by Donna Grant
“Felt what?” Ian demanded to know.
Saffron shifted her head to the sound of Ian’s voice. “Declan. She felt Declan’s malice, his evil. He used his magic on me, and because of it, a part of him is inside me.”
Danielle lifted her head from Ian’s chest. “Yes, I felt him.”
Saffron walked away, and Danielle ached for the resignation she saw in her eyes. She wanted to help Saffron, but she’d been wholly unprepared for such evil.
“What happened?” Reaghan asked.
Danielle shrugged. “I’m not sure. One moment I was searching, and the next it was if I were surrounded by sludge, a darkness so deep, so overwhelming, I knew it would swallow me. It kept trying to pull me under.”
“Damn,” Isla said. She rubbed a finger on her temple and slowly shook her head. “I had thought it might work.”
Hayden pulled his wife into his arms and rubbed her back with his large hand. “It was worth a try, love.”
“I’ll try again.” Danielle looked up to find Ian studying her. “I know what to expect now, and the spell needs to be reversed. She’s hurting, Ian.”
“Aye, I know,” Ian said with a sigh. “I just doona want you harmed.”
Reaghan folded her hands in front of her and smiled. “That’s why Isla and I are here. We won’t let her get pulled into the chanting or Declan’s evil.”
“Chanting?” Ian repeated. “She can get pulled into it?”
Reaghan shrugged and Isla didn’t respond. Danielle found Ian’s eyes once more on her.
“Do you trust Isla and Reaghan?” Danielle asked.
Ian gave a firm nod. “Of course.”
“Then so I do.”
“My family,” Saffron said, her voice clear and high in the great hall as she stood by the hearth. “Have you found them?”
Danielle turned with Ian to watch as Gwynn rose from her seat at the table. “Saffron, we can do this later.”
“Now,” Saffron demanded.
Gwynn linked fingers with Logan and took a deep breath before she said, “I couldn’t track down your mother and stepfather exactly. They were in Switzerland last week skiing, but their flight plan had them heading to the Bahamas.”
Though Saffron’s face never changed, Danielle saw the way her breath hitched.
“The rest,” Saffron said.
Gwynn looked at Fallon, who stood with his arms crossed over his chest. At Fallon’s nod Gwynn cleared her throat. “I, ah … I found where your mother had petitioned to have you declared dead.”
Danielle could have heard a pin drop, the great hall was so quiet. She wished she could help Saffron. Danielle recalled how it felt to think she was alone in the world. She’d felt as if she were in the middle of the ocean, tossed around in a massive storm with no land or ship in sight.
It had been terrifying. All these years later, Danielle could still feel that same terror, that same sinking feeling of loneliness that settled like a cold weight in her belly.
Danielle pulled out of Ian’s arms and started toward Saffron. She would try to find the spell inside Saffron again. Danielle might be the only one who could help the Druid, and she wouldn’t rest until she could.
She was just strides away from Saffron when Saffron went to take a step back that would put her inside the massive hearth. In a blink, Camdyn was behind her.
“Easy,” Danielle heard him murmur to Saffron.
Danielle took Saffron’s hands then and pulled her into one of the empty chairs placed around the hearth.
“I didn’t mean to do that,” Saffron whispered, her face ashen.
Danielle squatted next to the chair. “What can I do for you?”
“Remove this spell blinding me so I can be the one to kill Declan.”
Saffron’s words were spoken softly, like a lady of society, but they were said with such heat and rage that it had Danielle leaning away from her.
“I’ll keep trying,” Danielle vowed. “I’ll keep searching until I find it.”
Saffron smiled as a lone tear trailed down her cheek. “You should stay away from me, Danielle. The more you touch his evil, the more it will seep into you. All of you should…”
Her voice trailed off. Danielle watched as her eyes went milky white. In an instant everyone was around her, but it was Camdyn who caught her before she fell out of the chair.
