A Highlander's Destiny (Digital Boxed Edition)

by Willa Blair

  This year he planned to have his own celebration.

  Taunting Darach had always been fun, but now he would give the Highlander a warning he could not ignore.

  In doing so, he hoped to unleash the inner beast of the immortal for his own gain.

  Do not allow the tragedies of mortals to sway me from my tasks. I cannot change the past, nor can I direct my immortals to always do what is prudent. After all they do have free will just like any creature created by God.

  From the desk of Michael/Archangel to God

  Chapter Five

  “No, ye be wrong. It’s because of my past that ye are now drawn into the aftermath.” He took another sip of coffee and with the cup still in his hand he spoke again.

  “I was groomed to take over as laird from the time I was old enough to read. My mother believed in all her children knowing how to write, read, and cipher. I know my people have been depicted as being a backward and wild bunch of barbarians in history, but that’s not the case of my home life.”

  Abigail held her breath as Darach paused, looked down at his now cold coffee, and then back at her.

  “My childhood was a good one. I learned from me da about taking care of the needs of our clan before my own. From me mother, how to teach those who would become the future of the clan. By the time I reached marriage age, I was more than a bit finicky about the type of bride I wanted by my side.

  “Briene was a vision of loveliness even though she never thought herself to be beautiful. I courted and won her hand in marriage, and spent the first year of our life together teaching her she was beautiful inside and out.” Darach cleared his throat.

  “You see, she wasn’t as fortunate as I was to be raised by a family who loved her. Her da was mean spirited and showed it in ways that reduced my bride into a shy, insecure person when it came to anything, especially having a man love her. Finally, I convinced her she was the most important thing in my life. I reveled in her first hesitant smiles, then the full-bloom of happiness as she realized the truth about herself. When she told me she carried our child, I couldna hae been happier than if I had been handed the moon.”

  Abby pushed aside her cup of coffee and slid her hands under the table. She clasped them tightly together to keep them from shaking. The being sitting across from her was indeed a man. One who had loved and lost but continued to try to protect others. She dreaded to hear the remainder of his story, but she needed to know everything. Maybe then she could help him. For no matter what he said, his past was still very much a part of his present and like it or not, she was involved.

  “Jamie was born and my heart rejoiced in having an heir to carry on the clan’s name. Ye see, me da had died just a few months after Briene and I were wed. Me mom still lived but she loved me da so much, it was not long before she followed him through death’s gates. For almost two years, Briene and I loved, laughed, and dreamed of having more children. As we watched Jamie take his first steps, speak his first words, we couldna been more blessed.”

  “Where does Angus come into this? Did he live with you and Briene?” Abby held her breath after asking.

  Darach’s sigh assaulted the air with a warm breath of vanilla.

  “Not at that time, not anymore. He came calling a few months before me da’s death. He claimed to be a cousin on me da’s side of the family. Although, me da couldna recall the kinship Angus claimed, he be not the type of man to toss him out into the cold. By then his health had grown precarious, and I had taken over the reins in everything but the title of laird.

  “Angus argued with me on every facet of the clan’s business. He wanted war and I wanted peace. When I journeyed to neighboring clans, he made his move. With my da bed-bound, there was no one to stop him from involving himself in the daily running of MacRath Castle. When I returned, I found me kinsmen up in arms, Angus ensconced in my da’s chair, giving orders that could lead us into battle.”

  “So what did you do?” Even though it was way too early for a drink, Abby wished for one. The more Darach talked the more she knew in her heart Angus was a demon she never wanted to meet face to face.

  “I tossed him off MacRath land. I didnae care where he went as long as he never returned to our clan. In the interim, I married Briene and Jamie was born. One night during Yuletide, Briene and I were sitting in the great hall. We were talking about how much Jamie would love this season of good cheer. While we watched him sleep in the small bed I made for him for when he was in the hall, I heard the sound of fighting at the doors of the castle. Before I could see what was happening, Angus and his men broke into the great hall. There were fifty of them if not more. Too many for the rest of my men to fight, for I had sent several of our men to deliver Yuletide gifts and food to the needy on the outskirts of our land…” Darach closed his eyes for a moment.

