by Donna Grant
Malcolm removed his shoes and hastened back to Evie. As Evie slept, Malcolm thought about all Wallace had said over and over in his head.
Wallace was a devious bastard. One could only believe half of what he said while trying to decipher hidden meanings. Deirdre had been scheming, but nowhere near the magnitude of Jason.
Deirdre liked to see the fear in the faces of her enemies. Jason Wallace liked to go in for the kill at the last minute. And Declan, he had spent too long with money and power and thought that could give him all he wanted.
All three were wrong.
And Jason would join Deirdre and Declan in death soon.
Hours passed and still Malcolm was no closer to discovering how to kill Wallace than he had been months before. He couldn’t go off on his own now. He had Evie, Brian, and his unborn child to think about.
He had gone from being a loner to having a family in a matter of days, and it still shocked him. No matter his efforts, he had done a miserable job protecting Larena. What made him think he could do better with those who counted on him now?
Malcolm closed his eyes and dropped his chin to his chest. As much as he’d like to take Wallace out on his own, that wasn’t going to happen, not after what Wallace did to him the last time.
Malcolm’s body still ached from his time with Death. There wasn’t much that could give him pause, but Death certainly did. It adored pain, relished agony, and savored screams.
Soft hands touched his shoulders. Malcolm’s head jerked up to find Evie kneeling in front of him. She smiled sadly and smoothed away the lock of hair that was always falling in his eyes.
“You should be resting,” he said.
“So should you. I thought you would’ve joined me.”
Desire shot through him like lightning, his cock immediately hard and his blood on fire. “If I did get in that bed with you, it wouldna be sleep you were getting, lass.”
She gave him a smoldering look. “You say that as if I’d mind.”
“I think my desires have gotten you in enough trouble.”
The teasing light left her clear blue eyes instantly. “Don’t you dare, Malcolm Munro. You can’t think to shoulder the blame for this on your own.”
“I do. If I could’ve kept my distance from you, you wouldna be carrying my child.”
“And had I not put up the site Jason would never have contacted me. Had I not been looking for other Druids I wouldn’t have stupidly trusted him and become drough. You can’t take responsibility for those actions because they lie squarely on me.”
He clenched his jaw as she traced the scars on his face, her touch reverent and tender, her eyes heavy-lidded.
“I thought I’d lost you. Seeing you lying on that bed with your wounds not healing was torture. You were so still.” She sniffed and swallowed. “I tried to help you.”
Malcolm took one of her hands in his and brought it to his lips where he kissed her knuckles. “I know. I saw you. I kept calling for you, but you couldna hear me. Death was playing with you.”
“Death,” she repeated with a shiver. “How did you come out of it?”
“I told you. You.” When her eyes widened, he grinned. “Oh, aye. It was you. Seeing you, feeling your magic gave me the hope I needed.”
“Con and Phelan helping to heal you didn’t hurt either.”
“They helped a little. You’re the one who saved me.” He should’ve told her that last night, but there had been too much other stuff going on.
She laid her head on his leg and sighed. “And you saved me. I saw what Jason did to you when you fought him. He’s powerful. So powerful. I think the ancients are wrong. I don’t think he can be killed. I mean, my God, he used Death!”
“Everything can be killed. You need to remember that. We just have to find what will do the job with Wallace,” he said as he smoothed his hands over her head, letting the cool strands of curls glide through his fingers.
“With you, I think I can face anything.”
“We will get through this.”
The door suddenly opened as Brian stood there with one eye closed and his dark hair in disarray as he signed that he was starving.
“You’re always starving,” Evie said with a smile as she got to her feet.
Malcolm wanted more time alone with Evie. There was so much he wanted to say, and he wasn’t sure how to do it. His smiles were coming easier, if a little tight.
She did that to him. He found himself grinning at the smallest thing because she had come into his life. How dull and dour his world had been before her. He couldn’t fathom how he had survived it, not knowing her … loving her.
