Authors: Donna Grant
Warmth flooded her at his words, but their future hinged upon the prophecy. “I can’t be here now. It’s not time.”
“Enough with the riddles,” he said, and threw the goblet into the fire. “Speak plainly.”
“I am. I’m telling you I can’t be here now.”
“Why?”
Surely there wasn’t a more stubborn man in all of Scotland, she thought. First, he wanted her away from the castle and had gone to great lengths to get it, and now he wanted her here. She sighed wearily. “Because of the MacNeil.”
“I will protect you from him.”
“Aye, you would try.” She walked to him and ran her fingers along his strong jaw. “I must go now.”
He closed a hand around her wrist. “Stay. Stay with me tonight.”
“I’ve never left you.”
“I need you, Glenna,” he said, his eyes molten with desire.
Her body flared to life at those simple words, but there was also an air of despair in his words. She gazed deep into his eyes and saw the self-doubt and fear buried deep within him. She could do nothing to ease his doubts now, only grant him his one wish—to have Iona and Ailsa safe beside him again. That she could, and would, do for him. Because she loved him.
She also knew if he was to live another day she had to leave. Staying would only make him lose focus and prolong his remembering the entire prophecy.
“I’ve always needed you.” She withdrew her arm and walked to the door. “Don’t give up hope,” she called over her shoulder.
* * * * *
The Shadow rubbed his hands together. It had been easy to follow Glenna into the caves where he waited for her to return. He had to kill her this time. Even if she did yell they would be so deep in the caves that no one would ever hear her. It was perfect. Just perfect.
“She comes,” he said as she appeared in the bailey.
He hid in the shadows and waited until she was deep in the caves before he crept closer to her. With his power he shrouded himself so she couldn’t see him. He was almost upon her when she whirled around, swinging the torch in her hand.
“Who’s there?” she asked, her voice pitched high from her fear.
There was no need for him to say anything. He smiled and pulled a dagger from inside his cloak. He had moved to her side and watched in amazement as her fear grew.
It was a good thing she hadn’t learned all her powers or he would never be able to carry this out. He raised the dagger and was about to pounce on her when a roar filled the cave.
He raised his eyes in time to see Dartayous jumping from a crevice in the top of the cave. The warrior landed in between him and Glenna. With a curse he slid the dagger back into his cloak and melded with the shadows.
“Dartayous,” Glenna said. “What are you doing here?”
“He was here,” the warrior stated, his sword drawn and held in front of him as he looked around the cave.
“Who was here?”
“He was about to kill you, Glenna,” he said, and turned to face her. “I followed you because I knew he would as well. He’s very powerful to shroud himself so well from my eyes.”
“I shouldn’t have come,” she said, and bowed her head.
“Come. We must return to the circle. He can’t harm you there.”
The Shadow didn’t wait for them to leave. He ran as fast as he could through the caves so he could return to the circle before he was missed. He had made another mistake this night, and if he weren’t more vigilant his carefully laid plans would be for naught.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The sun’s rays sprang around the mountains and spilled its golden light upon the ground still damp with the morning dew. Conall stretched his sword high above his head and began his morning ritual.
He liked to be alone first thing in the morning. The dawn usually set his soul at ease with new hope, but nothing would ease his torment this day. He dropped his arms and shook his head to clear it. He practiced until sweat dripped from his body, but still he couldn’t concentrate.
Glenna’s words had haunted his sleep, and when he had risen at first light, he knew it would be the day the MacNeil came. His wits needed to be about him, and his morning exercise had always put everything into perspective before. But things were different now.
He had lost everything. Iona, his mother, Ailsa, his power and now…Glenna.
The sun blinded him as it crested the mountain. He closed his eyes and heard his mother’s words.
“Open your mind, Conall. It’s amazing the things life can give us if we but give it a chance.”
With a roar he swung his sword around and became one with it. This is what would avenge Glenna’s parents. This sword would return Iona and Ailsa, and it would fulfill the vow he had given his mother.
Damn everything else, especially his vow to the Druids. He had found his mate, and he refused to live without her. After all it had been the Druids who gave his family the ability to marry their mates.
His mind was fixed now. Everything was clear. He would vanquish MacNeil and once again have Iona, Ailsa and Glenna out of harm’s way beside him. Then every Highlander in Scotland would be safe from MacNeil’s butchery.
Conall turned to find Angus and Gregor leaning against the wall. “Ready the soldiers. The MacNeil arrives this day.”
Both men jerked from the wall. Angus ran off to do as he commanded, but Gregor didn’t move.
“Are you sure?” Gregor asked.
“As sure as I know the sun will set on this day.”
Gregor looked at his feet, his face lined with uneasiness. “I better get ready then.”
“Hold,” Conall said. When Gregor had turned to face him, he said, “I don’t know whether you’ve lied to me or not.”
“I ken. You’ve lost your ability.”
Conall nodded. “I’m going on my instinct, but if you do betray me and this clan know that the Druids will hunt you down for it.”
“I didn’t think you accepted the Druid’s help,” Gregor said, his arms crossed over his chest.
“I haven’t. Many centuries ago the Druids and the MacInnes clan made a pact. Nothing can destroy that pact, no matter how much I’d like to.”
For long moments Gregor looked at him before giving him a curt nod and walking away. Conall sighed. He prayed he wasn’t wrong about Gregor.
He had just emerged from dunking his head in a vat of water when he heard a sentry call that riders had been spotted. Conall wiped the water from his face and grabbed his sword and bow before running to the gatehouse tower.
