by Donna Grant
There was a light scratch on the door that sounded like claws. She rose to her feet, assuming it was Lucan or his brothers. Until the door rattled on its hinges.
She took a step back and ran to the wall, her gaze darting to the door and the dust and dirt that flew every time it was jerked.
“I know you’re in there. I can smell you and your magic,” a deep, raspy voice called from the other side of the door.
She glanced around the small chamber. Magic? What was he talking about? She had no magic. There was also nowhere to escape, no place to hide. The only thing separating her from whatever was on the other side was a wooden door that was centuries old. How long could it last?
As soon as the thought flitted through her mind, the wood cracked. An evil laugh filled the chamber as the man doubled his efforts in pulling apart the door.
The wood splintered with a loud crack. Cara flattened herself against the stone wall, her heart in her throat. She screamed when an ash-colored hand pushed through the hole in the door.
The monster’s claws scraped on the wood, gouging the door with five long streaks. Cara squeezed herself into a corner, icy prickles of terror racing over her skin. With one yank, the door was wrenched in two. She screamed again when a face, the same ash color, came into her line of sight.
Thick horns rose through the man’s blond hair atop his head. He laughed, peeling back his lips to show his fangs. His eyes were the same color as his skin and scanned her up and down as he chuckled.
“What a reward I will get for being the one to find you.” He pulled the rest of the door off its hinges and made to step into the chamber.
He got no more than one foot inside before the tip of a sword pushed through his stomach. Cara’s heart stopped as the creature looked down at the blade protruding from his abdomen. A heartbeat later the beast was jerked out of the chamber, his claws raking down the sides of the stones.
Cara caught a glimpse of Fallon, his tunic covered in blood.
“Are you all right?” Fallon asked.
She nodded.
“I’ll keep him occupied. Get out and find Lucan.”
Fallon moved into the darkness of the corridor. Grunts and growls filled the space as Fallon and the monster fought. Cara started toward the doorway and stopped when she saw seedlings had sprouted where her hands had been. With no time to think about it, she reached for the torch. No matter how much she strained, it wouldn’t loosen from the holder.
Cara blinked back the tears that threatened. Her fear had made her too frightened to move the night her parents were killed. If she didn’t do something now, she would receive the same fate as they had.
Yet she couldn’t see. How could she get past the monster if she didn’t know where he was?
“Cara!” Fallon shouted. “Run. Now!”
She lifted her skirts and shouldered her way through the broken door, all the while praying she didn’t crash into anything. She could hear Fallon and the other man—monster—in their skirmish. Fallon grunted and something heavy hit the wall.
Cara tried to dart past them, but something bumped into her, knocking her off her feet. She pitched forward, her skirts forgotten as she put her hands out to catch herself. She landed with a hard thud and hit her chin on the ground, biting her tongue.
Tears welled in her eyes as pain swam through her and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. She tried to get to her feet, but something grabbed her ankle. The laugh that echoed around her sent a chill of foreboding through her.
“Just where do you think you’re going?” The monster jerked back on her ankle, pulling her toward him.
Cara clawed at the ground, dirt clumping under her fingernails. She kicked back with her other foot and missed. The second time she tried, she connected with something. There was a grunt, and then the beast cursed and gave her leg a vicious yank.
With her breath coming in ragged gasps, she began to pray, mumbling the prayers the nuns had taught her to help ease her fears.
“You belong to us,” the monster said. “You and the Demon’s Kiss.” The beast’s hands gripped her waist, hauling her next to him.
Cara knew if the creature left with her Lucan would never find her. No one would ever find her. That was enough for her to put aside her terror and strike out with her hands and feet. She hit the monster multiple times, but he never eased his hold.
When he gained his feet and started walking, Cara knew she had one last chance in Fallon, if he wasn’t dead. “Fallon. Fallon, please!”
One moment she was being held above the ground, and the next she was on her stomach with a heavy weight atop her. She tried to move, but the creature was too heavy. He pinned her to the ground and laughed in her ear.
