Embrace the Highland Warrior

by Anita Clenney

  “This probably has something to do with your father,” Anna said. “He believed someone was after him. Maybe that same someone wants you.”

  “He’s definitely interested in your tables,” Sorcha added.

  “They had to be after the book,” Cody said. “The only thing the intruder messed with at Nina’s was a bookshelf. He must have called his buddies and headed to Jamie’s after that.”

  “So how did they know the book was inside the table?” Lachlan asked.

  Faelan gave Bree a worried glance. “We know Russell stole the book and took it to Druan’s castle. Maybe we missed a demon who was working with Druan.”

  “How could Renee be involved in all this?” Shay asked.

  “Did she know anyone named Russell?” Brodie asked.

  “Not that I’m aware of.”

  “Since Renee’s laptop has vanished, could you make a list of contacts? Boyfriends, friends, clients.” Cody frowned. “I suspect someone isn’t who he’s pretending to be and doesn’t want his name seen.”

  It was terrifying to think that her own clients, neighbors, banker, Realtor, or even the little old lady next door could be a demon in disguise. “Most of the Scotland and Leesburg clients are separate. I’m familiar with some of Renee’s, but not all.”

  “There’s something I haven’t mentioned,” Cody said. “Someone dug up your grave.”

  Brodie paused mid-chew. “Shay’s grave? Oh, the empty one.”

  Lachlan raised an eyebrow. “Bloody hell.”

  “They removed the casket and opened it,” Cody said. “I was going to tell you yesterday, Shay, but Nina and Matilda showed up.”

  He could’ve mentioned it last night. “Why would someone do that?”

  He pushed back his plate. “To see if it had a body inside.”

  “So someone knows she’s not dead,” Duncan said. “When did this happen?”

  “Sometime in the last day or two,” Cody said.

  “It could be teenage vandals gearing up for Halloween,” Shay said, hopefully.

  Cody shook his head. “I wish, but I suspect Anna’s right, and it’s something to do with your father.”

  “I thought the demon the Watchers thought was responsible died,” Sorcha said.

  “He did,” Cody said. “But someone knows about the secret.”

  “Let’s hope the clan wasn’t wrong,” Brodie said. “That wouldn’t make the demon happy, finding out he’s been fooled all this time.”

  Shay’s stomach started crawling toward her throat. This wasn’t normal stalker stuff, like on the news and TV, and Renee was in the middle of it.

  “I think this is connected to the stuff with Druan,” Duncan said. “We got all the demons on Angus’s list, but even the Watchers suspected there was more happening than just Druan’s attempt to destroy the world.”

  Sorcha studied her red nails, her gaze troubled. “What about Tristol and Malek and Voltar? Those dreams I had before. I couldn’t make out all the details, but I saw five men. One was Faelan and one was Druan in human form, but we never figured out who the other three were.”

  “Don’t even think it,” Brodie said, crossing himself.

  “Who are they?” Shay asked.

  “Demons of old,” Bree said. “Faelan saw those three riding with Druan back in 1860 when he was sent to stop the Civil War. They disappeared.”

  “Our Civil War?” Shay swung around to look at Faelan. Pain shadowed his face.

  “I was sent to suspend Druan. He was stirring up strife and hatred that was turning this country toward war, trying to destroy it from the inside out. At least that’s what we thought, but I found out the war was just Druan’s distraction. He created a virus to destroy the world.”

  “Good grief. Is anything what it seems?”

  “Not much,” Faelan said. “Demons are involved in most everything bad. Human wars rarely start with humans.”

  “What happened to the virus?” Shay asked.

  “Faelan destroyed it when he destroyed Druan,” Bree said, her voice ringing with pride. “He saved the world.”

  Faelan smiled. “Not without help. If it hadn’t been for Bree and Conall and the other warriors, there wouldn’t be any world.”

  Shay looked at Cody, his handsome face set in a worried frown, and for the first time she understood why he tried so hard to protect her. “Could these three demons who were with Druan be dead?”

  “Not likely. The ancient ones are hard to kill,” Cody said. “They’re quick and devious. If they’d been assigned to a warrior, we would have heard.”

