Midnight's Promise (41 page)

“He shaved,” Larena whispered in awe.

Ramsey moved behind her and made a sound of approval. “He’s smiling too.”

He was. It was almost too much for Larena to take in. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen him smile.”

“He chuckled this morning. Well, it wasn’t really a chuckle, but it was close,” Guy whispered. “Evie certainly approved.”

Larena’s eyes clouded with tears. “He looks at her as if she’s his entire world.”

“Because she is,” Ramsey said. “He lived in darkness. Evie is his light.”

Guy nodded. “Evie is a trusting soul. Too trusting at times, but only because she’s no’ been touched by evil before a few days ago. As a result, she was able to look past the wall Malcolm erected and find the man beneath.”

“Where there is love evil can no’ flourish,” Ramsey said. “
Drough
or no’, I doona believe Evie is evil or that she became
drough
with evil in mind.”

“That was as we thought,” Guy said. “The pair have a difficult road ahead of them. They need all the friends they can get.”

Larena glanced at the Dragon King. “Fallon only wanted Malcolm home with the rest of us. He thought by having us all confront him that it would convince Malcolm to come.”

“Con knew Fallon had a reason for it.”

Ramsey leaned down and whispered, “Go to him, Larena. Your cousin needs you.”

For several more minutes, she watched the three. Evie laughed at some story Brian signed while Malcolm smiled widely. It was a balm to her soul to see a glimpse of the man who had so valiantly stayed by her side when he was mortal.

Malcolm had been a charmer, a rogue who could turn the eye of any woman. Losing the ability to use his arm changed his world overnight, and he had never been the same since.

He had gone to a dark, nefarious place, a place of pain and solitude where no one was able to reach him. Yet, somehow, Evie found him.

Whether or not her cousin knew it, he was in love with Evie Walker. It showed in his eyes as he watched her, in his smile as she laughed, and in the way his entire attention was focused on her.

Larena walked into the kitchen. She’d taken only two steps when Malcolm’s head turned to her. His coffee cup was halfway to his mouth when he spotted her. Slowly, he lowered it as Evie’s laughter died and Brian grew still.

She couldn’t stop the tears from flowing as she hurried to him. Malcolm stood and held out his arms. Larena rushed to him and flung her arms around him.

“You smiled,” she said through her tears. She leaned back and cupped his face. “And finally shaved.”

“It was time.”

“It certainly was.” Larena sniffed and looked at Evie. “Thank you for bringing him back. He was lost, and you found him.”

Evie smiled wryly. “He was the one who found me.”

Larena stepped away from Malcolm and held out her hand to Evie. “I’m Larena MacLeod, Malcolm’s cousin. It’s good to meet you.”

“Likewise,” Evie said as she took her hand. “This is my brother, Brian.”

Larena signed “Hello,” and a surprised Brian asked if she was really a Warrior.

“They wanted to know more about those from the castle,” Malcolm explained. “Everyone is enamored with the idea of a female Warrior.”

Larena laughed as she looked back at Brian. “I am a Warrior. What do you want to know?”

She wasn’t surprised when he asked her to shift into Warrior form. Larena didn’t hesitate. As soon as her iridescent skin glowed, both Evie and Brian gasped.

“It’s so beautiful,” Evie said in awe.

Brian’s mouth was agape, his hands still.

“And that’s a first,” Evie said with a laugh. “Brian has nothing to say.”

Brian gave her a shove. While brother and sister jested, Larena and Malcolm shared a look.

“I’m sorry for everything,” Malcolm said.

Larena tamped down her goddess and took his hand. “There is nothing to apologize for. You were looking out for me.”

“I did horrible things, Larena.”

“We all do horrible things. Look at you now, though.”

Evie wiped her hands on her napkin and motioned to the chair opposite her. “Please sit. I’m sure you and Malcolm have a lot to catch up on.”

“Actually, I’m here to see the both of you.”

“Oh.” Evie glanced at Malcolm before she turned to Brian.

Brian stuffed a piece of toast in his mouth as he signed, “I know, I know. I’m going.”

“Come with me, Brian,” Guy called from the doorway. “I know where more food is.”

Malcolm turned and spotted Ramsey next to Guy. With a wave, Malcolm motioned Ramsey to join them. If they were going to do this, they might as well do it just once.

