Midnight's Master

by Donna Grant

  Gwynn smiled. It never occurred to Cara that Gwynn wouldn’t bring the Tablet to the castle. “I have a life waiting for me. I took a leave of absence from my job. I’m supposed to return after New Year’s.”

  “But will you? After all you’ve been through and all you’ve learned of yourself and your magic? Can you return?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Then don’t think of it now,” Cara urged and wound her arm around Gwynn’s as they started back to the castle. “Let’s enjoy this. All I wanted for Christmas was for everyone to return here. Though we’re still missing Ian, Logan did bring you.”

  “I’m glad he did.”

  Cara’s mahogany eyes flashed through her long lashes as she glanced at Gwynn. “Am I mistaken in thinking there might be something between the two of you?”

  Gwynn looked away nervously. “Logan is a good man.”

  “That he is, but that isn’t what I asked. We all saw the kiss he gave you before heading off to Declan’s to steal the book.”

  She swallowed as she recalled that kiss. “Had you asked me this yesterday I would have said there was something between us. Now, I’m not so sure.”

  “Men,” Cara said with a roll of her eyes. “Especially Warriors. They come with pasts that can eat at them.”

  “Logan told me of his.”

  Cara halted, her eyes large as she stared at Gwynn. “He did? He’s never told anyone. Not even Hayden, and they are as close as brothers.”

  “He told me last night.”

  “Was it too horrific for you?” Cara asked, her face suddenly hard.

  Gwynn shook her head, and hastily answered, “Heavens, no. Of course not.”

  “Good,” Cara said with a sigh. “I like you, but—”

  “Logan is family,” Gwynn finished for her. “You don’t have to explain.”

  Cara started walking again and pulled Gwynn with her. “Is there anything we can do to fix whatever has come between you and Logan?”

  “It wouldn’t be right. If Logan and I are meant to be, we will be.”

  Cara’s expression said she’d rather help than not. “If that’s your wish.”

  “It is.” Gwynn paused at the entrance to the castle and knocked the snow off her boots.

  But as she entered the castle, she wondered if she should have taken Cara up on her offer.

  * * *

  Logan watched Gwynn enter the castle with Cara, Gwynn’s words still ringing in his ears.

  “Well. That was interesting,” Hayden said as he walked onto the battlements.

  Logan ignored his friend. “Should you no’ be with your wife?”

  “So you told Gwynn of your past,” Hayden said, doing his own ignoring.

  “I did.”

  “And did she take it as well as she told Cara?”

  Logan turned his head to Hayden. “Did you spy on their conversation?”

  “Aye. Same as you.”

  Logan knew there was no getting around answering Hayden. He let out a sigh and said, “She took it much better than she told Cara. In the end she was telling me what a good man I am.”

  “It’s what I’ve known all along. No matter what secret of your past you want kept from me, it willna change our friendship.”

  “Shall I test it?” Logan asked. His god smiled within him, as eager for a fight as Logan was.

  Hayden raised a blond brow. “You should save your energy for tonight and your mission.”

  “Nay. You have a right to know of my past.”

  “Stop it, Logan,” Hayden warned. “I willna fight you.”

  But Logan needed an outlet for his frustration. Besides, he should never have kept his secret from Hayden. “I should have told you long ago.”

  “I already told you. Keep your secret. It doesna matter.”

  “I went to Deirdre, Hayden. I went to her and begged her to make me into a Warrior. I was sure I had a god inside me. And I wanted all the glory the immortality of being a Warrior would give me.”

  Logan hid his wince when he saw Hayden’s dark eyes widen then narrow. This was what Logan had always feared. This is why he had kept his secret.

  He wasn’t worthy of being counted among the Warriors at MacLeod Castle.

  “Bloody Hell, Logan,” Hayden ground out. “Of all the things I thought had happened to you, I never imagined that.”

  Logan braced his hands on the battlement wall. “I know. I’m more ashamed than I can ever say. While all of you were taken from your families, I went willingly.”

