Midnight's Promise_Dark Warriors

by Donna Grant

  Banan slowly stood. “You’re making a mistake no’ telling Fallon about Malcolm. Malcolm could very well need them in the end since, as you say, the dragons with him willna be much help.”

  “If it comes to that, I’ll no’ hesitate to inform Fallon.”

  “Good. I like the Warriors. I doona want them to become our enemies. We have enough of them as it is.”

  Con walked back to his desk and resumed his seat. “We were here since the beginning of time. We tried to keep the peace with the humans, and when we couldna we sent our dragons away. The humans will always hate and fear us.”

  “I’m no’ talking about the humans,” Banan said, his voice lowering in anger. “I’m talking about the damned threat to us we still have no’ discovered. I’m talking about Ulrik and if he’s involved. And let’s no’ forget the Fae who have taken an interest again.”

  Con snorted and shook his head. “It’s just Rhi. Forget the Fae. Their interest lies in Phelan since he’s a descendant. The Fae willna be bothering us.”

  “Allies are good. We may only be killed by one of our own, but it’s happened before. Things are changing, Con. Be prepared for them.”

  “Are you saying I’m no’?” he asked, quietly belying the anger simmering.

  Banan suddenly smiled. “I know you too well, old friend. There’s no need to hide your rage from me. And aye, you can think we’re above many things. We tried to warn you about Ulrik and his human woman.”

  “A woman who betrayed him!” Con bellowed as he jumped to his feet. He leaned his hands on his desk and regained his composure. When he spoke again, his voice was once more calm and low. “A decision had to be made regarding that traitor. The woman got what was coming to her.”

  “And we made Ulrik an enemy for life. He’s one of us, a King. It may take him another five thousand millennia, but he will get his revenge. I’ve no doubt of that.”

  Con watched him walk out of his office. He wanted to forget everything Banan said, but Con knew he was right. Ulrik would one day take his revenge.

  What Banan had wrong was that they needed allies. They were Dragon Kings. They had ruled the skies, the land, and the waters of Earth since it was formed. They were masters.

  They kept who they were a secret so the war between dragons and humans wouldn’t erupt again. Perhaps it was time to rethink a few things.

  * * *

  Evie couldn’t be angry at Malcolm no matter how hard she tried. She hadn’t wanted sleep, but her body needed it. With those few hours of rest, her mind was refreshed and more focused.

  She finished her sandwich and tossed the paper away. Malcolm sat in the only chair while she remained on the bed. “All right, I admit it. I needed sleep.”

  His lopsided, boyish grin made her heart flutter in her chest. “There are still two hours before the meeting.”

  Evie wiped her mouth before setting the napkin aside. “Did it hurt when Deirdre released your god?”

  “Verra much. Have you had a broken bone?”

  “My arm.”

  “Imagine every bone in your body breaking and your muscles shredding before everything healed.”

  She winced. “That sounds painful.”

  “It was.”

  “If you don’t want to talk about it—”

  “Ask your questions,” he interrupted her gently.

  Evie picked at her nails, and took a deep breath before asking, “You mentioned that Warriors have powers. What are yours?”

  “I only have one. I control lightning.”

  “Control it,” she repeated in awe. “How exactly?”

  He held out his hand palm up and a soft ball of light appeared. Evie gasped in surprise when she saw the lightning running from finger to finger.

  “Doesn’t it hurt?”

  “I doona feel it,” he said and made the lightning disappear. “It’s a part of me.”

  “What are some of the other powers Warriors have?”

  His azure eyes smiled at her. “Teleporting, fire, water, snow and ice, shadows, talking to animals, and the ground are a few. There is one who is able to find anyone, anywhere.”

  “That’s amazing.”

  “You talk to rocks. How is anything I just told you more astonishing than that?”

  She laughed and shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess maybe because I thought I was the only one who could do something like that.”

  “Does Brian have magic?”

  She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Sadly, no. I wished he did. What is your god’s name?”

