Midnight's Surrender: A Dark Warriors Holiday Novella (7 page)

“Freedom? Freedom from what?”

“The confines of a spell.”

Rennie immediately thought of Dale.

“Aye,”
the ancients said. “
You can free him from his god and make him mortal once more. That is your gift.
”

“I could do it now?”

“It comes with a price.”

“What kind of price?”

“One your Warrior must pay.”

“Can you tell me more?”

“You will know what to do when the time comes.”

Rennie fisted her hands. “Why am I here, really? Why has my magic increased, and why can’t I leave?”

“You’ll be able to leave once you accept who you are.”

“I have!”

There was a beat of silence before the drums pounded louder. Then the ancients said, “
You haven’t, child.”

“Why has my magic increased while here?”

“It’s your destiny. Embrace it!”

Chapter Eight

Rennie looked away from the flames as the ancients’ words echoed in her head. Her destiny. What, exactly, was her destiny?

She looked across the fire to see Dale with his hands clenched and his head down as if he were in tremendous pain. Rennie rushed to him.

“Dale? What is it? What’s wrong?” she asked as she kneeled beside him, smoothing her hands over his arms and chest, looking for some wound.

When his head lifted she found herself looking into Warrior eyes. They were a pale green from corner to corner. The stark contrast to his normally dark irises took her aback for a second. Then she placed her hand on his cheek.

That’s all it took for him to grab her and yank her roughly against his chest. His arms were like bands of steel wrapped around her as he kissed her as if he’d die without her. He was thorough, sensual as he explored her mouth before deepening the kiss and demanding she relent.

Rennie wound her arms around his neck. The passion had barely been contained from the moment she had woken that morning. No one had ever made her feel such a burning need, such a feverish hunger that only Dale could quench.

With every look, every touch the desire had grown. The kiss earlier had set her ablaze. The craving, the excitement consumed her, engulfed her.

Seized her.

She moaned as his hand cupped her breast. When he bent her back over his arm while he kissed down her neck, Rennie clutched at his shoulders as desire pooled between her legs.

“This is a holy place,” Dale said between kisses.

“Shut up and keep kissing me.”

He chuckled and nipped her skin with his teeth. “Such demands.”

Rennie flexed her fingers against his shirt, loving the feel of his hard muscle beneath. “How can you think right now?”

“Because if I doona, I’ll lay you down and claim your body once more.”

She lifted her head to look at him. “And the problem with that is?”

His lopsided smile made her stomach flutter even as his green eyes vanished so she was once more looking into his dark irises. “This is a holy place.”

“You’ve said that already. People have been having sex and religious ceremonies in the standing stones since they were first constructed. How is this any different?”

“Because this is your family’s place.”

Rennie watched as his gaze lowered to her mouth, and she knew for all his talk, he wanted her as much as she wanted him. It sent a thrill through her, and for the first time in her life she was going to take the lead with a man.

She reached for the hem of his shirt and slid her hand beneath the material to run along his warm skin. “You would deny your desire?”

“Nay,” he answered tightly.

Using both hands, she yanked his shirt over his head and took in the impressive sight of his torso. She caressed him from shoulder to waist, loving the sound of his quickening breaths when she got close to his crotch.

“You’re playing with fire, Druid,” he warned.

But that was exactly where she wanted to be.

It wasn’t until she reached for the button of his jeans that he reacted. In a split second, he had her on her back on the ground as he leaned over her.

“This is what you want to do after talking to the ancients?” he asked in a low, seductive tone.

Rennie swallowed as she shook her head. “This is only about you, about us. You make me want this. All I can think of is you and how you feel against me, inside me.”

There was a low growl that rumbled from his chest. “You doona know what you’re saying.”

“I know exactly what I’m saying. I want you. I want what’s between us. I want to push whatever this is to the limits and see just how far it will go.”

His forehead furrowed. “It could be wonderful, but it could also destroy us.”

“I don’t care.”

“You should.”