There was a moment of awkward silence as Evie tried to figure out what to do. Malcolm reached over and took her hand. Their gazes met, and he saw her shoulders relax when he gave her hand a squeeze.

“I gather the two of you came for a reason,” Malcolm said.

Larena crossed her legs. “I came to see you, but also to let you know why Fallon did what he did last eve.”

“So tell me,” Malcolm insisted.

“He wanted you to come home. Since you rarely answered your phone, he thought by having all of us there it would convince you.”

“He was wrong.”

“And he knows it,” Larena said. She glanced at the table. “You’re part of our family. You have to know that, Malcolm.”

He rubbed his clean-shaven jaw and considered her words. “No one was willing to listen to us last night. Phelan told you Evie was
drough
, and you all made up your minds.”

“No’ all,” Ramsey said. “Tara and I came to bring both of you back to the castle and to offer our support.”

“You hurt him,” Evie said into the silence. “Phelan and Charon saw what he went through just hours before. He confronted Wallace on his own and was torn to shreds. He faced Death, and then he tackled Wallace again to save Brian and me. We returned to find all of you.”

Ramsey frowned. “Death?”

“That’s what is in Wallace’s blood now,” Malcolm said. “Death had me trapped. If it hadna been for Evie, I’d still be there.”

Larena looked at Evie. “Then I owe you a great debt.”

“No. I did it for Malcolm,” she said.

Malcolm wanted to pull her into his lap and kiss her. She wasn’t cowed by the Warriors, and she had stood up for him. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had done that.

“We’re glad you did,” Ramsey said. “I suspect you risked your own life while doing it, Evie.”

“She did,” Malcolm interjected when she shook her head. “Phelan saved her. Did he no’ mention how Death nearly burned her alive while she was trying to rescue me?”

“Phelan was doing what he thought best,” Larena said.

Ramsey sat back in the chair and stretched out his legs. “Phelan is a lot like Fallon. He wanted you at the castle.”

“But no’ Evie?” Malcolm clenched his jaw in anger. “After what he went through with Aisley?”

“I think it’s because of what he went through with Aisley.” Ramsey’s silver gaze slid to Evie. “Phelan recognized the strong feelings between the two of you. He knows firsthand what Wallace can do. Had Aisley no’ been a Phoenix, she’d be dead.”

Malcolm looked at the floor, unable to say anything. He was hurt by what had transpired with everyone the night before, but Ramsey made sense.

A chair scraped on the floor as Evie rose and came to stand behind Malcolm. She placed her hands on his shoulders and said, “Malcolm needs his family. If it means that I remain behind, then so be it.”

“Nay.” Malcolm was up and had Evie in his arms before she could blink. “That’s no’ an option.”

“Malcolm, please,” she pleaded.

He shook his head and wrapped one of her curls around his finger. “Nay, lass. Doona bring it up again. I’ll no’ leave you alone. Every time I do, you get into trouble,” he teased.

She laughed and then nodded. “All right, but you need to make up with your family. You’ve only got the one.”

“It’s us who need to apologize to him,” Larena said. “Not the other way around. But I appreciate what you just tried to do.”

Malcolm sat and pulled Evie onto his lap. He liked having her close so he could feel her curves and touch her as much as he wanted. She was a reminder of who he wanted to be—and who he wanted to be with.

“Is it true?” Ramsey asked. “Has Wallace put the prophecy in motion?”

Malcolm looked at his friend and gave a single nod. “It was his plan all along. I doona know how long he had the plan in place, but we fell into step exactly as he wanted us.”

“So you’re carrying a child?” Larena asked Evie.

Evie shrugged. “Jason said I was, but I don’t know for sure.”

Ramsey rose and walked to them. He squatted next to the chair and looked at Malcolm and then Evie, his hand hovering over Evie’s stomach. “May I?”

“Ramsey is part Druid, part Warrior,” Malcolm explained to her.

Evie’s clear blue eyes widened. “Oh. And yes, you may.”

Malcolm didn’t move as Ramsey placed his hand on Evie’s stomach and closed his eyes. Several seconds ticked by before Ramsey opened his eyes and stood.

“She does carry a child in her womb,” he announced as he resumed his seat.

Malcolm held Evie tighter. “Evie isna evil. The child can no’ be born evil just because the prophecy says so.”

“There is much left out of prophesies,” Ramsey admitted. “The problem is, we rarely discover what was missing until it’s too late.”

