“Ah, I see the wildcat has returned. Before we go I have one more question. A simple yes or no will suffice. Has the Master told you of the spell that would help us find out if the girl is guilty of treason?”
Natalya looked at him. He did indeed know, just as she thought he would. Pleased that he had asked her in a way that would give them both an answer but reveal nothing of the details she smiled at him and nodded.
“Yes, Lucian, he has.”
“I was hoping as much. Perhaps we can use that to our advantage, you and I. We both wish for the same thing after all.”
Natalya simply smiled again, and then a thought hit her. Did this vampire truly care about Alliana or was it his Master he wished to please?
“Now I have a question for you, Sir. Are your intentions towards my friend true? Do you care for her, or is she simply important because she is Lord Arcos’s wife?”
“I do care for her, as much as my kind can anyway. She is a kind, strong, intelligent woman, though she is very headstrong like her friend.”
“That she is.” Pleased to have a strong ally in her battle to keep Alliana safe, Natalya settled back into Lucian’s arms, allowing herself for the first time to completely relax and enjoy the feel of them wrapped around her. Yes he was of the devil’s spawn, but he also had a good heart just like Lord Arcos, and he was so very handsome as well.
Chapter Twenty
Mikhal urged his horse forward at breakneck speed, pulling the beast up as he entered the courtyard causing it to rear. He leapt from its back, tossing the reins to the stable boy and headed towards the castle. It was near dawn and he knew his wife would be fast asleep, but this couldn’t wait. He had proof, real, tangible proof, and he had to show it to her at once.
Taking the stairs two at a time, Mikhal rushed down the hallway then silently slipped into Alliana’s chambers. He spied the guard at once, and realized Natalya and Lucian must not have returned from their nightly journey, but didn’t give it any more thought. The girl was safe with his first in command. There was no doubt in his mind that Lucian would protect her. Silently nodding to the guard to indicate that he was relieved of his duties, and then waited until the minion slipped out, he then strode on feet as silent as a cat’s over to his wife’s bed. He paused at the side of it, pulling open the drapes slowly so as not to disturb her, wanting this one unguarded moment to feel her and gaze at her. As always, her beauty astounded him. How could a woman who was so much trouble, especially as of late, be so lovely? It seemed impossible, but there she was. His Alliana. Her hair lay around her in a golden halo of ethereal shimmering light, catching the flickering flames of the fire as it danced.
One hand was drawn up under her chin and the other was flung across her body and out upon the furs, as if she were reaching out to hold the man who should be there with her in her marriage bed. Her cheeks were rosy as they should be, her lips slightly parted, her lids so delicate, fringed by long sweeping lashes. He knew if she were to open those lids that he’d see two of the greenest eyes that had even been set upon him, but he also knew that they would immediately fill with scorn and fury, so Mikhal held off speaking for a bit longer.
Sitting oh so carefully, he took her hand delicately, and raised it up so he could press it against his cheek. He marveled again at the size of her hands. They were so delicate, as was all of her, and for a moment he was filled with worry over the thought of her bearing their child. What if her small human body could not deliver a vampire babe? The thought was terrifying, but Mikhal knew he couldn’t think like that. She was strong and healthy. Natalya had said so.
As he held her hand, he reached out and stroked her cheek lightly with his thumb, and she murmured, a little smile touching her lips as she did so. Mikhal smiled as well at her reaction and longed to get in the bed with her, to pull her body into his arms while her mind was befuddled with sleep and subdue her by tending his mating mark before she could protest. He knew he could. He could have her purring in his arms in a matter of seconds, but he also knew she would never forgive him for it. Not this time.
Instead, he simply pulled his hand away from her cheek before he could lose his senses; then froze, when a feeling of distress overcame him. What was distressing Alliana? He touched her again and held her hand just a bit tighter and the feeling went away. It was replaced by one of pleasure.
Well that was certainly interesting. His wife wouldn’t admit it, but in her heart of hearts she must believe him or she wouldn’t trust him in her most vulnerable state. Her emotions spoke of wanting him near her. That his wife was responding to him was no question. They had a bond and she would know if it were a stranger touching her, no, she knew and she was accepting him, and for Mikhal that was enough, even if she was asleep.
