She wrung her hands and stared out the window. “He’s a powerful hunter. He can take care of himself. Thank you, though, for asking.”

  When they turned off onto another highway, Ephraim took a deep breath. “The children will tell Sutherland I’m on my way to his place, once they realize where I’m headed, if he’s with the Brotherhood.”

  Alena stared out the windshield. “Can you communicate with them?”

  “I tried to earlier, but they won’t respond.”

  If Sutherland was with the Brotherhood, he’d have to realize Alena was Elizabeth, and Ephraim would never go along with any plan that meant she’d die. He scoffed at himself. Right. He’d planned to save Elizabeth, which would in effect have eliminated Alena from the picture. Through his own planned actions, he would have killed Alena.

  Ephraim reached over and took her hand in his. She gave him a small worried smile. She was Elizabeth, and all he wanted was to make her his for all eternity. If she didn’t blood bond with him, it didn’t matter. He’d never return to the past, but die with Alena when the time was right.

  But for now, if he could convince Sutherland to join him, Ephraim would more than likely have a better chance at convincing the other members of the Brotherhood. Sutherland had always been good at swaying others, likeable and a true friend. But Ephraim didn’t want to put Alena at any more risk than he absolutely had to.

  He slowed to a stop on the shoulder of the road. “Either I’d better return you home, or take you to Molly.”

  “You think Sutherland will call the others to meet him there if they suspect we’re paying him a visit? Then they’ll kill me? Or attempt to... rather?”

  “We can’t risk it.”

  “They’ll kill me the first chance they have anyway. Once the League finds out I’ve pledged my love to you—”

  “All right.” They were in the middle of the battle, neither committing to either side. Tension filling every muscle, Ephraim conceded. “We’ll try to negotiate with Sutherland. Maybe he’ll know something of what is going on.”

  “As long as you know what you’re doing,” Alena said, sounding as if she trusted in Ephraim completely.

  He had no idea what he was doing. He only figured they’d have to take drastic measures if changes were going to be made for the better. And he hoped like hell his ties to Sutherland remained intact.

  Twenty minutes later, they pulled up at Sutherland’s stone house, complete with a replicated castle tower on one end, lacking only the moat. Wrought iron grate security doors served as a modern-day portcullis. Jutting out from either side of the house, a stone wall surrounded the property.

  “Living a bit in the past, is he?” Alena asked.

  “Aye, Sutherland holds onto the past a wee bit. His furniture is old world, too.” Cars lined the street in front of the place to Ephraim’s dismay. “An early evening vampire bash,” he said under his breath.

  “Too many for us to handle?” Alena asked, her voice calm and assured. “If they aren’t cooperative?”

  Ephraim choked back a laugh as he studied his Elizabeth, undaunted by what could be the end of her and him. His bonny lass.

  A tall, broad shouldered Scotsman pushed the security doors open and motioned for them to come inside.

  “Sutherland.” Same old Highlander, black haired, a dimple in both cheeks, a glint of the devil in his ebony eyes. Wearing the Sutherland plaid kilt, he looked like he did centuries earlier, rugged, wild, and ready to wield a claymore against the British invaders or enemy Highland clans. A trusted and loyal friend of old.

  “Let’s go.” Alena grabbed her door and jerked it open.

  “Stick close,” Ephraim said when they left the car and walked toward the house with Alena beside him, but she was leaving distance between them. Enough to fight if she needed.

  Several vampires peered out the windows. Their sheer numbers could overwhelm them, Ephraim feared. Yet, they had to make their stand, sooner or later. Better to make it sooner... and get it over with.

  21

  Ephraim kept tight reign on his fangs as soon as Sutherland grinned at Alena. Sutherland immediately put on the charm the way he’d always done when Elizabeth made an appearance.

  When Alena was close enough, Sutherland pulled her into a warm embrace and kissed her cheeks. “Elizabeth, as bonny as ever. Are you certain you want ancient Ephraim?”

  “We’re soul mates, you know,” she said quickly.

  Did she worry Ephraim would be peeved at his friend’s interest in her and cause a scene? He knew Sutherland better than that, but still, he had to know which side his old friend would be on in the battle between the vampires and hunters.

