Night Angel (Angel Haven) (14 page)

“It’s a fairy tale, not an opera.”

Karen wished she could believe the dryad, but she’d read too many stories where things didn’t go as planned. Would that happen to her? She hoped not, but things had a way of getting too far out of control too quickly.

“Please give us a happily ever after,” she silently prayed.

Chapter Eleven

“You seem different this morning,” Bradford said, piling scrambled eggs on his plate.

“Do I?” Karen stamped on the now familiar panic rising in her chest. She wished she could regain her focus, but had a feeling it was long gone. The closer she got to Randall, the more out of control her emotions became. “How?” She took several small bites of her breakfast, feeling them sit heavy in her stomach.

“I’m not sure, exactly, but I mean to find out.” He leaned over to her. “I hope it’s nothing serious.”

Karen wiped her mouth to stop her hands from shaking. “Maybe it’s because I met a wonderful man who thinks the world of me.”

He turned a cold smile to her and she felt it slice through her. “I hope you mean
me
.”

“Who else could I mean?” She laid her hand over his. “I haven’t spent time with anyone else.”

He filled her coffee cup and grabbed another piece of toast for himself. “That’s good to hear. My employees are under a different impression.”

Karen’s knees shook under the table. “Oh?”

He nodded. “They seem to think you have feelings for Dupré.” He stared at her. “Do you?”

She gestured to the dining room, sweeping her arms wide to indicate the whole house. “Why would I want anyone else when you have all this?”

He sat back, apparently satisfied and pointed to her plate. “Are you done?”

She glanced at the remainder of her breakfast and put her napkin on the table. “Yes, I am.”

“Good.” He stood, pulling her chair out for her. “I have a surprise for you today.”

“I love surprises.” Karen frowned when he walked away from her, not taking her arm, her hand, or touching her in any way.
This can’t be good
, she thought.

He led her to the study. He pulled out a long black box from the top drawer of his desk and held it out to her.

Karen opened it and gasped at the sight of a large ruby pendant attached to a thin gold chain lying on a bed of satin, shimmering in the morning sun filtering through the windows. “Oh, Bradford, it’s beautiful.”

He removed the necklace, hooking it around Karen’s neck. “By accepting this, you promise I have your complete loyalty.”

“I don’t understand,” she said, frowning. Not good, she told herself again. “What do you mean?”

“Come with me.” He opened the french doors, stepping out into the morning air and slowly gazed around the estate. Wispy clouds drifted across the pale blue sky, the autumn sun weakly shining. The trees were mostly bare now, a sure sign winter was on its way. “It’s getting colder. It’ll be winter before we know it.”

Karen took a deep breath. “Bradford, are you okay?” He’d been different since their trip to town. Heck, it had started before that when his employees told him about her and Randall.

“I’m fine. Let’s see how you fare in the next few minutes.” He grabbed her arm, marching her down to the stable. “Yesterday, I felt something powerful reverberate through me. I know what’s happened between you and Dupré.”

Karen yanked her arm from his hard grip. “What are you talking about?” He’d felt them bond with that first intense kiss? “Nothing’s happened.”

“I have no magical powers myself, but I can sense it when it’s being used. My mother knew I could feel magic and taught me to attune myself to the energies of the earth.” He grabbed her again, pulling her down the hill.

“Sounds interesting,” she said.

“It is. Soul bonding is the most primal, most powerful magical force out there.” He stopped and jerked her around to face him. “I know what the two of you have done.”

Karen used every ounce of willpower she possessed to not shake as she saw anger fill his eyes. “We haven’t done anything.” She wanted to run from him, but her legs wouldn’t cooperate.

His smile was cold, freezing her soul. “We’ll see,” he said. “We’ll see.”

Bradford pushed her through the stable doors. As her eyes adjusted from the glare of the sun, she felt as if the floor had collapsed under her feet. Her blood turned to ice at the sight of Randall hanging from a large hook, his arms stretched over his head, hands bound, his bare feet barely touching the floor. He’d been stripped to the waist, his arms and stomach covered with what looked like burns. Her stomach churned from the smell of wet hay and horse. She swallowed hard, trying to keep everything where it was supposed to be.

Karen’s first impulse was to run to Randall, but the look in his eyes warned her to keep herself in check. She turned and glared at Bradford. “What are you doing? Cut him down, right now!”

