Midnight's Master

by Donna Grant

  “Straight or right?” he asked.

  She sighed. “Straight.”

  As he thought. All the water should have responded to his power. Why there was still water in the caves he didn’t understand. He had a nagging suspicion that magic was involved. How involved, was the question.

  With Gwynn tight against his back, Logan walked with slow, measured steps. As soon as he saw the drop in the ceiling, he reached behind him and took Gwynn’s hand.

  “It looks like the floor dips downward. As well as the ceiling.”

  “How far of a dip?” she asked.

  Logan looked past his feet and shook his head. “With the ceiling the way it is, I can no’ jump both of us down at once.”

  “How low is the ceiling?”

  He brought her hand up in front of him so she could see how low it hung.

  “Oh,” she murmured. “That low.”

  “Aye. I’m going to sit you on the edge while I jump.”

  “And then?”

  He grinned and kissed her hand. “You’re going to jump into my arms.”

  A harsh laugh burst past her lips. “Because I can see so well in the dark.”

  “I’ll be there to catch you.”

  She let out a deep breath. “I don’t have much of a choice. But you better catch me.”

  The fact that she could make light of their situation proved how unique she was. Gwynn had the uncanny ability to look at life from a different perspective than most people. She found the funny or good or laughable parts and used them to her benefit.

  “Here,” Logan said as he guided her to the edge. “Now sit. Carefully,” he ground out when her foot slipped.

  She rolled her eyes. “With the firm grip you have on my arm, I won’t be going anywhere. Besides, you need to tell me how close I am to the edge. I can’t see, remember?”

  “Just doona move,” he said and tried to calm his racing heart. He released her arm and braced his hands on his thighs. He’d had a hold of her, but that didn’t mean something couldn’t have happened.

  She was mortal. Their lives could end so quickly, so effortlessly, that it amazed him at times that anyone lived at all.

  “Logan?”

  “I’m fine,” he said.

  Her hand reached out, seeking him. He took pity on her and stepped closer so she could touch him. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “I know.”

  “Is it difficult?”

  He frowned and turned his head to her. “Is what difficult?”

  “Watching mortals die?”

  Logan looked ahead and took a deep breath. “More than you can imagine.”

  * * *

  Declan had men at every point of the small isle, yet no one had seen Gwynn or Logan. But Declan knew they were there.

  “Robbie,” Declan ground out.

  “We’ve no’ sighted them yet.”

  “Why no’? They’re here.”

  Robbie’s gaze narrowed. “They can no’ walk on water. They had to come by boat. We’ve stopped every boat. They have no’ been on one.”

  Declan clasped his hands behind his back, his fury growing by the moment. “If Logan’s power is water, he could have gotten them to the isle that way. Check the shoreline.”

  Robbie repeated his orders over the comlink attached to him as Declan waited to hear word that Logan and Gwynn had been found.

  Gary walked up beside him, his nostrils flaring in anger. “Gwynn has always been a thorn in my side. She would never have been able to do this on her own. She’s not that smart.”

  “She’s a Druid,” Declan said. “Or have you forgotten?”

  Gary’s lips curled in distaste. “How can I? You won’t stop reminding me.”

  “Maybe I should send you out looking for her, Austin. Call to her as a father does a daughter. Despite the hurt I saw in her lovely eyes, she’s still a little girl who wants the attention of her daddy.”

  “I’d rather eat my own arm.”

  Declan stepped in front of Gary until they were nose to nose. “I’ll see that you do. Until then, find your daughter!”

  Gary stormed off, his tall, lanky form only made taller by his wool trench coat.

  “I really hate that man,” Declan said.

  Robbie grunted. “We all do. I’ve seen him watching you. He will try to double-cross you.”

  “He’ll try. They all try.”

  “But they never win,” Robbie finished.

  Declan laughed, but it cut off halfway through as he sensed more magic. But it was one he knew, one he had savored for too short a time.

  One he had hoped to sense again.

