Awaken the Highland Warrior

by Anita Clenney

  “How do you know Russell is Druan?” Duncan asked.

  “Druan sent halflings to the house. We traced their vehicle to his castle. I thought he’d captured Faelan, so I sneaked in and saw Russell talking to an old man.”

  Niall, in the process of taking a drink of water, spewed it all down his shirt. “You sneaked into the demon’s castle to rescue the Mighty Faelan?” He turned to Faelan. “Sounds like you got yourself a warrior.” He chuckled as he wiped his mouth. Most of the others joined him, except Faelan. Even Sorcha wore a look of respect.

  “Maybe the old man was the demon, or someone else inside,” Tomas said, next to Bree.

  “Russell’s description matches how Druan looked as Jeremiah,” Faelan said. “And Druan’s too vain to take on an old body.”

  “Most of them are,” Duncan muttered. “Makes sense he would target Bree. He’d need access to the place.”

  Sorcha crossed one booted leg. “Were you and Druan lovers? If you mated, you could’ve had halflings. I assume Faelan filled you in on what an unpleasant quandary that would have presented.”

  Bree’s bitch alarm went off. There was some relevance, but she doubted it was the reason for the question. Sorcha was a bitch on the surface, but Bree had a feeling her behavior was a cover for something else. “There were no children,” Bree said, holding Sorcha’s gaze until the female warrior blushed and squirmed in her seat.

  Duncan watched Sorcha’s cheeks warm, and he leaned back with a satisfied smirk. Faelan looked like he might throw up.

  The uncomfortable moment was averted when Ronan walked into the room wearing jeans, apologizing that he’d arrived late. Bree looked at the back of the room where Ronan sat in his kilt, polishing his sword. There were two of them? Faelan had told her twins ran in the clan. God help the female population.

  “Faelan, Bree, this is Declan, Ronan’s twin,” Sean said. He asked Declan, “How did the battle go?”

  “I got him in the vault,” the handsome warrior said, “but he was a whiner.”

  “I hate the whiners,” Niall agreed. “I’d rather have one fight to the death.”

  Including Bree in his welcome, Declan walked over to Faelan and clasped his hand. “The legend lives.” He searched Faelan’s face with wonder. “Welcome home. I’ve heard stories about your suspension since I was a lad, and I have to admit, I believed they were fables the trainers made up to keep us in line. ‘Pay attention. Don’t underestimate the demons. Remember what happened to the Mighty Faelan,’” Declan said, his voice theatrically gruff.

  There were chuckles and commiserating nods from the others as Faelan grimaced.

  “Soon the legend will be the Mighty Faelan on wheels,” Brodie said. “You think he’s good with a sword? You should see him drive. Left Tomas in the dust.”

  “Like you weren’t right beside me,” Tomas grumbled.

  Bree had watched them racing their vehicles over the fields like little boys playing with toy cars. Faelan learned fast.

  “I would be honored to help you fight Druan,” Declan said, “but now I want to hear this story. I’ve heard at least five versions in the last twenty-four hours. My cell phone hasn’t stopped ringing. A warrior in Sweden said he heard Faelan had found the virus and had it in the time vault with him all along.”

  “You’ve just missed it, but it wouldn’t hurt us all to hear it again, so we’re clear on the facts.” Sean waited for Bree to agree. She pulled out a smile and nodded at the grand opportunity to relive her stupidity before an audience of superheroes.

  “Wait up. Anna’s right behind me, and Cody MacBain’s with us. I know they’ll want to hear this too,” Declan said.

  “Cody MacBain’s the one who suspended that demon of old last year,” Tomas whispered to Brodie, his voice hushed with admiration.

  “Two legends in one room. It’s enough to give a man an inferiority complex,” Brodie replied.

  A woman with black hair and the most incredible turquoise eyes Bree had ever seen stepped into the room. She was followed by a dark-haired man that made Bree’s jaw drop. His eyes were intense, radiating danger. He scanned the room, gaze settling on Faelan before moving to her. The room faded, and Bree saw a wispy image of a woman standing next to the man. Not Anna. This woman was blond, her green eyes dull with pain and loss and fear, and she bore a scar. A letter carved into her skin.

