MOONLIGHT LEGACY Page 19

  She glanced around the rocky mountainside with a curious look in her eyes. "Where is he?"

  Hadden pulled himself to his feet and stumbled a few feet away from her to the tangled underbrush.

  "Here. I tried to get him as far as away from the car as possible, in case it exploded." He frowned and touched the lump on his temple, wincing as he did so. "Now, I'm not sure I did the right thing. I could have done more harm by moving him in the first place."

  "Let's get him up the hill," she said after a moment's hesitation. "I have a first aid kit in the dash, it might be of some use."

  A moan from the prone man caught both their attention.

  "Thank God," Hadden breathed, scrambling to his friend's side.

  Steven opened his eyes and moaned again, a look of pain in his eyes.

  "How you doing, buddy?" Hadden asked, relief flooding through him at the sight of Steven finally opening his eyes.

  "I've been better," Steven replied, putting his hand to his head. "What happened? The last thing I remember is arguing with you, and then somebody cut off the lights."

  "Some fool ran us off the road," Hadden said bitterly. "We're lucky we're not dead."

  A shocked expression crossed Steven's features. "I remember now. Hadden, it was a state trooper who ran us down. I caught a glimpse of the car as we went over."

  "Jesus." Hadden stared at his friend. "Are you sure, Steven?"

  Steven nodded, his features taking on a grim quality as he winced from pain. "Yeah. I'm sure."

  Hadden lifted his friend up and Elaine scrambled to Steven's other side and placed his arm around her neck.

  "This has been one long nightmare, and I'm beginning to wonder if I'm ever going to wake up," Hadden muttered as they lumbered slowly up the incline.

  It took only a few short minutes to gain the top where Mary Ellen waited for him, but to Hadden it seemed like an eternity. Minutes lost when Miranda's very soul was at stake. It took more precious moments to check Steven's injuries out, moments he didn't have to spare, but necessary to reassure himself Steven would survive his injuries.

  "Except for a few bruises, scrapes, and a bump on the head, I'd say you're going to be fine, my friend," he said as he peered into Steven's eyes. "Pupils are normal too, so we don't have to worry about a concussion." He let out a long breath of relief. "We both came out of that crash better than we should have expected to."

  The old woman, silent until now, nodded and said, "Good, now we must go before it's too late for your woman."

  Hadden's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why are you willing to help us tonight, when before you turned us away?"

  Mary Ellen looked at him for several moments, as if trying to decide if she should tell him her reasons. At last she spoke. "It all began with the dream I had tonight. That's what convinced me I had to help you." She began to tell him about the ghost, and the herbs that could possibly help Miranda. When she was finished he just looked at her without saying anything.

  Feeling tired, and depressed, he leaned against the bed of the truck. "It's not enough that I have had to contend with werewolves and crazy cops. Now, I have to deal with witches, magic potions and ghosts." He snorted. "All we need is a couple of vampires and a zombie thrown in for good measure, and we can have a fucking party."

  "There's no need to take that tone of voice with my mother, Doctor," Elaine said, her voice stiff and cold. "She's only trying to help you and your fiancée."

  Hadden rubbed his hands down his bristled jaws with a tired sigh. Damn, she was right. "I apologize, Mrs. Campbell, your daughter is right. I have no cause to take my anger and frustration out on you. We welcome your help."

  "Then, I suggest we get going," Steven spoke up, his voice husky with pain. "Time is running out, and we still have a long ways to go yet."

  "Yes, we must get going," Mary Ellen said, her bleary eyes taking on a faraway expression. "I see much trouble ahead for your Miranda. Much trouble…"

  Chapter 17

  * * *

  Miranda lay curled on the bed, wondering how she was going to get through the ceremony Drake insisted on tonight.

  On the outside, Damaina was like a hundred other one red-light towns, but on the inside it was different, because not a human soul lived within its borders. The inhabitants of this small community held their darkest secrets close, and kept out outsiders who could possibly expose them for what they really were. It was a miracle that her birth mother had ever met her father, considering the pack's clannish ways.

