A Warrior's Heart (Shields) (14 page)

“Would it do any good for me to be other than I am? I’ve survived this long because I do not let emotion rule me.”

“Hmm. I’d say you do allow emotion to rule you, Jayna, just not the emotions of most females.”

She stopped him just before he reached her door. “It will come again, won’t it?”
 

Hugh nodded solemnly as he turned toward her. “Do not venture outside of the castle walls unless you wish to die.”

“I’ll heed your advice, my lord.”

And with that, he was gone.

Jayna’s knees gave out and she crumpled to the floor. She would be here far longer than she anticipated. But the burning question in her mind was why the Great Evil had forgotten to mention the creatures to her and his involvement in everything?

Or had he?

* * * *

Lips as seductive as Rufina, the Fae queen, beckoned him. Hair as golden as the sun upon the sea glided through his hands while hazel eyes smiled up at him.

“Come, Gabriel,” she called as she ran out of his arms.

He chased after her, unsure of where she was leading him, but desperately needing to know. She smiled as if she knew him, wanted him.

Gabriel couldn’t help but return the smile she threw over her shoulder as she ran ahead of him. With the sun shining in the vivid blue of the sky without a cloud in sight and the bright green grass beneath his bare feet, it felt as though he were in Heaven.

No worries weighed upon his heart, no doubts, no fears. Nothing but the need to have the beautiful woman in his arms again.

He lengthened his stride and easily caught her. She wrapped her arms around him as he swung her around, her glorious hair trailing around them like a golden ribbons.

“Oh, Gabriel,” she said as she tucked her head in his neck. “You make me so happy.”

Gabriel’s eyes snapped open. His heart raced and sweat beaded his skin. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness for him to see he stared at the stone wall of his chamber.

It had just been a dream, but it had seemed so real. He closed his eyes and wished for sleep to claim him again.
 
He wanted the beautiful woman and the comfort of her arms, yet the dull throbbing of his back and the ache in his ribs said that wasn’t going to happen.

Gingerly he rolled onto his back and regretted it instantly. Pain lanced through him. He shut his eyes tightly and fisted his hands in an attempt to rule over the agony.

“We had you on your side for a reason.”

Gabriel opened his eyes to see Val standing over him with his mate, Nicole by his side. He tried to smile at them, but must have failed by the worry in their eyes.

“I’ll be fine,” he gritted out. His mouth tasted of sand and he wanted nothing but a very large jug of ale. Several jugs in fact.

“Many times you’ve cared for us and insisted we follow your directions. Heed your own words, Gabriel, and do what needs to be done.”

This time he did manage the smile. “Always has something to say, doesn’t he?” he asked Nicole.

She glanced up at Val as she leaned into him. “He’s right though.”

While he was happy that they were so concerned over his welfare, Gabriel just wanted to be alone to think over his dream and wonder why the hell he hadn’t healed yet.
 

“You’ve had everyone very worried.”

The soft, unmistakably feminine voice made chills run over his skin.
 

He turned his head to the side and found Jayna sitting stiffly in a chair beside his bed.

“You should be taking care of your ankle, not sitting here worrying over me.”
 

She glanced down at her tightly clasped hands. “It seems there is need to worry over you.”

Gabriel sighed and closed his eyes. Damn but he hurt. The need to take a deep breath was great, but so would the pain if he attempted it.

“I’ll be fine,” he said again.
 

No one had said a word after Jayna’s statement.

“Aye, you will,” Hugh’s voice said from somewhere in the chamber.

By the heavens! Is everyone in here?

He was afraid to open his eyes, afraid to see the concern, the doubt in everyone’s gaze. What kind of a man was he that he would face evil creatures but wanted to run and hide from the very people he considered his family?

A soft hand touched his arm. Was it Jayna? Was she reaching out to him because she felt his pain? Curiosity made him open his eyes to find Mina’s hand on him.

“We’re all here for you,” she said with a bright smile.

It was too much for Gabriel. He turned his head away from her. “I’m tired.”

When the door finally closed, he opened his eyes. Hugh stood on one side of the bed and Aimery the other. “I can’t do this now.”

“You must,” Aimery said.

“I’ve told Aimery all that happened. We think the Harpy’s talons may have been poisoned in order to effect you so,” Hugh said.

Gabriel shook his head. “Does it really matter? I see how everyone looks at me,” he said more harshly than he intended.

“You’ll get better,” Aimery said.

“I know.” Gabriel was unable to meet either of their gazes. He was angry, angry because he shouldn’t be in a bed suffering, he should be healed already.

He took a deep breath and then rolled to his side. Out of the corner of his eye he watched as Aimery gave a swift shake of his head. Probably to stop Hugh from aiding him. With great effort, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up.

“I’m going to kill that Harpy myself,” Gabriel said through clenched teeth. Then he raised his gaze to Aimery. “The Shields cannot afford to have a member injured. I am no good to them like this.”

Aimery nodded, his flaxen hair barely moving. “I know. I was waiting for you to understand that.”

Pride had often kept Gabriel from asking for help, but the evil surrounding Stone Crest could win if Gabriel didn’t put aside his pride for once.
 

“Will you heal me?”
 

“Though I am not supposed to, I will.”

Just as the power of the Fae thundered through him, healing his injuries, Gabriel’s mind gave up one more memory long buried – of him lying on a bed, blood soaking the sheets and Aimery along with several other Fae doing their best to keep him alive.