  The room resurfaced as the vision faded. Bree was slumped against Brodie, who stared at her, his expression puzzled. Only he and Tomas had noticed.

  “Sorry,” she whispered. “Too much wine last night.”

  “I told you that you were overdoing it, but do you ever listen to me?” Tomas quipped.

  Brodie blushed as red as his hair but continued to watch Bree.

  “I think most of you know Cody MacBain from America,” Declan said. “He’s here looking for Angus.”

  Cody nodded to everyone, then to Faelan, the intensity in his eyes replaced with curiosity and respect. “There isn’t a warrior alive who hasn’t heard of the Mighty Faelan. Can’t say I believed you were real.” He shook Faelan’s hand and nodded to Jamie, whom he seemed to know. Sorcha scooted closer to Jamie, offering Cody a seat.

  Anna greeted the warriors and approached Faelan. Before he could jump up, she leaned down and shook his hand. Her white T-shirt lifted as she bent. Bree could see symbols on Anna’s back, similar to Faelan’s, but starting above her hips and opening to a vee below her waist.

  She rose, and every male eye followed as she moved to sit cross-legged on the floor in front of Bree. Every male except Faelan, still staring at Bree, his face a maze of secrets, and Duncan, glaring at Sorcha, who preened between Jamie and Cody like a cat who’d stolen the cream.

  Brodie tapped Anna’s shoulder, and when she turned, he gazed hard into her eyes.

  “Not in this lifetime, Brodie.”

  “Humph. You never know.”

  “I’d dive into a volcano first.”

  “Spoilsport. The snake wasn’t real.”

  “Put another one in my bed, and you won’t be, either.”

  “What’d I tell you?” Tomas muttered, nudging Brodie.

  “Watch out for this trickster,” Anna said to Bree, then glanced around the room as Brodie mumbled about people not having a sense of humor. “Where’s Angus?”

  Duncan dragged his gaze from Sorcha. “He’s not here. Last time he checked in, he was looking for you. Said he’d see you back here. He was upset, wouldn’t say what it was about.”

  “He tried to call me, but I’d didn’t have my phone.”

  “You? With no phone?” Brodie said.

  “The demon I was battling ate it.”

  “That’s two phones you’ve had eaten in the past six months,” Brodie said. “What are you doing, trying to choke the demons to death?”

  Anna rolled her eyes and ignored him. “Angus’s message said he needed to meet me. It was urgent. I thought he’d be here.”

  “So did I,” Cody said. “Angus contacted us and said he’d discovered something unbelievable. Something that would affect all the clans, but he’d blown his cover. He needed us to hide it.”

  “What did he find?” Shane asked. “We know it wasn’t the key. Bree had that.”

  Cody shook his head. “He didn’t say. Anna thinks it might’ve had something to do with the Book of Battles.”

  “Several months ago we started looking into the disappearance, but I got busy with my next demon and had to put the search aside. When I went to Angus for an update, he said he’d discovered some things, but didn’t want to say anything until he was sure. You know Angus.”

  “That lad could find a mystery in thin air,” Sean said. “But we’ve already found the Book of Battles.”

  “You have it here?” Anna asked, her turquoise eyes so brilliant they seemed to glow.

  “No. Faelan found it in Bree’s attic.”

  “It’s hidden safely away,” Faelan said, but he looked uneasy.

  “What was it
doing in America?” Declan asked.

  “I have no idea, unless McGowan or Quinn brought it,” Bree said.

  “Who’s McGowan?” Declan frowned, making him look even more like Ronan.

  “Uh, he was the Seeker who went to America with Quinn,” Sean explained.

  “I thought… ah, I see,” Declan said.

  “Angus didn’t say what he found, but he mentioned a gathering,” Cody said. “Since I was the closest, I was supposed to meet him before he left for Scotland. He didn’t show up and I figured he was headed here. I ran into Declan and Anna on the way.”

  “Coira, see if you can get Angus on his cell phone,” Sean said, rubbing his forehead.

  “Where was this gathering?” Bree asked.

  “I’m not sure, but I was supposed to meet Angus in Albany.”