Bradford gestured for Harmon to come over. The stable master showed her the metal bar in his hands. “My animals have told me those that live in the fairy world can’t stand this.” He hefted the bar in front of her face.

“What is it?” she asked, her eyes fixed on the metal rod.

“Cold iron.” Harmon smiled and looked over his shoulder at Randall. “Magical creatures can’t bear its touch. It can make them sick or even kill them. Depends on how long they’re in contact with it. It poisons them, you see?”

Bradford placed both hands on Karen’s shoulders, holding her in place. “Show her, Harmon.”

Harmon walked over to Randall and quickly touched the bar to his outstretched arm. Randall howled and tried to jerk away. His skin blistered where Harmon had laid the rod. Harmon touched him again, laughing as Randall tried to twist away from him. His body broke out in a thin sheen of sweat as another area turned red, his flesh bubbling.

Karen pulled out of Bradford’s grasp. “Just what are you trying to prove with this demonstration?”

“I want to see for myself you have no feelings for him.” He shrugged, his eyes cold. “Tell me that’s true and I’ll cut him loose.”

“I told you this morning, I have
you
. I don’t need anyone else.” She grabbed Bradford’s jacket. “He has nothing. You’ve got everything. You even gave me this beautiful necklace. He’s never given me anything.”

Bradford pushed her over to stand in front of Randall. “Look at him. Say you have no feelings for him. Tell him to his face and if you two have formed any bonds, they’ll begin to break. If you say nothing, I’ll know you do care for him and steps will have to be taken.”

She could see Randall’s eyes begging her to say it. If she did, she’d save their lives, but break both their hearts. Her mind raced with alternatives.
How do we get out of this one?

Harmon approached, raising the bar and slamming it into Randall’s side, enjoying his screams as the metal contacted his skin. The sickly sweet smell of burned flesh filled the stable. Karen kicked her leg out sending the iron rod skittering across the barn floor. She threw her left arm up, blocking Harmon’s swing at her head. Her right came up, catching the left side of Harmon’s face, knocking him to the ground.

Harmon surged to his feet, charging her. Karen waited until the last moment, then stepped to the side and threw him to the ground again. He grabbed her ankle and she kicked him loose then turned to Bradford.

“Are all you people out of your minds?” she shouted. “You really believe fairies and magic are real? I don’t know what that bar is treated with, but I’m sure it has to be some type of acid.” She yanked on the knotted rope, untying it and letting Randall fall to the floor. “Torture is illegal in the States, Bradford.” She pointed at Randall. “You’re lucky he hasn’t gone to the authorities with accounts of your abuse.”

Randall climbed to his feet, and she shoved him toward the door. “Get out, Dupré. If you would just do your job around here and quit spreading malicious rumors about me, none of this would’ve happened.”

She stalked over to Bradford, taking off the necklace and stuffing it into his hand. “And you. How could you treat me like this? Keep your necklace! I’m going home!” Karen slammed the door open and stormed up the hill to the house.
How long until he realizes I never denied Randall?

“That was wonderfully played, miss,” Dayla said next to her right ear.

Karen’s gaze searched for Randall. “Thanks,” she muttered.

The fairy smiled as she watched Karen. “He sent me to you. He said he’s fine and not to worry. He enjoyed watching you kick Harmon.”

“But the burns.” She chewed her lip as she thought about the pain he’d endured. “Will he heal?”

“Yes. He may not even scar.” Dayla looked over her shoulder. “Troyington comes. Be strong, miss.”

“Karen, wait!”

She stopped and turned, folding her arms, glaring at him as he approached. “Why? That was insulting and humiliating. I’m serious, Bradford. I’m leaving as soon as I can get packed.”

“Just let me apologize for my actions. Here.” He held the necklace out to her. “Take it. Please.”

“I don’t know why I should.” She eyed the necklace, knowing Bradford wasn’t going to let this matter drop so easily.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have put you through that or let my man hurt Dupré in that fashion.” He gave her a small smile. “Please take it?”

She took the necklace from his hand, fastening it around her neck. “One more incident like this, and I promise you, no more chances. I’ll be out of here before you’ve realized I’ve left.”

He kissed her cheek. “It’s a deal.” He moved closer, his eyes narrowing. “And for your end of it, stay away from Dupré and all will be forgiven.”

