The Third Fate by Nadja Notariani Read Free Book Online

leavin’ ye to lie in it.”
    He turned his attention to Kaiden, who stood, hand wrapped around Gwendolyn, clasping her breast as if he clutched a prize, eyes alight with the gleam of victory.
    “ Ye will have to answer to the Council fer this man’s life, Kaiden of Clan Douglas.”
    “ Who is going to tell them?” Kaiden called his marker.
    “ I be the man,” Cael stated flatly.
    At his answer Kaiden flew into him, fangs bared, but Cael was ready, deflecting his blows and stopping him cold, the fight ensuing short but definitive. Cael was an ancient, his power far greater than the younger, lesser vampire could handle. Summoning power from the air around him Cael forced a pulse of white hot energy at the vamp, ending the confrontation before he killed the younger vampire. Cael came to stand over him, the heel of his leather boot firmly pressed into Kaiden’s jaw.
    “ Ye canna prevail, and I’ve no wish to kill ye. Settle with the Council and live long enough to gain some sense.”
    Kaiden’s testimony alone would have had no effect, but with Gwendolyn beside him swearing to his version of events, the Council had listened. They accused Cael of instigating the fight, causing the human’s injuries to be inflicted when he tore Kaiden from him in the middle of feeding. With the testimony of two against him the Council had censured him harshly, ruling him unfit for leadership a span of five years. Once the five years had passed, Cael flatly refused to resume his post, telling the Council he wanted no part in their injustices, that he held them responsible for Kaiden’s lies. Their psychic connection allowed them to see untruths and half-truths, yet they had still ruled in favor of Kaiden, claiming the incident too convoluted to be seen clearly. After Cael’s refusal Kaiden had been offered the position, which he gladly accepted. By that time Gwendolyn had moved on to bigger and better things. He hadn’t seen her since her damning testimony.
    Cael headed for the library, anxious to delve into texts on Druid magic, needing to refresh his memory to discern from which of the Houses the magic surrounding Paige stemmed. The pattern was a mixture of old and new, some of the imbedded charms hiding her true nature reminiscent of a cloaking formula used long before the Romans gained power in the Isles.
    “ I canna believe my eyes!” Alden, one of the few Cael counted a friend, boomed. “What brings ye to Fife House this night?”
    Falling in step with Cael the vampire cheerily slapped him on the back.
    “ I doona wish my presence announced to all in the house, Alden,” Cael spoke quietly, his friend shaking his head in understanding.
    “ Aye, Maccinnis. Ye want to avoid the Douglas. I know well. Why are ye here tonight? It’s unlike ye to venture in when Kaiden’s here.”
    “ Druid magic. I’ve run into an enchantment that puzzles me, Alden.”
    The two exchanged hushed whispers, Cael explaining that he believed the enchantment to be a derivative of a charm used by the Fates themselves.
    “ Be careful, Maccinnis,” Alden warned. “Just earlier Rowan informed me that Kaiden was summoned to a Council meeting. It seems the Council is nervous about a ripple in the psychic link shared by all vampires. Yer an ancient. Did ye feel it?”
    Cael at once intuited it must have been the moment he and Paige had become connected, thankful he had trusted his gut and cloaked her so well. But why would his link with a mate – mortal or otherwise – be felt in the common psychic pool of vampire connection. It didn’t make any sense.
    “ Vaguely. But that’s fer them to worry on. This matter is verra, verra important to me, Alden. Can I count on ye to keep silent about it?”
    “ Doona ye know the answer to that question, Maccinnis?”
    “ I do,” Cael sighed, sorry to have hurt his friend by asking.
    “ Then doona shame me by askin’.”
    “ Forgive me, friend,” Cael offered, his friend’s smile the acceptance of his