Midnight's Warrior

by Donna Grant

  “I know,” he said.

  She smiled, her blue-green eyes soft and patient as she looked at him.

  Ramsey licked his lips and said, “The journey took nearly two weeks on foot. I was days from reaching the forest when they came upon me one night.”

  “Who?”

  “The wyrran. They were created by Deirdre using her black magic. They were no taller than a child with pale, hairless yellow skin.”

  “Large yellow eyes and a mouthful of teeth that their lips couldn’t close over,” Tara finished with a shudder. “I saw pictures of those creatures recently.”

  “They are all dead now. We killed them when we killed Deirdre. She had thousands of them before Declan pulled her into the future. She used them to track and find whoever she was looking for. That night, they came for me.”

  “Did you not fight them off?”

  “I killed several, but I knew what they were. I knew if I used magic they would tell Deirdre. So, I used my blade instead. Even without calling forth my magic I was quicker than a mere mortal. Because I knew what the wyrran were, I hid my magic so they couldna sense it. I held them off longer than they anticipated. By the time dawn came, however, they had me. They wasted no time in carting me to Deirdre.”

  “And then what?”

  “I was the first one she captured after the MacLeods. As soon as I was dumped in front of her, she unbound my god. I didna have time to even try to use my magic. And then with my god trying to gain control, I didna dare turn my attention from him for fear he would take over.”

  Ramsey stopped as memories he’d long kept buried resurfaced with a vengeance. He recalled the pain of his god stretching inside him as bones popped out of joint and broke all through his body before melding back together in a process so painful Ramsey thought he would die.

  And then the voice of his god, loud and demanding, echoing in his head as it ordered blood and death to all.

  “Was it hard?” Tara asked. “To hold off your god?”

  Ramsey chuckled dryly. “There were times I wanted to give in just to have some relief. I couldna sleep, because if I did, he would take over. The lack of sleep combined with the constant assault of my god nearly broke me. He was so insistent, Tara. I know how easy it is to give in, to stop fighting. I doona blame any of the Warriors who can no’ hold the gods at bay.”

  “And your god. What’s his name?”

  “Ethexia. He’s the god of thieves.”

  She made a sound in the back of her throat. “And his preferred color is bronze?”

  “Aye.”

  “When did you finally gain control over him?”

  Ramsey rubbed the locks of her pale brown hair with its golden strands between his fingers. “I have no idea how long it took. It was a constant fight that seemed to last an eternity. Then one day it didna take so long to battle him and win. The next was even less. Day after day it got easier and easier to control him until I had the upper hand.”

  “Does he not try to take over anymore?”

  “Of course. He is a god, after all. But I’m in control.”

  It was the way her blue-green eyes watched him that told him he wouldn’t like her next question.

  “Are you always in control?”

  Ramsey stared at her for several long minutes before he gave a quick shake of his head. “When Deirdre unbound my god it mixed with my magic. I can no’ do major magic without calling forth Ethexia. Even the small bits of magic I’ve done lately have taken a toll.”

  “Wouldn’t it be the case that the more you use your magic the more control you’d have? Just as when you fought your god?” she asked.

  He smiled as he ran his hands through her hair. “Most likely.”

  “Except you’ve hurt innocents when you did.”

  “Aye. I’ve rarely used my magic in the centuries I’ve been a Warrior. I can call forth my god without using my magic, but no’ the other way around.”

  Tara’s lips twisted in a frown. “That doesn’t seem very fair. Is that why you never attacked Deirdre yourself?”

  “That and the fact that once I did get control of Ethexia, I no longer had the confidence in my magic I had before. I tried doing a few small spells, and the power I felt left me reeling. Several times Deirdre nearly caught me. I’d seen what she did to Druids.”

  “Which was? I want to know since most of my family thought she should’ve ruled the world.”

  “They might no’ have been so quick to admire her if they had known she hunted Druids, mies and droughs alike. She brought them to her mountain where she drained them of blood to take their magic and then killed them.”

  “Oh, God,” Tara said as she sat up and covered her mouth with her hand.

  Ramsey watched her as all he’d told her sank in.

  “If my family knew all about Deirdre, why didn’t they know this?” she asked.

  “Maybe they chose no’ to believe it.”

  Tara turned so that she faced him. “You won against Deirdre. Dani told me how you and Laria helped to end Deirdre.”

  “It felt so good,” Ramsey said with a smile. “Just like when I tricked her into thinking I would do whatever she wanted, and I escaped.”

  “I bet that did feel good.”

  “For a few moments. Then, I remembered all the other Warriors still inside. Broc and I had grown close. I wanted him to escape while I stayed and spied on Deirdre. Somehow, he talked me into letting him be the one who did the spying.”

  Tara leaned down and kissed him. “It all worked out in the end.”

  “For the most part. I wish it were all over with. I’m sorry I didna kill Declan, Tara. I promised you I would, and I failed.”

  She put her finger over his lips. “Shh. We’ll get Declan.”

  Ramsey wanted to argue, but she straddled him and all thoughts save for making love to Tara vanished. His cock swelled instantly, and the hunger for her that had never vanished roared to the surface.

