by Donna Grant
* * * *
Val stared at Nicole, unsure of the strong feelings running rampant through him. He couldn't shake the feeling that the great evil was up to something, a trick of some kind.
"What is it?” Gabriel asked.
Val pulled his gaze from Nicole's questioning one and looked to Gabriel. “Just a feeling."
"Of what?"
Val shrugged. “I'm not sure how to explain it. There were times when we were at war that the only way to survive was to listen to your instincts."
"As Hugh has always done,” Aimery said.
"Exactly. Hugh used his for everything, but with mine, they always centered around treachery."
Aimery inhaled deeply. “Then I suggest you listen to it."
"What is it saying?” Gabriel asked, his brow furrowed.
"That's just it,” Val said. “I'm not sure. However, I cannot dispel the idea that the great evil has set some kind of trap."
Aimery quickly rose to his feet. “You may be right. Guard yourselves well. Against everything."
Val noted that Aimery aimed the last part at him. It was too bad that he had already given in to a forbidden temptation ... Nicole. Even now, when he saw her trembling slightly, her gaze boring into the fire, he wanted to pull her into his arms and love her worry away.
But that would be the worse kind of folly. He had to stay vigilant, and that meant keeping his body under control where Nicole was concerned.
Which was going to be harder than giving up the wine.
"Val."
He looked up and found Aimery and Gabriel waiting for him. With one last glance at Nicole, he rose and followed them.
Aimery waited until they reached the cave entrance before he said, “The great evil will most likely attack with our greatest weaknesses."
"I expect that,” Gabriel said.
"Are you truly prepared?” Aimery asked then turned to look at Val. “Each of you came to the Shields with a past. Val, you know your past, and it haunts you to this day. There are many ways the great evil can attack you."
Val clenched his jaw. “I'm only a man, Aimery, but I will do my best."
"I can't expect more than that,” Aimery said softly. Then he turned to Gabriel. “I'm relieved that you have found something of your past."
"But you're worried the great evil had something to do with it,” Gabriel finished. “I have the same thoughts, Aimery. There isn't anything that can be done about it now."
"You still haven't remembered anything of your past?"
Gabriel shook his head.
Aimery sighed and looked to the sky. “There is no telling how the great evil will come at you, Gabriel. Both of you are strong, capable men that have served the Shields well for many years, but everyone has a weakness."
"Even you?” Val asked.
When Aimery's unusual blue eyes locked with his, Val saw something in their depths, something he was sure Aimery had wanted to keep well hidden.
"Aye. Even me,” he said softly. “Guard yourselves, but more importantly, guard Nicole. She's our last hope."
In a blink he was gone. Val looked to Gabriel to find his fellow Shield deep in thought.
"Are you worried,” he asked.
Gabriel shrugged. “Only a fool would answer nay.” He turned his gaze to Val, his silver eyes guarded well. “And you?"
"Aye,” Val answered readily. “I'm petrified, but not of what will happen to me. I'm afraid that I won't be there to protect Nicole."
"Is that what happened to your sisters?"
Val swallowed and looked away. He had never told anyone of his sisters, and he wasn't sure he was ready. “Something like that,” he finally answered.
"I didn't mean to pry."
With a deep sigh, he sat and reached for his halberd. “You didn't."
He ran his hand over the long handle and sharp blade. The weight of the weapon was light, but with accuracy, it was a deadly weapon.
"Why did you choose the halberd?"
Both he and Gabriel jumped at Nicole's sweet voice. He stood and motioned for her to take his seat, then he wrapped her cloak around her.
"What makes you think I choose the halberd?” he asked.
She lifted one shoulder and glanced at Gabriel's bow. “Both of you wear swords, but Gabriel will reach for his bow and you your halberd before the sword. Why?"
Gabriel picked up his bow and pulled back on the string as he sighted down his arm. “My strength was the bow. I'm decent with a sword, but deadly with a bow."
Val nodded. “It's the truth. I've never seen anyone so accurate with a bow as Gabriel."
She smiled at Gabriel as he sat and returned his bow to his quiver of arrows against the cave wall. Then, she turned her violet gaze to Val. “And you?"
Val shrugged. “I like the halberd."
"I've seen you use it. You're very good."
Gabriel grunted. “He's better than good at it, he's excellent. But then again, Val was gifted with being able to pick up any weapon and use it with lethal precision."
"Really?” she said, awe in her voice.
Val hated that the admiration in her tone excited him. “Gabriel exaggerates."
"Nay, my friend,” Gabriel said. “You just don't want her to know the truth."
"And that is?” Nicole asked.
Val turned away from them and pretended that his halberd needed examining. He had never been one to talk about himself, and it made him uncomfortable when others did it.
"When we were brought to the Shields, each of us was trained by the Fae, and each of us excelled at one weapon. Hugh's weapon was the crossbow, Roderick's a flail, Cole's a war axe, and mine was the bow. However, each time Val picked up a weapon, he excelled at it. He chose the halberd because none of us could handle it."
"Aye, so now you know,” Val said more harshly than he intended.