  “Shite,” Hayden said and ran a hand over his face. “Did you align with Deirdre?”

  Logan couldn’t believe Hayden had asked that question, but then again, he’d have asked it as well. “Never. As soon as I realized what I had become, I fought against her.”

  For several tense moments Hayden simply stared at Logan before he clamped his huge hand on Logan’s shoulder. “You should no’ have carried such a burden yourself all these years.”

  “You are no’ appalled?”

  Hayden snorted. “Of course, but we all make mistakes. Had I heard about Deirdre and the Warriors before I was taken, I might well have done the same thing as you.”

  “I thought…”

  “That we would banish you?”

  Logan nodded.

  Hayden sighed deeply and let his gaze move slowly over the castle. “We are family. All of us. I’ve told you before you are the brother I never had. Family forgives each other, Logan, because the only people you can really count on is family.”

  Logan’s throat tightened, refusing to allow any words past. Instead, he nodded.

  Hayden began to turn away when he paused and looked at Logan. “Doona be afraid to tell the others, but if you wish to keep your secret, it will never pass my lips.”

  “Thank you. Brother.”

  Hayden smiled and turned on his heel.

  Logan remained on the battlements, his mind full of Gwynn and all Hayden had said. Logan ran his hand along the gray stones.

  The world had changed, but the castle had endured. It had weathered the elements and time with dignity and defiance, poise and pride. It had begun as their fortress and turned into a home.

  A home Logan knew Gwynn would find happiness in. At the castle, she could hone her magic and learn from the others. But she wanted to return to her world, to her job. She would still be able to use her magic, but she’d never become the Druid Logan knew she could be.

  Logan looked around the castle and land, remembering the battles with Deirdre, the celebrations of weddings, and events that had shaped each of them.

  MacLeod Castle hadn’t just been a pile of stones to find shelter in. It had become a symbol of hope to everyone who called it home.

  Logan turned and strode into the castle. He paused at the landing and looked down from his perch into the great hall. Gwynn stood next to the tree, her arms folded over her chest as she looked at the ornaments.

  Despite the upcoming missions, or maybe because of them, Cara and Marcail had wrapped some gifts and were putting them under the tree.

  Just as Gwynn had told him it was done.

  Logan might have missed out on four centuries, but he wasn’t going to miss any more.

  * * *

  “I was told you’d had a vision.”

  Saffron hated Declan’s smooth, cultured voice. She despised everything about him. He held her prisoner now, but one day she would get free. And she would kill him for what he had done to her.

  “Saffron,” Declan said, his voice falsely sweet. “Shall I bring in more spiders?”

  She shuddered just thinking about all those hairy legs crawling on her again. It was her greatest fear, and one Declan used against her with ease. “No.”

  “I didna think so. Now. Tell me what you saw.”

  She turned her head to the side and pressed her cheek against the icy brick of the wall. The cold seeped through the bricks and the short-sleeved shirt she wore until she ached with the chill.
r />   “Saffron.”

  She heard the warning in Declan’s voice, knew she was pushing him. “It was nothing.”

  “I doona care if you saw what shoes I would pick to wear tomorrow,” he bellowed in her ear. “I want to know!”

  Saffron flinched and tried to scoot away from him, but her chains held her firmly in place. “I saw an island. And two people, a man and a woman.”

  “What did this woman look like?”

  She shifted her arms, making the chains clank together. “She was pretty. Very pretty. She had black hair and the most amazing eyes. They were violet in color.”

  “Gwynn,” Declan ground out.

  Saffron squeezed her eyes closed. She had hoped she’d seen someone Declan didn’t know. All Saffron could hope for now was that whoever this Gwynn was got away from him safely. And if Gwynn was lucky, the man with her would be able to protect her from Declan.

  “I always knew having a Seer would be to my benefit,” Declan said. “Get to Eigg with all haste!”

  The sound of the metal door slamming shut echoed through the dungeon.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Gwynn looked at all the packages being set under the tree. They had been wrapped with care and tied with beautiful ribbons. It brought to mind memories of Gwynn helping her mother wrap presents.