  “Albany? Maybe Angus did bring the time vault.” Faelan explained to the newcomers about the time vault he found hidden in the chapel cellar.

  “He was acting weird lately,” Tomas said. “Kept hiding his notebook every time anyone came near. I got a glimpse. He’d written something about a league.”

  “This is getting more troubling all the time,” Sean said, drumming his finger against his kilted knee.

  “There was a conference in Albany a couple of days ago,” Bree said. “Some kind of new-world-order thing that had all the hotels booked. The woman at the bed and breakfast where we stayed said the people were strange. And a lot of suicides and crimes have taken place in the last few days. We know Druan’s castle is near there. The conference must have had something to do with the gathering Angus was watching.”

  “New world order, my ass,” Niall said, earning a glare from Coira, who was standing by the door. “All the demons want is chaos.”

  “I suspect Bree’s right. The one I just suspended mentioned Druan by name,” Declan said. “Yelled something about retribution, then clammed up.”

  Ronan laid his sword across his lap. “A few months ago I suspended a demon in Prague. He said something about a reckoning. Didn’t make sense at the time.”

  “He may be referring to Druan’s virus. How badly was the first virus damaged?” Faelan asked Sean.

  “My memory isn’t what it was, but I got the impression the virus was useless.”

  “It’s been more than a century since then,” Faelan said. “I’m guessing it’s ready.”

  “Why didn’t he kill you and be done with it?” Anna asked. “Why miss an opportunity to kill the Mighty Faelan? Could he have had some other use for you?”

  “If he somehow found out about the talisman’s power, he would’ve known he’d be home free with Faelan and his talisman imprisoned in the time vault,” Cody said. “But if he’d killed Faelan, the talisman would’ve been reassigned.”

  “That’s a bloody scary thought,” Niall said. “If the demons know the secrets of our time vaults and talismans, we’re in a world of hurt.”

  “Blimey, I hope not,” Sean said.

  “Could be he’s like our Brodie here and likes to pull pranks,” Coira said, giving the warrior a mild, reproving glance. Bree wasn’t the only one complaining about being too drunk for the amount of wine consumed.

  “You think Druan did it as a joke?” Conall asked.

  “We were thinking it was his way of getting revenge,” Faelan said, glancing at Bree.

  Two glances and a few glares since she’d given him her body and soul. At least he’d acknowledged her existence.

  “It’d have to be one hell of a vengeance to wait that long.” Cody moved his thumb over the outline of the talisman showing under his cotton shirt.

  “He’s vain enough to want me to witness him release the virus,” Faelan said. “His final triumph.”

  “I’d like to think he doesn’t know about time vaults or how long before they’ll open,” Duncan said. “But it’s possible his virus has been ready for years, and he’s been waiting for you, which would make him pretty pissed off by now.”

  Faelan glanced at Bree, his eyes dark with worry.

  Jamie folded his arms over his chest. “Wish I could be there for this battle, but I’ll be in Virginia.”

  “No problem,” Duncan said. “We have several warriors, and Cody’s offered to stay and fight.”

  “I hope someone has an extra pair of jeans. I’m a little short on luggage,” the dangerous-looking warrior said. Most of them wore T-shirts and jeans when they weren’t wearing a kilt.

  After Bree and Faelan had told the story again for Declan, Anna, and Cody, Bree escaped to the kitchen to help Coira, unable to bear Faelan ignoring her any longer.

  The warriors spent the rest of the day locked in the library, strategizing battle plans. They didn’t come out until Coira announced dinner. Most of them left to get ready for the trip they’d make in a couple of days. Those remaining moved to the large dining room, complaining loudly of empty stomachs.

  “You should’ve stopped to eat,” Coira scolded. “You’ve been doing this long enough to know you can’t save the world on an empty belly.”

  Bree had helped Coira prepare the huge pots of mutton stew, with toffee pudding for dessert, but all she could manage was a few bites. Faelan seemed relieved to take a seat at the other end of the table, far away from her, nestled between Sorcha and Anna.

  “So you’re from New York?” a deep voice asked at her elbow.

  Bree turned to Cody, who’d settled next to her, his polite smile not covering the pain in his intense, hazel eyes.

  “Near Albany,” she said, troubled, because she knew he had more pain to come.

