Rose's Rapture: Lords of the Night, Book Two (13 page)

Rose took the dagger in both hands and raised it above her head. “I love you,” she said a moment before plunging the knife down...and into
her
side. Her eyes widened in shock as pain sliced through her, then she crumbled forward.

Hamish stared in horror. “What have you done?” He roared.

* * * * *

CHAPTER TEN

Rose heard Hamish’s frantic voice calling to her from far, far away. She couldn’t open her eyes or seem able to answer him. She felt his lips brush her neck, then a building pressure as Hamish bit down and began to feed. She smiled weakly, knowing he would live.

“Stay with me, damn you, woman. Stay with me. My heart won’t survive losing you.” He cradled her close, rocking her gently.

Moisture dripped onto her face and somehow Rose knew Hamish was crying. It was so warm and comfortable floating here in the place between worlds. She didn’t want to return to the pain, but Hamish refused to let her go.

Rose was vaguely aware of Hamish stroking his tongue across her neck. A quick press of lips followed before she felt herself lifted onto his lap.

“You must drink, my love,” he murmured.

Rose tried to move her head, but wasn’t sure if she succeeded. Hamish grabbed the back of her neck and brought her closer. Rose inhaled a coppery odor.

“Drink for me. Drink for us. Drink for our love.” His finger brushed the length of her throat, forcing her to swallow hot liquid.

Something wet and sticky covered her lips and filled her mouth. Rose tried to jerk away, but Hamish held her firm.

“You will drink,” he said, his tone stern and unbending.

Rose swiped her tongue over his skin and felt him tremble, before she took another swallow. The liquid flowing into her body was strange, unfamiliar. Something inside of Rose told her she shouldn’t continue, but the growing hunger quickly stamped it out. Her fingertips curled around Hamish’s forearm, as she pressed closer. Growling sounds grew in volume as she sought the sticky substance with a vengeance.

“That’s it, my love,” he coaxed. “Come to me. Allow me to
embrace
you for eternity.”

Rose wasn’t sure how long she’d clung to Hamish. When she finally opened her eyes, he stood above her, shackle torn away, wrist burned, and a smile planted on his handsome face.

“I thought I’d lost you,” he said, tears shimmering in his eyes.

She returned his smile. “I thought you’d lost me, too. What happened? The last thing I remember is you hurt and me holding the dagger.” Rose gasped and grasped her side. It ached, but otherwise seemed fine.

“We’d better get you up. I can hear Longfellow coming and he has company.”

Rose’s eyes widened and her stomach clenched. “What do we do?”

“Leave everything to me.” Hamish’s smile didn’t reach his eyes this time.

They heard the locks slip as the tomb door creaked open. Hamish moved Rose behind him, his big body blocking her from view.

Lord Longfellow rushed down the stairs, an unholy light filling his eyes. “I knew it,” he said. “Wait until she sees what the great Laird Hamish MacDougall has done. Your fate has been sealed.” He cackled, madness infusing his voice. He didn’t seem to notice that Hamish was now free of his shackle.

Abigail came down the stairs behind him and looked around. “Where’s Rose? You said she was injured.”

“Oh, she is. Isn’t she, MacDougall?” Longfellow asked. His eyes sparked with excitement.

Abigail frowned. “Hamish?”

Hamish wasn’t sure how he was going to protect Abigail and Rose from the madman. Thus far Longfellow hadn’t noticed that Rose’s body was nowhere to be found. But he would, and soon. “Abigail, you shouldn’t be here,” he said, hoping she caught the warning in his sharp tone and realized that she was in danger.

“Tell her!” William shouted.

“Tell her what?” a deep baritone voice called out from behind him.

William swung around to face the new threat.

Lazarus stepped from the shadows. “Hamish?” He arched a brow.

“What are you doing here?” Longfellow latched onto Abigail’s arm and pulled her close.

Lazarus’s eyes narrowed as his gaze slid from Abigail to the man in front of him. “You didn’t honestly think I would allow you to slip away from the ball alone with Lady McKeon, did you?”

Longfellow gave a snort of derision. “Fine! Since you’re here, you can be a witness, too.”

“A witness to what?” Lazarus asked, casually moving closer to Abigail.

Longfellow scowled. “To a murder of course.”

Lazarus’s eyes widened. “Whose murder?”

“Lady Rose Carlson.”

Abigail gasped. Lazarus swore under his breath. Something fierce flashed across his face as he pulled Abigail away from the stranger and ushered her behind him. He then met Hamish’s gaze. “Lady Rose Carlson is dead.” It wasn’t a question.

