Midnight's Seduction

by Donna Grant

  Logan shook his head. “We’re too exposed. I doona like it.”

  “We have to look sometime,” Ian said. “I’d rather do it now than when Deirdre is attacking.”

  Fallon held up a hand for silence before he turned to Broc. “Is Deirdre still in Cairn Toul?”

  Broc closed his eyes, and a moment later they snapped open. “Nay. She’s headed north. Whether that means here or no’, I doona know.”

  “It’s no’ a chance I’m willing to take with Reaghan,” Galen said.

  “Back to the castle,” Fallon said.

  A thread of anxiety raced through the Druids, and Saffron couldn’t help but feel it as well. She found herself being moved toward Fallon by Camdyn.

  “No arguments,” Camdyn whispered.

  Once she was in the group, Saffron turned and looked back at Camdyn. He gave her a small nod, which was all she saw before she found herself back at MacLeod Castle.

  She waited to make sure everyone arrived safely home before she hurried to her room. She stripped out of her borrowed clothes and jacket and climbed into the shower.

  Being out and seeing had been wonderful, and she’d enjoyed her banter with Camdyn. Though she had never encountered Deirdre herself, she recognized that she was a formidable enemy.

  The fear that had spiked through her at the thought of Deirdre finding them reminded Saffron too much of Declan. It had left her cold all the way to her soul. A coldness she hadn’t expected to feel again.

  The fear that had taken hold of her had immobilized her. Thankfully Camdyn had been there to get her moving.

  Saffron stood under the hot water for a while before she found herself reaching for the shampoo bottle with her eyes closed.

  She snapped open her eyes and proceeded to wash her hair and body. It wasn’t until she stood outside the shower drying off that she saw the mirror hanging over the sink.

  Earlier she’d been too afraid to look in the mirror. But she would have to do so sooner or later. She’d forgotten what she looked like. Oh, she remembered that she had the same tawny eyes as her mother, but she had gotten her father’s thick walnut-colored hair.

  She wrapped the towel around herself and started for the mirror.

  * * *

  Camdyn knocked on Saffron’s door and it creaked open slightly since it hadn’t been latched. He grabbed the handle and opened it wider to call out to her when he saw her standing in the bathroom.

  The dark blue towel wrapped around her still damp body made his balls tighten and his blood heat instantly. Especially when a droplet of water raced down her thigh, over her knee, and descended down her calf to drop into the rug she stood on.

  He licked his lips, his cock growing harder by the moment as desire captured him, claimed him. Seized him.

  Damn, he didn’t want to be attracted to her, didn’t want to feel the burn of need fierce and unyielding in his veins. He didn’t want to yearn for her touch, to crave her kiss.

  He didn’t want to ache for a taste of her, to hunger to have her luscious body beneath him. Especially now that he saw so much of her creamy skin exposed.

  Camdyn’s hands fisted as he thought of going to her, of pulling her into his arms and turning her face up for his kiss. Would she accept him? Would she welcome the potent desire?

  His thoughts skidded to a halt when he saw her reflection in the mirror. She took tiny steps toward the mirror, her eyes downcast as if she were afraid to look up.

  When she bumped into the sink, she gripped the porcelain until her knuckles turned white. And then, slowly, she raised her face with her eyes still closed.

  Her breathing was labored, the pulse at her throat erratic. Camdyn couldn’t take his eyes off her as she gathered her nerve to face herself. His desire faded as worry and concern filled him.

  He wanted to go to her, to help her, but this was something she had to do on her own. Camdyn found himself holding his breath as she kept her eyes closed, her body as still as a statue.

  And then her eyes suddenly flew open. A heartbeat later they filled with tears before overflowing her eyes and falling down her cheeks.

  Camdyn frowned, wondering what could be so upsetting. She was beautiful, and made more so by the determination and resolve to get her life back.

  Realization dawned when she touched her cheek, nose, lips, and chin as if seeing herself for the first time.

