by Donna Grant
Danielle closed her eyes as weariness took hold. Not even Deirdre herself could have made Danielle release her hold on Ian, not now. Not when she finally had him in her arms.
And if his god had taken control, Danielle would somehow find a way to bring Ian back. He’d had control once, he could get it again.
“You’ve gone off the deep end,” said a male voice.
It brought Danielle out of her thoughts, and she opened her eyes to find Lucan at the doorway into the cell. “I’m doing what I need to do.”
“And if he awakens with Farmire in control and kills you?”
Danielle swallowed. “He won’t.”
“You doona sound so sure. Dani, you need to get out of there before he wakes.”
She shook her head. “No, Lucan. I … I love him. I told him I would help him fight Farmire, and I am. He isn’t bellowing or cutting up the stones anymore.”
“How did you get in?” Lucan asked as he fingered the key in the door. “Fallon refused to give you the key.”
“I found another.” She was proud of herself. It proved that her magic was growing. She was becoming the Druid Aunt Josie had always said she could be.
All because she had wrecked her car, got lost, and found Ian.
“Shut the door,” Danielle said. “Take the key. Whatever happens … happens. If Farmire is in control—”
“We’ve already promised Ian we would end it.”
She took a deep breath. “You’ve been good to him. You are his family. All of you.”
“We are yours as well.”
“I know. Please tell the others not to come down here. I want to be alone with Ian.”
Lucan looked at Ian and stepped aside so he could close the cell door and take the key. “Even if Farmire is in command, Ian will know what he has done. He’ll never forgive himself.”
“Ian is strong. He’ll be in control.”
“For your sake, I hope you’re correct.”
Danielle shut her eyes again as Lucan walked away. She put her hand over Ian’s heart and felt the steady beat of it. Ian had once told her he loved the feel of her magic.
She called up her magic and let it fill the cell, hoping he would recognize it and find his way back to her.
* * *
Ian felt the strong, steady pulse of magic through the darkness. He recognized that magic.
Danielle.
He fought against that darkness, the cloying, abysmal blackness that sucked him deeper and deeper into a chasm he knew he would never come back from.
The more he struggled against the blackness, the more Farmire’s presence besieged him. Ian was continually inundated. Ceaselessly beset. Endlessly plagued.
But Danielle’s magic was like a beacon in the darkness. He reached for it, for her. It was just out of his reach, so close he could feel the magic brush against his face. Yet, Farmire wasn’t letting go without a battle.
Farmire’s power was absolute. He wanted to prove to Ian once and for all that he could dominate.
“Fight him,” Duncan’s voice whispered in Ian’s mind as if it came from a great distance.
Ian struggled against Farmire’s hold with all his might. He thought of Danielle, of what she had given him. He thought of the man he wanted to be, and the future he desperately yearned for.
Farmire’s grasp slipped a fraction.
“Aye, brother. You can do it,” Duncan urged.
Ian clung to Duncan’s voice and Danielle’s magic. Without them, he knew he would have been lost. The more he pulled against Farmire and gained the upper hand, the more strength he had.
Until, finally, he was the one dominating Farmire.
“Go to her,” Duncan said. “Live your life as I refused to live mine. Forget the past and look to the future. Bring love and laughter into your life, brother.”
Ian didn’t want to let Duncan go. He needed his brother.
“Nay, no longer. You have someone else. Listen…”
Ian heard Danielle’s voice in his head like the softest caress. He did as Duncan asked and followed Danielle’s magic out of the darkness.
When Ian opened his eyes, he feasted upon Danielle’s face. She sat with her head against the bars and her eyes shut, but her hand was over his heart.
There was so much he wanted to say to her, so much he needed to say. But the words lodged in his throat as he drank in her beauty. He covered her hand with his. A moment later, she sucked in a breath and opened her emerald eyes.
“You came back to me,” she said with an easy smile.
“I came back for you.”
CHAPTER
THIRTY-NINE
Malcolm woke to find himself in a field, two sheep staring at him while others grazed unmindful of his presence. One of the sheep baaed and trotted off while the second turned away and began to munch on the grass.
Malcolm sat up and rubbed the back of his neck. He certainly wasn’t in Edinburgh anymore, or anywhere even close. It must have been Fallon who jumped him out of the city. But why?
Even as he asked himself the question he knew. Regardless of what he had done or who he was, to Fallon he was family.
For the second time in a matter of weeks, Malcolm had spoken to Larena. How he’d missed her jesting and her easy nature. He could see how the passing of time had changed her, but only for the better. She was stronger than before.
Her words, her urging him to return to the castle with her was difficult for him to hear because it was all he wanted to do. Ever since Deirdre had found him he’d wished he’d never left the castle that fateful day.
But no amount of wanting would change what he had become.
Malcolm rose to his feet and instantly tamped down his god. He turned in a circle, looking around him until he spotted a small two-story house atop a hill in the distance.
He’d stop there first and figure out where he was. Deirdre would be expecting him, and if he didn’t return soon, there was no telling what she would do to Larena.
That thought propelled Malcolm forward. He lengthened his stride into a steady run, the ground a blur beneath him.