  Sorcha pushed back her plate. “They’ve probably been roaming the earth, creating death and destruction, trying to become eternal. Supposedly they’re behind some of our major diseases. Tristol supposedly created the HIV virus, although no one’s seen him since Faelan did back in 1860. And Druan’s father created the Plague. All this bad stuff humans think is just normal usually starts with a demon.”

  “I wish we had Angus’s notes,” Anna said. “He was onto something.”

  “Who’s Angus?” Shay asked.

  “The last warrior who was sent to find Faelan’s time vault key,” Anna said. “He figured out what Druan was up to, and Druan had him killed.”

  This stuff was life and death, not the thrilling games they played as kids, but in spite of its horror, it stirred something inside that Shay couldn’t explain, like a supercharged rush of energy.

  “I’ll check Angus’s things again when I get to New York,” Anna said rubbing her eyes. “I should’ve gone straight there after the wedding.”

  The wedding. Faelan and Bree hadn’t even finished their reception, let alone started a honeymoon, all because of Shay. Or had it started with Shay’s father, a man she didn’t even remember, who’d lost his wife and child. Well, she was alive, and if this was the same demon who killed her mother and father and stole her life, she wanted him dead, even if she had to do it herself.

  “I can fly you to New York,” Lachlan said to Anna.

  Anna shook her head. “Thanks, but I’ll drive. I have some things to sort out.” She excused herself from the table.

  “I hope she starts with that gloomy mood,” Brodie said.

  “Leave her alone,” Sorcha said. “She’s got a lot on her mind.”

  “Angus and Anna were researching the missing Book of Battles before he was killed,” Bree told Shay. “Anna got busy with something else. When she went back, Angus seemed troubled, but wouldn’t say what was going on. He mentioned something about secret societies and a league.”

  “And traitors.” Brodie glanced at Sorcha.

  “Are you accusing me of being a traitor?” Sorcha asked, rising to her feet, hands on hips.

  Brodie crossed his arms over his chest. “Angus did look right at you when he said it. Now, I’m not saying I believe it. I’d slit your throat if I thought you were betraying our clan.” Brodie’s expression was grave, without his usual good-natured smile. Duncan tensed, eyes narrowed, as Brodie continued. “But I’d like to know why he looked at you when he said it.”

  Sorcha looked as if she might morph into a dragon and roast Brodie in his chair, but her shoulders dropped, and she sat down. “So would I,” she said. “So would I.”

  “No one’s accusing anybody of anything,” Duncan said. “Who knows what was in Angus’s head? He was always wrapped up in some mystery. Sometimes he saw clues that weren’t there.”

  Anna came back in carrying her purse and a duffel bag. “Can someone give me a ride to the car rental?”

  Lachlan dropped his fork. “I will.” He wolfed down a piece of bacon, scraped and rinsed the plate he had just refilled, and loaded it in the dishwasher. “Ready?”

  “I’ll check on the time vault while I’m in New York,” Anna said.

  “Faelan’s time vault is still there?” Shay asked. Talk about an antique! She’d love to see it.

  “No. He sent his back, but he found another one in the cellar of my chapel,” Bree
said. “We thought Angus brought it, but it’s not his, either. We can’t send it back without the warrior’s talisman.”

  “You don’t know where it came from?” Shay asked.

  “We have no idea,” Sorcha said. “There weren’t any other warriors in the area, that we know of.”

  “We don’t even know how long it’s been there,” Brodie said.

  “What about that warrior from Canada who was supposed to help Sorcha?” Ronan asked. “Did anyone ever locate him?”

  “Yes. He had an accident on the way. Attacked by two vam…” Anna paused and glanced at Shay. “He never got there, so he didn’t bring the time vault.”

  “There’s a key to the house hidden on the back porch,” Bree said. “Feel free to stay there if you need some time alone.”

  Anna gave Bree a quick hug. “Thanks.”

  “Is she okay?” Shay asked, after Anna and Lachlan left.

  Sorcha looked troubled. “She and Angus were close. If she hadn’t been busy, she would’ve been with him. She blames herself for his death.” Sorcha stood. “I’m going to work out my sword arm. I need a partner.” She tugged Brodie’s ear. “How about you?”

