I’ve never known such fear or had such an adventure as I have had with you. I never expected to care for someone like I have come to care for you.” She ducked her head and licked her lips. When she raised her gaze, her honey brown eyes were filled with tears. “I don’t expect you to feel the same. I know you are the kind of man that has women falling over him all the time, but I’ve come to love you.

  I’ve come to care about both you and Gabriel. You are my friends now, and I don’t want to leave.”

  “What did you say?” he asked as a slow smile pulled at his lips. He never expected her to return his feelings, and now that she had, he wasn’t about to let her go.

  “You and Gabriel are my friends.”

  He chuckled. “I heard that part. I wanted you to repeat the part where you said you loved me. Do you?”

  She glanced away and fidgeted with her hands. “I do.” Cole pulled her into his arms and captured her mouth with a kiss he had been longing to give her. She tasted as sweet and fresh as ever, but there was also love and passion mixed in the kiss, giving him a lightheaded feeling.

  He ended the kiss and stared into her beautiful eyes. “I love you, too.”

  “You

  do?”

  He nodded. “I do, and I’m not about to let you go anywhere without me.” He closed his eyes as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his chest.

  “I see you two have worked things out,” Aimery said as he and Gabriel rejoined them.

  Cole nodded. “I do have a request.”

  “I know. I had planned to send you with Shannon to Stone Crest. With the gathering of the Chosen the creatures will begin attacking there.”

  “What about me?” Gabriel asked.

  “You’ll meet up with Val. Shall we go?” he asked them.

  Cole nodded then moved toward Gabriel. “I’ll see you soon, my brother.” Gabriel clasped forearms with him and nodded. “You will. Be happy.” He looked to Shannon and smiled. “Good luck. Until next we meet.” As soon as the words left his mouth he was gone. Cole felt a loss deep within him. Shannon must have understood because she wrapped an arm around his waist and smiled up at him.

  “Are you two ready?” Aimery asked.

  Cole and Shannon looked into each other’s eyes. “Yes,” they said in unison.

  * * *

  Aimery sighed deeply as he stared out over Caer Rhoemyr, the City of Kings.

  They had found another of the Chosen. Three of the five were now within the safety of the Fae. But for how long?

  How long would the evil wait until they attacked? Only four of the Chosen were needed to end the evil. Hugh, Roderick, and Cole had all found their mates in one of the Chosen. Would Val and Gabriel also be as lucky?

  Aimery searched and tried to read the future for the two Shields but saw nothing.

  Something was blocking him. Most likely it was the evil.

  “There you are,” Theron said as he came to stand beside him.

  Aimery turned from his balcony to face his king. “I did not know you were looking for me.”

  “I wanted to congratulate you and the Shields for finding another of the Chosen.

  Did Rufina tell me right? Was it indeed Cole?”

  Aimery chuckled. “Aye, it was Cole.”

  “And he also found his mate in her?”

  Aimery nodded. “I’m very pleased for him. Though he never spoke of it, I know not remembering where he came from has been a weight upon his shoulders, though he has shouldered it well.”

  “That he has. He is a good man.” Theron turned to Aimery and studied him.

  “You took a great interest in him once you found him.”

  “He was in need.” Aimery shifted, growing nervous.

  Theron nodded absently. “He was very much in need. Of a father. You filled that role nicely.”

  Aimery shrugged. “I did what I had to do.”

  “And treating him like a son? Did you have to do that as well?

  He tilted his head back and s
tared at the darkening sky. After a moment he looked at his king. “He is like a son to me, though I have never admitted that to anyone.

  Not even Cole.”

  “Where are Val and Gabriel going?” Theron asked.

  Aimery didn’t question why his king switched topics. “The Highlands of Scotland. In the year 1436.”

  “We’ll win this, Aimery. The Shields are invincible, and the evil knows it.” Aimery waited until Theron had departed before he turned back to the view of the city. His thoughts were heavy as he thought of Val and Gabriel.