Hot Blooded (27 page)

Iona enjoyed what she did more than anything else in the world. She couldn't give that up, nor would she remain with anyone that asked her to. Laith was the first to make her even think along these lines. It was probably a moot point anyway. The odds of their relationship lasting longer than her time in Scotland was … well, frankly, slim to none.

Still … if she were to ever settle down, she could see herself with Laith.

Iona was befuddled with this new world she found herself a part of, but knowing she had family—an extended one by the sound of it—was something she had never counted on. Or realized she wanted.

Her mother was still around, and as much as she loved her, it wasn't the same as having someone like Hayden. It had nothing to do with his immortality and everything to do with how he welcomed her with open arms, no talk of money at all.

Iona had no illusions. She knew with the money she sent her mother that she wouldn't see or hear from Sarah again until more was needed. Iona made sure to send over a huge chunk out of her own account that should tide her mother over for several years.

“Something wrong?” Isla asked.

Iona quickly shook her head. “Just doing a lot of thinking lately.”

“Ah. About Laith, I gather.”

“How did you know?” she asked in amazement.

Isla smiled and looked to Hayden. “Hayden and the others were battling Deirdre, who forced me to help her by holding my sister and niece, when the Warriors attacked her. I tried to get away, because I knew she wouldn't die as easily as they assumed. Hayden found me in the snow half-alive. Deirdre had bound me to her. Since I wasn't dead, I knew she was alive. I begged Hayden to kill me.”

“He obviously didn't.”

“No,” Isla said in a soft voice. She swallowed hard and looked sadly around the area. “He didn't. He wanted to as soon as he learned I was
drough.
He hated
droughs,
you see, because they killed his family.”

It was the sadness and regret in Isla's amazing blue eyes that clued Iona in. “It was you, wasn't it?”

She nodded and looked away, blinking quickly. “It's tough for me to return here, even after all this time. Deirdre had control of my mind and body, forcing me to commit atrocities, but the simple fact is, it was me.”

“How did Hayden get past his hatred?”

She moved her long black hair off her shoulder. “With the same attraction I fought as well. We were like oil and water at first, each fighting not to give into the desire, but the passion was too great. Against all odds, we fell in love, and it was with Hayden's help that I broke the spell that linked me to Deirdre.”

“And your sister and niece?” Iona asked.

Isla's gaze returned to her. “They died. The Druids at MacLeod Castle took me as one of their own. They gave me hope while Hayden gave me courage and love.”

Iona looked away, unwilling to tell her new friend her thoughts on love. She saw Hayden wave Fallon over as they both squatted near a cluster of trees and moved the leaves of the ferns out of the way to look at the ground.

“Why did you turn up your nose at the mention of love?”

Iona glanced at Isla. “I didn't turn up my nose.”

“Yes,” Isla said with a chuckle. “You did. Do you not believe in it?”

Iona didn't like the way Hayden and Fallon continued to look at the spot. “I usually hide my disdain for the word better, but I've been besieged by it these past few days. I'm used to being on my own, and yet I've found myself surrounded by new friends, which has made dealing with my father's murder a bit easier.”

For someone who liked being alone, Iona found herself surrounded by friends and family. It altered her way of thinking even more. She had fought against any constraints of having friends, but now she realized she had only been harming herself. She was stronger with friends around her, fortified by her new family.

“Being surrounded by friends is a good thing,” Isla pointed out.

“I don't deny that.” Iona dropped her arms and searched for the right words. “I think people want to believe in love. That want makes them think they feel something that doesn't exist, and then the couple is surprised when that ‘supposed' loved ends and they divorce, separate, or break up.”

“You've never seen love, then?”

“I do think the love between a parent and their children, as well as a child for their parents, is real. Falling in love with another person, however, isn't. Lust? Desire? Yes, those things are real.”

Isla raised a black brow. “So is it just lust and desire that had you standing beside Laith? Or was it the start of something more?”

