Midnight's Promise (27 page)

She took a breath, allowing her magic to fill her even more. Then she expanded it so her magic surrounded Malcolm as well.

He cupped one side of her face and rubbed his thumb along her lower lip. Desire and need were reflected in his eyes. There was sadness there also.

Before she could ask him about it, his lips captured hers in a scorching, all-encompassing kiss that left her gasping for air.

And yearning for more.

He dragged her up from the floor so that she straddled him. His thick arousal pressed against her as she clung to him.

A storm of longing raged around them. Malcolm was her anchor, the rock she cleaved to so she wouldn’t be swept away by the rampant need.

They tore at each other’s clothes, discarding them one by one until they were flesh to flesh.

Evie let out a sigh and sunk her fingers in his cool gold locks. His fingers bit into her hips as he lifted her over him. With their gazes tangled, he slowly lowered her onto his thick cock.

Her body trembled at the feel of him once more filling her. She let out an unsteady breath when she was fully seated. Then he rocked her hips forward with his hands.

Evie bit her lip at the exquisite sensation. She dropped her head back and continued to rock her hips. Malcolm’s hand braced against her back as he bent her farther.

She moaned when he flicked his tongue over her nipple before wrapping his mouth around the turgid peak. A cry was wrenched from her when he lightly bit down on her nipple.

Her hips moved faster and faster as she continued to wind her magic around them.

“Can no’ hold back,” Malcolm rasped.

“Don’t.” She lifted her head and smiled.

He slid a hand between them and swirled a thumb around her clit. That’s all it took to send her over the edge.

Evie screamed her pleasure as they peaked together, their passion colliding, swelling. Until it coalesced into a brilliant flame that blazed hotter than the sun—and brighter than the moon.

CHAPTER
THIRTY-ONE

Rhys tapped his finger with a slow rhythm on the hood of Hal’s Ferrari as he stared across the loch to the inn where Malcolm and Evie stayed.

“What is it?” Guy asked.

Rhys turned his head over his shoulder to Guy who was pulling his long, light brown hair back in a queue at the base of his neck. “Malcolm is different.”

“Aye. We’ve already agreed on that.”

Rhys shifted so that he leaned his forearms on the hood and stared across it to his friend. “You know more.”

“Why does it matter?”

“It doesna. You know I’ll help. I like the Warriors. But Malcolm has the look of a man who is about to do something stupid.”

“I’ll be sure to tell him you said that,” Guy said irritably.

Rhys narrowed his gaze, his assumptions proven correct. “So he is.”

“He thinks he is,” Guy said with a sigh. “I’m no’ going to sit by and allow it though. Malcolm believes he has a debt to pay that only his life will do as payment.”

“As I said. Stupid.” Rhys straightened and drummed his fingers on the car once more as he thought about Malcolm.

Guy scratched his jaw where a shadow of a beard had begun. “If it’s Wallace who shows, as Malcolm suspects, we’ll have our hands full getting the tourists away. Any given day there are hundreds of people touring those ruins.”

“It would make life easier if we could be in dragon form,” Rhys said with a grin.

“Doona even tease about that,” Hal said as he walked up. He replaced his mobile phone in his pocket. “If Con heard you, he’d have your arse.”

“He could try,” Rhys said, his jaw tight as anger built. “Con may be the King of Kings, but that doesna mean he’s always right.”

Guy snorted. “And you wanting to show the humans dragons do exist is right?”

Rhys wiggled his eyebrows. “Nay. But it would be fun.”

“Too much fun,” Hal said with a smile as he slapped Rhys on the shoulder.

Rhys lifted his face to the sky. He yearned to take to the heavens and spread his wings, to feel the currents rush along his body.

“There are times it seems just a dream that we once ruled,” he said. “I long to have the Yellows back. I miss the days when we were free.”

“We all do,” Guy said.

Silence filled the air before Hal asked, “Do you ever wish we’d gone with our dragons?”

“Every damned day,” Rhys answered without hesitation.

Guy’s lips twisted. “If you’d asked me before I met Elena, I would’ve agreed with you, Rhys. Now, I have her. I want my Reds back. I want to see dragons fill the skies again, but I fear it will never happen.”

