Midnight's Kiss (36 page)

Arran would come, but then what? Another battle? It was a moot point anyway, since she didn’t have any means to contact him.

No, she was explicitly, keenly alone. The only one able to help Andy was her. Arran had told her she could use her magic to defend herself, but she didn’t have the first clue how to do that.

Jason knew how to control and use his magic, and he had many people to keep watch over her. Which left her with just one choice since escape was out of the question.

She would have to do as Jason asked.

Ronnie turned her gaze to him. “Do I have your word that as long as I do as you say, Andy will be left unharmed—by humans, Warriors, and Druids alike? That no magic will touch him ever?”

“You have my word.”

She clenched her jaw, blood drumming in her ears. “I want to see your face clearly. Come into the light.”

There was a click of boot heels as Jason went into the light. “Better?”

“Give me your word.”

“I give it. No magic will harm Andy.”

Still she didn’t believe him, but what choice did she have? “I want you to swear it on your magic. Vow to me that Andy will not only remain unharmed, but you’ll also treat his injuries, and once I do as you ask, you’ll let him go.”

“Why would I release him? He’ll keep you doing what I want.”

Ronnie swung her legs over the side of the cot and stood. She tested the heavy chain holding her and made her way to the wall separating her and Jason. She looked at him through the bars. “I give you my word that I won’t try to escape. Just let Andy go.”

For long minutes, Jason simply stared at her. “I’ll keep Andy around for a few weeks, but I’ll release him as long as I can trust you.”

Then Jason held out his hand, palm up, and a ball of dark purple light formed in his hand. His blue gaze caught hers. “I, Jason Wallace, do vow that no Druid, Warrior, or human shall harm Andy while he’s under my protection.”

The ball of light grew and the purple darkened until it was completely black before the ball lengthened and first wrapped around Jason’s hand and then Ronnie’s. A moment later, it disappeared.

“There,” Jason said. “I’ve given you my promise, and even set it in magic. Are you ready to give me what I want?”

Ronnie thought of Arran and how his eyes had looked at her so lovingly while he made love to her, how she’d felt loved, needed, and protected. He might find her, but there was no way he or any of the Warriors could win against magic like Jason’s.

“Yes.”

The door to her prison unlocked and swung open the same instant the manacle around her wrist fell to the ground with a hard thud, the metal clanking on itself. Jason smirked as she stepped out of her cell and stopped beside him.

“That was much easier than I thought you’d make it.”

She turned her head away. “You didn’t give me a choice.”

“Now you know what kind of ruler I’ll be for mankind. I’m the parent everyone needs or else the children of the world will run amok, as they’ve done for ages.”

“With all your magic, you should be able to find the magical items you seek.”

“Verra true, sweet Ronnie. But I want you for much more.”

“Like what?”

“You’re going to tell me what you and MacCarrick took out of the chamber. And eventually, you’re going to become a
drough
. Because, you see, I’m going to make sure the prophecy you fear so greatly comes to pass.”

He walked past her, but Ronnie couldn’t make her legs move. She knew she’d done the right thing in order to save Andy, but all she could think about was Arran.

And the awful future in front of her.

“Come along, Dr. Reid. We’ve work to do,” Jason’s voice said from the doorway where he waited.

“Forgive me, Arran,” she whispered.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-SEVEN

Arran once more stood outside Wallace mansion. It was over a year ago that he’d been there with the others to defeat Declan. That night had been horrendous. Not just from the battle, but also because they lost two Druids, and Ramsey nearly died.

Ramsey had risked his life in order to save Tara. Yet it was Tara’s unbalanced magic that had saved Ramsey after he conquered Declan.

The mansion was burned to the ground. Arran had been one of the ones who looked through the house to retrieve anything remotely magical. And all Declan’s books.

He looked at the mansion, and it seemed the year before had been nothing more than a dream. The house looked exactly the same, right down to the yellow rosebush on each of the front corners of the house.

“I’d thought it was over,” Camdyn said wearily as they stood hidden from the road and the house.

“We missed something,” Arran said. “We have to accept that, but that doesna mean we give up.”

Logan slapped Arran on the back, his smile tight. “My thoughts exactly.”

“How should we proceed?” Charon asked.

