Page 57 of Love Beyond Wanting
I expected it to be one of the members of The Eight simply coming to chide Maddock for skipping his morning duties.When I heard Nicol’s voice, I scrambled to pull the blankets over me as he stepped into the room.
“I’m sorry to disturb the both of ye.Brachan and I spent the whole night talking.I think it only right that we give him a chance to prove himself.He wishes to see Machara, to show all of us that he can resist her.We will stay gathered in the stairwell, ready to intervene if necessary.We know Machara will try to bend him to her will.If he can resist her, we will dedicate ourselves to finding a way to free him from her.”
At least Nicol’s time with Brachan had produced some sort of productive plan.
Maddock seemed to agree.“’Tis a good plan, Nicol.How are ye?”
There was a short pause then Nicol answered softly, “I am sad that I missed time with him.I doona doubt the lad’s heart.I just doona know if anyone with such ties to Machara can resist her.But Maddock, he has one condition for appearing before Machara.”
“Which is?”
“He will only do so if Kate stands by his side.”
Maddock slammed the door in Nicol’s face.
Chapter 37
“Iknow that I canna tell ye not to go with him, but I wish ye wouldna do so.I’ve seen what Machara can make another do.Calder was a good man before Machara gained control of him.He fought, he raged against her, but he was powerless to resist all that she called him to do.”
I appreciated Maddock’s worry, but there was no way I wasn’t going to follow Brachan down into the dungeon.If he needed me, I was happy to be at his side.
I also couldn’t help but wonder if this was how I was meant to defeat her?Could my belief in Brachan, my support of him, be enough to help him resist her, and as a result be the way that I was meant to fulfill my part in her destruction?Could it really be so simple?
I doubted it, but I was certainly willing to try.
“I have to, Maddock.Brachan won’t go down there without me, and none of this will be over until he stands before his mother and faces her once and for all.”
He paced the room as I dressed.“We should wait a few days.Try and prepare ye.Try and prepare him.”
With my dress pulled up to my shoulders, I turned my back toward Maddock so he could help me with the laces.
“We can’t wait, Maddock.Every day that passes it is more difficult for Brachan to resist her.To delay would only decrease his chances of defeating her.We should do this, and we should do this now.”
Things came together quickly.Sydney and her crew would leave via Morna’s magic and Mom and David would go into the village for safety, in case things turned south here at the castle.
Once all those not directly involved in the plan were away for the day, we gathered in Nicol’s room so we could all go down into the dungeon together.
Brachan was already inside when I got there, standing with his back toward the doorway.I walked over and placed a gentle hand on his arm.
“Hey.”He twisted to look at me, his eyes weary.“You don’t look so good.”
“I doona feel good, lass.My head aches dreadfully, and I feel like an arse.”
“Why do you feel like that?”
“I shouldna be asking ye to do this for me.But ye are the only one here who believes I can resist her.I…I need ye, Kate.”
I lifted my hand to his cheek and cupped it gently.
He looked so young, his eyes desperate and worried, but I knew he probably wasn’t much younger than me.
“It’s fine.I don’t mind doing this.And youcanresist her.I know you can.Are you ready to do this?”
The rest of The Eight were now gathered inside Nicol’s room.There was no reason to wait any longer.
“Aye, lass.I’m ready.”
Machara said nothing as Brachan stepped into view, and she didn’t even seem to notice me as I moved over beside him.