  He smiled as he shifted her so he could take one of her luscious breasts in hand and lick her nipple. Her answering moan was just what he needed.

  Though he might have hurried through the first time they made love, he wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. He wanted time with her body, time to savor her and love her as she deserved.

  But before he could, she moved her hand between their bodies. Her slim fingers wrapped around his aching rod firmly before she began to slowly move her hand up and down his length.

  “Tara,” Ramsey ground out. “I want to take my time, and I can no’ with your hand on me.”

  She leaned forward and nipped at the lobe of his ear. “You can take your time later. Now it’s my turn.”

  Ramsey groaned from the wonderful feel of her hand on him as well as the realization that this time she was the one in command.

  He looked up at her to see her smiling down at him. This time was hers, but next time would be all his.

  All thought fled as she lowered herself atop him, her slick heat enveloping him slowly. And then she sat up. Ramsey gripped her hips, his gaze feasting on the beautiful sight before him.

  Tara’s bare breasts, her nipples hard and gleaming from his kisses. Her hair was wild about her and falling over her shoulders to end above her beautiful breasts. The amazing white tendrils of magic that had grown longer and thicker as they touched swirled about them. But it was the triumphant smile on her face that made his heart beat double time.

  Then she began to move. Back and forth, slow then fast. Her head dropped back as she rode him hard.

  Ramsey teased her nipples until Tara’s soft cries filled the chamber. He could feel her body tightening around his cock. With his fingers splayed on her stomach, he used his thumb to find her clitoris.

  He circled the tiny, swollen nub, and with each stroke Tara’s hips jerked faster.

  The first clench of her tight sheath around his cock sent him spiraling into his own climax. Tara screamed his name and fell upon his chest as her body milked
him.

  Ramsey held her tightly as his seed spilled inside her. He’d never felt so complete, so content, as he did with her in his arms.

  He didn’t let go of her, even when his eyes drifted shut.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Declan stared at his face in the mirror of his lavish bathroom. Gone were his polished good looks. Now, the left side of his face was marred by the same ugly black streaks beneath his skin. They radiated out from his hairline onto his cheek and fanned out to his chin and up his forehead.

  He’d never seen anything so atrocious. He could barely stand to look at himself now. His looks had been an asset he hadn’t had to use his magic for.

  And no amount of magic could conceal what marked him now. Because it was magic inside him that was doing it.

  Why his potent black magic couldn’t win against whatever was inside him Declan didn’t know. He’d tried everything, exhausted every spell he knew. And even went looking for other spells that might help.

  They’d been risky, but in the end nothing had succeeded.

  Declan put his hands on either side of the sink and looked down. It wasn’t just that the black forks marked his skin and left him writhing in pain. It was the fact that he couldn’t win against it.

  And that’s what bothered him the most.

  That allowed his men, even his cousin, to think his magic wasn’t as strong as he’d claimed it to be. They questioned him now. Which he couldn’t allow.

  Declan lifted his head when there was a rap on his door and Robbie poked his head into the room.

  “Cousin?”

  Declan turned away from the hated mirror and made his way to Robbie. “Did you call the men as I requested?”

  “Aye. They’re waiting for you below as you asked.”

  “Good.” Declan didn’t bother to roll down the sleeves of his French-cuffed shirt. He let the black marks be seen not just on his face, but on his left arm and hand.

  “What’s this about?” Robbie asked.

  Declan glanced at his cousin to see that Robbie wouldn’t look him in the eye. “I’m making a point.”

  “About what?”

  “That neither I nor my magic should be questioned.”

  “No one is questioning you,” Robbie hastened to say.

  Declan snorted. How he wanted a glass of whisky, anything to dull the pain raging inside him. But again, nothing worked. He could only suffer through it. “We’ll see,” he said through clenched teeth.

  Robbie didn’t utter another word as they descended the stairs. Declan caught sight of the fifteen mercenaries Robbie had been able to recruit.

  The fact that so many men had died in his battle with the Warriors was making it harder and harder to find more. The money he was paying them had increased, and even that wasn’t always enough to convince them to work for him.

  Declan paused at the landing so that he looked down at the men and forced them to look up at him. They were in three rows of five, their feet braced apart, and heavily armed. The men needed to get used to looking up at him since he would rule them one day. If they lived long enough.

  Robbie walked halfway down the last set of steps and turned to lean against the wall. He positioned himself not with Declan, but not with the men either.

  It was an intelligent move, one that surprised Declan as well as impressed him.

  He took a deep breath and slowly released it. “It seems that my power and magic have come into question. I can no’ allow that to continue.”

  The men stared silently up at him. Some with blank expressions, others not looking quite at him but over his shoulder, and still others who obviously didn’t want to be near him.

  “You were told I needed an army,” Declan continued. “For many, that was enough to sign onto my payroll. Others among you wanted to know who you were fighting and why there was blood inside your bullets.”

  Declan let his gaze touch each of them in turn before he said, “You’ve all also seen what kind of magic I can do. Whether you believe it or no’, there is good magic and evil magic. In case you didna understand before, I have black magic. In order to have that kind of magic I had to give my soul to the Devil. So I doona care if I kill one of you or all of you. You can be replaced.