  “Daal. He’s called the Devourer.”

  “That sounds ominous.”

  “Because he is. He’s verra powerful, and no’ one who likes to be trifled with.”

  “Do you enjoy the power he gives you?” she asked, hoping not to offend him.

  There was a slight pause as if Malcolm was considering her words. “I do. It allows me to protect the ones I care about. If I had been a Warrior when I was attacked, I wouldna be scarred nor would I have lost the use of my arm.”

  “You use your arm now.”

  “Only because of Daal. The gods make us immortal, Evie. If I’m wounded, I heal quickly.”

  “Immortal,” she mused. “You could potentially live forever.”

  He shrugged. “I suppose. There are ways the Druids have figured out how to remain alive through the centuries to be with their men.”

  The idea that she would die while he lived on had been like a kick in the stomach. Was Malcolm telling her how the other Druids remained alive so they could be together? She hoped so, because she wasn’t yet ready to be parted from him. “That’s good. Do you like being a Warrior?”

  “If the spell to bind our gods is found as those at MacLeod Castle wish it to be, I would once more return to being a man with the use of only one arm. Given that choice, I’d rather remain a Warrior.”

  His voice was level, but she saw the distress in his magnificent azure eyes. “There are worse things than having the use of only one arm.”

  “In a world of magic and immortals, do you really believe that?”

  She swallowed, unable to answer him. Evie looked away, thinking over his words. All the questions she wanted to ask about his god were gone. Malcolm put everything into perspective with just a few words.

  “What will you and Brian do after all this is over?”

  Evie was taken aback by the quick change in subject. She licked her lips and looked down at her hands folded in her lap. “I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.”

  “It’s obvious your hackers are the ones who took Brian. Once he’s back and your necklace is safe, you know they’ll no’ bother you again.”

  “Yeah,” she mumbled. It also meant Malcolm wouldn’t be in her life.

  The thought of that made her sick to her stomach. She’d gotten used to Malcolm’s intense stare and his steely resolve. Even with everything he was suffering, he’d been there for her last night when she gave her soul to the Devil.

  “What will you do?” she asked.

  He shrugged but didn’t answer.

  “You should go to Larena. You need to talk to her, and I know she would want to see you.”

  Malcolm looked out the window. “I’ve considered it.”

  They fell into silence. Worry began to eat away at Evie the longer she sat there. Worry about Brian, about keeping the necklace, but also about being able to use her new, stronger magic.

  Evie called to her magic and let it gather around her. It spun around her, growing until she could feel it through every inch of her body.

  She lifted her gaze to find Malcolm sitting with his forearms braced on his thighs and his hands in tight fists. His skin flashed maroon as he kept his head down and his face turned away from her.

  “Malcolm?”

  His head gradually lifted until she was staring into his azure eyes. “Doona. Stop.”

  “Stop?” she asked in confusion.

  “Your magic. Doona stop.”


  Realization dawned as she remembered he could feel her magic. She rose from the bed and walked to him. Evie knelt before him so that she was looking up into his face.

  “Does it hurt you, my magic?”

  He shook his head. “Never.”

  Evie swallowed and gathered magic in one palm before she placed that hand on his shoulder. A low growl rose up from his chest as his gaze speared her.

  Desire and excitement raced through her. Her chest heaved, just as Malcolm’s did.

  “More,” he demanded.

  Evie moved closer, situating herself between his legs. She used her other hand and placed it on his face.

  She sucked in a breath when she saw his eyes close and pleasure wash over him. There was no doubt he not only felt her magic, but enjoyed it.

  His eyes snapped open as his hands grabbed her shoulders. He pulled her against him, the heat of him searing her. Evie wound her arms around his neck.

  She took a breath, allowing her magic to fill her even more. Then she expanded it so her magic surrounded Malcolm as well.

  He cupped one side of her face and rubbed his thumb along her lower lip. Desire and need were reflected in his eyes. There was sadness there also.