He watched her run fingers through her hair as she pushed Brian out of the room telling him to wash up and brush his hair before they went downstairs.
“Rhys went to the inn and got your bag,” Malcolm said as he stood. “If you need anything, the women here said they could help.”
“Give me five minutes, and I’ll be ready to go down.”
Malcolm got to his feet and strode from the room. He paced the hallway feeling trapped and cornered by Wallace and the predicament they were in. Malcolm couldn’t help but feel as if Jason was playing them like the games he saw others play on computers or their mobiles.
“A good run might help.”
Malcolm paused and turned to find Rhys leaning against the wall. “The only thing that will help is killing Wallace.”
“We’ll get to that soon enough. How is Evie?”
“Tired and frightened. She hides it well, but I can see it.” He walked to Rhys and propped himself against the wall opposite the Dragon King.
“Has she had any effects from her time with Death?”
Malcolm stilled, his eyes narrowed on the dragon. “What? I saw her, but it was just her magic.”
“Nay. She was there, Malcolm. When she tried to leave, Death burned her. Phelan healed her.”
Malcolm ran a hand down his face, more frustrated than ever. “I promised to protect her yet she keeps getting hurt.”
“She went in to save you. She had no thought of herself. You’d do the same for her, would you no’?”
“Without hesitation.”
Rhys slowly smiled. “Just as I thought. Come. I’ve found clothes for you. I think you could do with a shower. And a shave.”
Malcolm rubbed his beard as he followed Rhys. The beard was meant to hide his scars, but they didn’t seem to bother Evie. Maybe it was time she saw him for who he truly was.
“Are you telling me I smell, Dragon?”
Rhys grunted. “Just take the damn shower, Warrior.”
Malcolm walked into the room Rhys showed him to and found several pairs of jeans and four shirts laid out on the bed.
“The bathroom is there,” Rhys said. “Doona keep your woman waiting.”
The door closed on his words. Malcolm looked around the bedroom noting the masculine air. There were pictures of yellow dragons on every wall with the exception of a sword that hung near the bed as if waiting for someone to take it.
Malcolm knew he was in Rhys’s room. With one last look at the impressive sword, he made his way into the bathroom and the sink where an array of shaving equipment awaited him.
“Sodding dragons,” he mumbled as he lathered the brush.
* * *
Evie glanced at the clock to see she had taken thirty minutes instead of five. She shook the blow dryer, wishing it didn’t take her hair so long to dry.
With her curls still slightly damp, she put on clean clothes. One look in the mirror, however, had her wincing. Dark shadows appeared beneath her eyes, making her look as tired as she felt.
She grabbed her bag of makeup and quickly dabbed some concealer on to help hide most of the circles. Then she added a touch of blush and some eyeliner.
“At least I don’t look like death warmed over,” she mumbled.
She walked out of the room and came to a halt when she saw Brian and Malcolm across the hall signing. Brian finished
with a shrug of his shoulders, but it was Malcolm who captured her attention.
He had shaved his thick beard revealing the strong jaw and chin she had known were beneath. His scars were more prominent as they cut over his right cheek to his neck.
His head slowly turned to her while his azure eyes watched her intently. Evie felt all the air rush from her lungs as she was pinned by those mesmerizing eyes.
The Malcolm she’d first met—silent, withdrawn, and hiding his scars—had been handsome. But the man before her now—clean-shaven, confident, approachable—was heart-stoppingly magnificent.
She closed the distance between them and kissed him. After the briefest of seconds, his arms closed around her as he deepened the kiss.
Evie could have stayed kissing Malcolm all day if it hadn’t been for Brian clearing his throat multiple times. She ended the kiss and looked up at Malcolm, wondering how it was that such a man fancied her.
“I like this new look. A lot. You wore that beard to hide your scars, but you were really hiding the amazing man you are.”
He put his forehead to hers. “You have no idea how much I need you, Evie. You’ve changed me.”
