Midnight's Captive (Dark Warriors)

by Donna Grant

  But Ian had forgiven Malcolm.

  Malcolm ran his hand through his hair as he straightened. Forgiveness. He didn’t deserve it, hadn’t sought it out, but those at the castle had given it to him freely.

  How did he tell them it didn’t matter? He felt nothing anymore. Not remorse, happiness. Not even hope.

  His phone rang again. Malcolm answered the mobile with a tired, “Hello?”

  “Thank God you answered,” Larena’s voice said through the phone. “I’ve news on Jason.”

  Malcolm stood gazing at the loch as Larena filled him in on Laura and Charon. There was an odd note to her voice, but he attributed it to Wallace.

  When she finished he said, “What do you want me to do?”

  There was a pause before she said, “I don’t want you to do anything. I wanted to let you know what Jason was up to. He’s likely to target all of us.”

  “No doubt he’ll try.”

  “Malcolm, where are you?”

  He looked over the rippling waters of the loch. “Does it matter?”

  “I worry about you.”

  “I ken, Larena, but you need to stop. I’ve given my word that I’ll help in taking down Wallace.”

  “But you don’t want to be with us in the meantime.”

  He hated the sadness he heard in her voice. He was staying away to keep what he had become from her. If Larena realized he was dead inside, she’d make it her mission to fix him. And there was no way to repair him.

  “It’s better this way,” he said. “Trust me.”

  “I do. You know that. I just … I miss you, Malcolm. I need you here.”

  Her words tugged at his heart, and the old Malcolm would have immediately gone to her. “Keep me posted on Wallace. I’m no’ far from Ferness. I’m here if Charon needs any help.”

  For several minutes they sat in silence. Malcolm knew there was more Larena wanted to say, and she was struggling to find the right words.

  “Arran and Ronnie finished the sketch of the necklace as it was described in the ledger from the dig site,” Larena said.

  Malcolm wondered how long it would take Arran and his woman to get the sketch right. Within that necklace lay the spell to bind the gods inside all Warriors forever.

  “It doesn’t match the one from the Web site Gwynn found talking about Druids,” Larena said into the silence.

  “That’s too bad.”

  Fallon and the others were searching desperately for the necklace, but Malcolm wasn’t sure they would use the spell even if they found it. How could they battle evil such as Jason Wallace as humans?

  “Any leads?” Malcolm asked the expected words.

  “Gwynn scanned the drawing into the computer yesterday, but so far nothing has come up in her search.”

  Malcolm watched another tourist boat pass. “I doona believe you’ll find it. Whoever transferred the spell into the necklace, and then hid it, knew how important it was. It might have stayed buried for thousands of years in that chamber, but I wager whoever took it also knew what it was.”

  “So you don’t think we’ll find it?”

  “Nay,” he answered. “I think it’s something being kept safely guarded. Ronnie’s ability to find magical objects might bring you to it. Have you asked her?”

  “She’s tried. So far nothing.”

  Malcolm knew how important it was for Larena to have children. It’s all she had ever talked about. She and Fallon had held off having children because of the battle with evil they waged.

  “We’ll find the spell, Larena. You and Fallon will have the children you want.”

  She sniffed through the phone. “I’m not so sure anymore. I can’t even bring up the idea of babies to Fallon since…”

  Her voice trailed away, but Malcolm knew all too well she was referring to the night she died. He hadn’t been at the castle, but one look at Fallon’s face when they met at Wallace Mansion to attack had told Malcolm everything.

  “I still remember the first time you saw Fallon,” he said. It had been at Edinburgh Castle four hundred years earlier, when Larena was hiding the fact she was a Warrior.

  Larena laughed softly. “He hadn’t wanted to talk to me.”

  “You just had to get his attention. I didna agree with you sneaking into his chamber to do it, however.”

  “Ah, but it worked.”

  Malcolm turned his back to Loch Ness. “I knew Fallon loved you before he did. All I had to do was look at him as he watched you. It was there on his face. Even then, he would’ve done anything for you.”