  Sutherland led them into the house. Concentrating on the thirty or so vampire guests and human hosts, loitering in small groups, Sutherland willed them to cease their conversation. “This is Elizabeth MacLeod and though she is no’ one of us, she’ll soon be. Welcome her as our own. Ephraim Campbell is like kin of mine from the old country and has chosen Elizabeth to be his mate.”

  Ephraim was pleased to hear Sutherland’s warm words of welcome. Several of the guests nodded, some offered elusive smiles, but none of them showed their true thoughts. No matter what Sutherland said, Alena was still a huntress, and Sutherland and his vampires were part of an organization that fostered illegal acts, namely, killing League members’ firstborn children and anyone else who got in their way. With their faces stern, bodies held rigid, they remained wary of her presence.

  Alena seemed to hold up well, despite being in a room full of vampires. Every one of them probably knew she was under the Brotherhood’s death contract.

  Ephraim pushed to get on with business. “We want to speak to you about the League.”

  “This is a party, Ephraim. Eat, drink, dance. We’ll talk later.”

  “It’s important—” Alena started to say.

  Stopping her words, Sutherland took her hand and kissed it. “There’ll be enough time for talk.”

  The distress in Alena’s face spurred Ephraim to force the issue. “Our business is urgent. If we must, we’ll speak with you some other time when you’re less busy.” He had every intention of either getting Sutherland to listen, or leaving and speaking with others who might be able to sway the Brotherhood.

  Most of the vampire guests held glasses of wine and stood in pairs or small groups watching them, their lips and minds quiet, waiting for Sutherland’s response. The silence seemed to fill the void interminably as if two medieval clansmen sized each other up for battle.

  Sutherland’s mouth turned up in an expressive smile reaching his black eyes with a hint of merriment. He slapped Ephraim on the back. “All right, old friend. We’ll talk.” He turned to Alena. “You’ll have to teach this Highlander it’s perfectly all right to have fun.”

  Alena straightened her back. “I’m afraid for now, the time for games must end.”

  He raised his brows, but the smile still stirred his lips. “She is no’ only a comely wench like she was in our youth, but she has brains. She won’t be one to boss around, Ephraim.”

  Ephraim couldn’t help smiling at his friend. “Nay, she’s about as stubborn as you.”

  “Aye, then I’ll make no claim to her. A compliant wench is one I’ll have for my own.”

  He motioned to forest-green leather covered chairs sitting at the well-polished, long oak table. “Please, sit.” Sutherland took his seat on one side while Ephraim sat opposite.

  Alena sat beside him, while five other men and two women entered the room and took seats. Before anyone could say anything, a man walked in with a tray full of beverages.

  “Wine for the elders,” Sutherland offered.

  Though Ephraim and his party took the drinks offered to them out of courtesy, none drank from their glasses. Ephraim said, “We know you’re with—”

  Kisaro walked into the room. Immediately, Alena jumped from her chair and extended both wrist blades while Ephraim stood to protect her. At once, he felt they were in the wolves’ den, his huntress warrior with daggers extended, her blood rushing through her veins, her breathing steady and eyes taking in the biggest threats—Kisaro and Sutherland. She was ready to fight beside him no matter the odds, and Ephraim couldn’t love her any more for her tenacity, but he didn’t want her hurt.

  Sutherland tsked. “Dear guests, no one will harm either of you. Please be seated.”

  Kisaro gave a cold, calculating smile, his inky eyes deceptive, then he took a seat at the opposite end of the table.

  Five more male vampires stalked into the room, none of whom Ephraim recognized. They quickly filled in the chairs next to Sutherland.

  “You wished to talk, Ephraim?” Sutherland directed his comment to Ephraim, though he kept his eye on Alena.

  Ephraim patted her hand, encouraging her to put away her weapons and take her seat. She resheathed her knives, then retook her seat along with Ephraim and the others. With her hands concealed in her lap, Alena fidgeted with the buttons on her wrist blades that would extend them instantly.

