Deception (31 page)

Dorian wanted to know who screamed, but he stayed focused on Tom.

Tybee still cradled Lillian in his arms. “Tom, you must stop.”

Tom’s hatred poured into the prayer. Awkwardly brandishing his blade, he stepped toward Dorian.

“Tom, I’m not going to warn you again. If you do not stop this now, you will die.”

“My master will protect me.”

The master watched with a smirk that Dorian wished he could carve from his evil face.

“No, Tom. He will let you die so he can destroy everything we hold dear.”

“You are wrong. My master is going to bring equality to the world.”

“By making everyone slaves to him.”

“No. I’m to be a god.”

“And who will you be equal to when you are a god, Tom Meikle? If everyone is to be equal, how is it you will be above the rest?”

Tom’s eyes narrowed and he scanned the broken battlefield.

Drake tackled Tom to the ground.

Tom screamed.

The crack widened to a gaping chasm, and heat rose from its depths. Sulfur stung Dorian’s nose and made his eyes tear.

Lightning charred the ground inches from Drake and Tom, wrestling for the knife. The ground exploded around them and sent both flying, then crashing to the dirt.

Tom jumped to his feet and looked over the terrain. Hell on earth is what his fraud had caused. Every few feet was charred or burning, demons and men lay dead, he’d torn a hole in the earth, and daylight had been blocked out by unnatural clouds.

Regret flashed over Tom’s face before hatred twisted it again. He picked up the sword and careened toward him. Tom’s high pitched battle-cry drowned out the cacophony.

Brice called Dorian’s name and ran toward him, halted by the gap in the ground.

Utter sorrow filled Dorian as he lifted his sword.

Focused on his master’s bidding, Tom impaled himself on Dorian’s blade. The sword fell from Tom’s hand and his eyes stared vacantly.

Dorian pulled his sword free, and Tom collapsed on the ground.

The master’s roar filled the world with horror before it faded with the vortex.

The clouds separated and evaporated into nothing, leaving behind blue skies and sunshine.

Drake limped over. “What a shame, but there was nothing you could have done. I do not know what I will tell his mother.”

“He was as much a casualty of this war as any of the dead lying on this field, Drake. The demon took advantage of his youth and convinced him of his lies. Tell his family he died in battle. They need know nothing more.”

Drake nodded and Dorian turned to where Lillian lay still as death in Tybee’s arms.

The doorkeeper shook his head. “She hasna’ stirred in quite some time, son.”

Fletcher said, “I’ll send my carriage to collect the doctor. Where will you take her?”

Dorian crouched and eased her from the ground. “Home.”

* * * *

The new Company doctor, Dr. Robasan, told Dorian, “You will need someone to keep an eye on her for the next few days. Even if she wakes up, she will need looking after.”

Dorian’s fists clenched even as he told himself he could not strike the doctor. “She will wake up.”

The man took a step back and had the good sense to look apologetic. Standing in the corridor outside of the bedroom, he had few options to get away. “Yes, of course. She is a strong woman. I’m not going to lie to you. The fact that she has been unconscious for several hours now is not a good sign. I need you to understand she has taken a bad hit and lost a lot of blood. She needs rest, and there is to be no jostling around. Everything must be done gently. You must have her lifted with great care from the bed to have the sheets changed and such. If—when she wakes up, she is not to walk alone for at least a week. Even to use the privy, someone needs to steady her. Another fall could kill her.”

The man was new to The Company. He was trying to help, but other than stitching her wound, he could do nothing. It was up to Lillian. She needed the will to live.

Dorian really wanted the man to go away and let him take care of Lillian. “She will be well cared for. I will take care of her.”

The doctor’s eyes widened. “I will leave my nurse with you for a few days.”

“Fine.” Dorian stepped through the door to the master bedroom.

Alice, Lillian’s maid, stood in the corner, wringing her hands. The girl’s normally rosy complexion was ashen as she watched her mistress. She looked at him.

“We will get her back, Alice. Go get yourself something to eat and some rest. It will not do to have you fall ill now.”

