Page 103 of Dark Seduction

Claire regretted her words. After all, she owed Aidan for being at court now, and he probably couldn’t help his oversexed nature. Worse, he was the son of all evil and Malcolm was the son of a great Master. “I’m sorry. You are a lot like Malcolm, actually,” she began.

“I’m nay like him,” he said with warning. “I use my powers to please me, not the Brotherhood or the Ancients.” His eyes were impossibly hard. “I dinna care about any Code. I care about my pleasure.”

She flushed, refusing to believe him entirely. Filled with new tension, she strode ahead of him into the courtyard, glancing around at the three long, narrow, high buildings enclosing it. In the twenty-first century, Linlithgow Palace had been entirely enclosed.

The tallest, most imposing building was directly ahead, where the great hall was. Her heart sped and she increased her pace, Aidan falling into step beside her, both of them now ignoring the other. Many courtiers were coming and going, some of them in Highland dress, others clad in the English-court style. Claire did a double take, recognizing one clearly ranking and very handsome Lowlander—the Master she had glimpsed on Iona.

This time he wore pointy shoes instead of boots and burgundy hose, a short, full-skirted blue velvet jacket with puffed sleeves, but like before, he was fully armed. She blushed again, because it was impossible not to look at his bulging codpiece.

He smiled at her, clearly recognizing her, as well, and as he walked by, he swept her a courtly bow.

“That be Alexander of Blackwood, Sibylla’s brother,” Aidan said darkly. “Dinna ogle him!”

Claire halted in her tracks and turned a full 180 degrees to stare after him. “But I saw him on Iona, Aidan,” she said, trembling. “He’s a Master.”

“Aye,” Aidan said softly. “An’ he hates his sister, as he should.”

He tapped her arm and strode ahead. Recovering, Claire ran to catch up. The two massive, engraved doors of the great hall were open, and as she followed him inside, she saw the crowd milling within, awaiting either a summons or an audience with one of the royals. Claire became still, her heart pounding with sudden excitement. She was at court in the fifteenth century. She seized Aidan’s brat as she scanned the crowd for a glimpse of Malcolm. It had been only a few days, but she missed him terribly and she now anticipated a not particularly pleasant reception. “Is the king or queen here?”

“Nay.” Aidan suddenly stiffened, his eyes widening in shock.

Alarmed, Claire followed his gaze, and she saw Isabel standing in the midst of a small group of noblemen, pleasantly conversing. “That’s not her twin, is it?” Claire whispered.

Aidan could not tear his eyes from her. “She has no twin.”

“What day is this?”

“July 31.”

They had made the leap yesterday and Isabel had been at Awe, bidding them goodbye. There was only one way she could have made it to Linlithgow in the same amount of time as they had. Moray had taken her. Dread uncoiled, making Claire feel sick. Aidan was pushing through the crowd, and she followed him.

Isabel saw him and her expression became one of terrible relief. She made her apologies to the noblemen and rushed to Aidan, flinging herself against his chest. Aidan put his arms around her. “Ye be well?”

She nodded, looking up, tears shining in her eyes. “I am so glad you are here!” she cried. “I am so afraid.”

Claire tried to breathe naturally and failed. Moray had done this—and God only knew what else he had done and intended to do. He would use Isabel now, against his own son. And Isabel was not a woman of intelligence and fortitude. She was a lamb being led to the slaughter. Claire was ill.

“What happened? How did ye get here?” Aidan demanded, his eyes flashing with fury.

“Do not be angry with me! Your father insisted. I cannot refuse the earl of Moray—no one can! And I don’t know how I got here!” She began to cry. “He used a spell, Aidan, and when I awoke, I was in one of the court chambers.”

Aidan’s eyes were wide, hard. “Did he touch ye?”

Isabel looked blankly at him, then cried out, drying her tear-stained cheeks with her hand. “No, of course not. He has been charming, nothing more. But I am so afraid of him! When I look into his eyes, I am filled with fear.”

“I’m takin’ ye home,” Aidan said abruptly. He smiled, intending to reassure her, tilting up her chin. “Ye have no reason to fear. I’ll manage Moray.”

“You can’t take me home. I’ve met the queen.” More tears came. “She has ordered me to wait upon her, Aidan. I am to do so tonight.”

Aidan’s eyes turned hard. “Then ye’ll obey yer liege.”

Claire wasn’t certain what this meant, other than the fact that Isabel would remain at court indefinitely, so Moray could cruelly play cat and mouse with her and Aidan.

Then she glimpsed Malcolm.

Her heart thundered as their eyes locked. His expression was one of shock and disbelief. And then it became one of sheer fury.

She had known he would be angry when he saw her. Claire moved toward him, promising herself that she would not become angry in return. But he turned and started striding away, leaving the room, entering the long gallery that ran the length of the hall. Numerous windows allowed sunlight to filter within.