  Should she call a halt to his story or allow him to finish?

  He took the matter into his own hands when he opened his eyes and reached across to brush a tear from her cheek.

  “’Tis not a tale for the meek and gets worse, Abigail. If ye prefer, I can stop.”

  “It’s your call. I don’t want to cause you more anguish.” Her words were a mere whisper, but he heard them all the same.

  “The anguish is knowing Angus has broken free of hell’s domain and is out to hurt another innocent. So I will finish what I have started.”

  She laid her hands on the table. She wanted something more sturdy then her lap to grip. Darach caught one of them in his.

  “Angus and his men surrounded us, separating me and Briene from our son, and then from one another. I yelled at him, asking what he wanted, but before I could get an answer, his men forced me to my knees. I could hear Briene screaming, struggling to get free. Our son was now awake and crying.

  “I fought my captors but there were too many. Of course, Angus didnae allow them to do his dirty work. He took great delight in stabbing me with my own sword. Three times he stabbed me and left me lying on the rush-strewn floor.”

  The grip on her hand tightened, and Abigail turned her grimace into a moue of shock. Not hard to do, since his entire story was horrendous. How could one person wreak such pain on another? And how had Darach survived, but then again he hadn’t.

  “The blood loss worsened as I continued to try to break free of Angus’s men. Briene had turned deathly pale, and she was now on the floor—stretched out like an offering for Angus. I fought harder, and his men used the flats of their swords to keep me down. I tried to find Jamie. I knew if I could help him, Briene would fight. Though what good it would have done any of us if we had gotten free I didnae kin.

  “My men were dead or dying, the others too far away to return in time. Finally my gaze found me son. I looked right into his frightened eyes and witnessed the exact moment Angus cut the life from his body.”

  Darach stopped and took several deep breaths. Abby tried to gulp in air and almost strangled on her horror. How much more could there be?

  “Angus then moved to Briene, all the time making sure I witnessed his every movement. He raped her, then gave her to his men. She died and I couldna do nothing to stop it. By that time, I didnae care if I lived or not. I just wanted a chance to take Angus to hell with me. I was denied that wish, for coward that he be, even with me being wounded, he wouldna fight me as a man. He again used my family’s sword to send me to death.”

  “Oh, Darach, I’m so sorry. Nothing I can say will help. I’m sorry to have put you through this.” Tears stung Abby’s cheeks, and the sobs she held back had a chokehold on her throat.

  “Ye did nothing it’s all in the past. I just want ye to understand Angus is all that is evil. If it means going through ye, to get to me he will. That is why I must stay here. He was conniving as a mortal and will be even more so as a demon.”

  “Surely, he won’t trouble himself with me. You and I just met. There’d be no reason for him to come after me.” She prayed that was the truth.

  “The only reason he needs is the
slightest hint that ye could be important to me.”

  Abby wanted to scream. Coming on the heels of Darach’s terrifying tale, the knowledge that Angus might do the same thing to her as he had Briene scared the daylights out of her. If she was smart, she’d leave NOLA until Darach and Angus killed one another.

  No…she couldn’t.

  To take the easy way out would be to deny her heritage. A heritage of many generations of her family’s women helping others, fighting demons when they could.

  “Then wouldn’t it be better if you left me alone?”

  “I wished it could be that easy, Abby. I dinnae ken how Lucifer knew about your gifts or how Angus got out of Hell. Knowing him, he promised Satan something in return. I can guess what that something was.”

  Abby withdrew her hand and stood up. “Look, none of this makes any sense to me. You’re immortal, you told me that yourself, so what’s the point of Angus going after you?”