“What do I do then?” Evie said. “Jason said if I tried to abort the baby he would kill Brian. I can’t bring a child of pure evil into the world for Jason to raise.”

Larena shook her head of golden hair. “No, that can’t happen. Wallace first tried to bring about the prophecy with Phelan and Aisley. I wonder if they might know more.”

“We need to ask then,” Evie said.

Ramsey was silent for several moments before he looked at Evie. “Your site was hacked, aye?”

“Twice,” Evie admitted.

“Once by our Gwynn. We think the second was by Wallace.”

Evie shifted on Malcolm’s lap. “It was. He wanted my necklace in exchange for my brother.”

“Did he mention the necklace when you saw him last?”

Malcolm frowned and looked at Evie. “He didna to me. Did he to you?”

“No,” she said in surprise. “I was so worried about Brian and then learning about the prophecy that I completely forgot about it.”

Larena leaned a forearm on the table. “There’s a chance he may not have actually wanted it.”

“But you do?” Evie guessed. “Why?”

Malcolm thought back to what it could be, and when the answer came, he was shocked he hadn’t realized it sooner. “They think it’s from a cargo of magical items which left Edinburgh years ago in one of three shipments.”

“I’ve searched Edinburgh Castle as well as the Tower of London, but the necklace isn’t there,” Larena said.

Ramsey shrugged. “At one time we wanted the necklace for us. Now, we want to make sure it doesna fall into the wrong hands of someone like Jason Wallace.”

“What do you think my necklace does?” Evie asked.

Malcolm met her worried gaze. “Binds the gods inside us.”

CHAPTER
FORTY-NINE

Evie stood atop the hill gazing at the majestic mountains around her without seeing any of it. Malcolm’s words still rang in her head.

The necklace her family had guarded for generations contained the spell to bind the gods inside the Warriors. It seemed absurd, and yet … right.

And she had lost it to Wallace. If Jason knew what the necklace contained, he could use it against Malcolm and the others, leaving just the Dragon Kings to fight for mankind.

Evie couldn’t imagine Malcolm as anything but a Warrior. His god was part of the man he was, the Highlander who had made such sweet love to her.

She swallowed and silently berated herself for being so trusting. She was to blame for the entire mess. To make matters worse, knowing those at MacLeod Castle wanted the spell so they could bind their gods made her feel even lower.

The only good thing to come out of the entire debacle was Malcolm. He was like the great oaks she’d always admired—strong, steady, and constant.

“This is one of my favorite views,” Elena said as she walked up.

Evie jerked, surprised to hear a voice. She glanced at Elena to find her staring at the same view. “It’s beautiful.”

“But you’re not really seeing it today, not that I blame you.” Elena cut her a quick look. “Hal and Rhys took Brian and put him to work herding the sheep. The poor boy looked like he needed to get his mind off things.”

“That’ll be good for Brian. He won’t tell me what Jason did to him. After seeing what Jason was capable of with Malcolm, I’m almost too afraid to find out.”

“I’m sure Brian will tell you in time. Each of you is dealing with things in your own way.”

Evie sighed loudly. “God, Elena, I can’t figure a way out of any of this.”

“You need to focus on the here and now. And remember, you’re not alone.”

“A month ago all I worried about was work, meeting a guy, and what Brian and I would do over the Christmas holidays. It seems a lifetime ago.”

Elena shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans and cocked her head at the mountains. “When I first came to Dreagan, I almost died while caving in the mountains. My boss did lose her life, and it was Guy and the others who found me. We’d been trespassing, but it was obvious Sloan had come here to find something. Con thought I was part of it.”

“Were you?” Evie asked as she looked at Elena.

“No, and only Guy believed me. I was so scared. My ordered life went into utter chaos. The only calm in the storm was Guy,” she said with a soft smile before she faced Evie. “I put my faith in him, and I discovered who he really was. And then I set out to help all the Dragon Kings.”

“How?”

Elena grimaced. “Much to Guy’s anger, it involved returning to London and the company I worked for, PureGems, to determine who was behind looking into Dreagan. You watch all the movies about spies and you think it looks easy, but it isn’t.”

“Did you find out who it was?”

“In a manner. It was the CEO, but someone else was behind him. It would’ve taken us even longer to learn that if it hadn’t been for Jane. She and Banan met and fell in love in London.”