by Donna Grant
But Ramsey didn’t have time to answer her. The door to the mansion flew open to reveal Declan.
“I knew a Warrior would come to claim Tara,” Declan said carefully as he took a step out of his home.
Ramsey didn’t respond, allowing Declan to move farther and farther from the house. Ramsey wanted him as far from Tara as he could get him.
“Does he know the wards are gone?” Larena asked softly.
Without moving his lips, Ramsey said, “Nay.”
“You should be dead,” Declan continued. “We put several X90 bullets into you, Warrior.”
Ramsey lifted his lips in a sneer. “I thought you knew, drough. Warriors are notoriously difficult to kill.”
“No’ if I sever your head,” Declan spat angrily.
Ramsey laughed. It didn’t take much to incense Declan. Which was just what Ramsey needed to know. “You can certainly try. I think you’ll find it harder than you think. Tell me, how are you feeling?”
Declan’s eyes narrowed. “I’m no’ dead.”
“No’ yet. I can remedy that.”
“Tara is mine, Warrior. Leave now, and I willna kill you.”
Ramsey smirked. “I thought you knew us better than that. We doona walk away from what is ours. Hand her over to me now and fix whatever you’ve done to her, and I willna make you suffer before I kill you.”
“You’ll never get near me. I’ve warded the house with powerful spells,” Declan taunted.
Ramsey lifted a brow. “Are you sure?”
“You willna be able to rest a foot on these steps.”
Without another word Ramsey closed the gap between them and stood upon the bottom step. “You were saying?”
“How?” Declan murmured, his mouth gaping and his eyes bulging with confusion.
“I thought you knew of the Torrachilty Druids. If you did, you’d know that I was one.”
“Nay,” Declan said with a shake of his head.
“Oh, aye.”
Ramsey sent a jolt of magic toward Declan which knocked him backward so that he tumbled inside the house. Something brushed past Ramsey, and he knew it was Larena.
“Robbie!” Declan shouted.
Ramsey slowly walked up the steps and into the mansion. “Your mercenaries are otherwise engaged.”
“Robbie!”
“Keep shouting for help. There’s no one to aid you now.”
Out of the corner of Ramsey’s eye he saw movement a second before Tara walked from a side room and into his line of vision to stand between him and Declan.
“There’s me,” she said.
Ramsey looked into her blue-green eyes and steeled himself for what was to come. “Get out of the way, Tara.”
“I won’t allow you to hurt him. He’s done nothing.”
“He’s done more than you know!” Ramsey bellowed, unable to hold back the anger. “He held Saffron prisoner for three years, torturing her and blinding her to use her Seer abilities.”
Tara shook her head. “You lie.”
“He tried to take Gwynn as well. Logan nearly died saving her. Believe what you will about me or the other Warriors, but know what he’s told you about the Druids is wrong.”
Her gaze never wavered. “Are you done talking?”
Ramsey had just one more try before he knew he would have to take action. “What kind of man allows a woman to stand between him and death?”
Her brows knit and her gaze lowered for a moment.
“If Declan really opened his home to protect you, he’d have you safely away from this battle,” Ramsey said, pressing the issue. He’d seen an opening, and he was going to do whatever it took to turn Tara.
“I didna ask you to step in the middle of this,” Declan said as he gained his feet. “You did it, Tara, because you know how powerful you really are.”
Her eyes lifted to Ramsey once more, though there was a hint of uncertainty in them.
“I’ve come for Declan,” Ramsey said. “He’s hurt too many people, including you. He needs to pay for his crimes.”
Declan’s laughter rang out in the foyer. “Tara knows the truth. She knows it’s the Warriors who have done the killing.”
“I admit I’ve killed,” Ramsey said as he looked into Tara’s eyes. “I’ve killed Deirdre, hundreds of her wyrran, and anyone who sought to harm innocents. It’s my duty as a Warrior.”
Ramsey fisted his hands as his magic burned, ready to be released upon Declan. He didn’t want to have to move Tara aside, but unless he could convince her, he’d have no choice.