Saffron’s chest heaved as she blinked and her honey-colored eyes stared sightlessly at those around her. “The children,” she whispered, her tears flowing freely now. “He’s going to kill the children.”
“What children?” Danielle asked. “Saffron, tell us. What children? Where are they?”
“Edinburgh. Deirdre is sending him to kill the children.”
“God help us,” Sonya said and turned away.
Larena shook her head. “Nay. I won’t let him.”
Danielle didn’t brush Ian’s hand away when he helped her to rise. “Malcolm,” he whispered in her ear. “It’s Larena’s cousin. Deirdre found him and released his god. He’s now Deirdre’s to command.”
Malcolm. Danielle had heard that name before. She turned to look at Ian. “He’s the one who killed Duncan.”
“He is.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
Ian was surprised that he felt so little anger at Malcolm. Malcolm might have been the one who killed Duncan, but ultimately it was Deirdre’s fault.
Deirdre was the one Ian wanted to kill.
“I need to see to Saffron,” Danielle said as she pulled out of his arms.
Ian didn’t want to let her go. His arms dropped to his sides and he fisted his hands. The hall had erupted in chaos when Saffron announced her vision.
Fallon was trying his best to calm Larena while Quinn, Marcail, Lucan, and Cara stood ready to help if needed.
The others were all speaking of what had happened. All expect two. Kirstin and Charlie.
Ian eyed the new Warrior. He’d asked Quinn about Charlie, but Quinn hadn’t had much to say on the matter. It was apparent, however, that the other Warriors didn’t care for Charlie one bit.
Kirstin, on the other hand, looked ill. She reminded Ian of a rabbit about to be snared. It knew it was a trap, but it wanted the carrot. Kirstin acted the same way.
Danielle had said there was something wrong because the key refused to be given to the MacLeods. Could it be Kirstin or Charlie? Or both?
The MacLeods had always welcomed any Druid or Warrior into their fold. They had been betrayed but once, and it hadn’t been the Druid’s fault. Deirdre had gotten into her mind and controlled her.
It was no wonder the MacLeods were as trusting as they were. But Ian had a suspicion the MacLeods’ luck was about to run out. The question was, which one was it? Charlie or Kirstin?
The only way for Ian to discover who was disturbing the tranquil peace of the castle was to follow both of them. It wasn’t going to be easy, but when it came to those at the castle, especially Danielle, he’d do what he had to do.
He hadn’t been there to help Duncan. But he was here now, and he could do something.
“What is it?” Camdyn murmured as he came to stand beside Ian.
“What do you know of Charlie?”
Camdyn snorted. “I doona like him. He’s always around, but he never does anything.”
“You suspect him of something?” Ian asked as he looked at Camdyn.
Camdyn shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve watched him. He does nothing that would bring my suspicion. Or at least nothing I can bring to Fallon. Why? What is it?”
If he was going to find out what was amiss in the castle he was going to need help. “Danielle said something was wrong.”
Camdyn’s brow furrowed. “Wrong how? She’s never been to the castle before.”
“Something brought her here. It demanded she get here as soon as she could, but once she was here, it doesn’t want to be seen.”
Camdyn took a deep breath. “It sounds to me like she i
s the problem. Is she working for Deirdre?”
“I’ve seen what she brought to the castle, Camdyn. I know why it’s here. It has nothing to do with Deirdre. She was supposed to give it to the MacLeods as soon as she arrived, but she said the … thing refused to leave her. It told her not yet.”
“Interesting,” Camdyn said as he rubbed his chin. “Have you spoken to the MacLeods?”
“Nay. Only you. Look at Charlie and Kirstin. Everyone is trying to decide what to do about Saffron’s vision except those two.”
“It could be because they’re outsiders.”
“You know that’s a lie. Look at how easily the other Druids fit in here when they arrived.”
Camdyn let out a deep breath. “I admit, there seems to be something wrong with Kirstin. It’s almost as if she can no’ decide if she wants to be here or no’.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“What do you want to do?”