  But somehow Cassandra had, and love had blossomed between two very unlikely beings. A love that had endured through the years like the love she shared with Hadden. She now knew it had been wrong of her to even think about running from Hadden. Dear God, she'd been a fool. And now, she had to pay for her mistakes. She'd lost her adopted mother. She couldn't lose Hadden too, not if she could prevent it by marrying Drake. Hadden deserved to live a full, long life and she intended for him to do just that.

  A soft knock on the bedroom door broke her reverie. Sitting up hurriedly, Miranda wiped away the evidence of her tears. "Come in."

  A delicate looking dark haired girl stuck her head around the doorjamb. "Hi, I'm Lianne. Can I come in?"

  Miranda nodded reluctantly, not really up to having company, but she didn't want to appear rude to the young girl.

  Lianne was a fairy child, she thought in amazement as the tiny woman-child stepped into the room. It was hard to imagine she was a loup-garou. But Miranda knew she was.

  "Drake sent me to help you dress for the ceremony, but I just decided there would be a change in plans."

  Miranda shot her a startled look. "What do you mean?"

  A firm look came into the girl's eyes. "Get up, Miranda. I'm getting you out of here before you do something you regret for the rest of your life."

  Stunned, Miranda slid to the edge of the massive bed. "Who are you?"

  "Lianne," the girl said with an impatient voice. "Drake's sister. Now, please, let's get moving before it's too late."

  Tears burned behind Miranda's eyes and ached in her chest, but she didn't dare release them in front of the girl. She shook her head sadly, and glanced at the wedding dress Drake had left on the bed. She remembered how he'd fingered the antique lace lovingly, and the hint of madness in his emerald gaze as he'd eyed her silently.

  She shuddered. "I can't leave, Lianne. It's already too late for that."

  Lianne gave her an incredulous look. "Are you telling me you want to be his bride?"

  Miranda tried to laugh, but it came out choked and miserable. "Is that so hard for you to believe?"

  Lianne tossed her long black mane. "Hell, yes. Miranda, I know about your doctor, and your plans to marry him. I don't buy any of this nonsense. I know you can't possibly want to marry Drake."

  "It's not a matter of what I want. It's a matter of what I must do." Miranda stood and then grabbed the ornate bedpost as the room swayed back and forth.

  Lianne caught her just as the floor leapt at her and steered her backwards until she felt the mattress beneath her again. "What is it? Are you sick or something?"

  Miranda pushed back a strand of sweat-dampened hair. "I just don't feel very well. Flu, I guess."

  Lianne looked at her with astonishment. "We don't get the flu, or any other human illness for that matter. No this is something else. Something to do with your transformation."

  "Give me a few moments and I'll be fine," Miranda muttered in a shaky voice.

  Lianne's eyes opened wide. "Oh my God, Drake lied. You haven't completed the cycle yet. That's it, isn't it?"

  Miranda looked away. "I told you I'm okay, so can we please drop this discussion right now. I thought you were supposed to be helping me with my dress."

  "Not until you level with me. What's going on between you two, Miranda?"

  Miranda's mouth firmed into a tight line. "I told you already, nothing. I'm going to marry your brother in a matter of minutes and that's all you need to know. Lianne
."

  Lianne shook her head. "Good God, I don't understand you any better than I understand Drake. Would you please just tell me the truth straight out, so that I can try and understand what is going on between the two of you?"

  "Lianne, all you really need to know is I can't run away." Miranda let out a bitter laugh. "Don't you see? If I run away he will come after me, and a lot of innocent people will get hurt because of me. I can't let that happen."

  When she saw Lianne open her mouth to object, Miranda held up her hand. "Please, no more. Don't ask me any more questions, okay?"

  Lianne nodded reluctantly and a heavy sigh escaped her. "Okay, but no one can say I didn't try. Now, let's get you ready for the upcoming nuptials. Of course, I still don't get why the wedding has to be tonight."

  Miranda shot her a warning look.

  "Okay, okay. No more questions."

