Firestorm: Volume 2
Page 8
“We were.”
“You allowed Rome to conquer England?”
He looked askance at her. “We didna allow Rome to do anything. We minded our own business. Though we vowed to protect mortals, that was from Fae and other magical creatures.”
“You’re right,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “I’m sorry. Go on.”
“The Celts turned to the Druids. Back then, Druids were healers and scholars. The leaders of the Celtic nations knew they would be able to help.”
She faced the bones and started working again. “I gather they did.”
“Within every species lives light and dark, good and evil. It is a balance that must be maintained. The Druids were divided into two such sects. There were the mies and droughs. Normally, the two didna mix, but Rome’s impending invasion called for drastic action.”
Faith shook her head. “They must’ve been terrified.”
“Scared enough to do whatever it took to save their land. It was the first time in history the Druids combined their magic. They did so to call up long-forgotten gods locked in the pits of Hell.”
She could no longer work. Setting aside her brush, she sat up. “This is . . . unbelievable. Tell me more.”
“For a lass who is rooted in science, you’re taking all of this well.”
“I know.” It was odd, but she didn’t care.
He smiled and continued. “Each of the Celtic tribes asked for volunteers. No’ unexpectedly, the best warriors stepped forward.”
“Volunteers for what?”
“To give themselves up to the gods the Druids had freed.”
She was flabbergasted. “They actually thought this would work?”
“It did. We watched from the skies as the gods each chose a warrior. It was because of the Druids that those men were able to ensure Rome never conquered Scotland.”
“Holy shit,” she murmured.
He chuckled, smiling. “Aye. It was a magnificent sight to see the Warriors in battle. The Druids’ plans worked perfectly. Until Rome was gone and they tried to remove the gods. Now freed, the gods didna want to return to their prison. The Warriors began killing anyone and everyone because they couldna gain control of the gods. Their own families, their friends. It didna matter. The gods were demanding blood, and the Warriors were powerless to refuse.”
“What happened?”
“The Druids came back together with their magic. As powerful as they were, the gods were more so. The gods couldna be removed. The only option the Druids had was to bind the gods, silencing them, and returning the Warriors to men once more.”
She studied him a moment. “I can tell by your voice that things didn’t go as planned.”
“They did. Except the gods passed down through the bloodline to the best warrior each generation. Then a verra powerful drough found the spell to unbind the gods. She thought to rule the world and control the Warriors.”
“What happened?”
“The Warriors learned to master the gods within them. They rose up against the drough and defeated her. You’ve met one of them.”
Her eyes widened. “Who?”
“Ronnie’s husband, Arran.”
“No way!” she gasped in surprise.
Dmitri’s smile widened. “Then I suppose you didna know that Ronnie is a Druid.”
She could only stare open-mouthed at him, internalizing the news that she had been surrounded by magic without even knowing it.
The next phone call with Ronnie was definitely going to be interesting.
“Tell me more,” she insisted.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. She’s the author of more than thirty novels spanning multiple genres of romance including the bestselling Dark King stories, Dark Craving, Night’s Awakening, and Dawn’s Desire. Her acclaimed Dark Warrior and Dark Sword series novels feature a thrilling combination of Druids, primeval gods, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children, a dog, and four cats in Texas.
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Night’s Blaze (Volume 5)
Soul Scorched (Volume 6)
Passion Ignites (Volume 7)
Smoldering Hunger (Volume 8)
Smoke and Fire (Volume 9)
The Dark Warriors Series
Midnight’s Master (Volume 1)
Midnight’s Lover (Volume 2)
Midnight’s Seduction (Volume 3)
Midnight’s Warrior (Volume 4)
Midnight’s Kiss (Volume 5)
Midnight’s Captive (Volume 6)
Midnight’s Temptation (Volume 7)
Midnight’s Promise (Volume 8)
Midnight’s Surrender (Volume 8.5)
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Copyright Page
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
“Firestorm Part 2” Copyright © 2017 by Donna Grant.
All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover Photographs: Man © Fotorince/Shutterstock.com; Flames © Zffoto/iStock
Author photo © Kim Rocha
eISBN 978-1-250-14305-1 (ebook)
First eBook Edition: February 2017
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