by Donna Grant
She reached for the fish and began cleaning them. Once that was done, she found herself in the garden. She was almost afraid to touch the plants, but if Galen was right and she could help them grow, she wanted to try.
Cara knelt by the herb she had nearly killed the previous day and cupped her hands around it. She stroked the leaves with her thumb, putting all her energy into the plant.
“I’m sorry I hurt you,” she whispered. “It wasn’t my intent. I’m new to my magic. Grow for me. Please.”
One heartbeat, two, three . . . and still nothing happened. She was about to give up when the small leaves that had been brown and wrinkled began to unfurl. Bright green replaced the dead edges.
Her heart pumped faster as she witnessed the alteration. She wished Lucan was with her, but she could show him later. Until then, there were other plants that needed her help.
Cara moved from plant to plant, coaxing them to grow for her. Many that had been overtaken by the weeds needed more magic. She held her hands over the dirt and closed her eyes while she pictured the herbs growing.
She laughed when she removed her hands and saw the first growth of green pushing through the ground. Every time she saw a plant respond, a strange euphoria overtook her. It was so addictive she wanted to touch everything and help it grow.
Yet she made herself stop. She didn’t know enough about her magic to know what was happening. How she wished there was another Druid she could talk with. The last thing she wanted to do was something wrong that could jeopardize Lucan and their mission to defeat Deirdre.
Cara spotted Quinn walking through the bailey with some pheasants and hares. She rose and met him at the kitchen doorway.
“You’ve been busy,” she said as she reached for the dead animals.
He glanced at the garden. “You as well.”
“I wanted to see if what Galen said was true, that I could help the plants grow.”
“He was right.”
There was no censure in Quinn’s voice, only mild curiosity. She looked down at the ground, suddenly afraid she was making a mistake in using her magic.
“Trust your instincts,” Quinn said. “Trust yourself.”
Her gaze met his. “I don’t want to do anything wrong.”
“I cannot see how aiding plants to grow could hurt anyone.”
She shifted her gaze to the garden. “I know so little about the Druids and my magic.”
He blew out a breath. “Even after three hundred years there is much I don’t know about the god inside me. We’ll watch out for you, Cara.”
Quinn left before she had time to answer, not that she would have known what to say.
* * *
Lucan stood back and looked at the trap. “This should hold a wyrran for a considerable amount of time.”
“Maybe,” Fallon said as he tested the net. “Their claws are as sharp as a Warrior’s.”
“But not as strong. I agree with Lucan. This should hold them for a bit,” Galen said.
Lucan glanced at the opening in the tower. The tower was at the back of the castle, making it a perfect entry point for an attack.
They had set up traps all through the castle, leaving only Cara’s chamber, the kitchens, and the great hall alone. Lucan inhaled and got a whiff of bread baking.
“I’ve missed that.” Galen’s eyes were closed, his lips turned up in a smile. “Fresh-baked bread. I hope Cara made several loaves.”
Fallon chuckled. “I don’t know where Quinn is getting the supplies for Cara, and I’m not about to ask. I’m enjoying the bread too much.”
Lucan nodded in agreement. “I’m hoping Quinn caught some fish. We’re going to need it with Galen here.”
“I’m hungry,” Galen said. “It’s just the way I am.”
“We’ll be hunting extra now with an added mouth to feed,” Fallon said with a teasing grin.
Lucan snorted. “Consider Galen five extra mouths.”
Galen laughed and started toward the great hall. “Don’t worry. I’ll do my share of hunting. I know of a village not far from here where I’ve bought food before. I can get Cara whatever she needs.”
“Good idea,” Lucan said. “We’ll talk to her today.”
“I can leave at first light and be back before supper.”
Fallon licked his lips. “It’s been a very long time since I’ve tasted a decent meal. Get whatever Cara wants.”
Lucan laughed and shook his head. It was good to see Fallon almost like his old self. They walked single file down several flights of stairs, then through the corridor. Fallon stepped into a chamber with a burnt door.