  A soft knock at the door caught their attention, and when Miranda called out for them to enter, a dignified older man with hair the color of cotton shuffled in; his shoulders seemed to be permanently bowed with despair.

  "Adam, what are you doing here?" Lianne asked, her surprise to see him evident in her voice.

  The man gave Miranda such a look of longing, she felt compassion stir in her breast.

  "I'm sorry to intrude," he said, "but I just wanted a chance to meet her."

  Lianne worried her bottom lip. "Yes, I suppose you do." She swept out her arm. "Well, here she is. What do you think?"

  Tears came into his eyes as he gazed at Miranda. "I think she's as beautiful as her mother was."

  Miranda started. "You knew my mother?"

  "She was my daughter."

  "Daughter?" she echoed, bewildered. His words took her breath away. She had a flesh and blood relative. She staggered under the weight of his identity. All those years and she'd never heard a word from him. She couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with her father.

  "I didn't know I still had any relatives left here. Why didn't you connect with me before now?"

  The old man's shoulders seemed to slump even more, if that were possible. "It would be better for you if you didn't know now. Then perhaps Drake wouldn't insist on you abiding by that damn fool contract I signed so long ago. And it was your mother's request that I stay away, to protect you from knowing the truth until it was necessary. She wanted you to have a normal life."

  "You know better than to think that this is all your fault, Adam," Lianne said, putting her hand on his arm. "Drake would have found another way to get what he wants and right now, he wants Miranda."

  Miranda slid off the edge of the bed and took his gnarled hands into her own. Love and compassion stirred inside her as she knelt by his side. "Lianne's right, Grandfather. I'm convinced nothing would stop Drake from getting what he wants, namely me."

  He gave her a look of anguish. "Still, if I hadn't signed…"

  Miranda squeezed his hands gently. "Stop it. You did what you thought best at the time, and nothing either of us can do can change that now."

  "I lost my beautiful Cassandra because of it."

  Miranda smiled. "But we found each other."

  He gave her a trembling smile. "Yes, we have, and I thank God for it."

  Impulsively, she hugged him, and when she stepped away he wiped at the tears in his eyes. "I will leave you now to prepare for the ceremony. I do hope you know what you're doing, my dear."

  So do I, Miranda thought, her heart twisting with pain as she watched him leave. So do I.

  * * *

  It was time.

  Miranda smoothed the bodice of her wedding dress before she made her way down the staircase.

  Downstairs, the parlor had been transformed into a chapel, complete with folding chairs and hothouse flowers, so very different from the wedding she'd planned with Hadden.

  Hadden.

  The thought of him sent fresh waves of pain through her, and she stumbled slightly as she entered the parlor.

  The sight of Drake waiting for her made her want to turn and run, but she knew she could not. Too much was at stake to back out now. No, she had to go through with it. It was the only way to keep Hadden safe. To keep him alive. Drake would honor her wishes to leave Hadden in peace as long as she did what he wanted.

  But never would Drake have the part of her he wanted so desperately to possess…her heart.

  It belonged to Hadden and always would. Hadden owned a piece of her soul and had since childhood. Nothing could change that. Nothing, she swore silently as she made her way to Drake's side.

  "I object to this travesty."

  Miranda stopped dead in her tracks at the words and shot Drake a look of uncertainty, before her gaze fell onto the man who'd just spoken. He stood up slowly, a sneer on his face. "You've done some foolhardy things in your life, Drake. But this tops them all. This stunt is outrageous, to say the least, and I for one cannot sit still in silence and watch it happen."

  Drake's smooth smile belied the fury Miranda knew he was feeling at being challenged in front of his people.

  "This is my decision, Justin. Not yours or the council's. I can choose who I want for my mate, and I choose Miranda Slate."

  "For God's sake, man, she's a half-breed. You can't take a half-breed as your wife."

  Drake's eyes narrowed. "And who's going to stop me? You, Justin? No, I don't think so. Now, either sit down or leave. It's your choice."

  "I want it noted for the record that I did voice my objections," Justin said, his voice edged with anger and resentment.

