by Donna Grant
He made it sound like the heaven she had been dreaming of since first running from her family. But places like that didn’t really exist. She should know since she’d been looking for one for a decade.
“I stay,” she declared.
Ramsey’s gaze lowered as he shook his head. He looked to his comrades. “I doona like this.”
“Our only other choice is to force her,” Arran said.
Tara rolled her eyes and got to her feet, indignation boiling within her. “Ugh. I’m right here. I can hear you.”
Charon merely smiled at her. “We know.”
“What’s your plan?” Ramsey asked Arran.
Arran grinned wickedly and clapped his hands together as he rubbed them eagerly. “Though I like a battle as well as the next Warrior, since Tara will be with us, I say we handle this differently. Charon will alert us when Declan arrives. I’ll be in the castle waiting for the bastard.”
“Because that’s the first place he’ll look,” Charon said with a nod.
“Exactly. I’ll take out as many of his mercs as I can while Charon does the same.”
Charon’s smile was wide, his eyes gleaming. “I’m liking this plan.”
Tara looked at Ramsey to find him with his arms crossed over his muscular chest and his gaze intense as he listened. She noticed that about him. He listened, observed, and took everything in.
“I’ll be here with Tara,” Ramsey said.
Arran nodded. “Correct. He’ll never expect what you’ll deliver to him.”
Tara’s heart jumped in her throat when Ramsey’s silver gaze shifted to her. He stared at her for one heartbeat, two before he looked back at the men.
“On one condition will this work. While you and Charon take out the mercenaries, I’ll attack Declan and touch as many of the rifles as I can. When it comes time for me to face Declan—”
Charon nodded. “We take Tara.”
“No,” she interrupted. “I want to see Declan’s death.”
Ramsey blew out a breath and lowered his arms to his sides. “If you stay, there’s a chance that what I unleash on Declan will kill you. I can no’ have that happen.”
A thread of fear wound around her heart. Ramsey wasn’t joking, and the way neither Arran nor Charon would meet her gaze told her how serious the situation was.
“We cannot just leave you to face Declan on your own,” she said.
Ramsey shrugged. “I’m the only one capable of defeating him.”
“If you can.”
“I will.”
He sounded so sure of himself that Tara began to believe him as well. But she knew what Declan was capable of. For now, because she didn’t have any other choice, she nodded her assent to the plan.
“Good,” Ramsey said. “Since we have the entire place to ourselves, let’s get set up.”
Charon pulled out his mobile from his pocket as he walked to the door. “I’ll phone Fallon and fill him in.”
Arran bowed his head to her before he spun on his heels and walked out of the cottage. Leaving Tara and Ramsey alone. The cottage had gone suddenly quiet with only the howling of the storm outside to break the silence.
“Are you hungry?” Ramsey asked.
Tara shook her head. “Not really.”
“There’s plenty of food, so help yourself.”
She slowly sank onto the couch as he took up a spot in the shadows beside the window so he could keep a lookout. Tara studied him silently for several moments.
He continued to keep his long hair loose, which she loved. It was damp from the snow, as was his short-sleeved tee. Ramsey was unlike any man she’d ever come across. He didn’t boast of his accomplishments or his money. He said very little, but when he did speak it was because he had something to say.
While anyone could see Arran and Charon were not men you wanted to tangle with, Ramsey was different. You didn’t see what you had coming at you until it was too late. His violence was hidden, the danger was not tangible until he wanted it to be.
“Is this what you do?” she asked.
Ramsey glanced at her. “What do you mean?”
“Do you save people?”
“Sometimes,” he said with a small shrug. “Mostly we’ve spent our lives battling Deirdre. With her gone, our attention is on Declan.”
“So you came because of him.”
This time Ramsey turned his head to her. “I came for you.”
Tara shouldn’t have felt the small thrill his comment gave her. She didn’t want to feel anything toward Ramsey, but she had learned long ago she couldn’t control her emotions. “There are other Druids out there to be saved.”
“But none that Declan wants more than anything.”
“Have you saved many Druids?”
He shook his black head slowly. “No’ as many as we should have. Deirdre wiped out so many, and then when Declan pulled her forward in time, during those four centuries the Druids that did survive lost their way.”
“Not all of them. My family is steeped in its magic. It’s just the wrong kind of magic.”
“Magic is magic. Although I wish more mie magic had survived than drough, at least there is magic. Each Druid has a choice whether to become drough or no’. You made that decision.”
She leaned back and let her head rest on the cushions so she looked at the ceiling. “In my family there isn’t a choice, Ramsey. We were born into a drough family, and we will be drough. If we refuse, they force us.”
“How? I thought you had to be willing? One of the Druids at MacLeod Castle was forced to become drough by Deirdre. Isla’s magic was strong, and the evil never took over as Deirdre had planned. Isla is one of our strongest Druids.”
Her head shifted so she could look at him. “My family is very … persuasive. The ones before me might not have wanted to be drough, but my family is relentless. None have ever refused.”
“Until you.”