She gave a shove to his shoulder and rolled him onto his back so that she straddled him. Rennie knew he allowed her that control, but his strength was one of the many reasons she was drawn to him. “I’d rather you stop talking,” she said as she rotated her hips, grinding against his hard rod.

His hands gripped her hips, but he didn’t halt her. “What did the ancient’s say?”

“Why did you look like you were in pain when I saw you?” she asked instead.

The corners of his eyes crinkled. “Do you really need to ask?”

“Yes. Say the words, Warrior,” she whispered.

His gaze grew serious as he stared. “Your magic. I’ve never felt such peace or happiness mixed with an irresistible yearning to claim you all rolled into one.”

Rennie saw the uncertainty in his gaze, and it broke her heart. She lay atop him, resting her head on his chest. “The ancients said I couldn’t leave until I embraced who I was. They said I had a destiny.”

“What destiny?” His hands wrapped around her, holding her firmly against him.

“I don’t know. They wouldn’t say.” She briefly thought about keeping what they had said about him to herself, but she wanted Dale to know. “They knew you were here.”

His large hands rubbed her back in slow circles. “I gather they were no’ happy.”

“I told them you no longer fought for evil, and they said you would have a choice to make soon.”

Dale’s silence stretched into minutes. “I willna ever side with evil again. No’ after I’ve tasted you.”

*   *   *

Dale was thankful when Rennie drifted off to sleep. It had taken every ounce of his considerable control not to strip her and take her once more.

Her magic had grown threefold since they had been in the chamber, and the longer they remained, the more it grew. He had no doubt that what the ancients had told her was true—she did have a destiny.

What gave him pause was their mention of him. They said he would have a choice, and it didn’t take much to determine that choice would be between good or evil.

Dale knew he was done with evil, but it was never so easy. Malevolent forces had a way of working things to their advantage, leaving a person with very few options. In his gut, Dale knew he would be put in such a position. How soon, and how it would involve Rennie, he couldn’t begin to fathom.

As he lay there, he could feel tiny vibrations in the earth. They were so minute that they were barely discernible, yet they wouldn’t be ignored.

Dale turned his head and looked at the fire. It appeared the flames would last for many days. As he looked into the fire, he spotted something white darting in and around the flames.

He paid closer attention and noticed the white ribbons of smoke were coming from beneath the fire pit and curling up to the flames where they intermingled.

His enhanced hearing picked up whispers of disembodied voices. Normally he would have been uneasy, but Dale knew this was a holy place for a Druid—and only
mie
magic had ever touched this place.

He glanced at Rennie to find she was still asleep, unfazed by the ribbons of magic or the voices. What intrigued him was the fact he was being allowed to witness it.

“I’ll help Rennie,” he whispered to the chamber at large. “I doona know what her destiny is, but I’ll help.”

The voices quieted for a heartbeat before they picked up again, this time louder. Still, Dale couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Carefully, he rolled onto his side while holding Rennie. Once she was on her back, he released her and got to his feet. Dale walked around the chamber hoping to better understand the voices.

And then he caught one word: solstice.

“I’ll be damned,” he murmured as he realized the winter solstice was upon them. It was an important Celtic holiday that Druids followed closely.

If Harriet was getting antsy to buy the land, then it had something to do with the winter solstice. How, Dale didn’t know. Yet.

The voices seemed to gather around him, and he was cautious to remain still. As he stood quietly, the voices became clearer and clearer until he could make out what they were saying.

“A Warrior. Here. In our holy place. At the winter solstice?”

“I’m here for Rennie.” The fact it was now the solstice put him on high alert.

“No Warrior has been allowed before.”

Why him, then? Dale was curious, but it would have to wait. “How do I keep Rennie safe?”

“She has a destiny to fulfill.”

Dale stopped short of rolling his eyes. First the ancients, and now the voices. He already knew Rennie had a destiny. “Are you the ancients?”

“Her family. Ancient, aye, but not the ancients.”

At least he’d gotten one answer. “What is her destiny?”

“Mustn’t say.”

Dale rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. “Are you preventing her from leaving?”

