Page 92 of Dark Lover

Sam was chained to a huge table in a dark room. A medieval surgeon stood before her beneath a light, holding a butcher’s knife.

He began to shake. He did not want to know what they meant to do with that knife.

Then he heard voices.

He straightened, alarmed. Sweating, he recognized the sound of his father’s voice—even though he hadn’t seen him in twenty-five years—and his stepmother, Brianna. He didn’t know if he could really face them. It seemed an impossible feat. Yet he needed Brianna’s help.

Time was running out for Sam.

Aidan appeared on the other side of the room with his wife. He was a tall, powerfully built, extremely handsome man with dark, wavy hair. He wore typical Highland dress: a belted tunic that came to midthigh, knee-high boots, and a blue-and-black plaid pinned over one shoulder. He was unbuckling his sword belt as he entered the room, which a page took. Brianna wore a long blue velvet gown with gold embroidery and a gold girdle. Her dark hair was braided and coiled around her head.

Aidan saw him and halted, blanching.

Brianna saw him next. Her eyes went wide. “Ian!”

He put on the coldest, most indifferent expression he could manage, while inside, his gut churned more violently. He didn’t move as they rushed to him. Instead, he braced himself.

His gaze met Aidan’s. His father’s regard was searching and uncertain. Ian knew his father was desperate for a sign that he cared. He couldn’t give it to him. He didn’t even want to. He would never care about him as he once had, as a small, innocent child.

Because looking at him now, this way, made him remember every moment of every day he had been held captive. He recalled the worst moments of torture, the humiliation, the shame. He saw his grandfather, cruelly smiling, and the handsome monk, his blue gaze lewd and lusting.

And now Carlisle had Sam.

But before he could throw up, Brianna threw her arms around him and held him. “I’m so happy to see you,” she cried, clinging. Then she seized his face and held it in her two hands. “You’re so beautiful! Look at you—we’ve missed you so much!” She stared more closely at him. “Ian, what is it?”

He stepped back, somehow controlling his nausea. “Brianna, Father.” He was curt. “I’ve come for yer help.”

Aidan’s expression tightened. Sorrow flitted through his eyes. “O’ course we will help ye.” He reached out and clasped Ian’s shoulder, hard.

He knew how much Aidan loved him, but he couldn’t handle the small gesture of intimacy and affection. He tensed and pulled away. “I was with Sam in New York City. A human captured her—Rupert Hemmer—and leapt with her. Hemmer is allied with the monk of Carlisle. I tried to follow her. I think she’s here, somewhere.” He looked at Brianna. “She’s in a dungeon, about to be tortured.”

Aidan inhaled. “The monk can be found most often at Carlisle Cathedral, Ian, from where he rules most o’ the Lowlands. Everyone fears him—the bishop, the mayor, the nobles, even our king. He has great powers, dangerous powers.”

“I’ve seen how powerful he is,” Ian said. He stared at Brianna. “Please help me find Sam.”

“Of course I’ll help,” Brie said, ashen now. She reached out to Aidan, who took her hand and squeezed it. “Sam is my cousin and my dearest friend.”

“She canna see on demand, Ian,” Aidan said quietly.

“I know.”

Brie let go of her husband’s hand and walked over to the fire. She stood there, staring at it. Ian turned his back on her, ignoring his father, as well. He focused on Sam. His tension soared as he realized that Hemmer and the monk stood behind the surgeon, who was sharpening the knife. Sam. Yer not alone. I am coming.

She was unmoving, but she said something to Hemmer and Carlisle. Hemmer’s face turned ugly.

She hadn’t heard him. But why should she? His father hadn’t heard him, either, all those years ago.

He tried again. Sam! I am coming.

She did not react. He did not want to see anymore, but had to help her. He didn’t think he could unlock the shackles with his mind through space and time, not when she hadn’t even heard or seen him, but he decided to try. He concentrated on the locks, when suddenly her image vanished.

He cursed inwardly and glanced at Brianna, who stared into the fire, as if in a trance. God, they did not have any more time!

He pictured Sam again. Now he noticed a small window high up on the wall behind Hemmer and Carlisle. Sunlight was coming through it. He focused on the locks one more time. And he heard a horn.

His attention jerked to the window behind the two men, because the sound came from outside the dungeon.

The horn’s trumpeting was an announcement of someone’s arrival.