MIDNIGHT CONQUEST: Book 1 of the Bonded By Blood Vampire Chronicles (43 page)

Broderick followed the tracks Davina and Tammus made earlier in the day. There had obviously been no snowfall since last night, their tracks still fresh and remained uncovered. With the air clear, Broderick could see the castle of Stewart Glen far off in the distance. “Almost there,” he breathed and turned his eyes back to the trail ahead of him. In a few strides, he pulled up short. “Oh, Veronique…”

Broderick ran to the side of the road. Stretched between two trees, Veronique’s pale, cold, body hung displayed like a limp puppet. Rope bound her wrists and her head hung to the side, her beautiful blond hair lifeless and tangled. Broderick pushed her hair aside and the blood drained from his face. Two fang slashes marred the white skin upon her neck, dripping with fresh blood. “Angus,” he hissed. He bolted toward Stewart Glen. “Nay!” Broderick left Veronique behind, gliding over the snow as tears flew from his eyes.

Rosselyn, Myrna, Amice, and Lilias, holding Cailin in her arms, all filed into Davina’s bedchamber. Their faces each a mask of fear, and they huddled around Davina. Angus Campbell stepped into the room and closed the door behind him, latching the lock. “Nay, ladies,” Angus said, pointing to the nursery door. “In there, please.” They all looked to Davina, worry etched on their faces. Once they disappeared into the adjoining nursery and Angus closed the door behind them, he ambled to Davina’s armoire. Davina blanched as Angus shoved the massive piece of furniture—surely twice her height—across the room with a loud grating racket, but with no apparent effort. He settled the cabinet before the nursery door and smiled with satisfaction. The women now barricaded inside the nursery, shouted and pounded on the door. “Silence!” Angus boomed, and they obeyed.

Angus turned to her and grinned. “I told you we would see each other again. ‘Tis my pleasure.”

“Forgive me, but I do not share your sentiments.” Davina stood rigidly by the settee, hands clasped to keep them from trembling. “What do you want?”

He bowed graciously. Straightening, he removed his cloak and laid it upon the lounging couch, revealing broad shoulders and a sword at his hip.

Dawning realization flowed over her like a wave of cold water, and she sat down. “You planned this back when you saved me from killing myself.” Feeling foolish, she wondered, now, how much saving he had really done.

He nodded and raised an eyebrow. “As for what I want…well, ‘tis a rather long story, and I don’t think I have much time.” Angus rushed in on Davina too quickly for her to react. He trapped her in his arms, forcing her head to the side, exposing her throat as he clutched her hair. A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest as he cupped her bottom and pulled her hard against his groin.

Davina gasped as his mouth pierced her flesh and he drank deep of her blood. She moaned, her mind swirling as all resistance fled.

Breaking the crimson kiss, he jerked his head to the side, and inclined his ear toward the double doors. A smirk formed upon his lips, glistening with her blood. “Ah! Our hero arrives.” Angus pulled a dagger from his boot and in an instant, spun her around so he stood behind her. He held the blade over his own wrist, keeping Davina trapped within the circle of his arms.

Angus faced the landing where Broderick entered, sword drawn and eyes menacing.

Broderick stood ready to do battle, and Angus tightened his gripped on Davina, pressing his knife against his wrist. Angus licked blood off his lips, and Broderick noted the marks on Davina’s throat. “Step any closer and she’ll be my Blood Slave, Rick.”

“Let her go, Angus. Your fight is with me.”

“Have I given you enough time to determine the limits and powers of what you have become?” Angus leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. “Are you a worthy opponent yet?”

“Let us find out. Are you game for a little swordplay to start?”

“And lose my advantage by releasing the desire of your heart?” Angus said, nuzzling his captive. “I think not.”

Broderick locked eyes with Davina. A glimmer of joy sparkled on her face, but he clenched his jaw, struggling to maintain a stoic mask.

