by Donna Grant
Quinn cocked his head at the strange inflection in his brother’s voice. He’d at first thought it was just grief, but as Fallon laid Larena on the bed and rose to face them, Quinn saw Fallon’s eyes.
“Oh, fuck,” Lucan mumbled.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-SIX
Aisley pulled into the drive of the Wallace mansion. As a child, the few occasions she’d been to the mansion had been ones of great happiness. She’d get lost playing in the maze of hedges in the back.
There she’d been able to pretend she was a magician, a superhero, and any number of things that had crossed her mind at the time. Then, she’d been able to do and be anything she’d wanted.
Funny how life never turned out the way a child dreamed.
Aisley put the car in park and looked in the rearview mirror to see Dale. “Is she still out?”
“She started to come to about an hour ago. I gave her a little tap to keep her unconscious.”
Aisley jerked around in the seat to gawk at him. “Have you lost your mind? You don’t know your own strength.”
“Give me some credit, lass. I didna hurt her.”
Aisley gave a snort and turned to reach for the door handle, only to have her door yanked opened for her.
“It’s about time,” Mindy said, her foot tapping on the small stones lining the drive and her red lips puckered in a pout.
Aisley pushed Mindy aside and got out of the car. “Get over yourself.”
“Where have you been?” Jason demanded from the front steps.
Aisley wanted to tell him to go screw himself. Instead, she opened the back passenger door and looked down at the unconscious Druid.
“We made it here, didn’t we?” Aisley said.
Dale stepped out of the car on the other side and gave a nod to Jason. “Ronnie and Arran were no’ alone.”
“I expected they might bring a few friends,” Jason said with a smile.
Aisley barely kept her lips from lifting upward in a grin as she said, “Oh, they brought a few, all right. They brought all of them. And a Druid.”
Just as she thought, Jason’s smile vanished. His gaze jerked to Dale. “Where are my droughs?”
“You ordered me to get Ronnie back here as soon as I could. That’s what I did. I’m no’ sure if any of your droughs are still alive, no’ after what those Warriors did.”
Jason stomped down the steps and got in Aisley’s face. “How? How did the Warriors get an upper hand? They should’ve been powerless with the force of you Druids.”
“They were. For a moment. There was one there, a maroon Warrior, who didn’t seem to be affected. He used his power of lightning to strike us.”
“You seem to have come away unaffected,” Jason said with scorn as he looked her up and down.
Aisley wasn’t going to tell him that it was Dale who had saved her. It would only cause Dale to get a dose of Jason’s wrath. “I’m a Wallace, remember, Cousin? We seem to have a knack for staying alive.”
Her explanation sufficed, because Jason turned away without another word. Aisley shifted her gaze to Mindy, who still stared at her with hatred burning in her eyes.
“Go on like a good doggie, and follow your master,” Aisley said with fake sweetness dripping from her words. “Be a good bitch.”
Mindy took the two steps separating them and rammed her finger in Aisley’s shoulder. Aisley felt a blast of magic hit her, but she managed to keep the pain from her face. A trick she had learned quickly while under Jason’s roof.
“One of these days, Jason is going to give me leave to kill you.”
Aisley turned her lips up in a mocking smirk. “I look forward to the day you try.”
It was only after Mindy had gone into the house that Aisley touched the spot where the magic had entered her. She shifted the collar of her shirt and saw the burned skin.
“Does it hurt?”
She jerked her head up to stare at Dale. She’d completely forgotten he was there. Aisley shrugged and released her collar. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“I didna ask that. I asked if it hurt.”
Dale had protected her from the Warrior’s lightning. He’d also done small things over the months to keep Jason’s ire off her. Dale liked her, she knew. But was it enough that she could trust him?
The big man frowned and swiped a hand over his shaved head. “You doona trust me.”
“I don’t trust anyone.”
“Aye. That’s probably a wise move. Though you may no’ believe it, Aisley, you can trust me.”
Dale bent inside the car, and when he stood, he had Ronnie in his arms. Aisley shut her door and then walked around to the other side of the car and shut that one as well.
She followed Dale up the front steps, but stopped before entering the house. Her gaze moved to the tall gate that kept out unwanted guests.
Yet nothing would keep out the Warriors from MacLeod Castle. Aisley had no doubt they would come. Especially Arran. The Warrior would come for Ronnie.
The problem was, did she want them to win? They’d kill her on the spot for her involvement with Jason and the fact she was a drough.
Because unlike the others in Jason’s little clan, she had done her research on the Druids.
Either with the MacLeods winning or Jason winning, Aisley knew she wasn’t long for this world. And that didn’t bother her. Death was more acceptable than the life she led.
Even if that death meant she went to Hell.
* * *
Ronnie came awake slowly. The first thing she felt was the ache in her jaw, and then the raw, excruciating pain of her left forearm. The events of before came rushing back to her like a tidal wave.
“No!” she screamed and bolted upright in a cot so similar to the one in her tent that for a moment she thought that’s where she was.
She tried to turn, only to be jerked to a stop by something on her right arm. Confused, Ronnie looked down at the large iron manacle around her wrist to the thick, heavy chain that fell to the floor and all the way up the wall behind her where the chain was bolted.