"I've never known anyone with that kind of skill,” Nicole said. “It must come in handy when you are in battle."
Val shrugged and set aside his halberd. “Sometimes."
"Sometimes my arse,” Gabriel said. “As I said earlier, I'm decent with a sword, we all are, but if I lost my bow, which is my strength, I'm at a disadvantage. Whereas, if Val lost his halberd, he could easily find another weapon to use."
"Fascinating,” she said, her chin in her hands as she looked at Gabriel.
Val turned back to them. “Enough about me. We need to talk of what could very well happen in the coming days."
He made the mistake then of looking at Nicole's lips. The memory of her kisses sent blood shooting to his rod. He licked his lips, the fire in his blood raged, demanded to feel Nicole's soft body against his, to bury himself deep within her tight sheath.
Finding ecstasy as he had never felt before.
He watched as she slowly stood and faced him, her violet eyes darkening as she saw the need in his. Their bodies were attuned as if they had been lovers for years instead of just hours.
Her lips parted, a soft sigh escaping. He nearly came undone. Never had he had to exert such control over his body as he did when it came to Nicole. If only they were in another time, another place where he would be free to take her as he wished, as often as he wanted.
Instead, they were bound to a village damned by the evil they made a bargain with.
Gabriel saw the desire between Nicole and Val and knew they needed privacy. He nearly laughed aloud when he saw Val's hands fisted at his side and his jaw clenched. He was fighting his need for Nicole, but Gabriel knew that Val's need would win in the end.
He thought to tell them he was leaving, then decided against it. They needed more wood for the fire anyway. He gave a pat to his leg and waited for Laird to reach him before he exited the cave.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Nicole trembled, not from the cold, but from the desire pumping through her. Her sex throbbed with a need only Val could quench. Her breath came faster as her breasts swelled and her nipples hardened.
"Nicole,�
�� he whispered and reached for her.
She didn't hesitate in going to him, and when her body came in contact with his, she nearly groaned from the pleasure of it. His hands parted her cloak and slid around her as his mouth found hers.
His lips teased hers with light kisses and nips at the corners of her mouth, and each time she licked his lips, he would pull away.
She wanted, nay she needed his touch. When she didn't think she could take anymore, his hands crushed her against him and his tongue plunged between her lips. His velvety hot tongue stroked hers, bringing her need so high she thought she might burst from it.
Suddenly he wrenched his mouth from hers and looked down at her. She tried to calm her racing heart and ragged breathing, but all she wanted to do was strip him of his clothes and feel his rod thrust inside of her.
"How is it that I cannot get enough of you?” he asked softly.
She numbly shook her head and ran her hands over his thick chest. “I don't know, and I don't care to find out. Just as long as you want me is enough."
Her eyes closed and her head tilted back as his lips found her neck.
"By the gods you smell wonderful,” he murmured.
Nicole shivered as his hot breath tickled her skin. “Stop teasing me,” she begged, “and fill me."
A low growl reached her ears. “I cannot,” he said simply and pulled away from her.
Nicole felt his loss immediately. “Why?” she asked, not understanding how he could want her so desperately and not take her.
"I cannot take the chance that I will be so enthralled with my want of you that I allow you to die."
"That won't happen."
"How do you know?” he demanded. His eyes blazed with fury and determination.
She realized at that moment, that whatever had happened between them last night might never happen again. With her body on fire with need, Nicole brushed past him and walked to the fire.
It as then she noticed that Laird and Gabriel were gone. She had completely forgotten about Gabriel standing beside them, but apparently Gabriel had been gentleman enough to leave without notice.
She should be embarrassed at her brazen behavior, but she had begun to realize what Val meant. How could she expect him to make love to her and guard her when she couldn't even notice Gabriel's leave taking after one kiss?
And she had been angry at Val when all he was doing was trying to protect her. She'd like to think he was protecting her because he cared about her, but the truth was, she was the survival of Earth and the Realm of the Fae.
Neither hers nor Val's feelings mattered at this point. Survival did.
* * * *
Val wanted to follow Nicole back to the fire, strip her of her new clothes and make sweet, slow love to her. Yet, he would stay by the entrance and hope the draft from Scotland's harsh winter would cool his resolve.
To help turn his mind off his raging rod, he began to contemplate how the great evil could trick or trap him. His one great weakness was his past.
You have another one if you would just admit it.
Aye, he did have another weakness. Nicole. She had started off as any other mission, but somewhere along the way she had turned into much more than that. She had become someone he cared about.
And that worried the hell out of him.
He closed his eyes and prayed for guidance. After so many years with the Shields, he never thought to be in a situation similar to the one that made him leave Rome.
Everyone thought him strong and able, but deep inside he was nothing more than a man running from his past and seeking a place where his memories would no longer haunt him.
He wasn't the gifted warrior general the other Shields thought him to be. He was a weak link that could very well break the Shields and end the balance of good and evil. The weight of just what kind of man he was weighed heavy on his shoulders.
How he wished the Gryphon would have killed him that day instead of toying with him. He didn't think he could bear Nicole's look when she discovered his true nature.
