The man was suffering. From his shallow breathing, she judged he was near death, and here she was acting like a weak-willed la.s.s, not one who"d aided in the birthing of many a babe and offered many a man succor as he"d drawn his last breath.
Frustrated with herself, Rowan glanced at his shoulder where she"d seen the streaks of red. No sign existed of his being wounded. She searched his back, then the other shoulder.
Naught.
Where were the marks? She"d watched them grow, could still smell charred flesh on the air. Uneasy, she fought for calm. Mayhap in her exhaustion, she had imagined both?
As if either mattered? With the men chasing her believing her a witch and wanting her dead, she must focus on the task at hand. Once a.s.sured the warrior would survive, she would leave.
With a gentle hand, she examined the warrior"s body for any sign of injury and found nothing swollen nor any visible cause of his unconsciousness.
What had she missed? Something caused him immense pain. She leaned close to his mouth, inhaled his weak breath. No scent of ale or wine. Neither had she expected such. His scream earlier was that of a man in pain.
Poison.
Rowan half fell back, glanced toward the cave opening. Golden rays spilled inside the timeworn entry, illuminated the gra.s.s and the circle beyond. Above, tattered clouds filled the sky. She scanned the line of distant trees.
No human or animal lurked nearby.
Pulse racing, she turned toward the man. Nay, he"d not spoken to her mind, now or earlier. She was exhaus- Eyes as black as the devil"s flickered open. Their potent intensity held her, stirred within her a desperate need.
Awareness flashed within his gaze. Against the glint of the blood-red sun, his teeth began to lengthen.
What manner of creature was he?
Through the wash of agony, Aedan MacGregor, Laird of the Highland Vampire Coven, focused upon the beautiful woman caught within his hold. Terror streaked her wide turquoise eyes, and wisps of her plaited, wheat blond hair flew about her head as she struggled to break free. She appeared like a fairy caught outside the Otherworld.
"Release me!" she gasped.
Her rich burr spilled from her full lips and wrapped around him, cutting through the haze of misery. For a moment he lost himself in her throaty voice, imagining his hands upon her flesh, her cries as he took her over the edge. What in Hades? Never had a human woman tempted him.
Weakness swept his body. Aedan kept his hold upon consciousness-barely. Enough. He had little time or energy for these foolish thoughts.
"Come to me," he whispered, surprised a scan of her mind offered him naught. Always was he able to read a human"s thoughts. "Twas the herbs the traitor had slipped into his drink last eve that dulled his senses. Once the effects wore off, he would read her mind with ease.
She shook her head. "Pl-Please, do not kill me."
"La.s.s," he whispered, each word draining precious strength. "Never would I harm you. That I swear."
"Yo-You are-" She focused on his teeth, and a tremor rippled through her slender frame.
"A vampire." He struggled not to slip under, to keep her within his hold. Through sheer will, he managed both. "Trust me."
If possible, terrified eyes widened further. He shouldn"t have expected otherwise. Humans created horrifying fables about what they did not understand, found relief in giving their fabricated creature a name, regardless of the truth.
"I am dying." He cursed his weakness, cursed the fact that he"d exposed his dire state to a human, one whose mind he could not read. Could he trust her? Did he have any choice? "I need a small amount of your blood."
Fingers, slim and strong, slid to her slender throat, trembled. "Do nae ask this."
"Use your dagger," he whispered, the last of his strength fading fast. "Slice your thumb, and let several drops fall within my mouth. "Tis all I need to begin to recover."
Wary eyes studied him. "And then?"
"I will sate my hunger with another."
Her lower lip wavered. "Will you kill him?"
Did it matter how he acquired nourishment? Aye, to her it did. "He will nae be hurt, but will fall asleep. When he awakens, he will but find himself tired, with no memory of my being there."
Turquoise eyes darted toward the entry, shifted back.
Bed.a.m.ned, he should take her blood and be done with it, but he could not risk scaring her. With his body so weakened, if she broke free and ran, he"d not have the strength to will her back or give chase.
After a long moment, she withdrew her dagger. "But a few drops."
"Aye."
Precious seconds pa.s.sed. On an exhale, she slid the honed blade against the pad of her thumb.
A drop of blood beaded upon the sharp metal, and the rich scent filled the air, infused his every breath. His body demanded he take. He waited, preserved the last of his meager energy in case she decided to bolt.
Her eyes locked upon his, she held her thumb a hand"s breadth above his mouth. The beads of red grew, wobbled upon the honed tip, fell.
The warm salty drops landed upon his tongue. Aedan savored sweetness unlike anything he"d ever tasted. He swallowed. Strength flooded his body, and his senses heightened to a dangerous edge. A deep keening ignited within his soul, and a completeness he"d never experienced filled him.
He stilled. By the sword"s blade, this woman was his mate!
With a steadying breath, she pressed her thumb harder, and several more drops landed upon his tongue.
In a brilliant explosion of light, his mind melded to hers. Images ignited: her tumble of terrified thoughts of what he would do to her, of being shunned throughout her life, and of the men who chased her and wanted her dead.