“So glad you’re finally awake.”
The cold, eerie male voice made Ronnie’s skin itch. She turned her head to find herself looking through a row of metal bars. It took her a moment to realize she was locked in a prison.
The man banged his fist against the metal. His blond hair was cut short, making his hawkish face and long neck appear more angular. “It’s stout. This dungeon survived even the fire. Declan used magic to make the cells strong, and then I added my magic on top of it.”
Ronnie parted her lips to breathe through her mouth as her stomach began to grow queasy. She glanced down at her injured arm to see that it was wrapped in gauze.
“You look confused,” the man said with a sly smile.
Her gaze turned to him. The glee on his face at her predicament only made her more ill.
“I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Jason Wallace.”
Ronnie lifted her chin and looked him in the eye. “Should I be impressed?”
Jason clapped his hands together once and threw back his head and laughed. “Brilliant. Just brilliant.”
“Where am I? Why have you taken me from my dig site?” Ronnie thought by appearing ignorant of Jason’s identity and scheming, she might be freed. She should have known better.
“Oh, please. Is that the best you can do?” he asked with a frown. He rolled his eyes. “You can stop with the act, Dr. Reid. You know all about Druids and Warriors and magic. It’s an amazing world we Druids live in, is it no’?”
“It would be without people like you.”
One side of his lips lifted in a grin. “There’s that spirit I’ve heard so much about. But, lass, you know as well as I that good can no’ exist without evil. There is no such thing as Utopia. The idea of a place where everyone gets along and loves one another makes me twitchy, because it isna real.”
“And the world where you dominate all doesn’t make y
ou twitchy?”
“Actually, it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.”
Ronnie made a sound in the back of her throat. “You don’t see what you’re doing as wrong?”
“Wrong? Of course no’. I’m doing the world a favor, darling. Right now, everything is complete chaos out there. No one can trust anyone. The media in every country is lying to the public to keep their fears down. Every country is arming themselves with nuclear and biological weapons. People are stealing, raping, murdering. I’ll put a stop to it all.”
“While you lie, steal, rape, and murder?”
He shrugged. “I’ll do what I must to get things where they need to be.”
“Isn’t that the Utopia you just vilified?”
“You’re a smart one,” Jason said as he leaned a shoulder against the metal. “I’m no’ stupid or naïve enough to believe everyone will be happy in the world I create. But they will answer to me. There willna be a threat of nuclear war.”
“No, just the fear that you won’t like what they’re wearing so you strike them down with your magic?”
“Oh, there will be fear, Ronnie. I never said there wouldna be. There will be order, though. Order out of chaos. Does that no’ appeal to you?”
She didn’t want to admit that the thought of no more wars sounded good, but to reach that state, everyone would lose their basic human rights.
There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that Jason Wallace was the “new darkness” spoken of in the prophecy. She was more frightened than at any other time in her life, but she refused to allow him to see it.
“You can no’ lie, nor can you bring yourself to tell me the truth.” Jason tsked. “It’s all right. I’m no’ giving up on you yet.”
“Just what do you want with me?”
He pushed away from the bars with his shoulder. “Originally I wanted you for your magic. There are thousands of magical items buried throughout Britain. I want to find them, and you’re going to help me do it.”
She thought over all she’d learned about Jason’s predecessors, Declan and Deirdre. Arran had made them sound like monsters, but as she stared at Jason, all she saw was a man. A demented man, but just a man. He might have magic, but so did she. Did that make her evil?
Even if he were malevolent, Ronnie wouldn’t help him in anything.
“No.”
Jason’s eyes watched her carefully. “I thought you’d say that.”
“You said originally. Did you change your mind?”
“No’ exactly. What none of you realize yet is just how powerful my magic is. While you slept, sweet Ronnie, I searched your mind. The mind is an amazing place. So many corridors and rooms. There was one room that was right in the front of your thoughts.”
She fisted her good arm and thought of Arran. If Jason hurt him … she didn’t know what she would do, but she would do something.
Jason suddenly smirked like a Cheshire cat. “Ah. You think I’m speaking of your Warrior. I’ll get to him in good time, Dr. Reid. Nay, I speak of something else.”
The only other thing she’d been worried about was the … prophecy.
“The one with untapped magic will free those trapped by the magic-wielders. She will unknowingly bring about destruction and death. The female Druid will be the bringer of doom. Only to be ended by a man-god. The new darkness will join forces with the Druid. And it will be the end of all.”
It was all Ronnie could do not to cover her ears and sing at the top of her lungs. Those words were branded in her mind, a constant companion as she wondered if Arran would have to kill her or if, as Arran said, she was strong enough to withstand the evil.
“I see those words are familiar,” Jason said as he put his hands in his pockets and regarded her. “Of all the things I imagined finding inside that mind of yours, a prophecy wasn’t one of them. And you think it’s about you.”
“It might not be.”
“You believe it is, though,” he said with a cocky wink. “Is that why Arran stays so close to you? Is he the one charged with ending you if you bring about the doom?”
Ronnie refused to answer him. She lifted her chin, letting him think whatever he wanted.