Ian lifted his gaze to see Isla and Danielle leading a visibly shaken Saffron up the stairs to her chamber. “I’m going to get to know Charlie better.”
“I can no’ stand to be near him, so better you than me. I’ll spend some time with Kirstin.”
“Watch yourself. It could be Deirdre or Declan doing this.”
“Or both.”
Ian hoped it wasn’t, but they couldn’t rule out anything. The hall was beginning to calm once more as he made his way to where Charlie sat at the table.
“Is it always like this, mate?” Charlie asked him with a wide smile.
There was something in that smile that made Ian take offense instantly. It wasn’t Charlie’s good looks, or his overconfident attitude. It was something that went much deeper. “We deal with problems swiftly.”
“You seem rather calm about it.”
Ian took the seat across from Charlie and rested his forearms on the table. “I hear you escaped Deirdre.”
“I did. She’s a crazy bitch,” Charlie said with a laugh.
“How did you escape her?”
Charlie shrugged and continued eating his breakfast of toast and poached eggs. “I doona know. I knew I couldna stay, so I made a run for it. As I already told Fallon there were verra few wyrran and no other Warriors about.”
“And Deirdre’s magic didna stop you?”
“I took her by surprise.” Charlie finished chewing and swallowing his bit of food. “I expected that hair of hers to grab me, but I got away.”
There had been some who had managed to escape Deirdre, but none of them with the ease of which Charlie spoke. Deirdre might not have as many wyrran or Warriors as before, but she was just as powerful. And now she would be furious, which would only fuel her power.
“I’m no’ sure I believe you.”
Charlie stopped chewing and slowly lowered his fork. “I doona give a bloody damn if you do or doona, mate. The MacLeods do, and they’ll be the ones making the decisions.”
With that Charlie pushed back his plate and rose from the table to stalk away. Ian stood, and as he started to follow Charlie Arran blocked his path.
“What was that about?” Arran asked.
Ian shrugged. “A hunch.”
“Be careful.”
“You mean because I doona have control of my god?” Ian asked him.
Arran looked away for a moment before meeting Ian’s gaze. “Aye. You say you doona have control, but you look as if you do.”
“I’m good at hiding it, Arran.”
Ian walked away wondering why Farmire hadn’t tried to take control of him as he had when Ian had been in the cave. Was it because he was with people he cared about? Or was it something more?
Danielle.
That had been Ian’s first thought. As soon as Danielle came into his life everything had changed. Farmire had tried a few times to get the upper hand, but Ian had managed to remain in control both times.
He hadn’t cared to know how at the time, but he did now. What if he let his guard down and Farmire seized the moment to take control?
Ian took the stairs three at a time as he followed the path Charlie had taken. He was so lost in his own thoughts he didn’t see Charlie until he was nearly upon him.
But it was Danielle pressed against the wall with Charlie’s hand by her head that sent Ian over the edge. He growled, and in a blink, released his god.
Danielle’s gaze met his. Ian didn’t see fear there, but it didn’t lessen his rage.
“Easy,” Charlie said when he caught sight of Ian. Charlie lifted his hands, palms out, and took a step away from Danielle. “I simply wanted to know if Saffron was all right.”
Ian flexed his hands, his claws eager to feel Charlie’s blood on them.
“I’ll talk to you later, Dani,” Charlie said before he turned and walked away.
Only when Charlie had turned the corner did Ian try to rein in his god. Farmire refused to listen on the first and second try. He demanded Charlie’s blood, and it was only because Danielle was near that Ian was able to focus on her and gain the upper hand on his god. He turned to Danielle to see her staring at him, one brow raised.
“Dani?” he repeated.
She shrugged. “It’s always been my nickname. So what was all that about?”
Ian opened his mouth to tell her, but he didn’t want to worry her until he had more proof. “Nothing.”
“I don’t like being lied to,” she said and reached for the handle of the door near her.
Ian used his speed to get to her before her hand touched the door. “Wait.”