  And she was. It had been over three years since she had looked at herself in a mirror. Camdyn wondered what she was thinking. Did she see the same high cheekbones, the same full, kissable lips, and the same determined chin? Did she see eyes of a wild tawny hue that had always transfixed him?

  Did she see the woman he knew her to be?

  Her hands then smoothed over her clearly visible collarbones. Her fingers stopped at an old half-moon scar on her left shoulder.

  When her hands went to her hair and her face began to crumble, her shoulders shaking with the force of her tears, Camdyn knew Saffron didn’t like what she saw. He could no longer stand back and watch. But just as he started toward her, he heard someone approach.

  With the quickness and stealth of a Warrior, he disappeared before anyone could see him.

  * * *

  Saffron jumped when Dani called out her name as she walked into the room. No matter how quickly she swiped at the tears, Saffron knew Dani had seen them.

  “Oh. Sorry,” Dani said sheepishly. “Your door was open.”

  “It’s all right,” Saffron said as she moved away from the hated mirror.

  Dani held out a blow-dryer. “I thought you might need this.”

  “It’s been so long. Not sure if I know how to use it,” Saffron said with a forced laugh.

  “I’ve no doubt it’ll come back to you. You’re gorgeous, Saffron. I’m sure you were one of those girls in school I envied because they were able to do their hair in all the styles that were popular. Mine did this,” she said as she lifted a lock of her straight, silvery-blond hair.

  But her words reminded Saffron that she had something else to deal with. Her mother and stepfather. “It’s amazing what money can do.” She hadn’t meant for the anger to come out, but her words were laced with it.

  “I didn’t mean—” Dani started.

  Saffron held up a hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s just that people were my friends because of my money. I didn’t realize it still upset me.”

  “I’m your friend because you’re a good person and a Druid. We have a destiny to help these Warriors end Deirdre. But you aren’t just my friend. Every woman here is like a sister to me. Please remember you are one of us.”

  Now Saffron felt lower than a slug. Before she could apologize again, Dani was gone. Saffron squared her shoulders and spent the next ten minutes blow-drying her hair and devising a plan of action.

  There was time before she would be needed to awaken Laria. Time for her to take care of family business.

  CHAPTER

  SIX

  Saffron rolled up the waist of the borrowed burgundy sweats and hastily yanked on a sweatshirt. She walked soundlessly in her socks next door to Ian and Dani’s room.

  She heard Dani’s laughter as she raced to the door, with Ian saying something in his low, deep voice that had Dani laughing again.

  The door suddenly opened and Dani gave her a big smile. “We’re about to start a movie, want to watch? I’m still getting Ian acclimated to this time. We watched Die Hard last night, which, of course, he loved. Something about men and blowing things up.” Dani shook her head, but she was still smiling. “We’re going to watch Pride and Prejudice tonight.”

  Dani leaned in close and whispered, “I have a feeling Ian won’t enjoy this one as much.”

  Saffron couldn’t help but smile. It had been so very long since she’d watched a movie. She used to love going to the movie theaters every week, seeing two shows back to back sometimes.

  “Thank you, but no,” Saffron said. “Actually, I came to ask if I coul
d borrow your cell.”

  “Cell?” Dani said, her face scrunched up. Then she chuckled as she turned away from the door and walked to a bench where her purse sat. “Ah, you mean my mobile phone. I know I was raised in Florida for several years, but I’ve gotten used to the British way of saying things.”

  Saffron gave a nod to Ian when she found him staring at her.

  “Is everything all right, Saffron?” Ian asked.

  She plastered on a fake smile and nodded. “Of course. I just have a few calls to make.”

  Dani walked back to the door and held out her iPhone to Saffron.

  She took the phone and held it for a moment before she said, “I’m going to have to make some overseas calls. I’ll pay you for the charges.”

  “No,” Dani said. “We’re sisters here. We may not be blood, but we’re bonded by magic, which goes just as deep. Make your calls, Saffron, and don’t worry about the charges.”