“What is it?” Lucan hesitated by the doorway. Lucan knew by something in the way Fallon moved, the intensity of his gaze, that something was wrong.
Galen turned and walked back to him. “Fallon?”
“Someone is coming,” Fallon said. “Wait. There are two, nay, three of them.”
Galen turned and ran to the great hall without another word.
Lucan hurried to Fallon’s side. “Warriors?”
“Could be.”
“Let’s go see, shall we?”
Fallon turned and put his back to the wall. “And if they aren’t Galen’s friends?”
“Then we fight them if they’re from Deirdre. If they’re mortals, we make sure they continue on their way.”
“Are things so simple for you?”
Lucan took in the lines of worry around his brother’s eyes. “I make things as simple as I can. We won’t know who they are until we go see if they’re coming to the castle.”
“They’re coming,” Fallon said as he walked past Lucan and into the corridor.
Lucan followed. Instead of taking the stairs, he jumped to the floor of the hall. He wanted to find Cara, to tell her to hide, but there wasn’t time. Already he could hear Galen’s voice. All Lucan could hope for was that Cara had kept her dagger with her.
When Lucan walked into the bailey he found Galen on the battlements near the gate house. Lucan hurried to the stairs that led to the battlements. A glance over his shoulder found Fallon following him.
As Lucan approached Galen he could tell by Galen’s tone he knew the men.
“I told you they would come,” Galen said as he faced Lucan. “I know two of the three. The big blond is Hayden Campbell. The one on his left is Logan Hamilton. The other, I’m told, is Ramsey MacDonald.”
Hayden stepped forward. “We saw Galen’s message. Is it true? Are you really the MacLeods?”
“Aye,” Fallon said as he came to stand beside Lucan. “We are the MacLeods. I’m Fallon, and this is Lucan.”
“Where is Quinn?” Ramsey asked.
Lucan glanced at Fallon. “He’s about.”
“May we enter?” Hayden asked.
Lucan turned to Fallon. “What do you think?”
“Do we have a choice?” he asked. “We need them.”
Galen crossed his arms over his chest. “You still don’t trust me?”
Lucan rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. “We can take care of ourselves. It’s Cara I’m concerned about.”
Galen chuckled. “I saw her train. You needn’t worry. Anyone that knows how to read the markings I left is a friend.”
Fallon waited for Lucan to make a decision. The steady look Fallon gave him reminded Lucan so much of their father. Lucan blew out a breath and turned back to the men.
“Welcome to MacLeod Castle.”
Fallon and Galen walked down the stairs to greet their guests. Lucan prayed they were doing the right thing. He would never forgive himself if one of the Warriors he welcomed into the castle went after Cara.
“Come, Lucan,” Galen called.
Lucan jumped to the bailey, landing beside Fallon. Hayden with his kilt of bold black, dark blue, and olive green was the first to hold out his arm. Lucan grasped the tall blond by the forearm.
Hayden’s dark eyes held Lucan’s as the blond gave a small jerk of his head. “It’s nice to see Deirdre hasn’t been
able to hold you.”
“Not for lack of trying.” Lucan then turned to the next man while Fallon and Hayden spoke.
Logan held out his arm, a friendly smile on his face and his hazel gaze direct. “Lucan.” Logan’s kilt was of muted dark reds, dark orange, and orange. Vibrant, yet suited together.
Lucan took Logan’s arm before turning to the last man, Ramsey. Ramsey was quiet, reserved. His black hair was worn shorn to the collar of his black tunic, and his gray eyes didn’t miss anything. Ramsey didn’t wear a kilt like the others. Instead, he wore tunic and breeches as Lucan did. They sized each other up for a moment.
“Welcome,” Lucan finally said, and held out his arm.
Ramsey accepted it. “Thank you.”
“Come inside and we’ll fill you in on everything,” Fallon said.
Hayden’s lips thinned. “Everything? I knew something important must be going on to make Galen leave the forest. What is it?”