  Bing Crosby’s Christmas CD had been their favorite to play while wrapping. Then later, while her mother slept, Gwynn would lovingly wrap the gifts she would make for her mother. Or if she had saved enough of her lunch money, she would buy her mother a pair of earrings.

  The gifts hadn’t been worth anything, but the love in her mother’s eyes when she opened the presents had made Gwynn feel like a queen.

  Gwynn didn’t know if she would still be at the castle for Christmas. The thought of going home to her small, empty apartment made her stomach sink.

  But did she dare spend any extra time at the castle? With Logan?

  Gwynn pulled Marcail to the far side of the tree so no one could see them, then she lowered her voice to barely above a whisper. “I have a favor.”

  “Anything,” Marcail said.

  Gwynn bit her lip and handed Marcail the last of her cash. “I’d like it if someone would find me a kilt for Logan in the Hamilton plaid.”

  Marcail’s turquoise eyes brightened. “Of course. I know just the place. They’ve replaced the others’ kilts, and made some for Quinn and his brothers.”

  “Good. Keep it between us, please.”

  “I will.”

  “Oh,” Gwynn said as she stopped Marcail from walking away. “If that isn’t enough money, please let me know.”

  “It’ll be plenty,” Marcail assured her with a soft smile.

  Gwynn knew that Marcail would see that Logan got the kilt whether Gwynn was there or not. She hoped she was able to see his expression when he opened it. He’d been so desolate when he’d tenderly folded his tartan and put it away.

  For several minutes she stared at the tree, thinking what Christmas morning could be like with her sitting between Logan’s legs on the floor, his arm wrapped around her as they watched everyone open their presents.

  Gwynn mentally shook herself and stepped around the tree to find Logan in front of her. “Oh,” she gasped, startled by his appearance.

  “We leave in half an hour.”

  “I’ll be ready.”

  He glanced down at her high-heeled boots and frowned. “You will have a verra hard time moving through the caves with those boots.”

  “They’re all I brought with me.”

  “I’ve already found who wears your size. Cara has some boots you can borrow.”

  Gwynn studied Logan. He had detached himself, but not entirely. He still saw to her needs. Just as she knew he would protect her with his life. “Thank you.”

  “I’d rather you no’ be going on this mission.”

  “I know,” she replied and lowered her eyes to the floor as she fiddled with the hem of her white sweater. “But you need me.”

  “Aye. I do.”

  Gwynn’s gaze snapped to Logan’s face. There had been a double meaning in his words, she was sure of it. “You don’t want to need me, do you?”

  “It doesna matter anymore.”

  “It does to me.”

  “Gwynn,” Logan said, his voice lowering.

  She took a step closer to him. “Yes?” she urged.

  He glanced at the tree and shook his head. “I need to prepare for our mission.”

  Gwynn blew out a frustrated breath. “Men,” she mumbled and went to find Cara.

  Thirty minutes later, Gwynn had Cara’s insulated hiking boots on, and several layers of clothes. She wasn’t used to being so confined. But if she wanted to stay warm, she didn’t have a choice.

  “I feel like the Michelin Man,” she grumbled as she retied her scarf for the third time.

  “Hayden,” Lucan called, just before he tossed something across the hall.

  Hayden’s hand reached up and snagged the keys from the air. “We’ll attempt to bring it back in one piece.”

  Isla shook her head and looked at Gwynn. “The Land Rover. It’s Fallon’s favorite.”

  “Everyone knows what to do,” Fallon’s voice boomed through the great hall. “If it gets to be too much, return to the castle. I doona want to lose any more lives. Anyone,” he said and looked straight at Logan.

  Gwynn wasn’t sure what that look meant, but she didn’t like it. She had no time to think on it as they said their good-byes.

  As she, Logan, Isla, Hayden, and Ramsey walked to the black Land Rover parked in the bailey, Gwynn looked at the other SUV, a Humvee, military style, across from them.

  Everyone but Aiden, Fiona, Braden, Cara, and Marcail gathered next to the Humvee.