He smiled then reached into his coat, pulling the two items from his pocket and laying them on the bed near Alliana, then bent down and kissed her. Alliana’s eyes opened sleepily, she blinked, her tongue coming out to lick her lips, tasting the remnants of her husband there, and then she stiffened as the memories of the past day came back to her.
She sat up, causing the broken heel from Hannah’s shoe to tumble to the floor unnoticed. She was far too wrapped up in gathering her anger towards her husband now that the sleep was fleeing from her mind.
“I told you I did not want you here!”
“You also told me you wanted proof of the girl’s deceit.”
Alliana’s eyes widened then narrowed as she looked at him suspiciously. He could feel the mistrust flowing from her and it burned him like a hot cinder. “Just calm yourself and listen, wife.”
“I...”
“Alliana.” The low growl was back, commanding her, his mate, to silence. It was time to listen, and then she could judge and condemn him if she must, but for now her lips needed to remain sealed. Mikhal was about to tell her what he’d found, show her what he’d found when he thought of Hannah.
“Where is the girl? In the tower?”
“Of course. I promised her she’d be safe there.” The words were spat out, saying ‘I dare you to prove me wrong, I dare you to try and take her away’.
“I think you shall change your mind. Perhaps I should simply call her down here to see what I have brought.”
“No. Leave her be.”
He sat for a moment, debating the idea of challenging the girl in front of Alliana; then decided against it. He would be proving her wrong, would be showing her that she should have listened, that she shouldn’t have doubted him when he produced his proof. Alliana would be humiliated and angry and who knew what else. How she would react was a mystery that was best left discovered while they were alone.
“I will leave her be, for now, but you are to listen.”
Alliana stared at him with her steely eyes but nodded nonetheless. Mikhal reached out and picked up the maid’s cap from where it lay upon the white bed linens.
“Do you know what this is, Alliana?”
“Of course I do, a maid’s cap. What of it.”
“I found it at the cottage where Marishka and Andor had been hiding.” Before he could continue Alliana cut him off.
“You found them? Andor and Marishka? Did you kill her? Did you make her suffer as she did me?” The venom in her voice took him aback and the pain and fury that came from his wife’s soul made him vow he would search the earth until Marishka was made to pay for what she’d done.
“No, sweet, I’m sorry. They were gone.”
Disappointment joined the other emotions, and Alliana stared up at him with wounded eyes, directing everything in her heart at him, blaming him. Part of her knew she shouldn’t, but her heart ached for justice to be done to the woman who had brutalized her and killed a small boy in her name.
“Alliana, I’m sorry. They knew. Somehow they must have known we were coming.”
“So Hannah isn’t the one.” At this she brightened, and though he was still thrilled at being able to prove himself right, it pained him that he had to kill this hope as
well. He couldn’t let her go on believing it for a moment longer though.
“Yes she is, Alliana. Hannah is the one or at least one of them anyway. Marishka and Andor found out another way, or else decided to move on their own. I have proof, this...” Mikhal crushed the cap in his fist. “This was in the cottage. It smells of Marishka and of Hannah.”
A look of revulsion came over Alliana’s face and she shied away. “This special thing you do, this smelling of people and things, it tells me nothing, and is... repulsive. Tis like a hound. Besides, how do I know you aren’t lying? You could have snatched the cap from the head of any maid.”
Mikhal’s anger began to rise as well, but he swallowed it along with his manly pride at being questioned by the woman who was to honor him. He’d known she’d do this, hadn’t he? So he might as well just continue without letting her rile him up. Still, it hurt him to think she’d believe he’d lie to her now after all they had shared.
“I knew you would question me, sweet. Knew my word wouldn’t be enough. It will be, some day, and for that I am willing to wait.” His words were soft but his eyes said he wouldn’t wait long. Alliana knew his patience was wearing thin. “But for now...”
