by Donna Grant
Camdyn’s attention jerked back to Saffron when he felt a wave of Deirdre’s magic. Camdyn saw Saffron’s face go blank and her eyes stare off into the sky. He didn’t need to see her eyes to know they had gone milky white and were swirling.
Somehow, someway Deirdre was making Saffron have a vision.
“Tell them!” Deirdre shouted to Saffron.
“A Warrior will betray you, tipping the scales of balance.”
Camdyn put a hand on his chest as the ache grew. It hurt to see Saffron in their clutches, to know they had done something to change the woman he had fallen in love with.
“No,” Gwynn said from behind Camdyn, her accent thick with emotion. “I don’t believe any of y’all would do that.”
Camdyn’s gaze swung to Phelan who stood glaring at Deirdre with such hatred. Phelan’s head swiveled until he met Camdyn’s eyes.
“If you believe I’ll be the one to side with Deirdre, you’ve got it all wrong, mate.”
Camdyn then turned to Charon.
Charon snorted. “Automatically you all turn to me.”
“Nay,” Ian said. “It’s just that you have no’ helped us in the past.”
“Because of this,” Charon said, “I knew you all would doubt my loyalty, I just didna think it would be so soon.”
“It’s no’ any Warrior at the castle,” Camdyn said. “You two were here even before us.”
Phelan chuckled, his skin turning gold as his claws lengthened from his fingers. When he looked at Camdyn again, gold eyes stared at him. “We could tell you the story, but I doona believe we have time for that.”
“I agree,” Charon said and released his god so that his skin turned copper.
Ian nudged Camdyn. Camdyn turned to find the other Warriors had released their gods. Sculel was ready for battle, demanding it. With barely a thought Camdyn’s god surged free.
Power rippled through Camdyn. That was his woman in danger, his woman who was being used. Declan would pay for all he had done to Saffron.
Deirdre’s laughter filled the peninsula. “Did you hear that? One of the infamous Warriors of MacLeod Castle will betray you!”
Fallon moved from behind a stone with Lucan and Quinn moving to either side of him. The brothers stood together, their skin black from their god.
“I know my men. They willna betray me,” Fallon replied.
“Enough,” Laria said. “Deirdre, this fight is between you and me, but if you want to make it more, I’ll comply.”
Deirdre sneered at her sister and shoved Saffron away from her. “Always so polite, Laria. Tell me, how did you hide your magic from me when we were children?”
Laria’s answer was a sly smile. “It doesn’t really matter now.”
Camdyn felt Laria’s magic build a second before she released a blast toward Deirdre. And just like that, the battle began.
Wyrran came running toward them screeching their fury. Camdyn glanced over to see several Warriors surrounding the Druids who stood behind Laria adding their magic to hers.
Camdyn let out a roar and raced to meet two wyrran. He held out his claws and sliced their heads off as he ran past them.
He saw Larena’s iridescent skin as she impaled a mercenary through the heart right before she turned invisible again.
Camdyn growled when a wyrran jumped on his back and its claws sank into his skin. He elbowed the small beast in the face and smiled when he heard teeth crack.
“Maybe now you can actually close your lips over those nasty teeth,” he yelled.
Camdyn reached behind him and grabbed the wyrran. He flipped the creature over his head, which caused the wyrran’s claws to rip viciously from his back. He reared back his hand and decapitated the wyrran.
With each kill, with the blood on his hands and coating the earth, Camdyn’s god smiled with glee. For the first time since he had gotten control of his god, Camdyn gave him free rein. He didn’t care how many he had to kill as long as he got to Saffron.
Camdyn glanced up to see Saffron standing beside Declan, but her eyes were on him. Several mercs surrounded Declan and Saffron and began to open fire on the Warriors.
Camdyn barely had time to grab the dead wyrran and hold it in front of his body. But it afforded him enough time to dive out of the way.
When he came to his feet, he took hold of Phelan and pulled him to the ground as X90 bullets rushed past them.
Phelan lifted his head and looked around. “Thanks, mate.”