  Before she could ask him about it, his lips captured hers in a scorching, all-encompassing kiss that left her gasping for air.

  And yearning for more.

  He dragged her up from the floor so that she straddled him. His thick arousal pressed against her as she clung to him.

  A storm of longing raged around them. Malcolm was her anchor, the rock she cleaved to so she wouldn’t be swept away by the rampant need.

  They tore at each other’s clothes, discarding them one by one until they were flesh to flesh.

  Evie let out a sigh and sunk her fingers in his cool gold locks. His fingers bit into her hips as he lifted her over him. With their gazes tangled, he slowly lowered her onto his thick cock.

  Her body trembled at the feel of him once more filling her. She let out an unsteady breath when she was fully seated. Then he rocked her hips forward with his hands.

  Evie bit her lip at the exquisite sensation. She dropped her head back and continued to rock her hips. Malcolm’s hand braced against her back as he bent her farther.

  She moaned when he flicked his tongue over her nipple before wrapping his mouth around the turgid peak. A cry was wrenched from her when he lightly bit down on her nipple.

  Her hips moved faster and faster as she continued to wind her magic around them.

  “Can no’ hold back,” Malcolm rasped.

  “Don’t.” She lifted her head and smiled.

  He slid a hand between them and swirled a thumb around her clit. That’s all it took to send her over the edge.

  Evie screamed her pleasure as they peaked together, their passion colliding, swelling. Until it coalesced into a brilliant flame that blazed hotter than the sun—and brighter than the moon.

  CHAPTER

  THIRTY-ONE

  Rhys tapped his finger with a slow rhythm on the hood of Hal’s Ferrari as he stared across the loch to the inn where Malcolm and Evie stayed.

  “What is it?” Guy asked.

  Rhys turned his head over his shoulder to Guy who was pulling his long, light brown hair back in a queue at the base of his neck. “Malcolm is different.”

  “Aye. We’ve already agreed on that.”

  Rhys shifted so that he leaned his forearms on the hood and stared across it to his friend. “You know more.”

  “Why does it matter?”

  “It doesna. You know I’ll help. I like the Warriors. But Malcolm has the look of a man who is about to do something stupid.”

  “I’ll be sure to tell him you said that,” Guy said irritably.

  Rhys narrowed his gaze, his assumptions proven correct. “So he is.”

  “He thinks he is,” Guy said with a sigh. “I’m no’ going to sit by and allow it though. Malcolm believes he has a debt to pay that only his life will do as payment.”

  “As I said. Stupid.” Rhys straightened and drummed his fingers on the car once more as he thought about Malcolm.

  Guy scratched his jaw where a shadow of a beard had begun. “If it’s Wallace who shows, as Malcolm suspects, we’ll have our hands full getting the tourists away. Any given day there are hundreds of people touring those ruins.”

  “It would make life easier if we could be in dragon form,” Rhys said with a grin.

  “Doona even tease about that,” Hal said as he walked up. He replaced his mobile phone in his pocket. “If Con heard you, he’d have your arse.”

  “He could try,” Rhys said, his jaw tight as anger built. “Con may be the King of Kings, but that doesna mean he’s always right.”

  Guy snorted. “And you wanting to show the humans dragons do exist is right?”

  Rhys wiggled his eyebrows. “Nay. But it would be fun.”

  “Too much fun,” Hal said with a smile as he slapped Rhys on the shoulder.

  Rhys lifted his face to the sky. He yearned to take to the heavens and spread his wings, to feel the currents rush along his body.

  “There are times it seems just a dream that we once ruled,” he said. “I long to have the Yellows back. I miss the days when we were free.”

  “We all do,” Guy said.

  Silence filled the air before Hal asked, “Do you ever wish we’d gone with our dragons?”

  “Every damned day,” Rhys answered without hesitation.

  Guy’s lips twisted. “If you’d asked me before I met Elena, I would’ve agreed with you, Rhys. Now, I have her. I want my Reds back. I want to see dragons fill the skies again, but I fear it will never happen.”