  “Deirdre is here,” he said.

  Robbie turned in a slow circle, his hand on his rifle. “Where?”

  “It doesna matter. She’ll come to me soon enough.”

  “Are you sure you want that? She was verra angry at you.”

  Declan smiled. “I will have Deirdre, Gwynn, and the Tablet of Orn before the night is through, Robbie. Just you wait and see.”

  Robbie touched the com in his ear. “Repeat. I say again. Repeat.”

  “What is it?” Declan asked as he turned the ruby of his cufflink.

  “It’s the mansion. We’re under attack.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  Deirdre’s eyes narrowed as she stepped off the boat and onto Eigg. “The bastard is already here.”

  “I know,” Malcolm said. “He’s standing there.”

  Deirdre followed where his finger pointed. “So he is. By the way his hands are flapping around, I’d say he wasn’t very happy. I wonder if I am the cause of it.”

  Malcolm tilted his head. “Nay. His … it’s his mansion. They’re under attack.”

  “Oh, that’s perfect. Who?”

  Malcolm’s maroon Warrior eyes turned to her. “Who else would be so bold?”

  “The MacLeods.”

  “Declan is trying to decide whether to leave or stay. It appears as if…” Malcolm paused, concentrating.

  Deirdre tapped her toes, impatient to learn more. “What is it?”

  “Declan thinks Logan and some woman named Gwynn are already on the isle to get the artifact.”

  “Nay,” Deirdre shouted. “I will not allow them to best me again. Or Declan, for that matter. We leave here with the artifact, Malcolm. Do you understand me?”

  For several tense moments he stared at her. “I ken perfectly.”

  “Good. Find where Logan is.”

  * * *

  Gwynn hated not being able to see anything. It was so dark in the caves she couldn’t even glimpse her hand in front of her face. If it hadn’t been for Logan, she wouldn’t have made it past the entrance through the main cave.

  Since she was unable to use her eyes, her ears became more sensitive to sound. She grimaced when she heard Logan step and pebbles go bouncing away. Even knowing he was immortal and would heal didn’t stop her from worrying.

  “Shite,” he murmured.

  “What is it?” she asked, her face turned in the direction she heard his voice.

  There was another curse, this one too low to distinguish. Then there was a soft whooshing sound before she heard him land far below.

  “Logan?” she called. He grunted, and she could picture him looking around.

  “At least I can stand up straight now.”

  She smiled, her feet dangling over the edge of the floor. The dampness was soaking through her jeans and thermals, making her shiver against the cool air.

  “Are you ready?” Logan asked.

  After everything she had been through, how could she say no? Yet, to jump off the ledge without knowing how far down Logan stood was daunting.

  “Ah. I think so.”

  “You’re no’ afraid, are you?”

  She heard the smile in his voice and rolled her eyes. “Me? Nope. I do this sort of thing all the time. I’m an adrenaline junkie,” she replied, layering the sarcasm on thick.

  “You who brazenly got to kn
ow a Warrior.”

  “Brazenly?” she repeated. “Do people still use that term?”

  “You who flew over the ocean. You who braved this cave without knowing what awaited us.”

  Gwynn put her hands on the rocks where she sat and leaned forward. “Well, if you put it that way.”

  He chuckled, the sound echoing through the caves. “I willna let you fall, Gwynn.”

  The smile disappeared, because she knew he wouldn’t allow harm to come to her. He had proven it time and again.

  “Take your time,” Logan said. “I will wait until you’re ready.”

  Gwynn took a deep breath and pushed herself off the ledge before she chickened out all together. The air rushed around her as she squeezed her eyes closed. The next thing she knew, strong arms caught her and hauled her against a muscular chest.

  “I’ve got you,” Logan whispered.

  She laid her head upon his shoulder and released the breath she had held. “I knew you would.”

  “Is that why you closed your eyes?”

  Gwynn leaned her head back to tell him to stop teasing when his lips descended upon hers. The kiss was soft but commanding, gentle but hungry.