  "So noted," Drake said in a cold voice. He held his hand out for Miranda. She hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly resumed her walk down the aisle.

  The ceremony took on a dream-like quality, and Miranda was barely aware of the hushed murmuring from the onlookers. Her only thought was to get it over with as quickly as possible and then, and only then, would Hadden be safe from Drake. Please God, keep Hadden safe and in Silver Springs, she prayed silently.

  Suddenly, just as she was about to repeat her vows, the door slammed opened. At first Miranda thought the wind had blown it opened, until she saw Hadden.

  He stood in the doorway, his face twisted with anguish. "No…don't do this, Miranda!"

  Miranda spun about, her heart thundering in her ears. "What are you doing here?"

  An angry murmur rose from the others, as they watched Hadden come down the aisle in stunned amazement.

  But Hadden had eyes and ears for only one person. Miranda. When he reached her, he grabbed her arms and forced her to look at him. "I don't know why you're doing this, but if you're doing it to save me, then don't. I can't bear to see you married to this…this monster."

  Miranda looked away, unable to look at the pain in his eyes. Pain she was causing him. But she was doing it for him, she reminded herself. She took a deep shaky breath and forced herself to meet his gaze. "My marrying Drake has nothing to do with you, Hadden. It's what I chose to do. You have to accept that fact and go home, now, without me." Bits of her heart broke off with each stabbing word she uttered, and she closed her eyes for a second as the pain washed though her. Please, no more.

  Hadden's expression hardened, and the anguish in his eyes made her want to scream out the truth, but she dared not. His fingers bit painfully into her shoulders. "No. I don't believe you. Tell me that you love him and not me." He shook her hard. "Look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't love me, and you love him and want to marry him, and I'll leave peacefully and never bother you again."

  Miranda looked away, unable to meet his probing gaze. "I can't," she whispered brokenly. "I can't, please don't ask me to do that. Not again."

  "Damn you, get away from her!" Drake roared, lashing out at him. "I won't let you take her away from me, do you hear? She belongs to me, you bastard!"

  Hadden picked himself off the floor and wiped at his bloody mouth. "She was never yours to begin with, Drake, and she never will be."

  Drake, his eyes burning with rage, flew
at him. Instinctively, Hadden grabbed for the pistol in his jacket, but Drake dashed it from his hands with an evil laugh. And then the next thing Hadden knew, he was grappling with Drake and fighting for his very life against a creature who had ten times his strength.

  He heard Miranda scream as Drake lifted him by the throat and threw him against the wall. Red-hot pain shot through him as he slid down the paneled surface, and his vision blurred as he tried to catch his breath.

  Drake came at him again, and Hadden knew without a doubt this time he was going to die. He tried to struggle to his feet, but fell to his knees as Drake kicked out and caught him in the groin.

  Drake threw back his head and laughed. "I grow tired of playing this game. Now, it's time to end it so I can get back to my wedding. Good-bye, Doctor."

  Hadden braced himself for the blow, but to his shocked surprise it never came.

  A shot rang out.

  He heard shocked screams and saw people scrambling over each other to get out. Still not sure exactly what had happened, he looked at Drake.

  Drake stood motionless, his face etched with amazement, blood seeped through the snowy white of his shirt as he spun about slowly to face his executioner.

  Tears streamed down Miranda's cheeks, and her hands shook as she lowered the gun. "I'm sorry, Drake, but I can't let you kill him. I love him." she whispered, before she pulled the trigger again. "So very sorry."

  Chapter 18

  * * *

  The sheriff of Silver Springs let out a sigh and took off his cap to scratch his head as he stared at his sleeping deputy. Now how did those boys pull this one off…he wondered as he took down a gaggle of keys from the wall and inserted one into the metal lock. The barred door swung open slowly with a loud metal screech.

  The boy's eyes flew opened and at the sight of his boss standing over him, he lumbered to his feet, his face a deep dull red. "Sorry, Sheriff. The preacher busted the doctor out of jail. There wern't nothing I could do."