* * *
Ian came up on his knees and pulled Danielle into his arms. He kissed her as if there were no tomorrow, as if she would be taken from him at any moment.
His kiss was full of longing and desire and … love.
He ended the kiss and took her face between his hands. Duncan had known what was in Ian’s heart even before Ian had been ready to accept it. But now that he had, Ian was overcome with emotion so strong and pure that his chest felt as if it would burst.
“Ian, I was so afraid I had lost you,” Danielle said.
“You shouldna have come in here. I could have hurt you. What was Fallon thinking giving you the key?”
Danielle glanced down before she said, “He didn’t. I used my magic and found one.”
“I told you your magic was powerful.”
She laughed and hugged him tight. “I’ve never been so afraid in my life as when I saw you.”
Ian looked at the stones behind Danielle and saw the marks. He could well imagine how he must have looked to her. “I’m sorry I frightened you.”
“You didn’t,” she said. She leaned back, her brows drawn together. “It was the thought of Farmire taking you that scared me. But you never allowed it.”
He couldn’t believe how lucky he had gotten in finding such a woman. He took her hands in his and saw her grimace. Ian looked at her hands and saw the cuts and dried blood coating her fingers and hands.
“What happened?”
She shrugged. “The key was buried outside. I had to dig through the snow and frozen, packed earth to get to it.”
Ian’s heart pounded loudly in his chest. “Do no’ hurt yourself so ever again.”
“You had fallen unconscious, Ian. I knew Farmire was taking you, and I had to get to you.”
He swallowed, unable to believe a beautiful, strong, amazing woman like Danielle would risk her life for him
. “I didna think you were so reckless.”
“It seems when it comes to you, I am.”
Her words, spoken barely above a whisper, sent a thrill running through him. Maybe he did have a chance with her. Maybe her passion for him went deeper.
“Danielle,” he said, and slid his fingers into her cool, silky hair. “I … love you.”
Danielle’s heart jumped into her throat when she saw emotion flood into Ian’s sherry eyes. Elation filled her, propelling her magic to swirl around her as his words sank into her mind.
The dark, dank dungeon faded away as she lost herself in him. “And I love you, my Warrior.”
His devastating smile could melt the stoutest of hearts. He kissed her slowly, seductively. And thoroughly. His hands were on her back, molding her against his rock-hard body.
Instantly, heat flooded her as moisture pooled between her legs. She moaned and tilted her head to the side so he could deepen the kiss.
Deirdre and Declan, Charlie, and all the other evils of the world didn’t matter anymore. Nothing mattered but the man in her arms, the man who had fought against a primeval god for control of his body and mind. And won.
A man who made her heart sing and her body melt. A man like no other.
“I didna think finding a woman such as you would be possible,” Ian said between kisses.
Danielle wound her arms around his neck, his hair tickling her arm. “I’ve dreamed of finding you my entire life.”
“No more dreams. Now, we make a future.”
Danielle winced. “Ah, I think there’s some things I need to fill you in on.”
Ian sighed and rose to his feet, pulling Danielle up with him. “Then we had better get out of this dungeon and into a shower. I want to hear everything, but first, I want to make love to you.”
“Umm,” she purred as she rose up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I’m liking the sound of that.”
“How long have you been down here?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea. Lucan came down and locked me in with you, so he has the other key.”
“Remind me to kill Lucan when I get out of here.”
She laughed and walked to the cell door. “Don’t blame him. I wouldn’t leave.”
“He’d damned sure want me to pull Cara out of this dungeon had she done what you did.”
Danielle looked at Ian as he came to stand beside her. “I told you, Ian Kerr, nothing was going to keep me from you.”
“I was almost gone. Farmire was so strong, but then I felt your magic. Duncan told me to follow it to you.”
“Duncan?” she repeated.
Ian nodded, a half smile upon his lips. “I’ve thought myself daft for a long time because I heard Duncan in my head. It began after I was brought to this time. He always seemed to be there when I needed him most. He’s gone now.”
“So, it really was him?”
He nodded. “Aye. It really was him. I doona know how, nor do I care. He helped me keep my head during those long weeks alone in the cave. And between both you and him, I am now in full control of my god.”
“You would have done it yourself eventually.”
“What?” he asked, his forehead furrowed deeply.
Danielle licked her lips. “While you were unconscious I began to think of what you had told me happened when Farmire took control. When I came down here, your fury was so great everyone else thought you had already been taken by Farmire. You wouldn’t listen to anyone, or even appear to hear them.”
“Because I didna.”
“But I watched you, and kept talking to you. After a long while you began to calm. Eventually, you grew quiet, just sitting there, your back to me.”
“I recall Farmire wanting control,” Ian said, his voice trailing off, as he looked through the bars.
Danielle rubbed her hand up and down Ian’s well-defined arm. “Then the strangest thing happened. You stiffened as if you were fighting something mentally, and then you fell down unconscious. I think all those times you woke thinking Farmire was in control, you got it wrong. I think you were so strong that you lost consciousness when he took control so he couldn’t harm anyone.”
Ian gripped the iron in his hand until his knuckles were white. Could Danielle be right? Could he have been in control all along?