Then she heard Lucan’s voice yell her name in the dark. She tried to wiggle from underneath the weight only to have a large hand wrap around her arm, his claws digging into her skin.
“If you want them to live, don’t move,” the beast murmured.
Cara blinked and tried to see in the darkness. Everything had gotten quiet. The only sound she heard was her own harsh breathing.
“Cara!” Lucan called. “Are you hurt?”
The beast squeezed her arm. “Dinna answer him.”
“He can see,” she whispered, not knowing whether the beast could or not.
There was movement near her, coming closer with each heartbeat. Cara clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering in fear and cold.
She was jerked to her feet, the creature behind her with one of his claws at her neck.
“Back off, MacLeod. If you don’t want her throat slit, you’ll let me pass.”
“Why are you here?” Fallon asked from her left.
She sent up a silent prayer of thanks that he was still alive.
The beast laughed, the sound unnatural. And evil. “I’ve come for the Demon’s Kiss. And the woman.”
The silence that met his statement told Cara the MacLeods had no idea what the Demon’s Kiss was either.
“You have two choices. You can let her go and fight me, or you can die where you stand.” Lucan’s voice had grown closer with each word.
The creature growled. “I’m not leaving without the woman.”
“Then you die.”
The monster let out a loud bellow of pain, but he didn’t release her. Cara squeezed her eyes shut, thankful it was too dark for her to see anything. The sounds of blades sinking into flesh were terrifying enough.
By the beast’s yells, all three brothers were attacking him with their fists and weapons. Finally, his hold on her relaxed enough for her to get free.
Cara stumbled in the dark, one hand on the stone wall to catch her balance. She didn’t know which way she was headed, and it didn’t matter anymore. She had to get out of the dark and into the light.
Strong arms grabbed her shoulders, firm enough to halt her but light enough that she could break if she so desired.
“Cara. It’s Lucan.”
She sagged against him as all her emotions fell away. She had just gone through her greatest fear. But she was safe now. Safe with Lucan.
When he lifted her in his arms and walked away from the screams behind her, she was all too willing to wrap her arms around his neck, lay her head on his shoulder, and allow him to carry her burdens for a bit.
“What was that thing?” she asked after several moments.
“Later.”
His heat surrounded her, brandishing the cold and fear that had held her in its grip for what seemed like an eternity. She took a deep, steadying breath. “I thought I was going to die.”
“I told you I would protect you.” His voice held a note of displeasure, as if she should have known better.
Cara sank into his warmth, amazed that he could chase away the chill so easily. She was all too aware of the hard, lean man pressed against her, and his scent that put her senses into a whirl. Her breasts tingled from the contact, and she had the overwhelming desire to run her fingers through his ebony locks.
<
br /> Lucan began to ascend the stairs that would take them to the great hall. Each step brought her farther into the light. When she could stand the awareness no more, she lifted her gaze and found him watching her.
Their eyes locked. Cara might be naïve about the ways of men, but there was no denying the hunger that darkened his eyes. She tried to swallow past the lump of excitement in her throat. Her chest felt constricted, her gown too tight against her skin. She wanted to be free of her clothing, to feel his skin against hers.
When his gaze shifted to her lips, Cara thought he was going to kiss her. It was there in his eyes, in the set of his jaw. He wanted her. And she wanted him.
Confusion filled her. She had pledged to become a nun, to fill her life with God and helping others. There was no place in her life for Lucan or the passion he stirred within her. Right?
She didn’t know. The longer she was around Lucan the more the idea of her taking the vows of a nun was preposterous. She had wanted a home, a family. She had found that at the nunnery with the Sisters and the children. She might not truly belong, but they welcomed her.
It took her a moment to realize Lucan no longer climbed the stairs. They were once more in the great hall, the storm still raging outside, much like her emotions.
