A Warrior's Heart (Shields) (20 page)

He forced a smile. “Do not worry over me, Nicole. It’s just the strain of finishing this mission.”
 

Her violet eyes grew sad. “We all grow worried. I know the other Shields are trying to be patient with us, and we are trying the best we can to figure out just what we are supposed to do.”

Gabriel held up his hand for her to stop. “There is no need for you to explain to me,” he said softly. “When the time comes, I’ve faith the Chosen will know exactly what to do to destroy the Great Evil.”

A slow smile spread over her face. “You’re a very kind man, Gabriel. I hope you find the answers to your past. Maybe then you’ll find peace.”

He watched her walk away knowing that peace would only be his when his final breath left his body.

* * * *

Aimery was more than frustrated as he arrived at
Cranon Megeg
. The city was small compared to most in the Realm of the Fae, but very influential people made their homes in the quiet city.

A whip of cool air passed over him. He looked to the mountains surrounding the picturesque city.
 

Cranon Megeg
was in the northern mountains were many dragons made their homes. It was the chosen place of the white dragons.

“My lord.”

Aimery turned and found a dozen of his soldiers standing behind him waiting for orders. He sighed. “Begin to question everyone. I want as many details of who killed the dragon as we can get.”

The troops swiftly began their orders. Aimery raised his hand and motioned for the others to take their places. Some would guard each entrance to the city while others would scout the perimeter for signs of where the murderer had entered and left. The rest followed him to the dragon.

Aimery could hardly believe his eyes as he stared at the fallen dragon on the outskirts of
Cranon Megeg
. Even in death the beautiful white dragon was a spectacle to behold. It was one of the largest dragons as well as the purest. It held more magic inside of it then an entire city of Fae. The death of a white dragon did not bode well for the magic of the Fae realm.

Slowly, Aimery walked around the enormous dragon. One wing had been totally ripped off while the other was bent at an odd angel. He looked at the ground and noted how deep the groove was where the dragon came to lay.

“He was killed mid-flight,” he said sadly to himself.

Aimery continued around the dragon until he stood looking at the animal’s underside. It was too heavy for them to roll it on its side to see what weapon was used to bring it down, and Aimery didn’t wish to disturb the dragon any more than he had to.

He knelt by the dragon’s great head and bowed his own. They had lost so many dragons recently, that any more could greatly affect the Fae’s lives.

The boots of a soldier stopped near him. Aimery took a deep breath and turned to him. “Do you have news, lieutenant?”

“Aye, my lord.”

“Well? Tell me you found someone who saw the murderer?”

“We did, my lord.”

Aimery sighed, but before he could ask the soldier who it was a woman burst through the small crowd and soldiers. She pointed a finger at him, her blue eyes blazing with fury.

“You want to know who killed the dragon?” she shouted. “It was him. Aimery killed the dragon.”

Aimery stepped back he was so taken aback by her words. “I would never.”
 

“I saw you,” she screamed. “I saw you with my own eyes.”

With his heart pounding in his chest, Aimery moved and placed his hand on the dragon’s forehead and closed his eyes. He concentrated all his magic toward the dragon.
 

Then, slowly an image of the dragon flying through the air flashed in his mind. It was as if he saw through the dragon’s eyes, and through them he saw himself standing not twenty paces away with an arrow aimed at the dragon.

Aimery yanked his hand away and stumbled back. He knew he didn’t do it, but he also realized he couldn’t convince the growing crowd of that either.

His entire body jerked as he heard Hugh call out to him. For a moment he almost left, but he knew to go to Hugh now would make him look guilty. And he had to prove his innocence.

“Theron,”
he called silently.
“Theron, I need you now.”

Almost instantly the Fae king stood by his side. “What is it? Did you find who killed the dragon?”

Aimery slowly raised his gaze to his king. “I’m being told I killed it.”

“What?” Theron asked softly. He licked his lips and looked around him. “Aimery, what is going on?”

Aimery stepped aside and motioned to the dragon. “See for yourself.”

Theron hesitated but an instant before he moved to the dragon and placed his hand on its forehead. His face contorted with pain, then he dropped his hand and raised his gaze to Aimery.

“I didn’t do it,” Aimery said before Theron could speak. “I know what you saw for I saw it myself, but I tell you honestly, it wasn’t me.”

The crowd began to grow restless and the woman who accused Aimery walked nearer. “What are you going to do King Theron? Killing a dragon is punishable by death.”

Soon the entire crowd called for Aimery’s death. He sighed and turned to Theron. His king and the man he had called friend for centuries wouldn’t meet his eye.

“Take me before they kill me now,” he said to Theron. “I know I didn’t do it, but I cannot prove that if I’m dead.”

Theron glanced at him before he motioned for the soldiers to surround Aimery. Then he turned and faced the crowd. “Thank you all for aiding us in finding the killer of the white dragon. Aimery will be punished according to our law.”

All Aimery could think about was the Shields. They would need him soon now. He could leave and go to them, but it would only make matters worse on his realm. He had no choice but to return to
Caer Rhoemyr
with Theron.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jayna slowly came awake, stretching beneath the blankets. She smiled and rolled over to search for Gabriel, only to find she was alone in the bed.

She gripped the blankets to her chest and sat up as she searched the chamber. The fire popped in the hearth, but other than her breathing, there was no sound in the chamber. She was alone.