Alliana cut him off. “I do not wish to speak of the future. What else do you wish to show me, for as of now I do not believe in your ‘proof’?”
“What of this then.” Mikhal reached down beside the bed and Alliana, not able to help her curiosity, leaned forward to spy what he was about. He came back up swiftly, Hannah’s broken heel in his hand, and she jumped at his sudden nearness, gazing into his eyes, challenging him, a charge of emotions passing between them, her stare warning him not to get any closer, not to touch her.
He tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes, then smirked as he held up the heel. He couldn’t help it. She was wrong and she’d have to admit it. His pride did have its limits after all.
Alliana stared at the object held tightly in his curled fingers, a look of confusion coming over her; then shrugged her shoulders. “Tis a heel from a shoe. I don’t understand. What does that have to do with Hannah?”
“The night Lucian caught Hannah sneaking back into her room, one of her shoes was broken.”
“She lost it in the half frozen dirt.”
“No, she lost it in the crack of the fieldstone pathway outside the cottage Marishka was hiding in. It twas lodged between the stones. I pulled it free.”
“I...”
“Alliana I could have a servant retrieve the shoe and prove to you they are a match. Won’t you believe me now?”
Alliana’s brow creased, her eyes searched his face, and her bottom lip trembled as she bit it gently. He could see her begin to shake as the truth hit her hard. Hannah had lied to her, had told her a wild tale, and she had believed every word. She had believed the lying, servant girl, forsaking her husband, and put herself and her babe in danger.
“I... Oh what did I do? The baby.” Tears welled in Alliana’s eyes as she shook her head, denying her own actions but no longer denying her husband’s words as being the truth. Mikhal reached for her and to his relief, she didn’t pull away. Instead, she melted into his arms. The sobs shaking her body were most unwelcome, he wasn’t a spiteful demon any longer and did not relish her pain, but the faith that had been restored in her heart was welcome indeed.
He wrapped her in his arms and whispered sweet words of comfort as he rocked her gently and assured her everything would be fine. “Pigeon please. Don’t fret, twasn’t your fault. You... I hurt you, sweet; our past is full of pain. You had every reason not to trust me; you thought I meant to hurt Hannah as I had hurt you.”
“No, I know you love our child. I should have listened.” As she said the last words his keen hearing picked up the sound of footsteps on the tower room steps. He turned his head just in time to see Hannah emerge from the darkness of the stair alcove, clearly intent on making a run for the chamber door.
Mikhal pushed Alliana away none to gently, knowing the girl had to be stopped, and raced across the room, a snarl of rage ringing out in the chamber as his wife’s cry of shock echoed in his ears.
He caught Hannah by the hair and jerked her back, wrapping an arm around her throat and pulling her up against his chest, her back to his body, her legs kicking uselessly before her, his now demon facade inches from her neck as he hissed out the order to be still.
Alliana watched the drama play out as a multitude of emotions went through her. She hated the girl, was furious that she’d lied to her, and yet... there was horror over the thought of Hannah being tortured to reveal information, horror at seeing her husband’s fangs so poised to pierce the throat of a human. The servant was merely a young girl who had been corrupted by Marishka, and probably against her will at that.
Unlike Enid, whom Alliana had loathed and who had chosen her own path in life, Alliana was certain Marishka had set her sights on Hannah and done unspeakable things in order to get the girl to cooperate. Hannah may have committed treason, was in fact working with the enemy and would have caused her and her child harm, but Alliana’s heart still held a bit of pity for her. Marishka had driven away Hannah’s innocence and for that reason, Alliana cared.
“Be still I said girl, or I shall begin my method of questioning you here and now.”
“Mikhal, no. I... ”
Mikhal stared at Alliana in confusion, his beast raging. What could possibly be wrong now? Why was his wife looking at him with such a pleading gaze? Why wasn’t she as full of fury as he was?
“Alliana I showed you proof. This is in my hands now.”
“I believe your proof. I truly do and I hate her for what she has done, but do you not see that she is a victim of Marishka? Twasn’t her fault; can you not be more lenient, go about things in a gentler fashion?”