Broc squatted outside the ten-foot iron gate and peered through the thick hedges. “Jason kept quiet for a year. I suspect he’s building his magic.”

“As well as unbinding gods to make Warriors,” Hayden added.

Broc nodded, and turned his head to look at Arran. “It’s your woman in there.”

Arran wanted to tell him Ronnie wasn’t his. She had turned him away. He’d told her nothing but the truth, even when he feared how she’d react. And she hadn’t believed he wouldn’t steal from her.

“Arran?” Galen prodded.

He looked back at the imposing sight of the mansion. “Aye. Ronnie.”

“Do you have a plan?” Broc asked.

Arran grinned as he released his god. “Ah. I kill the bastard.”

“Sounds good to me,” Hayden said as his skin shifted to the red of his god.

Phelan moved to stand on Arran’s other side. “We each have powers that could aid us and give us an advantage.”

“Need I remind you what the Druids did to us at the dig site?” Ian asked.

Galen released a long breath. “This would be easier with the MacLeods. And Larena.”

It grew quiet as their thoughts turned to Larena. Arran didn’t know if she lived, but he’d seen Sonya and the other Druids do amazing things with their magic.

Logan had been all but dead after being riddled with the X90s, but Sonya had saved him. Surely she could save Larena, who had just one bullet in her.

“We can do this,” Arran said. He clenched his jaw as his gaze moved over the outside of the mansion. “We know the layout of the house. It’s obvious Jason hasna changed a thing.”

Camdyn gave a nod. “There’s just one way in and out of the dungeons. That’s probably where Ronnie is being kept.”

“So, underground.” Arran turned his head to Camdyn. “That shouldna be a problem for you.”

Camdyn’s smile grew the longer he stared at Arran. “I’m liking this plan already.”

“While Camdyn attacks from below, I’ll attack from above,” Broc said. His dark eyes clashed with Arran’s as he released his god. Indigo skin covered him, and massive, leathery indigo wings sprouted from his back.

Galen clicked his dark green claws together. “Attack from above and below. I take it we’re striking from the sides?”

“Hmm. This is going to be good,” Hayden said, and rubbed his hands together, fire surrounding his fingers before he extinguished it.

Arran looked at Logan and Hayden. “You two take the west side. Galen, you and Ian take the back. Charon and Malcolm can take the east side.”

“And where am I?” Phelan asked.

Arran glanced at the door of the mansion. “I want you with me. I’m going through the front.”

“Sounds like a suitable plan,” said a voice behind them.

They all spun around to find Lucan. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes as he stepped out of the shadows. Quinn gave a nod as he followed. And then they spotted Fallon.

Arran couldn’t believe the man before him. Fallon was a shell, his green eyes blazing with hatred and the necessity for vengeance.

Ramsey brought up the rear, his gaze locked on the Wallace mansion. “I’d hoped never to return.”

“All of us did,” Quinn said.

Arran couldn’t stop looking at Fallon. It was obvious by the stiff way he held himself and the muscle working in his jaw that Larena wasn’t doing well.

“I need to kill something,” Fallon stated flatly. “Tell me where you want me, Arran.”

The raw anguish in Fallon’s voice made Arran turn his gaze away from his leader. Larena wasn’t hurt. She was dead. The knowledge rippled through them like lightning.

“Nay,” Malcolm whispered from the back.

Fallon turned and looked at Larena’s cousin. A lone tear traced slowly down Fallon’s cheek. There were no words between them, but Fallon’s eyes said it all.

For the first time in months, Malcolm showed emotion.

And it was rage.

Arran almost felt sorry for the ones inside the mansion. Almost. Then he remembered Ronnie. Fallon had lost Larena. Arran knew he’d lost Ronnie as well, but it wouldn’t be to death.

“Lucan, can you get to the roof and aid Broc?” Arran asked.

One side of Lucan’s mouth tilted in a grin. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’ll go with Camdyn,” Quinn offered.

Arran nodded and looked to Ramsey and Fallon. “Ramsey, can you use your Druid magic again?”

“What’s your plan?” Ramsey asked, interest sparking in his silver eyes.

Arran glanced at the house and then to Fallon. “There are spells guarding the house. If you can lower them long enough for Fallon to teleport in and out, he can do all kinds of damage.”