  “I know,” Larena replied softly. “I want you to have that same happiness.”

  “Keep me informed of what’s going on with Charon,” he said, and ended the call before Larena could say more.

  She meant well, but he didn’t want to hear how she wanted him to find someone and fall in love. Love. How could he care for someone when he had nothing inside him?

  He was empty, his soul drained of everything good that he’d been.

  What kind of woman would want someone like him?

  * * *

  The break of the new day only drove Charon harder. He had the unshakable feeling Jason had already found Laura.

  During the brief darkness of their summer nights, Broc had taken to the skies and searched for Laura, to no avail. Charon wasn’t the only one who was disappointed. Broc wasn’t handling it well that his power had failed them.

  Broc folded his giant indigo wings and crossed his arms over his bare chest. “There’s something going on here.”

  Charon’s gaze searched the thick woods around them. “Aye. I know Laura had to stop and rest. We should’ve caught up with her by now.”

  “Should have,” Ramsey said.

  Phelan gave a short whistle that had the others rushing to his side. “Look,” Phelan said to Charon as he pointed to the ground.

  “That’s Laura’s boot print,” Lucan said.

  Charon’s stomach tightened with dread. “With several others all around it. They found her.” Just as he’d feared.

  The realization slammed into him like a truck. He had known it, but the truth staring him in the face made him ill.

  “Wait,” Ramsey said. “I’ve found more of Laura’s tracks, and she’s alone.”

  Charon rushed to see what Ramsey found. Elation erupted through him as they began to follow her tracks. For the next forty minutes, they pursued her trail, lost it, and found it again numerous times.

  He wanted out call out to Laura, but since they didn’t know if Jason and the droughs were still around, Charon couldn’t chance it.

  “We’ll find her,” Phelan said from beside him.

  Charon nodded, unease beginning to creep up on him again.

  He was the first to see the tree with the flowers blooming in bright vibrant colors at its base. Laura’s trail led right to the tree, but the flowers were out of place in the deep shadows.

  Ramsey knelt on one knee and peered close at the flowers. “Magic did this. Mie magic,” he said, and turned his head to Charon.

  “Laura has no magic,” Charon said.

  Lucan leaned a hand upon the pine as he looked at the flowers. “Are you sure?”

  “I’d know. I looked for it often enough,” he grumbled.

  “Someone blew up your cabin,” Phelan said.

  Broc’s wings shifted, his lips pulled back in a scowl. “Someone is also preventing us from using our power. I doona like it.”

  Charon ran a hand down his face. “I’ve known Laura for two years. No’ once did I ever feel magic from her. She’s no’ a Druid.”

  “Oh, shite,” Lucan said, and backed up a few steps. “Laura had visitors.”

  Phelan gaze lifted to Charon filled with regret. “Lots of visitors. And by the looks of it, Laura left with them willingly.”

  Charon couldn’t believe it. Wouldn’t believe it. Laura knew how dangerous Jason was. He had told her. Why would she go with him?

  There was a gust as Broc jumped
into the air and his wings caught the wind. He maneuvered through the limbs until he soared above the trees, his body skimming the top branches.

  It was a huge chance he took taking flight in the middle of the day when a mortal might see him. Charon stilled, waiting, hoping that Broc found Laura.

  Suddenly Broc dived between trees and swooped to land in front of Charon. His face was set in hard lines as he shoved his blond hair out of his eyes. “I found her.”

  Charon released the breath he hadn’t known he was holding, a smile forming. He’d be happy once she was back in his arms.

  “She’s with Jason.”

  The smile died instantly. Charon swallowed, his mind racing with possibilities as he met Broc’s gaze. He knew the depravity that Jason could do. Charon wouldn’t leave Laura to suffer that alone.

  He’d known there was a chance he’d have to fight Wallace again to get Laura free. And he was prepared for that.

  Charon walked around Broc to head in the direction the Warrior had flown. He hadn’t taken two steps before Phelan blocked his way.

  “Where are you going?” Phelan demanded.

  “To get Laura.”

