Dangerous Magic

by Donna Grant

  “He isn’t, apparently. He has Francesca.”

  “And the curse? Did you forget that?” he asked and glanced at Grayson.

  “I can’t forget the curse. You and Serena broke it, and I believe Adrianna and I have as well.”

  “You don’t think Cade and Francesca can?”

  Grayson shrugged one shoulder. “It’s not that. Cade believes he’ll die in this battle, and there was something in Fran’s eyes this morning. Something I can’t quite put my finger on.”

  “I saw it, too. She’s frightened, but not in the way we think. She has a secret.”

  “That she does. Did she share it with Cade?”

  “Maybe we’ll find out.”

  Grayson snorted. “Francesca isn’t reckless. She won’t endanger herself or anyone she cares about. Maybe it is her worry over Cade. If Cade is as protective as you say, he won’t let her do anything that could put her in harm’s way.”

  “Nay, he won’t.”

  “I owe him a great debt,” Grayson said after a moment of silence. “One I fear I might not ever be able to repay.”

  Drogan looked at Grayson. “There is much I owe Cade for. He’s always been there for his friends. We were the ones who failed him when he needed us the most. I won’t fail him again.”

  “Count me in on whatever you’re planning.”

  “Agreed, though I’d rather our wives not know.”

  Grayson chuckled. “I agree completely.”

  * * * * *

  Cade knelt beside a tree and studied the ground. He knew the moment Grayson and Drogan came into the forest. It would be easy to disappear, but it was past time he stopped hiding from Drogan. It didn’t take long for the riders to find him. Cade had walked a stretch of the river when Grayson and Drogan came into view.

  “I’m surprised you let me find you,” Drogan said.

  Cade shrugged as he stood. “I’d prefer you stay in the castle as I asked, but I realized you’d want to look over the land. There is flooding down the river.”

  “I assumed as much. Were any of the cottages damaged?”

  “A few were burned from the lightning strikes. I counted twelve trees down as well. One fell on a home. It’s good that you got everyone inside the castle walls when you did.”

  Grayson shifted atop his horse. “Did you find anything else?”

  Cade glanced at the tall, black‐haired knight. “I did. Someone has been in the forest.”

  He squatted beside the tree and pointed to the track he had found. Drogan and Grayson dismounted and squatted beside him.

  “There,” Cade said and traced his finger over the print. “It’s only half a print, but it’s a boot.”

  “And large,” Grayson said. “Definitely a man.”

  “Possibly one of my people,” Drogan said and leaned close to the ground.

  Cade shook his head. “It’s leading away from the castle, and it’s fresh. This happened last night during the storm.” He straightened. “Someone was watching the castle.”

  “Or you,” Drogan said as he too stood.

  Grayson sighed. “Have you checked the rest of the forest?”

  “Only a part of it,” Cade said. “This is close enough to the sea that many would think it would be a good way to gain entrance to the castle.”

  Drogan said, “They can’t get in, even if they wanted to.”

  Cade glanced at his hands. “Have you seen to the men I killed yesterday?”

  “I sent a group to burn the bodies, if anything is left. It would take too long to bury them, and I want everyone back inside the walls as soon as possible. Including you.”

  Cade found he wanted to smile. It felt good to have someone care about him.

  Like Francesca?

  “Nay,” Cade said. “I won’t come inside. I need to stay out here so I can fight.”

  Grayson took a step toward him. “You can’t think to battle him alone. Nigel will come with an army.”

  “I know. I’ll be ready for them.”

  “Then let us help,” Grayson urged.

  Cade looked from Grayson to Drogan and back again. “I wish I could, but I cannot. Nigel will use you against me.”

  “He’s right,” Drogan said. “Damn, but I hate this. You shouldn’t have to battle him alone, Cade.”

  “I’m the only one strong enough. I’ve released the darkness once, I’ll do it again. That alone will allow me to best him,” Cade said. “I won’t give up until he’s dead. That I promise you.”

  “Then understand Fran intends to make sure you live,” Grayson said.