His hand found hers and their fingers entwined. She tried to walk away, but then she saw the desire in Malcolm’s eyes and they were kissing again, the heat, the fire of their need too potent to deny.
Brian grunted and stomped off. It was Rhys’s laughing that broke them apart the second time, their chests heaving and a promise of pleasure silently exchanged.
“Your brother says you need to get a room,” Rhys stated with a wide smile.
Malcolm chuckled. The sound was rough, and Malcolm grew uncomfortable after, but Evie knew it was another step to him becoming the man he’d once been. He was a marvel, and one she knew she would never tire of being around.
He was fire and ice, fierce and tender. He was Warrior and lover.
And for now, he was hers.
“You should laugh more often,” she whispered.
Malcolm cleared his throat. “Food, then?”
Rhys’s laughter filled the corridor.
Evie grinned when Malcolm held her hand as they walked down the stairs to the kitchen.
CHAPTER
FORTY-EIGHT
The next morning Larena wasn’t surprised to find Guy waiting in the drive outside Dreagan Manor. As soon as Fallon jumped her and Ramsey to Dreagan, he teleported back to the castle.
“He’s welcome to stay,” Guy said of Fallon.
Ramsey shrugged. “He knows. It’s no’ a good time right now.”
Guy nodded. “Malcolm, Evie, and Brian have been up for a bit. They’re in the kitchen having breakfast. The room will afford you all some privacy.”
“How is he?” Larena asked as she put her hand on Guy’s arm to stop him. “Really. How is Malcolm really?”
“Why no’ come see for yourself,” Guy said with a kind smile.
Larena glanced at Ramsey before she trailed Guy into the large house. Before they reached the kitchen, she could hear the sound of conversation and a female’s laugh.
Once at the kitchen Guy stopped Larena before she could go inside. “Watch. Listen,” he urged.
Larena turned the corner and saw Malcolm, Evie, and Brian sitting at the round table, relaxed as sunlight filtered through the many windows. The round table was littered with food and pitchers of juice.
Evie’s long curls were down and falling over her back as she laughed at her brother. Brian stuffed food into his mouth as he signed with one hand, then had to cover his mouth with his hand as he laughed.
Malcolm leaned back in his chair, one hand resting on his thigh as he held a mug of coffee in the other. His gaze never left Evie’s face as he goaded Brian into eating more. It was a cozy, comfortable scene the three of them made.
Larena looked closer at Malcolm and blinked hastily as she saw a glimpse of the man he had been before fate had set him on his path. He was more relaxed and at ease than she could remember seeing him.
“He shaved,” Larena whispered in awe.
Ramsey moved behind her and made a sound of approval. “He’s smiling too.”
He was. It was almost too much for Larena to take in. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen him smile.”
“He chuckled this morning. Well, it wasn’t really a chuckle, but it was close,” Guy whispered. “Evie certainly approved.”
Larena’s eyes clouded with tears. “He looks at her as if she’s his entire world.”
“Because she is,” Ramsey said. “He lived in darkness. Evie is his light.”
Guy nodded. “Evie is a trusting soul. Too trusting at times, but only because she’s no’ been touched by evil before a few days ago. As a result, she was able to look past the wall Malcolm erected and find the man beneath.”
“Where there is love evil can no’ flourish,” Ramsey said. “Drough or no’, I doona believe Evie is evil or that she became drough with evil in mind.”
“That was as we thought,” Guy said. “The pair have a difficult road ahead of them. They need all the friends they can get.”
Larena glanced at the Dragon King. “Fallon only wanted Malcolm home with the rest of us. He thought by having us all confront him that it would convince Malcolm to come.”
“Con knew Fallon had a reason for it.”
Ramsey leaned down and whispered, “Go to him, Larena. Your cousin needs you.”
For several more minutes, she watched the three. Evie laughed at some story Brian signed while Malcolm smiled widely. It was a balm to her soul to see a glimpse of the man who had so valiantly stayed by her side when he was mortal.
