Highland Vampire by Hannah Howell, Deborah Raleigh, Adrienne Basso Read Free Book Online Page A

nay sure I like the fact that someone outside Cambrun kens so much about us."
    "Malcolm is verra careful about sharing this information. He kens all about the Callans, too, ye ken. Being one of us, he weel understands the value of secrecy. I will, however, tell him to put your secrets away with ours."
    Jankyn glanced around the room. "The Callans arenae to be found in here?"
    "There will be a listing, a few tales and innocent letters, but nay more. Malcolm carefully takes out all hints of our true ancestry. The full tale is more precisely recorded and tucked away in a verra safe place. Since your clan is now tied to ours, 'tis far past time he did the same, er, cleansing of the MacNachton information."
    "Aye, that might be best. 'Tis troubling to think of our secrets written down here where, nay matter how careful Malcolm is, someone could see them. Rumors and dark, whispered tales of the past are difficult enough to fight. Set down in a book?" He shrugged. "Too many would see that as irrefutable proof."
    Efrica nodded. "The verra fact that someone would take the time to write it all down gives it weight. So few have the skill that it gives it a great deal of power. Magic, e'en," she added as she returned to the shelves.
    When Jankyn watched her bend over slightly to sort through several scrolls, his mind was immediately filled with several lecherous thoughts and he inwardly cursed. It was tempting to tell her to leave, that he did not need help, but he could not bring himself to do so. She was offering him help, had brought him to a treasure trove of information, and he would not insult her by curtly sending her away. He was a man with many years of experience, he reminded himself as he forced his attention to the book in front of him. He ought to be able to curtail his lust for a woman, for any woman.
    That control grew harder to grasp than he liked as the hours passed. Far too often he would catch himself looking at her, thinking of all the ways he wanted to make love to her. She was proving to be an incurable fever in his blood. The fact that she was a pleasant and efficient assistant only made it worse. A simple lusting could be conquered in time, no matter how fierce it was. Lust mixed with respect and liking was very hard to shake free of. It was settling deep into his heart, and that could cause them both a lot of trouble.
    It was Efrica who called attention to the swift advance of dawn hours later. Jankyn pulled himself free of his fascination with his research and looked longingly at several large books he had unearthed from Malcolm's vast collection. He looked at Efrica and caught her setting a letter on the tray Malcolm had brought the food and wine in on.
    "'Tis but a message for Malcolm telling him that we have taken a few things back to the castle with us," she explained.
    "Will he allow that?" asked Jankyn.
    "Nay if we ask him directly, I suspect. Thus the message and a quick escape."
    "And this." Jankyn set a small purse upon the tray, the weight of it and the sound it made hinting at a sizable sum of money.
    "That will certainly soothe him," she murmured as she followed Jankyn out of the house.
    After carefully placing the books into his saddle packs, Jankyn noticed that Efrica had felt no need to wait for his help in mounting her horse, and so he mounted his. "Is anything wrong?" he asked when he caught her frowning.
    "Actually," she replied, nudging her horse into motion, "I was but wondering where Malcolm got that thing he wore about his neck. Tisnae something one has just lying about the house."
    Jankyn laughed softly as he rode beside her. "I suspect he had it made when word came that a Callan had married a MacNachton. Dinnae scowl. I took no insult."
    Efrica was not so sure she believed that, but did not argue it. Malcolm's reaction to Jankyn only reaffirmed her opinion that she was a fool to be so attracted to a MacNachton, to even consider a future with the man. If even members of the Callan clan