“Stay alert. Those bullets have drough blood in them.”
“Bloody hell,” Phelan muttered as he was off again.
Camdyn glanced around him to see Logan on one knee, his hands over his head and Gwynn desperately calling his name. Laria had warned them that Deirdre would try something, and it looked like she wasn’t wrong.
He searched the others until he found Isla with Hayden beside her. By the way she swayed on her feet, her gaze locked with Deirdre’s, something was going on between them.
But Camdyn knew both Logan and Isla would be all right as long as Gwynn and Hayden were there. So instead of helping his friends, he turned back to the battle.
Camdyn jumped to his feet and faced six wyrran. He smiled at them, ready for more death. He had sliced one’s head off, and had taken the heart of another when the bullet slammed into his left side.
His leg gave out and he fell to his knee. Despite the fire now burning through his blood, Camdyn was able to kill three more wyrran.
And then the second bullet punctured his right shoulder.
Camdyn roared, the world beginning to spin. He braced his left hand on the ground and tried to slash at the sixth wyrran who was circling him.
The wyrran cut five gashes down his back. Before Camdyn could react, the wyrran had done it twice more. Pain from the drough blood filled every portion of his body, blinding him with agony.
Camdyn tried to stand, tried to use his claws, but the drough blood was sapping his strength. So much so that his wounds weren’t healing as rapidly as they had before.
And then the wyrran collapsed on the ground, blood pooling from a hole in its chest where its heart had been.
“Get up,” said Larena’s voice near him.
Camdyn couldn’t see her since she was invisible, but he felt her hands on his arm trying to get him to his feet. It would be so easy to lie down and let the drough blood in his veins have him.
But there was Saffron.
It took two tries, but Camdyn got on his feet. “Go,” he told Larena. “Take out the mercenaries.”
“My pleasure.”
Camdyn knew he didn’t have long before the drough blood killed him. He had to do something to help free Saffron, and it didn’t look like he’d be fighting his way to her side now.
He pulled up the power of his god and focused it on the ground. The earth began to rumble. And then a wave rippled beneath the ground, starting at Camdyn’s feet and aiming for Declan and his mercenaries.
Camdyn had just enough power to make sure Saffron was thrown free a moment before the earth opened up and swallowed Declan and the remaining two mercenaries.
* * *
Saffron couldn’t take her eyes off Camdyn. She had seen him get shot. Twice. She knew he was in pain, but still he fought Declan.
She’d known as soon as the earth began to rumble that Camdyn was using his power. To her shock, he cast her out of the way.
Saffron hoped the fall would kill Declan, but if it had, his magic was still in place and controlling her. She tried to lift an arm, tried to call out to Camdyn. But the spell wouldn’t release its hold.
There was no way she was going to have magic hold her when Camdyn was risking his life to save her. There had to be something she could do.
Then she recalled the words the ancients had told her. That her love for Camdyn would help her.
Saffron reached inside her and took hold of the love she had for Camdyn. Flashes filled her mind of the precious times they had spent together. His smile, hi
s voice, his kisses.
She let them fill her until she was bursting with her love for him.
Her fingers curled into a fist. Hope sprang up in her chest, and she continued to let her love fill her. To her surprise, her magic welled up as well. It pushed against the spell like a battering ram. And with every heartbeat Saffron found she was gradually gaining back control over her body.
But would it be in time?
She saw the MacLeod brothers fighting side by side in deadly precision. Hayden, Ian, and Galen kept the Druids safe while Ramsey, Charon, Arran, Phelan, and Broc continued to battle the wyrran. Only Logan and Isla seemed to be in discomfort.
That’s when she recalled Laria’s warning to them. It didn’t matter that Laria had been right, what mattered was everyone getting away with their lives intact.
Saffron noticed dead mercenaries lying all around her, but she hadn’t seen any Warriors get close enough to kill one.
“Saffron?”
She jerked as she heard Larena’s voice but couldn’t see her. How could she have forgotten that Larena was able to turn invisible thanks to the goddess inside her?