Lucan released her legs, her lower body sliding down his until her feet touched the floor. Not even the cold stones could chase away the heat that engulfed her, though.
“Cara.”
A shudder went through her when he whispered her name with desire, with need . . . with hunger.
She forced her gaze away from him before she forgot the nunnery and gave in to the pleasure Lucan promised. That’s when she saw the blood and dead bodies that littered the great hall. She wasn’t sure what the diminutive pale yellow things were, but they were all dead.
“Cara.” His fingers tightened around her waist as if he wanted to hold her against him. His voice was edged with worry, and a hint of dread.
Thunder boomed, making her jump. She looked at Lucan to find his expression closed off and waiting. Something jabbed into her waist. It wasn’t Lucan’s hand that frightened her but the claws from his fingers.
Cara jerked out of his grasp and stepped backward. She stumbled over something, and when Lucan made a move to help her she hurried to twist away.
“Nay!” she shouted, her heart pumping wildly in her chest when she saw the dried blood on his chest through what was left of his tunic. “Stay away from me. I don’t know what you are, what any of this is, but I want to return to the village. Immediately.”
“Don’t let her, Lucan,” Quinn said from behind her.
She whirled around to find Quinn by the castle door and Fallon righting the table and benches. She hadn’t heard the two come into the great hall, but then again she had been preoccupied with Lucan and the delicious feelings he invoked.
The blood staining the brothers’ tunics along with the rips and tears of what was left of their clothes made her realize they were injured. She wanted to help, but how could she when she wasn’t sure what they were, much less what was going on?
She fought back the panic and tears when she realized Quinn had said she couldn’t go to the village. “Why? Why can’t I return to the village?”
Quinn met her gaze. “There’s nothing of it left to return to.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Lucan sat before the fire, his legs stretched out before him and his ankles crossed. After he had changed and cleaned the blood off him, he had grabbed a bottle of Fallon’s wine, but it sat untouched on the floor next to him.
It had taken all of his control—and he had plenty of it—not to go after Cara when she had run up the stairs, tears glistening on her cheeks.
He had seen the fire in her eyes, knew she was attracted to him. If he would have taken her anywhere else but the great hall, things would have turned out differently. But he hadn’t been thinking. He had wanted to get her out of the dungeon and into the light so he could see if she had any injuries.
She had taken one look at the hall, and he had known she would be sickened. The god inside him had roared, demanding Lucan make Cara his. He had restrained the beast, but just barely. That’s when she had felt—and seen—Lucan’s claws. Whatever feelings she had for him had vanished when she realized he wasn’t human.
He wasn’t a god, either. How did he explain what he was when he didn’t really know?
“The storm is waning,” Fallon said as he took the seat next to Lucan.
Lucan shrugged.
Fallon blew out a breath and looked down at his torn tunic. “How did you expect her to react, Lucan? She was terrified. The Warrior had her and fully intended to leave with her.”
“I know.” And he did. He hadn’t expected anything from Cara, but the hot jolt of desire had been intense, the hunger devastating.
Quinn knelt before the hearth and stoked the logs. “What did you and the blue-skinned Warrior you shoved off the tower talk about?”
Lucan sat up and rested his elbows on the arms of the chair. He had forgotten about the Warrior after seeing Cara in danger. “He said we weren’t the only things Deirdre was hunting.”
“That doesna bode well,” Fallon said, his brow creased. “I assumed Deirdre had finally come for us.”
Lucan shook his head slowly. “She hasn’t come for us because I think she’s waiting on something, but what I don’t know. He made it sound as though taking us back with them would be an added benefit.”
“What did your Warrior have to say?” Quinn asked Fallon.
Fallon ran a hand down his face. “He knocked me senseless, and I think I blacked out for a moment. When I came to, he had Cara and he was telling her how they had come for her.”
“I heard him say something about a Demon’s Kiss,” Lucan added.
Fallon leaned back in the chair. “I heard that as well.”