  “True, but I can be injured and in some cases, very unlikely cases, I could be killed. I do not recover as quickly as some of the paranormal beings you see on television, so while I recover, you could be at risk. Angus will do all he can to catch me off guard—I know the mon, and I’m sure he has a plan that will try to bring about my downfall one way or the other. Although, I dinnae know what that is just yet.”

  His brogue had thickened, telling Abby he was more than a bit upset about what Angus might do.

  “So, I guess we’re stuck together.”

  “It looks that way.”

  Abby moved to the fridge, pulled it open, and took out a pitcher of juice. She poured two glasses and handed one to Darach. Finding out he could die was not giving her a warm and fuzzy feeling. Quite the opposite. She prayed he was right and Angus could only try and not succeed. And although he’d blown into her life and thrown her a marathon of a curve, she couldn’t help but be drawn to him. But attraction aside, although he knew she had visions, he would freak out if he actually saw her having one. History had proven that to Abigail. Men could be anything, but women were expected to be different—normal.

  “Well, then I suppose I should start the turkey for dinner. I have a feeling we’re going to need all the comfort food we can get in the next few days.”

  “Abby, I’m sorry.”

  “For what? Having your family killed, becoming an immortal, or for Angus targeting me through you? Don’t you see, Darach, sooner or later the demons would have found me without you. Then where would I be?”

  “I promise, I willna let anything happen to ye.”

  “Thank you for that, but we both know we can’t always keep our promises. You’ll do your best and that will be enough. Now, help me get this turkey into the sink. I don’t want to be eating too late. I promised I’d take a plate to one of the teachers at my school. He’s all alone for the holidays.”

  Darach could only stand and marvel at the courage of the woman before him. Even in the midst of being stalked by demons she was willing to help her fellow man. It just reiterated more why he would keep her safe.

  What he’d told Abby was true, every bit. After training with other immortals, and a second lifetime of fighting demons, he wasn’t worried about what would happen to him.

  Abigail, however, was mortal. Did she not realize just by stepping out the door, she could be a target? He opened his mouth to tell her just that but at the look in her eyes, instead, he pushed her gently back, took the Thanksgiving bird from the rack, and placed it in the sink.

  “I need to make a few calls, let me know when ye be ready to put the turkey in the oven. I’ll do it for ye.”

  She gave him a slight smile. “Thanks, I’ll hold you to it. Now, since I think both our appetites were ruined for an early breakfast, I’m going to concentrate on getting the rest of the dinner pulled together once I’ve got the turkey cooking.

  ****

  Later, after listening to Abby rattle pots and pans, hum several old gospel songs, and talk to herself, Darach decided to vacate the premises. He now made a circumference of the outside of Abby’s home. It was magnificent in the bright rays of the noonday sun

  He stood in amazement looking at the two-story stone house with a wraparound porch and two matching columns sitting on opposite sides of the double front doors.

  With the sun hitting the exterior, Abby’s home resembled a golden oasis. It must have taken months if not years to gather matching stones to build the place. Shutters that were once painted white but were now dingy beige were the only eyesore he could spot. The building set on about a half-acre of land, butting up against the canal. Trees tangled with moss, although bare with winter’s bite, seem to make the house part of the landscape.

  Darach scanned the area. There were several houses near Abby’s but they seemed deserted. It could be due to the holiday or some of the natives had relocated after the hurricane and flood. The solitary surroundings left a lot to be desired in his opinion. Too much could happen to a lone woman before aid arrived.

  “Darach, you out there?”

  He jumped the three steps, closed and then bolted the door Abby had left open. He also laid his hand against the door to ward off demons.

  “I’m here, Abby.” The scent of baked turkey, dressing, and a combination of more enticing smells filtered out into the hallway. For the first time in a long time, he was looking forward to celebrating a holiday.

  “Oh good. Lunch is almost ready.” Abby’s smile was contagious despite his worry about her safety.