Abigail whimpered.

“You should leave,” Lazarus said without looking at her. “This is no place for you, Abigail.”

“I wish her to stay,” Longfellow said, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. “Two witnesses are better than one.”

Hamish didn’t move. He didn’t even breathe. He was grateful beyond belief that Lazarus had arrived—not that he’d ever tell the grotesque. At least he no longer had to worry about Lady McKeon. There was no way Lazarus would allow her to be harmed given the possession he saw in the creature’s eyes.

“Is this true, Hamish, is Rose dead?” Lazarus inhaled. His eyes flashed from sherry to red and back again, then his gaze hardened. “You stink of blood. What say ye?”

Hamish’s gaze strayed to Longfellow and he glared until the man retreated back a step. “I’d say that there is no way in heaven or on earth I’d kill the woman I love.”
Again
was left unsaid.

“Well if she’s not dead, then where is she?” Lazarus asked, looking around the small crypt.

“I’m right here,” a weak voice called out. Rose stepped out from behind Hamish, her small frame trembling under the effort to walk.

“Oh thank God,” Abigail cried and tried to rush to her friend. Lazarus’s hand snaked out, stopping her.

“No!” Longfellow shouted as he lunged for Rose. “You should be dead! I saw to everything. You should be dead!”

Hamish met Lazarus’ gaze. “That sounds like a confession to me.”

“Aye, it does. Move back love,” Lazarus said, then he grabbed Lord William Longfellow by the arm and began pulling him away.

William broke free of his grasp and spun, reaching for his pistol at the same time. Lazarus moved with blinding speed, stepping in front of Abigail. Longfellow pulled the weapon and fired.

“No!” Rose and Abigail screamed in unison, the sound echoing off the thick stone walls of the crypt. Abigail stood motionless, her eyes wide with fright and disbelief.

“Why?” she cried out, her gaze spearing Longfellow.

Lazarus fell toward the stairs, clutching his chest. The air rushed from his lungs. “Sorry, my love, I fear I’ve run out of time to convince you that we were meant to be together.” His body slumped.

Abigail rushed to Lazarus and dropped to her knees. She cradled his head in her lap and stroked his hair. “You can’t leave me. I won’t let you,” she murmured against his temple, as tears filled her eyes. “You belong to me. Do you hear me, Lazarus? I want you. I’ve always wanted you. Come back to me. Please God don’t let him die.”

“How touching,” William scoffed. “He shouldn’t have interfered. You’re next, MacDougall,” he hissed, turning on Hamish. He aimed the gun and prepared to fire the second shot.

Rose put her hands up in defense. “Please William, no. Not again. This is between us. It’s always been between us.”

He laughed and started to squeeze the trigger.

“That would be a mistake.” Lazarus’s eyes flew open and met Abigail’s gaze. He smiled, before rising from the dead like a phoenix from the ashes. “You said you wanted me. I heard you. Heard all of it.”

Abigail hesitated for only a moment, then replied. “I do.”

Lazarus’s grin widened, then he turned to face William.

Longfellow jumped, his mouth gaping as he watched the newly resurrected
man
. “Y-you are dead,” he sputtered.

“I’d say that’s a slight exaggeration.” Lazarus reached for his shirt and pulled it apart. They all watched in awe as his flesh-torn chest turned to stone, slowly pushing the shot from the gaping wound.

“I-Impossible! What are you?” Longfellow asked, his eyes growing wide in fear as the shot ball dropped to the floor with slight ping. He glanced around, but there was no escape.

“Your worst nightmare in the flesh, so to speak,” Lazarus said.

“You don’t understand,” William shouted, struggling to break free as Lazarus grabbed him again. “He’s a monster. They’re both monsters. Kill them,” he shouted, his mind refusing to accept what he’d witnessed.

“I’m afraid you’ll receive no sympathy from me. I don’t appreciate being shot.” Lazarus glanced at his chest and then at the man’s face. “I also don’t appreciate you putting the woman I love in danger. For that I’m afraid you must be punished.”

William fought like a wild cat, before realizing it was useless against Lazarus’s unrelenting strength. He suddenly went limp in his arms, but continued to shout. “You’re just like them.”

“Not exactly. I am much more
complicated
.” Lazarus snatched a bit of tartan from inside Abigail’s sleeve and shoved it into Longfellow’s gaping mouth. “No need for the ladies to hear the ramblings of a madman. Abigail and I will take care of things on this end. I’m glad you’re both all right,” he said to Hamish, smiling knowingly.