Questions storming him, he withdrew from the woman"s mind.
As if sensing his increased strength, she pulled her thumb away, and pressed her finger over the cut.
He banked his body"s demands to take her, to claim her as his rightful mate. "My thanks." With care, Aedan sat up, amazed by the increase in his strength from the meager amount of blood he"d swallowed. Was her being his mate responsible?
The beautiful woman stumbled back, the pulse at the base of her throat rapid.
He tried not to notice, to want her. Failed. "As I said before, I will not harm you." His words were truer than she would ever know. With their bodies merged through her blood, and their destinies joined, he would protect her always, even at the cost of his life.
Looking unconvinced, she watched him. On a shudder, she glanced toward the entry. Images of men with pitchforks, swords, axes, and other weapons chasing her flickered through her mind.
Anger stormed him. "Who threatens you?"
Surprise appeared on her face, then suspicion. "How do you know?"
"You have fear within your eyes," he replied, not wanting to overwhelm her further by explaining that he could read her mind. The time would come to impart that knowledge. As well, he dismissed his ability to read her mind earlier due to his weakened condition.
"You are a vampire; how can I not be afraid?"
It was only part of the reason she was afraid. Until she grew to trust him, she would tell no more. "Your name?"
She took a step back.
"Please tell me." He kept his voice soft.
"Rowan Campbell." She hesitated. "And yours?"
He sensed no treachery in her asking. "Aedan MacGregor. I belong to the Highland Coven."
"You are alone?"
Aedan nodded. "Aye."
Her fingers toyed with the sleeve of her gown. "I-I thought stories of vampires were tales crafted by the bards."
"We keep to ourselves. Unless we feed."
Her face paled.
Blasted wives" tales. "We harm none, take naught except what is necessary."
"And I am to believe you?"
A muscle in his jaw worked. "Had I wanted you dead, "twould be long since achieved."
After a moment, she nodded, again glanced toward the entry.
"Fear not. I will protect you."
She turned, studied him a long moment. "Why would you?"
You are my mate, he wanted to explain. From this moment on her protection would be his first priority. "You saved my life."
"I did naught but give you a few drops of blood." She backed another step toward the entry. "I-I must go."
With their bond, he could not allow her to leave him. "Rowan," he said, liking the sound of her name upon his tongue. "If you depart now, you will place yourself in danger. While you are in my presence, none will harm you." He allowed compulsion to soften his voice. "Trust me."
Panic slid through Rowan as she stared at the formidable man. Man? Nay, a vampire. Could this day become more unbelievable? Aye, it could. Because she found herself wanting to do as he bade and offer him her trust. She needed sleep. "Twould rid her of such ludicrous thoughts. Unsure, she looked past the stone entry, searched the forest looming beyond.
Trust me.
Rowan whirled to face him. " "Twas you who spoke in my mind before." A smile edged his lips, one that inspired wanton thoughts of her within his arms, of his mouth moving over hers as he made love to her. Heart pounding, she shook her head. "Nay, none of this is happening. You are but a dream."
"La.s.s, I am very real."
Another vision of him laying her upon a moss-covered bank emerged in her mind. "Stop it!"
His face grew somber. " "Tis not I."
"You read my thoughts," she accused.
"Aye," he agreed, "but they are images conjured by your mind, by your growing need."
Her growing need? Ridiculous. "Never have I had such indecent thoughts." She held up her hand. "Why am I trying to explain? None of this makes any sense."
"It is complex."
Complex? An understatement. Since she"d been chased from her home, her entire life had been turned upside down. Rowan attributed her wanton thoughts to exhaustion and turned her focus on finding a place where she would be safe. She eyed the handsome stranger. Though he"d vowed to not harm her, could she give him her trust?
His eyelids slipped closed, and he struggled to reopen them.
She glanced toward the sun rising in the eastern sky. Daylight, the time a vampire slept.
"Yes, soon I must sleep," he said, his voice rough with fatigue. "But I need your vow that while I rest you will not leave me."
"Why?"
"As I explained before, "tis unsafe."
She almost laughed. And being cloistered with a vampire was safe?
"Aye," he replied, "I will protect you."
Anxiety edged through her. "How can you read my mind?"
He hesitated, and then sighed as if coming to a decision of great import. "Your blood now runs through my veins. Forever are we bound."
"Forever?" She shook her head. Nay, it could not be! "Remove the connection."
An arrogant smile slanted his mouth. " "Tis impossible."
Was it? Or, did he choose to keep their mental tie for his own self-serving reasons? She"d been so caught up in her fear, her shock at learning he was a vampire, she"d not thought of the obvious questions. Why was he out here alone? Was he a thief, on the run, or had he murdered someone?
He grimaced. "Still your mind"s mayhem. I am nae wanted, nor have I killed anyone."
"Nay? Then why did I find you half dead within the stone circle?"
Anger flashed in his eyes. "I was drugged and left there to die."
Chapter Two.