“Tara, remember,” he urged. “Remember our time at the castle. Our nights. Remember the magic that flowed between us.”
Tara had never been so uncertain of anything in her life. Ramsey’s words made sense, yet every time she began to believe him, horrific images of him would fill her mind.
But amid those images she saw him smiling down at her, his silver eyes full of desire and tenderness.
She had the ability to read people, yet no matter how many times she tried to do that with Ramsey the pain at the base of her skull would explode.
It was all she could do to keep herself standing still as she listened to Declan and Ramsey. She didn’t speak because she couldn’t, not with the pain so intense and her confusion so thick.
Declan moved up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “He forced you, Tara. He took you without your consent. He just wants to make you believe there was something between the two of you. Look at him. Look at the monster he is.”
Before Tara’s eyes Ramsey, with his gray gaze and black, wavy locks, suddenly became a monster with blood staining his hands. She blinked and Ramsey was once more the handsome man she recognized, though his gaze had shifted to Declan and in their gray depths Tara saw hatred so deep that she knew Ramsey would stop at nothing to kill Declan.
“You want to see a monster?” Ramsey asked. “I’ll show you a monster.”
Tara had witnessed Ramsey shift to his Warrior form, but seeing the deep bronze color penetrate his skin didn’t frighten her as it should have. Neither did his long bronze claws or the fangs she saw when he peeled back his lips in a sneer.
It was the metallic bronze that bled into his eyes from corner to corner, overtaking the gray eyes she knew so well, that gave her pause.
She didn’t know what to do. Did she stand before Ramsey to save Declan who had opened her eyes to who she really was? Or did she move aside because of the images she continued to see of the nights she’d spent in Ramsey’s arms?
Which was the truth, and which the lie?
Who did she trust?
It was obvious one of them was lying, but Tara couldn’t tell. She didn’t want to be responsible for someone’s death, but neither did she want to be the one who allowed evil to live.
She wanted to just back away, to pretend that she didn’t know either of the men. But no amount of wishing could change the situation she was in.
“Last chance, Tara,” Ramsey said. “Get out of my way, or I’ll move you myself.”
Could a man with a god inside him have loved her tenderly? Could a man who was immortal and had slain so many people be the one on the side of good?
Or was it the man hiding behind her? The one who used his money to buy whatever and whoever he wanted?
Who was the evil?
Tara met Ramsey’s gaze, and she heard him say, “I love you,” right before magic enveloped her.
Ramsey watched Tara crumple to the floor. He clenched his jaw, praying he hadn’t killed her. But he knew how strong her magic was. He had to ensure that he got her out of the way for however long it took him to kill Declan.
“That was a nice touch,” Declan said as he eyed Tara. “I doona appreciate you killing her.”
“It’s better than her falling into your evil hands. But doona worry, you slimy arse, your end comes tonight.”
Declan gave a bark of laughter. “My end. Oh, I think no’.”
Ramsey heard the retort o
f the gun a second before the bullet slammed into his heart. Three more followed in quick succession.
The bullets stung, but it was the drough blood leaking from the bullets that caused the real pain.
Ramsey lifted his gaze to the stairway above him to find Declan’s cousin, Robbie, with the gun still aimed at him. When Robbie fired another two shots, Ramsey was able to move quickly enough to avert them.
And while he did, he made his way up the stairs to Robbie.
Robbie gasped when he realized Ramsey was beside him. He tried to turn the gun on Ramsey, but Ramsey reached out and gripped his arm.
“Why do you even try?” Ramsey said.
With a slight squeeze he broke Robbie’s arm in two. The man cried out, clutching his arm. Ramsey lifted his hand, his claws out to sink into Robbie’s chest, when he was thrown against the wall by a gust of magic.
Ramsey bellowed as he rolled to his knees and stabbed Robbie in the heart with his claws. He didn’t look down to see if Robbie was dead. He knew he was.