“I honestly don't know.” Iona sighed and squeezed her eyes closed for a second. “I used to think love was all made up in our minds. That there is no such thing as a soul mate or the other half of a person. That people want to believe in love because they need to think there is someone out there for them.”

“But,” Isla pressed.

Iona shook her head vigorously. “I've watched my mother go through men like tissues. I told myself there wasn't someone out there for me, that I was better alone. That put everything else into perspective and has allowed me to live happily. At least I thought I was happy.”

“And now?”

Iona had said too much to Laith earlier. She hadn't been able to help it. The situation presented itself, and suddenly she was spilling her guts. The fact she wanted to be with him all the time scared her as nothing else could.

She swallowed and faced Isla. “I don't want to care for him. I don't want to need him.”

“But you do. There's nothing wrong with that.”

Iona smiled as she always did when she thought of Laith. “I don't deny there's a tidal wave of attraction between us. I also don't deny that he makes me smile or that I feel stronger when he's near. I'm not foolish enough to think it'll last longer than my time here.”

Isla frowned. “You're leaving?”

“I don't normally stay in one place too long.” Though she wouldn't be averse to remaining in Scotland. It was the first place that felt like home since she left twenty years earlier.

Isla studied her for a moment, and then shrugged. “Why not test what happens between you and Laith and see? Or are you afraid that you will fall in love?”

Isla's dare took Iona aback. She wasn't afraid of falling in love. How could she be when she didn't believe in it? Or … did she? “I—”

“Isla!” Hayden's shout interrupted her.

Iona followed as Isla ran to her husband. As soon as they reached Fallon and Hayden, Isla peered at the ground. Fallon's face was grim as he looked up at Iona and slowly got to his feet. Iona shifted her gaze to Hayden to see his brow furrowed in a deep frown. He shook his head of blond hair and let the fern leaves pop back into place.

“This isna good,” Hayden said.

Iona watched the fern leaves sway gently until the momentum stopped them. She turned and looked over her shoulder to the cottage that was twenty feet away. The window to her living room was in line with them, giving her a view straight into the kitchen.

“Dragon and Dark Fae magic mixed,” Fallon said, his words clipped in anger. “I'll alert Dreagan.”

“And I'll widen the search,” Hayden said.

Iona turned back around, but Fallon was already gone. “What does the magic mean?”

“It means there was someone here,” Hayden said with a scowl. “Dark magic is deadlier than black magic. Black magic has a sickening, cloying feel to it. Dark magic feels like death. It's sinister, nefarious in ways that I can no' describe.”

Isla shuddered. “It's strong enough use of magic that even I can sense it. Dragon magic is the purest, most powerful magic in this realm. To be combined with a Dark Fae's magic is…” She paused and looked helplessly to Hayden.

“Disgusting. Repulsive. An atrocity. Take your pick,” Hayden mumbled.

Iona's stomach revolted. “Someone was watching me? Someone was here?”

“Laith thought there might be trouble. It's why he called me,” Hayden said. “Doona worry, Iona. Whoever this is willna get any closer to you.”

She didn't like the fear that iced her veins. “Did this person go into the cottage?”

Hayden immediately walked to the front door. Iona tossed him the keys and waited outside with Isla while he checked the inside.

When he returned to the door, his face held a thunderous expression. “They've been all through the house.”

Iona's knees threatened to crumple. “I thought I was misplacing things. I thought I was being forgetful with all that's been going on.”

“Nay,” Hayden said darkly. “Someone has been following you.”

Hayden's head snapped to the left and his black gaze narrowed on something. A heartbeat later he moved so quickly Iona couldn't track him as he ran into the woods.

Isla gave her a soft shove toward the house. “Get inside while I set up a perimeter spell.”

Iona stood shaking in the middle of the living room looking around the cottage. She still couldn't believe someone had been in her house. But how? Wouldn't she have seen them?

She looked out the window at Isla standing outside with her eyes closed and her lips moving. Her arms were held at her sides at first, her palms facing out. A second later and her arms began to slowly lift upward until they were directly above her head.