  “I live in Virginia, but I have a… friend who used to live not far from there.” His voice held no emotion, as if he’d trained himself to feel none.

  She wanted to ask if his friend had blond hair and green eyes, but that would open a can of worms she knew nothing about. “You’re part of this clan too?”

  “Yes. My family’s been in America most of my life. We had a mission there.”

  What kind of mission lasted a lifetime?

  Just then, Sorcha leaned in and whispered something to Faelan. He smiled and turned to include Anna. How could a mere woman compete against modern-day Xenas? Bree had truly believed Faelan was different, but she’d done it again. The curse of the frogs.

  “Everything okay?” Cody followed her gaze.

  “Just overwhelmed.”

  “I can see that you would be.” Cody took a bite of stew, chewed it slowly, and swallowed. “You’ve probably saved the world, you know. Keep that in mind if things get too bad,” he said, glancing at Faelan again. “I’ve found distractions don’t get rid of the problem, but if you think on your troubles too much, they’ll eat you alive.”

  Bree saw Ronan watching her, his expression one of sympathy and concern. Was she a blasted open book? She stood to excuse herself, when a commotion sounded in the hallway.

  A man burst through the door. Blood ran from his face, soaking his clothes. He swayed on his feet and looked around the table, staring at each one of them. He stopped at Sorcha. “Traitor.” When he saw Faelan, his eyes widened, the whites garish against his blood-covered face. “You!” he gasped, and then collapsed.

  Chapter 25

  The silence was deafening, swallowed by mayhem as chairs flew backward and everyone ran toward the fallen man. He lay on his side, with deep gashes running across his face and chest. It was impossible to tell his age because of the wounds.

  “Angus… Oh, Angus,” Coira wailed as everyone crowded closer, blocking Bree’s view. “Get him to the infirmary. Where’s Niall? Never mind, Duncan, Faelan carry him. Gently. Sean, call Doctor Gillum.” The injured man was unusually tall, but the warriors lifted him as if he weighed nothing. At Coira’s direction, everyone went into a kind of ordered pandemonium.

  Bree didn’t know how to help, so she started cleaning up the trail of blood. When she finished, she followed Coira’s voice to a large infirmary. Coira and Anna hovered over Angus while the others watched in
silence. He lay still as death.

  Faelan moved next to Bree, watching as blood was cleaned from the warrior’s face. “Coira’s a nurse,” he said, slipping his warm hand into Bree’s. Her fingers closed around his, grateful for the comfort. Immediately Faelan looked down at their linked hands in surprise. “Pardon me.” He pulled free, moving away to where Sorcha motioned by the door. She whispered something in Faelan’s ear, and they slipped from the room.

  Bree’s desire to scream fled as her attention came back to the wounded man. The floor slid under her feet, and she grabbed for the nearest solid object. With the blood cleaned from his face, she recognized Angus—Mr. Smith from the bed and breakfast. No wonder she’d sensed danger surrounding him. He was a warrior trying to save the world. She’d sensed he was in trouble, washed her hands of it, and walked away. She pried her fingers from the back of Cody’s shirt, but he hadn’t noticed. His face was drawn with guilt. She wanted to tell him about her vision, but he turned and left.

  Angus moaned, and his eyes fluttered open. He stared at Bree, lips moving as he struggled to speak. His bloodied hands clenched the table as he tried to rise. Two warriors stepped forward to help Coira settle him, blocking Bree’s view. Anna leaned closer, putting her ear close to his mouth. When Bree could see him again, Angus’s eyes were closed, and he lay unmoving. Had he recognized her? Why did he look so alarmed?

  The worried crowd dispersed as Dr. Gillum arrived. Bree headed for her bedroom wondering if she could have saved Angus and still seething with jealousy, despite the fact that Faelan had chosen her bed last night and not Sorcha’s.

  If a warrior’s mate was destined, Bree’s resentment should be toward a woman long dead, a woman who had lost her mate without ever knowing he lived. Who was this woman buried in the cold ground, who’d never even met her mate, who should’ve been the mother of Faelan’s children? Where did that leave him? Or had a mate been chosen from the time he would awake in, like Sorcha?