Ramsey then leaped over the banister and landed in the foyer in front of Declan. “I’ve been looking forward to this moment a long time.”
“The moment you die?” Declan said with a sneer.
“You really think you’re going to come out of this the victor? I’m no’ alone. All the Druids and Warriors are here. They’ve taken out your men and invaded your home. You’re all that’s left.”
Declan merely smiled. “If you knew the power I was given, you wouldna dare to challenge me.”
“There willna be a challenge,” Ramsey said as he leaped into the air and flipped over Declan as he sent a huge wave of debilitating magic into him.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Malcolm stood next to Phelan as the inside of Declan’s mansion began to light up. The flood of magic that poured from the house was so forceful that Malcolm could feel it prickling his skin while they were still in the driveway.
“Ready?” Phelan asked.
Malcolm glanced at the gold Warrior and gave a single nod. “Let’s go.”
The two rushed into the mansion, dodging magic as they headed to where Tara lay. Phelan scooped the Druid into his arms and ran back out of the house.
But Malcolm remained.
He grinned as he saw the damage Ramsey had dealt Declan, but the grin faded when Malcolm took in the blood pouring down Ramsey’s chest. It soaked his black shirt, making the tee look slick and sticky as it clung to Ramsey.
Malcolm was still behind Declan. He winced, but remained standing, when a couple of Ramsey’s shots of magic missed Declan and landed on Malcolm. The magic coming from Ramsey was unlike anything Malcolm had ever experienced.
It was more powerful than Deirdre’s and Declan’s put together. And Declan had yet to realize it.
Malcolm understood then that Ramsey had been toying with Declan up until that point. He hadn’t wanted anyone in the house when he let loose his magic on Declan.
“Malcolm,” a voice whispered next to him. “I need help.”
He recognized Larena’s voice. “What do you need?”
“I can’t carry all the books Ramsey has requested.”
Malcolm cursed beneath his breath. He caught Ramsey’s gaze to let him know they weren’t clear yet. With a sigh, he spun on his heel and raced to the stairway that led to Declan’s dungeon and his private office.
* * *
Quinn stood side by side with his wife as they battled the mercenaries who tried to attack them from the house. On the other side of him was his son, Aiden.
And next to Aiden was Braden. Both were young men now, and Quinn hated that they were seeing so much death and evil. But the simple fact was that they needed all the Druids, no matter how much magic they had.
A bullet richoeted off a tree and grazed Aiden’s arm.
“Careful, son,” Quinn said.
The words weren’t out of his mouth before Braden’s body jerked backward and he fell into the snow.
“No!” Marcail screamed before she turned and sent a blast of magic to the merc who had dared to fire upon them.
Quinn rushed to Braden and gathered him in his arms. He’d watched him grow from a small boy into the man he was.
“Dad?” Aiden asked.
“He’s gone, son. I’m sorry.”
Aiden ducked his head to hide his sorrow. Quinn looked around at the Warriors and Druids fighting before he felt Marcail reach his side.
There had been so much death, so many innocents killed.
“This stops tonight,” Quinn said.
He gained his feet and let out a bellow as he rushed to a mercenary who had come out of the mansion. Quinn raised his claws, his lips pulled back over his fangs.
* * *
Ramsey grimaced when he glimpsed Malcolm rushing below the house to the dungeon. The X90 bullets were doing their job, more slowly because he was half Druid, but they were beginning to affect him.
It was all he could do to keep from releasing all his magic on Declan as he longed to do. Only Tara had kept him from losing what little control he had.
When Phelan had left with her in his arms, Ramsey thought it would finally be over. How wrong he was.
He managed to block several of Declan’s blasts of magic to keep the drough off balance. Even the use of his claws on Declan had had the intended effect and left him reeling.
But it hadn’t been enough.
Ramsey had hoped and prayed he’d be able to overtake Declan without releasing all his magic, but somewhere deep inside him he’d known the truth. It was going to take it all to destroy evil such as Declan.