  Saffron smiled her thanks and returned to her room. She wasn’t used to the kindness she had been shown at MacLeod Castle ever since she had arrived.

  Why did she have to go halfway around the world and be abducted for three years by a deranged psychopath before she found the type of friends she had always longed for?

  Saffron closed her door and walked to the bed as she stared at the cell phone. “Mobile,” she said, mimicking Dani’s Scottish brogue.

  She smiled, but the smile soon faded as her stomach knotted with the realization she was going to have to make calls she’d rather not make.

  But she’d start off easy. The first call went to her attorney, the same attorney her father had used in all his business and personal matters.

  Saffron dialed the number she had known since she had been old enough to dial a phone. It took a moment for the call to connect. Three rings later, she heard the soothing, cultured voice of Arthur Myles, attorney extraordinaire.

  “Arthur,” Saffron said, and felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders just by saying his name.

  “Saffron,” he whispered, the surprise evident in the catch of his voice. “Is that really you, girl?”

  He had always called her “girl” from the moment of her birth. Arthur and her father had been the best of friends growing up in Colorado, and that friendship had continued through the years.

  “It’s me,” she said. “It’s really me.”

  “But your mother has filed papers to have you declared legally dead. It’s been three years since anyone has heard from you. Even I thought the worst when I saw nothing had been purchased with your credit cards, girl.”

  She blew out a breath and squared her shoulders. “I’m very much alive, Arthur. I need you to stop my mother’s filing immediately.”

  “Of course. However, people are going to want to see you in person as proof. Especially Elise.”

  Saffron cringed at the mention of her mother’s name. “I know. And I’m prepared to make myself available to you and a judge, if necessary.”

  Arthur paused, a soft sigh sounding through the phone. “You have no intention of seeing Elise?”

  “Do you really need to ask that?”

  “No,” he said with a grunt. “I suppose not. Can you at least tell me where you are?”

  “I’d rather not. Not yet. I’ll be in touch soon.”

  “Take care, girl. It’s good to hear your voice,” he said, and the line went dead.

  Saffron ended the call and rubbed the back of her neck, which had begun to ache. A stress headache was just what she needed, she thought with a roll of her eyes.

  The next fifteen minutes were spent on the phone with her credit card companies getting new cards issued as well as obtaining a new cell phone. Since all the bills were paid automatically out of her bank account, no cards had lapsed, which was fortunate for her.

  With all the calls made, there was only one thing left to do.

  Saffron once more left her room. She gave Dani’s iPhone back to her before she continued down the corridor and up a flight of stairs to the master chamber.

  Fallon wasn’t going to be happy with what she wanted, but he wouldn’t have a choice in the matter.

  She gave a quick knock on the thick wooden door. It was opened almost immediately by Fallon.

  “Saffron.”

  “I’d like a word, please,” she said.

  He stepped aside and motioned for her to enter.

  Saffron glanced around the spacious chamber, noting that even though the stone walls had been kept, everything else had been modernized.

  The bed was a king-sized four-poster bed with simple yet elegant dark bronze and pale gold bedding. On the bedside table were two iPods charging. A medieval tapestry still hung on the wall, but there was also art from almost every era that Fallon and Larena had lived in.

  There was a large flat-screen TV and a deep brown leather couch where Larena lounged, and a thick rug, in a soft cream color, in front of it. All in all the room was cozy and comfortable. The mix of the past and present was one that worked well.

  “I’ll leave you two,” Larena said as she started to rise from the couch.

  Saffron held out a hand to stop her. “There’s no need. Everyone knows what happened to me and what my mother is trying to do.”

  “I still can no’ believe it,” Fallon said as he leaned against the footboard of his bed and crossed his arms over his chest.

  Saffron snorted as anger flared inside her. “You don’t know my mother or what money can do to people.”

  “That’s what this is about?” Larena asked as she swept her golden-blond hair back away from her face. With a few twists of her hands it was set in a loose bun at the base of her neck.