“Aye, Rick. ‘Tis indeed wise not to argue that point. I’ve already fed from her.” Angus nudged Davina’s ear with his nose. She tried to turn away, but Angus held her by the hair.

Broderick fought the helplessness needling his gut, and gritted his teeth.

Whispering, Angus toyed with Davina’s life, taunting Broderick. “You wouldn’t have forsaken poor Veronique to save Davina if it were not true.” He inhaled and sighed. “Nor would you be here if the lass meant nothing to you.”

Broderick stepped toward them, but stopped when Davina cried out as the tip of Angus’s blade pierced her delicate skin. She bit her trembling lip, and a tear slipped down her cheek as a trickle of blood leaked from her throat and soaked into her neckline. Angus lapped at her neck.

Broderick growled. “Do not make this about her! Let us finish this senseless clan feud that our fathers left as their legacy!”

“Our
fathers
?” Angus grimaced and a maniacal laugh fluttered out of his mouth. “You hate the thought of us being brothers to the point of denying who
sired
me?”

Broderick’s throat clenched and he froze, unable to speak. The two immortals stared at each other in disbelief, neither seeming to understand the other. Broderick swallowed and forced the words out of his mouth. “What are you implying?”

Angus growled and Davina cried out as he tightened his grip on her. “Do not stand there feigning ignorance over my parentage! ‘Tis the reason your family has plagued mine these decades! Why
you
have been bent on destroying me!”

“I’ve sought your blood for the slaughter of my
own
family! What madness do you speak of?”

“Do
not
insult my intelligence by feigning you do not know we are brothers!”

Broderick almost stumbled forward in disbelief. “
What?
”

Angus’s convictions seemed to falter for a moment and his grip on Davina went slack. When she tried to step away, he grabbed her anew, and rage contorted his face. “I’m no fool, Broderick MacDougal! I know this is why—”

“What lies have you been fed? You are mad!”

“Hamish is our father, and you have never been able to stand that betrayal!”

Broderick’s breath pumped in his lungs as he tried to make sense of Angus’s words. The feud between their families began in his youth, and Broderick searched his memories for anything that would give evidence to this insane claim. He never understood Angus’s obsession with the endless conflicts, his seemingly insatiable thirst for MacDougal blood. Angus’s taunts through the years finally made sense, though—an open contempt for Broderick’s position as the eldest son, an obvious jealousy Broderick never understood. Angus was the eldest son of Fraser Campbell and so would inherit his lands…unless he was indeed the bastard son of Hamish MacDougal. If that was so, then Angus slaughtered his own brothers on that bloody May Day massacre. Broderick tightened his grip on his sword and gritted his teeth. “You knew we were brothers and yet you still killed Maxwell and Donnell and—?”

“No more than what all of you have done!” Angus gripped Davina’s hair and her whimpers emphasized his words. “You lived a privileged life, boasting your inheritance and estates, while you pursued my blood with vengeance! Yet you question
my
motives? I have no fault in this but my birth!” Angus titled his head back, an unearthly cry pouring from his mouth, slit his wrist open and forced his blood into Davina’s mouth. Tossing her choking form aside, Angus leapt at Broderick.

In chaotic flashes, the two immortals clashed swords and slashed at each other, each unleashing decades of fury. Broderick hacked with his sword and met with Angus’s blade. Sparks flew as Angus relentlessly pounded against Broderick, using his own grief and loss to fuel his defenses. Metal clashed against metal.

In the blink of an eye, Angus dashed across the room toward Davina, but Broderick anticipated his move and headed him off, blocking his path with his sword, coming close to clopping Angus’s nose clean off his face. A small nick at the tip of his nose made Angus hiss from the wound. The slow-healing gash caused him to pause, wiping away the blood.

Broderick smirked. “Never thought to have a blade fashioned of silver?”

Angus’s mouth twisted as he growled and leapt for Broderick, wielding his dagger and swirling both blades in unusual maneuvers Broderick had not encountered in swordplay.

