Forbidden Highlander (6 page)

How many of the vile creatures had she fought and killed over the decades? Too many. And what exactly was it doing in Edinburgh Castle?

That confused her even more. She could only guess it was here because of Fallon, but if she didn’t consider the possibility the wyrran was there because of her, then she would be foolish.

Between the shrieks of rage from the wyrran, she imagined Fallon was doing a good job of wounding the beast. Larena smiled. Had Fallon changed into a Warrior? She didn’t hear a roar, but how she wanted to see him in his Warrior form.

There were too many people in the castle for Fallon to chance it, and it wouldn’t be long before someone got up enough courage to come and check the hall.

Her musings came to an end when the wyrran burst from the great hall into the corridor before leaping out a window down from her. It was a good thing she had already tossed her gown out the window and transformed because a moment later Fallon came out and looked right at her. But he couldn’t see her. No one could.

She waited until he left then she followed the wyrran out the window and down the rocky facing of the castle. The wyrran was fast, but not as fast as it should have been if it had known what tracked it.

Deirdre had made the creatures crafty, but not nearly fast enough to outrun a Warrior.

Larena jumped in front of the creature and made herself visible once they were on the ground. The wyrran bared its mouthful of teeth and hissed. Larena just smiled and readied for the kill.

The wyrran lifted its hands and showed her its long, sharp claws. She wasn’t impressed. Larena bent her legs and waited for the creature to attack. She used to fear using the power coursing through her, but now she relished it. Her goddess had never let her down before.

And it had been quite a few months since Larena had loosened the goddess inside her. Her goddess smiled within her, as eager as Larena for a fight.

The wyrran rocked back and forth on its feet as if trying to decide how to attack. Suddenly, it jumped on her and used its lethal claws to rake down her arms.

Larena grimaced in pain and plunged her claws into its chest. The wyrran’s eyes bulged when she wrapped her fingers around its heart.

“You don’t belong here,” she told it just before she ripped out the heart.

Larena tossed aside the small organ as the wyrran fell dead upon the ground, its lifeless eyes staring at the stars. As much as she wanted to leave the creature, she couldn’t chance anyone coming upon it.

So she grabbed the wyrran by one of its ankles and dragged it into the forest where she hid it. Larena would return later and set it on fire along with the heart. She was covered in blood and shivered in the cool evening air, alone.

She was so tired of being alone. Malcolm was a wonderful confidant, and a true friend, but he could not fully comprehend what it was like to have a goddess inside him. Malcolm couldn’t understand the raw power that surged in her when the goddess was turned free. And Larena feared if he did learn just how much power she had, he would never come near her again.

Larena had already lost her family and her clan when the goddess chose her over a male. She couldn’t stand to lose Malcolm as well.

Yet, she knew the time was coming when she would have to leave him for good. He would never face his own future as long as she was near. Malcolm felt responsible for what his family—her family—had done to her, and he was determined to make up for her banishment.

She took a deep breath and turned back to the castle. As usual, when she returned to her chamber Malcolm would be there with water for her to wash and a gown. He never asked questions, not even when he saw her wounds.

Even though he knew she was immortal, it had taken him actually seeing her body heal for him to realize that she couldn’t be killed unless someone took her head.

It made her throat ache to have to tell Malcolm farewell. Malcolm was one of the few people she trusted. He had been there for her when others hadn’t. But she knew that if Fallon was really the MacLeod she had been searching for, she would have to learn to trust him, because the MacLeods were the only ones who could keep her hidden from Deirdre.

Larena sighed and brushed the hair from her face that had fallen when she tracked the wyrran. She would have to tell Fallon she was a Warrior, but the one thing he and the others could never learn about was the Scroll she guarded.

She had taken a vow upon having the goddess released. That vow meant everything to her, especially when she had seen the pride in her father’s eyes. She had been so scared of what the future held for her, but her father had believed she was the perfect person to guard the Scroll. She prayed he was right.