  “I’d like nothing better than put you on your backside, but I’ve got some things to do,” Brodie said, slapping her hand away.

  “Maybe Sorcha could show me that trick where you guys flip through the air—” Bree started.

  “No!” Faelan said. “You need to rest. You have a bloody concussion.”

  “I’ll rest later. I want to practice with the dagger.”

  He sighed. “Ten minutes, then will you lie down?” He added softly, “Please?”

  “Okay,” she said, giving him a quick kiss.

  “I’ll take you on, Sorcha.” Duncan rose to his feet, standing a full head taller than Sorcha. His gaze was shuttered, but whatever was behind it ran hot.

  Shay saw a look of near panic cross Sorcha’s pretty face. She tilted her head. “All right, big boy. After we clear the table, you can show me what you’ve got.” She carried dirty dishes to the sink, her face flushed. She peered out the window. “Cody, there’s a man with the kinkiest hair I’ve ever seen getting out of a truck in your driveway.”

  “Back in a second.” Cody opened the door and jogged across the field.

  ***

  “Got her all done,” Darrell said, rubbing his hands over the top of his head, making it look like he’d been electrocuted.

  “What’d you find?” Cody asked, looking the truck over. There were scrapes in the paint and the hood was bent where the tree had caught. He’d have it fixed later.

  “Brake line was cut.”

  Cody’s stomach dropped. “You’re sure?”

  “Sure as my hair’s naturally curly. You got any enemies? If you don’t, you’d better start looking for one.” A car rolled up behind them. “There’s my ride. Gotta go.” He patted Cody’s truck on the hood. “She’s good as new, except for that dent.”

  “Sorry I couldn’t get over to pick it up. Things got a little hectic here.”

  “No problem. I’ll deliver anytime. You guys always go to the top of the list. If it weren’t for you, my sister Clarisse would be dead. I still don’t know how you found the rat hole that scumbag boyfriend of hers was holding her in. Even the FBI couldn’t find any sign of him.”

  The scumbag boyfriend wasn’t hard to track. His human form couldn’t hide his scent. Halflings couldn’t shift, not like powerful demons, but some learned to project an illusion. The demon form was still there, as was the scent, usually. Humans weren’t sensitive enough to detect it. “Luck,” Cody told Darrell.

  “Tell Lachlan that Clarisse said hi. She wanted to come, but she had to work.”

  Clarisse had been after Lach since she first laid eyes on him. Darrell left, and Cody crawled under the truck with a flashlight, not convinced until he saw with his own eyes that the line had been repaired. Shay and Bree could have died. This was the second time she almost died in an automobile crash, which made him wonder if the accident was meant for him or her.

  He opened the truck door to look for Shay’s cell phone and saw a glint of something shiny under the seat. It was a necklace. A cross. The chain had broken. Cody turned it over and saw the emblem on the back. Edward’s family crest. The necklace wasn’t a talisman. Edward’s talisman was safe in the cellar, but this had belonged to him. How had Shay gotten it? The clan had agreed she wasn’t to have anything that could be traced back to her father.

  ***

  “Nice setup,” Duncan said, looking over the weapons, high-tech computer equipment, camera monitors, and gym in the Bat Cave. “Got a training room too. So this is how they kept their secrets.”

  Cody, who had rejoined the group, glanced at Shay and then looked away. It still bothered her that they lied, but she could understand why they thought it necessary.

  “Are you okay?” Faelan asked Bree. She stood next to Shay, running her hands over the wooden box.

  I’m fine,” Bree said, frowning. She opened the box. A heavy piece of metal hung from a leather cord.

  “That’s a talisman, isn’t it?” Shay asked.

  “It was your father’s,” Cody said.

  Her father’s. A real flesh-and-blood man. Had he loved her? Tried to protect her? Held her and tossed her into the air? Shay picked up the box, and a thought, a memory, something familiar, flashed in her head. She felt strong arms holding her, heard a deep laugh and a woman’s gentler one and then softer arms reaching for her and the smell of perfume. Was it a real memory or a desperate attempt to connect with the man and woman who gave her life?

