Page 46 of Dark Seduction

The giant sneered.

Malcolm smiled with such menace that Claire froze—and then she silently begged him to stop. He did not. A terrible crack sounded as he stepped harder on the man’s throat. Claire cried out.

But the giant, his neck now bent at an impossible angle, spoke. In French, he said, “Your lord sent me and he’ll send others. There is no place for her to hide.” He snarled, very much like an animal, spittle on his mouth.

Claire couldn’t breathe. Her heart raced with hurtful speed.

Malcolm removed his boot from the man’s neck. A terrible expression formed on his face and his stare never wavered.

“Stop, Malcolm,” Claire cried instinctively, but it was too late. The giant’s snarl had frozen. His face was a stiff mask, his eyes wide and lifeless now.

In utter shock, Claire slid from the mare, walked over to the woods and knelt. As she tried to vomit, she heard Malcolm giving orders and the men mounting. What had just happened? What had he done? Then she heard him come to stand behind her.

“Ye were t’ stay behind.”

She couldn’t throw up, she realized. She turned. He held out his hand, his expression no longer utterly ruthless, just harsh and grim. She refused it, staggering to her feet. “What did you do?”

He stared, his eyes glittering. “I be sworn to vanquish evil. He be a Deamhan. We do not allow Deamhanain to live. He’d kill ye the moment I turned me back.”

She panted. “He didn’t die from a broken neck!”

“Nay.”

Oh, God, she thought. “What did you do? Suck his life out?”

Malcolm turned away, then back. “We need ride.” He was angry now.

Claire had seen it with her own eyes. “You killed that monster using some kind of kinetic power, didn’t you!”

He didn’t answer—and it was an answer enough.

“What are you?” she cried.

IONA WAS JUST a few miles long and as wide, with low, lush green hills dotted with sheep, and pearl-white beaches. As the galley they were in approached, Claire huddled in her brat, chilled to the bone.

Malcolm had killed that creature with a look.

He had superhuman powers, too.

What did that make him?

She glanced at Malcolm where he stood in the galley’s bow. Last night he had spent the entire night making certain she was safe. He had done so more to comfort her than to protect her from evil beings.

But evil was out there. That creature hadn’t been human.

Claire closed her eyes. She wasn’t ready to use the word demon, not even in her own thoughts.

And then she felt him stand above her. She looked up. He stared down at her with that concerned expression she was becoming so familiar with. “I be sorry,” he said grimly, “that ye saw what ye did.”

“Tell me,” she whispered.

“’Tis forbidden.”

“You’ve told me everything else!”

He hesitated and she saw he was truly uncertain.

“Who am I going to tell? The pope?”