“Deirdre,” Lucan said as he walked past them. He wanted to warn Cara they had visitors, but another part of him wanted to keep her locked away so no one else could see her.
It was irrational and barbaric, but he wanted Cara all to himself. She would laugh if she knew what he wanted to do, tell him everything would be all right, that they needed the help. She would be right, but it didn’t stop the jealousy from taking root.
“Lucan,” Fallon whispered when he caught up with him. “What is it?”
“Nothing. I’ll be fine.”
Fallon shook his head, not believing the lie. “Cara will be all right. Go and get her so we can introduce her.”
“Not yet,” Lucan said. He wanted to get to know the men better. “I wish Quinn were here.”
Fallon sighed. “Me as well. He needed to be alone today. We’ve never begrudged him that.”
“We’ve never had to fight Deirdre or prepare for visitors before, either.”
“Let’s just hope he gathers enough food. If they eat like Galen we’ll never have enough food.”
Lucan couldn’t stop the chuckle. He let the new arrivals and Galen take the benches at the table while he and Fallon stood at either end.
“So,” Logan said, and put his elbows on the table, his fingers threaded together. “You mentioned Deirdre. What about her?”
“She’s planning an attack,” Fallon said. “Actually, she’s already sent two Warriors and a dozen wyrrans.”
Ramsey’s gray eyes narrowed. “What is Deirdre after?”
Hayden chuckled. “The MacLeods, of course.”
Lucan felt Fallon’s gaze. He was going to let Lucan fill in the Warriors about Cara. “We’re an added bonus. She is after . . . something else.”
“Something of great value,” Galen added.
Fallon crossed his arms over his chest. “We stopped her and killed one Warrior and all her wyrran, but the other Warrior got away.”
“He knew us, knew Deirdre had been looking for us,” Lucan said. “They’ll be coming back. The fact Deirdre has waited several days tells me she’s gathering her forces.”
Ramsey laid his hands on the table and cocked his head to the side as he looked at Lucan. “You have a Druid.” It wasn’t a question.
Lucan paused for a moment before he nodded.
Hayden whistled through his teeth. “There are few Druids left. The ones Deirdre hasn’t captured either have left Scotland or have hidden themselves away. It’s no wonder Deirdre is after your Druid.”
“She’s not going to get my Druid,” Lucan said.
Logan looked around the great hall and rubbed his hand over his jaw. “What’s the plan?”
Lucan let Galen and Fallon fill the others in on the traps they had already set. He kept himself turned toward the kitchen doorway so Cara would see him first. The smell of bread filled the castle, and with the way Galen kept glancing at the kitchen it wouldn’t be long before someone asked for a slice.
Lucan walked out of the great hall without a backward glance. Fallon had everything in hand. Lucan stepped into the kitchens and saw the fresh-baked loaves of bread sitting on a table cooling. Fish, hares, and pheasants had been cleaned and readied for cooking.
Quinn, he thought. When he didn’t find Cara, he knew she was in the garden. Lucan moved to the door that led outside and leaned a shoulder against stones when he caught sight of her.
She knelt beside the plants, her hands covered in dirt. It had always amazed Lucan that anything could be grown in the rocky soil, but in the small patch of earth his mother had spent years cultivating a garden. She had been proud of her achievement.
Lucan smiled as he imagined his mother beside Cara, their heads together as they discussed a plant. It was too bad Cara would never get to meet his mother.
He watched when Cara cupped her hands around a plant and leaned her face close to it, whispering words he couldn’t make out. Before his eyes the plant grew. Not a lot, but enough that he noticed.
Cara’s head lifted and her gaze met his. Her mahogany depths sparkled with delight and . . . magic. “Lucan.”
At the sound of his name he pushed away from the doorway and walked to her. She rose and stepped into his arms. He leaned down and inhaled heather, a scent he would never again smell without thinking of her.
“Did you see?” she asked.
He pulled back and nodded. “I did. Are you all right?”