  Gwynn found herself in the backseat of the Land Rover between Logan and Ramsey, while Hayden started the SUV and Isla buckled herself into the front passenger seat.

  “How did Sonya and Reaghan convince the others to allow them to go to Declan’s?” Gwynn asked.

  Isla turned and smiled. “The Warriors might not want to admit it, but they need Druids against Declan.”

  “Only because he has those bullets,” Hayden grumbled as he put the Land Rover into reverse and pressed the gas.

  Gwynn kept her eyes on the remaining group as they drove through the castle gates. Just before she lost sight of them, they all placed their hands on each other’s shoulders and then were gone.

  She turned around and found Hayden’s eyes on her through the rearview mirror.

  “Why didn’t we have Fallon teleport us to Eigg?” Gwynn asked.

  “Wallace will be looking for something like that,” Ramsey answered. “We thought it best to arrive inconspicuously.”

  Gwynn didn’t think three hunky men climbing out of an expensive SUV was inconspicuous, but who was she to argue?

  * * *

  Deirdre finished zipping her boots and stood to look at Charlie, who lay naked and sprawled across her bed.

  “Surely we’re no’ done,” he said with a teasing smile.

  “For the moment.”

  Whatever Charlie said in response was lost to the pounding on Deirdre’s door.

  “Enter,” she called.

  The stone door swung open and Malcolm stalked inside.

  Deirdre smiled and lifted her chin. “You have news.”

  “Aye. Fallon and some other Warriors, along with two Druids, have arrived outside of Declan’s home.”

  “They intend to fight him, do they?” Deirdre said as she ambled about her chamber, her mind working through the scenarios. “Interesting.”

  “It will be difficult for them to engage Declan, since he has gone to Eigg.”

  She whirled to face Malcolm. “Eigg? He is after the artifact.”

  “My thoughts as well.”

  “Then we need to get there. Now.” She turned to Charlie. “Get dressed. You’re driving us to Eigg.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN />
  The drive to Eigg took longer than Logan would have liked. He was impatient to get to the artifact. And eager for the fight he knew was coming.

  Before, when it had only been Deirdre they fought, Logan hadn’t worried. The wyrran were easy to kill, and the Warriors Deirdre had were mindless fools.

  Their only concern had been Deirdre capturing him.

  Now, there were the special bullets that held the drough blood to fret over.

  And Gwynn. Always he worried about Gwynn’s safety, even if she didn’t.

  Logan glanced over at the Druid sitting in the front. Isla had always been formidable as a Druid. He knew that if she and Wallace clashed it was a battle worth seeing. Wallace was strong, but Isla had the ability to use black magic to make her mie magic even more potent.

  “We’re almost there,” Hayden said.

  Gwynn had been quiet since they’d left the castle. With her eyes dead ahead, she hadn’t so much as looked at Logan the entire trip.

  Logan looked at Ramsey to find him staring out the window into the dark, seemingly calm. Until Logan saw Ramsey’s fist clenched on his leg.

  Ten minutes later Hayden pulled off the road and put the Land Rover in park. He turned in his seat and looked at Logan and Gwynn. “This is your stop.”

  Logan nodded and reached to open the door when Isla’s hand touched his arm.

  “Be careful.”

  “Always,” he replied, but the smile he tried to paste on wouldn’t stick.

  Gwynn leaned up and hugged Isla. “Don’t let Declan capture you.”

  “He willna get his hands on her,” Hayden growled.

  Gwynn pulled away from Isla to look at Hayden and Ramsey. “Do whatever you have to do to stay alive. Declan will be merciless.”

  “So will we,” Ramsey vowed.

  With a nod to Ramsey, Logan turned his head to Hayden. No words were needed. They had been in battle enough times to know anything could happen.

  “We’ll be waiting at the meeting point,” Hayden said.

  “As will we.”

  Logan climbed out of the SUV and held out his hand to help Gwynn from the vehicle. He closed the door, and a moment later it drove off.

  Gwynn released a shaky breath.