“Aye, milord. But you’ll ring if she needs anything, won’t you?”

“I promise.”

Alice stepped around the bed and out of the room as Dr. Robasan’s nurse stepped in.

“I will sit with my fiancée for the time being.”

The nurse tugged her apron. “As you wish. I will be right outside if Miss Dellacourt needs anything.” She lightly closed the door behind her.

Lillian looked so small lying in their bed. Her skin was as white as the sheets she rested on. Her eyes were swollen and ringed.

Dr. Robasan had said some people wither away for weeks and eventually starve to death after a bad strike to the head. Lillian had likely suffered other head injuries over the course of her career as a hunter, and the doctor believed these things could be cumulative.

Dorian rounded to the other side of the bed, not wanting her to jostle her injured shoulder. He sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand. Leaning down, he kissed her cool flesh and rested his cheek there. The moisture from his own tears surprised him. He had to be strong, but the thought of losing her crippled him. “Lilly, you cannot leave me now. I need you with me. Please,
mon trésor
, fight. I know you are tired and perhaps worn down by everything you have done and seen. It has been a long road for you. I also know I am asking more than is my right. Still, I am selfish and cannot lose you. Stay with me, Lilly.”

Tears streamed down his cheeks. Careful not to bump her, he slid onto the bed next to her. He kissed her cheek and rested his hand on her hip.

* * * *

Fingers combed through Dorian’s hair. He opened his eyes to a dimly lit room. A lamp flickered on the bedside table and a small fire in the hearth warmed the cool late-summer night.

Lillian smiled at him.

“You are awake.”

“I am sorry I woke you, but I would kill for something to drink.”

He was supposed to be caring for her, but he’d fallen asleep. Alice must have tended the fire and lit the lamp. It was full dark outside. He eased off the bed and poured her a glass of water from the pitcher.

She made to sit up.

“Wait, Lilly.” He put the cup down, sat at the head of the bed, and gentled her up against him. He took the cup and tipped it to her lips.

She drank two sips before turning her head away. “Have I been unconscious a long time?”

“All day and part of the night. How do you feel?” His heart was frantic. She was awake.

“If there is a part of my body that does not hurt, I cannot tell you where it is.”

“I was afraid I had lost you, my love.” His tears threatened again.

She turned her head and faced him. Even that tiny effort made her wince. “I’m sorry.”

“You will need to rest for a few weeks at least. Your shoulder may take months to heal properly, so no hunting for a while. It required quite a number of stiches to close. You have a rather large knot on the back of your head, and you are bruised from your neck to your pretty bottom.”

“That must be a sight.”

His stomach clenched. “It is.”

“What happened, Dorian?”

“We can talk about it tomorrow when you are more rested.”

She laid her head against his shoulder. “Tell me now.”

She should rest, not worry about things beyond their control. “What do you remember?”

“Fletcher lifted me from the cave mouth and the ground collapsed behind us.”

In the softest voice he could muster, he told her about the master coming and Tom having been the spy within The Company.

She flinched. “Where is Tom now?”

He didn’t know what to say.

Lillian turned slowly toward him. “Dorian, what happened?”

He’d tormented himself for hours over how he could have spared Tom’s life. “I killed him.”

“Oh no.”

“I had no choice. We tried to offer him asylum with The Company.”

“Of course not. I know you would not have harmed that boy if he had given you any other choice.”

Dorian hadn’t known how much he needed to hear those words from her. “I feel like I should have known much sooner and done something to help him.”

“I feel the same way. That night in the archives when he came lurking around, I had a bad feeling.”

“Did you?”

“I ignored it. I thought I was being overly cautious. We all liked Tom, and we thought we knew him. All of the research into lies and treachery had made me jumpy. At least that was what I told myself. I should have brought it up then. Tom was acting strange. Perhaps we could have saved him from himself.”

“Tybee is devastated. He loved Tom like a son. I do not know how I will face him again.”

“I’m certain he understands you were not to blame.”

They reclined against the headboard for a long time. Neither spoke. Dorian pushed away thoughts of the master and Tom. He had her back. Lillian was alive and talking to him, and for the moment, all the rest was quiet.

