Immortal Love (31 page)

Liam chuckled. I will not discuss politics
with a pretty maid who obviously doesn’t understand the suffering
of people.

“What!” She pulled back hard on her bound
hands forcing a grunt from her captor. “I know more about suffering
of people than you can imagine, thanks in part to your
brother.”

“You wear fine clothes. I don’t think you
suffered too much.”

Her hands balled into fists, and she strained
against her bonds. “You know nothing of my life. Before Dominick
arrived, your brother managed to kill half the men in my village.
He tortured and killed my friend’s husband, and now she’s left to
raise four children on her own.

“We were starving all for the sake of your
brother’s greed. If not for my husband we would have all perished.
Thanks to him, Godwin has been given new life, and its people
prosper.”

Liam’s hands settled
gently on her fists. “Be still, my lady. I apologize if I have
offended you.

F
or hours not another
word was spoken. They rode hard through the night. The sky began to
pale with the new day. During their flight, Eleanor did not only
think of herself being trapped and torment by Robert, she now
worried about her people when they were once again plunged into
war. She had no doubt that Dominick would retaliate against
McPhearson’s for kidnapping her.

Without him knowing, it Eleanor saw the
conflict on Liam’s face. She hoped it was indecision about bringing
her to his brother. He had to know that her people suffered by
Robert’s hands.

She knew politics clouded Liam’s judgment
when he aligned himself with Robert. His hate for the King was
clear upon his face.

Liam had to know his brother did it for
power. But Liam was committed, and for whatever reason, this would
be a black eye for the King. If Liam placed her in Robert’s hands,
it would most definitely mean her doom. If she were harmed, she was
sure there would be no measure of mercy from the Dominick to those
responsible.

Approaching Aurora she grew more panicked.
The thought of her at Robert’s mercy twisted in her gut. Her hands
trembled. Liam’s large hand wrapped around them. “It will be all
right, lass.”

“Once inside, it will never be all right. I
have encountered your brother before.”

He squeezed her hands. It will all work out
in the end.

Inside Aurora’s walls it would be the
end.

I
t was now light
enough to see the forest clearly. Erik had broken his connection
with the wolf and his pack. “I have asked them to stay close," Erik
said, his voice weary from the strain of the long communication
with the animal.

They were at least another day from Aurora.
Dominick could not douse his anxiety, but he could not deny
everyone’s fatigue. “We will rest here to eat and water our
horses.”

When camp was made and his men settled down
to their meal, Dominick paced the perimeter of the encampment,
unable to settle his fears. Images of Robert McPhearson with
Eleanor drove his anxiety deeper into gut. He called out to
Isolde’s spirit, but she did not come. His troubled mind kept her
from reaching him.

He had to force his mind to quiet in case
Isolde tried to contact him. Walking deeper into the woods, he
found a fallen tree and sat down with his back against the trunk.
Closing his eyes he slowed his breathing. Dominick knew he was
opening a door he had closed long ago, but contact with Isolde was
his only link to Eleanor.

The door unlocked. He called to Isolde, and
she appeared before him.

She’s in Aurora Castle.

He had to force himself to breath normally or
he would lose contact with her. “Is she all right?”

For now she’s safe.

A small edge of relief nudged through his
tight anxiety.

Your brother is close to her. He waits for
you on the southern border of Aurora.

His brother knew he was coming. Randolf’s
instincts were sharp. Whenever danger was close, he always knew
where Dominick was. All his life Dominick had thought it was
because they were siblings, yet now Randolf knew where Eleanor was.
Clearly Randolf’s instincts were not limited to Dominick.

He turned back to Isolde’s apparition. “I
need to see her.”

She reached out and touched his heart. His
mind raced toward Aurora Castle. He saw Eleanor standing bravely
before Robert McPhearson. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but
he could tell that his enemy didn’t like that she didn’t cower.

“Guard yourself, my love,” he spoke out
loud.

One never knew when a snake like McPhearson
was going to strike.

With her hand still on
his heart, Isolde spoke again in his mind.
Sleep now, Dominick,
for she will have need of her warrior.