“We are. It’s to keep her alive. There is danger coming for you both.”

“Harriet,” Dale ground out. “She wants the land.”

“Danger comes now!”
the voices said furiously before they faded away.

Dale turned to the entrance as he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. He moved swiftly to stand near the tunnel, blocking whoever was coming from seeing Rennie sleeping.

He just hoped the same magic that was keeping Rennie inside the chamber would keep whoever was coming out. And when he caught sight of the red hair, he knew instantly it was Harriet.

She stopped just short of stepping into the chamber. Her gaze fastened on him and she quirked an eyebrow. “Well, just who are you?”

“No’ someone you want to mess with.”

“No, you’ve got it wrong, sweetheart. I’m not someone you want to mess with,” she said smugly.

Dale shook his head. All
droughs
were the same—conceited, arrogant, and brash. “Because you’re a Druid?”

Her eyes widened a fraction before she composed herself. “How do you know what I am?”

“Because your magic makes me want to be sick there is so much evil running through you. You cleverly hide the scars on your wrist well enough. And your Demon’s Kiss? Where is it?”

“With me, of course,” she said and looked him up and down. “Who are you?”

Dale kept silent.

“Rennie’s watchdog, are you?” Harriet said with a sneer. “She might come from a family of Druids, but if you want the real magic, you should side with me.”

“Never,” he said adamantly.

She cocked and eyebrow. “You said you felt my magic. As far as I know, there is only one creature who can sense magic—a Warrior.” Harriet suddenly laughed and clapped her hands together. “Oh, this is perfect. Mousy Rennie has a Warrior. Where did she find you?”

“Leave here, and I might allow you to live,” Dale warned.

“Allow me to live?” Harriet laughed coldly. “You’ve got it wrong, big man. I’ll be the one deciding who lives,” she said, the malice dripping from her words.

Dale released his god and lunged for her, but it was too late, a blast of magic had him pinned against the wall.

Chapter Nine

Rennie came out of her sleep slowly, the sound of the ancients screaming in her ear. When she did come fully awake she couldn’t shake the innate sense that she must remain absolutely still.

Her eyes flew open when she heard the malicious laughter. Then she saw Dale—his skin the same pale green she had seen in his eyes—suspended off the ground as he was held against the wall.

“I’ve wanted to meet a Warrior.”

As soon as the words were spoken Rennie recognized the voice—Harriet. Rennie’s gaze sought Dale’s, but he refused to even look her way. For whatever reason, Harriet didn’t know she was there, and Dale was doing his best to keep it that way.

“Does Rennie know what you are?” Harriet asked.

Dale’s lips peeled back to reveal impressive fangs. “She knows,
drough
.”

“And where is she?”

Rennie held her breath as she waited for Dale to answer. The stillness grew as he refused to respond.

A half-growl, half-scream fell from Harriet’s lips. “Talk, Warrior, or I’ll inflict more pain.”

Dale just smiled, as if inviting her to try. Rennie licked her lips while silently begging Dale not to antagonize Harriet.

“Suit yourself,” Harriet said.

A grimace stole over Dale’s face, and his body jerked as Harriet poured her magic into him. Rennie saw him clutching the stones and noticed his green claws.

Suddenly, Dale was dropped to the ground. He landed bent forward and slowly rolled up straight. His gaze was trained on Harriet, and there was deadly intent in his pale green Warrior eyes.

“Why can’t I get inside?” Harriet demanded.

“The MacBeths doona want you here.”

She gave a loud snort. “Our families had a truce.”

“A truce you’re breaking,” Dale reminded her. “This is Rennie’s land, and this chamber was meant for the Druids of her family. That isna you.”

“I’ve been searching for this place for over twenty years. I’ll not have some Warrior stop me.”

Rennie was about to get up and tell Harriet what she could do with her plans. As if sensing her thoughts, Dale strode with long purposeful steps until he stood between Harriet and Rennie.

“I’m no’ the one preventing you from entering. That,
drough
, is Rennie’s ancestors and the magic they placed here.”