“Will you marry me, Lilly?”

She snuggled her head in closer. “I already said yes.”

“As soon as you are healed?”

“Tomorrow if you like.”

His heart danced, and he wished he could spin her around the room. Instead, he kissed the top of her head. “I want you to be able to walk down the aisle at St. Andrews of your own free will.”

She sighed and relaxed against him. “Then tomorrow will not do.”

He eased her down onto the mattress. Tucking the covers in around her, he kissed her forehead. “No, but in few months you will be in top form,
mon trésor
, and then I will make you my wife.”

She smiled and closed her eyes.

She was so beautiful, and for the first time, fragile. His heart ached.

Lillian stared into the mirror as Alice fussed with her hair. It was as if she were watching someone else.

The maid placed every curl just so as if the next tress might make all the difference.

Uncomfortable with her reflection, she turned toward the window. The trees were nearly bare, and soon snow would cover Edinburgh.

“Keep still, miss.”

Smiling, she turned back. “I think it looks lovely, Alice. Also, if I have to stay still another moment, I will lose my mind.”

With a sigh, Alice placed one last curl atop Lillian’s head and pinned it. “Very well. You do look lovely.”

“Thank you.”

Someone knocked. “Open up, Lilly. I cannot stand here all day.”

“Reece.” Lillian rushed to the door and pulled it open.

He was thin and the bones of his face far too pronounced. His bright eyes were tired, but he was Reece and she fell into his open arms.

She stepped back. “Come in.”

“You canna’ have a man in your room, miss.”

“But this is Reece.”

“I don’t care if he’s the pope himself. He canna’ stay in here.” Alice put her hands on her hips and shook her head.

Lillian giggled. “Alice, go and see if everything is in order for the wedding breakfast.”

“But, miss.”

“Go.”

The maid shook her head but rushed from the room.

Lillian turned to Reece. “I did not know if I would see you today.”

He kissed her cheek. “I could not miss your wedding day, my sweet.”

“You are looking better.” It was true, though he still was not the robust man from before his injuries.

He walked to the bed and sat.

It was irreverent, but she was used to Reece’s ways. After all, it was not as if she and Dorian shared that bed. Her chamber was relegated to dressing and primping. Lillian spent little time there, since she did very little primping. Alice longed for more to do, but Lillian was not going to change.

“The leeches lived on my last treatment. Dr. Barns believes the poison is out of my body.”

“You do not sound as if you believe the good doctor.”

He shrugged. “I am tired, Lilly. I feel old and useless.”

“You just need time and training, Reece.”

“I have missed that stern voice telling me what I need to do.”

“I’m sorry I have not been with you through all of this.”

“You had important things to do.”

“Not for quite some time. I wish I could have come to see you, but I had my own healing to do.”

“Your letters were a great comfort. I was worried when I heard you had been badly hurt. To be honest, I did not believe it at first. You are never hurt.”

An inward cringe at the memory of crashing against stone tightened every muscle. “You can imagine how difficult a time Dorian had trying to keep me from reinjuring myself. I am not used to being incapacitated. If not for the demons’ retreat from Edinburgh, he could not have succeeded.”

“You are better now, and no demons have returned?”

“The witches have gathered here and tell me the binding of the site under Holyrood is holding. They cannot say how long it will hold, but we believe the master has moved on to another location.”

“And you, Lilly?”

“I am fine. A bit out of fighting form, but I will begin training again soon.”

He took her hand and kissed it. “You look fine. You look happy.”

She changed the subject and retrieved her hand. “Have you been assigned a new partner?”

“You mean since you have abandoned me?”

“I have not. I cannot be your partner once I am married to Dorian. You could join us in London. The three of us could work together in London the way Belinda worked with you and me.”

He shook his head. “You are going to London?”

“Dorian and I have been reassigned. We are to protect the king and the prince.”

“Because of the master’s obsession with royal blood.”

“Yes. Drake thinks he will eventually try to get to the crown. Dorian and I are to redesign all the security. You did not answer my question.”