H
er nightmare stood
before her. She locked her knees to keep them from buckling. Liam’s
hand remained on Eleanor’s arm. Drawing up her courage she faced
Robert with a façade of indifference. The parasite fed on the fears
of others. She would not give him the satisfaction of being one of
his victims.

“McPhearson, you have gone too far. My
husband will wage a war against you.”

Robert screwed his face into an unpleasant
smile. “Gone too far? My dear, I haven’t gone far enough.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant, but kept
silent, knowing he would try to taunt her with his plan.

Robert turned to his brother. “You may leave
us now, Liam.”

Liam stepped slightly in front of her. “Not
until I see the lady safely settled in her own chambers.”

“Chivalry doesn’t become you, Brother.”
Robert waved him off. “Why don’t you go back to the animals you
play with and leave what needs to be done to me?”

Liam’s moved his lips into a fine line. He
stepped closer, towering over Robert. “It’s a mistake to make an
enemy of me, dear brother, for I’m all that stands between you and
the executioner’s axe.” Liam placed his hands on his hips. “I will
see the lady to her chambers. You have no further need of her now.”
He took Eleanor’s hand and led her out of the hall and up to a
small room with only a bed and a table. Light from a window
stretched across the floor and onto the hearth on the opposite end
of the room. The walls were made of unbreachable stone.

This was to be her prison.

“You should be safe here,” Liam said.

She sat down on the bed. “No, I won’t be safe
here. Your brother is a predator. I will never be safe while in his
home.”

Liam made no attempt to dispute it. “Rest.
You have had a long journey. This will all be over soon.”

“My husband will not give in to your
brother’s demands.”

“We shall see, my lady.”

“You overestimate my importance to him. His
loyalty to the King is unwavering.” It was a lie. She knew Dominick
would put her ahead of all things. His love for her was strong.

“I don’t believe Dominick would sacrifice you
for a piece of land.”

“How would you know that?”

“I wouldn’t.” His voice bore conviction. “You
didn’t cry or scream when you were taken. You fought. And when I
brought you to my brother, you were afraid, but you didn’t whimper
or cower. You stood up to him. Admirable traits in anyone, man or
woman.”

He lifted her chin to look directly into her
eyes. “Put aside your fear, Eleanor and hold on to your anger. It
will keep you safe.” He stepped away. “Rest now.”

He left, closing the
door behind him.

S
tupid fool!
Robert McPhearson chuckled to himself, as he sipped his wine in the
steaming tub of water. By using Liam’s hatred for King William,
Robert had manipulated him into bringing Eleanor to Aurora. Liam
thought all he wanted was that piece of land. He didn’t deny that
he wanted Godwin. It was within his grasp. But little did Liam know
he planned to take Eleanor as well. And now she was in his castle
to do with as he pleased.

He got hard thinking of the delights he would
have with her. He imagined her curled up and cowering, begging him
not to hurt her. He would be all-powerful over her, and she would
bend to his will. A slick smiled curved on his face.

He thought of Dominick and the sweet revenge
he would have on him by taking his wife. He fantasized about
capturing The Immortal and making him watch as he violated his
wife. Then when he was through, he would slit Dominick’s throat,
right in front his beloved bride.

Humiliated by her
resistance to marriage, his resolve to have her settled on him like
a sickness. Dominick’s intervention on her behalf made it more
severe. Now he would have his revenge on both. With Eleanor as
hostage, he would convince Dominick to enter Aurora alone. Once
inside he would be at his mercy. “How sweet. How very, very
sweet.”

E
leanor lay on the
bed staring at the ceiling. Night drew near, and her anxiety
elevated with each passing hour. Soon McPhearson would be there.
Her stomach clenched in revulsion. The thought of his hands on her
made her skin crawl.

He was a toad in comparison to his brother.
She’d never seen two brothers more different. Dominick and Randolf
were similar in size and height. They both had the same insight and
the same compassion.

Liam and Robert were not the same. Along with
their obvious physical differences, Robert McPhearson was cruel,
whereas Liam possessed compassion. Robert was self-serving. Liam
was loyal.

