Highland Mist (27 page)

Now she understood why he hadn’t said anything to contradict Gregor. His anxiety and fear hit her like a stone wall. She shrugged it off and walked to him. “What are you going to do?”

“What can I do?” he asked, and whirled around to face her. “I need his sword arm, but at the same time he could betray me. He is a paid mercenary after all.”

She placed a hand on his shoulder. “Maybe you’re trying too hard to read him. Ask me something.”

His silver gaze rose to her eyes. “Will you give up the Druids?”

She swallowed, afraid he would ask something along those lines. “Aye,” she lied.

For the longest time he stared at her then shook his head. “I cannot tell,” he said, and placed his hands over his face. “Now, when I need it the most, it has abandoned me.”

“You abandoned the Druid way a long time ago,” she reminded him.

His head snapped up, and his eyes flashed angrily. “So what do you suggest I do?”

“Trust your instincts. You like Gregor. Do you think he’s capable of doing MacNeil’s bidding?”

He shrugged his big shoulders and slumped into a chair. “The truth is I don’t know much about Gregor except what he’s told me. I want to believe he’s a good man, but not many mercenaries are.”

She waited for Conall to say more, but he was lost in thought. Silently she exited the room and made her way to Moira. Mayhap they could help in this tangled web that had been woven around them.

Especially why Conall was no longer able to use his ability. Strange how her powers had grown while his had weakened then departed all together.

Chapter Twenty

Once Glenna stepped into the forest, it calmed her. But she couldn’t take the time to sit down by the ancient oaks and quiet her restless soul. People’s lives were at stake.

She moved into the stone circle, ever amazed at the serenity and quiet beauty within the stones. Her eyes drifted until she found Moira sitting with some young children. Moira raised her eyes and nodded. After a few words to another Druid, she stood and made her way toward Glenna.

“Something troubles you,” Moira said, and reached for Glenna’s hand.

Glenna closed her eyes as Moira’s cool hand enclosed hers. “It’s Conall.”

“Rest your mind,” Moira said.

At once the many worries that swirled through Glenna’s head disappeared and peace reigned once again. Chaos was replaced with order.

She opened her eyes. “What did you do?”

“Helped you empty your mind. You can’t help anyone if your mind isn’t clear. That’s a very important lesson to learn. If you can clear your mind, MacNeil, nor anyone for that matter, can have control over your emotions.”

It was just another reminder that she had much left to learn. So much to learn, so little time. Would she be ready for MacNeil? Could she risk the lives of Conall’s clan?

“I’ll have to work on that.”

“So,” Moira said, and sat on a smooth rock. She patted the space beside her for Glenna to sit. “Conall has lost his power. I wondered when it would happen.”

“How did you—”

“When I cleared your mind that was one of the strongest worries within you. I couldn’t help but know.”

Glenna sighed and fought back the sting of tears. “Is there anything he can do?”

Moira shook her head. “I’m surprised the power has stayed with him this long. Once a person turns from their Druid blood, their mind refuses to let them believe they have any special ability.”

“In other words, it’s only been recently that he’s truly turned from the Druids, despite his words.”

“Exactly.”

“I don’t understand why now.”

“Don’t you?” Moira asked, and gazed steadily at her.

Then it hit Glenna. Her mouth opened in denial. She licked her lips. “It’s me?”

Moira nodded. “He wants you, but you are the one thing he despises above all.”

“A Druid,” Glenna said. Sadness encased her. She had known it was true, and despite his objections it was happening.

“And while you’ve learned and grown in your power you are a reminder of what he couldn’t be.”

She thought about that a moment before she asked, “Can his power be returned?”

“Only if he has a reason to believe in his Druid blood again.”

“That will never happen,” Glenna said. She had hoped to be able to bring Conall some good news.

“Don’t ever say never. Can’t you think of one person who could give him a reason to believe?”

Glenna stared into her sister’s green eyes. An image of her and Conall laughing and holding a baby flashed before her. She shook her head and looked to Moira. “It’s the truth he wants me for a wife but only if I give up the Druid way.”

“Don’t give up hope,” Moira cautioned. “Without hope there is nothing. Do you love him?”

“So much I would die for him.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

* * * * *

Conall stood atop the round tower and watched as Glenna walked into the bailey from the caves. He didn’t need the sight to know she had been to see Moira, and by the look of her downturned face he knew the news wasn’t good.

With a sigh he looked out over the land that had been the MacInnes’ for hundreds of years. Since the beginning his ancestors had accepted and hidden the Druids from harm, and the laird was expected to marry one.

Yet he could not.

He couldn’t deny his soul yearned to have Glenna by his side for the rest of their lives, but his heart refused to disregard she was a Druid. It was just as well. The Druids had all but been driven out of Scotland, and the rest hid in fear of their lives. Nay, he wouldn’t follow his ancestors. His wife wouldn’t follow the Druids, of that he would make sure.

On their own, his eyes found Glenna, her slight form standing next to Angus. She was perfect for him. His mate. And his heart and soul knew it. She did as well if she would listen to her heart.

She would be his wife, and he would rule his clan without his power. He didn’t need his power. His instinct would lead him.

* * * * *

Glenna looked around the bailey as Conall’s clan readied themselves for an invasion. Emotions were strung tight at the prospect of MacNeil’s arrival.

Many of the clan still didn’t look upon her favorably, but they didn’t harbor hatred in their hearts any longer. Of that she was most grateful.