Chapter Fifteen

Jayna knew she should go to her own chamber, but she couldn’t seem to leave the corridor outside of Gabriel’s. Everyone else had departed but Hugh. She hoped that once Hugh left, she could sneak inside and talk to Gabriel.

She desperately wanted to know what the Great Evil had said to him. Had the evil whispered to Gabriel her intent? Did Gabriel know his days were numbered? If so, then she needed to finish her deed that night and leave.

“Dark are your thoughts.”

The smooth voice startled Jayna and she spun around to find herself staring at what was possibly the most stunning man she had ever laid eyes on. His hair was so blonde it was nearly white and hung long and straight down his back. Several small, intricate plaits adorned his temple to fall over his shoulder. With the face that was perfect in symmetry and grace and manliness, she could do nothing but stare. And lose herself in his mystical blue eyes.

A smile pulled at his wide lips, as if he knew the reaction she had to him. Jayna blinked and jerked her gaze away from him.

“My thoughts are none of your concern, sir,” she said as she tried to get herself under control.

“Ah, but they are, my dear Jayna.”

Her gaze returned to him, but this time she didn’t look at his face. He wore a tunic and pants, but the material was not common to her and the silvery white of the color was odd, almost...royal. She saw no weapon on him, but by the power radiating from him, she didn’t think he needed one.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“You may call me Aimery, though my title is Commander of the Fae army,” he said as he crossed his arms over his chest.

A breath hissed from her lungs. She took a step back and braced her hands on the wall.

His forehead puckered in a frown. “There is no need to be afraid. I’ll not harm you.”

But he would if he ever discovered who she had aligned herself with and just why she was at Stone Crest. With her ankle, she couldn’t run and she doubted it would do any good anyway. He was a Fae, with powers beyond her comprehension.

“What do you want with me?” she finally decided to ask.

He shrugged. “To talk for a moment.”

She licked her lips and leaned into the wall to take her weight off her injured ankle. It was swelling worse than before now. She should have taken Gabriel’s suggestion and kept it raised.

“You’re injured as well,” Aimery said, his voice as smooth as silk and as commanding as a king’s.
 

“It’s just a sprain.”

“A sprain that festers.” He suddenly knelt before her and held out his hand. “May I see the ankle?”

She hesitated for only a moment before she lifted her skirts and raised her leg for his inspection. His hands closed over her ankle, and even through the thick wool of her stockings, she could feel the heat of him.

His eyes closed, and he began to move his lips but no words could be heard. Then, her body began to almost hum, as if, magic poured through her. Almost instantly the pain in her ankle ceased, and when he finally released her, she knew he had healed her sprain.

Slowly, she stood on her foot and felt not a twinge from the damaged ankle. “Thank you.”

He bowed his head. “Think nothing of it.”

“I understand I have the Fae to thank for the clothes as well.”

He smiled. “You do not like that we’ve been kind?”

“It has been...awhile since anyone has been kind to me.”

His unusual blue eyes grew sad. “You are in the company of very good people. They are risking their lives for the fate of all mankind. You couldn’t have come to a better place.”

“I agree,” she said softly. But she wasn’t fooled. The Fae were all-powerful, which meant, he must know her story was false.

“Tell me, Jayna,” he said as he held out his arm for her. “What brings you to Stone Crest?”

Jayna wanted to run away, to hide from the prying eyes of the Fae, eyes that could see deep into her soul. She took his arm instead. “I’m sure Lord Hugh has told you my story.”

“Aye, as has Gabriel. However, I’d like to hear the truth from you.”

She stumbled and nearly fell to her knees, but he was quick to right her. She looked straight ahead, unsure of how to answer.

“I’ll be honest,” he continued. “Your mind is blocked from me. That doesn’t usually happen unless someone knows how to block a Fae, or magic was used. Which was it?”

She shook her head and stopped. “I don’t know what you mean,” she said as she looked up at him. “My mind is blocked from you?”

“Aye. The Fae have the power to read minds. It is how I keep the Shields safe from harm. Whenever I encounter someone who has blocked their minds from me I become suspicious, as I’m sure you can understand.”

She nodded slowly. “I don’t know how to block my mind from you.”

He studied her for a moment. “You’re being honest.” He held out his arm once again.

“You know that as well?” she asked as she took his arm and continued walking.
 

“There isn’t much we can’t do.”

“But save this realm.”

He sighed softly. “Understand, Jayna, that if it was in my power, I’d battle the Great Evil myself. I would fight him from now to eternity if it meant he left this realm and others alone. However, I don’t have that authority.”

“Why?”

“The Fae once dwelled on Earth. We had a great love of this place, but eventually, we had to leave.”

“Why?”

He smiled down at her as he opened her chamber door and ushered her in. “There was a war long, long ago. We had no choice but to relinquish Earth to man. Because we loved it so, the Fae have always looked out for this realm, as well as man.”

Jayna was riveted by the story. “It still doesn’t explain why you cannot fight.”

Aimery gestured to the chairs before the roaring fire. When she had taken a seat, he took the other. “Upon abandoning this realm, there were...rules set in place that kept us away. Most people of this realm think the Fae are nothing more than a myth, a story to tell children at bedtime.”

“Yet you walk among them.”

“What people don’t believe, they don’t see.” He shrugged. “Though we are allowed to aid mankind, we cannot fight their battles.”

“So, you gathered together the Shields?”

“Exactly. They have kept Earth safe.”