“I thought by being in the cave it was too far away from anyone for Farmire to seek them out.”
Danielle shook her head of silver hair. “If what you told me is true, Farmire would have walked a thousand miles in order to begin a battle. It was you all along, Ian.”
Ian drew in a deep breath and smiled. “It’s time we left the dungeon.”
Danielle chuckled as he bellowed for Fallon to release them.
A few moments later Fallon, Arran, and Broc were in the dungeon staring at him as if they didn’t know him.
“Stop it and release us,” Ian demanded.
Fallon cleared his throat and glanced at Danielle. “How do I know it’s really you, Ian?”
Ian rolled his eyes. “If Farmire was in control, Danielle wouldna be standing beside me now.”
“He’s telling the truth,” Danielle told them, and wrapped an arm around Ian’s waist. “He said my magic felt different to him from other Druids, so I used my magic to reach him.”
“And it worked. She pulled me from the depths. Now, I am in desperate need of a shower and at least four meals. Open the door, Fallon.”
“Open it,” Hayden said. “All you have to do is look in Ian’s eyes to see it’s him.”
Fallon produced the key and unlocked the door. It swung wide, and Ian pushed Danielle through first before he walked out. He was following Danielle up the steps to the great hall when Arran’s voice made him pause.
“A lot has happened, Ian. We need you both in the hall.”
“I just want a quick shower,” Danielle said.
“After you see Sonya,” Ian interjected.
When he stepped into the great hall, he found everyone staring at him. Ian looked at them with new eyes. He didn’t know what to say to any of them, but then he didn’t have to.
They swarmed him, their smiles and words only solidifying his feeling that the castle was his home, and the people inside it his family.
Godspeed, Duncan.
And to Ian’s regret, there was no response.
CHAPTER
FORTY
It was well after midnight by the time Danielle and Ian had finished eating and hearing about Charlie and all that had happened in Edinburgh with Phelan, Malcolm, and the Druid.
“So you didna get her name?” Ian asked.
Broc shook his head. “Nay. She was gone before we could ask, but I can find her easily enough.”
“When the time comes,” Fallon said. “For now, I just want to be sure she’s safe. She’s scared and running. She’ll hide for a while.”
“But for how long?” Isla asked. “Deirdre found her through black magic. She can do it again.”
Hayden raised a blond brow. “My wife has a valid point. It would be safest for the Druid to come to the castle.”
“Safest, but maybe no’ the wisest,” Ramsey said as he stared into his glass of wine.
Danielle exchanged a look with Ian. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Ramsey lifted his head. “Nothing.”
But Danielle suspected there was a lot more to Ramsey’s words.
“I’d like to apologize for no’ listening to you more closely about Charlie,” Fallon said to Ian.
Ian shrugged away his words. “You’ve opened this castle up to anyone wanting to fight Deirdre. How can we fight her as a group if there isna trust? You trusted him.”
“And made a mistake,” Fallon said. “Next time I’m going to listen to all of you.”
Ian winked at Danielle and stuffed another piece of Cara’s homemade bread into his mouth. “I just wish Charlie were still around so I could kill him myself.”
“Trust me, Arran did an admirable job,” Quin
n said and raised his glass to Arran.
Arran gave a nod. “It felt good to kill the bastard, I admit.”
“So, he was working for Deirdre,” Danielle said. “Right?”
“That’s what we assume,” Lucan answered.
Cara shrugged. “We can’t really know for sure, can we? I mean, with both Declan and Deirdre out there.”
Fallon leaned forward in his seat at the head of the table and placed something small and shining atop the wood. Danielle’s stomach fell to her feet when she recognized the key that had brought her to MacLeod Castle.
She looked to Ian to find him watching her.
“I think this is yours,” Fallon said as he pointed to the key. “Arran found it after Charlie had been … eliminated.”
Danielle rose from the table and walked toward Fallon. She stopped beside him and reached for the key. As soon as she touched it, the key hummed.
It was the key’s way of telling her it had found its home. Danielle gathered it in her palm and turned to hand it to Fallon.
“This is what brought me to MacLeod Castle. It wouldn’t allow me to give it to you because of Charlie, though at the time I didn’t know it was him who was the cause. Regardless, this is the key that will open the Tablet of Orn.”
Fallon accepted the key with a slight nod of his head. “You kept it safe.”
It wasn’t a question, yet Danielle felt she needed to explain. “I wanted to give it to you as soon as I got here. I hated keeping it a secret.”
“You did the right thing,” Lucan said.
The others all nodded in agreement. Danielle blew out a breath and returned to her seat. Ian reached across the table and held out his hand.
Danielle didn’t hesitate to take it. She felt as if a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders now that the MacLeods had the key.
But it wasn’t until Gwynn laid something on the table that Danielle looked away from Ian. And gasped when she saw the cylinder shape and the knotwork carved in the gold she had seen in her vision from the key.
“The Tablet of Orn,” Gwynn said with a smile.
Fallon shook his head when Gwynn tried to pass the cylinder to him. “You and Logan found the Tablet, Gwynn. It should be the two of you who open it.”
