by Donna Grant
Her gaze was riveted on the spot where Laria had emerged from beneath the ground between two standing stones.
Her sister. Her twin.
How could Laria have hidden her magic from Deirdre all those years ago? If Deirdre had sensed just a smidgen of magic, she would have killed Laria as she had the rest of their family.
But there had been no trace of magic.
Now, Laria threatened to ruin it all. The mere thought of all the hard work Deirdre had done to secure her position as ruler made her sick to her stomach.
What was worse was that she had only one Warrior to call upon now. Finding Druids in order to steal their magic was as difficult as finding more men who housed a god inside them.
There were too many people, and none of them feared her.
All because Declan had pulled her forward in time. The imbecile had thought to rule her, but no one ruled Deirdre.
Yet she couldn’t forget that she was now alone. All those years of devoted service to Satan, and he had abandoned her as well. With no other recourse, Deirdre had turned to Declan. Just as that arse wanted her to do.
How she hated him. But he could serve a purpose. Once she had defeated Laria, Deirdre would make sure Declan didn’t survive the day.
“Are you remembering your defeat?” shouted a male voice over the wind.
Deirdre turned to face Declan. His blond locks were windblown, and his long wool coat billowed about his legs, but there was no mistaking the costly suit beneath. It would be so easy to use her hair to strangle the life out of him. Or rip his ballocks off.
The thought brought a smile to her lips.
“Now you’re smiling?” Declan asked. “Is it because you’re happy to see me?”
“You came alone,” she stated. Of course she knew he had. She had wyrran posted around the area, and they communicated with her through the mind link she had with them.
Declan raised a blond brow. “It is what you asked. What can I do for you, Deirdre?”
“You know what I want.”
“Aye, I do.” Declan smiled then and walked closer to her so they were only inches apart. “But, my dear, I want to hear you say it.”
How Deirdre despised him. She’d begged of no man in the millennia that she had lived. But if she wanted to continue with her plan to dominate the world, this once she would act the meek, needy woman.
And hopefully Declan would believe it.
“I need your help.”
“Please,” Declan added, his blue gaze holding hers.
Deirdre put her hand on his chest and smiled seductively. “Please, Declan.”
“I’ve waited a long time to hear those words.” He roughly hauled her against him. He stared into her face a moment before he claimed her lips in a kiss.
Deirdre was pleasantly surprised at how good the kiss was. Declan was a handsome man with his square jaw, bright blue eyes, and rakish charm. Had he approached her differently, instead of locking her in his mansion for three months, she might not hate him.
She wound her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with fervor. His answering moan made her smile.
Deirdre let the kiss continue and deepen, she allowed it to grow frantic as their passion mounted. Only then did she end the kiss and lean back to look at him.
“Will you help me?”
Declan’s blue eyes blazed with desire. “Aye, but I need something from you in return.”
This she had expected. “You want me.”
“Of course,” he replied, and ran his hand down from the base of her throat and pushed her coat open so that his finger plunged into her cleavage. “That goes without saying.”
“You want me and something else?” she asked, suddenly seeing him with new eyes. Maybe he wasn’t such an idiot after all.
“There is a Druid with the MacLeods. She was mine, and they took her.”
Deirdre laughed. “If she was yours, why hasn’t she returned?”
“She was mine, she just needed a bit more time to come to terms with it.”
“Ah,” Deirdre said as she pulled out of his arms. “Who is this Druid?”
“Her name is Saffron Fletcher.”
“And why is she so important to you?”
Declan shrugged and put his hands in his coat pockets. “She’s a Seer. My Seer.”
“A Seer?” Deirdre repeated, her interest piqued. Now this was something she certainly hadn’t expected. She’d had a Seer of her own for many centuries, a Druid who just happened to have been Isla’s sister. It was one of the only things that had made Isla comply with what Deirdre wanted from her.
Declan’s eyes narrowed. “You will leave her for me.”
It wasn’t a question and Deirdre knew it. “I will leave her for us.”
“Us. I like that.”
“Good. Then let us begin.”
Declan wasn’t at all fooled by how easily Deirdre had agreed to his terms, or how she had fallen into his arms. But he was a patient man. She had come to him for help. He’d work his way into her trust after he proved himself to her.
In the end, he knew he would have her for himself. And in his bed.
* * *
Camdyn stood with his arms crossed over his chest behind Saffron as he watched Fallon pace in front of them as they sat in a circle before the fireplace. On either side of Saffron was Isla, with Hayden behind her, and Gwynn, with Logan behind her.
“I doona understand,” Fallon said as he stopped near the chair where Larena sat. He put his hand over hers and stared at Laria.
Camdyn and Saffron had already heard this part when Laria had visited them in Saffron’s chamber. And Camdyn didn’t understand any of it better now.
“There isn’t much to comprehend,” Laria said. “I called Gwynn and Logan, Isla and Hayden, and Saffron and Camdyn to this meeting because they have the deepest connection to Deirdre.”
Fallon shook his head. “We all have that connection to Deirdre. All of the Druids need to be protected, and all of them can help you.”