“Alliana if I wish to find the truth there are certain things that may have to be done.” Alliana paled at his words and he could feel her revulsion.
“But Mikhal, she is still human. I know Marishka did this to her, just as you did things to me to make me accede to your wishes. I... if you hadn’t become honorable...”
Alliana shivered at the thought, and the realization of just how lucky she had been. If he hadn’t become honorable indeed, her life would be one of unspeakable misery. Mikhal could have taken her night after night, made her body crave his, degraded her, turned her into a whore, done so many things, but he hadn’t. He had become a man with a heart instead.
Marishka hadn’t become honorable though. Alliana was certain that Mikhal’s sister had done all in her power to bring Hannah over to her side and had continued to abuse the wayward girl until her capture. Shouldn’t that count for something? They as humans were helpless really when it came to fighting those of the darkness; Hannah would have been unable to resist.
Mikhal gnashed his teeth and shook Hannah like a rag doll, furious over the events unfolding, and the girl squeaked in terror causing Alliana to respond with a cry of her own. Mikhal shook his head in disbelief and looked away from his grieving wife. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing from Alliana.
“So you wish me to do what with the girl? You were sobbing and telling me you were so sorry for putting our son in danger, and now you are balking at my need to question her. Do you or do you not understand that we must learn of Marishka’s plan?”
Mikhal had regained control over his demon and his blue eyes met hers in a steady gaze. It wasn’t that he would do whatever she asked. He certainly wasn’t about to let the girl go free and he had every intention on obtaining the information however he needed to, he simply was willing to hear her out and to try and pacify her to some extent.
“I...” Tears welled up in Alliana’s eyes again. Her heart was aching and engaged in a battle with her conscience. She knew what had to be done in order to protect her child and part of her was furious at Hannah and didn’t care what became of the girl, but another part whispered that Hannah was still a human. This was Marishka’s fault,
not the girl’s. Perhaps whatever spell her husband’s lunatic sister had over Hannah could be broken if Marishka were dead.
“Tell me Alliana, for this can’t wait. What is it you want?” I do not wish to upset you, sweet, but this is a matter that is urgent and must be dealt with. The truth will be found. Would you be happier if it wasn’t I who questioned her? Lucian perhaps?”
“No. He is kind, but I have never seen his beast and I know not if he is capable of the same amount of control that you are.”
Though he was still raging and his demon was aching to tear the girl to shreds, Alliana’s words pleased a deeper part of Mikhal. The man in him responded to her small admission of trust.
“Hannah please, you must speak up to save yourself. Tell my husband what he wishes to hear. Do not feel false allegiance to Marishka. She used you. Please tell him and save yourself.”
Hannah gave a sharp caustic laugh and spit upon the floor as rage for the woman who had made her sweet Marishka live in a hovel filled her. There would be no betrayals tonight, not as long as she could remain strong.
“I need no help from a Gypsy whore who is swollen with the seed of the devil. I love my Mistress, twas my choice. I’ll not speak to you or to anyone else.”
Alliana gasped and Mikhal growled at the girl’s disparaging words, his level of rage rising even higher. He wanted nothing but to drag Hannah away and take her below to where his tools of pain lay, then he would see how long her bravado would last.
“You see, sweet. She cares naught for you. Do not be fooled into thinking she deserves your pity. She may be human but her heart is as black as my dear sister’s. One needn’t be a demon to have an evil soul. I’ll bring the truth tumbling from her lips, and though it may not be pretty, you needn’t feel anything for her pain. Must I remain here and put this off any longer?”
Mikhal felt Hannah begin to shake in his arms. Her bravado was disappearing as quickly as it had come, along with her spiteful words, and she now realized how very dire her situation was. There would be no getting out of this. Perhaps she should have played the sweet one to the Gypsy bitch but now it was too late. Her Mistress couldn’t come and rescue her; no one would ever see her again. She would die a painful death spilling the secrets that she had sworn to keep.
Beneath The Shadows of Evil... Torn Page 29