If for some reason Fallon MacLeod wouldn’t aid her, she was still going to have to leave Malcolm behind. Even then Larena was taking a huge chance. He knew too much. If Deirdre ever discovered how much Malcolm knew of the Warriors, Deirdre would come after Malcolm with a vengeance.

Larena knew she had been selfish sharing her burden with Malcolm, but she had needed a friend. He had never failed her. That would change, however, if Deirdre ever captured him. Malcolm would try to hold out, but in the end he would tell Deirdre everything.

When that happened, there would be no place Larena could hide where Deirdre couldn’t find her.

What a mess Larena had dug for herself. She should have been stronger, she should never have told Malcolm more than he already knew or guessed. And most of all, she should never have involved him in her schemes to find the MacLeods.

She touched the spot on her neck that Fallon had licked. She shivered as she thought about how it had felt to have his hot, wet tongue touch her. Larena closed her eyes as she recalled every inch of his body against hers, how his warm breath fanned her cheek, and how his long dark hair had tickled her face.

Her nipples puckered, sending spirals of desire shooting between her legs as she recalled the feel of Fallon’s hard body pressing against hers, flattening her breasts. No longer did the cool night air bother her as her body heated and throbbed with a need she couldn’t ignore.

Larena opened her eyes and took in a steadying breath. She needed to get control of herself. Fallon couldn’t know how his nearness unnerved her. It would give him an advantage she couldn’t allow.

After seeing his claws tonight she knew he was the MacLeod of legend. It was time she spoke to him. If Fallon couldn’t help her, then she needed to hide. Whether the wyrran was here for her or Fallon, it had come to the castle.

And that wasn’t a good sign.

Larena turned herself invisible before she made her way back to the castle and her chamber. Just as she expected, Malcolm stood waiting for her. She grabbed a blanket from the bed to shield herself before she made herself known.

Malcolm blew out a breath when he caught sight of her. “I was worried.”

She forced a smile so he wouldn’t know the turmoil inside her. “I can take care of myself.”

“No wyrran have come to the castle before, Larena.”

She moved to the tub, not caring that the water wasn’t hot. She waited until Malcolm turned his back to her before she climbed in. “I don’t know why the wyrran was here. Was it for me? Or was it for Fallon?”

“It could have been for either of you.”

Her stomach pitched wildly at his words. “I know. I must speak to Fallon tonight. No longer can I wait. I must know if he can help me or not.”

Malcolm sighed but kept his back to her as he took a chair near the hearth and sat. “I saw Fallon searching the castle for the wyrran. He’s cautious, Larena, which could be a benefit if he helps conceal you.”

“He’s been hiding for three hundred years, of course he’s cautious. I’m curious to know why he’s here though. Did you learn anything?”

“Aye. He wants his castle given back to the MacLeods. He had come to seek an audience with the king.”

She nodded to herself as she continued to wash the blood from her body. “The wyrran is dead so we needn’t worry about that for the moment. I’m going to need to go back and set it afire. It was surprised to see me, so I think it was here for Fallon, though why it showed itself in the great hall I don’t understand.”

“I’ll take care of the wyrran. Where is it?”

“You shouldn’t take that chance.”

Malcolm mumbled something beneath his breath. “Larena, though you are a Warrior, a man can get away with things at this castle that a woman canna. Now, tell me where the damned beast is.”

Sometimes she hated that she was a woman. “It’s in the forest near an oak with a double trunk. I hid it well.”

“I’ll see to it tonight. I doona suppose you were able to talk to Fallon before the wyrran appeared?”

“Nay, I didn’t.” She recalled Fallon’s warm breath that fanned her skin, the feel of his tongue as it branded her neck, and the smell of orangewood as she learned the feel of his muscular body. “We were interrupted.”

Malcolm turned his head to the side so she could see his profile. “You’re going to him now.”

It wasn’t a question. “I am. I cannot wait to speak with him any longer.”

Malcolm rose to his feet and walked to the door. “I’ll be in my chamber after I get rid of the wyrran if you need anything.”

“Thank you, dearest friend.”

He paused with his hand on the latch. “Thank me when MacLeod takes you to his castle.”