“Can you hear me?”
Saffron managed to part her lips, but no words came.
A hand touched hers and Larena said, “If you can hear me, squeeze my fingers.”
Saffron eagerly did as requested.
“Good. I rode in the helicopter, so I know there is a spell upon you. Can you break it?”
Saffron gave a light squeeze that she hoped told Larena she was trying.
“Stay safe. I’m going to get Camdyn so he can carry you out of here.”
Saffron tried to squeeze again, but Larena was already gone. All she could do now was continue to beat against the spell and use the love within her to free herself.
* * *
Malcolm stood off to the side and watched the carnage the other Warriors were doling out. It was quite a sight to see the colored skin of the Warriors and how easily and savagely they killed.
And how ferociously they protected their women.
Malcolm’s gaze found the deep brown skin of Camdyn. The Warrior’s wounds weren’t healing, and the blood that flowed freely from the wound in his shoulder and side told Malcolm the X90 bullets had been used.
He turned and found Saffron, still under Deirdre and Declan’s spell and unable to move.
He’d heard her prophecy, but unlike the others, he knew none of the Warriors from the castle would betray them. It wasn’t until Saffron’s words that Malcolm knew what he had to do.
Laria’s magic might be strong, but even with the Druids adding their magic to hers, it wasn’t besting Deirdre. At least Declan and Robbie were no longer able to help Deirdre.
That just left one person who could help turn the tables and give the advantage to the MacLeods.
Malcolm walked up behind Deirdre. He met Fallon’s gaze, and with a roar, he plunged his claws into Deirdre’s back.
CHAPTER
FORTY-SIX
Saffron couldn’t take her eyes off Malcolm. With his claws sunk deep in Deirdre’s back, Deirdre screamed and tried to dislodge him as well as keep her magic strong as she battled Laria.
This was the time for Saffron to break the spell. This was the time for her to finally win over Declan.
She was able to move her arms now, and was beginning to move her legs. If only she could walk to Camdyn. He was still making his way toward her.
On either side of him was a gold-skinned Warrior and a bronze Warrior. She had no idea who they were, but it was enough that they were helping him fight the wyrran.
Saffron wanted to shout for joy when she was able to slide one of her feet forward. It wouldn’t be long now before she would break the spell for good.
* * *
The agony was unbearable every time Camdyn tried to take a breath. But he wouldn’t give up. His gaze was trained on Saffron even as he beheaded a wyrran.
When he faltered, he was surprised to find Charon and Phelan on either side of him. Camdyn tried to thank them, but all his concentration was focused on staying upright.
“You look like shit,” Phelan said.
Camdyn grunted and peeled back his lips as the fire in his veins burned hotter. He could feel his body begin to slow down, and not even his god could save him now.
He was going to die, of that he was certain. But if he could save Saffron he would be happy.
“Can you use your power again?” Charon asked.
Camdyn halted. As weak as he was he couldn’t walk and use his power at the same time. “Will. Try,” he bit out.
The ground beneath his feet began to shake, but it was as weak as he. Still, it might be enough to kill some of the wyrran.
Camdyn opened the earth to swallow dozens of wyrran. Their shrieks were cut off mid-sound when he closed the hole.
“Fuck me,” Phelan said. “That’s impressive.”
There was a wave of mie magic that mushroomed out from Laria and the other Druids. Camdyn turned and found Ramsey now stood beside Laria.
The magic grew richer, stronger, and entirely more potent when Ramsey joined his magic with Laria’s. It still boggled Camdyn’s mind that Ramsey was part Druid as well as a Warrior.
Wyrran suddenly swarmed the Warriors protecting the Druids, and without a second thought Phelan and Charon joined the others in defending the Druids.
Camdyn wanted to help them, but he’d never make it. He was closer to Saffron anyway. With renewed vigor, he lifted a foot and started toward her.
The mie magic that surrounded him was so powerful he knew it was the only thing slowing the drough blood inside him. He’d taken half a dozen steps when Deirdre let out a frustrated, angry scream.