“All of them will need to help me,” Laria said softly, patiently. “You are leader here, Fallon, and you have done a wonderful job bringing together the Warriors and welcoming the Druids. But I know my sister better than anyone. I saw with my own eyes what she was capable of. I was hidden for centuries until the day I could defeat her. Will you trust me to do that?”
Fallon nodded. “Aye. I didna mean for you to think I doona trust you.”
“These people are your family. I understand. I don’t want to put them in harm’s way, but unfortunately I must.”
Isla leaned forward and put her hand on Laria’s. “And we gladly do it if it means Deirdre’s death.”
Camdyn glanced down to find Saffron’s head bowed. He had seen the disappointment in her tawny eyes when she had realized they had to kill Deirdre before she could end Declan.
“I’m curious,” Gwynn said. “Why me? I only saw Deirdre for a brief moment. It would seem that Cara or even Marcail have a deeper connection to Deirdre than I do.”
Laria smiled. “It isn’t just you. Deirdre was deep into Logan’s mind. You saw that for yourself while you both were beneath the Isle of Eigg searching for the Tablet of Orn.”
Camdyn grew uncomfortable as the conversation continued. He’d thought he was there to protect Saffron, but could he be involved as well?
“You and Logan are two halves of a whole. You need each other,” Laria continued. “Deirdre will try to split you, but you must remain together.”
Camdyn’s heart began to pound in his ears.
Laria’s gaze swung to Isla and Hayden. “Isla, Deirdre will want revenge for you turning your back on her. She will come for you.”
“Let her,” Hayden said with his teeth clenched.
Laria smiled. “It is the love that binds you and Isla that Deirdre will attack.”
Isla turned and smiled at her husband. “After all we’ve been through, it would take more than Deirdre to sever our love.”
Camdyn shifted from foot to foot. All this talk of love made him more conscious than ever of Saffron. She had been silent, her body still. But her magic didn’t lie. It swirled around him in agitation and panic.
He wanted to pull her into his arms, to tell her everything was going to be all right. But he’d fought Deirdre for too many centuries to lie. There was no telling how soon they would be able to kill Declan.
Deirdre had survived before when they had killed her. How did they know Declan wouldn’t do the same thing? And Declan didn’t have a twin hidden away somewhere that could end him.
Damn, how he hated this.
“Saffron,” Laria called.
Camdyn watched as Saffron gave a small jerk and lifted her head.
“If Deirdre doesn’t know you’re a Seer, it’s simply a matter of time. For someone with her amount of black magic, a Seer is a powerful tool. And I don’t believe Declan is going to give up on having you himself.”
Camdyn clenched his jaw when Laria’s gaze lifted to his. He waited to learn how his link to Deirdre was greater than that of Quinn or Broc. He waited to learn why he was so important.
And he prayed Laria wasn’t going to tell him that Saffron was his. He couldn’t handle that now, not when he was too conflicted about his need to be with her. Fate wouldn’t be that cruel, to give him another woman that he had to watch die.
“Be vigilant,” Laria told him.
Camdyn let out a breath. “You have my word.”
“Wait,” Larena said. “After what you told Logan and Hayden, all you tell Camdyn is to be vigilant? What is his connection to Deirdre?”
Laria smiled softly. “Someone needs to be there to protect Saffron. Who better than Camdyn?”
Relief unlike he’d known in decades coursed through Camdyn. If he and Saffron were meant to be together, then Laria would have stated it.
Since she didn’t, it might mean that Camdyn could consider continuing his dalliance with Saffron.
“What of the others?” Saffron asked. “Deirdre tried to get to every Druid here.”
Laria rose to her feet and clasped her hands at her waist. “Deirdre’s main focus will be me. When she sees the other Druids with me, she’ll choose certain ones to attack simultaneously.”
“And you know for certain it will be us three?” Gwynn asked.
Laria slowly shook her head. “Nothing is certain. Saffron may see a vision of the future, but one small event could change everything. I learned all I needed to about everyone here. I also know how my sister thinks. You three are my best guess.”
“Maybe the others should be informed just in case,” Logan suggested.
“Of course,” Laria said as she started toward the stairs.
“I have one more question,” Fallon said.
Laria stopped and turned to face him. “Ask it.”
Fallon glanced at Larena before he said, “Do you know the spell to bind our gods?”
For several moments Laria didn’t move. Finally, she said, “I’m sorry, Fallon. I do not.”
“The Druids did once,” Larena said, desperation in her voice. “Someone has to know the spell.”
Camdyn hadn’t realized until that moment how much some of the Warriors must want their gods bound. At one time, he’d have gladly cut off his own arm to know that spell. Now, it didn’t matter.
Laria licked her lips, her blue eyes holding a wealth of sadness. “Deirdre killed any Druid she found to have the spell. She also destroyed every scroll where it was written. Every scroll but one.”
Logan jerked. “Where is it?”
“At one time it was hidden in the library at Edinburgh Castle. I have no idea where it is now. I’d heard a spell was used to mask what it was in an effort to hide it from Deirdre. For all I know she’s already found and destroyed it.”
“We need to search,” Hayden said.
Laria looked at each of them. “I wish you luck.”