  “We want to end this war before it gets too far out of hand,” Ephraim said.

  “Why?” Sutherland leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers, like a battle commander, confident the gods backed him. “You’re one of us. Why shouldn’t we come out on top this time? Why shouldn’t we have a hundred years to make the rules?”

  “It isn’t that I don’t agree with you, but—”

  “Ha!” Sutherland interrupted. “If anyone should have good cause to continue this war, it should be you.” He motioned to Alena, compassion stirring in his face. “Your Helen of Troy. She’s worth fighting for, don’t you think? They won’t let you have her, Ephraim. You know this. They’ll kill her once they find out you won’t let her go.”

  Ephraim rose from his chair, but put his hand on Alena’s shoulder to tell her to remain seated. “You have tried to have her killed.” Though he attempted to curb his anger, a poisonous sting flavored his words.

  “Our mistake.”

  “Now it’s your mistake?”

  “We targeted the leaders’ firstborn. No one had any idea that one of them was your Elizabeth.” Though Sutherland’s words were cool, Ephraim knew he’d hit a nerve, that Sutherland hadn’t liked that anyone had targeted her.

  Ephraim scowled. “Kisaro knew. Cybil knew. Damn it to hell.”

  Sutherland’s expression was hard as granite, impressing upon Ephraim that he had nothing to do with targeting Elizabeth. “Cybil was jealous of your love for Elizabeth. She didn’t tell me that she’d found Elizabeth to be one and the same as Alena MacLeod. Kisaro had been scarce these past few days, but once he made us aware that Alena was Elizabeth, we made the offer to have her join us.”

  Ephraim still wasn’t sure he believed Sutherland, but they had to move forward, not get mired in what had happened before, if they were to find a real solution to their problem. “We want to form a new council represented by both our kinds.”

  Sutherland shook his head and crossed his arms. “The League of Hunters won’t go along with it.”

  “We’re attempting to sway the League as we speak.”

  Sutherland conveyed his words to Ephraim telepathically. “We both know the only way Elizabeth will be safe is if her people all die. Devil take her kin. She’s cursed. You have said so to me three times before when her family killed her. You planned to return and kill all of them. You said it was the only way.”

  Ephraim couldn’t crush the disparaging thoughts surging through him that echoed Sutherland’s sentiments. He feared until the last of the Scottish MacLeods were dead, Elizabeth and he would have no peace. Alena slipped her small, warm hand into his. Her eyes implored him to fight the cause they’d agreed upon, though she could have no idea what they discussed telepathically.

  “We want only to stop the bloodshed, Sutherland,” Ephraim said, reaffirming his and Alena’s plan.

  “Then you condemn her to die. I know you don’t want that.”

  “If I killed her family, she would not love me any longer. This is the only way I can have her. You and I have been friends for more than three-hundred years. Does this not mean anything to you? Won’t you help us?”

  Sutherland studied Alena, smiled, then faced Ephraim. “Should I be so lucky to find a woman who bends my heart to her will like she does yours.” He stood. “I can’t promise anything except for safe passage from here. Those who are close to me won’t try to harm Elizabeth for the time being. But I can’t speak for all of the Brotherhood. Our friendship does mean a good deal to me, Ephraim. I’m forever in your debt.” He bowed his head slightly.

  Sutherland’s concession wasn’t half of what Ephraim had hoped for. Still, he had known his friend for many years, and Sutherland was prone to think over his options for a day or two before the notion seemed sound enough that he would agree.

  Ephraim helped Alena from her chair and kept her close.

  “Take care of her, Ephraim. She’s a treasure worth protecting at all costs.”

  “I intend to,” Ephraim said, then glanced in Kisaro’s direction, “no matter what it takes.” His steely gaze threatened Kisaro with havoc if the vampire thought to hurt Elizabeth in any way. He didn’t trust Kisaro entirely, though Ephraim’s revealing that Kisaro had warned him Alena was Elizabeth made Ephraim think a little better of him.

  “Thank you,” Alena said, “for listening to Ephraim. Sometimes dialogue that seems insignificant, can actually be a great stride toward progress.”