With a spin, Ramsey avoided another hit of Declan’s magic full on, but he got a brunt of it that sent him staggering backward.
“I thought you were a Torrachilty Druid?” Declan shouted then lifted his lips in scorn. “You’re nothing.”
Ramsey felt his magic rise up, ready to answer Declan once and for all. He nearly lost control, but somehow he managed to yank his magic back.
“What? Do you no’ like how my magic has altered your appearance?” Ramsey mocked as he motioned to the black veins that covered Declan while they circled each other.
“A minor inconvenience.”
“Liar. You should be dead from it by now.”
Declan laughed. “Ah, it depends on whether you have friends in high places. And I have the highest. Satan stopped the progression.”
“Another lie,” Ramsey said with a tsk. “He didna stop it. He slowed it. I know because if he’d stopped it, it wouldna have reached your face. Tell me, if he’s so mighty and you’re his favorite, why didna he heal you?”
Declan bellowed his fury and sent three short shots of magic at him.
Ramsey took each of them. He had no choice. His body wouldn’t move as he told it to do, so there was no time to get out of the way.
Suddenly, Malcolm was once more in the foyer. He gave a nod to Ramsey and was gone. Ramsey didn’t know how Larena had gotten out, only that she had.
Now that the house was clear, he didn’t have to hold back any longer. The only problem was, he wasn’t sure if he had enough strength to finish Declan.
He’d used so much of his force just to remain standing that he could feel himself fading. And quickly. There was no doubt now. Ramsey knew he wouldn’t live after he released his magic.
It took incredible control and strength to pull back his magic, and he had neither at this point.
He was saddened deeply to be leaving Tara. His only hope was that the others could somehow, someway undo what Declan had done to her.
And that she remembered him in the years to come. For she would always be with him. In this life or the next, she was meant for him. He wished he had understood it sooner so they could have spent more time together.
At least he could free her of one evil.
Ramsey smiled and began laughing as he unleashed his magic and his god. If he was going to go out, he was going to make sure it was spectacular.
/> “What are you laughing at?”
Ramsey glanced at his hands that he held out to his sides. He saw them begin to glow over his bronzed skin, and soon the glow took over his entire body.
“Are you ready to die?” Ramsey asked.
Understanding dawned in Declan’s blue eyes. “You were toying with me.”
“Nothing of yours will survive this night. The evil inside you that affected all those around you will be wiped clean,” Ramsey spoke calmly as he walked toward Declan.
“Nay. Please. I beg you. I’m no’ ready to die.”
“Neither were the ones you killed.”
“Please!” Declan screamed and fell upon his knees.
But Ramsey ceased to hear him. He thought of Tara, of the love that had begun to blossom in his heart. Then he closed his eyes and poured all his magic into Declan.
* * *
It was the screams, the terrible, blood-curdling screams, that pulled Tara to consciousness. She opened her eyes to find herself lying upon a patch of ground that had been cleared of snow.
All around her were the Druids and Warriors from MacLeod Castle, their gazes locked on something. The men’s faces were held in anguish, the women crying, some softly, some racked with pain.
Tara blinked, confused as to why she was outside and with those she thought of as her enemies. Yet, none of them had bound her or even watched her to make sure she didn’t escape.
She turned to the house and her breath caught in her chest. Something was glowing so brightly she had to shield her eyes just to see. The light from the glow penetrated every window on the first floor, flooding the night with light.
The screams, she realized belatedly, were Declan’s. They had faded away, but the glowing hadn’t stopped.
“He’s injured,” Malcolm said into the silence.
Fallon’s head snapped to the Warrior. “How badly?”
“I’m no’ certain. There was blood. Lots of it.”
“I heard gunshots while I was below,” Larena said as she lifted her face from Fallon’s chest.
I love you. Ramsey’s words echoed in Tara’s head from earlier.
Evil men didn’t know they were evil. They thought they were in the right, which was why they always fought so hard against those who opposed them. And evil men could love.