  Cade’s heart leapt at the mention of his witch. He wanted to ask how she was, if she was angry at him for sending her away. He missed her so much already that it felt as if his heart had left with her.

  “She doesn’t understand,” Cade finally said.

  Drogan lifted a brow. “I think maybe she does. She doesn’t plan to give up on you, and she has inspired our wives as well. They are together now, determining how they can combine their magic to ensure you live.”

  The kernel of hope Francesca had planted in his chest grew, and he cursed his weakness. He wanted a future, one that included his witch, but he knew the only way Nigel would ever be defeated was if he gave the man all of himself.

  Once he did, it would all be over. No magic could change that.

  Cade drew in a deep breath. “Grayson, your men who have set up camp outside the walls are in danger.”

  “They’re already moving inside the castle walls,” Grayson said. “I never thanked you for saving Adrianna.”

  “And you as well, I hear,” Cade said.

  Grayson shrugged. “I only hold enough magic to heal myself.”

  “Still, it is something special. I wonder if Nigel plans on trying to kill you with the other witches.”

  Drogan crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s a possibility we’ve already considered. Nigel knows Grayson holds some magic.”

  Cade fingered the hilt of his dagger, his thoughts turning to Nigel and what the evil sack of wine planned.

  “What are you thinking?” Drogan asked.

  “The storms are over.”

  “Aye. What of it?” Grayson asked.

  Cade glanced at the river, prickles of unease rushing over his skin. “Any lord who cares for his people would be riding his land, making sure everything was all right, and giving assistance to those who require it. Any lord who cared would put aside his safety to ensure his people.”

  “What are you getting at?” Drogan asked.

  Cade jerked and palmed his knives. “Get to the castle. It’s a trap!” he yelled as the first round of arrows whooshed around them.

  Grayson tried to mount his horse, but an arrow lodged in his left shoulder. He cursed and fell off his horse. Cade rushed to his side and helped him astride the animal, dodging the arrows that continued to rain upon them.

  “They’re in the trees,” Drogan murmured as he winced from an arrow in his leg. Another embedded itself in his horse’s chest. The horse screamed and reared before he fell onto his side, trapping Drogan’s leg beneath his weight.

  “Go,” Cade yelled at Grayson, but the knight refused.

  Grayson jumped from his horse and slapped him on the withers so that it raced toward the castle. The next thing he knew, Grayson was beside him, helping him pull Drogan free. Cade bit back a groan when an arrow sunk into his back by his shoulder. He reached around and broke off the arrow.

  “How many?” Drogan asked.

  Grayson’s lips pulled back as he tugged at Drogan. “Too damn many.”

  “I should have listened, Cade.”

  Cade ground his teeth together and ignored the stinging in his shoulder. When Drogan was finally free, he and Grayson put Drogan between them, his arms draped over their shoulders as they raced toward the sea dodging more arrows.

  Drogan’s face was devoid of color once they finally reached the secret entrance to the castle. Blood poured from all three of them.
>
  “Get the damn arrow out before Serena sees it,” Drogan said.

  While Grayson held him steady, Cade pulled the arrow from Drogan’s leg. Blood rushed from the wound.

  “Me next,” Grayson said.

  Once Drogan was leaning against the rocks, Cade pulled the arrows from Grayson’s front and one from the back of his arm.

  “Done,” Cade said. “Get inside. And stay inside.”

  “Wait,” Drogan said. “What about your wound?”

  Cade shrugged and immediately regretted it. “It’s nothing. I’ll be fine.”

  Grayson stepped toward him. “You can’t get the arrow out yourself. Let me help.”

  Cade wished it was Francesca with him, soothing him with her soft hands and gentle touch. She had wanted to tend to his side and leg after the wolf, and now he wished he had let her. Those injuries weren’t completely healed, and now this new wound would make fighting that much more difficult.