  Again, Sutherland smiled, the affection he felt for her seemed genuine. “Aye, a lovely lass and wise as well. She would be my undoing if she was not spoken for already.”

  “She’s mine.” Ephraim smiled when Alena raised a brow at him.

  The other vampires seemed intrigued with the confrontation while they kept quiet, waiting for further word.

  After saying a quick goodbye, Ephraim ushered Alena out of the house and to the car.

  Alena finally let out her breath when she climbed into the passenger’s seat, allowing Ephraim to drive again. “We must go to Molly’s place. Agreed?”

  “Aye.” He still couldn’t quite get over how peaceful the meeting had been. He pulled out of the drive and headed back toward Molly’s place, relieved that there had been no fighting.

  Alena relaxed a little against her seat. “Do you trust Sutherland?”

  “Aye, he’s a Highlander and good for his word. He would die before he’d go back on it.”

  “But Kisaro?” Alena asked.

  “I’m not certain about Kisaro. He did offer for you to join the Brotherhood. And he didn’t attempt to fight me at my home. Perhaps he can be swayed yet.”

  “But Sutherland didn’t accept your offer,” Alena said.

  “Nay. He’s only one of the brethren. No telling who’s running it. He may not feel he’s strong enough to fight him.”

  “But if you fought at his side? I would fight at your side, too.”

  “Sutherland would not want to turn on his own kind unless he thought he had a fighting chance and a good enough cause. He doesn’t have a good cause like I do.” Ephraim reached over, lifted her hand to his mouth, and kissed her.

  Alena shook her head.

  “Well, don’t you agree?”

  “Ah, but you have two wenches at your beck and call—Mona and me.”

  Glad Alena seemed to be teasing to break up the tension the situation had created, Ephraim took a deep breath. “Aye, and to think I have to keep them both satisfied.”

  Alena hmpfed in a lighthearted way and punched in David’s number, hoping beyond hope she could get hold of him now. Her blood still pulsed too rapidly from having been in the vampires’ lair. But no one seemed to have seen her nervousness, thank God.

  “Hello?” Alena said into the phone when there was no response, and yet the line was open. Dread filled every pore.

  “Hello?” a voice finally responded. Kisaro’s voice. Her heart fluttered, nearly stopping.

  “Where’s David, Kisaro?” Alena asked, venom lacing her words.

  Ephraim pulled the car off the road and stopped.

  “Safe for the moment. David hasn’t been terminated because the Brotherhood hasn’t agreed to killing all hunters and huntresses... yet.”

  She tightened her grip on the phone. “Then you’re in agreement that all of my kind need to die.”

  “I want Ephraim’s secret project,” Kisaro said, ignoring her remark.

  Her mouth gaped. “Ohmigod.” She turned to Ephraim. “Kisaro wants your secret project. He’s got David.”

  Lousy damn bargain. Ephraim wouldn’t want David released when her cousin was interested in marrying her. Wouldn’t Ephraim prefer that Kisaro eliminate the risk to her safety instead?

  “Elizabeth?” Kisaro asked when she didn’t respond.

  Ephraim held out his hand for the phone. “Let me speak with him.”

  She handed the phone to Ephraim, figuring a vampire to vampire talk might have better results. But right now she wished she was speaking face to face with Kisaro so she could see his facial expression, his body stance, read him better.

  “What is it that you want, Kisaro?” Ephraim asked, as Alena listened to the conversation with her enhanced hearing.

  “I want what you have that will enable you to return to the past.”

  Kisaro knew about the formula? Hell, did everyone but her?

  “For what purpose?” Ephraim asked, watching Alena. She was sure her face was red as angry as she was that Kisaro had taken her cousin hostage.

  “That’s my business.”

  “It’s unstable and may not work, Kisaro.”

  “I’ll take my chances.”

  “In exchange for?”

  “For your love of Elizabeth. I’ll return her cousin to you.”

  Ephraim ground his teeth. Alena reached over and squeezed his hand, wanting him to do the right thing, wanting him to know she stood behind him.

  He clasped his free hand over the mouthpiece. “No telling what he wants to change in the past.”