Born to Bite by Hannah Howell & Erica Ridley

Author:Hannah Howell & Erica Ridley
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance, Paranormal, Anthologies (Multiple Authors), Fiction
ISBN: 9781420132786
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2013-09-02T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Aedan must die? Blackness threatened, but Rowan clung to consciousness—barely.

Grief ravaged the faces of the vampires below, as whispers rumbled amongst the crowd. But as the moments passed, Rowan could see their struggle with doubt fade. One by one, in unspoken agreement, they accepted Breac’s lie that Aedan could no longer continue as their laird.

Sir Wayrn stepped forward, the weight of this grave matter lining his face. “Breac, will you lead us?”

Breac drew himself up to his full height, scanned the crowd, his face hewn in a somber cast. “Aye, ’tis my honor, one I take with a heavy heart.”

Rowan fought to break free, glaring at Aedan’s cousin when her every attempt failed. Damn him, somehow she had to stop him.

As the crowd’s vile cures tainted the air, Breac shoved her before him. “The witch will pay for her treachery. Before the oncoming dawn, she will die!”

“There is no need to wait,” a vampire with a scar across his jaw said, his fangs lengthening. “Toss her down. We will see to her death.”

Cheers rose from the throng, and hunger burned in their eyes.

“She has made us suffer by cursing our laird and friend, and suffering will be her fate,” Breac stated. “Have a fire built within the center of the bailey.”

No! Rowan struggled against Breac’s hold; one of his fingernails dug deep into the pulse at her neck. She stilled.

“Is it your wish to die now?” Breac hissed. “I assure you, if I slashed your neck and cast you into the crowd, my people would gladly feed upon you. I believe ’tis their wish.”

Heart pounding, Rowan shook her head.

Wood clunked.

She glanced across the bailey. Vampires piled branches at the center. Small limbs were quickly covered with sturdy logs, which would burn for hours.

“You see your penance ahead, a death that will be painfully slow,” Breac said with a laugh, the boom of his voice echoing out to the crowd. “Let me keep you waiting no longer.” He shoved her down the steps.

The vampires parted before them, cursing her, yelling inventive tortures to add before her death.

The stacked wood grew as they closed in on her. Tremors rippled over her skin at the thought of flames scorching her.

Strong arms eagerly claimed her from Breac’s hold. “Bewitching our laird,” Sir Wayrn charged. “A fitting death for you.” He slid ropes around her wrists, her legs, jerked tight.

Hemp bit into her flesh. Focus. Aedan!

Silence.

No, their blood connected them. He had to hear her! Aedan, help, they are going to burn me!

Where are you? Rage echoed within his voice as it burst into the mayhem swirling in her mind.

Caorann Castle!

Mist exploded a pace away. Aedan stood within the fade of white, his face carved in furious outrage. Striding forward, he tore off Rowan’s gag.

Air, fresh, cool, slid down her throat.

Breac whirled, cursed. “Guards, light the fire!” He dove onto Aedan.

Pain tore through Aedan’s body as his cousin drove him against the ground.

Straddled atop him, Breac reached toward his chest.

Outraged his cousin would dare attempt to tear out his heart, Aedan caught Breac’s wrist.

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