“Consider it done,” Ramsey stated.

Arran had formed the plan on the drive to the mansion. He had the Warriors paired to use their powers to the fullest. But everything hinged on getting through the spells protecting the house.

Declan had used layer upon layer of spells. Would Jason do the same?

“Do we wait for the darkness?” Charon asked.

“Nay.” Arran wasn’t about to delay that long.

Fallon faced the mansion once more. “I agree.”

“There are cameras everywhere,” Ian said.

Arran shrugged. “Stay out of sight until it’s time to attack.”

“And the signal to attack?” Quinn asked.

Arran looked at Malcolm. “Lightning.”

Everyone split up then, going in teams as they surrounded the house. Camdyn found the best place in which to use his power of moving the earth so he could strike from below the house, and hopefully find Ronnie in the dungeons.

Arran, Phelan, Malcolm, Fallon, Ramsey, and Charon stayed where they were. Phelan had gone to make sure no one could enter or leave through the gates on the drive, and Charon was scouting the east side.

Fallon moved off away from them, letting everyone know he had no wish to talk. Ramsey was concentrating on the spells to see just how many Jason had put up.

Arran silently rejoiced. He’d always known having a Warrior that was part Druid would come in handy.

Malcolm was quiet as he kept his attention on the mansion. Arran found it difficult to wait. He had to give everyone time to reach their spots, and to be sure that Ramsey could get through the spells.

“How did you do it?” Arran asked Malcolm.

Malcolm blinked slowly, but didn’t look at him. “Do what?”

“Withstand the Druids’ magic at the dig site. I couldna move.”

“There is much that doesna affect a person when there is no feeling within them.”

Arran snorted. “There’s feeling within you, Malcolm. I saw it when you learned of Larena.”

Malcolm’s head jerked to him, his blue eyes flashing with fury and the scars on his face standing out more than usual. In an instant, he released his god, maroon coloring his skin and eyes. “I did everything for Larena, to keep her safe. I became what Deirdre wanted so Larena could have a happy life. I did … I had to shut off my feelings or I’d never have survived.”

“You betrayed Deirdre and killed her. That should’ve set you free.”

Malcolm looked back at the house. “Should have doesna always equal what happens. I’m dead inside, Arran. The only thing that kept me connected to the MacLeods and all of you was Larena. She’s been taken.”

“So you’ll exact your revenge, then disappear.”

Malcolm’s silence was answer enough.

Arran couldn’t begrudge him. What had happened to Malcolm was wrong. From the first, when Deirdre’s Warriors had attacked him and left him for dead.

Sonya had saved Malcolm, but even then he hadn’t woken the same man. And then Deirdre had captured him and released his god, a god he didn’t know he had.

It was a secret Larena and Fallon had kept from Malcolm in the hopes that he could handle the knowledge one day. They never got the chance to tell him.

And once Malcolm was in Deirdre’s hands, he had become the one Warrior who did as she’d demanded without question. It was Malcolm, after all, who had taken Duncan’s head on Deirdre’s order.

Arran wasn’t sure if he were in Ian’s shoes, that he could forgive someone, even a friend such as Malcolm, for killing his twin.

Duncan, Ian, and Quinn had been all that kept Arran sane and in control of his god while stuck in Deirdre’s Pit deep in Cairn Toul Mountain.

They had fought together, watched each other’s backs, and escaped together. They were the first Warriors Arran had dared to trust.

That trust had led him down the road he was currently on, and he didn’t regret one minute of it.

His gaze slid to Charon as he walked up. There had been a time Arran wanted to kill Charon for things Deirdre had made him do. It took a while, but Arran finally saw that a man did what he had to do to survive.

“Are you all right?” Charon asked as he ran a finger along one of his horns.

Arran gave a small nod. “Did you take care of the gate?”

Charon chuckled and elbowed Ramsey in the ribs. “Oh, aye. No one is getting in or out, no matter how much magic they use.”

Ramsey cut Charon a nasty glare. “It looks as if Jason doesna use half the spells Declan did.”

“You should sound happier about that,” Phelan said as he joined them.

Ramsey sat back on his heels. “Unlike Deirdre and Declan, Jason has the house full of
droughs
. That’s more dangerous than all the spells.”

“How many
droughs
?” Fallon asked.