Rhys couldn’t begin to understand Hal’s, Guy’s, or Banan’s need for their women. He was happy his friends had found their mates, but he was glad he’d not been touched by such madness.

“So who is going to get Evie away?” he asked. “She’ll be a handful once she discovers what Malcolm plans.”

Guy crossed his arms over his chest, his expression one of disquiet. “I’ll get Evie. Rhys, you’ll need to grab the brother.”

“And I’ll help Malcolm,” Hal said.

Rhys shook his head in aggravation. “We could take out Wallace once and for all. I’ll get Brian out and protect the humans, but I’m no’ leaving Malcolm to die.”

“Nay,” Guy said, his voice laden with determination and resolve. “We’re no’.”

Rhys smiled and rubbed his hands together. “We’ve less than an hour. Time to get in place.”

*   *   *

“You’ll be all right,” Malcolm said. He stood with Evie at the door to their room. She was dressed and ready to face the kidnappers, but her pallor and rapid breathing caused him concern. “I’ll be there, hidden, but keeping watch over you. We’ll bring Brian home today.”

She nodded and forced a smile. “I know.”

“Do you?” When her face crumpled, it tore at him. Malcolm pulled her against his chest and held her. “I remember when I found Larena dying. Deirdre sent Warriors for her, but one of them didna like the idea of a female Warrior, so he stabbed her with a blade covered in
drough
blood.”

Evie pulled back to look at him. “What do you mean? What does
drough
blood do?”

“One drop will kill us.”

“Oh. You saved her, obviously.”

Malcolm tugged at one of her curls. “I was merely a man. I found Fallon. He was able to jump Larena to MacLeod Castle and Druids who could help her.”

“Jump? You mean you can do that?”

“Nay. I meant he teleported. That’s Fallon’s power. He got her to his castle in time and she was saved. The point is that I understand how you’re feeling. Larena didna get kidnapped, but she was dying. Right in front of me. Then Fallon took her, and I didna know what happened.”

“So you went after her,” she said softly.

Malcolm touched his scarred shoulder. “Aye.”

“I know I won’t get hurt, Malcolm, and not just because I have magic. I won’t get hurt because you’ll be there.”

He stared down into her clear blue eyes, amazed that anyone could look at him with such confidence. His fingers caressed her jaw. “You’re beautiful.”

A genuine smile pulled at her lips as she glanced away, the embarrassment evident. “Flattery, Malcolm Munro, will get you everywhere.”

He wanted to tell her how she had changed his life and made him feel again. He wanted her to know how much he owed her for believing in him when no one else had. But more than anything he wanted her to know how much he was going to miss her.

“I need to get moving,” she said and rose up to place a quick kiss on his lips. “I know we’re going to come out of this because you’ll be there. Thank you.”

He let her pull out of his grasp as she turned toward the door. Just before she went through it, she paused and looked back at him with another smile.

“I’ll meet you back here. I can’t wait to introduce you to Brian.”

Malcolm swallowed the words he had been about to say and nodded. Once the door shut behind her, he turned to the window and the ruins of Urquhart Castle through the trees.

He walked to the window and waited until he saw the little rusted Nissan he’d stolen drive away before he strode from the inn. Malcolm walked along the road until he came to a section of the loch that was hidden from view. There he discarded his shirt and shoes and dove into the dark waters of Loch Ness.

*   *   *

Evie’s hands shook as she drove to the famous castle. The narrow road took her up the mountain before she had to turn off and drive down into the parking area of Urquhart Castle.

She parked the car and turned off the ignition. “I can do this,” she told herself. “I’m going to get Brian back no matter what.”

Her hand touched the necklace through her sweater. Malcolm had warned her she might have to give it up. They had come up with a plan to get it back if that should happen.

She was ready to use her magic in whatever way was necessary, even if it meant killing. It was her brother’s life at stake.

Evie took a deep breath and climbed out of the car. She settled her purse strap on her shoulder and walked to the window to purchase her ticket.

She was there twenty minutes early, but she wanted a look around herself. Apprehension prickled her skin as she waited in line behind a large group.