It was obvious when they had ridden through
the castle gates that the people of Aurora admired Liam. He showed
a real fondness for them. As Eleanor looked around she had
discovered that the villagers were suffering. They lived in
destitution and squalor. McPhearson’s cruelty showed even on his
people.

If Aurora’s people were any indication, the
evil tyrant would show her no mercy.

Her hand went to her stomach. “Hold tight in
there, little one. Your father will come for us soon.”

Though unsure what the night would bring, she
knew Dominick was coming after her, and she held on to that
thought

Eleanor’s heart lurched when the door opened
and a guard stepped in. She let out a loud sigh of relief when a
maid entered with a tray. “Your food, my lady.”

The girl’s cheek was swollen with a fresh
bruise. Eleanor made the assumption that it must have come from
McPhearson. He was an animal. “Thank you, but I’m not hungry.”

Putting the tray on the table beside her
said. “Oh, but you must eat something. You must fortify
yourself.”

The girl looked intently upon Eleanor’s face
and then looked down at a napkin she held.

“You must eat something,” she insisted
loudly, placing the napkin on Eleanor’s lap.

Something hard lay in the folds of the
fabric. She was about to unwrap the napkin when the girl stopped
her from unfolding it.

“Eat, my lady. It will make you feel better.”
The maid gave Eleanor a knowing look, then turned and left.

Quickly Eleanor unfolded the napkin and
discovered a dagger. The young woman had given her a means to
defend herself, or was it an act of revenge? Either way Eleanor was
grateful.

She tucked the dagger underneath her pillow
where she’d have easy access to it. Then she waited. Nervously, she
paced the bedroom. When darkness fell she lit the candles on the
table. They cast eerie shadows on the wall. Her stomach tightened
with apprehension. She turned her wedding ring around and around on
her finger, praying she would have the strength to get through the
night.

It comforted her to say Dominick’s name over
and over, knowing he would come for her soon. Despair washed over
her. She knew she would not be rescued in time to keep McPhearson
away from her. Aurora was a fortress, nearly impossible to
penetrate. How long could McPhearson hold out for a siege? She
hoped she could survive it.

Eleanor studied the darkness out the window
for any sign of rescue. She could see none. No campfires, no
torches, not any sign of life.

She pressed her head against the window. A
chill crawled up her spine as she heard the door to her room creak
open. There he was. Turning around she pulled hard on her courage.
When she looked into his evil, smiling face, her body felt drained
of blood. Shards of fear pierced her heart.

He moved closer. Robert reached out to stroke
her cheek. “Together at last. You have no idea how long I have
waited.”

“Get your hands off me,” she shouted slapping
his hand away.

McPhearson’s smile never wavered. As fast as
a lightning strike, he slapped her hard, knocking her off balance
and into the table. She quickly recovered before she fell.

Instantly her anger flared. “You bastard.
Only a coward like you would hurt a woman. You would probably wet
yourself if you had to face a real man.”

The smile disappeared. Her words struck with
precision. She stepped away from the table, knowing she would pay
for her defiance.

“When I’m finished with you, there will be no
doubt of my manhood.” He hit her again, hard across her face.

Her cheek exploded with pain as she fell
across the bed. He was on top of her in an instant. Bile rose to
her throat when his hand cupped her breast, and she fought to push
him away.

His stinking breath assaulted her senses,
making his close proximity all the more vile. His mouth came down
on her neck, biting down hard, forcing her to scream. The tearing
of fabric and exposure of her skin made her fight more
desperate.

His hands pulled on her skirts, and icy
fingers ran up her thighs. Futilely she tried to push them away. He
began to pinch the soft skin of her inner thighs. Another scream
escaped her lips. Squirming toward the top of the bed, she reached
underneath the pillow.

With all her will she forced herself to be
still. McPhearson looked up, and with one swift move, she slashed
the blade across his face. Blood seeped down his cheek. Screaming
profanities, he sat up in an instant. She tried to strike again,
but his hand caught her wrist. He slammed it onto the table so hard
the pain shot up her arm, causing her to drop the knife. His fist
came down on her jaw.