Free The Vampire And The Highland Empath by Clover Autrey

touch the witch with her empathic gift, she could throw Aldreth back into her memories, throw her off the attack. Aldreth was hurting Toren when he was already so battered and weak, she had to do something. But it had all gone horribly wrong.
    The witch’s magic had attacked Edeen’s essence, a darkness latching onto her gift, then…nothing.
    Until she awoke to Roque hovering over her and a scorching ache in her neck.
    “The sorcerer tried everything he knew. He searched for years for a way to awaken you.” Roque told her.
    Edeen startled. “Years? So Toren survived the witch? They defeated Aldreth.”
    Roque frowned at her. “Luv, you know they’re all long gone.”
    “In this time.” She rose, moving around him. “I intend to go back.”
    Roque stood, placing his fists at his waist. “How?”
    “Find a sorcerer, convince him to open a time rift…” Her words tapered off at the sadness that crossed Roque’s features.
    “Edeen, there are no more sorcerers.”
    Terror sank like teeth into her throat. “But…”
    Roque came to her, took her hand and spoke gently. “I’m so sorry. When your clan passed into the Shadowrood, they took the Fae’s magic with them. Your brother Toren was the last of the sorcerers.”
    “But there’s magic here. I’ve seen it. The ghouls and trolls. And you…”
    Roque nodded. “Your brothers didn’t defeat the witch.”
    Edeen shifted back, but Roque’s grasp kept her in place. “The witch took Shaw and with him a new magic, dark magic, filled the void the Fae’s magic left. Dark magic overcame the world. Have you not seen it here?”
    “Shaw? But he took our people into the Shadowrood.”
    Roque shook his head. “Shaw came to the hill. The witch captured him, turned him,   and dark magic consumed the world.”
    This time, Edeen did pull away and he let her go. “Nay.   Shaw would never give in.”
    Sorrow filled Roque’s eyes. “He may have been forced, or gone insane through torture. We don’t know. But he did give in. Darkness overcame. Ghouls. Trolls. Gremlins. Wizards.” His arms spread wide. “Vampires…every evil magical creature once relegated to shadows roams the earth freely.”
    “This Hitler? He too is of dark magic?”
    A faint smile touched Roque’s mouth. “It turns out humankind is capable of creating a far worse monster than vampires or ghouls.”
    Edeen covered her mouth. Tremors rolled through her.
    Roque took a step toward her. “I am so sorry. I would do whatever I could if there was a way to get you home. I promise you I would.”
    A low roaring pressed against her temples. Her vision went cloudy. Shaw turned, he turned, destroying his soul. Dark magic overcame the world, and Toren and Charity? Oh gods, Col… Edeen swayed.
    She was suddenly lifted into strong arms. A steady heart beat next to her ear. Lips kissed her forehead and Roque whispered, “Shh, shhh, luv. You’re all right.”
    But she wasn’t. She was lost and alone, her family gone. Tears blurred her vision. “I cannot get home. I…” She hiccupped. “I cannot help my brothers.”
    She curled her fist in Roque’s shirt. “Roque. What happened to them? Ye must tell me. What of Charity?”
    “Shh, you’ve learned enough for now.”
    “I’m not a child. Tell me.”
    His sigh rumbled through his chest. He sat on the bed, keeping her in his lap. His hand smoothed down her hair.
    “Toren used the last of his strength to preserve you within the smugglers cave. It was a powerful spell.” He shook his head, his chin rubbing across the top of her head. “After that we don’t know. We know the healer was with him and they simply disappeared off the pages of history.”
    Edeen sniffled. “He did not attempt to save Shaw?”
    “It was too late. Shaw too powerful…”
    “And Col?”
    Roque stiffened. Heat shot off his skin. Edeen snapped her head up to face him. “Col?”
    Roque’s eyes shimmered. She glimpsed a grief of his own in them, exposed and unbearably