“I’m perfect.” She smiled and turned to look at the garden. “I’ve encouraged all the ones here to grow. There were some that still had seeds in the ground that I managed to coax, but there are others that are gone forever.”
Lucan put a finger under her chin and turned her face to him. “Are you all right, Cara?”
Her smile was gentle and pure. “Aye, Lucan. I wish you could feel the magic that flows through me when I’m talking to the plants. It’s a heady experience.”
“I’m sure.” He knew firsthand what power felt like, thanks to the god inside him.
Her brow puckered. “You’re not happy.”
“I’m delighted you’ve found some good in your magic.”
“Then what is it?” She ran a finger over his lips. “I can tell by the hard line of your mouth that something is wrong.”
He sighed and tucked a strand of hair the wind had snatched from her braid behind her ear. “We’ve company.”
“Deirdre?”
“Nay,” he hastened to say. “Warriors. Galen’s friends, to be specific.”
She licked her lips and set her hands on his chest. “How many?”
“Three. Hayden, Logan, and Ramsey. I wanted to tell you before you walked into the hall and found them.”
“It’s a good thing Quinn has been doing so much hunting. Will more be coming?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
As he looked into her eyes, he felt his desire stir as it always did when she was near. The mere scent of her made his blood rush through his veins.
She grinned and rose up on tiptoe to wrap her arms around his neck. “I know that look.”
“Do you?”
“Oh, aye. I know you quite well, my lord.”
He chuckled and rubbed his nose against hers. “You’ll have to convince me.”
“I can do that,” she whispered, and placed her lips against his.
Fire erupted in Lucan. He tightened his arms around Cara as she sank into him. His cock throbbed with need so intense, so pure, it nearly brought him to his knees.
He wanted her. Right then, in the garden with the sunlight shining upon them. She was nature’s child, and it only seemed right. His fingers found the end of her braid and loosened the strip of leather that held her thick tresses. Once it was undone, he dropped the strip on the ground and plunged his hands into her thick length. He loved the feel of her hair in his hands and how the locks slid over his fingers like the finest silk.
The sound of someone clearing his throat brought Lucan to his senses. He ended the kiss and looked over his shoulder to find Galen.
“What?” Lucan demanded.
Galen kept his gaze on the ground. “Sorry to interrupt, but Fallon wants you to bring Cara into the hall.”
“A pity.” Cara rested her cheek on Lucan’s chest and fingered one of the braids at his temple.
Lucan was torn. He wanted to tell Galen to go away while he took Cara down to the beach and made love in the sea, but he knew too much was at stake to disregard their visitors.
He tilted her face to his and gave her another kiss. “Later,” he promised.
“I’m going to hold you to that, MacLeod,” she said with a smile.
He turned toward Galen and took Cara’s hand in his own. “The men know we have a Druid. They don’t know whether you’re drough or mie.”
“You want me to keep it that way?”
“For now.”
She shook her head. “Lucan, you’re going to have to trust people one day.”
“I do. I trust you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Cara’s body was so caught up in the desire Lucan so quickly had kindled that she didn’t realize her hair was loose until she walked into the great hall.
Lucan’s knowing smile brought forth a chuckle from her lips. She leaned close and whispered, “I didn’t know you had removed the binding of my braid.”
“Then my kisses were doing what they were supposed to.”
She reached back to braid her hair, but his hands stopped her.
“Please,” Lucan said. “You have such beautiful hair. Let me see it.”
How could she refuse such a request? His sea green eyes held hers, a silent plea in their depths. “Aye,” she whispered.
One side of his mouth lifted in a grin. The sight made her heart melt and her blood heat. Lucan always managed to bring such delicious emotions swirling inside her. She couldn’t imagine a day without him, didn’t want to imagine a day without him. He had become her life.
She forgot everything and everyone as she rose up to kiss him. One of his hands cupped her face while the other held her against him.
“You have no idea how much I want you,” he whispered against her lips. “But I don’t enjoy others looking while I’m kissing you.”
Too late, she remembered the visitors. She closed her eyes and groaned in embarrassment.