Read Desired by Shadow (A Shadow Walkers Novel) Online
Authors: Cynthia Luhrs
Wednesday, November 8
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Robert clapped the doctor on the back. “I’m going to build a small hospital in one of the buildings here. And then I hope we’ll never need to use it. You know any other docs who might want to live here? I’m guessing you wouldn’t want to leave Colin’s employ?”
The doctor Colin sent stayed up all night tending to the men. Still in good spirits, he laughed. “No. His lordship pays well and I have family in the area. However, I do know of a young doctor, very discreet who would be interested. He was born in Wales and would love to return. Shall I make inquiries?”
“Absolutely.” Smiling he moved to check on another of his crew still thinking of Maggie. As soon as the men were settled, he would start the campaign. Flowers would be delivered to Monroe’s flat daily. He’d found a gorgeous convertible Jaguar F Type for her. He’d have it delivered with a big white bow on top. It was dark blue and she’d look glorious driving it with the top down, her hair catching the glint of sunlight, streaming behind her as she drove.
Love letters. He’d composed one during a lull in the chaos. Hand-written. He had the ink-stained fingers to show for it. A letter would be delivered to her every day until she came around. Of course, if the bloody blasted curse was true, he’d have to do some fast-talking with Thorne or he wouldn’t be around to wait her out. It wouldn’t do at all to become a wraith. Not going to happen. He had to win back the woman he loved. He’d been the best of the best when he was human. As a pirate he’d negotiated more deals then he could remember, he was good at it and was positive he could offer Thorne something to make this ridiculous curse business go away.
Thinking about various inducements that might sway their aloof leader, he was so intent on his plans, he was startled when Fury burst through the doors of the great hall at a fast clip, straight for him.
“Dude. Something is seriously cocked up. I’m having difficulty sensing Maggie.” The brown-eyed head spoke.
“What do you mean ‘difficulty sensing’ her?” Robert turned his head to look at the demon hound. All three heads fixed eyes on Robert.
“You’re not the brightest one in the bunch are you?” Fury’s tail thumped the floor. “Relax, Shadow Walker. In giving Maggie the ability to contact me, I can sense her. So the fact that I cannot, has me worried. You know, like the signal on your phone going in and out. At first I thought it was indigestion, I’ve never experienced this feeling before but it must be worry. We need to find her. Now.”
“She’s with Monroe, I’ll call him.” Robert’s hand was steady. He looked down, thinking his entire body should be shaking. The fear was a live thing inside him, clawing and biting its way out. If he let it out, he’d be useless to her. Monroe’s mobile rang and rang before dropping to voice mail. The monster within crawled up from his stomach to his throat, choking him. He called Maggie’s mobile. She might be furious with him but she’d answer. Wouldn’t say anything but she’d at least pick up. He couldn’t remember ever wanting to hear her angry silence as much as he did at this very moment. Damn it to hell. Same as Monroe’s, the wretched thing rang straight through.
“Neither one is answering.” Strange. His voice was calm though inside he was screaming, bellowing her name.
“You look like you’re gonna hurl. You okay?” The left head was peering at him. Robert waved him away, willing himself to breathe.
“Draken and I will search for her. Once I’m in the air, it may be easier to find her.” The hound was padding out the door when he stopped and the middle head looked back. “Robert. We’ll find her. I swear it.”
All he could do was nod and watch him leave. His mobile rang shattering the silence. It was Jasper. “Robert. I got a call from one of my contacts. An old industrial building in Glasgow was blown to bits. It was a large farm.” The Frenchman paused. “My guy didn’t hang around, he didn’t want to risk encountering any legal types. Before he departed he saw a black mangled Mercedes SUV. I had the plates run—Robert, it was Monroe’s vehicle. I’m sorry.”
“Did he see anyone? They might have gotten away before the building blew.” A small fissure of hope sprung from his chest. It could all be a mistake.
“No one. If I find out more, I’ll let you know. Is there anything else I can do?”
Thoughts spun through his brain. He threw them away as quickly as they formed. He needed his fucking powers back. A final thought settled in. If something happened to her, he would bargain with Thorne or find a way to escape the wraith realm and he swore, he’d hunt down those responsible and kill each and every one of them, not stopping until he came face to face with Solien himself. “If she’s…help me destroy them all.” He disconnected. The volcano within threatening to erupt and destroy anyone and anything in its path.
The wretched piece of plastic’s shrill voice resounded through the room again. “What?”
“You’ve already heard.” It was a statement, not a question from Fury. He had to know.
“Did you find them?” The silence seemed to fill the study sucking the air out.
“The authorities are on the scene. We can’t get closer without revealing ourselves, the energy around the building is strange, it could remove our invisibility. There are two bodies on the ground near the blast radius.” In muffled tones, Fury spoke to Draken before coming back on the line. “Robert. Draken overheard the emergency workers. A man and a woman, neither is responding. They’re taking them both to hospital. We’ll follow and meet you there.”
Bloody sheep bollocks. “Fury—I can’t dematerialize right now.”
In any other circumstances his pause would have been funny. “I see. I’ll send Draken back for you.” Fury ended the call. Robert noted he didn’t pretend and tell him everything would be fine.
Had he truly lost Maggie?
Was she dead?
Castle Gloom was a ruin. How was it possible? Hamish thought it would stand forever. Yet now, looking at his home, he was flooded with anger. Colin was to blame. He’d let the estate fall while Ravensmore was still standing proud.
