Forbidden Highlander (27 page)

She shrugged and looked into his face. “Fallon, my sister is a gentle soul. She is a good person, but the evil in the world does not trouble her. Anice thinks she can stay in the protected grove and keep away from Deirdre and any wickedness that could threaten her.”

“But you don’t?”

“Nay,” she admitted softly. “I don’t. I tried to convince the other Druids to leave, but the grove has been their home for too long. They feel safe there.”

Fallon blew out a breath. He was troubled by what he had learned. “Can you convince the Druids to come here?”

“I doubt it. I told them of the warning the trees had given me, but they held firm to staying in the grove. I tried to get Anice to come with me, but she said she couldn’t leave. For all I know Broc is someone she made up. She was always going out into the forest alone. I would see her talking to herself, carrying on conversations with people that weren’t there.”

“I’m sorry, Sonya.”

She waved away his words. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. I gave them the warning.”

“Surely you don’t want your sister in Deirdre’s hands.”

Sonya’s gaze burned him. “Of course not. But I cannot force the Druids to leave. I told them where I was and begged them to come here should something happen.”

“Let me send Warriors to them.”

“You would never find them.”

Fallon straightened and reined in his growing ire. “Then you take a couple of Warriors and find them.”

“I wish I could, Fallon, but I cannot leave. It’s not just Malcolm that needs me. The trees told me I had to come here and stay, that if I leave MacLeod Castle, Deirdre will find me. And before you think me a coward, know that if I end up in Deirdre’s hands, the location to Druids that have evaded her will be known.”

“I would never think you a coward, Sonya. You forget I’ve been in Deirdre’s mountain. I’ve seen what she can do. You are right to want to stay away from her, but we need to get the Druids here before she does find them. And she will eventually.”

She sighed and nodded. “I will try to send a message through the trees if I can.”

Fallon covered her hand that still held the stones in a death grip. “You did all you could. Let me and the others help you for once.”

“Thank you.” Her lips quivered as she smiled.

Fallon left her on the battlements and walked to the hall. He glanced at Ramsey and Hayden who sat at the other table looking over the fake scroll. Fallon slid into his seat by his brother and blew out a breath.

“That bad?” Lucan asked around his mouthful of food.

Fallon was glad the other Warriors weren’t in the hall. He was still sorting out all Sonya had told him. “The group of Druids Sonya lived with are in danger.” He reached for some food and began telling Lucan everything he’d learned.

When he was finished Lucan whistled long and low. “I hope she can send the message. I cannot believe the Druids would think they were safe in the forest. No one is safe from Deirdre, not even here, but at least with us they stand a chance.”

“The grove is known to them. I can understand not wanting to leave a magical and protected place.”

“And Broc?” Lucan prodded.

Fallon tore off another piece of bread and rested his forearms on the table. “Sonya doesn’t know if he’s real or not.”

“Is there something wrong with her sister mentally?”

“Sonya didn’t say as much, but I think there might be.”

Lucan drained his goblet and set it on the table. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see about Broc then.”

“I suppose so. I was hoping to learn something about him, but I know less than yesterday.”

“By the way,” Lucan said, and leaned close to Fallon. “I found your and Larena’s clothes this morning in the village. I folded them and put them in her chamber.”

Fallon inwardly cursed. He had forgotten all about their clothing. “I appreciate it.”

“Have you two resolved anything?”

Fallon shook his head. “I don’t know that we ever will, Lucan. I would give her anything she wanted, but each morning, she leaves my bed with the sun.”

“Give it time. I see the way she looks at you. There is something there, Fallon.”

Larena wiped Malcolm’s brow and silently willed her cousin to wake. She worried about his arm and how it would affect his future, but deep inside she knew she was running from the memories of her night with Fallon. She had stared at her neck in the mirror for a long time that morning still surprised to see his mark on her.

Her hand went to her neck and the bite that was now covered by her tunic. She wondered if Fallon was angry to find her gone once more that morning. How could she explain that staying to see him wake up was a step she couldn’t take? Not yet anyway.