  A half smile pulled at one side of Phelan’s lips. “Good. I’m coming with you.”

  “We all are,” Ramsey said.

  Charon turned to look at Ramsey, Lucan, Ian, and Broc. “Nay. You four have wives. Go home to them. Protect them. Who knows when Jason will strike next.”

  “You can no’ do this alone,” Lucan said.

  “We willna let you,” Ian added.

  Charon cursed and began to pace.

  “You know it’s a trap,” Phelan stated as he held up a hand and let his claws elongate one finger at a time. “Jason expects you to come for Laura, and when you do, he’ll kill you.”

  Charon halted and leaned his head back to look at the sky through the thick branches above. “Aye. I know.”

  “And you would walk into such a trap?” Lucan asked.

  Charon lowered his head and glanced at Phelan. Only he knew the depth of Charon’s feelings for Laura, or as much as Phelan could guess.

  “Laura is my responsibility. I vowed to keep her safe. I promised her Jason wouldna harm her.”

  Phelan leered, the need for blood shining in his blue-gray eyes. “Then we get Laura back.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Aisley followed behind Laura Black. She was surprised the mie had believed the lies Jason told her, but then again, Jason could be very convincing when he wanted to be. She had firsthand knowledge of that.

  But Aisley also had a sneaking suspicious Jason used magic when Laura didn’t immediately believe him. Jason was predictable when it came to using his magic.

  “What is it?” Mindy asked mockingly as she waited for Aisley to catch up with her.

  Aisley didn’t so much as glance at her hated nemesis. Mindy thought she was a rare beauty, but the thick coating of makeup and the bright red nails and lipstick did nothing to help her pallid complexion.

  “Try a new shade of lipstick. That one makes you look like a damned vampire,” Aisley said.

  Mindy gave a gasp of fury and sank her nails into Aisley’s arm. “How dare you talk to me that way. Do you know what I mean to Jason?”

  “Oh, I know,” she replied, fighting the urge to gather magic in her palm and slam it into Mindy for touching her.

  Mindy pushed her nails farther into her skin, but Aisley refused to show any emotion. If she did, Mindy would win, and that couldn’t happen.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Mindy demanded.

  Aisley shrugged her other shoulder. “Let it mean whatever you want it to mean, I really don’t give a shit.”

  “Keep it up,” Mindy said with a malevolent smile as she leaned close. “I see the way Jason looks at you. You’re a liability. You’ve only stayed around this long because you’re family.”

  “I’ve seen what Jason does to family, Mindy, and that’s not why he keeps me around.”

  Mindy’s black eyes narrowed. She pulled Aisley to a halt and leaned in close. “Explain yourself.”

  “Ask Jason. I’m sure he’d enjoy telling you how he killed my family.”

  “Then why not kill you?”

  Because I was foolish enough—and desperate enough—to believe him. “I’ve no doubt he’s getting to that very soon. But not before I take you out.”

  Mindy shoved her away hard and stormed off. Aisley bit back a smile when Mindy rushed to Jason and began telling him of their conversation.

  But what little joy their exchange provided her evaporated when she saw Laura turn and look at her. There was something in the mie’s soft green eyes that caused a niggle of apprehension.

  Was it the hope that was slowly dying? Or perhaps the knowledge that the truth wasn’t easy to discern.

  Aisley thought back to the last time she’d clung to hope. It was such a distant memory that it took some time to find it, but when she did, she could hardly recall the girl she’d been.

  That girl had been full of life and laughter. The world had been so bright and shiny, and Aisley had known she’d find all her dreams out in that big, beautiful world.

  Two months later, everything had changed.

  Pain shot through her heart as she recalled those awful times better left buried. And what she had done to her family. Not to mention what her supposed friends had done to her.

  Aisley paused beside a tree and leaned her hand upon the rough bark of the elm. She shut her eyes, hoping to push away the memories. The floodgates had opened, and with them, the dreams she’d once had.

  Had she really ever been so naïve, so innocent? Had she really believed she could conquer the world? Had she dared to think after pulling herself out of the gutter that fate would be kind?