“He’s lost it, hasn’t he?”

She looked up at Angus, his hazel eyes creased with worry. “Lost what?”

“He can’t tell if Gregor is lying, can he?”

She didn’t know whether to tell Angus the truth or not, but in the end she knew he would find out. “Aye, it’s gone.”

He stroked his red beard and followed Gregor with his eyes. “Then we’ll have to make sure it’s returned.”

She couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. “Exactly my thoughts.”

“Go talk with him. He may say he doesn’t need the power, but I know he’s troubled more than he’d like to admit. He’s brooding atop the east tower. I’ll stay here and make sure Gregor doesn’t run off.”

“Gregor won’t leave, Angus. Trust me on that.”

“I wish I could, lass,” he said sadly.

* * * * *

By the time Glenna reached the top of the east tower her breath came in great gulps. She leaned against a wall and struggled to even her breathing after the many winding steps she had made.

She looked up and found Conall staring at her. One shoulder was braced against the stone and his arms were crossed over his muscular chest. A gust of wind whipped around them, and she longed to see his hair unbound and blowing in the wind.

“Did Moira have anything to say?”

She ignored his question and pushed from the wall. “Angus was right. You are brooding.”

“I’m not brooding,” he said, and turned his back on her.

She came to stand beside him and looked over the land. “I’ve never been to this tower. The loch is my favorite to look over, but this view is magnificent.”

He cast her a brief glance.

“The loch gives me a bit of solace but watching your clan is quite intriguing. I think I’ll come up here next time to watch you train.”

“You watch me train?”

Glenna could have bitten her tongue off. She had never meant for him to know she watched. “On occasion.”

He laughed, the sound pleasing to her mind and spirit. “I don’t need my powers to know you’re lying.”

“Oh all right. So I like to watch,” she confessed. But she would never tell him how much seeing his muscles ripple caused her heart to pound and her body to sweat.

“Then I’ll have to do something extra for you from now on.”

She chanced a glance and found a genuine smile upon his handsome face. Her eyes found his lips and she forgot everything except how they felt on her body.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he warned softly.

She put what she hoped was an innocent look on her face, and asked, “Like what?”

“Like you want to devour me.”

She flipped her hair over her shoulder as she had seen a woman do yesterday and looked back at the bailey. “It just so happens I do want to devour you.”

Disappointment shot through her when he didn’t say anything. Obviously her attempt at being coy didn’t work. She would definitely have to work on her flirting skills, she thought sadly.

Suddenly his hard body pressed behind her and his mouth did delightful things to her neck while his hands grabbed her hips and pulled her against him.

“You can’t say things like that to me and not expect me to do something,” he whispered before his tongue traced her ear.

She shivered. Her body longed to be joined with him again. She was only half a person when she was parted from him. “Oh, I most certainly want you to do something.”

“You’d tempt a saint.” He turned her to face him. “All right. I admit. I was brooding, but I’m not anymore. I can never brood when you’re near.”

She smiled, her heart doing a little leap. “Then it’s a good thing I came up here.”

“You came because you saw Moira.”

His silver eyes held hers and waited. She had wanted to put off telling him, but she could see he would probe until she confessed all. “Aye, I saw her. I wanted to know why you’d lost your ability.”

“Because I’ve turned from the Druids.”

“That’s right.”

“Then explain why it’s stayed with me until now? I’ve turned from the Druids long ago,” he said, and ran his hand through his hair.

She hated to see him hurting and debated on whether to tell him all of what Moira said. In the end, she knew she had to tell him everything. “Moira says it’s because of me. I’m a reminder of what you wanted to be.”

“Can I get it back?” he asked, ignoring her words.

“You want it back? I thought you hated it?” She wouldn’t have been more surprised if he had have said he wanted to become a Druid.

“I never wanted it, but now that it’s gone…”

She reached up and placed her hand on his cheek. “You’re a great laird. You don’t need any special ability to lead your clan, and they know it.”

His face softened into a small smile. “I hope you’re right.”

“Of course I’m right. A Druid is always right.”

His smile broadened before he claimed her lips.

* * * * *

That evening after supper Conall sat with Angus and went over their strategy against MacNeil.

“I know Glenna is going to try something.”

Angus nodded and looked at her sitting by the hearth. “I think ye’re right, but next to locking her in her chamber, I don’t know what to do.”

“I’ll have to think of something. Are the men prepared?”

“Aye. The people have also been warned and are ready for any surprise attack.”

Conall nodded. “We need to get as many inside these walls as we can.”

“It’s being seen to.”

He looked close at his friend. Angus wanted to say something. “Just spit it out.”

“We could use Frang and Moira’s help on this.”

“Nay.”

“Ye aren’t being reasonable, Conall,” Angus hissed. “MacNeil will do everything to get what he wants. Yer father would’ve asked for their help.”

“I’m not my father,” Conall said.

“That’s for sure. Ye’ve made a great laird, but don’t be making mistakes now just because ye hold a grudge against the Druids.”

Conall thought on Angus’ words after he left. He was mixed up inside, and what had seemed right yesterday didn’t today. His clan needed a laird who could make decisions based on their welfare. He didn’t know if he was that man anymore.

Glenna grabbed his attention when she rose from her chair by the fire and walked toward him. Her smiled dropped the closer she came to him.

Her small hand came to rest on his shoulder. “Decisions will be hard to make without a clear mind.”