Broderick pulled Davina’s dagger from his sporran and matched Angus blow for blow as they danced around the room, thrusting and blocking, sparks exploding around them. Their limbs blurred through the air with immortal speed as they dodged and parried in a frenzy of motion.

Davina crouched into the corner by the head of her bed, out of the way, refusing Angus the opportunity to take her up as a hostage again. The grin on Angus’s mouth gave Broderick a creeping dread that tickled his senses. With actions almost too quick for Broderick to perceive, Angus poured a battering of thrusts, slashes, and swings that Broderick struggled to meet, dodge, or parry. His relentless pounding drove Broderick into the corner by the wardrobe, limiting his movements, and Broderick lost his sword in the mind-spinning assault. Ducking while rotating and slashing with Davina’s dagger, Broderick side-stepped a killing slash from Angus…and to his advantage, the gesture exposed Angus’s chest. Seizing the opportunity, Broderick thrust Davina’s dagger into Angus’s heart.

Slack-jawed and stunned, Angus stumbled back, dropping his dagger to grab at the handle of the knife embedded in his body. Turning to Davina, Angus dove for her, but Broderick tackled him, pounded his fist into Angus’s face and dragged him through the double doors. Shoving Angus over the side of the landing wall, Broderick tumbled with him over the edge and both crashed to the ground below with a grunt.

“Broderick!” Davina screeched.

Shaking his head to recover, Broderick shoved away from Angus, lifeless beneath him, the dagger protruding from his chest and blood staining his cream-colored shirt. Broderick let out a sigh of resignation, but dwelled only a moment on the death of his enemy. Davina was in trouble.

Leaping to the landing, Broderick nearly toppled into Davina. He grabbed her shoulders, ushering her back into the chamber, and searched for any noticeable changes in her demeanor. “How do you feel?”

Davina threw her arms around Broderick and planted a hard and possessive kiss on his mouth. He melted and lifted her sweet body against him, their mouths hungry upon each other. Setting her feet upon the floor, he pulled back enough to gaze into the sapphire depths of her eyes.

She framed his face with trembling hands. “I’m grateful you did not heed my letter. I love you, Broderick. I cannot help but love you!”

Her confession brought Broderick to his knees, and he laid his cheek against her belly, embracing her warmth, reveling in the caress of her fingers through his hair. “I love you, Davina, and will never let you from my sight again.”

Concern for her safety flooded his heart, bringing him back to his senses. Broderick stood and gripped her shoulders. He searched her face, her eyes, her throat. “Oh, Davina…” Broderick brushed the hair from her shoulder and examined her neck…where the fang marks from Angus should have been. Only blood marred her skin.

She glanced down at the blood stains on her dress and nodded. “I’m well.”

Broderick shook his head. He grasped Davina’s hands and guided her to the foot of her bed. “Davina, you’re not well, and we don’t have much time. I must explain what has happened to you.”

She flitted her fear-filled eyes over his face, nodded and gave him her attention.

“Angus fed from you, did he not?”

Broderick touched her throat and she nodded.

“Did you drink the blood he forced into your mouth?”

Tears welled in her eyes and she nodded again.

His gut tightened into a knot. “Davina, Angus has done something to you in this exchange that—”

Davina gasped and huddled close to Broderick, her eyes darting as if she searched for something swirling around her.

“What is it?” He grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to face him.

“I feel him! He’s here!”

Broderick dashed from her side and went to the landing. An impression in the blood-stained snow, along with Davina’s dagger, were all that remained on the ground. Broderick leapt over the side of the landing and knelt, grabbing the dagger. Though there may have been enough silver to create some kind of damage, obviously the blade was not enough to kill Angus. Studying the tracks leading from the spot where he laid, no doubt Angus stumbled away from this too weak or wounded to come back up and finish the fight. This also confirmed that Davina had become Angus’s Blood Slave, since she had sensed his presence.