  “Men like you are found all over the world. I’d rather keep my money with other Scotsmen, but at this point I’m no’ choosy. I need men who are no’ going to be afraid to look at me. This is war, and there are casualties of all kinds.”

  Not a single man had moved during his speech. It was a testament to their military training, but Declan didn’t care. His gaze landed on one of the men in the back row who wouldn’t meet his gaze.

  Declan smiled as he drew his magic and with a single finger pointing at the man had him on the floor screaming and thrashing with pain. The other mercenaries took a step away from the man, their faces impassive, but their eyes glued to their comrade.

  With just a thought Declan increased the pain. What no one saw was that the man’s insides were turning to mush, slowly and with more agony than any of them could imagine.

  Pain and death always brought a smile to Declan. It was how he knew he was meant to be drough, how he knew he could take over the world and rule it as it should be.

  There were too many wars, too many people saying they were right. He would bring the peace everyone said they wanted. And he would also bring the darkness. But it was that darkness, that evil which would set everything to rights.

  Belatedly, Declan realized the mercenary was dead and the others looked at him with fear in their gazes. Just as he wanted.

  “I think we understand each other now,” Declan said. “You doona just work for me. I own each of you. You’re mine to command and to end at my will. If you want to live, doona give me a reason to kill you.”

  The mercenaries fell into line, their shoulders back as they ignored their dead comrade.

  “I willna hesitate to kill more of you,” Declan continued, “if I think my magic is being questioned. Am I understood?”

  “Aye, sir,” the remaining fourteen answered in unison.

  Declan glanced at Robbie before turning and ascending the stairs back to his room. Declan didn’t care if Robbie recruited more mercs or not. He didn’t need them to guard the house. Not only were there several spells preventing anyone from getting inside that he didn’t want, there were also spells keeping his whereabouts hidden from anyone looking.

  Only once Declan was safely back in his room and the door shut and bolted did he hold his left arm against him and peel back his lips in pain.

  Every time he did magic it burned. As if his magic and the one blackening his skin weren’t mixing well. It didn’t bode well for him, but it was something Declan was going to have to deal with since he needed to use his magic to get to Tara.

  Because of all the Warriors at Dunnoth Tower there was no doubt in Declan’s mind she was now at MacLeod Castle. But that wouldn’t keep her safe from him.

  * * *

  Fallon hastily pulled Larena into the shadows as he jumped them to Edinburgh Castle. Hayden and Isla were quick to follow them into the shadows.

  The four stayed silent as a man walked quickly down the hall, a clipboard in hand. Only once he was out of sight did they sigh in relief.

  “That was bloody close,” Hayden murmured.

  Fallon cut his gaze to the Warrior. “I got the girls as close to the library as I could.”

  “Hidden library,” Larena corrected with a smile at Isla.

  Isla flipped the end of her long ponytail over her shoulder. “Regardless of whether it’s hidden or not, I want in and out quickly.”

  Fallon took the lead as they ran quietly down the hall. Hayden, who pulled up the rear, grabbed Isla’s hand.

  “Tell me again, wife, how you discovered this hidden library?”

  Isla rolled her eyes at her husband’s protectiveness and waited for him to pull even with her before she whispered, “The last time Larena and I were here, we
found some old documents that spoke about a few hidden chambers throughout the castle.”

  “And since I spent some months here, I had an idea of where to look,” Larena replied.

  “You spent time here over four hundred years ago,” Fallon amended.

  Larena shrugged. “It’s not as if the castle has changed much.”

  “Nay, but they do change the rooms,” Hayden pointed out.

  Isla nodded as they pulled to a halt and plastered themselves against the wall. “We took that into account. And didn’t we explain this to you back at our castle?”

  “Aye,” Hayden whispered and gave her a quick kiss. “I just wanted to hear it again.”

  “We’ll be fine,” she said, and took his hand in hers.

  “You better be.”

  Once Fallon and Hayden gave the all clear, Larena and Isla began to look for the secret entrance to the library. They pushed stone after stone, but found nothing.

  “Only an idiot would put an entrance right in the middle of the main corridor,” Fallon said. “I think we’re looking in the wrong place.”

  Larena shook her head. “Trust me, Fallon. I know this is the spot.”

  Another fifteen minutes passed and still they’d found nothing. Isla knew the men were getting restless. Dawn had already come, and with it more people roaming the castle. They had to get into the secret room today or who knew when they’d be able to return.

  “We’ve spent enough time here. We need to get back,” Fallon said.

  “A few more moments, my love,” Larena begged.

  Isla glanced over her shoulder to find Hayden staring at her with his lips pressed flat. His patience was already gone. She heard Hayden walk up behind her.

  “I know how much you want to find this library, but we’re out of time.”

  Isla pressed her head against one of the stones and let out a sigh. “It’s here.”

  “And we’ll find it next time.” He leaned a hand above her head.

  Fallon turned from looking out the window nearest him. “Hayden’s right. We have to go.”

  “Wait,” Larena said when Fallon went to grab her hand. “There’s one more place.”

  “Where?” Fallon demanded.