“Until me,” she said with a smile. “I think my grandmother was impressed with my stubbornness. She even tried to talk my mother into allowing me to remain as I was.”
Ramsey turned so that his back was against the wall and he faced her fully. “What happened?”
“If you spoke with my mother I suspect you know what happened.”
“Your grandmother was never brought up.”
Tara leaned forward and dropped her face in her hands. Images of her grandmother laughing and teaching her magic rolled through her mind.
“My grandmother was drough, like all the rest of my family. Yet she was different.” Tara lifted her head and released a long breath. “Grandmother always had time for me, teaching me, or just laughing with me. From the time I was a wee child she told me over and over again to follow my heart even if it meant going against the ones I loved.”
“Do you think she knew what you were going to do?”
Tara shrugged. “I have no idea. When I first refused and Grandmother stood up for me, my mother—” She had to stop as the wave of pain slammed into her. “My mother’s fury was legendary in our family as was her affinity for whisky. She turned on my grandmother in her drunken rage. I didn’t realize her intent until it was too late. Until Grandmother lay dead on the floor.”
“I’m sorry, Tara.”
She swallowed, determined not to cry. “My mother turned on me next. She wouldn’t listen to me, just kept yelling and throwing magic at me. I dodged many of them because she was so clumsy, but not all of them.”
Tara lifted her eyes to Ramsey. “She intended to kill me. I got away with my life that night, with my mother’s promise to find me ringing in my ears.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ramsey was glad he hadn’t known this when he spoke to Tara’s mother or he might have killed her.
After hesitating just a moment, Ramsey walked to Tara. He could feel her pain and her loneliness in her magic and it called to him.
He knelt before her and looked into her blue-green eyes. “I’m sorry, Tara.”
&n
bsp; “I’ve never told anyone that story before.”
“If it helps, I doubt your mother will be looking for you. Her liver is failing, and she’s no’ expected to live out the year.”
A tear dropped on the back of Ramsey’s hand. He’d never really known what to do with a crying woman, but this time was different. This time he knew what to do.
Ramsey wiped the second tear from Tara’s cheek before it fell. To his surprise, she took his hand and closed her eyes as she held it against her cheek.
He remained still, torn between giving her the time she needed and the urge to pull her into his arms. But if he gave in to the need surging through him, Ramsey knew it wouldn’t stop at just holding her.
His gaze moved from her face to the wisps of magic that began to float around their hands. He still didn’t know what it meant, and though it could be something dangerous, all he knew was that it felt wonderful to touch her.
She drew in a deep, shuddering breath and to his disappointment released his hand. With no other reason to touch her, Ramsey let it fall to the cushion, but the tendrils of magic continued to grow stronger as they wound around him.
“You aren’t what I expected in a Warrior,” Tara said.
“What did you expect?”
She shook her head, staring at the fire. “I don’t know, but not you. You must make some lucky woman very happy.”
“I doona have a woman.”
Her brows knit as her gaze swung to him. “I find that difficult to believe.”
“It’s the truth.”
“No. You’re too handsome, too dangerous, too amazing not to have some gorgeous woman on your arm.”
There was only one woman he wanted, and she was sitting before him. Tara’s face was so close to his. He could lean up slightly and brush his lips over hers.
As if reading his thoughts, she lowered her eyes to his mouth, and Ramsey bit back the groan that rose swift and true within him.
“Why are you alone?” she whispered.
“Because of what I am.”
“A Warrior?”
“A Druid and a Warrior. I have to stay in control always, lest something bad happen.”
Tara looked down at his hand where the magic swirled around him and placed the tip of one finger on the back of his hand. As she lifted her finger, a white line of magic stretched between them until it moved like smoke around her before joining the others that surrounded his hand and arm.
“Something bad has happened, hasn’t it?” she asked.
He gave a single nod.
Her blue-green eyes met his. “Innocents were killed.”
Ramsey wanted to look away, to hide his guilt, but he couldn’t. “They did.”
“I’m not an innocent, Ramsey.”
He could hardly breathe from the passion that overtook him. Tara was too close, her magic too alluring. And with the wisps from touching her, he was a powder keg waiting to ignite. He had to get away from her, to put some distance between them. But the very thought kept him rooted where he was.
“You are an innocent,” he insisted.
She shook her head, leaning toward him a fraction. “In all my years of running and hiding, I’ve only ever felt at peace and free one time. The night I spent here.”
Ramsey dug his fingers into the cushions, only vaguely aware that his claws punctured the fabric. The hunger, the need tearing at him was overwhelming. He had to have another taste of her, one that went deeper, longer.
Her hands covered his, and one of her fingers touched a claw. She jerked slightly but didn’t pull away.
“You fear me.”
She shook her head, her golden-brown waves moving with her. “No. I’ve only seen Warriors once, while I was in Edinburgh. I’ve heard what you are, but I’ve never been this close.”
Ramsey found himself leaning closer, closer. He rested his forehead on hers as he tried desperately to find the will to pull away. But when it came to Tara, he had none. All he wanted was her.
He tilted his head, their mouths breaths apart. No more waiting, no more wanting. He was going to kiss Tara until neither of them could remember their own name.