She knew her time with Fallon was running out. If she didn’t give herself to him, she would lose him forever. Fallon had offered her everything. What had she done? She had kept part of herself from him, but more than that, she hadn’t trusted him with the truth about the Scroll.

Larena put her head in her hands as she felt the tears threaten again. How she hated to cry. Ever since she had met Fallon the tears had been nearly unstoppable.

He deserved the truth. All of it. If he hated her for it, then so be it. As a Highlander and laird to a clan, he should understand the weight of a vow.

Her decision to tell him made, she lifted her head and wiped her eyes. She needed to find Fallon before she changed her mind. She could help Ramsey and Hayden with the scroll so they could fool Deirdre completely.

But as she turned to leave, she heard her name whispered.

Larena whirled around to find Malcolm looking at her through his one good eye. She smiled and reached for his hand. “Hi.”

“Hi,” he murmured, and licked his cracked lips.

She reached for the cup of water and raised his head to help him drink. Once he was finished she wiped the water from his chin and brushed a lock of blond hair from his eyes.

“How are you feeling?”

He grunted. “Like. Hell.”

“I know, but you’re going to get better. You’re at Fallon’s.”

Malcolm’s brow furrowed, and she saw the questions forming in his mind.

“Not yet, cousin,” she said. “You need to rest. There will be time enough later for answers.”

“All right.”

“Are you in pain?”

He nodded as his eyes drifted shut.

Larena squeezed his hand. “I will get you something. Rest easy.”

When she turned around Sonya was in the doorway. The Druid’s amber gaze was troubled, but she quickly schooled her features and smiled.

“He woke?” Sonya asked.

“Aye, and he’s in pain.”

Sonya strode to the bed. “I’ll mix some herbs in his water. It will ease his pain and allow him to rest.”

“Thank you.”

The Druid looked at her. “There’s no need to thank me. This is what I do, the gift I was given. I will continue to use my magic to speed his healing.”

Larena glanced at Malcolm once more. “Thank you anyway. If you ever need
anything
, Sonya, I will help you.”

“It is good that you’ve come here. This is where you belong,” Sonya said.

Larena let Sonya treat her cousin and left the cottage, strangely content at the Druid’s words. She looked at the castle against the blue of the sky. She imagined it must have been magnificent in its former glory with the towers reaching to the clouds and the air filled with the MacLeod war cry.

The only evidence now of the massacre was the gray stone that was marred from the fire and the one tower yet to be rebuilt. The castle didn’t house the MacLeod clan any longer, but if Fallon had his way, the land would be filled with people once more.

Druids and Warriors who dared to stand against an evil such as Deirdre would gather on this land and face the greatest battle of their lives.

“Larena!”

She turned to find Galen, Logan, and Camdyn holding up a large post.

“We need you,” Galen called.

Larena glanced at the castle. Her confession to Fallon would have to wait.

Broc steeled himself, as he always did, before he walked into the mountain. Ten steps inside and he could hear the screams from the dungeons below. Those screams would haunt his dreams for eternity.

Though he wanted to find his own chamber, Broc knew he had to see Deirdre first. There would be a punishment for him, he was sure. Deirdre didn’t like to be kept waiting.

Broc took the narrow stairs that wound up the mountain. When he reached the top, he turned left and walked down the corridor.

There were times he could have sworn the stones were alive, that they could read his thoughts and feel his hatred. He had been a part of Deirdre’s army for so long now that he should be used to it, but he knew he never would be. The mountain was an unholy place, a place where wickedness thrived and built with each passing day.

He nodded to the two Warriors guarding Deirdre’s door. They knocked and announced his presence. Broc heard her shout a response through the thick rock of her door.

As her double doors creaked open, Broc cleared his mind of everything but the MacLeods. It was a trick he had learned early on, and one that had saved his life countless times.

The first thing he did was look to the spot where Deirdre had been holding James prisoner in the rocks. The Warrior lifted eyes full of hate and anger to Broc.

“Where have you been?” Deirdre demanded as she walked into the chamber.