“’Tis no lady on my arm,” Hamish said.

Rose tensed beside him.

“She’s my wife,” he added smiling, before taking her hand and leading her up the stairs. A crowd was beginning to gather on the terrace. Hamish blurred their images, then turned to face Rose. “Shall we go home?”

Rose looked at him expectantly. “You didn’t even ask if I wanted to marry you.”

“
Dinnae
matter. You would’ve said yes,” he said broaching no argument.

She arched a brow. “How can you be so sure?”

Hamish stepped closer. “Because what I see in your eyes is reflected in my heart. You gave your life for me. I love you, lass.”

“Even knowing my past?” she asked, hesitantly.

Hamish leaned forward and kissed her tenderly on the lips. When he pulled back her eyes were slightly glazed. “What past?” he asked softly.

Rose’s face glowed. “I love you, Laird Hamish MacDougall.”

“I know you do, lass. I know you do.” He grinned.

* * * * *

EPILOGUE

Rose hadn’t seen Abigail since her wedding to Lord Lazarus Hyde. The ceremony had taken place in the early evening so that she and Hamish could attend. The bride had looked radiant just like she’d appeared the day she took her vows a fortnight prior. That’s why the knock on the door had surprised her. She’d thought they were still off exploring the countryside. She hadn’t asked what had become of Lord William Longfellow and truly didn’t care. As long as he’d never harm them again.

Hamish joined her to greet their guests. He met Lazarus with a hearty slap on the shoulder followed by a quick handshake. Abigail hugged Rose and smiled warmly.

“You look well. I see married life agrees with you,” she said.

Her friend grinned. “I could say the same of you. Hamish seems to be taking good care of you.” She laughed and brushed her hand over the love bite on Rose’s neck.

Rose felt her face flame and her gaze narrowed playfully to let Abigail know she’d get her back at a later point. “Would you like some tea?”

Abigail shook her head. “No, thank you. We can’t stay. We just wanted to stop by and let you know that we’ll be in residence at my hall.”

“At our hall,” Lazarus said, pulling her close, before tucking her under his shoulder. He turned to Hamish. “I left you a
gift
outside. Call it a belated wedding present.”

Hamish’s brow furrowed as he considered the grotesque’s words.  He had no idea what type of gift Lazarus would give. He just hoped it didn’t bite. “Thank you,” he said warily.

Lazarus smiled. “We’d best return home. It’ll take us weeks to catch up.”

Abigail nodded. “Call on us soon. I’ve missed you so.” She squeezed Rose’s hand.

“We will.” Hamish moved near Rose and wrapped his arm around her. They waved goodbye to their guests before proceeding outside.

“What do you think he’s up to?” Rose asked.

“I have no idea,” Hamish said. “But stay alert. It’s never smart to trust a grotesque.”

Rose and Hamish strolled hand in hand down the drive past the massive pillars marking the entrance to Hyde Hall in search of Lazarus’s gift.

“I don’t see anything, do you?” she asked.

“No,” he said, shaking his head at the grotesque’s odd sense of humor.

Hamish had turned Rose back toward the house, when his gaze landed on the
two
grotesques perched upon the pillars. He studied the creatures. Ones eyes appeared wide with fright and its mouth thrown open in a permanent scream.

His gaze scrolled over the creature’s body, until he noticed a gold topaz ring on the grotesque’s gnarled finger. He’s seen that gem before. Hamish’s eyes widened in surprise and he smiled to himself.

Rose glanced at him. “Is everything all right?”

“It is now.” Hamish grinned, then planted a kiss soundly on her lips. His gaze strayed one last time to the grotesque perched on the pillar that watched with horror from beyond.

Have fun in hell…William Longfellow
, he thought, then led Rose home.

# # #

Jordan Summers

Jordan Summers finished her first book in 2002. It was a finalist in the Daphne Du Maurier contest the same year. She went on to sell eight fantasy books to Ellora’s Cave Publishing and has enjoyed success with her Atlantean’s Quest series. In 2003, she entered the Lori Foster/ Kensington Brava contest and won the Reader’s Choice. The win led to a multi-book contract from Kensington Publishing. Jordan also won the Harlequin Blaze Published Author contest in 2005 and garnered another book deal. During the same year, she submitted a dark paranormal romance to Tor and landed a three-book deal. RED is the first book in her Dead World trilogy. It was followed by SCARLET and CRIMSON. She has gone on to sell stories to various anthologies, including the Horror Writer’s Association anthology, Blood Lite 2 (9/2010), which will be released in mass market paperback in September 2011.