  While he cradled her in his arms, Gwynn felt his heart pounding steady and sure. There was nothing about Logan that wasn’t brawny or commanding. It was as if he had been born with the knowledge that he could do anything, and had proceeded through life that way.

  “We have to continue,” he said between kisses.

  Gwynn would rather have kept kissing, but the sooner Logan got the Tablet, the sooner Deirdre could be brought to an end. “Yes,” she murmured, and wiggled so that she brushed against his arousal.

  “God’s teeth, what you do to me,” Logan hissed.

  Gwynn stroked her hand down his cheek. She couldn’t begin to tell him what he did to her—or for her. He had changed her life, changed her entire way of thinking.

  Logan set her feet upon the ground and took her hand. Then he took a not-so-steady breath. “Ready?”

  “I am. We are to proceed until the cave turns to the right. There will be an entrance continuing forward. That’s the one we need to take.”

  “I’ll find it.”

  Gwynn’s right hand was laced with Logan’s, and she put out her left hand, startled to feel the wall. “Has the cave gotten smaller?”

  “A wee bit narrower, aye.”

  They’d gone about twenty paces when Logan stopped. “I see the turn, but there’s nothing in front of us but rock.”

  “The book said it was hidden. Use your hand to feel along the rocks. You should be able to find it.”

  “Ah,” he said after a moment. “Here it is.”

  Gwynn tried to ignore the fact that the sound of water was becoming louder, more pronounced. Almost as if it were all around them. She hoped it was just running on top of the caves. And not in them. Because if it was in the caves, that meant Logan’s power couldn’t move it. Not a good sign.

  “Careful,” Logan cautioned as he guided her around the rock.

  She used her hand to help her, glad she couldn’t see the bugs that were surely crawling everywhere. Once she was inside the new tunnel, the water sounded as if it were rushing toward them.

  “Forward,” she yelled to be heard over the water.

  Logan’s fingers tightened around her hand, whether to calm her or reassure her she didn’t know. Either way, she knew he was worried about the water.

  They started walking again. Gwynn couldn’t shake the feeling that the walls of the cave were coming closer and closer to her. When she tripped on a loose rock and took a step to the right only to slam against the wall, her suspicion was confirmed.

  “I’m all right,” she said when she felt Logan turn to her.

  She imagined he was frowning. He did that when he knew she was lying, but what point was there in telling him her knee hurt from hitting the rock, or that she would definitely have a bruise between her shoulder blades from the other rock protruding from the wall?

  “So the fact you’re squeezing my hand means you’re fine?” he asked, his voice laced with sarcasm.

  “Logan, you cannot protect me from every hurt, no matter how small.”

  “Aye. I can.”

  She smiled into the dark. Leave it to a Warrior to think he could shield her from everything. And knowing Logan, he would try.

  “We can argue about this later.”

  “There’s no argument,” he stated.

  Gwynn rolled her eyes. “Just keep going.”

  No sooner had the words left her mouth than Logan bellowed and released her hand.

  “Logan?” Gwynn called as she held out her arms, searching for him.

  She could hear him, knew he was close, but something was wrong. “Logan!”

  With a tentative step forward, then another, she found him. He was bent over, his hands clutching his head. His body was tense, every muscle bulging as if he were in great pain.

  “Logan, talk to me,” she begged, worry forming a knot in her stomach.

  She didn’t care that she’d be stranded in the cave without Logan. All that mattered was discovering what was wrong, and praying she could fix it somehow.

  When he didn’t answer, she did the only thing she could do. She wrapped her arms around him and held him. Without being able to see, she couldn’t continue on, nor would she leave Logan.

  Every moment he didn’t move was like a blade in her heart. She didn’t know how long they stood like that before his body began to relax.

  “Logan?”

  “Gwynn,” he rasped and reached for her hand.

  She shifted to stand in front of him and touched his sweat-soaked face. “What happened?”