  Instead, she’d fallen into Hell itself.

  She opened her eyes to find she stood near the edge of a cliff. Far below were the jagged rocks rising up from the earth and surrounded by more trees.

  Above her, Aisley heard the cry of an osprey, the sound clear and loud. As if it called to her. The wind brushed by her face, its touch feather-light, like a kiss.

  She moved around the tree until the ball of one foot hung over the cliff. With one jump, she could end the nightmare that was her life.

  No more would Jason be able to hurt her or threaten her. She would no longer have to feel the evil flowing inside or crave the power her black magic gave.

  Her soul was destined for Hell anyway. No one would care that she took her own life.

  “Aisley.”

  Dale’s deep voice was soft, his tone careful as he whispered her name. She should have known he would be watching.

  “What are you doing, lass?”

  “Contemplating jumping,” she answered.

  He moved to stand beside her. “I can jump and live. You can no’.”

  “That’s the point.”

  There was a beat of silence before he murmured, “Death is no’ the answer.”

  “I made my choices, Dale. I know what awaits me in death. I’ve seen Satan.”

  “Did you enjoy him so much, you want to hasten to get to him?”

  She jerked her head to him and frowned. “No.”

  “Then doona jump.”

  “And do what? Continue with this life of hell?”

  Dale glanced away as he rubbed a palm over his bald head. “I’m here. I can help you.”

  “Why?”

  “You really doona know, do you?”

  Aisley looked away, uncomfortable with the way Dale was looking at her, as if she were a prize just out of reach. “You’d be wise to consider who I am.”

  “I know who you are. It’s why I willna allow you to fall to your death.”

  She drew in a shaky breath. It had been a long time since someone showed concern for her. She hadn’t realized how much she missed that connection until Dale had given it to her.

  “I won’t jump. Today,” she said, and turned away from the cli
ff.

  It didn’t take long for her and Dale to catch back up with the others. Jason was moving slowly through the forest, as if he wanted Charon and the other Warriors to catch them.

  Aisley once more found Laura’s green gaze on her, and she wondered how long someone like Laura would last once Jason got his hooks in her.

  * * *

  Laura saw the woman with the black hair and dark eyes rejoin the group. She was tall and solemn. But it was obvious by the way Jason watched her that she was important. Laura just didn’t know how.

  “You’d do well not to let him find you staring.”

  Laura jerked in surprise to find the woman standing beside her. Her eyes were a pale brown, direct and penetrating. Her mane of glossy black hair was pulled back in a high ponytail to hang past her shoulders. The woman wore her jeans, formfitting black shirt, and boots as a model would—to perfection.

  “Why?” Laura asked.

  The woman cut her gaze to Jason before she looked back at her. “I’m Aisley. I’m also cousin to Jason, so when I tell you to watch yourself, you might want to heed my words. I’ve seen his viciousness firsthand.”

  “Why help me?”

  Aisley gave a little snort. “Damned if I know.”

  “Who is the woman beside Jason?”

  “Ah. That’s Mindy, his lover. She’s a bitch, so be prepared for her cruelty.”

  Laura stepped over a fallen tree. “Is what Jason told me the truth? Are droughs really the good Druids?”

  Aisley paused too long before she replied in a choked whisper, “Yes.”

  Laura thought back to how Charon had gone to confront Jason so she could get away. He hadn’t caged her, hadn’t kidnapped her. Yet Jason had tried to kidnap her, and she imagined that if she tried to leave now, he wouldn’t let her.

  Who was the villain?

  Charon had secrets, secrets he went to great lengths to conceal, but was she any worse by keeping her past and what her family had done to her a secret?

  Was that enough to condemn Charon as a villain?

  Two years with the man, and she’d given him her absolute trust. She’d given him her body. Not once had she ever doubted him. Why, then, did she now?

  No matter how much she wanted to doubt Jason’s words, for some reason, she couldn’t. Every time she tried, her mind told her he was right and Charon had lied.