  Rhys couldn’t begin to understand Hal’s, Guy’s, or Banan’s need for their women. He was happy his friends had found their mates, but he was glad he’d not been touched by such madness.

  “So who is going to get Evie away?” he asked. “She’ll be a handful once she discovers what Malcolm plans.”

  Guy crossed his arms over his chest, his expression one of disquiet. “I’ll get Evie. Rhys, you’ll need to grab the brother.”

  “And I’ll help Malcolm,” Hal said.

  Rhys shook his head in aggravation. “We could take out Wallace once and for all. I’ll get Brian out and protect the humans, but I’m no’ leaving Malcolm to die.”

  “Nay,” Guy said, his voice laden with determination and resolve. “We’re no’.”

  Rhys smiled and rubbed his hands together. “We’ve less than an hour. Time to get in place.”

  * * *

  “You’ll be all right,” Malcolm said. He stood with Evie at the door to their room. She was dressed and ready to face the kidnappers, but her pallor and rapid breathing caused him concern. “I’ll be there, hidden, but keeping watch over you. We’ll bring Brian home today.”

  She nodded and forced a smile. “I know.”

  “Do you?” When her face crumpled, it tore at him. Malcolm pulled her against his chest and held her. “I remember when I found Larena dying. Deirdre sent Warriors for her, but one of them didna like the idea of a female Warrior, so he stabbed her with a blade covered in drough blood.”

  Evie pulled back to look at him. “What do you mean? What does drough blood do?”

  “One drop will kill us.”

  “Oh. You saved her, obviously.”

  Malcolm tugged at one of her curls. “I was merely a man. I found Fallon. He was able to jump Larena to MacLeod Castle and Druids who could help her.”

  “Jump? You mean you can do that?”

  “Nay. I meant he teleported. That’s Fallon’s power. He got her to his castle in time and she was saved. The point is that I understand how you’re feeling. Larena didna get kidnapped, but she was dying. Right in front of me. Then Fallon took her, and I didna know what happened.”

  “So you went after her,” she said softly.

  Malcolm touched his scarred shoulder. “Aye.”

  “I know I won’t get h
urt, Malcolm, and not just because I have magic. I won’t get hurt because you’ll be there.”

  He stared down into her clear blue eyes, amazed that anyone could look at him with such confidence. His fingers caressed her jaw. “You’re beautiful.”

  A genuine smile pulled at her lips as she glanced away, the embarrassment evident. “Flattery, Malcolm Munro, will get you everywhere.”

  He wanted to tell her how she had changed his life and made him feel again. He wanted her to know how much he owed her for believing in him when no one else had. But more than anything he wanted her to know how much he was going to miss her.

  “I need to get moving,” she said and rose up to place a quick kiss on his lips. “I know we’re going to come out of this because you’ll be there. Thank you.”

  He let her pull out of his grasp as she turned toward the door. Just before she went through it, she paused and looked back at him with another smile.

  “I’ll meet you back here. I can’t wait to introduce you to Brian.”

  Malcolm swallowed the words he had been about to say and nodded. Once the door shut behind her, he turned to the window and the ruins of Urquhart Castle through the trees.

  He walked to the window and waited until he saw the little rusted Nissan he’d stolen drive away before he strode from the inn. Malcolm walked along the road until he came to a section of the loch that was hidden from view. There he discarded his shirt and shoes and dove into the dark waters of Loch Ness.

  * * *

  Evie’s hands shook as she drove to the famous castle. The narrow road took her up the mountain before she had to turn off and drive down into the parking area of Urquhart Castle.

  She parked the car and turned off the ignition. “I can do this,” she told herself. “I’m going to get Brian back no matter what.”

  Her hand touched the necklace through her sweater. Malcolm had warned her she might have to give it up. They had come up with a plan to get it back if that should happen.

  She was ready to use her magic in whatever way was necessary, even if it meant killing. It was her brother’s life at stake.