Once he reached the top, he searched the land but saw nothing. He was about to ask the sentry if had indeed seen a rider when thunder rumbled in the distance. Except it wasn’t thunder.
It was an army.
“The MacNeil has arrived.” He turned to his soldiers. “Ready yourselves, men. The devil has come to MacInnes Castle.”
* * * * *
Glenna bent next to the river outside the circle and washed her face and arms. Moira had accompanied her and they laughed at the antics of a baby bird learning to fly.
Suddenly she stood. “Moira.”
“I know,” her sister replied, and rose. “MacNeil has come.”
Glenna ran to the cliff that overlooked the valley. She watched, horrified, as line after line of MacNeil soldiers came into view. “There’s so many.”
“We can handle them,” Frang said as he came to stand beside her and Moira.
She couldn’t hide her surprise. “You’re going to help Conall?”
“Of course, child. The Druids and MacInnes made a pact long centuries ago.”
Moira laughed. “So whether Conall wants our help or not, he’s going to get it.”
Relief filled Glenna until she thought of her vision of Conall’s death. “I just hope it’s enough.”
“You’ve had a vision,” Moira said, her eyes gazing intently at her.
“Of Conall’s death.”
Frang hung his head. “We need him to fulfill the prophecy, so we must make sure to keep him safe.”
Glenna spotted Effie riding next to the MacNeil. “The traitor has returned.”
“And she holds Ailsa,” Moira said.
“Then it begins.”
Moira grabbed hold of her arm before she could turn away. “Be careful. We need you yet.”
“The MacNeil won’t kill me. He has use of me, remember?”
“Please. Just be careful. We aren’t immortal.”
* * * * *
“St. Brigit,” Angus whispered.
Conall quite agreed when he saw the amount of men the MacNeil had brought with him. Fury erupted when he spotted Ailsa sitting in front of Effie with her hands tied together.
The MacNeil broke away and walked his horse closer to the gate. Two burly men flanked him on either side. “Well, Conall, I told you I’d return. Are you willing to trade?”
“Not until I see Iona.”
MacNeil snickered. “Are you telling me you think I have her?”
“Don’t you? She would’ve returned home if you didn’t hold her against her will.”
“Maybe. But the truth is I don’t have her.”
Rage ripped its way through Conall’s body until the only thing he saw was MacNeil’s death. “Show her or die.”
MacNeil shared a laugh with the soldiers beside him. “It would be very difficult for me to give her back to you. I suppose I could, but I don’t think you’d recognize her.”
With teeth clenched tightly together Conall struggled for control. “Why’s that?”
“She’s been in the ground for quite some time after I slit her throat.”
Conall’s wrath erupted, but before he opened his mouth to answer, a commotion to his left halted him.
His heart stopped and fell to his feet when he caught sight of Glenna.
* * * * *
Glenna wanted to run and hide the instant MacNeil’s evil eyes alighted on her. Instead her gaze sought Conall. He stood in the tower above the gatehouse, his black hair cascading around him. His steady gaze gave her strength.
“Come, Glenna.”
She looked to the man who had killed her parents and separated her from her sisters and began to tremble. She couldn’t do this. She wasn’t ready to face him. Her powers couldn’t be controlled and one move on his part would prove it.
And with that fear her eyes again found Conall. His willingness to give everything for the return of his family touched her deep inside. If he could face a monster, knowing he might die, then she could face the devil and vanquish her demons.
She took a deep, calming breath and folded her hands together. “You will return Ailsa. Now.”
“Not until you come with me.” He nudged his horse and rode closer to her.
Contempt ran rampant through her. After everything he had done to her, she wouldn’t back down from him. Not now. Not ever. She wanted answers and she would get them. “Tell me, MacNeil. Why did you kill Iona?”
He placed a hand on his hip and laughed. “She got in the way. She would’ve filled your head with nonsense, just as these people have.”
“All they’ve done is give me the answers I’ve needed for years.”
“Enough talk. The past can’t be changed. Now come down from there and we’ll go home.”
“Not until you return Ailsa to Conall.”
Indignation twisted MacNeil’s face. “Fine,” he spat, and motioned for a soldier to get Ailsa.
“One other request,” she said. She almost laughed aloud at the incredulous expression on his face.
“What?” he asked between teeth clenched tightly together.
“The MacInnes clan wants revenge. Give them Effie.”
The MacNeil mulled this over for a moment. Effie began calling out to him. With a small wave of his hand another soldier grabbed Effie.
“Nay, MacNeil,” Effie screamed. “You canna do this to me. I was to give you sons.”
The soldier roughly hauled her facedown over his horse as MacNeil’s words reached Glenna. “You might have given me sons, Effie, but with Glenna I’ll have the world and sons. All you could give me would be your little black heart.”
Glenna should feel pity for Effie, but no such emotion could be found. Effie had sealed her own fate when she took Ailsa. Glenna waited until Ailsa and Effie were safely inside the gates before she turned her attention back to MacNeil.
“You surprise me,” she told him.
“Really? Then that means you don’t really know me.”
“Not true,” she countered. “I know a great deal. I know you killed my parents.”
“Lies. All lies. Why are you listening to these people? You’re a MacNeil, lass.”
Finally she would be able to do what she had wanted for a long time. She brought around the MacNeil plaid she had hid behind her back. “I was never a MacNeil,” she said and set it afire.
She was glad he was too far away to see the surprise on her face that her powers had actually obeyed her. MacNeil let out a roar but stopped his soldiers when they would have attacked her. This time Glenna did laugh.
“Find something amusing, lass? You’d be dead now if I hadn’t stopped my soldiers.”