Wandering aimlessly through the ruins imbued with memories, he noted the steps leading down to the dungeon. Well, well. It looked as if someone had been trespassing. There was fresh blood in some of the cells. Empty bottles and wrappers carelessly discarded on the stone floor. Oil in lamps replacing the ancient torches on the walls.
Hamish dematerialized to the last remaining tower. Looking out over his lands, he came to a decision. The castle would be restored to its former glory. Would be easy enough to find willing workers, he had plenty of gold now that he was working for Thorne. Colin didn’t know Hamish had joined their little club; the god thought it would be a nice surprise for Colin. Hamish wasn’t so sure. A great many years had passed but Colin would be as likely to kill him as welcome him.
They had unfinished business. Sitting with his back against the wall, he stared out at the loch, unseeing.
“What a lovely surprise. Hamish Campbell.” Rawlins stood leaning on the crumbling stone.
“Rawlins? What the devil are you doing here?” Hamish started. He hadn’t seen the English captain since right before his death. He’d learned a great deal this past year. Rawlins wasn’t a Shadow Walker, his energy smelled and sounded different, he was a Day Walker. Hamish jumped up, pulling his gun from the holster.
“Really, guns? No need. Consider this a pleasant chat. It’s been a long time since we’ve worked together.” Rawlins narrowed his eyes. “I’ve been making use of your dungeons. Hope you don’t mind. That is, until Colin ruined it.”
“I wondered who had been here. What happened to my home?” Hamish couldn’t keep the anguish from his voice.
“You’ve not seen Colin yet? No grand reunion?” Pausing, Rawlins kicked at a loose stone. “Thought so. Colin won’t be so pleased to see you, I’ll wager. As to your home—Colin kept the taxes paid, but that’s it as far as I know. Gloom fell into shambles over the centuries until it is as you see it now. I believe he rather liked seeing your estate fall to ruin. Planning to live here, are you?”
Putting his gun back in the holster, Hamish decided Rawlins wasn’t here for a fight. He was sharing information, and while Hamish was glad to get it, he couldn’t help but wonder why.
“No, I’ve not seen Colin. I wanted to accustom myself to this world first…so much has changed.” Hamish stared at Rawlins. In his human life they’d become partners in order to take Colin and Robert down. Rawlins had been a necessary tool of the times. It was surreal to see him now, hundreds of years later, both of them Walkers albeit on different sides. “Why do ye fight for the Day Walkers? I thought you liked winning?”
The English captain’s laughter rang across the stone. “I
am
on the winning side. Your precious Shadow Walkers have too many blasted rules. Us, not so much, especially regarding draining humans which I do so enjoy.” Rawlins turned to look at the loch. “Consider this your one free pass with me. The next time I see you, I will kill you. No hard feelings. Dayne tends to take our heads if we let the likes of you roam about. Clear?”
“Crystal.” Hamish looked hard at his once ally. “You didn’t condone what I did to Colin or Robert. Guess I thought you might have picked the Shadow Walkers.”
Rawlins paused. “You thought wrong.” With that, his enemy dematerialized.
Letting out a breath he didn’t need, Hamish thought about what had happened all those years ago. He’d betrayed Colin to the English, turning him in for smuggling.
He let his thoughts drift back. He’d hated Colin since they were boys so it was easy enough to turn him in to Captain Huntington. He remembered how hard it was to plunge the dagger in Colin’s chest. He’d ruined his favorite jacket. For a moment Hamish felt something twist inside, almost like sorrow for his brother who was always kind to him, but he quashed it before the thought could take root.
Abigail. Once that evil shrew spent his gold, she had no further use for him. She had him murdered, planned it so she would be on a ship bound for the West Indies to marry a wealthy plantation owner. Hamish smirked. One of the first things he did was to find out what happened to that bitch. She never made it; the ship was attacked by pirates and said all perished. Rumor was it was Robert’s doing.
Fading out, Hamish vanished back to the Shadow Walker realm to think. He needed a plan before facing his sibling. The odd thing was, Thorne had told him that except for him, every Shadow Walker relived their death with all present. Didn’t matter they had passed on. It was like a moment captured in time and replayed. Hamish had no memory of these yearly occurrences and it made his head hurt to try and figure out how it made sense. He had to thank Colin—if he hadn’t of pissed off Thorne, Hamish wouldn’t be here.
Apparently Colin needed to be taught respect so Thorne thought it a wonderful idea to bring Hamish into the game. He snorted. The more things changed, the more they stayed the same. Somebody was always angling for the next rung up the ladder. Though they were on the same side now. What would Colin say when he learned Hamish was one of them? Would his honorable brother spurn him yet again or would he want vengeance for Hamish murdering him?
Materializing into his brother’s throne room, Thorne idly looked around the ostentatious room. He noted the male fae chained next to the gilded chair, asleep. His brother was unwise to offend the powerful race. He could use this to his advantage. Allay with the four courts. He needed all the help he could get to win the coming war with his brother.
The air shifted around him. “Dearest brother, to what do I owe this great honor?” Dayne warily approached, a smile pasted on his face.
“Dayne. I thought it time to pay my brother a little visit. Are you at war with the fae?” He pointed to the man chained on the floor.
His brother scowled. “There’s been no declaration of war. This one and a few others have angered me. I am merely teaching them a lesson in manners.”
Translation. War was imminent. He’d need to move fast to broker an alliance. Thorne arched a brow. “That’s one way to do it.”