They started walking toward the house, Bradford’s hand on her elbow. “I can’t help run into him here,” she told him. “We’re on the same estate.”

He glanced at her, his face hard and unreadable. “Don’t worry. I’ve come up with a way around that particular problem.”

Dread crawled up her spine.
What was he planning?
She wiped her hands on her pants as they headed up the small hill to the house and made a silent vow.
I swear, if we live through this, I’ll never be jealous again.

He was silent for a moment. “You really don’t believe in magic?”

She sighed, weighing her response. “It was a childhood fantasy. It’s nice to pretend, but in the end, reality has to take over.”

If she came right out and said she didn’t believe in magic, would she lose all her new friends as well as the man she loved? This was getting a little too tricky.

He watched her closely as he led her toward the house. “What would you like to do today?”

“I think I want some time to myself.” She stopped at the porch. “I’m going to take a walk around the grounds for a bit. I’m still considering going home.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Take all the time you need. I’ll be in my regular study if you want to see me.”

She watched him retreat to the house. As soon as he disappeared, she wandered toward the garden. She heard birds calling to each other and eyed them as they flew over her head. She noticed squirrels following her as she walked to the bench by the fountain.

“Dayla, are you here?” she called quietly.

The fairy appeared next to her on the bench. “I’m always nearby, miss. What can I do?”

Karen watched the birds circling overhead. “Is he still safe?”

Dayla nodded. “He wants to be with you so badly, miss, but doesn’t dare show himself.” She looked around. Animals scampered nearby, stopping to glance at them and she shivered.

“The animals are still watching me,” Karen murmured. “Why hasn’t Harmon’s hold on them been broken yet? Is he really that much more powerful than you guys?”

Dayla shook her head. “His control is almost absolute. He has a knack for talking to animals that has nothing to do with his power. They trust him, and his power lets him into their minds.” The fairy shrugged. “All we have is magic.”

Karen ground her teeth, frustrated by not being able to help the people she counted as friends. “But fairies have been around for a long time. Shouldn’t old magic be stronger than one paranormal human?”

“Not really.” Dayla sat down near her. “This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the animals of the world controlled by someone.” Her hands balled into tiny fists. “We exist alongside the animals. We don’t control them or tamper with them in any way. The animals don’t realize they’re being controlled, so it makes the compulsion hard to break.”

Karen looked at her. “Why?”

“It’s not mind control so much as Harmon giving their instincts a boost.” Dayla flew up to sit on her shoulder. “He’s just nudging them in the direction he wants them to go.”

Another fairy flew up and whispered to Dayla. She turned and saw Randall standing at the edge of the woods and flew to him. “What can I do for you, guardian?”

“I need to speak with Karen.” He eyed the birds overhead and the small creatures running through the garden. “Tell her to wander over here and see if you can distract the blackbirds. The others I’m not that concerned about, but the birds are smart and they’re Harmon’s main source of information.”

Dayla grinned and took off. She reached Karen and nodded toward the woods where Randall was hiding. Karen walked through the garden, wandering closer to his spot. She watched Dayla punch a blackbird on the beak and then fly off at high speed.

Randall stayed under the tree canopy and Karen kept her gaze on the flowers bouncing in the breeze. “We don’t have much time,” he said in a low voice.

She glanced at him before stooping to smell some late blooming flowers. “You’re vulnerable to cold iron?”

“Every race has their own Achilles heel. Those of us in the fairy realm have cold iron.” As she moved down the outside row, he went with her, staying out of sight of the birds circling overhead. “Harmon was right, you know. It can kill us. It’s how they killed the guardians that came here first to rescue the children.”

She frowned. “How? I’m trying to understand, Randall, but every time I get an answer, I get twenty more questions.”

He nodded. “I know. Troyington had a cold iron dagger specifically made for my race,” he explained. “When our skin comes in contact with it, well, you saw what happens. If it gets in our blood, it poisons us. Leave the blade in and it can kill us it minutes.” He paused. “Troyington stabbed two of the guardians he took captive and tortured the others. He was going to kill me, too, but Strathmore told him she could replicate my powers and abilities and transfer them to him. That’s why they kept me alive. They keep trying to keep me locked up at night but aren’t having much luck.”