When she was finally inside and descending the stairs down to the museum and gift shop, she passed dozens of people.

It wasn’t until she went through the gift shop and stepped outside once more that she spotted the group of schoolkids led by three teachers as they spoke about the history of Urquhart.

All those children gave her pause. What if she used her black magic and it hurt them? What if she didn’t use her magic and Brian was killed?

She felt sick to her stomach. Brian was her family, her only family. She was responsible for him. It had been her curiosity that had gotten him into this mess.

But to injure or kill a child on purpose or by accident to save her brother?

I’m going to Hell anyway.

She squeezed her eyes shut. Malcolm had warned her she would have difficult choices to make. This would be the first of many.

Her steps were awkward and wooden as she walked the gently sloping steps that took her down to the level of the ruins. She passed through the gatehouse of the castle and gasped as a gust of wind struck her.

She noticed the dark clouds gathering above. Would she be lucky enough that the approaching storm might send everyone inside? But no one took notice. Not even when large, fat drops of rain began to fall.

“Can’t I catch a break?” she mumbled.

Two squealing young girls came running into the gatehouse area out of the rain, their giggles and laughter reminding Evie of innocence and youth.

That could be shattered if magic—black magic—was used at the castle. How many would die? How many mentally scarred for life?

But Brian’s chances at remaining alive had risen now that she had black magic.

She prayed Brian had been treated well, because though she might not want to kill anyone, she wasn’t sure how she would react if her brother showed any physical signs of abuse.

Evie stepped into the rain. She opted against the main castle since it was jam-packed with people and instead went to the right where there was a small tower that would offer her protection from the rain and more privacy to keep a lookout for Brian.

She hurried to the stone building unmindful of the rain. Just as she stepped inside, she ran into someone. Evie looked up into the palest blue eyes and stopped short. The man was gorgeous. Heart-stopping material actually.

He grinned and ran a hand through his black hair. “Excuse me, lass. I didna see where I was going.”

Evie nodded. She watched him walk into the rain, his camera in his hand. A month ago she might have flirted with him, but not after a night in Malcolm’s arms.

Her gaze searched for any hint of Brian, but she also looked for Malcolm. Without a doubt, she knew he would be there. She just wished she knew where.

He’d told her it was for her protection because she might glance his way if something went wrong. That would lead the kidnappers to know she wasn’t alone. Or so Malcolm had said.

Evie wanted to think she knew better than to look at him, but then again, she wasn’t sure of anything anymore. She’d never been in such a situation before.

Her blood pounded in her ears and her stomach was so tied in knots she feared she might lose what breakfast she’d managed to get down.

Evie bit back a giggle as she imagined what the kidnappers would do if she vomited all over them. She covered her mouth to hide the laughter that wouldn’t be contained.

If it would throw the kidnappers off, she might be willing to get sick in public.

She took a deep breath when the giggles subsided. It was delirium. She knew that. Fear, apprehension, foreboding, and a multitude of other emotions were her constant companions. A person could only take so much before they broke.

Apparently her breaking point was thinking of vomiting on someone.

Evie smiled again, but it quickly died as she saw a group of people walking from the gift shop toward the castle. A glance at her watch showed it was ten minutes until noon. Brian could be in that group.

She rose up on tiptoes, leaning her body one way and the other looking for some sign of him. Just as she was about to give up, she spotted his tall frame that had begun to fill out with muscles over the last year.

His head turned and she saw his face. Evie let out a relieved breath. It was Brian. She was closer than ever to getting him back.

Nothing would stand in her way now.

CHAPTER
THIRTY-TWO

Malcolm broke the surface of the water and began to climb the rocks to Urquhart. He’d felt Evie’s magic the entire swim to the ruins, and now that he was closer, he could pinpoint where she was on the grounds.

He breathed a sigh of relief that somehow she’d put herself close to Hal. Hopefully, the Dragon King would stay near her.

Malcolm peered over the rocks and saw the sheer number of tourists. He clenched his jaw. It was going to be difficult to get everyone out safely, if his worst fears came to pass and it was Wallace after Evie.