Malcolm had been a charmer, a rogue who could turn the eye of any woman. Losing the ability to use his arm changed his world overnight, and he had never been the same since.
He had gone to a dark, nefarious place, a place of pain and solitude where no one was able to reach him. Yet, somehow, Evie found him.
Whether or not her cousin knew it, he was in love with Evie Walker. It showed in his eyes as he watched her, in his smile as she laughed, and in the way his entire attention was focused on her.
Larena walked into the kitchen. She’d taken only two steps when Malcolm’s head turned to her. His coffee cup was halfway to his mouth when he spotted her. Slowly, he lowered it as Evie’s laughter died and Brian grew still.
She couldn’t stop the tears from flowing as she hurried to him. Malcolm stood and held out his arms. Larena rushed to him and flung her arms around him.
“You smiled,” she said through her tears. She leaned back and cupped his face. “And finally shaved.”
“It was time.”
“It certainly was.” Larena sniffed and looked at Evie. “Thank you for bringing him back. He was lost, and you found him.”
Evie smiled wryly. “He was the one who found me.”
Larena stepped away from Malcolm and held out her hand to Evie. “I’m Larena MacLeod, Malcolm’s cousin. It’s good to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Evie said as she took her hand. “This is my brother, Brian.”
Larena signed “Hello,” and a surprised Brian asked if she was really a Warrior.
“They wanted to know more about those from the castle,” Malcolm explained. “Everyone is enamored with the idea of a female Warrior.”
Larena laughed as she looked back at Brian. “I am a Warrior. What do you want to know?”
She wasn’t surprised when he asked her to shift into Warrior form. Larena didn’t hesitate. As soon as her iridescent skin glowed, both Evie and Brian gasped.
“It’s so beautiful,” Evie said in awe.
Brian’s mouth was agape, his hands still.
“And that’s a first,” Evie said with a laugh. “Brian has nothing to say.”
Brian gave her a shove. While brother and sister jested, Larena and Malcolm shared a look.
“I’m sorry for everything,” Malcolm said.
Larena tamped down her goddess and took his
hand. “There is nothing to apologize for. You were looking out for me.”
“I did horrible things, Larena.”
“We all do horrible things. Look at you now, though.”
Evie wiped her hands on her napkin and motioned to the chair opposite her. “Please sit. I’m sure you and Malcolm have a lot to catch up on.”
“Actually, I’m here to see the both of you.”
“Oh.” Evie glanced at Malcolm before she turned to Brian.
Brian stuffed a piece of toast in his mouth as he signed, “I know, I know. I’m going.”
“Come with me, Brian,” Guy called from the doorway. “I know where more food is.”
Malcolm turned and spotted Ramsey next to Guy. With a wave, Malcolm motioned Ramsey to join them. If they were going to do this, they might as well do it just once.
There was a moment of awkward silence as Evie tried to figure out what to do. Malcolm reached over and took her hand. Their gazes met, and he saw her shoulders relax when he gave her hand a squeeze.
“I gather the two of you came for a reason,” Malcolm said.
Larena crossed her legs. “I came to see you, but also to let you know why Fallon did what he did last eve.”
“So tell me,” Malcolm insisted.
“He wanted you to come home. Since you rarely answered your phone, he thought by having all of us there it would convince you.”
“He was wrong.”
“And he knows it,” Larena said. She glanced at the table. “You’re part of our family. You have to know that, Malcolm.”
He rubbed his clean-shaven jaw and considered her words. “No one was willing to listen to us last night. Phelan told you Evie was drough, and you all made up your minds.”
“No’ all,” Ramsey said. “Tara and I came to bring both of you back to the castle and to offer our support.”
“You hurt him,” Evie said into the silence. “Phelan and Charon saw what he went through just hours before. He confronted Wallace on his own and was torn to shreds. He faced Death, and then he tackled Wallace again to save Brian and me. We returned to find all of you.”
Ramsey frowned. “Death?”