Broc glanced at the doorway she had just passed through. He glimpsed her bed and a man’s feet. He knew without a doubt it was Quinn. Was Quinn there because he wanted to be, or was Deirdre keeping him chained to her bed? Broc sighed inwardly. He wouldn’t get to talk to Quinn again now.

Deirdre’s white brows rose. “Well?”

“I stayed behind after the attack to see what Fallon and the others would do,” he lied.

The ends of Deirdre’s white hair twitched and rose from the floor. He had felt the sting of her hair before, and he had watched her strangle enough people with it to know that whenever she called for its use, it wasn’t good.

“Did you tell Fallon everything I told you to?”

Broc bowed his head. “Of course, mistress. Every word.” And then some, but she didn’t need to know that.

“And Larena? Did you see her?”

“I did. She is alive.”

Deirdre let her gaze run slowly over him. “You’ve been loyal to me a long time, Broc. I’ve never questioned your allegiance, but don’t be late again or there will be punishment.”

Through the bile that rose in his throat he continued to play her fool. “My apologies, mistress. I thought you would want to learn that they are rebuilding the village.”

Deirdre’s colorless eyes narrowed. “Is that so? Interesting, Broc. Very interesting.” She started back toward her chamber, dismissing him, when she paused. “A group of Druids has been brought in by Dunmore. Help the others with the interrogation.”

Broc’s heart pounded in his chest and sweat beaded his brow. More Druids? How was she finding them? And how much longer before Anice and her Druids were discovered? “As you wish.”

She paused, and with nary a word, the stones that held James released him. The pale green Warrior dropped to the ground and rubbed his arms and legs where he had been held. He gave a bow to Deirdre, and then stomped out of her chamber.

When Deirdre disappeared into her chamber, Broc turned and woodenly walked out of the room. The last thing he wanted to do was see the Druids tortured and killed, but he had no choice.

Broc turned the corner from the doorway and found Isla in his path. The
drough
was petite, barely reaching his chest, with long raven locks and ice-blue eyes that seemed to see straight through a man.

He didn’t understand why Deirdre hadn’t killed Isla like the other Druids. Isla rarely spoke and no emotion ever flickered over her face. Her eyes were as dead as Broc’s heart.

“Isla,” Broc said as he started around her.

“Did you see them?”

He paused as her softly spoken words filled the hallway. “See who?”

“The MacLeods.”

“Aye. Deirdre had a message for them.”

“They will come for their brother, Warrior, and the battle will be bloody. Many will die.”

Her whispered words reverberated in his head long after she walked away.

It wasn’t until the afternoon that Larena was able to get away to find Fallon. All day she had thought over what she would tell him—and how.

She didn’t want to see the anger and hurt in his eyes, but she could no longer hold back the truth. What she had with Fallon was special, so special that she was willing to break her vow.

It had taken her too long to realize how much she needed Fallon, or maybe she had known all along but was too afraid to admit it. Regardless, she would right the wrong she had done to him and pray he still cared enough about her to hear her out. She would trust him with her greatest secret. It was going to be the hardest thing she had ever done, but she felt it was the right thing to do.

Somehow, she wasn’t surprised to find Fallon on the beach. He stood on an outcropping of rocks gazing out over the water. Waves crashed around him, spraying him with droplets, but he never moved.

He was like a statue as he stood on the boulders—a handsome, dangerous Highlander whom she loved with all her heart.

That love was like someone had lifted her into the clouds and allowed her to soar. Suddenly, there were possibilities she had never dreamed of. All because of Fallon and the love he had given her.

For long moments she watched him, mesmerized by the sight of him. In all her dreams, she had never imagined finding someone as honest and wise and good as Fallon. He was a man worthy of a great woman. Larena wasn’t that woman, but she couldn’t let go of him either.

If he wanted her, she was his.

Of a sudden, he turned his head and looked at her over his shoulder. His green eyes burned into hers.

Larena stepped off the path and walked toward him. She navigated the rocks easily in her breeches and boots, and when she looked up, Fallon was beside her, his long dark locks blowing in the breeze.

He held out his hand, and she didn’t hesitate to take it. His warm, strong fingers closed over her hand as he led her farther against the cliffs, away from the sea.