“Then maybe you’d like to tell me what it was you released in the chamber you found.”
She swallowed and looked away. “I didn’t release anything.”
“You’re a verra bad liar, Dr. Reid. I tried this the easy way, but you want to do it the hard way. Which is fine by me. You see, I brought along a little insurance to assure you comply with my every question and demand.”
Her shoulders slumped as Andy was shoved into sight. Dried blood coated the left side of his face from his forehead down to his neck. His glasses were gone, and it looked like his nose was broken. His hands were tied behind him, and he landed heavily on his shoulder. She winced as his head banged against the concrete.
With a wave of Jason’s hand, someone in the shadows grabbed Andy and lifted him to his feet.
“This,” Jason said as he motioned to Andy and took a step back that put him in shadows, “is what I like to call incentive. You do as I ask, and your friend lives. I know how much he means to you, based on what my intel has told me. I know he’s no’ your lover, but I think he’ll do.”
“Ronnie?” Andy said thickly, and squinted to try to see her.
Ronnie swallowed past the lump in her throat. “I’m here, Andy. Everything is going to be fine.”
“Who are these men?” Andy asked.
She didn’t get a chance to answer, as he was quickly led from the room. Ronnie wanted to scream her frustration at Andy’s capture, her imprisonment, and the pain in her body.
It was her fault she was here. She’d sent Arran away. Not just that, but he’d tried to warn her they would come for her again, and she hadn’t listened. She was utterly alone in this.
Even if she had her cell phone, who would she call? Pete? He’d never believe such a wild tale. Saffron? After all Ronnie had done, would Saffron believe her? Arran?
Ronnie’s heart ached just thinking about him. She could still see his amazing golden eyes fill with hurt when she’d sent him away.
Arran would come, but then what? Another battle? It was a moot point anyway, since she didn’t have any means to contact him.
No, she was explicitly, keenly alone. The only one able to help Andy was her. Arran had told her she could use her magic to defend herself, but she didn’t have the first clue how to do that.
Jason knew how to control and use his magic, and he had many people to keep watch over her. Which left her with just one choice since escape was out of the question.
She would have to do as Jason asked.
Ronnie turned her gaze to him. “Do I have your word that as long as I do as you say, Andy will be left unharmed—by humans, Warriors, and Druids alike? That no magic will touch him ever?”
“You have my word.”
She clenched her jaw, blood drumming in her ears. “I want to see your face clearly. Come into the light.”
There was a click of boot heels as Jason went into the light. “Better?”
“Give me your word.”
“I give it. No magic will harm Andy.”
Still she didn’t believe him, but what choice did she have? “I want you to swear it on your magic. Vow to me that Andy will not only remain unharmed, but you’ll also treat his injuries, and once I do as you ask, you’ll let him go.”
“Why would I release him? He’ll keep you doing what I want.”
Ronnie swung her legs over the side of the cot and stood. She tested the heavy chain holding her and made her way to the wall separating her and Jason. She looked at him through the bars. “I give you my word that I won’t try to escape. Just let Andy go.”
For long minutes, Jason simply stared at her. “I’ll keep Andy around for a few weeks, but I’ll release him as long as I can trust you.”
Then Jason held out his hand, palm up, and a ball of dark purple light formed in his hand.
His blue gaze caught hers. “I, Jason Wallace, do vow that no Druid, Warrior, or human shall harm Andy while he’s under my protection.”
The ball of light grew and the purple darkened until it was completely black before the ball lengthened and first wrapped around Jason’s hand and then Ronnie’s. A moment later, it disappeared.
“There,” Jason said. “I’ve given you my promise, and even set it in magic. Are you ready to give me what I want?”
Ronnie thought of Arran and how his eyes had looked at her so lovingly while he made love to her, how she’d felt loved, needed, and protected. He might find her, but there was no way he or any of the Warriors could win against magic like Jason’s.
“Yes.”
The door to her prison unlocked and swung open the same instant the manacle around her wrist fell to the ground with a hard thud, the metal clanking on itself. Jason smirked as she stepped out of her cell and stopped beside him.
“That was much easier than I thought you’d make it.”
She turned her head away. “You didn’t give me a choice.”
“Now you know what kind of ruler I’ll be for mankind. I’m the parent everyone needs or else the children of the world will run amok, as they’ve done for ages.”
“With all your magic, you should be able to find the magical items you seek.”
“Verra true, sweet Ronnie. But I want you for much more.”
“Like what?”
“You’re going to tell me what you and MacCarrick took out of the chamber. And eventually, you’re going to become a drough. Because, you see, I’m going to make sure the prophecy you fear so greatly comes to pass.”
He walked past her, but Ronnie couldn’t make her legs move. She knew she’d done the right thing in order to save Andy, but all she could think about was Arran.
And the awful future in front of her.
“Come along, Dr. Reid. We’ve work to do,” Jason’s voice said from the doorway where he waited.
“Forgive me, Arran,” she whispered.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-SEVEN
Arran once more stood outside Wallace mansion. It was over a year ago that he’d been there with the others to defeat Declan. That night had been horrendous. Not just from the battle, but also because they lost two Druids, and Ramsey nearly died.