Larena waited until the door closed behind Malcolm before she let out a breath. She picked up the soap again and scrubbed her body a second time. She couldn’t stand the wyrran’s blood on her.

Fallon slumped down on his bed. He had half expected to come into his chamber and find Larena inside once again. To his disappointment, there had been no one.

He didn’t like that frustration, or the nervousness that hadn’t left him since he had seen her in the great hall. It would have been nice to find the wyrran to take out some of his anger on the creature instead of coming back to his chamber and to his memories of Larena in his arms.

He could still feel her. That small contact of her face against his had embedded her in his body. He had held her against him, felt her supple body and womanly curves. He wanted to bury his face in her hair and inhale the scent that was hers alone.

And God help him, he wanted to lick every inch ofher.

Fallon rose and removed his boots, tartan, and shirt. It wasn’t that he didn’t like wearing the kilt, it was just so different from what he had worn for the last three hundred plus years. He could get used to it though. He especially liked wearing the colors of the MacLeod for all to see.

With a sigh he slid beneath the covers. Sleep wouldn’t come, not with a wyrran on the loose and knowing he had to find Thomas MacDonald in the morning before he left for MacLeod Castle. He closed his eyes, but all he could think about was Larena. He could still taste her on his tongue from that brief lick against her neck. She was the sweetest taste of sin.

By the saints, how he wanted to savor more of her! Too bad he would never get the chance.

Larena climbed in through Fallon’s window. She was careful not to make any noise that would wake him, not that he would see her if he did. Once she was inside, she moved to the corner near the hearth and reached for her robe that lay on top of the chest.

It was one of the things she hated about using her power of invisibility. She might become invisible, but whatever clothes she had on didn’t. The only thing that she was able to wear and not be seen was the ring on her middle right finger because it held magic. That ring never came off. For any reason.

Her goddess receded as she threaded her arms through the sleeves of her robe. She had brought it with her and left it when Fallon had found her in his chamber. She hadn’t expected to talk to him then. Nay, her plan had been just what she was doing. There was only one way to talk to a man like Fallon, and that was to get his attention.

Arriving naked would do that, but she wasn’t ready to show him everything. At least not yet. She would use her body if she had to. She didn’t like that idea, but too much was at stake. First, she would try and talk to him.

To her horror her body heated just knowing she might get to kiss Fallon.

She walked in the moonbeams that shone through his windows. The chamber wasn’t as large as hers, but it was still nice. The burgundy velvet bed hangings were the best that coin could buy. The candles were scented, and there was plenty of wood stacked near the hearth in case he wanted a fire.

Larena put a finger on an unopened bottle of wine. It sat in the middle of the small table, almost like a gift. Except she had the feeling Fallon had put it there himself. So, not a gift, but a punishment then?

She thought back to dinner. He hadn’t taken any wine or mead. He had only drunk water. Odd for a man such as he.

Her head turned to the bed. She had kept herself from looking at him, but no longer. Her feet started to move and took her to the bed. He slept with his face toward the windows, the light of the moon illuminating his chiseled features and silent strength.

He was spectacular. He had an angular face with hollows beneath his cheekbones that made him appear hardened and menacing. His chin was square, his jawline hard and unforgiving. Just like a Highlander.

His nose was long and straight and thin. When her gaze landed on his lips, she sighed, recalling how they’d grazed her cheek.

His eyes, though closed now, were the most beautiful green she had ever seen. Dark brows slashed over his eyes. There was a small scar near his left eye that must have occurred before his god was unbound.

She wanted to touch that scar and ask him how it had come about, and how he had managed not to lose his eye and sight in the process.

The paleness of the linens was a stark contrast to his skin, bronzed from the sun. In the moonlight his hair looked almost black, though she knew it was dark brown with hints of gold running through it as though he had spent much time out of doors.

Her gaze traveled to his bare chest that rose and fell slowly. His abdomen rippled with honed muscles and power. The same was true of his arms and shoulders, and even his hands that lay slack by his sides.