Her eyes fluttered closed, and just before his lips touched hers his mobile rang.
Ramsey pulled back, muttering, “Fuck,” beneath his breath so Tara wouldn’t hear. He got to his feet, his claws sheathed, as he hurried to the phone atop the kitchen table.
He wasn’t surprised to see Fallon’s name appear. Ramsey answered it with a curt, “Aye?”
“Charon has filled me in on what’s going on.”
“All of it, I assume?” Meaning what had happened with Arran earlier.
Fallon sighed. “Aye, my friend. All of it. There’s nothing to be upset about. Arran is fine.”
Ramsey didn’t bother to reply, because he knew if it had been anyone but a Warrior, they’d be dead.
“I’m no’ comfortable with just you three handling this alone. And I’m told Tara refuses to leave unless you do.”
Ramsey glanced at Tara who watched him from the couch. “That’s right.”
“Damn,” Fallon said with a long sigh. “I’d feel better if I could send others to help you out.”
“As it is I’m worried Arran, Charon, and Tara willna get out in time. I can no’ worry about any others as well.”
“Just what do you have planned?”
“I’m going to kill him.”
There was a pause before Fallon asked, “Will this kill you?”
“I doona know the answer to that.”
There was a bang on the other end of the line that Ramsey could guess was Fallon’s fist hitting the table. “That’s unacceptable, Ramsey. I willna loose another friend.”
“And you have no idea what’s going to happen when I face Declan. Trust me, Fallon. You doona want anyone else around.”
“If they’re Warriors they’ll survive.”
“Possibly. Do you want to take that chance?”
As expected, Fallon didn’t have an immediate answer. Ramsey didn’t like putting his friend in such a tight spot, but as leader, Fallon needed to know all the details. As ugly as those details were.
But Ramsey also knew Fallon well enough to know he’d already sent men ahead. “Who did you bring?”
“It wasna my decision. They were going with or without my help. I figured I’d get them there earlier in case they could help.”
“Who, Fallon?” Ramsey demanded, raising his voice. He needed to know how many were here so he could ensure they were gone. Soon.
“Hayden, Logan, Ian, and Quinn.”
Ramsey turned and punched the cabinet door, shattering the wood as his fist went through it. “Come and get them. Now.”
“They’re your friends, Ramsey. They want to help.”
“Then they can help by no’ being here.”
There was a string of curses from Fallon before he said, “I’ll do my best to get them out of there. How much time do I have?”
“No’ much.”
Ramsey ended the call and tossed the phone on the table. He didn’t even look at the mess he’d made with the cabinet. Rarely did he lose control of his anger in such a fashion, but it was bad enough Charon, Arran, and Tara were staying behind.
The only way Ramsey could face Declan as he needed to was knowing his friends would get Tara out in time. If others were here and refused to leave, then it complicated everything.
He turned to Tara to find she stood just a few paces away from him.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“Nay, I’m no’. You’re here. Arran and Charon are here. And now Fallon tells me four of my other friends are here as well.”
“Warriors are immortal, Ramsey. Whatever you have planned for Declan can be survived by all of you.”
There was no use trying to tell her exactly what he had planned. If nothing else, Tara would endure after this battle.
“We’ve a few hours of daylight left. Is there anything you need from the
castle?”
She shook her head.
“Then I suggest you rest while you can. I doona expect this storm to hold Declan much longer.”
“How else can he get here? No cars can travel these roads.”
“Aye, but he has another option. His helicopter.”
She turned away but Ramsey wasn’t ready to be parted from her just yet. He stopped her and turned her back around to him. Her gaze searched his as he slowly backed her against the refrigerator.
He caressed his fingers down her smooth cheek to her neck before plunging his fingers into the cool strands of her hair to wrap around the back of her head.
Her lips parted and her breath quickened, showing him she wanted the kiss as much as he did. He moved his other hand under her sweater to her waist.
The impact of skin upon skin only fueled the magic wisps flowing between them. Ramsey moaned deep in his throat when her hands rested on his chest before moving to his back as she tugged him closer.
“Tara,” he whispered just before his mouth descended upon hers.
The first contact of their lips was like an explosion of magic between them. His skin sizzled, his body burned in pleasure so wild and fierce he thought he would explode with it.
And it was nothing compared to the hunger within him.
Ramsey slid his tongue between her full lips and plundered her mouth. He gave no quarter as he kissed her as he’d been dreaming of doing from the first time he saw her.
He deepened the kiss, holding her lithe body tightly against him. Her fingers dug into his back, her moans filling his ears.
Still it wasn’t enough.
The yearning, the longing had taken him. He had only one thought—Tara.
With each heartbeat, each pleasurable moan, the kiss grew in intensity. Ramsey ground his aching cock against Tara, and her answering gasp only increased his desire.
He wasted no time in tugging her sweater over her head. The sight of her dark orange bra and her passion-filled gaze made his balls tighten.
Tara rose up on her toes and wound her hands around his neck, her fingers delving into his hair and her nails skimming his skin.