  He nodded to Grayson and turned so he could reach the arrow. Cade placed his hands on the rocks near Drogan and took a deep breath. On his second breath, Grayson jerked the arrow free. Cade fell to his knees as a wave of dizziness assaulted him. Blood rushed from the wound, soaking his tunic. He rose on shaky legs and faced Drogan and Grayson.

  “Prepare. Nigel is on his way.”

  “What of the men in the forest?” Grayson asked.

  Drogan shook his head. “They’ll be gone by the time we gather men to look for them. They did exactly what they were sent to do.”

  “Make us worry. And wonder,” Cade said. “There is no telling when or where the next attack will take place.”

  Grayson helped Drogan stand, and they started toward the secret entrance.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Grayson asked. “Adrianna could heal you.”

  “The wound is nothing. Go see your wives.”

  Cade waited until they were gone before he let himself reach for the rocks to hold himself up. It took a great amount of effort to make it to the cave, and even then, he wasn’t sure he could build a fire.

  The blood wouldn’t stop, and he had to clean the wound. It was just like Nigel to use some kind of poison or other evil to tip the arrows.

  “Shite,” Cade murmured and turned toward the sea.

  The salt in the water would help to clean the wound, and if he was lucky, stop the bleeding. He stumbled and fell in the sand so that he had to crawl the rest of the way to the water. He was hidden from view from the forest by the rocks, but Cade didn’t want to get too far from the cave, just in case.

  He moved deep enough into the water so that he could sit down facing the castle and let the waves crash against him. He hissed in pain as the salt met his wounds. His gaze strayed to the castle, wondering what Francesca was doing and if she was thinking of him.

  Fool.

  “Aye, fool,” the darkness mocked. “Everything could have been ours!”

  Cade closed his eyes, refusing to acknowledge the darkness. But he knew from past experience that the darkness wouldn’t be ignored.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Francesca stood in the doorway to Grayson and Adrianna’s chamber, where Adrianna healed Drogan. Grayson was healing himself, and Serena was scolding both men for leaving the castle. The men had already finished their tale of how they had been in the forest talking to Cade when the attack came.

  “What of Cade?” Francesca asked. Her heart beat so loud she feared it would leap from her chest. “Is he hurt?”

  When Grayson and Drogan exchanged glances, anger blossomed within her. “You left him to see to his own wounds? You left him?”

  Serena left her husband’s side and walked to Francesca. “I’m sure they had good reason not to bring Cade inside.”

  “Aye,” Grayson said. “He didn’t want to come.”

  “He’s wounded, isn’t he?” Francesca asked.

  Drogan nodded. “He took an arrow in the back of the shoulder.”

  Francesca turned on her heel without another word. She was going to get her herbs and see to Cade herself, regardless of whether he wanted to see her or not. The thought of him alone, injured and in pain, made her heart clench.

  “Wait,” Adrianna said. “I’ll go with you, Fran.”

  “Nay,” Grayson said at the same time Drogan yelled for Francesca to halt.

  Grayson grabbed Drina’s shoulders and turned her to face him. “I won’t let you go out there and get hurt.”

  “But you’ll allow a man who saved you, twice now, to sit in pain!” Francesca yelled.

  She wasn’t sure what was wrong with her. She never raised her voice, and when she was angry, no one knew it because she hid it so well. Yet when it came to Cade, her emotions were out of control.

  Francesca turned to Drogan. “Don’t you dare try to stop me from going to him.”

  This time when she walked away, there were no shouts for her to stop. She hurried to her chamber for her bag of herbs. It was too bad Adrianna couldn’t come with her. She could heal Cade much faster than the herbs could.

  But Francesca understood why Grayson had told her nay. He was only looking out for the one he loved.

  * * * * *

  “I’ve never seen her so...emotional,” Serena said as she stared after Francesca’s retreating back.

  “It’s Cade,” Drogan said. “There is more there than either of them admits.”

  She turned to her husband. “You shouldn’t have left him. He wouldn’t have left you.”

  “I couldn’t very well force him inside, love. We were more injured than he was, so we couldn’t overpower him.”

  She sighed and glanced at Grayson and Drina. “You all could have been killed.”