  “Do I have time to pop back home? I’d like to take a shower before we eat.” He hated to delay her plans but he’d missed the chance to get cleaned up before their early morning talk, and since then he’d been too busy.

  “Sure, I’ll just turn the oven off and you can help me get the turkey and dressing out after you get back.” Abby started toward the kitchen. “Hurry up now, I’m starving.”

  Darach teleported to his house, grabbed a fresh T-shirt, some jeans, and briefs before stripping down to nothing and heading to the bathroom. He hastily turned on the water, stepped in, and wet his body. Shampoo ran in rivulets through his hair, and he rubbed it in quickly before sticking his head under the stream of water. He applied soap in the same manner. Although he’d reset the safety guards, he didn’t want to be away from Abby for long.

  Five minutes later, shaved, dry, and dressed, he teleported back to her house. He made his way to the kitchen, pushed open the door, and then rushed toward Abby. He caught her in his arms before she hit the floor.

  ****

  Angus drummed his fingers against the desk he sat behind. Soon, he would have the first peg nailed in the coffin that would result in Darach’s downfall from grace and his destruction.

  He would never understand how such a goody-two-shoes ended up working for an archangel. He should have been the one working side by side with the big guns of Heaven. He should be the one gathering riches, instead he’d spent the centuries since his death shoveling coals onto the brimstone that burned day and night in Hell—except for one of two brief excursions into the mortal realm.

  But that was now over. Once he delivered Darach into Satan’s hands, the king of the underworld would raise Angus up as his right-hand demon.

  Michael stared down through the veil separating Heaven and Earth. So many good mortals still inhabited the planes of God’s creation. And as many as there were good, there were those who were evil. If only he could do more, but he could only do what he was directed to do…and God in his mercy would set things right.

  Chapter Six

  Darach’s heart pounded so hard he thought it would explode. Abby’s eyes were wide-open, horror etched into her blue-eyed gaze. What had frightened her? He lifted her limp form and carried her to the living room. After laying her on the couch, he smoothed a hand down one paper-white cheek, as he inhaled but found no sulfuric stench inside the walls of her home.

  Yet, something had scared her into an almost comatose state. His other hand fisted into a symbol of
his own upset at not knowing what was wrong. As he knelt by her side, her eyelids closed, and she took in several audible breaths of air.

  He held his breath in anticipation of Abby opening her eyes again. One long minute passed before he let his breath out. The look in her eyes now was one of confusion. Her beautiful lips trembled as she looked around and then her gaze lit on him.

  “Oh no…oh God please, no.” Abby jerked away from his touch and pressed her back as far into the couch as she could. Please, please, let Darach not to have witnessed her having a vision.

  “Abby, what’s wrong?” The immortal’s question contained concern, but she wasn’t buying it. He probably had to put on a good face because he worked for an archangel. She knew all too well what happened when someone was a party to one of her episodes.

  “Go away, please.”

  “No, I’m staying right here with you. Ye scared me to death, woman.” Darach caught one of the hands she was wringing and settled it against his chest. As agitated as she was, she couldn’t help but admire how broad and muscular that part of his anatomy was.

  “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… I mean, you never should have seen…”

  “Seen what?” His anxious tone drew her eyes away from his chest and to his face.

  “Nothing, it’s not important.” Abby’s voice trembled.

  “’Tis something, Abby. You were out like someone in a coma.” Darach’s sooty brows drew together, before he took a deep breath. “Did ye have a vision, lass?”

  Oh God above, why would he ask that? And what should she say? Abby struggled to think, but came up with only one answer. This was do or die time as far as she was concerned. The last hot looking guy to see her like this viewed her as a freak.

  “Yes.” She prayed he wouldn’t run away in horror.

  “Then ‘tis okay. I feared ye saw a demon.”

  So amazed he wasn’t pushing her away in disgust, she blurted out, “You’re not scared, repulsed, any number of things most men would be?”