  “Yes.” Saffron was embarrassed to admit it, but then again, her mother had only married her father for the money. Elise had never intended to get pregnant, but for a fluke of Fate. That fluke had been Elise taking cold medicine while also using the pill. They had canceled each other out, and the next thing Elise knew, she was pregnant.

  Saffron was surprised Elise hadn’t gotten an abortion. But she’d had no idea she was pregnant, she’d thought she was only sick. Saffron knew it was only by the grace of God that her father had taken Elise to the doctor and heard the news of her pregnancy himself or Saffron wouldn’t be standing there now.

  “Saffron?” Larena called.

  She shook her head and pulled herself from her memories. “I wanted to let both of you know my plans.”

  “Of course,” Fallon said.

  Saffron licked her lips and said, “There are some … things … I have to take care of in London and Edinburgh, namely my bank and credit card companies and other odds and ends. Since we have some time before we can awaken Laria, I’d like to take this opportunity to do these things.”

  “Which will in turn prove to your mother and others that you aren’t dead,” Larena said with a smile.

  “Precisely,” Saffron said. “My mother will demand proof, so I’m going to give it to her. Now, I know the castle is shielded and can’t be found, but I’ve arranged for a helicopter to pick me up in a few hours.”

  When Fallon didn’t respond, she continued. “Nothing I have here is mine. For three years I was at the whim of a deranged lunatic. I need to find myself again, and not just to prove to everyone I’m alive so my mother can’t get to my money. I want to—”

  “Shop,” Larena said with a bright smile. “I think that would be a wonderful idea. You have your eyesight back, but like you said, you need to find yourself.”

  Saffron couldn’t believe Larena actually understood. She turned her gaze to Fallon. “I won’t be long. I promise. The quicker I’m seen, and by the right people, the quicker this thing with my mother will end. I just need to know a location close by so that I can tell the helicopter pilot.”

  “Nay,” Fallon said, and ran a hand through his thick brown hair. “There’s no need for you to hire a helicopter when you have me. Allow me to jump you where you need to go, and it’ll be done much quic
ker.”

  Saffron blinked, surprised by his offer.

  “My love,” Larena said as she leaned up to whisper in Fallon’s ear, “I think she’s astonished by your proposal.”

  “That she is,” Fallon said with a grin.

  Saffron mentally shook herself. “I apologize. I’m just used to doing everything for myself.”

  “You’ll find that while you’re here we help each other,” Larena said as she pulled on a pair of black high-heeled boots.

  Fallon watched her with his lips flat. “And where are you going?

  “Shopping with Saffron, of course. She needs a Warrior with her, and who better than me?”

  Fallon rolled his eyes, but there was a lopsided smile on his face. “Any excuse to shop, my love.”

  “Most certainly.” Larena’s smile was wide as she jumped up and kissed Fallon before turning to Saffron. “Are you ready?”

  Excitement rose within Saffron as she nodded. “I am.”

  Fallon pushed off the bed and started toward the door. “We need to tell the other women. They might want to come as well.”

  “Tell them,” Saffron said as she hurried to the door. “I’m going to change. I’ll meet you in the great hall in five minutes.”

  Saffron didn’t wait to hear what was said as she ran to her chamber and yanked off the sweats. She searched for a pair of jeans and boots. A quick brush of her hair and she was out the door again and on her way to the great hall.

  To her surprise Gwynn, Dani, Isla, and Marcail were also coming with them.

  “We’re going to have to do this again once this is all over and I can come,” Reaghan said as she glanced up from a map of the Ring of Brodgar. “I’m going to need it.”

  Cara stuck her head out of the kitchen and frowned. “If I wasn’t in the middle of baking bread…”

  Fallon shook his head while smiling and walked to the group. “Where do you want to go first, Saffron?”

  She swallowed, her gaze searching for Camdyn in the great hall. She’d wanted to tell him where she was going, though she had no idea why. But he wasn’t to be found. “London. High Street.”

  “It’s a good thing I’ve been there over the last four centuries,” Fallon said as he placed his hand on her shoulder.