“Dammit, Ian,” she growled. “Don’t scare me like that.”
“Sorry.” He was mucking up everything. “What did Charlie want?”
“To see how Saffron was. He’s worried. I think he likes her.”
Ian hadn’t seen that one coming. “Is that all he wanted?”
“Yes. Why the interest in Charlie?”
“I doona trust him,” Ian whispered as he pulled Danielle into his arms. He breathed in the clean scent of her. “Be careful around him.”
Danielle leaned back. “You’re frightening me.”
She kept her voice low, which told Ian she knew there was more to his curiosity about Charlie than he was telling her.
“Please,” he said. “Just be careful. Doona ever be alone with him.”
“Ian, just tell me what it is you’re thinking.”
“I want proof first, Danielle. If I go to them now they’ll think it’s because I doona have control of my god.”
Her fingers were playing with the hem of her sweater. “Are you sure that isn’t the reason?”
“Nay. I doona. Which is why I want to know if it’s just my imagination, or if it’s something more.”
Danielle smiled and leaned up to place a quick kiss on his lips. “Then I’ll be careful.”
Ian didn’t let out his breath until she was in Saffron’s chamber. He started after Charlie once again. It bothered him that Danielle questioned his motives, but he had seen the worry in her eyes.
She had seen for herself his struggle to remain in control of his god. He was grateful he hadn’t lost consciousness around her or, worse, killed her on the occasions when Farmire did take over.
Ian came to a halt when he couldn’t figure out if Charlie had gone down the corridor or up to one of the towers. But as Ian listened, he heard footsteps on the winding stairs of the tower.
Without hesitation he followed Charlie, careful to keep at a distance and be very quiet. By the time Ian reached the top of the tower, the door stood slightly ajar.
The last time Ian had been in this tower was when they’d had to restrain Hayden when he’d woken to find Isla gone and had flown into a rage.
It had taken every Warrior in the castle to pin Hayden to the ground. And when Ian had heard the soulful mourning in Hayden’s voice when he’d told them Isla was gone, it had taken him aback.
Ian had known there was something going on between Hayden and Isla. He’d even suspected it might be love.
But those few words whispered with such anguish and desperation from Hayden’s mouth had confirmed it was love. The kind of love that pierced all the way to the soul.
Slowly, Ian leaned forward to peek into the tower. He saw no sign of Charlie, but still he waited, listening for anything. Minutes ticked by until finally Ian poked his head into the tower.
To find it empty.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
Charlie waited at the top of the tower for Ian to follow him. He’d known the moment the Warrior began asking questions that he would be a problem.
There was no way Charlie was going to let down Deirdre.
But now Charlie had the perfect plan. With a little eavesdropping on Danielle and Ian’s conversation, Charlie would ensure his place at MacLeod Castle while having Ian asked to leave or possibly killed.
Charlie rubbed his hands together. He was eager to begin, and he’d already set his plan in motion. Too bad no one at the castle had bothered to make him prove what his power was. If they had, they’d have learned he’d lied about being able to control wind.
A laugh nearly escaped him at the thought of seeing everyone’s expressions when he began to kill them. Charlie could hardly wait to carry out his deed and return to Deirdre triumphant.
Charlie stood atop the tower and braced himself against the rising wind. He didn’t bother to look into the tower as he jumped and landed at the beach below.
He did look up at the castle and give Ian a wave when the Warrior stuck his head out of the window.
* * *
“We need to go now,” Larena stated for the third time to all those gathered in the great hall.
Danielle felt uncomfortable being included in the meeting, but Fallon had told her she was part of things now, which meant she needed to be in on the decisions.
She found it refreshing, and a bit odd, at how easily they trusted her as well as Charlie and Kirstin. Danielle had tried to talk to Kirstin earlier but had only gotten a few monosyllabic answers before Kirstin walked away.
There was definitely something wrong with Kirstin.
“We have no idea when Saffron’s vision will take place,” Fallon said in response to Larena’s demand.