Before Camdyn could talk to Saffron, she, Isla, and Gwynn rose and went into the kitchen as Laria walked to the stairs.
“What do you think about what Laria said regarding Deirdre?” Hayden asked him.
Camdyn looked at him, Logan, Fallon, and Larena, who all watched him. “I think no matter what, Deirdre is going to come after all of us.”
“But Laria must think you six are important,” Fallon said.
Logan scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Aye. But how?”
“Does it matter?” Hayden asked.
Camdyn snorted. “Nay. All that matters is that Deirdre dies. Once and for all.”
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FIVE
Saffron wasn’t sure how she got through the rest of the morning. She had thought to get outside and take a walk, but another snowstorm had arrived, keeping her inside.
She even missed lunch because of a phone call with her attorney. Arthur had some good news regarding her mother’s bid to try and have her declared dead. He had obtained a statement from a few people who recently saw her in Edinburgh and London and could confirm it was indeed her.
One more thing she could cross off her list to do.
When she left her room and ventured into the great hall she had hoped to find Camdyn. She didn’t like how she found herself needing him, but she didn’t want to take the time to look deeper into her emotions. With her mother, the vision about Declan, and the threat of Deirdre attacking at any moment, she couldn’t handle any more.
The mood throughout the castle was strained. Saffron noticed it when she entered the hall and found Cara, Marcail, Reaghan, and Fiona playing cards.
In the kitchen Isla and Larena were baking. Usually the kitchen was a place where there was lots of conversation and laughter. But today there was nothing.
Saffron retraced her steps and made for the back tower that was closest to her room. She sank into the oversized chair and propped her feet on the ottoman. After a moment she picked up a book on the table next to her.
“Jane Eyre,” she read the title aloud.
She’d always liked the book, but no matter how many times she read the first page, her mind kept wandering to the problems surrounding her.
Saffron gave up and put the book back. She stared out the window to the sea that seemed to stretch into eternity. She’d never felt the urge to go to sea, but now with all the walls closing in around her it sounded like a good option.
She had told everyone, including herself, that she was better, that she had gotten past what Declan had done to her. But the truth was, she was far from getting over it.
It would always be there in the back of her mind, reminding her of what he could do. Of how powerless she was against him.
She hated the thought of ever seeing him again. Saffron found it ironic that she had told Camdyn she wanted to be the one to kill Declan when she knew she wouldn’t be able to do it.
One look at Declan and she’d freeze. She’d remember the torture, the threats. But most important, she would recall how easily he had taken her sight with just a few words.
Someone with that kind of magic scared the hell out of her. And if Declan could do all of that, what would Deirdre do to her?
Saffron leaned her head back against the chair and wondered again what she was doing as a Druid. At one time she might have been able to help her friends, but now … now she would just get in the way.
* * *
Camdyn blinked against the snow that landed on his eyelashes. He stared across MacLeod land from his vantage point on the battlements. The ground was covered with unmarred snow.
The soft whistle of the wind from the sea was the only sound that broke the silence. With the sky heavy with thick clouds, it was difficult to determine where the sun was.
His ears picked up at the crunch of snow beneath a foot. Camdyn glanced to his left to see Hayden approach.
“I hope the bitch doesna make us wait long,” Hayden said as he stopped near Camdyn.
Camdyn rested his hands on the stones before him and looked at
the trees swaying, knowing Hayden was referring to Deirdre. “I doona think she will.”
“Have Sonya and Broc returned?”
“No’ yet. They’ve been gone a while.”
Hayden grunted. “Aye, but hopefully whatever the trees tell Sonya will help us.”
“Broc still has no’ been able to locate either Deirdre or Declan?”
“Nay,” Hayden replied with a quick shake of his blond head, sending snow falling to his shoulders. “Laria thinks they are blocking themselves to us.”
“Which means they could arrive at any moment.” Damn but Camdyn was tired of this game. He wanted the battle to start so he could either get on with his life or be killed as the warrior that he was.
Hayden turned his head to Camdyn. “Gwynn could get nothing from the wind. All it would tell her was that trouble was coming.”
“It’s been telling her that.”
“And we didna need the wind to tell us what we already knew.”
“If Sonya comes back empty-handed, what is the plan?”
Hayden blew out a breath. “That I doona know. Maybe Saffron will have a vision.”
“She doesna have visions that include her future.”
“Damn. Then we pin all our hopes on Sonya.”
They lapsed into silence, and Camdyn found himself thinking of the other battles they’d had on MacLeod land. So many innocents, including the MacLeod clan Deirdre had murdered, had been taken on this land.
“I used to hate going into battle,” Camdyn said. “I did it because my laird demanded it of me, and because I was good with a sword. But I often wondered why they couldna sit down and talk it out.”
“That’s the first time I’ve heard you speak of your past,” Hayden said.
Camdyn shrugged and looked at the iced-over gray stones of the castle. “What is there to tell? We all have our pasts.”
“Verra true words, my friend.”
“You know we willna all survive this battle.”
Hayden briefly closed his eyes. “It is unlikely that we would all come away unscathed.”
“Deirdre is going to come at us with all she has.”
“Do you think Declan will join her?”