At first she found she was disappointed to know Gabriel had left, but in the end she realized it was probably for the best. Memories of their lovemaking flooded her.

It had been better than she remembered, more sensual, more emotional...more everything.

He had brought her body to life with the simplest of touches, and for a man who didn’t remember her, his body had known her. He had known how to touch her, how to love her.

Jayna sighed. It would be so easy to forget the past, forget the revenge and find a new life with the new Gabriel. But eventually he would regain his memory. Then what? Would he continue to be the man he had become? Or would he revert to the betrayer?

It wasn’t a chance she could take. And her family needed to be avenged. She
needed
retribution.

She still couldn’t believe how easy she had fallen into his arms. She had told herself it was because she needed to seduce him, but the truth was, she needed him.

And she hated herself for it.

She threw off the covers and jumped from the bed to hurry and dress. If she was lucky she could return to the tower and claim her dagger she had hidden there.

As quick as she could she dressed and stuffed her feet in her shoes. Her hair would have to wait until she returned to her chamber, but she doubted she would see anyone before then.

She inched open Gabriel’s door and peered into the hallway. When she didn’t see anyone, she slipped out of the chamber and closed the door behind her, then she raced down the hall to the stairs that would take her up to the tower.

With her skirts in her hand, she ran up the stairs, her breath coming faster with each step until her sides ached and her lungs burned. But she didn’t stop until she reached the tower.

They had left the door open in their haste, which allowed her time to see if anyone was inside before she walked through the threshold.

She let out a breath of relief when she spotted her dagger on the table. There hadn’t been another place to put it and Gabriel had been too intent on her face to realize she had removed a weapon to lay in plain sight in front of him.

Jayna rushed to the table and swiftly put the dagger up her sleeve. She sighed and turned to find Val in the doorway.

“My lord,” she said as she tried to figure out a way around him without causing suspicion.

“I followed you up here hoping to have a quiet word with you.”

She had always thought Val a friendly sort, but she realized she had been wrong. She saw the steel in his pale green gaze. He was first and foremost a warrior, and she would be good to remember that.

“About what?” she asked, amazed her voice didn’t shake.

He glanced at the floor. “Gabriel.”

Her curiosity was piqued now. Of all the things she expected, Gabriel wasn’t one of them. “What about him?”
 

“Don’t hurt him.”

She opened her mouth, but no sound came out she was so shocked. “Wh...what?”

“I know he’s told you much of his life as a Shield as well as some of his past, at least what he can remember. The Shields, well, we’re a ragged group of men, but we are all the family some of us have.”

“You care very deeply for him.”

Val nodded. “Gabriel has saved each of us. He would gladly give up his life for any of us. All of us would like nothing more than to give him the memories he has lost.”

“What if those memories would only make his life worse?”

Val narrowed his pale green eyes at her. “Do you know something?”

Jayna shrugged. She liked the Roman and knew he was only trying to help a friend. “I’m merely asking a question I wonder if any of you have considered. Sometimes it is best if we can forget the past.”

“Yet it is the past that shapes us, my lady.”

She smiled. “Ah, I see Gabriel told you of my confession.”

“We all knew it to be a lie.” He walked farther into the tower until only the table separated them. “You say that it is best to sometimes forget the past. There were times I prayed that I could forget the memories that haunted me. Do you know why I stopped begging for that?”

Jayna shook her head. The tower seemed to shrink as Val dominated the chamber.

“I never told any of the Shields of my past. Not a single one of them knew of the nightmares that haunted me, of the pain I suffered every day. It wasn’t until Gabriel and I were in Scotland searching for Nicole, that I had no choice but to tell Gabriel my secrets.”

“Why did you have to tell him?”

Val chuckled, his hands behind his back. “History was about to repeat itself, you see. I had vowed to protect Nicole with my very life. The Great Evil was using my past and my sins to weaken me. And it worked.”

“Yet you live.”

“Only because of Gabriel. He didn’t bat an eye when I told him of my past and the sins I carried. He simply told me I couldn’t carry the weight of the dead around forever.”

The weight of the dead
. Aye, she had carried the weight of the dead for some time now. How much longer could she continue?

“Each of us Shields came to the group with specialties. Some of us are immortal, some with great battle skills, and then there was Gabriel. A warrior who could heal all but the dead. I’ve seen him heal wounds I knew would kill. How he does it, none of us know. He doesn’t even know.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

Val sighed. “Gabriel has been alone for a very long time. I see how he looks at you. Whether you know it or not, you have the power to break him as few have.”

Jayna swallowed and tried to lick her dry lips. “I am merely a traveler, my lord.”

“You are far more than that. I ask you, on behalf of the Shields, do not trifle with Gabriel’s heart. He deserves a strong woman, and if you aren’t it, leave him be.”

With that, he turned on his heel and left the tower. Jayna stared at the doorway long after Val had departed, yet she didn’t move. His words had touched her.

At one time she felt just as Val did toward Gabriel. She would have given her life for him had he but asked.

But what the Shields are doing is worthy. Even you know that despite being aligned with the Great Evil. How can you, in good conscious kill Gabriel, which would inadvertently destroy the Shields?

In one answer, she couldn’t.

She had seen what evil could do to a realm, and she had no desire to see another evil take over another realm. But what to do? Wait until after the Great Evil was defeated?

He would never allow that.

Or would he? He hadn’t contacted her once she had walked inside Stone Crest’s walls. If she stayed within she would be safe from him.