“Well? What is it?” Quinn asked.
“I wish I knew,” Fallon answered.
Lucan rose and began to pace. There was too much going on that they didn’t have answers to. “I think Deirdre sent her wyrran after Cara.”
Quinn crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s a possibility. By the looks of it, they attacked the village first.”
“Looking for Cara, I assume. So then they came here?”
“Aye,” Fallon said. “I heard the Warrior tell Cara he smelled her. Her and her magic.”
“Shite,” Lucan murmured again. Magic, wyrran and Warriors. Deirdre definitely wanted Cara.
Fallon snorted. “If Deirdre only sent the wyrran and two Warriors, they weren’t expecting to find her here.”
“Then the Warrior I spoke to didn’t lie,” Lucan said. “They really were hunting something else.”
“Cara,” Quinn said.
For a long moment the brothers sat in silence. As much as Lucan hated to admit it, Cara was involved whether she wanted to be or not. Deirdre wanted Cara, but was it only because of her magic? If he were a betting man he would place a wager on the Demon’s Kiss, whatever that was.
“You’ll have to talk to her,” Fallon said into the silence.
Lucan sighed. “I know.”
“They’ll come again,” Quinn said. “They won’t stop until they get Cara.”
Lucan rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. “Aye. I know that as well. And we need to know what the Demon’s Kiss is as well as what kind of magic she holds.”
Quinn moved to Lucan’s vacated seat. “Next time, Fallon, you’ll be more of a benefit to us if you let the god out.”
Fallon glared at Quinn for several heartbeats. “Never,” Fallon growled before he stood and walked away.
Lucan waited until Fallon was gone before he looked at Quinn. “That could have been handled better.”
“It’s the truth, whether either of you want to believe it or not. The Warrior nearly killed Fallon. If he lets the god out, he’ll have more strength as well as being able to control his power.”
Lucan knew it all to be true, but he understood why his brother refused to give in. “I’ll talk to him. Until then, leave him be.”
Quinn shrugged, but Lucan saw his hand clench into a fist.
“Tell me about the village,” Lucan urged. He needed to know what he could and couldn’t tell Cara.
“There’s nothing left. The wyrran destroyed it all. They started at the nunnery, as far as I can tell. They didn’t spare the children.”
Lucan knew all too well how the wyrran killed. It had been them that had massacred the MacLeod clan. “Were none left alive?”
“Just one.”
By Quinn’s guarded expression Lucan guessed it was the old man who supplied them with food. “Angus?”
“Aye. He didna have long to live. He asked about Cara, told us to keep her safe.”
Lucan wished the old man had made it. He had information they could have used. Lucan glanced at the stairs, his thoughts on the woman who had stirred his desires and awoken a hunger he hadn’t known he had. It had been a couple of hours since Cara had run away from him. Was it enough time for her to realize he wouldn’t harm her?
“Putting it off won’t help,” Quinn said. “With Elspeth, it was always better to face something head-on. I cannot imagine it would be any different with another woman.”
Lucan stared at his brother. Quinn hadn’t spoken of Elspeth since the day she and their son had been murdered.
Quinn threw Lucan a wry smile. “Contrary to what you might think, I haven’t forgotten what it was to be human, to be a husband and father.”
“I never doubted it.” Lucan placed a hand on Quinn’s shoulder before he walked to the stairs.
“Be patient with her,” Quinn called.
Lucan just hoped she would listen to him. Seeing the fear in her gaze had been like a dagger in his chest. She had trusted him, and he had scared her.
He walked silently up two flights of stairs and down the corridor to his chamber. The glow of a fire flickered in the hallway, and he let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. There weren’t many places Cara could have hidden in the ruins, but she could have tried.
Lucan hesitated at her doorway before he leaned his head around to peer inside the chamber. He found her curled on her side, her arm beneath her head. Every candle had been lit and placed around the chamber. With the candles in addition to the fire, the room was ablaze in light.