  “Deirdre.”

  The hate in his voice caused her to shiver. “What did she want?”

  “When I went to her to unbind my god, there was a bond formed. She’s tried to use it before, but I was able to ignore her and the wee bit of pain she caused.”

  “That wasn’t a wee bit,” she mimicked. “Logan, you scared the Hell out of me.”

  He nodded, his breaths still coming in great gasps. “Deirdre knows we’re here. She wants the artifact.”

  “Well, she can kiss my butt and get in line with everyone else,” Gwynn said with more conviction than she felt.

  Logan chuckled. “I tend to agree. Shall we continue?”

  “Can she do that to you again?”

  His shoulders lifted in a shrug while he straightened. “Let’s hope no’.”

  But Gwynn wasn’t going to wait around for it to happen. She didn’t know much about her magic, but she’d do what she could to stop Deirdre from harming Logan again.

  Logan heard the thread of fear in Gwynn’s voice and hated it. He made himself lower his hands from the sides of his head and straighten. The pain was fading, but not quick enough for his taste.

  “We need to get moving,” Logan said as he took hold of Gwynn’s arm.

  His thoughts of ending Deirdre were quickly pushed aside as he and Gwynn continued toward the sound of the water. It sounded as if the entire ocean was locked in a small space.

  The tunnel curved away from the water, and then back toward it. Closer and closer they came to it. Until Logan caught his first glimpse of the water.

  “The water grows louder,” Gwynn said over the roar.

  He gave a light squeeze of her hand. “Aye.”

  “Is it a waterfall in the caves?”

  “I’m afraid no’.”

  Her steps faltered, then halted altogether. “We have to go through it, don’t we?”

  Logan pulled his gaze from the churning water and tugged Gwynn around the boulder. Light filtered through the water somehow, giving off a faint glow.

  “By the saints,” Gwynn said as she caught sight of what was before them. “How deep is it?”

  He looked at the massive pool of water and the huge boulders protruding from the depths. “Verra deep.”

  “Can you
use your power?”

  “I’ve been trying. There is magic here, Gwynn. It’s preventing the water from listening to my command.”

  She took a deep breath and shrugged. “Then we’ll have to swim it.”

  Logan had never heard anything so preposterous. “Have you taken a look at the water? Do you no’ see the currents? See how the water slams against the boulders and the sides? You’ll be crushed.”

  Her violet eyes flashed with her own anger. “There’s no other choice. We have to go through this to reach the Tablet.”

  “Nay. I willna put you in that kind of danger.”

  “It isn’t your choice.”

  “Gwynn, please,” Logan begged. He could do many things to protect her, but not in this instance. The water wouldn’t hear his call, and it was too powerful. She’d never survive.

  Logan couldn’t bear the thought.

  She faced him and looked into his eyes. “You’ll be there with me.”

  “Doona ask this of me.”

  “You wanted the Tablet of Orn. You need the Tablet to end Deirdre. I’m trying to give it to you.”

  He shook his head and took a step back. “There has to be another way. I willna endanger your life.”

  “My life has been in danger since the moment I arrived in Scotland. And it isn’t just Declan. There’s Deirdre. And life, in general.”

  “Exactly. Doona be so careless with your life. It’s precious and can end all too suddenly.”

  Gwynn’s gaze was steady, her body rigid. “If it costs me my life in order for you to end Deirdre, it will be worth it.”

  “No’ for me.”

  It wasn’t until the words were out of his mouth that Logan realized how true they were. He’d worked tirelessly since becoming a Warrior to fight Deirdre.

  And now, with Gwynn by his side, it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but her.

  He still wanted Deirdre dead, but not at any cost as he used to think. There were some things too valuable, too amazing to eagerly toss aside. Gwynn was one.

  “We will find another way,” he said.

  Gwynn sighed and looked to the ground. “If there was another way, I would have been told by the book. The Druids made sure there was only one way in and one way out to the Tablet.”