Her hands clasped together, and there was a bright light that burst from her hands. Iona ducked in reaction, and glanced around to see if she could spot the magic.

A few moments later Isla walked into the house, and Iona asked, “Will your spell work? Will it keep whoever this is out?”

“Probably not since it's Dark magic that's used,” Isla stated grimly. “But it'll alert me if he tries to come inside.”

 

CHAPTER
THIRTY-ONE

Laith wasn't about to let Con make the decision for him when it came to Iona. He glared at Constantine for long silent moments before Tristan walked up the stairs and shouldered his way between them until he was a few steps above them, then stopped and faced them.

“Con, you're being a wanker. You wanted one of us to get close to Iona so we could determine what she knew, and tell her of her legacy if John hadn't. You can no' just tell him to stop after he's gotten close,” Tristan said. “And Laith, you're not thinking calmly. Con is trying to put things into perspective and doing it poorly.”

“I'm doing a fine job,” Con stated succinctly.

Laith walked past Con and Tristan on the stairs. He reached the top and then paused before he slowly turned to look at the King of Kings. “Is it that you can no' stand to see us happy?”

“I've done everything to make sure each of you have a place to call your own, a home where you can be yourselves,” Con answered.

“But no' to be happy?”

Con's black gaze was penetrating. “When was the last time you were truly, utterly happy, Laith? I can name mine. When my Golds were still here, when I could stand atop the mountains and see dragons in every direction. No female, no matter how beautiful, will ever fill that hole inside me.”

“And you want each of us to feel the same,” Laith said as he faced Con. “I feel the loss of my Blacks every second of every day. Nothing will ever change that. I was in agreement after what happened with Ulrik's woman no' to allow a human close. None of us balked against the magic we used to block ourselves from feeling anything. But that spell was broken. No one knows how or why, but you can no' stop the fact that the Kings are mating again.”

Con's eyes widened in surprise. “Is that what you think? That I doona want you to have mates?”

“Shall I remind you what you did to Kellan and Denae? What about Kiril and Shara?”

“I'm King of Kings, Laith. Part of that job is to ensure each of you make the right decisions whether those decisions match what you want or not.”

Laith took a step toward Con, fury building rapidly. “I'm no' a child to be ordered about by a controlling parent. I'm a Dragon King! I didna earn that position lightly.”

“Enough! Both of you,” Tristan said. He walked past Con and went to Laith and took him by the arm. “Come. You need to calm down.”

Laith didn't want to let it go. He wanted to hit something, preferably Con, but it wouldn't do any good. Like Tristan said, he needed to calm himself. He was about to turn away when he spotted Fallon suddenly appear at the base of the stairs. He met Fallon's troubled gaze.

“We've got a problem,” Fallon said tensely.

Con spun around to Fallon. “What is it?”

“Hayden and I scouted around Iona's cottage. We hadna gotten far when we felt magic—dragon and Dark Fae mixed.”

“No' again,” Con murmured.

Laith hurried down the steps. “Where?”

“In a grove of trees near the cottage,” Fallon explained. “Whoever was there had direct sight through the window to the living area and the kitchen.”

Laith didn't need to hear more. “Take me to Iona.”

“No' yet,” Con said.

That was the last straw for Laith. He jerked his head to Con. “I'm going.”

“Listen,” Con said calmly as he removed first one gold dragon head cuff link and then the other before he rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt to his elbows. He started down the stairs, a muscle jumping in his jaw. “Allow Hayden and Isla to watch over Iona. The person observing Iona willna ever see them if Isla can protect Iona and the cottage with spells.”

Laith knew he was reacting with emotion instead of looking at it with cold, calculating strategy as Con did everything. He kept silent, waiting for Con to continue.

“Hayden and Isla willna be alone. Larena and I will be helping as well,” Fallon interjected.

Con inclined his head. “As Hayden has brought Iona into the MacLeod fold, I'm no' surprised. We appreciate it. That will be three Warriors and one Druid protecting Iona on Campbell land. We're stronger on Dreagan. We'll patrol the border and the air.”