Free The Tempted by Donna Grant Page B

at Ravensclyde. “What have they done with the woman?”
    “She’s in the castle,” the old man said and snapped the reins.
    Stefan let him drive off. He walked back to the forest and circled the castle, his gaze on the battlements. The longer he went without seeing Morvan, the more worried he became.
    Were they keeping her prisoner? Were they hurting her?
    It was time he found out.

    ~ ~ ~

    “She’s not waking,” Meg said as she wiped a wet cloth across Morvan’s forehead.
    Leana stood beside the bed, her face pinched with frustration. “I’ve tried all the herbs I know. Nothing is working.”
    “We have to do something. If we don’t, Morvan is going to die.”
    Leana looked at all of the herbs sitting around the chamber. “I don’t know what else to do, Meg. She’s pale as death already. And I don’t know what’s wrong with her.”
    “We’ve gotten some water down her. That’s something at least, right?”
    Leana licked her lips. “It’s not going to be enough.”

    ~ ~ ~

    Stefan was on his second round of the castle when he realized whoever had been following him had found him once more. If he took the time to confront them, it would be longer before he could get to Morvan.
    He didn’t understand the sudden urgency he had to reach her, but he wasn’t going to waste another moment. It was essential that he get to Morvan immediately.
    With his mind so focused on Morvan, he didn’t realize how close his pursuer had gotten until the point of a sword pressed into the back of his neck.
    “Slowly turn around.”
    Fury ripped through him. Who was this bastard that was going to keep him from Morvan. For five days, there hadn’t been a seed of anger in him.
    Until now.
    Stefan spun around, ducking as he did. He came up and slammed his fist into the chest of his attacker, sending him flying backwards.
    A second man stepped forward. Stefan threw his elbow back into the second assailant’s throat. Then he fully faced his opponent and reared back his hand to punch him when the first man jumped on Stefan’s back and held his arms so Stefan couldn’t punch.
    “Easy!” the man shouted.
    Stefan, however, was long past the point of controlling his anger. The monster was back. He bared his teeth and lunged for the second man who was coughing. Then he thought of Morvan. He didn’t want to be a monster anymore. He wanted to be a man worthy of her, one who could control all his emotions – especially his anger.
    And just like that, his anger diminished.
    Not that he was going to let the two men attacking him win. Stefan got an arm loose and elbowed the man on his back.
    “Stefan, please!”
    It wasn’t his name that got his attention, but the voice. There was something recognizable about it.
    “Look at Ronan,” the man said. “He willna be able to talk for a few days after that hit you landed in his throat.”
    Stefan shook his head. Ronan? He blinked several times.
    “That’s it, brother. Look at Ronan. Hear my voice. We didna let you succumb to your monster before. We willna let you now either.”
    “I’m in control,” Stefan said calmly as he looked into the pale green eyes of Ronan. Despite his coughing, Ronan smiled. It was Ronan. It wasn’t a dream, but the man himself. And the man on Stefan’s back was none other than Morcant.
    “Control, aye?” Morcant asked as he slid off Stefan’s back. He came around to stand in front of Stefan, a bright smile on his face. “You are in control. We didna think we’d ever catch up with you. By the saints, it’s good to see you again.”
    He allowed himself a few seconds as Morcant embraced him, pounding him on the back. Stefan then faced Ronan, helped him stand and motioned to his throat. “I’m sorry.”
    Ronan waved away his words and roughly pulled Stefan close so he could embrace him.
    Steven couldn’t believe he had his friends, his brothers back. He looked around, waiting for Daman.
    “He’s no’ here,” Morcant said. “Ronan was first,