  “In case you missed it,” Grayson said drily, “we nearly were.”

  Adrianna took a deep breath. “I didn’t say anything before, because I didn’t want to upset Fran, but the arrows were dipped in some kind of poison.”

  “No wonder it’s taking so long to heal,” Grayson mumbled.

  “The poison wasn’t meant to kill, but it was meant to slow you down and cause great pain. I need to go with Fran. If Cade is injured, she’s going to need my help. Besides, he did save us.”

  “I know,” Grayson said.

  Drogan stood. “We’ll all go.”

  “You’re not fully healed,” Drina said. “Both of you should rest.”

  Grayson raised a brow. “If you’re going, I’m going.”

  “Same for me,” Drogan said as he looked to Serena.

  Serena nodded. “Then let us go now. Fran shouldn’t have to do this alone.”

  * * * * *

  Francesca ran from the secret tunnel to Cade’s cave only to find it in darkness.

  “Cade,” she called.

  The sunlight only reached halfway into the cave, not even close to where the fire usually was. She used her hands to feel her way along the cave, calling out to Cade as she went. With each heartbeat, she feared she would find him dead. With each step, she cursed Drogan and Grayson for leaving him when he was wounded.

  The relief she felt when Cade wasn’t to be found in the cave was short lived. Where could he have gone? Had Nigel’s men found him wounded and weak and taken him somewhere?

  She rushed out of the cave to return to Drogan and ask for his help, but then she spotted something on the beach. Her lips parted on a cry as she realized it was Cade, lying in the waves on shore. His knives were discarded in the sand, and it appeared he had tried to remove his tunic.

  Her feet stumbled as she ran to him. She knelt beside him, mindless of the waves that swarmed her or the sand. Her hand shook as she moved it to his chest to see if his heart still beat.

  “Thank God,” she murmured when she found him still alive.

  Now came the hard part—moving him from the water to the cave. She stood, her sodden skirts weighing her down as she moved to Cade’s head and tried to pick him up under his arms. She didn’t budge him at all, but she did manage to see a
part of his wound.

  “That’s in the sand,” she murmured into the wind.

  She tried to lift him again. She had to get him inside the cave so she could tend to the wound, but determination alone wasn’t going to move Cade.

  “Let us,” Drogan said as he walked up beside her.

  Francesca blinked, looking from Drogan to Grayson. She backed away only to find Adrianna and Serena on either side of her.

  “What are you all doing here?” she asked.

  Adrianna smiled. “Helping. Now, while the men are getting Cade, take me to the cave. We’re going to need a fire.”

  Francesca watched as Drogan and Grayson hefted Cade to his feet so Drogan could carry him over his shoulder. Grayson cut away Cade’s soaked tunic and tossed it aside before grabbing Cade’s weapons.

  “Fran,” Serena urged.

  She nodded and hurried to the cave. Francesca showed Serena where the wood was while she smoothed out the blankets for Cade to lie on. It wasn’t long before the crackle of a fire filled the cave.

  Francesca held her breath, watching Drogan kneel down on one knee and Grayson hold Cade by the shoulders as they lowered him to the blanket. Cade’s face was pale, his breathing shallow.

  She started to get the bag of herbs she’d dropped when she first came into the cave looking for Cade, but Adrianna was already kneeling beside him.

  “Turn him on his side toward you,” Drina instructed Grayson.

  Francesca fisted her hands, her heart beating so hard it hurt. She got her first look at Cade’s wound. The arrow had been pulled out cleanly, and the salt water had probably done it some good, but it was coated in sand.

  She started forward to wipe away the sand when Drina lifted a wet rag from a bowl of water she hadn’t seen Serena place beside her. Drogan removed Cade’s boots, and Serena helped to hold Cade still. Francesca had never felt so helpless.

  Once the sand was gone, Drina laid her hands over Cade’s wound and closed her eyes. Not once had Francesca ever been jealous of another bana‐bhuidseach’s power. Until now. She was good with her herbs. Good enough to heal Cade herself.