Camdyn watched as Laria and Ramsey’s magic pushed Deirdre backward. Malcolm, it seemed, had betrayed Deirdre. He clawed her back again and again, cutting her hair each time.
Being attacked from the front as well as from the rear without Declan and his mercenaries to aid her was taking its toll on Deirdre.
Camdyn smiled. He’d waited a long time for the bitch to die. He’d wanted to be a part of it, but now the only person he cared about was Saffron.
When he looked back at Saffron it was to find she had taken a step toward him. It was as if she couldn’t move. As if a spell had been put on her.
Camdyn fisted his hands and made his legs and feet get moving again. He was about ten steps from her when the magic swelled again, just before there was a loud boom.
He glanced over to find Deirdre was lying on the ground with Malcolm standing over her, but no one was cheering. That’s when Camdyn saw tears roll down Saffron’s face.
A look at the others showed there was another body on the ground as well. Sonya knelt beside Laria to try and heal her, but it wasn’t working. None of them had realized it could very well cost Laria her life to end Deirdre’s.
Relief swept through Camdyn that Deirdre had finally been vanquished, though he hated that Laria had lost her life in the process.
Now, he just needed to hold Saffron in his arms one last time. He managed to take two more steps before his legs gave out on him.
With the mie magic no longer filling the air, the drough blood had nothing to slow it.
“Camdyn!” Saffron yelled.
It took a considerable amount of effort to lift his gaze to Saffron. She had taken another step toward him, but it wasn’t going to be soon enough.
* * *
Saffron’s heart wrenched in her chest when she saw Camdyn fall to his knees. His god had faded, and his skin was pasty. He’d left a thick trail of blood on his way to her.
She had nearly gotten past the spell when he’d fallen. And now that she could see the life draining from him, her love pushed through the last of the spell. She couldn’t allow him to die without holding him.
Instantly she could feel the difference in her body. She started toward him when a hand grabbed her from behind, wrapping around her neck.
“You didna really think you could get away from me?” Declan whispered in her ear. “I told you, Saffron, you’re mine.”
“No,” she said through clenched teeth.
“The Warrior is dying. You seem concerned. Does he mean something to you?”
“Leave her be,” Camdyn ground out as his skin began to turn the deep, dark brown of his god.
Declan laughed. “What can you do, Warrior? My bullets are verra inventive, are they no’? Is it as painful as I’ve heard to have drough blood in you?”
Time slowed as Saffron heard Camdyn roar as he launched himself at Declan, his claws out and ready to kill. Camdyn grabbed Declan and spun him away from her.
The force sent Saffron tumbling to the ground. She didn’t take her eyes off Camdyn though. He landed them so that he had a knee on Declan’s chest, pinning him down.
Camdyn lifted his arm back, his claws out.
“No!” Saffron screamed as Robbie rose up behind Camdyn and fired the rifle. Camdyn jerked from the impact of the bullet and lifted his eyes to Saffron as he fell to the side.
Robbie helped Declan to his feet, and when he reached for her, Saffron let out a blast of magic so strong Declan and Robbie both went flying backward.
Saffron ignored them as she rushed to kneel beside Camdyn. Tears fell freely down her face when she caressed his face. The sight of her magnificent Warrior fading before her eyes was too much.
“Doona cry,” Camdyn whispered.
She sniffed and bent to kiss him as the sound of the helicopter blades began to fill the air. “You’ll be all right.”
“Nay. It’s too late.”
“Don’t say that. Please don’t say that.”
He took her hand in his and tried to smile. “I’m sorry for no’ being in your bed when you woke.”
“Shh. It doesn’t matter,” she said.
“But it does. I was afraid of the feelings you stirred within me. Feelings I swore I’d never feel again.”
Saffron blinked through her tears and rested her forehead on his. The sound of the chopper grew distant as it rose in the air and flew away. “You can’t die on me. I had a vision of you, Camdyn. You were laughing, and you had a child. A son.”
He squeezed her hand. “I love you, Saffron Fletcher.”