  A door slammed at the top of the stairs. “Jamie,” Sorcha purred, facing the door. “You’re back.”

  Jamie stood at the top of the stairs, clothes rumpled, hair mussed, anger radiating off him like a fog. “What the hell did you do to me, MacBain?”

  “Wasn’t me,” Cody said.

  “You saying you didn’t drug me?”

  “No, Nina and Matilda did,” Cody said. “Had you in a wheelbarrow trying to load you into the car.”

  Jamie’s handsome face went slack. “What for?”

  “They were matchmaking and wanted you out of the way.” Cody didn’t go into detail, but Jamie got the point. “Must have seen the rose you gave Shay.”

  “I didn’t give her a rose,” Jamie said.

  Cody’s puzzled look turned to alarm. “If you didn’t give it to her, who did?”

  “Her aunt, maybe,” Duncan suggested.

  Shay shook her head. “Nina never sends roses.”

  “You don’t think…” Bree didn’t finish her sentence.

  “The stalker?” Shay asked.

  “Where did you find the rose?” Jamie asked.

  “On my pillow last night.”

  “That means he got in again,” Cody said. “Damn it. Must have been while we were in Luray.”

  “How’s he getting past the locks and security system?” Ronan asked.

  “Guess they’re not good enough,” Cody said.

  ***

  The servant was on his way to Walmart for a clean change of clothes when he saw the woman leaving her car. At first he thought it was her, because of the blond hair, slim build, and long legs. She’d parked on the side of the store, away from the crowded lot. He watched her walk, a long-limbed sexy gait, and ached to touch, to tease, to cut. Her head was down, focused on something in her purse. He pulled around to the empty space on her driver’s side, and eased his car in to wait.

  Chapter 9

  “Damnation. The place is surrounded with warriors and a state-of-the-art security system, and still the guy’s getting in,” Faelan said. “What the hell is he? A ghost?”

  “But why would he come back here after the book was taken from Jamie’s?” Duncan asked.

  “Maybe there’s more than one person looking for it,” Cody said. “Might as well throw this bit in the mix. The mechanic said the brake line on the truck was cut. It wasn�
��t an accident.”

  “You mean someone tried to kill you?” Shay’s legs felt weak. She leaned against the cabinet for support. Maybe Bree was right about Cody being in danger too. Was it because of Shay?

  “This doesn’t make sense,” Sorcha said. “First someone’s after Shay, and now they try to kill Cody. Any bomb or death threats we don’t know about?”

  “I don’t think this is about just Cody or Shay,” Bree said. “It’s about them both. Someone is trying to keep them apart, and he’s willing to kill them to do it.”

  “Don’t even look at me,” Jamie said to Cody.

  “I didn’t say anything,” Cody said.

  Jamie gave him a surly look. “You were thinking it though. You know damn well I didn’t have anything to do with this.”

  Cody scowled but didn’t say anything.

  “I don’t know who the target was,” Faelan said, his face so hard he looked as if he were made of stone, “but that bastard could’ve killed my wife. I’ll hunt him to the ends of the earth.”

  “Get in line,” Cody said. He plowed his hands through his hair. “I think we should move her to Scotland.”

  “What’s in Scotland?” Shay asked.

  Cody studied her face, his expression worried. “Connor Castle.”

  “You have a castle?”

  “It’s been the seat of our clan for generations,” Duncan said. “You should be safe there. Its walls have never been breached.”

  “Not that we know,” Sorcha added. “There’s the nasty little problem that an identical castle exists in New York, and no one knows how it got there. And Druan had his demons follow Angus to Scotland. Let’s hope they didn’t get close enough to see where the castle is.”

  “Ronan thinks he killed them all,” Faelan said.

  “You have a castle in New York too?” Shay asked.

  “It was Druan’s,” Bree said. “The clan is using it as a second base.”

  “She’ll be protected in Scotland, and I can meet with the Council,” Cody said. Thick silence filled the room.

  The first to speak was Bree. “What do you think they’ll do?”

  “What can they do? I’m retired,” Cody said.