Lady Archer shuddered. “How horrible. Although it is a wonder she didn’t simply kill him.”
“She might have cut him apart or taken his soul. However, something about fire disturbed Victoria—she would shy away from it. So I suppose she considered it the worst sort of punishment. I cannot help but agree. Rossberry suffered horribly.”
“Why does he hate Archer?”
“Rossberry believes Archer told Victoria of his defection. Archer would never betray another man’s confidence. That deed was Sir Percival’s doing.” He took a small sip of his whiskey and welcomed the burn. “There is no arguing with Rossberry. He is not… There is something extraordinary about him. About all members of his family, for that matter. It would serve you well to stay far away from him—and Lord Mckinnon, as well. There have been mysterious disappearances connected to their lot over the years.”
“Mckinnon knows Archer very well, doesn’t he?” she asked.
“They studied medicine together. And were good friends. Archer went to him for help in the beginning. But Rossberry soon turned his son against him.”
Her clear green eyes lifted to his. “Then Mckinnon is…”
“As old as the rest of us, and never had a drop of the elixir. Why he doesn’t age, I cannot say. As for Rossberry, he must be one hundred and thirty by now.” Leland held up a hand when she leaned forward intently. “I don’t know what secrets they keep. We didn’t understand until later that Rossberry and his son were never fully human. In truth, I believe Rossberry wasn’t looking for immortality but a cure for whatever it is that haunts his family.”
Her ripe mouth puckered but she nodded in acceptance. “And the rest of them? Was it simple jealousy that caused them to dislike Archer? Or the incident with Marvel?”
He felt a small jolt. “You know of that?”
“Only that Archer and Marvel quarreled over her.”
Leland snorted. “Archer was trying to save Marvel. Victoria had come back and seduced Marvel. She urged Marvel to make the change. Archer was incensed. He knew firsthand what would happen to the youth.” Leland took another sip of his drink. “Marvel was just another pawn. I believe Victoria thought if she roused Archer’s passion, got him jealous, that he would realize the depth of his love for her and return. Instead, Archer got his first true taste of the monster he would become when he beat Marvel within an inch of his life. He agreed then to the members’ ridiculous banishment to keep them, and others, safe.”
“Ever the protector,” she murmured, her brow furrowing. The frown increased. “I still do not understand why Victoria has waited all these years to return. Why did she not go after Archer from the first?”
“The woman is well over three hundred years old. What is sixty years to an immortal? The equivalent of a few months, perhaps?” He shrugged, enjoying the feeling of such a crude gesture. “I believe she truly thought he would return to her, that Archer was merely in a mood. Unfortunately for all of us, he proved he was very much over her wiles.”
“By marrying me.”
“No, my dear,” he said softly. “By falling in love with you.”
She took an unsteady breath. “Hell hath no fury…”
“Indeed.”
Lady Archer rose from her chair in one fluid movement. “So he had to change to stop her.”
“You cannot begin to understand the power she has.”
“Believe me, Lord Leland, I can.” Her hips swayed as she paced. “If Archer possesses even one-tenth of her strength, I can imagine.” Her bitter laugh cut off abruptly, and she rounded on him. “You said he would lose his soul…” She paled, beginning to see the inevitable conclusion.
“Yes,” he said slowly. “When he changes, he shall crave the light of other souls the way you and I crave air. The very first life he takes shall damn him for eternity. And with each life thereafter, a bit of his humanity will go.”
She swayed and grabbed hold of the mantel.
“That is why he fought this curse with everything he had,” he said. “The kiss is an act of consent. Without it, the elixir must work on its own, slowly. For a short time, Archer thought he’d found a cure. There was a ring.”
Her green eyes sharpened. “A ring?”
“The ring hid a note from his old valet, Daoud. Victoria killed him long ago, but not before he sent a message containing the true nature of the demon curse to Archer.”