He licked his dry lips and tried to swallow. The hunger for a taste of wine was stronger than it had ever been. Val began to shake.
With deep, even breaths he tried to bring himself under control. But one haunting question kept running through his mind—if there was a jug of wine in front of him, would he be able to turn it away?
He was afraid the answer would be nay.
Each day his thirst for the wine grew. If they didn't kill the Gryphon soon, he knew he would succumb to his nemesis and fall prey to the oblivion the wine would give him.
If he finished this mission, he would leave the Shields. He wasn't the warrior the Shields needed. They needed someone they could depend on, not an inebriated ex-general who wasn't man enough to face his demons.
"Is everything all right?” Gabriel asked as he walked into the cave.
"Aye,” Val answered. “Where did you go?"
Gabriel's brows lifted then he looked down at the armful of wood he held. “I went to milk a cow,” he said and knocked the snow from his boots. “Care to tell me why you aren't with Nicole by the fire?"
"You didn't have to leave."
"I did. You were about to tear each other's clothes off. Now tell me what's going on with you."
Val raised his gaze to Gabriel. “Everything is fine. What happened between me and Nicole cannot happen again."
Gabriel shrugged and began to stack the wood. “I don't know what's gotten into you, my friend, but I know the desire between the two of you doesn't happen every day. You should grab hold of her with both hands and never let go."
"She deserves someone better than me."
"What?” Gabriel said as he straightened. “Have you gone daft? You are one of the best men I know, Valentinus Romulus."
Val was humbled by Gabriel's words and gave him a brief nod of thanks.
"Tell me,” Gabriel said as he removed his cloak and draped it across one of the boulders. “Has the great evil already gotten into your head?"
Val sighed. “Could be."
"Maybe its time we shared all our secrets. We've been brethren for too long not to be honest with each other. We have to watch each other's backs, and I cannot do that if I don't know how the great evil might affect you."
"I don't want you to know my past."
Gabriel harrumphed. “Nothing you say will convince me you aren't a great warrior, dedicated Shield and loyal friend. I know you, Val, regardless of what you did in your past."
Val closed his eyes and ran a hand down his face. “I don't really know where to begin."
"How about from the beginning?” Gabriel offered as he found a seat on a boulder and waited.
Maybe Gabriel was right, Val thought inwardly. Maybe it was time he told someone what had happened. He looked to Gabriel and found his friend quietly waiting for him to begin.
"Very few men reach the status of general, and even few reach it at the age that I did. Once I achieved that honor, I knew my father, a powerful Senator, would be proud."
"And was he?” Gabriel asked.
Val shrugged. “I'm not sure. I would like to think he was, but after my mother's death, what little time he had spent at home ceased all together. He was too busy with Rome's politics."
Gabriel nodded sympathetically. “What father wouldn't be proud of a son who was a general of one of the world's greatest armies?"
A smile pulled at Val's lips. “In truth, after I told him, it didn't matter to me if he was proud or not. I had achieved what I wanted. And with the title and responsibility came notoriety."
"Ah,” Gabriel said and rubbed his hands together. “Then the fun began."
Val chuckled. “Aye. More women than you could imagine, expensive gifts, invitations to private parties and a wine goblet that was never left empty.” He stopped and looked down at his clasped hands.
This is where the telling became difficult. He leaned forward until his elbows rested on his knees. He kept his head lower
ed and tried not to hear his sisters’ screams or see their brutalized bodies.
"Val?"
Gabriel's voice jerked him out of his memories. He silently shook himself and continued. “Both of my sisters had married well. They convinced their husbands to move to a province of Rome, not far from the great city herself, but away from the evils."
"Why?” Gabriel asked. “I would have thought being raised in Rome that they wouldn't want to leave."
"They didn't. Until they had children of their own. Then they saw the darker side of Rome, the side Romans like to pretend doesn't exist. Their husbands were good men, and to please their wives, they moved. I gave them my word that I would check on them regularly.
"The province where they moved had some trouble years before, but once Rome quieted the troublemakers, it settled into a nice city."
Val squeezed his eyes closed then rose to his feet and faced the cave entrance.
"I gather there was trouble,” Gabriel said.
Val nodded. “I was a few months away from taking my men to the border of Germania when we got word that there might be trouble in the province. I didn't put much credit in the report since it came from a man that had been known to lie. Still, I vowed to my sisters I would keep their children safe."
"Not many men would have done that, especially considering they moved from Rome."
He shrugged. “They were all the family I had."
"What happened?"
"I let my rod rule me, and I went off with a woman instead of following through and determining for myself if the report of trouble was true or not. I was awoken in the middle of the night to take some men to the province."
He stared at the shimmering water of the loch, but he didn't see it. Instead, he saw fire. “By the time I got there, the city was in flames. My sisters lived next to each other at the edge of town. They had been locked inside and the house set afire. I could hear them screaming as I rode up, could hear their children crying."
Val swallowed and blinked back tears he had never shed. “I tried to break through the door to reach them, but the flames were too great. The only thing I managed to do was burn my hand,” he said and lifted his left hand. He gazed down at the flesh on the outside of his hand.
